Method and system for providing virtual telephone terminals

• US 5,862,207 A
• Filed: 03/05/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
• Inventors: Aoshima, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Application Number:
  US08/610,734
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/355, 379/216
• US Class Current: 379/201.05
• 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 3/42314 in private branch exchanges

Abstract

A system for permitting a user having a personal directory number (PDN) to use a virtual terminal identified by the PND from any of said telephone terminals that the PDN is linked with. If a request for a virtual terminal assignment and the ID of a user are received from one of the terminals, a PDN linked with the ID in personalized feature data is associated with the TDN of the terminal. Thereafter, if a virtual terminal for the PDN linked with the TDN of the terminal is requested from the terminal, the terminal is associated with personalized feature data identified by the PDN and key data associated with the PDN and the TDN to make the terminal in a personal mode of the PDN. In response to a reception of call processing data from the terminal, a call processing is performed on the basis of the personalized feature data, the key data, and terminal data identified by the TDN for specifying a type of the terminal. If a call is originated by dialing the PDN of a called party while the called party'"'"'s presence is registered for a nearby terminal, the call is connected to the nearby terminal. The invention is applicable to a PBX system through a nation wide public switched telephone network.

Claims

1. A telephone system comprising:

a plurality of telephone terminals;

a first data table for storing data that assigns services of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber;

a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number;

terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and

service assigning means for assigning services, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

5. The telephone system according claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, further comprising:

terminated call detecting means for detecting that a call has been terminated at the terminating telephone terminal;

timer means for detecting passage of a predetermined time after detecting the terminated call;

returning means for returning the features of the terminating telephone terminal to the original features when the timer means detects that the predetermined time has lapsed.

2. A telephone system comprising:

a plurality of telephone terminals having function keys and assignable keys;

a first data table for storing data that assigns functions of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber;

a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number;

terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and

key function assigning means for assigning functions, based on the first data table, to the assignable keys and the function keys of the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

3. A telephone system comprising:

a plurality of telephone terminals;

a first data table for storing data that assigns speed calling features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber;

a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number;

terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and

memory data changing means for changing data utilized for speed calling, based on the first data table, corresponding to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

4. A telephone system comprising:

a plurality of telephone terminals;

a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber;

a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number;

terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means; and

feature assigning means for assigning features, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

6. The telephone system according to claim of 4, wherein the feature assigning means assigns the features in response to the calling by the calling means.

7. The telephone system according to claim of 4, wherein the feature assigning means assigns the features before a response operation is made by the terminating subscriber.

8. A telephone system comprising:

a plurality of telephone terminals;

a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber;

a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number;

a standard terminal data table for storing data that assigns features of a telephone terminal to a standard telephone terminal;

terminating terminal detecting means for detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling means for calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the terminal number detected by the terminating terminal detecting means;

feature assigning means for assigning features, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

terminated call detecting means for detecting that a call has been terminated at the terminating telephone terminal;

timer means for detecting passage of a predetermined time after detecting the terminated call;

canceling means for canceling the features of the terminating telephone terminal when the timer means detects that the predetermined time has lapsed;

return means for returning the features of the terminating telephone terminal to the features of the standard telephone terminal based on the standard terminal data table when the canceling means cancels the features.

9. The telephone system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a third data table for storing the data where each telephone terminal is located;

table searching means for searching the third data table and detecting the location of the terminating telephone terminal;

display controlling means for controlling the display screen of the originating telephone terminal and displaying the location of the terminating telephone terminal before the calling means calls the terminating telephone terminal.

10. The telephone system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a third data table for storing the data where each telephone terminal is located;

table searching means for searching the third data table and detecting the location of the terminating telephone terminal;

display controlling means for controlling the display screen of an originating telephone terminal and displaying the location of the terminating telephone terminal during the predetermined time;

cancel input detecting means for detecting whether a cancel operation is generated at the originating telephone terminal within the predetermined time;

call stopping means for stopping the calling of the terminating telephone terminal if the cancel input detecting means detects the cancel operation.

11. A telephone system comprising:

a plurality of telephone terminals having a mode key and a display screen;

a first data table for storing data that assigns features of ones of said telephone terminals each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber;

a second data table for storing a plurality of personal directory numbers corresponding to each terminal number and include a pointer for pointing at a personal directory number;

candidate personal directory number detecting means for increasing the pointer by one, in response to operation of the mode key, and detecting personal directory number pointed by the pointer;

feature assigning means for assigning features of a selected one of the telephone terminals, of which the mode key is operated, corresponding to the data in the first data table corresponding to the detected personal directory number; and

display controlling means for controlling the display screen of the selected telephone terminal and displaying the personal directory number detected by the candidate personal directory number detecting means.

12. The telephone system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a standard terminal data table for storing data that assigns features of the selected telephone terminal to the standard telephone terminal; and

turning means for turning the features of the selected telephone terminal into the feature of the standard telephone terminal based on the standard terminal data table when the pointer has pointed to all personal directory numbers in the second data table.

13. A method for assigning services of a telephone terminal in a telephone system, the system including a first data table for storing data that assigns telephone terminal services corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber and a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table in response to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the detected terminal number; and

assigning services, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

17. A method for assigning features of a telephone terminal according to claims 13, 14, 15, or 16, further comprising the steps of:

detecting that a call has been terminated call at the terminating telephone terminal;

detecting passage of a predetermined time after detecting the terminated call; and

returning the features of the terminating telephone terminal to the original features when the predetermined time has lapsed.

14. A method for assigning functions of a telephone terminal in a telephone system, the telephone terminal having function keys and assignable keys, and the telephone system including a first data table for storing data that assigns telephone terminal functions corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber and a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the detected terminal number; and

assigning functions, based on the first data table, to the assignable keys and the function keys of the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

15. A method for assigning speed calling features of a telephone terminal in a telephone system, the system including a first data table for storing data that assigns telephone terminal speed calling features corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber and a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the detected terminal number; and

changing data utilized for speed calling, based on the first data table, corresponding to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

16. A method for assigning features of a telephone terminal in a telephone system, the system including a first data table for storing data that assigns telephone terminal features each corresponding to a personal directory number of each subscriber and a second data table for storing a telephone terminal number corresponding to each personal directory number, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a terminating telephone terminal to be called, when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number from the second data table corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the detected terminal number; and

assigning the features, based on the first data table, to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber.

18. A method for assigning features of a telephone terminal, comprising the step of:

detecting a terminating telephone terminal when a call is originated with a personal directory number of a called terminating subscriber, by searching for a terminal number corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

calling the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the detected terminal number;

assigning features to the terminating telephone terminal corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber;

detecting that a call has been terminated at the terminating telephone terminal;

detecting passage of a predetermined time after detecting the terminated call;

canceling the features of the terminating telephone terminal, corresponding to the personal directory number of the terminating subscriber, when the predetermined time has lapsed;

returning the features of the terminating telephone terminal to the features of a standard telephone terminal after the terminating subscriber features have been cancelled.

19. A method for assigning features of a telephone terminal according to claim 18, further comprising steps of:

searching the location of the terminating telephone terminal;

controlling a display screen of an originating telephone terminal and displaying the location of the terminating telephone terminal before a call is connected to the terminating telephone terminal.

20. A method for assigning features of a telephone terminal according to claim of 18, further comprising the steps of:

searching the location of the terminating telephone terminal;

controlling a display screen of an originating telephone terminal and displaying the location of the terminating telephone terminal before a call is connected to the terminating telephone terminal during the predetermined time;

detecting whether a cancel operation is generated at the originating telephone terminal within the predetermined time; and

stopping the calling of the terminating telephone terminal when the cancel operation is detected.

21. A method for assigning features of a telephone terminal in a telephone system, the telephone terminal having a mode key and a display screen, the system including a data table for storing data that assigns telephone terminal features each corresponding to a personal directory number, the method comprising the steps of:

changing a personal directory number corresponding to a terminal whenever a mode key is operated;

assigning, based on the data table, features corresponding to the changed personal directory number to the telephone terminal; and

displaying the changed personal directory number at the display screen of the telephone terminal.