Method and system for redirecting calls placed to a mobile phone to a second phone

• US 6,701,145 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Payne, David M., Payne, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/918,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20030022660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/416, 455/462, 455/555, 455/427, 455/426, 455/422, 455/428, 455/550, 455/552
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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 3/548 with remote control

Abstract

A method for redirecting calls placed to a mobile phone having a redirect functionality and a second phone via a redirect service, which includes the steps of sending a redirect service request using the redirect button on the mobile phone to the second phone, activating the redirect service by the second phone responsive to the redirect service request, and redirecting incoming calls to the mobile phone to the second phone.

Claims

1. A method for redirecting calls placed to a mobile phone to a second phone, comprising:

initializing call redirection by sending a redirect service request from the mobile phone to the second phone using a redirect functionality of the mobile phone;

relaying the redirect service request from the second phone to a redirect service to activate the redirect service by having the second phone dial the redirect service and provide phone number of the mobile phone and the second phone; and

redirecting incoming calls with the redirect service such that calls to the mobile phone are redirected to the second phone without any communication being sent to the mobile phone.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the redirect functionality comprises one of a redirect button physically placed on the mobile phone, a menu selection displayed on the screen of the mobile phone, or a voice activated mechanism.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second phone comprises one of a land-line phone, a mobile phone, or an Internet phone.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether there is an incoming call to the mobile phone;

redirecting the incoming call to the second phone number when there is an incoming call; and

repeating said step of determining whether there is an incoming call to the mobile phone until an incoming call is received.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending a redirect service request comprises sending an infrared signal to the second phone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending a redirect service request comprises sending a radio frequency signal to the second phone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein sending a redirect service request comprises sending an analog signal to the second phone.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising saving a redirect order redirecting incoming calls to the mobile phone number to the second phone number provided to the redirect service.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:

determining whether there is a redirect order saved on the redirect service upon an incoming call on the mobile phone;

sending the incoming call to the mobile phone number when there is no redirect order saved; and

sending the incoming call to the second phone number when there is a redirect order saved.

10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:

determining whether there is a request to terminate the redirect service; and

terminating the redirect service when there is a request to terminate.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the termination of the redirect service is initiated from the redirect functionality on the mobile phone.

12. A system for redirecting, comprising:

a mobile phone having a redirect functionality that is configured to initiate sending of a redirect service request to a physically proximate phone so as to initialize redirection of calls to the physically proximate phone;

a second phone having an associated redirect device that is configured to receive a redirect service request from a physically proximate mobile telephone and relay the request to a redirect service by calling the redirect service and providing a phone number of the mobile phone and the second phone, the second phone also being configured to receive redirected incoming calls;

a redirect service that is configured to receive a redirect service request from the second phone and redirect incoming calls to a mobile phone to the second phone; and

an activator that is configured to activate the redirect service responsive responsive to a redirect service request in a manner such that calls to the mobile phone are automatically redirected to the second phone without requiring action by the mobile phone.

13. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said redirect service request comprises instructions directed to the second phone for activating the second phone, and the phone number of the mobile phone.

14. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said mobile phone is configured to send an analog signal containing the redirect service request to the microphone of said second phone.

15. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said activator is a redirect service phone number assigned to the redirect service, wherein said redirect service is activated by the second phone dialing said redirect service phone number for connection with said redirect service.

16. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said mobile phone and said second phone comprise infrared communication components that facilitate sending of the redirect service request from said mobile phone to said second phone.

17. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said infrared communication component of said mobile phone is initiated by said redirect functionality on said mobile phone.

18. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said mobile phone is configured to transmit an infrared signal including the redirect service request and the mobile phone number to said second phone, said second phone being configured to initiate said activator with the information received from said mobile phone and the second phone number responsive to said infrared signal being received.

19. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said mobile phone and said second phone comprise radio frequency communication components that facilitate sending of the redirect signal request from said mobile phone to said second phone.

20. The system as defined in claim 19 wherein said radio frequency communication component of said mobile phone is initiated by said redirect functionality on said mobile phone.

21. The system as defined in claim 19 wherein said mobile phone is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal including the redirect service request and the mobile phone number to said second phone.

22. A method for facilitating call redirection, comprising the steps of:

receiving with a land-line phone a redirect service request generated by a physically proximate mobile phone having a redirect functionality; and

relaying the redirect service request from the land-line phone to a redirect service by calling the redirect service from the land-line phone such that the redirect service will redirect calls intended for the mobile phone to the land-line telephone without requiring action by the mobile telephone.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the redirect service request comprises:

receiving a telephone number of the mobile phone.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the redirect service request comprises receiving an infrared signal having the redirect service request.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the redirect service request comprises receiving a radio-frequency signal having the redirect service request.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the redirect service request comprises receiving an analog audio signal having the redirect service request.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving with the land-line phone a second redirect service request generated by a physically-proximate mobile phone having a redirect functionality; and

relaying the second redirect service request from the land-line phone to the redirect service by calling the redirect service from the land-line phone such that the redirect service will terminate redirection of calls to the land-line phone.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein relaying the redirect service request comprises relaying a telephone number of the land-line phone from the land-line phone to the redirect service.