Integrated telephony service

• US 7,123,906 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Communications Inc.
• Inventors: Bendoff, Michael, Otterbeck, James A., McCauley, Chad J., Skladman, Julia
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US10/688,370
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/451, 455/426.1, 455/425, 455/507, 455/557, 455/417, 455/557.1, 455/74.1, 455/423, 455/552.1, 370/260, 370/352, 379/211.01
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

An integrated telephony service can provide users with a single phone number and a single handset for use as a cordless device at a stationary location and for use as a mobile device. Incoming calls can be routed to the handset at the stationary location over a landline network. If unanswered at the stationary location, the calls can be routed to the handset via a service delivery point of presence over a wireless network. For outgoing calls from the handset, a switch within the handset can select cordless device operation when the handset is within range of a landline base station unit connected to the landline network and the handset can function as a cordless device in cooperation with the landline base station. If the handset is not within range of the landline base station, the switch can select mobile device operation and the call can be placed over the wireless network with the handset functioning as a mobile device.

Claims

1. A system for integrating a landline communications network and a wireless communications network comprising:

a plurality of hybrid devices for enabling telephony communications;

a landline connection path between said landline communications network and said hybrid devices;

a wireless connection path between said wireless communications network and said hybrid devices;

an availability unit for determining if said landline connection path is available to said hybrid devices;

a switch to select one of said landline connection path and said wireless connection path for operation of one of said hybrid devices, wherein said wireless connection path is selected at least when said landline connection path is unavailable, said switch further selecting one of said wireless connection path and said landline connection path for an outgoing call based on at least one predetermined performance factor when said wireless connection path and said landline connection path are available; and

a transfer device connected to the landline communications network to transfer one of said telephony communications enabled by said hybrid devices from said landline communications network to said wireless communications network when said switch selects said wireless connection path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said hybrid devices comprises:

a handset providing a user interface for the hybrid device;

a landline base station connected in said landline connection path between said landline communications network and said handset, the landline base station routing said telephony communications between said landline communications network and said handset;

a cordless microprocessor unit connected in said landline connection path between said landline base station and said handset for receiving and transmitting said telephony communications between said handset and said landline base station; and

a wireless microprocessor unit connected in said wireless connection path between said handset and said wireless communications network for receiving and transmitting said telephony communications between said handset and said wireless communications network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said landline base station comprises a charging station for charging a power source for said handset.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said transfer device comprises:

a messaging center supporting mail box services for users of the system;

a media server managing and storing voice media;

a routing platform providing intelligent routing of said telephony communications based on predefined rules and policies; and

an administrative module managing customer account information for said users.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said handset comprises at least one of a speaker, a display, a keypad and a microphone.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said handset comprises at least one of a global positioning system tracking module and a web browser.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said handset comprises a pager.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein said cordless connection microprocessor unit is a 900 MHz cordless microprocessor unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said transfer device comprises:

a messaging center supporting mail box services for users of the system;

a media server managing and storing voice media;

a routing platform providing intelligent routing of said telephony communications based on predefined rules and policies; and

an administrative module managing customer account information for said users.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said landline connection path is integrated with an Internet call managing service; and

said switch is activated by a user of said Internet call managing service.

11. A hybrid device for integrating landline communications and wireless communications, comprising:

at least two handsets;

a landline microprocessor unit selectively connected between one of said handsets and a landline network;

a wireless microprocessor unit selectively connected between said one of said handsets and a wireless network; and

a switching module to selectively activate one of said landline microprocessor unit and said wireless microprocessor unit, wherein said switching module activates said wireless processor unit at least when said landline microprocessor is unable to connect to said one of said handsets, said switching module further selecting one of said wireless microprocessor unit and said landline microprocessor unit for an outgoing call from said one of said handsets based on at least one predetermined performance factor when both are available.

12. The hybrid device of claim 11, comprising a landline base station connected between said landline network and said landline microprocessor unit and facilitating cordless communications between said landline network and said landline microprocessor unit.

13. The hybrid device of claim 12, wherein said landline base station comprises a charging station for recharging a power source for at least one of said handsets.

14. The hybrid device of claim 12, comprising a 900 MHz cordless connection between said landline base station and said handsets.

15. The hybrid device of claim 11, wherein said handsets comprise at least one of a speaker, a display, a keypad and a microphone.

16. The hybrid device of claim 15, wherein said handsets comprise at least one of a global positioning system tracking module and a web browser.

17. The hybrid device of claim 11, wherein said handsets comprise a pager.

18. A method of integrating landline communications and wireless communications, comprising:

receiving an incoming call from a landline network;

determining if a connection is available between said landline network and at least two user devices, wherein said at least two user devices are capable of connecting with said landline network and a wireless network;

determining if a connection path is available between said wireless network and said at least two user devices;

routing said incoming call from said landline network to a wireless network when said connection between said landline network and said user devices is not available and when said incoming call is not answered, and routing an outgoing call to one of said wireless network and said landline network based on at least one predetermined performance factor when said wireless network and said landline network are available; and

transmitting said incoming call to said user devices from said wireless network.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

initiating an outgoing call from one of said user devices;

determining if said connection is available between said landline network and said one of said user devices;

routing said outgoing call from said one of said user devices to said landline network when said connection is available; and

routing said outgoing call from said user device to said wireless network when said connection between said landline network and said user device is not available.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving an incoming call comprises:

providing notifications of said incoming call at a landline base station connected to said landline network; and

proceeding to determining if said connection is available when a number of said notifications exceeds a predetermined threshold.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein determining if said connection is available comprises:

determining if at least one of said user devices is within a communication range of said landline base station; and

transferring said incoming call to a voice message system when none of said user devices are within said communication range.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting said incoming call comprises:

providing notifications of said incoming call at said user devices; and

transferring said incoming call to a voice message system when a number of said notifications exceeds a predetermined threshold.

23. The method of claim 18, comprising:

determining which one of said user devices said incoming call is directed to; and

directing said incoming call to said one of said user devices.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein:

routing said incoming call from said landline network to a wireless network comprises obtaining caller identification; and

transmitting said incoming call comprises presenting said caller identification to a user of one of said user devices when said user answers said incoming call.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein presenting said caller information comprises providing an option for said user to choose one of accepting said incoming call and forwarding said incoming call to a voice message system.

26. A method of integrating landline communications and wireless communications for multiple user devices associated with a landline network and a wireless network, comprising:

receiving an incoming call from said landline network;

determining which one of said multiple user devices said incoming call is directed to;

determining if a landline connection is available between said landline network and said one of said multiple user devices said incoming call is directed to;

determining if a wireless connection is available between said wireless network and said one of said multiple user devices said incoming call is directed to;

routing said incoming call to said one of said multiple user devices from said landline network or said wireless network when said landline connection and said wireless connection are available, wherein said user device is capable of connecting with said landline network and said wireless network; and

routing said incoming call from said landline network to said one of said multiple user devices via said wireless connection when said landline connection is not available.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining if said landline connection is available comprises determining if said one of said multiple user devices said incoming call is directed to is within a communication range of a landline base station.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising:

providing notifications of said incoming call at said one of said multiple user devices; and

transferring said incoming call to a voice message system when a number of said notifications exceeds a predetermined threshold.