Method for redirecting contacts and setting up redirection

• US 7,463,882 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Data Advisors LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tuomela, Frans, Väänänen, Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa; Marisol
• Application Number:
  US10/645,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20040043776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/41.2, 455/414.1, 455/417, 455/431, 455/456.4
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13333 Earth satellites
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method for setting up redirection of contacts coming to a terminal (A) to at least one other communication system (A′), which is advantageously located outside the mobile communication network so that a proposal of and address of a other communication system (A′) is sent by utilizing the data transmission connection set up between the terminal (A) and the first communication system (S) to the terminal (A), whose acceptance of the proposal is followed by the activation of the redirection.

Claims

1. A method for redirecting terminal communications, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link with a terminal;

receiving, through the established communication link, information identifying at least one of a user of the terminal or the terminal;

identifying, based at least in part on the received information, second information regarding a period during which the terminal is to be off or without service;

generating a proposal based at least in part on the second information, wherein the proposal comprises one or more call forward targets for receiving communications directed toward the terminal during the period;

providing the proposal to the terminal; and

receiving, from the terminal, an acceptance which designates at least one of the one or more call forward targets for receiving the communications directed toward the terminal during the period.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or a more call forward targets is located outside a coverage area of the terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication link comprises a short-range wireless data transmission connection.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises means for performing mobile communication.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal function in an Internet Protocol based multimedia system (IMS).

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising directing a communication inten ded for the terminal to the at least one of the one or more call forward targets during the period.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the communication is directed based at least in part on a parameter indicated in the acceptance, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of a presence of audio content in the communication, a presence of pictorial content in the communication, a subject of the communication, a caller on originating the communication, or a calling group on originating the communication.

8. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the second information comprises travel information regarding an airplane flight of the user of the terminal.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically deactivating redirection to the at least one of the one or more call forward targets if the terminal is switched on or after a predetermined time.

10. A system which comprises:

a communication system coupled to a terminal via a communication link, wherein the communication system is configured to

receive, through the communication link, information identifying at least one of a user of the terminal or the terminal;

identify, based at least in part on the received information, second information regarding a period during which the terminal is to be off or without service;

generate a proposal based at least in part on the second information, wherein the proposal comprises one or more call forward targets for receiving communications directed toward the terminal during the period; and

provide the proposal to the terminal; and

a home network of the terminal, wherein the home network comprises

a first network element configured to receive a message from the terminal, wherein the message comprises an identification of at least one of the one or more call forward targets;

and

a second network element configured to redirect a communication intended for the terminal to the least one of the one or more call forward targets during the period.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one of the one or more call forward targets is located outside a coverage area of the home network of the terminal.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one of the one or more call forward targets comprises a satellite phone.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the second information comprises travel information regarding a flight of the user of the terminal, and further wherein the satellite phone is located on an airplane.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the terminal is arranged to function in an Internet Protocol based multimedia system (IMS).

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second network element is further configured to automatically deactivate redirection to the at least one of the one or more call forward targets if the terminal is switched on.