System and method for communication using a wireless handset in wireless and wired networks

• US 7,764,960 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: McClung, Michael H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): FARAGALLA, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/173,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20070004400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/406, 455/74.1, 455/426.2, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/552.1, 455/435.1, 370/331, 379/399.01
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/005 Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation

Abstract

A method for providing communication service includes detecting that a wireless handset has been decoupled from a base, wherein the base is associated with a plurality of communication addresses. The method also includes identifying one or more of the plurality of communication addresses to be associated with the wireless handset, in response to detecting the wireless handset has been decoupled from the base, and transmitting a registration to a registrar. The registration identifies the wireless handset and one or more of the identified communication addresses.

Claims

1. A method for providing communication service, comprising:

determining that a first call is active between a wired base and a communication device, the wired base coupled to a wireless handset, the wired base associated with a plurality of communication addresses such that calls placed to at least one of the plurality of communication addresses are routed to the wired base instead of the wireless handset and cause the wired base to indicate an incoming call to a user without using the wireless handset;

placing the first call on hold by the wired base;

associating the first call with a call identifier;

detecting that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base;

in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base, identifying one or more of the plurality of communication addresses to be associated with the wireless handset such that calls placed to the one or more communication addresses are routed to the wireless handset instead of the wired base;

transmitting a registration to a registrar, the registration identifying the wireless handset and one or more of the identified communication addresses; and

in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base, retrieving the first call with the wireless handset based on the call identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

initiating, at the wireless handset, a second call involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration; and

receiving, at the wireless handset, a third call involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating, at the registrar, at least one of the communication addresses with the wireless handset.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a second call is active between the wired base and the communication device involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration;

initiating a conference call on a conferencing element;

inviting the wireless handset to the conference call; and

inviting the communication device to the conference call.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

inviting the wireless handset to the conference call comprises transmitting a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message to the wireless handset; and

inviting the communication device to the conference call comprises transmitting a SIP REFER message to the communication device, wherein the REFER message identifies the conferencing element.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a second call is active between the wired base and the communication device involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration;

identifying the wireless handset to the communication device; and

initiating, using the communication device, a communication session between the communication device and the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein identifying the wireless handset to the communication device comprises transmitting a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REFER message to the communication device, wherein the REFER message identifies the wireless handset.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting a location of the wireless handset; and

receiving the location of the wireless handset from the wireless handset.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base, accessing configuration information stored in the wireless handset; and

configuring the wireless handset based on the configuration information.

10. A method for providing communication service, comprising:

determining that a first call is active between a wireless handset and a communication device, the wireless handset decoupled from a wired base, the wireless handset associated with a plurality of communication addresses such that calls placed to at least one of the plurality of communication addresses are routed to the wireless handset;

placing the first call on hold by the wireless handset;

associating the first call with a call identifier;

detecting that a wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base;

in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base, identifying one or more of the communication addresses to be associated with the wired base such that calls placed to the one or more communication addresses are routed to the wired base instead of the wireless handset and cause the wired base to indicate an incoming call to a user without using the wireless handset;

transmitting a registration to a registrar, the registration identifying the wired base and one or more of the identified communication addresses; and

in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base, retrieving the first call with the wired base based on the call identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising at least one of:

initiating, at the wired base, a second call involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration; and

receiving, at the wired base, a third call involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising associating, at the registrar, at least one of the communication addresses with the wired base.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that a second call is active between the wireless handset and the communication device involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration;

initiating a conference call on a conferencing element;

inviting the wired base to the conference call; and

inviting the communication device to the conference call.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

inviting the wired base to the conference call comprises transmitting a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message to the wireless handset; and

inviting the communication device to the conference call comprises transmitting a SIP REFER message to the communication device, wherein the REFER message identifies the conferencing element.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that a second call is active between the wireless handset and the communication device involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration;

identifying the wired base to the communication device; and

initiating, using the communication device, a communication session between the communication device and the wired base.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the wired base to the communication device comprises transmitting a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REFER message to the communication device, wherein the REFER message identifies the wired base.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base, accessing configuration information stored on the wireless handset; and

configuring the wired base based on the configuration information.

18. A system for providing communication service, comprising:

a wired base coupled to a communication network, the wired base associated with a plurality of communication addresses such that calls placed to at least one of the plurality of communication addresses are routed to the wired base instead of a wireless handset coupled to the wired base and cause the wired base to indicate an incoming call to a user without using the wireless handset, the wired base operable to;

determine that a first call is active between the wired base and a communication device while the wired base is coupled to the wireless handset;

place the first call on hold; and

associating the first call with a call identifier; and

the wireless handset comprising;

a wireless interface operable to wirelessly transmit information to and wirelessly receive information from a wireless communication network; and

a wired interface operable to, when the wireless handset is coupled to the wired base, transmit information to and receive information from the communication network connected to the wired base; and

a processor operable to;

detect that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base;

in response to detecting the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base, identify one or more of the plurality of communication addresses to be associated with the wireless handset such that calls placed to the one or more communication addresses are routed to the wireless handset instead of the wired base;

transmit a registration to a registrar using the wireless interface, wherein the registration identifies the wireless handset and one or more of the identified communication addresses; and

in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base, retrieve the first call with the wireless handset based on the call identifier.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless handset is operable to perform at least one of:

initiating, at the wireless handset, a second call involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration; and

receiving, at the wireless handset, a third call involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a communication device and wherein the wired base is further operable to:

determine that a second call is active between the wired base and the communication device involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration;

initiate a conference call on a conferencing element;

invite the wireless handset to the conference call; and

invite the communication device to the conference call.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the wired base is operable to:

invite the wireless handset to the conference call by transmitting a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message to the wireless handset; and

invite the communication device to the conference call by transmitting a SIP REFER message to the communication device, wherein the REFER message identifies the conferencing element.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising a communication device and wherein:

the wired base is operable to;

determine that a second call is active between the wired base and the communication device involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration; and

identify the wireless handset to the communication device; and

the communication device is operable to initiate a communication session between the communication device and the wireless device in response to the wired base identifying the wireless handset to the communication device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the wired base is operable to identify the wireless handset to the communication device by transmitting a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REFER message to the communication device, wherein the REFER message identifies the wireless handset.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the wired base is further operable to request a location of the wireless handset; and

the wireless handset is further operable to communicate information describing the location of the wireless handset to the wired base.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless handset is further operable to:

access configuration information stored in the wireless handset, in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base; and

configure the wireless handset based on the configuration information.

26. A system for providing communication service, comprising:

a wireless handset associated with one or more communication addresses such that calls placed to at least one of the plurality of communication addresses are routed to the wireless handset, comprising;

a wireless interface operable to wirelessly transmit information to and wirelessly receive information from a wireless communication network;

a wired interface operable to, when the wireless handset is coupled to a wired base, transmit information to and receive information from a communication network coupled to the wired base; and

a processor operable to;

determine that a first call is active between the wireless handset and a communication device while the wireless handset is decoupled from the wired base;

place the first call on hold;

associate the first call with a call identifier;

the wired base coupled to the communication network, the wired base comprising;

a processor operable to;

detect that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base;

in response to detecting the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base, identify at least one of the one or more communication addresses to be associated with the wired base such that calls placed to the one or more communication addresses are routed to the wired base instead of the wireless handset and cause the wired base to indicate an incoming call to a user without using the wireless handset;

transmit a registration to a registrar, wherein the registration identifies the wired base and one or more of the identified communication addresses; and

in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base, retrieve the first call based on the call identifier.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the wired base is operable to perform at least one of:

initiating a second call involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration; and

receiving a third call involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising a communication device and wherein the wireless handset is operable to:

determine that a second call is active between the wireless handset and the communication device involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration;

initiate a conference call on a conferencing element;

invite the wired base to the conference call; and

invite the communication device to the conference call.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the wireless handset is operable to:

invite the wired base to the conference call by transmitting a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message to the wireless handset; and

invite the communication device to the conference call by transmitting a SIP REFER message to the communication device, wherein the REFER message identifies the conferencing element.

30. The system of claim 26, further comprising a communication device and wherein:

the wireless handset is operable to;

determine that a second call is active between the wireless handset and the communication device involving one of the communication addresses identified by the registration; and

identify the wired base to the communication device; and

the communication device is operable to initiate a communication session between the communication device and the wired base in response to the wired base identifying the wireless handset to the communication device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the wireless handset is operable to identify the wired base to the communication device by transmitting a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REFER message to the communication device, wherein the REFER message identifies the wired base.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the wired base is operable to:

detect that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base;

access configuration information stored on the wireless handset, in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base; and

configure the wired base based on the configuration information.

33. A system for providing communication service, comprising:

means for determining that a first call is active between a wired base and a communication device, the wired base coupled to a wireless handset, the wired base associated with a plurality of communication addresses such that calls placed to at least one of the plurality of communication addresses are routed to the wired base instead of the wireless handset and cause the wired base to indicate an incoming call to a user without using the wireless handset;

placing the first call on hold by the wired base;

associating the first call with a call identifier;

means for detecting that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base;

means for identifying one or more of the plurality of communication addresses to be associated with the wireless handset such that calls placed to the one or more communication addresses are routed to the wireless handset instead of the wired base, in response to detecting the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base;

means for transmitting a registration to a registrar, the registration identifying the wireless handset and one or more of the identified communication addresses; and

means for retrieving the first call with the wireless handset based on the call identifier, in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been decoupled from the wired base.

34. A system for providing communication service, comprising:

means for determining that a first call is active between a wireless handset and a communication device, the wireless handset decoupled from a wired base, the wireless handset associated with a plurality of communication addresses such that calls placed to at least one of the plurality of communication addresses are routed to the wireless handset;

means for placing the first call on hold by the wireless handset;

means for associating the first call with a call identifier;

means for detecting that a wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base;

means for identifying one or more of the communication addresses to be associated with the wired base such that calls placed to the one or more communication addresses are routed to the wired base instead of the wireless handset and cause the wired base to indicate an incoming call to a user without using the wireless handset, in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base;

means for transmitting a registration to a registrar, the registration identifying the wired base and one or more of the identified communication addresses; and

means for retrieving the first call with the wired base based on the call identifier in response to detecting that the wireless handset has been coupled to the wired base.