Method and system for automatically connecting telephone calls to multiple devices having different directory numbers
First Claim
1. In a telecommunications network, a system for providing a telecommunications extension service to a subscriber who has a first unit for telecommunications and a second unit for telecommunications, said first unit having a first number used for communication routing, and said second unit having a second number used for communication routing, comprising:
- a switch operativeto receive a communication directed to said first number associated with said first unit,to suspend the processing of said communication, andto request communication processing instructions from a first programmable network element;
said first programmable network element being connected to said switch, and in response to receipt of said request for said communication processing instructions, said first programmable network element being operativeto check whether said second unit is available,if said second unit is available, to provide said communication processing instructions to said switch, said processing instructions including a direction to route said communication to a second programmable network element;
said switch being further operative to receive and respond to said communication processing instructions by routing said communication to said second programmable network element; and
said second programmable network element being operative to respond to the receipt of said communication by setting up a first leg of a conference call from said communication to said first unit, andsetting up a second leg of said conference call from said communication to said second unit, andcausing ringing to be provided to said first unit and said second unit.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing telecommunication extension service to a subscriber with at least a first unit having a first number and a second unit having a second number. Upon receipt of a communication directed to the number associated with the one of the units, ringing is provided to both units. A party may answer either unit, or both units may be answered. If one unit is answered, then the other unit is provided with ringing for a predetermined number of rings or for a preselected amount of time. If the other unit is answered, then the communication is connected in a conference call to the other unit, whereby the communication is connected to both units. The conference call may be monitored for drop-out of one of the units. If one unit drops out, the other unit may remains connected. A disconnection feature allows a party who answers on a unit to provide an indication to discontinue ringing to the other unit, or to disconnect the other unit. If a unit is not engaged in a conference call, then that unit may be used to place and receive telecommunications even if the other unit is engaged.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In a telecommunications network, a system for providing a telecommunications extension service to a subscriber who has a first unit for telecommunications and a second unit for telecommunications, said first unit having a first number used for communication routing, and said second unit having a second number used for communication routing, comprising:
a switch operative to receive a communication directed to said first number associated with said first unit, to suspend the processing of said communication, and to request communication processing instructions from a first programmable network element; said first programmable network element being connected to said switch, and in response to receipt of said request for said communication processing instructions, said first programmable network element being operative to check whether said second unit is available, if said second unit is available, to provide said communication processing instructions to said switch, said processing instructions including a direction to route said communication to a second programmable network element; said switch being further operative to receive and respond to said communication processing instructions by routing said communication to said second programmable network element; and said second programmable network element being operative to respond to the receipt of said communication by setting up a first leg of a conference call from said communication to said first unit, and setting up a second leg of said conference call from said communication to said second unit, and causing ringing to be provided to said first unit and said second unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
8. In a telecommunications network, a method for checking the availability of a wireless unit to receive a communication, comprising the steps of:
-
a. receiving a communication at a service switching point; b. causing said service switching point to suspend the processing of said communication, and to launch a query to a service control point for communication processing instructions; c. in response to said query, causing said service control point to check whether said communication is directed to a wireless number associated with said wireless unit; d. if said communication is directed to said wireless number associated with said wireless unit, then causing said service control point to format a request for availability information relating to said wireless unit in a wireless network protocol, and to send said request for said availability information over a data link that directly connects said service control point and a home location register; e. in response to said request for said availability information, causing said home location register to send said availability information over said data link to said service control point; and f. in response to receipt of said availability information, causing said service control point to provide said service switching point with said communication processing instructions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. In a telecommunications network, a system for providing a telecommunications extension service to a subscriber who has a first unit having a first directory number for routing telecommunications to the first unit and a second unit having a second directory number for routing telecommunications to the second unit, comprising:
-
a switch operative to receive a communication directed to said first directory number, and in response, to route said communication to a programmable network element in said telecommunications network; said programmable network element being operative to respond to the receipt of said communication by setting up a first leg of a conference call from said communication to said first unit by using said first directory number to set up said first leg, setting up a second leg of said conference call from said communication to said second unit by using said second directory number to set up said second leg, causing first ringing to be provided to said first unit, and causing second ringing to be provided to said second unit; and wherein said programmable network element is directly connected to a home location register via a data link and is further operative to check whether said wireless unit is available by formatting a request for availability information relating to said wireless unit in a wireless network protocol, and sending said request for said availability information over said data link that directly connects said programmable network element and said home location register; wherein said home location register is operative to respond to said request for said availability information by sending said availability information over said data link to said programmable network element; and wherein said programmable network element is further operative to receive said availability information, and based thereon, to provide said switch with said communication processing instructions. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
-
14. In a telecommunications network, a system for providing a telecommunications extension service to a subscriber who has a first unit having a first directory number for routing telecommunications to the first unit and a second unit having a second directory number for routing telecommunications to the second unit, comprising:
-
a switch operative to receive a communication directed to said first directory number associated with said first unit, and to request communication processing instructions from a programmable network element in said telecommunication network; and said programmable network element being responsive to the receipt of said request for said communication processing instructions, to set up a first leg of a conference call from said communication to said first unit, to set up a second leg of said conference call from said communication to said second unit, and to cause ringing to be provided to said first unit and said second unit; and wherein said programmable network element is directly connected to a home location register via a data link and is further operative to check whether said wireless unit is available by formatting a request for availability information relating to said wireless unit in a wireless network protocols and sending said request for said availability information over said data link that directly connects said programmable network element and said home location register; wherein said home location register is operative to respond to said request for said availability information by sending said availability information over said data link to said programmable network element; and wherein said programmable network element is further operative to receive said availability information, and based thereon to provide said switch with said communication processing instructions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification