Wireless centrex conference call adding a party

• US 6,535,730 B1
• Filed: 12/13/1999
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Albert, Kim, Jinman, Wang, Spencer, Ying, Wenchu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/460,456
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 455/555, 455/422, 455/414, 455/435, 455/416, 455/428, 455/459, 455/462, 379/202.01, 379/205.01, 379/204.01, 379/212.01, 379/158
• US Class Current: 455/416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks

Abstract

The instant invention discloses a method and system for providing a novel wireless centrex service that untethers subscribers from the immobility associated with traditional desktop telephones. Essentially, the present invention extends the benefits of wireless voice and data services to subscribers having a need to move within a plurality of localities such as business and hospital campuses.

In accordance with the invention, a wireless telephone subscriber can use a standard cellular/PCS telephone as a wireless extension of their desktop phone, while in the proximity of a miniature radio base station capable of communicating with the PCS/cellular telephone. The advantage of such a system is that a subscriber can use the same cellular/PCS telephone that provides service in the public network in the wireless centrex environment. Additionally, the wireless centrex system provides services and features which are similar to those offered to regular centrex telephone subscribers. Exemplary features include, caller ID, call waiting, call hold, call transfer, call forwarding and voice messaging.

Claims

1. A method for adding at least one other party to a telephone call with a mobile station, comprising the steps of:

establishing an active call between at least one other communication device and said mobile station;

requesting, using an input on said mobile station, an intelligent transceiver to add said another party to said active call;

forwarding said requested addition of said another party from said intelligent transceiver to an intelligent server;

approving said mobile station as being authorized to add said another party to said active call;

providing said intelligent transceiver instructions from said intelligent server indicating that said another party having a conference-to directory number is to be added to said active call;

placing said active call on hold with said intelligent transceiver;

playing comfort noise to said at least one other user communication device;

establishing another active call between said mobile station and said conference-to directory number;

indicating to said intelligent transceiver that said conference call setup is proceeding; and

connecting said active call on hold with said another active call so that said at least one other communication device is connected to said conference-to directory number and said mobile station in said conference call, wherein;

said conference-to directory number is associated with a PSTN telephone,

said step of forwarding said requested addition of said another party is provided using a feature request message, and

said step of indicating to said intelligent transceiver that said conference call setup is proceeding is provided by using a three way proceeding message.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent transceiver is a voice access port and said intelligent server is a network server platform.

3. A method for establishing a conference call with a mobile station in a wireless centrex system, comprising the steps of:

sending a conference call setup request message with said mobile station, said conference call setup request message including a conference call feature initiation code and a conference-to directory number;

placing an active call on hold;

setting up another active call with said conference-to directory number and said mobile station;

connecting said active call on hold with said another active call;

sending a feature request message from an intelligent transceiver to an intelligent server;

verifying that said mobile station is authorized for said conference call setup;

informing said intelligent transceiver to proceed with conference call setup;

providing said mobile station with an announcement indicating that a conference call is being set up;

providing a message from a central telephone switch to said intelligent transceiver indicating that staid step of setting up another active call with said conference-to directory number is proceeding;

sending a hold message from said intelligent transceiver to said intelligent server so as to trigger said active call being placed on hold; and

providing a message from said intelligent transceiver to said intelligent server indicating that said step of setting up another active call with said conference-to directory number has proceeded so as to set up said conference call successfully.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of connecting said active call on hold with said another active call includes the steps of:

retrieving said active call from hold;

connecting said active call on hold with said another active call on a single communication channel; and

releasing another communication channel on which said another active call was established.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said intelligent transceiver is a voice access port, said intelligent server is a network server platform, and said central telephone switch is a local digital switch.

6. A system for handling a telephone call to a mobile station, comprising:

a central telephone switch for creating a voice path between said mobile station and at least one other user communication device;

an intelligent server coupled to said central telephone switch for receiving a feature request message and determining whether said mobile station is authorized to receive a conference call feature requested; and

an intelligent radio transceiver for receiving a call transfer request from said mobile station and placing an active call on hold while a conference-to directory number is contacted.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said intelligent server sends a conference call set up approved message to said intelligent radio transceiver.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a voice processing unit for providing an announcement to at least one party of said active call instructing that a conference call is being initiated.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a digital signal processor for providing noise to a voice channel of said at least one other user communication device and wherein the announcement is provided to at least said mobile station so as to indicate that said conference call is being initiated.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said announcement is provided repeatedly over time.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said intelligent radio transceiver is a voice access port, said central telephone switch is a local digital switch, and said intelligent server is a network server platform.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a remote digital terminal connected to said local digital switch and said voice access port.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said network service platform further comprises:

a memory for storing information related to a profile of the mobile station; and

a controller, responsive to said local digital switch, for evaluating the profile of a called party.

14. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a means for interrupting said conference call setup before it is completed if said conference-to directory number can not be connected.

15. The system according to claim 6 further comprising a means to retrieve said active call placed on hold during said conference call setup.

16. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a means for setting up a call between said mobile station and said conference-to directory number.

17. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a means for enabling said mobile station to actively provide said intelligent transceiver an instruction to interrupt establishment of another active call with said conference-to directory number before an answer occurs.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said means for enabling said mobile station to actively provide said intelligent server an instruction to interrupt establishment of another active call includes a feature initiation message.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein another active call setup is released from said conference call setup.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said active call is retrieved so that said at least one other user communication device is connected with a communication channel to said mobile station.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said at least one other user communication device is a first PSTN telephone.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said conference-to directory number is associated with a directory number outside a wireless centrex system.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said conference-to directory number is associated with a directory number within a wireless centrex system.