Automatic reassignment of a telephone number of a wireless terminal based on location of the wireless terminal

• US 6,381,470 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Hardouin, Larry J., Griffith, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/198,990
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 455/551, 455/440, 455/414, 455/418, 455/419, 455/461, 455/465, 455/456, 455/432
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• 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

When a wireless terminal enters a new location, the telephone number assigned to the wireless terminal is automatically changed to a telephone number assigned to that location based on an assignment level of the wireless terminal for that location. The features associated with the wireless terminal will also be changed to the features assigned to the location. In addition, this invention allows flexibility for the telephone number of the wireless terminal to remain fixed and not to be changed to a telephone number assigned to a particular location. Further, a wireless terminal has a plurality of assignment levels with different assignment levels being utilized for different locations. This allows the user of the wireless terminal to perform different functions within different locations. In addition, each wireless terminal has a personal telephone number assigned to it. The wireless telephone can use either its personal telephone number or the telephone number of the present location for purposes of caller identification during call originations.

Claims

1. A method of administering telecommunication numbers for a wireless terminal, comprising the steps of:

determining in which one of a plurality of locations the wireless terminal is located;

determining first assignment level that is based on a first skill level of a user of the wireless terminal in the one of the plurality of locations;

identifying a first telecommunication number assigned to the one of the plurality of locations for the determined first assignment level;

assigning the first telecommunication number assigned to the one of the plurality of locations to the wireless terminal;

determining that the wireless terminal has relocated to another one of the plurality of locations;

determining a second assignment level that is based on a second skill level of the user of the wireless terminal in the other one of the plurality of locations;

identifying a first telecommunication number assigned to the other one of the plurality of locations for the determined second assignment level; and

assigning the first telecommunication assigned to the other one of the plurality of locations to the wireless terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the location further determining that another wireless terminal whose user has the first skill level in the one of plurality of locations for the first assignment level has just located in the one of the plurality locations:

identifying another one of the plurality of telecommunication numbers assigned to the one of the plurality of locations for the determined first assignment level; and

assigning the other one of the plurality of telecommunication numbers assigned to the one of the plurality of locations for the first assignment level to the other wireless terminal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the location further determining that another wireless terminal with a third level that is based on a second skill level of a user of the other wireless terminal in the one of the plurality of locations has just located in the one of the plurality of locations:

identifying a third one of the plurality of telecommunication numbers assigned to the one of the plurality of locations for the determined third assignment level; and

assigning the third one of the plurality of telecommunication numbers assigned to the one of the plurality of locations for the determined third assignment level to the other wireless terminal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the wireless terminal has a personal telephone number and the method further comprises the step of specifying that the personal telephone number is used for call identification information on call origination or the one of the plurality of telecommunication numbers assigned to the one of the plurality of locations for the determined first assignment level is used for call identification information on call origination by administration.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of determining location comprises the step of transmitting location information by the wireless terminal to a wireless switching system that provides telecommunication service for the wireless terminal;

and

providing the one of the plurality of locations to the wireless terminal in response to transmitted location information by the wireless switching system.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprises receiving the location information by the wireless terminal from a fixed unit within the one of the plurality of locations.

7. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 1.

8. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 2.

9. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 3.