Mobile telephone signaling to a network to cause calls directed to another mobile telephone to be redirected

• US 7,693,511 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sydanmaa, Matti, Bottrich, Michael, Alanen, Kimmo, Ojala, Tommi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US10/451,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20040067749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,035 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/414.1, 455/445, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/410, 455/411, 455/553.1, 455/11.1, 455/579.9, 455 412- 413, 4554561-4563, 4554565-4566, 455/461, 455/552.1
• 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 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus support communication between a communication device and a compatible communication device over a telecommunications network. The communication devices have unique identities. The methods and apparatus are configured to detect the presence of the compatible communication device using a low power radio frequency technology; to determine the identity of the detected compatible communication device; and, in response to detection of the presence of the compatible communication device, to redirect incoming calls intended for the detected compatible communication device having the determined identity to the communication device, wherein the controller sends control signals to the compatible communication device, such that the compatible communication device can control the redirection of the incoming calls at the network.

Claims

1. A first mobile telephone comprising:

a first module configured to detect presence of a second mobile telephone having a unique identity using a low power radio frequency technology;

a second module configured to communicate with a wireless telecommunications network that does not use a low power radio frequency technology;

a processor configured to determine the identity of the detected second mobile telephone;

the processor further configured, responsive to the first module detecting the presence of the second mobile telephone, to initiate signaling to the telecommunications network to cause calls directed to the second mobile telephone having the determined identity to be redirected at the telecommunications network to the first mobile telephone; and

the processor further configured, responsive to the first module detecting that the second mobile telephone is no longer present, to initiate signaling to the telecommunications network to cause calls directed to the second mobile telephone having the determined identity to no longer be redirected at the telecommunications network to the first mobile telephone.

2. The first mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to establish communication with the second mobile telephone and to detect the second mobile telephone over a local connection which comprises one of a Bluetooth connection, an infra-red connection and a direct electrical connection through a holder for the mobile phone.

3. The first mobile telephone of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to determine the identity of the detected other mobile telephone over the local connection.

4. The first mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to initiate the signaling to redirect the calls by causing the second module to directly send control signals to the telecommunications network.

5. The first mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the detector detects the presence of the second mobile telephone substantially within a predetermined range.

6. The first mobile telephone of claim 1, further comprising authorising means for authorising the use of the second mobile telephone with the first mobile telephone, and only initiating the said signaling if authorisation is given.

7. The first mobile telephone of claim 6, wherein the authorising means contains a list of the identities of authorised communication devices, and wherein authorisation is given only if the determined identity of the detected second mobile telephone matches one of the identities in the list of identities.

8. The first mobile telephone of claim 7, in which the processor is configured to add the determined identity of any detected compatible communication device to the list identities of authorised communication devices.

9. The first mobile telephone of claim 6, wherein the means for authorising further comprises a memory for storing a list of passwords associated with each identity in the list of identities, and wherein authorisation is given only when a matching password is entered on the first mobile telephone.

10. The first mobile telephone of claim 2, wherein the local connection is a low power radio frequency connection.

11. The first mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a low power radio frequency transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals from compatible low power radio frequency transceivers.

12. The first mobile telephone of claim 2, wherein the local connection is an optical connection.

13. The first mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the first mobile telephone comprises a car phone connected to a car battery.

26. The first mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to initiate the signaling by causing the first module to send control signals to the second mobile telephone which direct the second mobile telephone to directly signal the telecommunications network to redirect the calls.

14. A method comprising:

a first mobile telephone detecting the presence of a second mobile telephone using a low power radio frequency technology;

the first mobile telephone determining the identity of the detected a second mobile telephone; and

in response to the detection of the presence of the second mobile telephone, the first mobile telephone initiating signaling to a telecommunications network which does not use a low power radio frequency technology to cause calls directed to the second mobile telephone having the determined identity to be redirected at the telecommunications network to the first mobile telephone; and

in response to the first mobile telephone detecting that the second mobile telephone is no longer present, the first mobile telephone initiating signaling to the telecommunications network to cause calls directed to the second mobile telephone having the determined identity to no longer be redirected at the telecommunications network to the first mobile telephone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting the presence of the second mobile telephone comprises detecting the second mobile telephone over a local connection.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the identity comprises determining the identity over the local connection.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the signaling to redirect the calls comprises the first mobile telephone directly sending control signals to the telecommunications network.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting the presence of the second mobile telephone occurs whenever the second mobile telephone is substantially within a predetermined range of the first mobile telephone.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising authorising the use of the second mobile telephone with the first mobile telephone, and only initiating the signaling if authorisation is given.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein authorising comprises comparing the identity of the detected second mobile telephone with a list of identities of authorised communication devices stored in the first mobile telephone, and only giving authorisation if a match occurs.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising adding to the list of identities the identity of any detected communication device for which authorization is given.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein authorising further comprises comparing a password entered on the first mobile telephone with a list of passwords stored in the first mobile telephone in association with the list of identities, and wherein authorisation is given only when the entered password and the stored password for the detected second mobile telephone match.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting is over a low power radio frequency connection.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting is over an optical connection.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mobile telephone comprises a car phone connected to a car battery.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the signaling comprises the first mobile telephone sending control signals to the second mobile telephone which direct the second mobile telephone to directly signal the telecommunications network to redirect the calls.