Location-based forwarding of a communication
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for forwarding a telephone call, the apparatus comprising:
- memory storing a plurality of predetermined designators that are designated by a service provider, the plurality of predetermined designators comprising alphanumeric designators capable of identifying communication devices, the memory further storing a subscriber location of a communication device associated with a predetermined designator, wherein the subscriber location is one among a plurality of subscriber locations associated with the plurality of predetermined designators;
a receiver that receives signals indicating a location of a called party; and
a location detection system that determines a proximity of the location of the called party to the subscriber location among the plurality of subscriber locations based on the signals received by the receiver,wherein, if the determined proximity is within a predefined range, the location detection system signals that calls directed to the called party are to be forwarded to the subscriber location,wherein, if the determined proximity is not within the predefined range, the location detection system signals that calls directed to the called party are to be forwarded to one or more default locations, the default locations being designated by the called party.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and a system for forwarding a telephone call. The inventive method includes receiving a telephone call from a calling party line to a called party line, determining a location of the called party, determining a proximity of the location of the called party to one or more subscriber locations, and directing the telephone call to the one or more subscriber locations based on the determined proximity. The subscriber locations may be predefined by the called party. The location of the called party may be determined using a global position system and/or a radio frequency signal, for example.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for forwarding a telephone call, the apparatus comprising:
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memory storing a plurality of predetermined designators that are designated by a service provider, the plurality of predetermined designators comprising alphanumeric designators capable of identifying communication devices, the memory further storing a subscriber location of a communication device associated with a predetermined designator, wherein the subscriber location is one among a plurality of subscriber locations associated with the plurality of predetermined designators; a receiver that receives signals indicating a location of a called party; and a location detection system that determines a proximity of the location of the called party to the subscriber location among the plurality of subscriber locations based on the signals received by the receiver, wherein, if the determined proximity is within a predefined range, the location detection system signals that calls directed to the called party are to be forwarded to the subscriber location, wherein, if the determined proximity is not within the predefined range, the location detection system signals that calls directed to the called party are to be forwarded to one or more default locations, the default locations being designated by the called party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for directing a communication, the method comprising:
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receiving an instruction to subscribe a called party to a forwarding service; in response to receiving instruction to subscribe the called party to the forwarding service, establishing a trigger in a service switching point of a first communication device associated with the called party; receiving a communication directed to the first communication device, the trigger operative to recognize the communication received; upon receiving the communication directed to the first communication device, querying a location detection system for a location of the called party; receiving the location of the called party from the location detection system; determining whether the location of the called party is within a predetermined range of one of a plurality of subscriber locations designated by a service provider in real-time; upon determining that the location of the called party is within the predetermined range of the one of the subscriber locations designated by the service provider in real-time, directing the communication from the first communication device to a second communication device associated with the one of the subscriber locations; and upon determining that the location of the called party is not within the predetermined range of the one of the subscriber locations designated by the service provider in real-time, directing the communication from the first communication device to a third communication device, the third communication device associated with a default location designated by the called party. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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memory configured to receive a plurality of predetermined designators that are designated by a service provider, the predetermined designators comprising alphanumeric designators capable of identifying communication devices, the predetermined designators associated with a plurality of subscriber locations, the memory further configured to receive a temporary designator that is designated by a called party, the temporary designator associated with a temporary location; a transponder that transmits a location of a user; a processor that determines whether a designated day corresponds to a day that a communication is received, and whether a designated time corresponds to a time the communication is received; and a routing switch in communication with the processor that (i) directs the communication to the temporary location upon determining that the designated day corresponds to the day that the communication is received and the designated time corresponds to the time the communication is received and (ii) directs the communication to one of the subscriber locations upon determining that the designated day does not correspond to the day that the communication is received and the designated time does not correspond to the time the communication is received. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification