IP telephony with user localization for call control management

• US 7,715,373 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Parker, Benjamin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US11/986,874
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Fixed station equipment automatically determines whether a telephony user is in close proximity to the station and then automatically adopts a profile that properly directs calls according to whether the user is “in-office” or is “away.” Call controls are automatically set corresponding to predetermined profiles of the user, and the station includes a computing device and a fixed telephone outlet. It is detected whether a short range, mobile transmitter corresponding to the user is within a predetermined distance of the station. When the transmitter is within the predetermined distance, then a near-station profile is adopted for the user, wherein the near-station profile directs calls within the IP telephony system to the fixed telephone outlet. When the transmitter is not within the predetermined distance, then an away profile is adopted for the user, wherein the away profile directs at least some calls within the IP telephony system to the user via a wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A method of automatically setting call controls corresponding to predetermined profiles of a user in an IP telephony system, said user being associated with a station including a computing device and a fixed telephone outlet, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting whether a first short range, mobile transmitter corresponding to said user is within a predetermined distance of said station;

detecting whether a second short range, mobile transmitter corresponding to said user is within a predetermined distance of said station;

when only said first transmitter is within said predetermined distance, then adopting a first near-station profile for said user, wherein said first near-station profile directs calls within said IP telephony system to said fixed telephone outlet;

when only said second transmitter is within said predetermined distance, then adopting a second near-station profile for said user, wherein said second near-station profile directs at least some calls within said IP telephony system to said user via a wireless communication system; and

when neither of said transmitters are within said predetermined distance, then adopting an away profile for said user, wherein said away profile directs at least some calls within said IP telephony system to said user via a wireless communication system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first transmitter is carried by and identifies a location of said user, wherein said second transmitter is integrated with a mobile computing device, and wherein said second near-station profile directs at least some calls within said IP telephony system to a voice mail processor which includes said mobile computing device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first transmitter is integrated with a personal cellular transceiver operating within said wireless communication system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second transmitters are each comprised of a respective Bluetooth transceiver and wherein said computing device comprises at least a Bluetooth receiver for detecting Bluetooth signals from said first and second transmitters.

5. A method of operating an IP telephony application server as part of a telephony system providing service to a user via a respective fixed station and a respective mobile transceiver, wherein said fixed station includes a fixed computing device and a fixed telephone outlet, said method comprising the steps of:

configuring a near-station profile for said user;

configuring an away profile for said user;

receiving a first automatically-generated signal from said fixed computing device indicating that said user is within a predetermined distance of said fixed station;

adopting said near-station profile in response to said automatically-generated signal so that calls for said user are directed to said fixed telephone outlet; and

adopting said away profile if said first automatically-generated signal is not received for a predetermined timeout period so that at least some calls for said user are directed to said mobile transceiver.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second automatically-generated signal from said fixed computing device indicating that said user is not within said predetermined distance of said fixed station; and

adopting said away profile in response to said second automatically-generated signal so that at least some calls for said user are directed to said mobile transceiver.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

configuring a second near-station profile for said user, said second near-station profile being associated with a mobile computing device of said user;

receiving a third automatically-generated signal from said fixed computing device indicating that said user is not within said predetermined distance of said fixed station and that said mobile computing device is within said predetermined distance of said fixed station; and

adopting said second near-station profile in response to said third automatically-generated signal so that at least some calls for said user are directed to said mobile computing device for providing a voice mail service.