Method of coordinating a call among multiple devices

• US 6,721,412 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Youngs, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AL AUBAIDI, RASHA S
• Application Number:
  US09/567,297
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 379/214.01, 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/72, 379/202.01, 379/204.01, 379/206.01, 379/211.04, 455/414, 455/415, 455/416, 455/462, 455/463
• US Class Current: 379/204.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained

Abstract

A method of coordinating an incoming call among a plurality of telephony devices includes generating an incoming call notification signal and a call status signal at each telephony device. In the presence of the incoming call, the incoming call notification signal is generated at each telephony device. Upon answering of the incoming call at an answering telephony device of the plurality of telephony devices, the call status signal is generated at each telephony device to inform a user of a status of the answered call.

Claims

1. A method of coordinating an incoming call among a plurality of synchronized wireline and wireless telephony devices to provide multiple extensions to cellular users and other users that do not remain in one location, the method comprising:

in the presence of the incoming call, generating an incoming call notification signal indicating caller identity at each telephony device; and

upon answering of the incoming call at an answering telephony device of the plurality of wireline and wireless telephony devices, determining a call status of the answered call, including identification of the caller and the answering telephony device, generating a call status signal at each telephony device, including identification of the caller, identification of the answering telephony device, an add prompt at the answering telephony device, and a join prompt at each non-answering telephony device, to inform a user of a status of the answered call, the add prompt allowing a user at the answering telephony device to select a different telephony device, the join prompt allowing a user at a non-answering telephony device to request to join the call, the status signal thereby generated to provide synchronized multiple extension coordination of an incoming call among a plurality of telephony devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the call status signal at each telephony device further comprises:

in response to triggering the add prompt, generating an incoming call signal at the selected different telephony device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of telephony devices share a single telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the call status signal includes a visual signal.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein each telephony device has a device type and wherein the visual signal is based in part on the device type.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the call status signal at each telephony device further comprises:

in response to a request to join the call at the join prompt, adding the non-answering telephony device to the call.

7. A system for coordinating an incoming call among a plurality of synchronized wireline and wireless telephony devices to provide multiple extensions to cellular users and other users that do not remain in one location, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireline and wireless telephony devices sharing a telephone number, each telephony device being programmed to, in the presence of the incoming call, generate an incoming call notification signal, including user identification, and to, upon answering of the incoming call at an answering telephony device of the plurality of telephony devices, determine a status of the answered call, including identification of the caller and the answering telephony device, generate a call status signal, including identification of the caller and the answering telephony device, an add prompt at the answering telephony device, and a join prompt at a non-answering telephony device, to inform the user of a status of the answered call, the add prompt allowing a user at the answering telephony device to select a different telephony device, the join prompt allowing a user at a non-answering telephony device to request to join the call, the status signal thereby generated to provide synchronized multiple extension coordination of an incoming call among a plurality of telephony devices.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of telephony devices share at least one physical telephone line.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein at least one telephony device includes a display screen and the call status signal includes a visual signal.

10. A telephony device for coordinating an incoming call among a plurality of synchronized wireline and wireless telephony devices sharing a telephone number, the telephony device comprising:

a telephone programmed to, in the presence of the incoming call, generate an incoming call notification signal including caller identity and to, upon answering of the incoming call at an answering telephony device of the plurality of synchronized wireline and wireless telephony devices, generate a call status signal to inform a user of a status of the answered call, the call status signal indicating the caller identity and the answering telephony device, the telephone being further programmed to generate an add prompt when the telephone is the answering telephony device to allow the user to select a different telephony device, and to, in response to selection of a different telephony device at the add prompt, communicate an incoming call signal to the selected different telephony device.