Personal mobile communication system

• US 5,894,595 A
• Filed: 02/21/1997
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moroses, Susanne Watson, Murray, Nancy, Weber, Roy Philip, Goldman, Shelley B., Foladare, Mark Jeffrey, Silverman, David Phillip, Friedes, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/803,892
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 455/414, 455/415, 455/417, 455/445, 455/458, 455/459, 455/460, 455/556, 455/567
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13532 mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

With the advent of personal digital assistants (PDAs) having modems for information, e.g., facsimile and/or data, transmission over wireless connections, as well as the capability for voice communications, we have recognized that is possible to communicate with a person, wherever they are, in whatever form is desired. In order to do so in a manner that simulates the way a person at a fixed location having a separate telephone, fax machine and data modem would communicate, incorporate into a PDA is a) a receiver for a wireless actuation signal that indicates that a communication of some type is waiting for a called party; b) an outgoing connection origination unit that establishes a connection from the PDA to the waiting communication; c) a discriminator, which makes a determination as to the type of communication that is waiting; and d) a selection unit that routes the information signals received over the connection established by the PDA to an appropriate communication unit within the PDA, e.g., a fax modem, data modem, or voice communication unit, the appropriate communication unit being selected in response to the type of communication that was determined by the discriminator to be waiting. The PDA owner may optionally be alerted only when 1) an information transmission is successfully completed and the received information is waiting in the PDA for access by its owner, or 2) when a voice connection has successfully been established to the communication originator who continues to indicate a readiness to communicate.

Claims

1. Apparatus in a personal digital assistant (PDA) for use in completing a single incoming call from a calling party that is waiting on-line to be connected to a called party, comprising:

a receiver that receives a wireless actuation signal from the calling party, the wireless actuation signal indicating that a communication is waiting on-line for the called party to complete the single incoming call, the waiting communication being one of a plurality of communication types;

an outgoing connection origination unit that, in response to the wireless actuation signal being received at the called party, establishes a return connection from the PDA to a bridge holding the waiting communication from the calling party to complete the single incoming call;

at least one communication unit that handles signals of the type of communication that is waiting on-line;

means for determining the type of the waiting communication from the calling party and for routing the signals received over the return connection to a corresponding one of the at least one communication unit; and

alerting means for generating an alert when the type of the waiting communication is an incoming voice call, and, if the type of communication is an information transmission, alerting upon an information transmission of an information call having been successfully received.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

means for storing information transferred over said outgoing connection origination unit; and

means for actuating said alerting means when the type of communication that is waiting is information only after said information is successfully transferred to said PDA and stored in said means for storing.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

means for actuating said alerting means prior to said called party being connected to said calling party when the type of communication that is waiting is voice.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

means for detecting a signal indicating that said call from said calling party remains in-progress and wherein said means for actuating only actuates said alerting means while said in-progress signal is received.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said return connection is established over the most cost effective channel.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said return connection is established over the most efficient channel.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said wireless actuation signal includes an indication of the identity of said calling party and said apparatus further includes:

means for extracting said indication of the identity of said calling party from said wireless actuation signal; and

means for conveying said extracted identity to said called party.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for conveying comprises means for displaying said extracted identity to said called party.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for conveying comprises means for audibly indicating said extracted identity to said called party.

10. Apparatus in a portable communications device for use in completing a single incoming call from a calling party that is waiting on-line to be connected to a called party, comprising:

means for receiving a wireless actuation signal from the calling party, the wireless actuation signal indicating said single incoming call is waiting on-line for said called party to complete the single incoming call;

means for establishing a connection in response to said wireless actuation signal being received at the called party to a meet me unit at which said single incoming call from said calling party is waiting to complete the single incoming call;

means for determining whether said single incoming call waiting on-line is a voice call or an information call;

means for alerting;

means for receiving an information transmission over said connection to said meet me unit when said determination is that said waiting call is an information call; and

means for activating said alerting means only when said connection to said meet me unit is established and said waiting call is a voice call or said information transmission is successfully received.

11. Apparatus in a portable communications device for use in completing a single incoming call from a calling party that is waiting on-line to be connected to a called party, comprising:

means for receiving a wireless actuation signal from the calling party, the wireless actuation signal indicating the waiting single incoming call is waiting on-line for the called party to complete the call;

means for placing a return call in response to the wireless actuation signal being received at the called party from the portable communications device to a meet me unit at which the waiting single incoming call from the calling party is waiting to complete the single incoming call;

means for determining whether the waiting single incoming call from the calling party is a voice call or an information call;

means responsive to the return call for generating an alert to alert the called party when the waiting call is an incoming voice call, and, if the type of communication is an information transmission, alerting upon an information transmission of an information call having been successfully received; and

means responsive to the received wireless actuation signal for activating the means for placing the return call to place the return call to the meet me unit and for activating an information communication device on the return call to receive an information transmission when the waiting call is an information call.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said wireless actuation signal includes an indication of the identity of said calling party and said apparatus further includes:

means for extracting said indication of the identity of said calling party from said wireless actuation signal; and

means for displaying said extracted identity to said called party.

13. Apparatus in a portable communications device capable of handling multimode calls that is being used to complete a single incoming call from a calling party that is waiting on-line at a meet me unit to be connected to a called party, comprising:

means for receiving a wireless actuation signal from the calling party, the wireless actuation signal indicating a single incoming call is waiting on-line for the called party to complete the single incoming call;

means in response to the wireless actuation signal being received at the called party for placing a return call from the portable communications device to the meet me unit to complete the single incoming call;

means for determining whether the waiting single incoming call is a voice call or a facsimile call;

means for activating a facsimile communication device on the call from the portable communication device to the meet me unit to receive a facsimile transmission when the waiting call is a facsimile call; and

alerting means responsive to the received wireless actuation signal for generating an alert to alert the called party when the waiting call is an incoming voice call, and, if the type of waiting call is a facsimile transmission, alerting upon the facsimile transmission of the facsimile call having been successfully received.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

means for receiving an in-progress signal from said meet me unit when said waiting, call is a voice call;

and wherein said alerting means for alerting said called party is responsive to receipt of said-in progress signal so that, when said waiting call is a voice call, alerting is provided only while said in-progress signal is being received.

15. A method for use in a personal digital assistant for use in completing a single incoming call from a calling party that is waiting on-line to be connected to a called party, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a wireless actuation signal from the calling party, the wireless actuation signal indicating which of a voice call or an information call is waiting on-line for said called party to complete the single incoming call;

determining, in response to the wireless actuation signal, whether a voice call or information call is waiting on-line;

establishing a connection to a meet me unit at which the single incoming call from the calling party is waiting to complete the single incoming call in response to the wireless actuation signal being received at the called party;

alerting, in response to the determining step and the establishing step, the called party when the waiting single incoming call is a voice call;

generating an alert, in response to the determining step and the establishing step, for the called party when an information transmission of an information call has been successfully received; and

activating, in response to the determining step and the establishing step, an information communication device to receive an information transmission when the waiting single incoming call is an information call.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, further wherein said wireless actuation signal includes an indication of the identity of said calling party and said method further includes:

extracting said indication of the identity of said calling party from said wireless actuation signal; and

conveying said extracted identity to said called party.

17. Apparatus in a portable communications device for use in completing a single incoming call from a calling party that is waiting on-line to be connected to a called party, comprising:

means for receiving a wireless actuation signal from the calling party, the wireless actuation signal indicating which of a voice call, facsimile call or a data call is waiting on-line for the called party to complete the single incoming call;

means responsive to the wireless actuation signal for making a determination as to which of a voice call, facsimile call or a data call is waiting on-line;

means for establishing a connection in response to the wireless actuation signal being received at the called party to a meet me unit at which the single incoming call from the calling party is waiting to complete the single incoming call;

alerting means for generating an alert responsive to the determination and the connection, for alerting the called party when the waiting single incoming call is a voice call and, if the waiting single incoming call is a facsimile call or a data call, alerting the called party upon a facsimile transmission of the facsimile call or a data transmission of the data call having been successfully received; and

means responsive to the determination and the connection, for activating a facsimile communication capable device to receive a facsimile transmission when the waiting call is a facsimile call and for activating a data communication capable device to receive a data transmission when the waiting single incoming call is a data call.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said means for establishing a connection establishes the most inexpensive connection possible.

19. A method for use in completing a single incoming call that is initiated from an on-line calling station to a called party, comprising the steps of:

receiving a single incoming call placed to a portable digital assistant of the called party from the calling station;

transmitting a signal for actuating the portable digital assistant of the called party;

receiving a connection originated from the portable digital assistant to a predetermined number in response to the signal for actuating being received at the called party to complete the single incoming call waiting on-line;

checking if said call from said calling station and the received connection employ a common protocol;

converting the call from the calling station and the received connection to a common protocol only if the result of said step of checking is negative;

connecting the common protocol representation of the call from the calling station and the received connection together; and

generating an alert to alert the called party when the call is a voice call, and, if the call is an information call, alerting upon an information transmission of an information call having been successfully received.

20. The method as defined in 19, further including the step of:

storing information received from said call from said calling station at least until said connection originated from said portable digital assistant is received.

21. Apparatus for use in completing a single incoming call that is initiated from an on-line calling station to a called party, comprising:

means for receiving a single incoming call placed to a portable digital assistant of the called party from said on-line calling station;

means for transmitting a signal for actuating the portable digital assistant of the called party;

means for receiving a connection originated from the portable digital assistant to a predetermined number in response to the signal for actuating being received at the called party to complete the single incoming call;

means for checking if said call from the calling station and the received connection employ a common protocol;

means for converting said call from the calling station and the received connection to a common protocol only if the result of the step of checking is negative;

means for connecting the common protocol representation of the call from the calling station and the received connection together; and

means for alerting the called party when the call is a voice call, and, if the call is an information call, alerting the called party upon an information transmission of the information call having been successfully received.

22. A method for use in completing an incoming call to a personal digital assistant (PDA) from a network communication system including a meet me unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving in the network communication system an incoming call placed to the PDA from an on-line calling station;

holding the incoming call on-line at the meet me unit;

making a determination in the meet me unit as to whether the incoming call is a voice call or an information call;

transmitting from the network communication system a wireless actuation signal for actuating the PDA, the wireless actuation signal including an indication of the determined type of call;

receiving the transmitted wireless actuation signal in the PDA;

making a determination in the PDA as to whether a voice call or information call is being held on-line at the meet me unit;

responsive to the determination in the PDA, actuating an alerting unit in the PDA both when the waiting call is a voice call and, if the call is an information call, alerting upon an information transmission of an information call having been successfully received;

originating a connection from the PDA to the meet me unit in response to receipt of the wireless actuation signal for actuating at a called party to complete the incoming call waiting on-line;

responsive to the determination in the PDA, activating in the PDA an information communication device in the PDA to receive an information transmission when the waiting call is an information call; and

connecting the call and the connection from the PDA together in the meet me unit.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, further including the step of:

checking in said meet me unit if said call from said calling station and said connection from said PDA employ a common protocol; and

in said meet me unit, converting said call from said calling station and said connection from said PDA to a common protocol only if the result of said step of checking is negative;

wherein, in said connecting step, the common protocol representation of said call and said connection from said PDA are connected together.

24. A method for use in completing one incoming call to a personal digital assistant (PDA) from a network communication system including a meet me unit, comprising the steps of:

receiving in the network communication system one incoming call placed to the PDA from a calling station waiting on-line;

holding the one incoming call waiting on-line at the meet me unit;

making a determination in the meet me unit as to whether the one incoming call is a voice call or an information call;

transmitting from the network communication system a wireless actuation signal for actuating the PDA;

receiving the transmitted wireless actuation signal in the PDA;

originating a connection from the PDA to the meet me unit in response to receipt of the wireless actuation signal for actuating at a called party to complete the one incoming call waiting on-line;

receiving over the originated connection from the PDA to the meet me unit an indication specifying whether a voice call or information call is being held at the meet me unit;

responsive to the received indication, actuating an alerting unit in the PDA both when the waiting call is a voice call and, if the incoming call is an information call, alerting upon an information transmission of an information call having been successfully received;

responsive to the received indication, activating in the PDA an information communication device in the PDA to receive an information transmission when the waiting call is an information call; and

connecting the call and the originated connection together in the meet me unit.

25. The method as defined in claim 24, further including the step of:

checking in said meet me unit if said call from said calling station and said originated connection employ a common protocol; and

in said meet me unit, converting said call from said calling station and said originated connection to a common protocol only if the result of said step of checking is negative;

wherein, in said connecting step, the common protocol representation of said call and said originated connection are connected together.