Communication system and method using two-way paging to provide call control

• US 6,014,549 A
• Filed: 12/27/1995
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weber, Roy Philip, Foladare, Mark Jeffrey, Goldman, Shelley Betty, Silverman, David Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US08/579,184
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 455/412, 455/413, 455/445, 455/458, 455/459, 455/461, 455/414, 455/417, 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 379/88
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers

Abstract

A system and method of using two-way paging to establish communications with a mobile party having a Personal Telephone Number. The mobile party is equipped with a two-way pager which the party may use to provide call control. The pager is periodically queried by a network and/or paging service to determine whether or not the pager is reachable. If the pager becomes unreachable, and thereafter a call is placed to the party'"'"'s Personal Telephone Number, the network routes the call to a default station. If the pager is reachable, any one of a number of alternative call routing procedures may be invoked including: registration type routing, call-by-call routing, revertive calling, call examination routing, and subsequent routing. In one possible embodiment, a Customer Routing Point is used to store the pager status along with other call routing information, and a Network Control Point is used to carry out the appropriate routing procedure. Other possible embodiments include: using an adjunct to perform the functions of the Customer Routing Point and Network Control Point; and combining an adjunct with a Customer Routing Point and Network Control Point.

Claims

1. A system for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a called party'"'"'s personal telephone number, comprising:

a) means for determining whether a two-way pager associated with the called party'"'"'s personal telephone number is reachable independent of location of the pager;

b) means for causing the call to be routed to a default station when said two-way pager is unreachable, wherein said determining and said causing are accomplished without sending a page to said two-way pager in response to the call.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said two-way pager is equipped with an automatic off switch, which when activated causes said two-way pager to become unreachable.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving one or more call control parameters, said parameters originating from said two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device; and

means for routing the call to said second communication device when said two-way pager is reachable.

4. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call;

receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device; and

c) using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more subsequent call control parameters, said subsequent parameters originating from said two-way pager and being received after said call control parameters were used in said using step to route the call to said second communication device; and

using said subsequent parameters to reroute the call to a third communication device.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein when said two-way pager is reachable the method further comprises the steps:

retrieving a pager code for the subscriber;

initiating a page to the subscriber; and

receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters being originated by the subscriber using the two-way pager in response to said page and being associated with a second communication device.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein said step of using said call control parameters to route the call comprises the steps of:

coupling the call to a voice response unit;

using said voice response unit to collect one or more entered digits;

automatically screening the call based on said entered digits to determine whether the call should be routed to a second communication device associated with said call control parameters or routed to an alternative treatment; and

routing the call in response to the result of said screening.

8. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more subsequent call control parameters, said subsequent parameters originating from said two-way pager and being received after said call control parameters were used in said using step to route the call to said second communication device; and

using said subsequent parameters to reroute the call to a third communication device.

9. A method according to claim 4, wherein when said two-way pager is reachable the method further comprises the steps of:

receiving and storing one or more call control parameters at a database prior to the initiation of the call, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device;

retrieving said call control parameters from said database; and

using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device.

10. A system for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, said system comprising:

a) means for (i) determining prior to accessing the subscriber whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager, and (ii) routing the call to a default station when the two-way pager is determined to be unreachable;

b) means for receiving one or more call control parameters when the two-way pager is determined to be reachable, said parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device; and

c) means for using said call control parameters to [decide and] process the call for completion at said second communication device when the two-way pager is reachable.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the two-way pager is equipped with an automatic off switch, which when activated causes the two-way pager to become unreachable and notifies said means for determining that the two-way pager is unreachable.

12. A system for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, said system comprising:

a) means for determining whether the two-way pager is reachable without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call independent of location of the pager;

b) means for routing the call to a default station when the two-way pager is unreachable.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the two-way pager is equipped with an automatic off switch, which, when activated, causes the two-way pager to become unreachable and notifies said means for determining that the two-way pager is unreachable.

14. A system for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a called party'"'"'s personal telephone number, comprising:

a) means for determining whether a two-way pager associated with the called party'"'"'s personal telephone number is reachable independent of location of pager, wherein said two-way pager is equipped with an automatic off switch, which when activated causes said two-way pager to become unreachable; and

b) means for causing the call to be routed to a default station when said two-way pager is unreachable, wherein said determining and said causing are accomplished without sending a page to said two-way pager in response to the call.

15. A system for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, said system comprising:

a) means for (i) determining prior to accessing the subscriber whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager, and (ii) routing the call to a default station when the two-way pager is determined to be unreachable;

b) means for receiving one or more call control parameters when the two-way pager is determined to be reachable, said parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device; and

c) means for using said call control parameters to process the call for completion at said second communication device when the two-way pager is reachable.

16. A system for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, said system comprising:

a) means for determining whether the two-way pager is reachable without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call independent of location of the pager;

wherein the two-way pager is equipped with an automatic off switch, which, when activated, causes the two-way pager to become unreachable and notifies said means for determining that the two-way pager is unreachable; and

b) means for routing the call to a default station when the two-way pager is unreachable.

17. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

determining whether the two-way pager is reachable;

when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call;

receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device; and

using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters;

receiving one or more subsequent call control parameters, said subsequent parameters originating from said two-way pager and being received after said call control parameters were used in said using step to route the call to said second communication device; and

using said subsequent parameters to reroute the call to a third communication device.

18. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call;

receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device;

(c) when said two-way pager is reachable, retrieving a pager code for the subscriber, initiating a page to the subscriber, and receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters being originated by the subscriber using the two-way pager in response to said page and being associated with a second communication device; and

(d) using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device.

19. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call, receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device, and using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters; and

c) when the two-way pager is reachable, receiving a revertive call indicator, said revertive call indicator being originated from the two-way pager by the subscriber, holding said call in response to receiving said revertive call indicator until a return call is initiated from a second communication device, and bridging the call to said second communication device in response to said return call.

20. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call, receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device, using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters; and

c) when the two-way pager is reachable, receiving a location indicator, said location indicator (i) having been supplied by the two-way pager in response to an action by the subscriber, and (ii) being associated with a location where one or more second communication devices are present, determining a characteristic of the call, comparing said call characteristic to one or more characteristics of said one or more second communication devices to determine a best matching second communication device, and routing the call to said best matching second communication device.

21. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call, receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device, using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters; and

c) wherein when the two-way pager is reachable, receiving a location indicator, said location indicator (i) having been supplied by the two-way pager in response to an action by the subscriber, and (ii) being associated with a location where one or more second communication devices are present, determining a bandwidth of the call, comparing said call bandwidth to one or more bandwidths of said one or more second communication devices to determine a best matching second communication device, and routing the call to said best matching second communication device.

22. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call, receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device, and using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters; and

c) when the two-way pager is reachable, receiving a location indicator, said location indicator (i) having been supplied by the two-way pager in response to an action by the subscriber, and (ii) being associated with a location where one or more second communication devices are present, determining a protocol used for the call, comparing said call protocol to one or more protocols compatible with said one or more second communication devices to determine a best matching second communication device at said location indicated by said location indicator, and routing the call to said best matching second communication device.

23. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call, receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device, using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters; and

c) when said two-way pager is reachable, determining an identification number for the first communication device, automatically screening the call based on said identification number to determine whether the call should be processed for completion to the subscriber, and routing the call in response to the result of said screening.

24. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable independent of location of the pager;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call, receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device, using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters; and

c) when said two-way pager is reachable, receiving and storing one or more call control parameters at a database prior to the initiation of the call, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with said desired station, and retrieving said call control parameters from said database, using said call control parameters to route the call to said desired station.

25. A system for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a called party'"'"'s personal telephone number, comprising:

a) means for determining whether a two-way pager associated with the called party'"'"'s personal telephone number is reachable independent of location of the pager; and

b) means for taking a default action when said two-way pager is unreachable;

wherein said determining and said taking are accomplished without sending a page to said two-way pager in response to the call.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said means for taking a default action comprises means for causing the call to be routed to a default station.

27. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call;

receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device; and

c) when said two-way pager is reachable, receiving and storing one or more call control parameters at a database prior to the initiation of the call, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device;

d) using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters; and

e) receiving one or more subsequent call control parameters, said subsequent parameters originating from said two-way pager and being received after said call control parameters were used in said using step to route the call to said second communication device, and using said subsequent parameters to reroute the call to a third communication device.

28. A method for routing a call that is initiated from a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber'"'"'s personal telephone number, the subscriber being equipped with a two-way pager, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the two-way pager is reachable;

b) when the two-way pager is unreachable, routing the call to a desired station, wherein said determining is performed without sending a page to the two-way pager in response to the call;

receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device; and

c) when said two-way pager is reachable, receiving and storing one or more call control parameters at a database prior to the initiation of the call, said call control parameters originating from the two-way pager and being associated with a second communication device;

retrieving a pager code for the subscriber;

initiating a page to the subscriber, receiving one or more call control parameters, said call control parameters being originated by the subscriber using the two-way pager in response to said page and being associated with a second communication device; and

d) using said call control parameters to route the call to said second communication device associated with said parameters.