Automatic telephone service forwarding device

• US 7,120,426 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Link, Charles M. II, Cardina, Donald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N.
• Application Number:
  US10/376,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/573, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/415, 455/445, 455/432.3, 455/418, 4554351-4353, 4554561-4563, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455465-466, 455/41.2, 455/550.1, 4555561-5562, 455/557, 455564-565, 455/566, 4554141-4145, 455419-420, 455436-440, 455459-461, 455/552.1, 4555531-5542, 379210-212, 379202-205, 379111-114, 379121-123, 379144-145, 379/356
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• 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 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

An automatic telephone service forwarding device including a base or enclosure defining a socket for receiving a wireless telephone. Upon detecting the presence of the wireless telephone in the socket, the device automatically forwards telephone service for the wireless telephone to a previously-stored forwarding directory number, typically the directory number of a wireline unit located nearby. Alternatively, the automatic telephone service forwarding device may be incorporated directly into a wireless telephone. In this case, the wireless telephone includes a “forward” button and a scrollable list of forwarding telephone numbers. The automatic telephone service forwarding device may also be configured to automatically select certain forwarding directory numbers from the list in accordance with a predefined time-based profile. The automatic telephone service forwarding device may forward the telephone service by causing the wireless telephone to transmit a forwarding message to a telephone redirection device on an overhead data channel associated with a wireless communications network. Alternatively, the automatic telephone service forwarding device may forward the telephone service by placing a telephone call to the call redirection device. The call redirection device may include automatic call redirection equipment that is configured to enter forwarding instructions into a home location register for the wireless telephone by emulating a visitor location register in which the wireless telephone is attempting to register for roaming service.

Claims

1. An automatic telephone service forwarding device comprising:

a wireless telephone, further comprising;

a memory adapted to store a scrollable list of potential forwarding directory numbers, wherein the memory stores the scrollable list of forwarding directory numbers in a table indexing scheduling parameters in a scheduling parameter table, the scheduling parameters indicating days of the week and times of day for which a forwarding number is to be used;

a display device adapted to display a selected one of the potential forwarding directory numbers; and

a forwarding button adapted to receive a command instructing the wireless telephone to automatically transmit a message instructing a telephone redirection device to forward telephone calls placed to a device directory number to the selected potential forwarding directory number in response to the scheduling parameters.

2. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless telephone is configured to receive the potential forwarding directory number through keystrokes or voice commands.

3. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 2, wherein:

the wireless telephone is configured to automatically select certain potential forwarding directory numbers in accordance with a predefined time-based profile.

4. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 3, wherein the predefined time-based profile includes a directory number and an associated scheduling parameter.

5. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 1, wherein the wireless telephone is selected from a group consisting of:

a pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile computing device, home-based computing device, a messaging platform, an electronic mail device, or a device associated with telephone communications.

6. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless telephone is configured to draw power from a socket.

7. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 1, wherein the socket is either a base charging station for the wireless telephone or a power charging unit.

8. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source adapted to provide power to the automatic telephone service forwarding device.

9. An automatic telephone service forwarding device comprising:

a wireless communications device, comprising;

a memory adapted to store a scrollable list of potential forwarding directory numbers, wherein the memory stores the scrollable list of forwarding directory numbers in a table indexing scheduling parameters in a scheduling parameter table, the scheduling parameters indicating days of the week and times of day for which a forwarding number is to be used;

a display device adapted to display a selected one of the potential forwarding directory numbers; and

a user interface adapted to receive a command instructing the wireless communications device to automatically transmit a message instructing a telephone redirection device to forward telephone calls placed to a device directory number to the selected potential forwarding directory number in response to the scheduling parameters.

10. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 9, wherein:

the wireless communications device is configured to receive the potential forwarding directory number through keystrokes or voice commands.

11. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 10, wherein:

the wireless communications device is configured to automatically select certain potential forwarding directory numbers in accordance with a predefined time-based profile.

12. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 11, wherein the predefined time-based profile includes a directory number and an associated scheduling parameter.

13. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications device is selected from a group consisting of:

a wireless telephone, a pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile computing device, home-based computing device, a messaging platform, an electronic mail device, and a device associated with telephone communications.

14. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 9, wherein:

the wireless communications device is configured to draw power from a socket.

15. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 14, wherein the socket is either a base charging station for the wireless communications device or a power charging unit.

16. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 9, further comprising:

a power source adapted to provide power to the automatic telephone service forwarding device.

17. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 9, wherein the user interface is further adapted to receive potential forwarding directory numbers from a user.

18. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 9, further comprising:

a data port adapted to receive potential forwarding directory numbers.

19. The automatic telephone service forwarding device for a wireless communications device, comprising:

a memory adapted to store a scrollable list of potential forwarding directory numbers, wherein the memory stores the scrollable list of forwarding directory numbers in a table indexing scheduling parameters in a scheduling parameter table, the scheduling parameters indicating days of the week and times of day for which a forwarding number is to be used;

a user interface adapted to receive a selection of at least one forwarding directory number from a user;

a display adapted to display at least one selected forwarding directory number, and

a communications interface adapted to send a message to a telephone redirection device with at least one selected forwarding directory number for the wireless communications device in response to the scheduling parameters.

20. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 19, further comprising:

a power source adapted to power the memory, user interface, display, and data interface.

21. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 19, wherein the user interface is selected from a group consisting of:

voice recognition equipment, a keypad, and a touch screen.

22. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 19, wherein the communications interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a short messaging service circuit, a short messaging circuit of an IS-136 TDMA digital telephone, a modem, a telephone device, and a wireless communications device.

23. The automatic telephone service forwarding device of claim 19, wherein the wireless communications device is selected from a group consisting of:

a wireless telephone, a pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile computing device, home-based computing device, a messaging platform, an electronic mail device, and a device associated with telephone communications.