Personal communicator system for identifying a telephone which is disposed proximate a locator transmitter

• US 5,842,112 A
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aspect Telecommunications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fuller, Robert M., Epler, Frederick A., Manowski, Maxwell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US08/459,266
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 379/57, 379/201, 379/210-212, 379/58, 379/59, 379/38, 455/90, 455/54.1, 455/32.2, 340/825.49, 340/312, 340/539, 358/86, 370/95.2
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/652 Means for playing back the recorded messages by remote control over a telephone line H04M1/658 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/665 by checking the validity of a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 : Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 : Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 : Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 : Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 : Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 : Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 : Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 : CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 : Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1315 : Call waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 : Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 : Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13222 : PBX circuits in public exchange, centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 : Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 : Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 : Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 : Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1326 : Consultation call, broker's call, call hold, toggling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13271 : Forced release
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13286 : Direct in-dialling in PBX, DDI
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13305 : Transistors, semiconductors in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13331 : Abbreviated dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 : Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13385 : Off-net subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 : UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13515 : authentication, authorisation - fraud prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13532 : mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13533 : multivendor and hybrid, e.g. public/private, networks, inc. international
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13547 : subscriber, e.g. profile, database, database access
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 : Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54 : in which the logic circuitry controlling the exchange is centralised
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/542 : Logic circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54525 : Features introduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54566 : Intelligent peripherals, adjunct processors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54591 : Supervision, e.g. fault localisation, traffic measurements, avoiding errors, failure recovery, monitoring, statistical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/622 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 : Arrangements in the private branch exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/627 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 : User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 : Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 : selectively restricting mobility data tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 : One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 : Selective call receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 : Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/913 : Person locator or person-specific

Abstract

A method and apparatus for placing a user and a caller into communication with each other. The user is equipped with a communicator device which has an information receiver and a transmitter. Information related to a present location of the user as the user moves about an environment is automatically transmitted, such information being based on information received by the receiver. The automatically transmitted information related to the present location of the user is receiver by a receiver. A telephone call from the caller intended for the user is processed and rerouted to the user'"'"'s present location as indicated by the automatically transmitted information.

Claims

1. A communication system wherein a user carries a paging device for receiving signals broadcast from a paging system, with a unique identification code assigned to the paging device, characterized by:

a plurality of telephones wired to said communication system;

a plurality of locator transmitters, each locator transmitter being disposed proximate at least one of said plurality of telephones and transmitting an information signal identifying said at least one of said plurality of telephones; and

the paging device including;

a receiver for receiving the information signal from a proximate locator transmitter, and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal related to the information signal received by the paging device and the paging device assigned identification code, the communication system thereby being provided with information identifying the one of said plurality of telephones which is disposed proximate the locator transmitter from which the paging device receives its information signal.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said information signal relates to the phone number of a proximately located telephone, and said paging device transmitter transmits said phone number related signal to said communication system, whereby the communication system is provided with the phone number of the telephone proximate to said user.

3. The communication system of claim 2 in combination with a control system, wherein the control system comprises means for detecting a call from a caller to said control system directed to a user, and means for accessing said paging system and causing said paging system to transmit a control signal to the paging device of said user, which control signal causes said paging device to transmit the information signal back to said paging system.

4. The communication system of claim 3 further comprising means for connecting the caller to said proximate phone number.

5. The communication system of claim 3 wherein the paging device includes user controllable means for transmitting telephone call processing control signals to said control system, and wherein the control system includes means responsive to said control signals to process incoming calls, for said user in accordance therewith.

6. The communication system of claim 5 wherein one telephone call processing control signal causes said control system to forward to the user only selected calls.

7. The communication system of claim 2 wherein each locater transmitter transmits an ultrasonic signal.

13. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said paging device receives radio frequency signals broad cast from the paging system and wherein the signal corresponding to the paging device received information signal and the paging device assigned identification code which is transmitted is a radio frequency signal.

14. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the information signal received by said paging device is an ultrasonic information signal.

15. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the information signal received by said paging device is an ultrasonic information signal.

41. The communication system of claim 1 in combination with a control system, wherein the control system comprises means for detecting a call from a caller to said control system directed to a user, and processing means for accessing said paging system and causing said paging system to transmit a control signal to the paging device of said user, which control signals causes said pager to alert said user, wherein the transmitter of the paging device includes means for transmitting a command entered by the user carrying the paging device to said control system, and said processing means further comprising means for routing said call as a function of the command entered by said user.

8. A communications system having a plurality of telephones physically wired to said communications system whereat a user may receive an incoming telephone call and wherein the user has a device adapted to receive signals broadcast by the communications system, said device having a unique identification code, and characterized in that:

said device includes;

a receiver;

a signal transmitter for transmitting signals to the communications system; and

a controller for controlling said signal transmitter, said controller sensing a location signal received by said receiver, which location signal provides information to the communication system identifying at least one of said telephones where incoming telephone call, for the user may be directed, said controller causing said signal transmitter to transmit said information to the communications system.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said controller includes a keypad and associated electronics allowing a user to manually enter data, said controller controlling said signal transmitter to transmit user entered data back to said communications system.

10. The system of claim 8 in combination with a locater system comprising a plurality of predeterminedly located locater transmitters with each locater transmitter transmitting a unique locater signal and wherein said unique locator signal, when received by said receiver, provides said location signal.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein each locater transmitter locater signal corresponds to the number of a nearby telephone and wherein said controller controls said transmitter to transmit a telephone number related signal to said communications system.

12. The system of claim 10 in combination with a telephone control system for predeterminedly controlling incoming calls to the user in a selected one of at least two distinct modes, said telephone control system being responsive to a mode control signal, and wherein a locater transmitter transmits a mode signal and wherein said device transmits a signal responsive to said mode control signal through said communications system to said telephone control system to control the mode thereof.

16. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said device receives radio frequency signals broadcast from the communications system and wherein said signal transmitter transmits radio frequency signals.

17. The communications system of claim 16 wherein the information signal received by said device is an ultrasonic information signal.

18. The communications system of claim 8 wherein the information signal received by said device is an ultrasonic information signal.

42. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said paging device includes an alerting device which alerts in response to receipt of said received signal and means for receiving a command provided by the user and wherein said controller transmits command data back to said communications system, said command data being representative of the command provided by the user.

43. The paging system of claim 42 wherein said received signal is broadcast by said communications system in response to an incoming communication directed to the user of the paging device and wherein, upon receipt of said command by said communications system, said communications system provides the data representative of the command to a communications controller which controls how the incoming communication is to be handled.

19. A method of placing a user and a caller into telephonic communication with each other comprising the steps of:

(a) equipping the user with a communicator device, said communicator device having an information receiver and a transmitter;

(b) transmitting information related to a present location of the user as the user moves about an environment, said environment including a plurality of telephone stations where the user can receive an incoming telephone call, said information being based on information received by said receiver and identifying different ones of said telephone stations as the user moves about the environment;

(c) receiving the transmitted information related to the present location of the user;

(d) processing a telephone call from the caller intended for the user;

(e) routing the telephone call from the caller to one of said plurality of telephone stations near the user'"'"'s present location as indicated by the transmitted information.

20. The method of claim 19 further including installing locator transmitters at selected locations in the environment, said locator transmitters transmitting information to which the receiver in said communicator is sensitive.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said locator transmitters transmit ultrasonically.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of transmitting information related to a present location of the user as the user moves about an environment is done at radio frequencies.

23. The method of claim 19 further including transmitting from a plurality of locator transmitters location-related information to which the receiver in said communicator is sensitive.

24. The method of claim 23 further including a step of automatically transmitting a signal indicating that the communicator is out of range of a locator transmitter when the user moves to a location where the receiver in the user'"'"'s communicator can no longer receive a transmission of one of said plurality of locator transmitters.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the location-related information of each locator transmitter is related to a telephone number of a proximately located telephone.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the location-related information of each locator transmitter is related to a telephone number associated with a telephone located proximate the user.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein said locator transmitters transmit ultrasonically.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of automatically transmitting information related to a present location of the user as the user moves about an environment is done at radio frequencies.

29. A locator system comprising:

(a) a plurality of locator transmitters disposed in an enclosed environment, each transmitter transmitting a short range signal, the short range signal having a sufficiently short range such that a receiver responsive to the short range signal will detect signals from different ones of said plurality of locator transmitters as the receiver is moved between rooms in said enclosed environment;

(b) communicator devices to be carried by each user of the locator system, each communicator device comprising;

(i) a receiver responsive to the short range signals broadcast from the locator transmitters,

(ii) a unique identification code stored therein, and

(iii) a signal transmitter and controller for controlling said signal transmitter, said controller causing said transmitter to transmit location identification signals based upon the locator signal received by said receiver and said unique identification code;

(c) a receiver responsive to the signals transmitted by the signal transmitters in said communicator devices; and

(d) a control system for handling communications from other parties to said users, said control system being coupled with said receiver and responsive to received location identification signals and to received identification codes to determine how to handle communications between callers and users, said control system handling user'"'"'s communication differently as users move between rooms in said enclosed environment.

30. The locator system of claim 29 wherein the signal transmitted by each said locator transmitter is a unique signal.

31. A communications system wherein each user carries a communicator device adapted to receive signals, and wherein each communicator device includes a transmitter and a controller for controlling said transmitter, said communication system including a communications control system which controls the routing of incoming communications for each user to different communication apparatuses, said communicator being responsive to a command entered by the user to transmit said command to said communications control system, said communications control system routing an incoming communication for a user to a particular one of said communication apparatuses as a function of said command.

32. The communications system of claim 31 wherein each communicator device further comprises an information receiver and wherein said communications system includes further a plurality of transmitters which automatically transmit network address information related to said different communications apparatuses, said network address information being updated by said information receivers as each user moves about an environment.

33. The communications system of claim 31 wherein said controller is responsive to a keypad and associated electronics allowing a user to manually enter data.

34. The communications system of claim 31 in combination with a locator system comprising a plurality of predeterminedly located locator transmitters with each locator transmitter transmitting a unique locator signal including location information, and wherein said controller includes means for receiving the signal from a proximate locator transmitter and controlling said transmitter to transmit data based upon said locating information to the communications system.

35. The communications system of claim 34 wherein each locator transmitter locator signal corresponds to the number of a nearby telephone and wherein said controller controls said transmitter to transmit a signal related to said telephone number to the communications system.

36. The communications system of claim 34 and, to predeterminedly control incoming calls to a given user in a selected one of at least two distinct modes, said communications control system being responsive to a mode control signal wherein a locator transmitter transmits a predetermined mode signal and wherein the given user'"'"'s communicator device transmits a signal responsive to said mode control signal via its transmitter to said communications control system to control the communication control system'"'"'s mode of handling incoming calls for the given user.

37. A telephone switching system wherein each subscriber carries a paging device adapted to receive radio frequency signals broadcast from a central paging system, said paging device having a unique identification code, and characterized in that:

each paging device includes a signal transmitter and controller for controlling said signal transmitter to transmit data to said switching system, and wherein said switching system is responsive to the data received from the paging device of said subscriber to select how said switching system will handle an incoming call to said subscriber.

38. The telephone switching system of claim 37, wherein said switching system includes a memory for storing a sequence of switch functions, said sequence defining an enhanced service to a caller, said switching system communicating a voice prompt to said caller in response to a telephone call placed by said caller to a predetermined telephone address associated with a subscriber, and communicating said sequence of switch functions stored in said memory to said switching system in response to a command received from said caller to provide said enhanced service, said switching system being further responsive to data received from said signal transmitter of said paging device of said subscriber to change said sequence.

39. A communications system wherein a user carries a communicator device adapted to receive signals broadcast by the communications system via a first signal transmission medium, wherein the communicator device is assigned an identification code and is responsive to network address information received via a second signal transmission medium, and wherein each communicator device comprises a transmitter and a controller for controlling said transmitter, said controller causing transmission of identification information associated with said communicator device and the received network address information to the communications system, the communications system responding to the information received by directing incoming communications for the user to a communications instrument separate from said communicator device in accordance with the received network address information.

40. The communications system of claim 39 wherein the network address information is transmitted together with the identification information to said communications system by a user'"'"'s communicator device, wherein the communications system receives the identification information and associated network address information transmitted by a user'"'"'s communicator device and routes incoming communications directed to the user to different communication instruments as a function of said network address information.

44. A method of handling incoming calls from callers intended for a user, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the user with a communicator device, said communicator device having a receiver, a transmitter, an alerting device and an input device for inputting a user command;

(b) transmitting a page signal to the user'"'"'s communicator device in response to receipt of an incoming call from a caller intended for the user, said page signal, after being received by said communicator device, causing said alerting device to alert the user;

(c) transmitting a command signal from the transmitter of the communicator device in response to the user inputting a user command using the input device; and

(d) receiving the command signal transmitted by the communicator device and processing the incoming call from the caller in one of a plurality of manners as dictated by the command inputted by the user, one of said manners including directing the incoming call to an independent telephone instrument which is not associated with said communicator device.

45. The method of claim 44 further including the steps of:

(e) automatically transmitting information related to a present location of the user as the user moves about an environment, said information being transmitted by said communicator device based on location information received by said receiver;

(f) receiving the automatically transmitted information related to the present location of the user; and

(g) routing the incoming call from the caller to a telephone instrument at;

the user'"'"'s present location as indicated by the automatically transmitted information if no command signal is received.

46. The method of claim 45 further including installing locator transmitters at selected locations in the environment, said locator transmitters transmitting information to which the receiver in said communicator is sensitive.

47. The method of claim 45 further including transmitting from a plurality of locator transmitters location-related information to which the receiver in said communicator is sensitive.

48. The method of claim 44 further including the steps of:

(e) automatically transmitting information related to a present location of the user as the user moves about an environment, said information being transmitted by said communicator device based on location information received by said receiver;

(f) receiving the automatically transmitted information related to the present location of the user; and

(g) routing the incoming call from the caller to the independent telephone instrument located at the user'"'"'s present location if the user inputs a command which dictates such a manner of handling the incoming call.

49. The method of claim 48 further including installing locator transmitters at selected locations in the environment, said locator transmitters transmitting information to which the receiver in said communicator is sensitive.

50. The method of claim 48 further including transmitting from a plurality of locator transmitters location-related information to which the receiver in said communicator is sensitive.