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

• US 6,108,521 A
• Filed: 05/20/1997
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• 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): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US09/325,755
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 455/414, 455/417, 455/422, 455/426, 455/427, 455/445, 455/461, 340/311.1, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A system and method of using two-way paging to establish communications with a mobile party having a Personal Telephone Number (PTN). The mobile party uses the two-way pager to transmit call control parameters which are used by the telephone network to route calls directed to the party'"'"'s PTN. The mobile party may also use the pager to transmit a location indicator which specifies the subscriber'"'"'s location and informs the network of the subscriber'"'"'s intention to receive calls according to a call examination procedure. To invoke the call examination procedure, the bandwidths and protocols of all possible terminating stations associated with the subscriber'"'"'s location are stored in the network on a pre-provisioned basis. Thereafter, when a call is placed to the subscriber'"'"'s PTN, the network determines the bandwidth and protocol of the originating station, selects a terminating station that is located at the subscriber site and has a bandwidth and protocol most closely resembling that of the originating station, and routes the call to the selected terminating station.

Claims

1. A method for routing a call that is initiated at a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a location indicator, said location indicator originating from a two-way pager in response to a command from the subscriber and being associated with a location where one or more second communication devices are present, each of said second communication devices having one or more parameters which are second communication device parameters;

wherein said origination of said location indicator is commanded by the subscriber at any time prior to initiation of the call;

b) determining one or more communication parameters other than a terminating station identifier associated with the call;

c) determining a best matching one of said second communication devices at said location based on said determined communication parameters; and

d) routing the call to said best matching one of said second communication devices.

2. The invention of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said location indicator in a database.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said one or more communication parameters is a call bandwidth.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said one or more communication parameters is a call protocol.

5. The invention of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing information associating each of said second communication devices with its location and its parameters.

6. A system for routing a call that is initiated at a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber, comprising:

a) means for receiving a location indicator, said location indicator originating from a two-way pager in response to a command from the subscriber and being associated with a location where one or more second communication devices are present;

wherein said origination of said location indicator is commanded by the subscriber at any time prior to initiation of the call;

b) means for determining one or more communication parameters other than a terminating station identifier associated with the call;

c) means for determining a most appropriate second communication device at said indicated location based on said determined communication parameters; and

d) means for routing the call to said most appropriate second communication device.

7. The invention of claim 6, further comprising:

means for storing information associating each of said second communication devices with its location and its parameters.

8. A method for routing a call that is initiated at a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a location indicator, said location indicator originating from a two-way pager in response to a command from the subscriber and being associated with a location where one or more second communication devices are present, each of said second communication devices having one or more parameters which are second communication device parameters;

wherein said origination of said location indicator is commanded by the subscriber in response to the subscriber being alerted to the call;

b) determining one or more communication parameters other than a terminating station identifier associated with the call;

c) determining a best matching one of said second communication devices at said location based on said determined communication parameters; and

d) routing the call to said best matching one of said second communication devices.

9. The invention of claim 8, further comprising the step of storing said location indicator in a database.

10. The invention of claim 8, wherein said one or more communication parameters is a call bandwidth.

12. The invention of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

storing information associating each of said second communication devices with its location and its parameters.

11. The invention of 8, wherein said one or more communication parameters is a call protocol.

13. A system for routing a call that is initiated at a first communication device and is directed to a subscriber, comprising:

a) means for receiving a location indicator, said location indicator originating from a two-way pager in response to a command from the subscriber and being associated with a location where one or more second communication devices are present;

wherein said origination of said location indicator is commanded by the subscriber in response to the subscriber being alerted to the call;

b) means for determining one or more communication parameters other than a terminating station identifier associated with the call;

c) means for determining a most appropriate second communication device at said indicated location based on said determined communication parameters; and

d) means for routing the call to said most appropriate second communication device.

14. The invention of claim 13, further comprising:

means for storing information associating each of said second communication devices with its location and its parameters.