Communication system

• US 6,038,442 A
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Shoji, Ueda, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/045,788
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/435, 455/440, 455/456, 455/414, 455/405, 455/407, 455/411, 455/417, 379/211, 379/212
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• 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

Abstract

Each of communication terminals for use in a communication system which performs voice communications and data communications has an individual database which manages mobility information of its own and other communication terminals. The mobility information managed by the individual database includes subscriber numbers, subscribers'"'"' names, authentication numbers, date and time information, incoming call destination priority information, terminal types, location registration information, incoming call addresses, etc. of its own and other communication terminals.

Claims

1. A communication terminal for use in a communication system for performing voice communications and data communications, comprising an individual database for managing mobility information including:

(a) a subscriber number of a subscriber;

(b) a type of a registered communication terminal owned by the subscriber;

(c) incoming call destination priority information for determining a priority rank for the registered communication terminal to receive an incoming call;

(d) present location registration information of the registered communication terminal if the registered communication terminal is a mobile terminal;

(e) an incoming call address of the registered communication terminal;

(f) tracking control information as to whether an incoming call is to be received by a communication terminal having a next priority rank if the registered communication terminal is incapable of communication;

(g) the information (a)-(f) classified according to dates and times;

(h) a subscriber number, registered by said subscriber, of at least one other subscriber; and

(i) the information (a)-(f) of said at least one other subscriber.

2. A method of calling a subscriber in a communication system which performs voice communications and data communications using a communication terminal which comprises an individual database for managing mobility information including (a) a subscriber number of a subscriber, (b) a type of a registered communication terminal owned by the subscriber, (c) incoming call destination priority information for determining a priority rank for the registered communication terminal to receive an incoming call, (d) present location registration information of the registered communication terminal if the registered communication terminal is a mobile terminal, (e) an incoming call address of the registered communication terminal, (f) tracking control information as to whether an incoming call is to be received by a communication terminal having a next priority rank if the registered communication terminal is incapable of communication, (g) the information (a)-(f) classified according to dates and times, (h) a subscriber number, registered by said subscriber, of at least one other subscriber, and (i) the information (a)-(f) of said at least one other subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

entering the subscriber number of the other subscriber, to which a call is to be transmitted, from the communication terminal of said subscriber;

inquiring about mobility information of the other subscriber, which is stored in an individual database of the other subscriber, based on the entered subscriber number via a communication network to acquire the mobility information of the other subscriber;

updating mobility information of the other subscriber, which is stored in the individual database of the subscriber, based on the acquired mobility information of the other subscriber;

checking incoming call destination priority information based on the updated mobility information of the other subscriber in the individual database of the subscriber, and acquiring an incoming call address of a communication terminal which has a first priority rank; and

calling the other subscriber via the communication terminal which has the acquired incoming call address.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

if the subscriber is incapable of communication with the communication terminal which has the acquired incoming call address, checking tracking control information of the communication terminal;

if the tracking control information represents tracking control, acquiring an incoming call address of a communication terminal whose incoming call destination priority information represents a next priority rank; and

calling the other subscriber via the communication terminal having the acquired incoming call address.

4. A method of updating mobility information in a communication system which performs voice communications and data communications using a communication terminal which comprises an individual database for managing mobility information including (a) a subscriber number of a subscriber, (b) a type of a registered communication terminal owned by the subscriber, (c) incoming call destination priority information for determining a priority rank for the registered communication terminal to receive an incoming call, (d) present location registration information of the registered communication terminal if the registered communication terminal is a mobile terminal, (e) an incoming call address of the registered communication terminal, (f) tracking control information as to whether an incoming call is to be received by a communication terminal having a next priority rank if the registered communication terminal is incapable of communication, (g) the information (a)-(f) classified according to dates and times, (h) a subscriber number, registered by said subscriber, of at least one other subscriber, and (i) the information (a)-(f) of said at least one other subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

when a mobile terminal owned by the subscriber is switched on or moves from a location registration area into another location registration area, sending a request to update mobility information from said mobile terminal to a mobile terminal having an individual database; and

updating the mobility information of the subscriber which is stored in the individual database of the subscriber.

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

transmitting the request to update mobility information from the mobile terminal of the subscriber simultaneously to other subscribers registered in the individual database of the subscriber; and

updating the mobility information of the subscriber in individual databases of mobile terminals of the other subscribers in response to the request to update mobility information.

6. A method of updating mobility information in a communication system which performs voice communications and data communications using a communication terminal which comprises an individual database for managing mobility information including (a) a subscriber number of a subscriber, (b) a type of a registered communication terminal owned by the subscriber, (c) incoming call destination priority information for determining a priority rank for the registered communication terminal to receive an incoming call, (d) present location registration information of the registered communication terminal if the registered communication terminal is a mobile terminal, (e) an incoming call address of the registered communication terminal, (f) tracking control information as to whether an incoming call is to be received by a communication terminal having a next priority rank if the registered communication terminal is incapable of communication, (g) the information (a)-(f) classified according to dates and times, (h) a subscriber number, registered by said subscriber, of at least one other subscriber, and (i) the information (a)-(f) of said at least one other subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

when the subscriber inserts a portable subscriber information memory card which carries the same information as the mobility information in the individual database into the communication terminal, transmitting a request to update mobility information from said communication terminal to another communication terminal having an individual database; and

updating the mobility information of the subscriber in the other individual database.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the request to update mobility information from the mobile terminal of the subscriber simultaneously to other subscribers registered in the individual database of the subscriber; and

updating the mobility information of the subscriber in individual databases of mobile terminals of the other subscribers in response to the request to update mobility information.

8. A method of updating mobility information in a communication system which performs voice communications and data communications using a communication terminal which comprises an individual database for managing mobility information including (a) a subscriber number of a subscriber, (b) a type of a registered communication terminal owned by the subscriber, (c) incoming call destination priority information for determining a priority rank for the registered communication terminal to receive an incoming call, (d) present location registration information of the registered communication terminal if the registered communication terminal is a mobile terminal, (e) an incoming call address of the registered communication terminal, (f) tracking control information as to whether an incoming call is to be received by a communication terminal having a next priority rank if the registered communication terminal is incapable of communication, (g) the information (a)-(f) classified according to dates and times, (h) a subscriber number, registered by said subscriber, of at least one other subscriber, and (i) the information (a)-(f) of said at least one other subscriber, said method comprising the step of:

when the subscriber changes communication terminals, accessing another communication terminal having an individual database via telephone to update the mobility information of the subscriber in the other individual database.

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

when the subscriber receives an incoming call from the other subscriber registered in the individual database thereof, receiving mobility information of the other subscriber; and

automatically updating the mobility information of the other subscriber stored in the individual database of the subscriber.

10. A method of updating mobility information in a communication system which performs voice communications and data communications using a communication terminal which comprises an individual database for managing mobility information including (a) a subscriber number of a subscriber, (b) a type of a registered communication terminal owned by the subscriber, (c) incoming call destination priority information for determining a priority rank for the registered communication terminal to receive an incoming call, (d) present location registration information of the registered communication terminal if the registered communication terminal is a mobile terminal, (e) an incoming call address of the registered communication terminal, (f) tracking control information as to whether an incoming call is to be received by a communication terminal having a next priority rank if the registered communication terminal is incapable of communication, (g) the information (a)-(f) classified according to dates and times, (h) a subscriber number, registered by said subscriber, of at least one other subscriber, and (i) the information (a)-(f) of said at least one other subscriber, said method comprising the step of:

manually updating the mobile information of the subscriber stored in the individual database thereof.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:

manually updating the mobile information of the other subscriber which is stored in the individual database of the subscriber.