Method to route an incoming call, telecommunication terminal, and destination terminal selection arrangement

• US 6,590,969 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Naxos Data LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Peters, Marco Johannes Hubertus, Vosters, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/456,482
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 455/417, 455/414, 455/459
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/158 Call-type dependent routing route determination based on the nature of the carried application in packet switching networks H04L45/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

If a terminal (MOB_T) receives an incoming call and this receiving terminal (MOB_T) is not suitable to handle this incoming call, the receiving terminal (MOB_T) detects the service type of the incoming call, and notifies this service type to a destination terminal selecting arrangement (PRES_GATH). The destination terminal selecting arrangement (PRES_GATH) registers the presence and capabilities of all terminals (FAX_T, BB_T, MOB_T) within a certain area, and upon receipt of the service type of the incoming call selects the most suitable terminal (FAX_T) within the area of the receiving terminal (MOB_T) to handle the call. The destination terminal selecting arrangement (PRES_GATH) thereupon notifies the address of this most suitable terminal (FAX_T) to the receiving terminal (MOB_T) so that the receiving terminal (MOB_T) can forward the incoming call to the most suitable terminal (FAX_T).

Claims

1. A method of routing in a telecommunication system an incoming call from a receiving terminal to a suitable destination terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said incoming call in said receiving terminal;

detecting a service type associated with said incoming call;

notifying a destination terminal selecting arrangement of said service type, said destination terminal selecting arrangement registering a presence and capabilities of a plurality of terminals including said receiving terminal;

receiving at said receiving terminal an address of said suitable destination terminal from said destination terminal selecting arrangement, said suitable destination terminal having the best capabilities to handle calls of said service type; and

forwarding said incoming call from said receiving terminal to said suitable destination terminal.

2. A method of selecting a suitable destination terminal for routing thereto in a telecommunication system an incoming call received in a receiving terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

registering presence and capabilities of a plurality of terminals within a certain area including said suitable destination terminal and said receiving terminal;

receiving from said receiving terminal a notification of a service type associated with said incoming call;

selecting said suitable destination terminal as being a terminal amongst said plurality of terminals with best capabilities to handle calls of said service type of said incoming call; and

notifying said receiving terminal of an address of said suitable destination terminal.

3. A receiving terminal suitable to receive in a telecommunication network an incoming call and to route said incoming call to a suitable destination terminal, said receiving terminal comprising:

call receiving means, coupled to a first input terminal of said receiving terminal and adapted to receive said incoming call;

call forwarding means, coupled between said call receiving means and a first output terminal of said receiving terminal, and adapted to forward said incoming call to said suitable destination terminal;

presence notification means, coupled with its output to a second output terminal of said receiving terminal and adapted to provide notification of presence and capabilities of said receiving terminal to a destination terminal selecting device which is able to register presence and capabilities of terminals within a certain area;

type detection means, coupled to said call receiving means and adapted to detect a service type associated with said incoming call;

type notification means, coupled between said type detection means and a third output terminal of said receiving terminal, and adapted to provide notification of said service type of said incoming call to said destination terminal selecting arrangement; and

address receiving means, coupled to a second input terminal of said receiving terminal and having an output coupled to a control input of said call forwarding means, said address receiving means being adapted to receive an address of said suitable destination terminal from said destination terminal selecting arrangement and to apply said address to said call forwarding means.

8. A telecommunication system comprising:

a plurality of terminals interconnected via a network of links and network nodes,

at least one receiving terminal as defined in claim 3, and

at least one destination terminal selecting arrangement.

4. A destination terminal selecting arrangement suitable for use in a telecommunication system wherein an incoming call received in a receiving terminal has to be routed to a suitable destination terminal, said destination terminal selecting arrangement comprising:

terminal registration means, coupled to a first input terminal of said destination terminal selecting arrangement and adapted to register presence and capabilities of a plurality of terminals within a certain area including said suitable destination terminal and said receiving terminal;

type notification receiving means, coupled to a second input terminal of said destination terminal selecting device and adapted to receive from said receiving terminal a notification of a service type associated with said incoming call;

terminal selecting means, coupled to said terminal registration means and to said type notification receiving means, and adapted to select said suitable destination terminal as being a terminal amongst said plurality of terminals with best capabilities to handle calls of said service type of said incoming call; and

address notifying means, coupled between said terminal selecting means and an output terminal of said destination terminal selecting arrangement, and adapted to provide notification of an address of said suitable destination terminal to said receiving terminal.

5. A destination terminal selecting arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising automatic de-registration means, being coupled to said terminal registration means and being adapted to automatically de-register a terminal amongst said plurality of terminals which does not provide re-notification of its presence in said area to said destination terminal selecting arrangement during a certain time interval.

6. A destination terminal selecting arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said destination terminal selecting arrangement is incorporated in a network node of said telecommunication system.

7. A destination terminal selecting arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said destination terminal selecting arrangement is incorporated in a terminal.