Call redirection zones for wireless communications

• US 7,024,184 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Knowledge Corporation (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Erb, Paul Andrew, Syrowatka, Maciej
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart, James D.
• Application Number:
  US10/696,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2, 455/415, 455/417, 455/440, 455/445, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 342/450, 342/463
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A system and method of controlling the delivery of an incoming call directed to a wireless communication device is provided. When an incoming call directed to the wireless communication device is received, the location of the wireless communication device, to which the incoming call is destined, is determined. If the wireless communication device is not within a designated zone, the incoming call is directed to the wireless communication device. If the wireless communication device is in a designated zone, the incoming call is handled based on specified criteria.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the delivery of an incoming call directed to a wireless communication device comprising the steps of:

determining generally the location of the wireless communication device to which said incoming call is directed;

if said wireless communication device is not within a designated zone, directing the incoming call to said wireless communication device; and

if said wireless communication device is in a designated zone handling said incoming call based on specified criteria by redirecting said incoming call to a designated extension within said designated zone if said incoming call meets said specified criteria, and redirecting said incoming call to an extension outside of said designated zone if said incoming call does not meet said specified criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein when said specified criteria includes a designated caller list.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein if the incoming call meets said specified criteria but is deemed private, said incoming call is directed to said wireless communication device irrespective of location of said wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said specified criteria further includes an importance threshold, incoming calls received from callers in said designated caller list and/or incoming calls having an importance value equal to or exceeding said importance threshold, meeting said specified criteria.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein delivery of incoming calls is controlled within a location having a plurality of designated zones, each of said designated zones being defined by a specified area within said location.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said designated zones include rooms within said location.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said location is subdivided by a grid into grid locations and wherein said designated zones are mapped to said grid locations, said mapping being used during said determining to determine if said wireless communication device is located within a designated zone.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein during said determining, the location of said wireless communication device is determined using triangulation based on wireless signal strength to base stations at said location.

9. A system for controlling the delivery of an incoming call directed to a wireless communication device comprising:

means for determining generally the location of the wireless communication device to which said incoming call is directed and for determining if said wireless communication device is within a designated zone; and

means for directing the incoming call to said wireless communication device if said wireless communication device is not within a designated zone and for handling said incoming call based on specified criteria if said wireless communication device is in a designated zone by redirecting said incoming call to a designated extension within said designated zone if said incoming call meets said specified criteria, and redirecting said incoming call to an extension outside of said designated zone if said incoming call does not meet said specified criteria.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein if the incoming call meets said specified criteria but is deemed private, said directing means directs said incoming call to said wireless communication device irrespective of location of said wireless communication device.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein said specified criteria includes a designated caller list and an importance threshold, incoming calls received from callers in said designated caller list and/or incoming calls having an importance value equal to or exceeding said importance threshold, meeting said specified criteria.

12. A system according to claim 9 wherein delivery of incoming calls is controlled within a location having a plurality of designated zones, each of said designated zones being defined by a specified area within said location.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein said location is subdivided by a grid into grid locations and wherein said designated zones are mapped to said grid locations, said directing means using said mapping to determine if said wireless communication device is located within a designated zone.

14. A telephone system to control the delivery of an incoming call directed to a wireless communication device within a location, said location being subdivided into a plurality of grid locations and including redirection zones therein, each redirection zone encompassing a subset of said grid locations, said system comprising:

a position determinor for determining the location of a wireless communication device within said location to which an incoming call is destined; and

a call handler for determining if said wireless communication device is in a redirection zone and for handling delivery of said incoming call in accordance with the results of said determining by redirecting said incoming call to a designated extension within said designated zone if said incoming call meets a specified criteria, and redirecting said incoming call to an extension outside of said designated zone if said incoming call does not meet said specified criteria.

15. A telephone system according to claim 14 wherein said position determinor uses triangulation based on wireless signal strengths to base stations at said location to determine the location of said wireless communication device therein.