Method of calling a mobile station in a mobile telephone system

• US 6,311,057 B1
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Barvesten, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US08/883,004
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/413, 455/435, 455/558, 455/564, 455/566, 455/414, 455/415, 455/417, 455/528, 455/517, 455/459, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

When a mobile station in a mobile telephone system is called, a check is made whether the mobile station is operatively available for answering an incoming call to the mobile station. If the mobile station is found to be unavailable for answering the call, the telephone number of the caller is registered. Name information relating to the caller is retrieved from the operator, which provides the caller'"'"'s telephone subscription. A digital text message is provided with identity information, comprising the registered telephone number and the corresponding name information, and is transmitted to the mobile station, once the mobile station becomes operatively available.

Claims

1. A method of calling a mobile station in a mobile telephone system, wherein a telephone number of the caller is registered, if the mobile station is found to be operatively unavailable for answering the call, and wherein the telephone number thus registered is transmitted to the mobile station at a later moment, when the mobile station has regained its operative availability, comprising the steps of

analyzing the registered telephone number so as to identify a particular operator from which the call originates,

retrieving name information from the identified operator relating to the name of a subscriber, to which the registered telephone number belongs, and

generating a digital text message, comprising the registered telephone number and the corresponding retrieved name information for transmission to the mobile station when the mobile station becomes operatively available.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile station comprises a mobile telephone for use in a digital cellular mobile telephone system.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile station comprises an electronic subscriber identification card and a card reader for reading the card.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising the additional steps of

showing the telephone number and name information contained in the text message received by the mobile station on a display in the mobile station together with a proposal for automatic dialing of the telephone number, and

checking, through an input device in the mobile station, whether the dialling of the telephone number is requested, and—

if so—

performing the return call thus requested.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising the intermediate steps of

notifying the caller that the intended mobile station is operatively unavailable for answering the call by at least one of a spoken message, an acoustic message, and a visual message, and

offering registration of identity information relating to the caller,

wherein the identity information is only registered if the caller so permits by committing an acknowledging act.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator is a provider of a subscription associated with the caller'"'"'s telephone number.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the caller does not leave a message.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the caller'"'"'s call is not answered.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is operatively unavailable because it is turned off.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is operatively unavailable because supply of power to the mobile station is insufficient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is operatively unavailable because the mobile station is out of reach of the mobile telephone system.