Wireless centrex call transfer

• US 6,771,953 B1
• Filed: 12/13/1999
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/459,470
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/414, 455/456, 455/435, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/417, 455/445, 455/555, 455/554, 379/219, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/201
• US Class Current: 455/417
• 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 transferring a telephone call with a mobile station in a wireless centrex system, comprising the steps of:

establishing an active call between another communication device and said mobile station;

requesting, using an input on said mobile station, an intelligent transceiver of said wireless centrex system to transfer said active call, said mobile station being registered with said intelligent radio transceiver of said wireless centrex system, said intelligent transceiver being further in communication with a local digital switch via a wireline interface without being connected to any public cellular system and said local digital switch being further in communication with a network server platform; and

forwarding said call transfer request from said intelligent transceiver to said network server platform using a feature request message.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of approving said mobile station as being authorized for said call transfer of said active call to a transfer-to directory number.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of providing an announcement to at least one of said mobile station and said another communication device connected to said active call, indicating that said call is being transferred.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of providing said intelligent transceiver instructions from said network server platform indicating that said active call is to be transferred to said transfer-to directory number.

5. The method according to claim 4, further including the steps of:

placing an active call on hold with said intelligent transceiver, and

playing comfort noise to at least said another user communication device.

6. The method according to claim 4, further including the steps of:

setting up another call between a local digital switch and said transfer-to directory number; and

instructing said network server platform to complete said call transfer, using a feature request message.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

releasing said mobile station from all calls;

releasing said intelligent transceiver from said another call; and

releasing said intelligent transceiver from said active call.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of connecting said active call on hold with said another call so that said another communication device is connected to said transfer-to directory number.

9. The method-according to claim 8, wherein said transfer-to directory number is associated with a PSTN telephone.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said transfer-to directory number is associated with another mobile station within a wireless centrex system.

11. A method for transferring an active call with a mobile station in a wireless centrex system, comprising the steps of:

sending a feature request message from an intelligent transceiver of said wireless centrex system to a network server platform, said mobile station being registered with said intelligent transceiver of said wireless centrex system, said intelligent transceiver being further in communication with a local digital switch via a wireline interface without being connected to any public cellular system, said local digital switch being further in communication with a network server platform, and said feature request message including a call transfer feature code and a transfer-to directory number;

placing said active call on hold;

setting up another call with said transfer-to directory number;

connecting said active call on hold with said transfer-to directory number; and

releasing said mobile station from said active call and said another call.

12. The method according to claim 11, further including the step of providing said mobile station with a voice prompt indicating that said call is being transferred.

13. The method according to claim 12, further including the step of sending a transfer message from said network server platform to said voice access port so as to trigger said active call being placed on hold.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said step of setting up another call with said transfer-to directory number is set up so tat said active call is transferred to a directory number outside said wireless centrex system.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said step of setting up another call with said transfer-to directory number is set up so that said active call is transferred to a directory number within said wireless centrex system.

16. A system for handling a telephone call to a mobile station in a wireless centrex system, comprising:

a local digital switch for creating a voice path for an active call between said mobile station and another user communication device;

a network server platform coupled to said local digital switch for receiving a feature request message and determining whether said mobile station is authorized to receive a call transfer feature requested; and

an intelligent radio transceiver of said wireless centrex system for receiving a call transfer request from said mobile station and placing an active call on hold while a transfer-to directory number is contacted said mobile station being registered with said intelligent radio transceiver of said wireless centrex system said intelligent transceiver being further in communication with said local digital switch via a wireline interface without being connected to any public cellular system, and said local digital switch being further in communication with a network server platform.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said network server platform sends a transfer message to said intelligent radio transceiver.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

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

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

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

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said announcement is provided repeatedly over time.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said intelligent radio transceiver is a voice access port.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a remote digital terminal connected to said local digital switch and said voice access port.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said network server 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.

24. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a means for said mobile station to interrupt said call transfer before it is completed.

25. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a means for said mobile station to retrieve said active call placed on hold during said call transfer.

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

27. They system according to claim 16, further comprising a means for enabling said mobile station to actively provide said network server platform an instruction to complete said call transfer to said transfer-to directory number.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said means for enabling said mobile station to actively provide said network server platform an instruction to complete said call transfer includes a feature request massage.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said mobile station is released from said active call.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said active call is transferred so that said another user communication device is connected in voice traffic to said transfer-to directory number.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said another user communication device is a first PSTN telephone.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein said transfer-to directory number is associated with a directory number outside a wireless centrex system.

33. The system according to claim 31, wherein said transfer-to directory number is associated with a directory number within a wireless centrex system.

34. A method for transferring a telephone call with a mobile station in a wireless centrex system, comprising steps of:

establishing an active call between another communication device and the mobile station;

requesting, using an input on the mobile station, an intelligent transceiver of the wireless centrex system to transfer the active call;

forwarding the call transfer request from the intelligent transceiver to a network server platform using a feature request message;

approving the mobile station as being authorized for the call transfer of the active call to a transfer-to directory number; and

providing the intelligent transceiver instructions from the network server platform indicating that the active call is to be transferred to the transfer-to directory number.

35. The method according to claim 34, further including steps of:

placing an active call on hold with the intelligent transceiver; and

playing comfort noise to at least the another user communication device.

36. The method according to claim 34, further including steps of:

setting up another call between a local digital switch and the transfer-to directory number, and

instructing the network server platform to complete the call transfer, using a feature request message.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising steps of:

releasing the mobile station from all calls;

releasing the intelligent transceiver from the another call; and

releasing the intelligent transceiver from the active call.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising step of connecting the active call on hold with the another call so that the another communication device is connected to the transfer-to directory number.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the transfer-to directory number is associated with a PSTN telephone.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein the transfer-to directory number is associated with another mobile station within a wireless centrex system.