Method and apparatus for alerting a communication unit in a communication system

• US 6,148,064 A
• Filed: 12/10/1998
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fidai, Sikendar, Christensen, Laura A., Epsom, Robert L., Krebs, Jay R., Belkin, Anatoly S., Urs, Kamala D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/208,783
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.12, 379/88.15, 379/372, 379/373, 379/376, 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 455/38.2, 455/38.4, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/417, 455/517
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

A calling communication unit (210) transmits a dispatch communication request to a communication infrastructure (202). The dispatch communication request includes at least a dispatch identification of a called communication unit (e.g.,216). In response to the dispatch communication request, the communication infrastructure generates an alert message that includes a dispatch identification of the calling communication unit and determines a telephone number associated with the called communication unit. The communication infrastructure then transmits the generated alert message to the called communication unit based on the telephone number associated with the called communication unit.

Claims

1. A method for a communication infrastructure in a communication system to alert a called communication unit of an attempt by a calling communication unit to communicate with the called communication unit, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from the calling communication unit a dispatch communication request that includes a dispatch identification of the called communication unit;

generating an alert message that includes a dispatch identification of the calling communication unit;

determining a telephone number associated with the called communication unit; and

transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit based on the telephone number associated with the called communication unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert message comprises a short text message, wherein the communication infrastructure includes a short message processor, and wherein the step of transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit comprises the step of transmitting, by the short message processor, the alert message to the called communication unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit comprises the steps of:

determining whether the called communication unit is presently engaged in a telephone communication;

when the called communication unit is presently engaged in a telephone communication,

transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit;

when the called communication unit is not presently engaged in a telephone communication,

transmitting a page to the called communication unit;

determining whether a response to the page has been received from the called communication unit; and

when a response to the page has been received from the called communication unit, transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert message further includes a telephone number associated with the calling communication unit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, prior to transmitting the alert message, whether the called communication unit is capable of receiving the alert message.

6. A method for a calling communication unit in a communication system to alert a called communication unit of an attempt to communicate, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting to a communication infrastructure a dispatch communication request that includes a dispatch identification of the called communication unit;

receiving an indication of which services are available to a user of the calling communication unit related to the dispatch communication request; and

when the indication indicates that alert service is available to the user of the calling communication unit, transmitting an alert request message to the communication infrastructure, the alert request message requesting that the called communication unit be alerted of an attempt by the calling communication unit to communicate with the called communication unit.

7. A method for a communication infrastructure in a communication system to alert a called communication unit of an attempt by a calling communication unit to communicate with the called communication unit, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from the calling communication unit a dispatch communication request that includes a dispatch identification of the called communication unit;

transmitting to the calling communication unit, in response the dispatch communication request, a telephone number associated with the called communication unit;

receiving from the calling communication unit an alert message and the telephone number associated with the called communication unit, the alert message including a dispatch identification of the calling communication unit and a user message; and

transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit based on the telephone number associated with the called communication unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the alert message comprises a short text message, wherein the communication infrastructure includes a short message processor, and wherein the step of transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit comprises the step of transmitting, by the short message processor, the alert message to the called communication unit.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit comprises the steps of:

determining whether the called communication unit is presently engaged in a telephone communication;

when the called communication unit is presently engaged in a telephone communication,

transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit;

when the called communication unit is not presently engaged in a telephone communication,

transmitting a page to the called communication unit;

determining whether a response to the page has been received from the called communication unit; and

when the response to the page has been received from the called communication unit, transmitting the alert message to the called communication unit.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the alert message further includes a telephone number associated with the calling communication unit.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of determining, prior to the step of transmitting the alert message, whether the called communication unit is capable of receiving the alert message.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of transmitting a telephone number associated with a voice mail server that provides voice mail service to the called communication unit and an identification of a mailbox at the voice mail server associated with the called communication unit.

13. A method for a calling communication unit in a communication system to alert a called communication unit of an attempt to communicate, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting to a communication infrastructure a dispatch communication request that includes a dispatch identification of the called communication unit;

receiving from the communication infrastructure a telephone number associated with the called communication unit in response to the dispatch communication request; and

transmitting an alert message and the telephone number associated with the called communication unit to the communication infrastructure, the alert message including a dispatch identification of the calling communication unit and a user message.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

prior to the step of receiving the telephone number associated with the called communication unit,

receiving an indication of which services are available to a user of the calling communication unit related to the dispatch communication request; and

when the indication indicates that alert service is available to the user of the calling communication unit, transmitting a service request message to the communication infrastructure, the service request message requesting that the called communication unit be alerted of an attempt by the calling communication unit to communicate with the called communication unit.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of receiving further comprises the step of receiving a telephone number associated with a voice mail server that provides voice mail service to the called communication unit and an identification of a mailbox at the voice mail server associated with the called communication unit.

16. A communication unit comprising:

a transmitter that transmits a dispatch communication request to a communication infrastructure, the dispatch communication request including a dispatch identification of a called communication unit;

a receiver that receives, responsive to transmission of the dispatch communication request, a telephone number associated with the called communication unit; and

a processor, coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, that instructs the transmitter to transmit an alert message to the called communication unit via the communication infrastructure, wherein the alert message includes the telephone number associated with the called communication unit, a dispatch identification of the communication unit, and a user message.

17. A communication infrastructure comprising:

a base site that receives a dispatch communication request from a calling communication unit, the dispatch communication request including a dispatch identification of a called communication unit;

a dispatch controller, coupled to the base site, that obtains the dispatch communication request from the base site, and when the dispatch communication request cannot be fulfilled, provides a telephone number associated with the called communication unit to the calling communication unit via the base site; and

a short message processor, coupled to the base site, that receives an alert message and the telephone number associated with the called communication unit from the base site when the dispatch communication request cannot be fulfilled, the alert message including a dispatch identification of the calling communication unit and a user message, and that conveys the alert message to the called communication unit based on the telephone number associated with the called communication unit.

18. The communication infrastructure of claim 17, wherein the base site receives the alert message from the calling communication unit.

19. The communication infrastructure of claim 17, further comprising a voice mail server, coupled to the base site, that provides voice mail service to the called communication unit, wherein the base site further receives from the dispatch controller a telephone number associated with the voice mail server and an identification of a mailbox at the voice mail server associated with the called communication unit and transmits the telephone number associated with the voice mail server and the identification of the mailbox to the calling communication unit.

20. A communication infrastructure comprising:

a base site that receives an alert request and a dispatch identification of a called communication unit from a calling communication unit;

a dispatch controller, coupled to the base site, that obtains the dispatch identification and the alert request from the base site, determines a telephone number associated with the called communication unit, and generates an alert message that includes a dispatch identification of the calling communication unit; and

a short message processor, coupled to the dispatch controller, that receives the alert message and the telephone number associated with the called communication unit from the dispatch controller and conveys the alert message to the called communication unit based on the telephone number associated with the called communication unit.