Systems and methods for automatic call forwarding in a wireless mobile station

• US 7,116,975 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cardina, Donald Michael, Link, Charles Martin II, Bonner, Thomas Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/762,891
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/412, 455/415, 455/420, 455/462, 455/466, 455/41.2, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/211.03, 379/211.04
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• 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: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Apparatus, method and system for notifying a communications-switching center that subsequent communications directed to a wireless number associated with the wireless unit are to be routed to a destination number associated with the wireless unit. In response to a triggering event by the wireless unit through the base unit, the base unit causes the wireless unit to transmit an SMS message to the communications-switching center. The SMS message includes a notification that subsequent communications directed to the wireless number associated with the wireless unit are to be routed to the destination number associated with the wireless unit.

Claims

1. A method of forwarding a call directed to a wireless device operational on a wireless network to a destination number comprising:

detecting the presence of the wireless device by a base unit, the base unit including a destination number selection switch having at least two settings;

determining the destination number to which the call will be forwarded;

creating a data message comprising a call forward instruction;

causing a communication between the wireless device and the wireless network wherein the data message is communicated to the wireless network;

receiving the data message at an SMSC of the wireless network;

determining at the SMSC if the data message comprises a call forward request; and

forwarding the data message to a call forward server if the data message comprises a call forward request,

the determining step being performed by the base unit scanning a memory location in the wireless device to retrieve the destination number based on the destination number selection switch setting.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the data message at the call forward server;

generating a call forward feature request at the call forward server based on the data message; and

sending the call forward feature request to an SS7 network.

3. A forwarding device for forwarding dialed calls intended for a wireless device in a wireless network to a destination number comprising:

a cradle for holding the wireless device;

a contact for engaging the wireless device; and

a destination number selection switch,

the forwarding device being configured to instruct the wireless device, via the contact, to create and transmit a data message to the wireless network, the data message including the destination number and instructions to forward calls for the wireless device to the destination number, the destination number selection switch including settings for directing which of a plurality of number stored in the wireless device is to be used as the destination number for the data message,

the forwarding device being configured to instruct the wireless device to perform a scan of a wireless device memory for content corresponding to the setting of the destination number selection switch,

the scan being a text scan of the wireless device memory for a string associated with the setting of the destination number selection switch, the content being a destination number stored in a record of the wireless device memory along with the string.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the data message is an SMS message transmitted to an SMSC of the wireless network.

5. A wireless device for use in a wireless network, the wireless device comprising:

a processor;

a memory comprising program instructions; and

a contact for engaging a forwarding device,

the program instructions making the processor operable to;

receive a communication from the forwarding device via the contact, the communication including a setting of a destination number selection switch of the forwarding device;

create a data message in response to the received communication;

transmit the data message to the wireless network in response to the received communication, the data message including a destination number and instructions to forward calls for the wireless device to the destination number;

scan a phonebook memory of the wireless device to determine the destination number in response to the communication received from the forwarding device; and

scan the phonebook memory for an entry that corresponds to the setting and to use a telephone number associated with the entry as the destination number.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein, the processor is further operable to scan the phonebook memory for a default destination number if no entry corresponding to the setting is found.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the data message is an SMS message transmitted to an SMSC of the wireless network.