Seamless enterprise and consumer mobility with multiple numbers

• US 8,107,957 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas R., Hicks, John Alson III
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US11/559,363
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/439, 455/432, 455/406, 455/445, 455/557, 370/331, 370/329, 370/401, 370/400, 370/338, 709/224, 235/379
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/156 On-line status dependent routing
• 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 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Tools and techniques for seamless enterprise and consumer mobility with multiple numbers are described. The techniques provide simultaneous ringing on a mobile communication device and manage network connections between the mobile communication device and at least two networks. The simultaneous rings are to at least one of a primary number associated with a mobile communication device and one or more identified numbers associated with the primary number. The simultaneous rings are based on a presence and/or physical location of the mobile communication device. The multiple numbers may have associated distinctive ring functions or tones. When the mobile communication device is proximate to the first network, a first detection signal is generated. A first presence signal indicates whether the condition of the connection permits an ongoing communication on the first network. The communication is handed over to a second network when the connection does not permit continuing on the first network.

Claims

1. A method, for handling simultaneous rings, comprising:

receiving, at a first network interface module, a first detection signal associated with a first network, wherein the first detection signal is generated by the first network in response to a communications device coming into proximity to the first network;

generating, at a first presence interface module, a first presence signal associated with the first network, wherein the first presence signal varies in response to a condition of a first connection between the communications device and the first network;

sending, from the first presence interface module, the first presence signal to a network selection module;

evaluating, at the network selection module, the first presence signal to assess whether the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network;

if the network selection module determines that the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network, and in response to one of an incoming call and a message sent to a number selected from a group of numbers consisting of (i) a primary number associated with the communications device and (ii) an identified number associated with an other communications device, the first network providing simultaneous rings to;

the primary number associated with the communications device; and

the associated with the other communications device; and

if the network selection module determines that the condition of the first connection does not permit ongoing communication on the first network, the first network initiating hand over to a second network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a second network interface module, at least a second detection signal associated with the second network, wherein the second detection signal is generated by the second network in response to the communications device coming into proximity of the second network;

generating, at a second presence interface module, a second presence signal associated with the second network, wherein the second presence signal varies in response to a condition of a second connection between the communications device and the second network;

sending, from the second presence interface module, the second presence signal to the network selection module; and

the second network providing simultaneous rings to;

the primary number associated with the communications device; and

the identified number associated with the other communications device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the simultaneous rings to the primary number associated with the communications device and to the identified number associated with the other communications device comprises providing the simultaneous rings to the primary number with at least one of distinctive ring functions, tones, audible notifications, and visual indications.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications device is one of a mobile device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, and a computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the simultaneous rings ceases after one of:

a determined number of rings to the primary number and to the identified numbers; and

a response to the simultaneous rings is received from one of the communications device via the primary number and the other communications device via the identified number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of routing calls based on a physical location of the communications device and routing calls based on one of a day and a time.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving a first detection signal associated with a first network, wherein the first detection signal is generated by the first network in response to a communications device coming into proximity to the first network;

generating a first presence signal associated with the first network, wherein the first presence signal varies in response to a condition of a first connection between the communications device and the first network;

evaluating the first presence signal to assess whether the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network;

if it is determined that the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network, and in response to one of an incoming call and a message sent to a number selected from a group of numbers consisting of (i) a primary number associated with the communications device and (ii) an identified number associated with an other communications device, providing simultaneous rings to;

the primary number associated with the communications device; and

the least one identified number associated with the other communications device; and

if it is determined that the condition of the first connection does not permit ongoing communication on the first network, initiating hand over to a second network.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein, in the method performed by execution of the computer-executable instructions, providing the simultaneous rings to the primary number associated with the communications device and to the identified number associated with the other communications device comprises providing the simultaneous rings to the primary number with at least one of distinctive ring functions, tones, audible notifications, and visual indications.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein the method performed by execution of the computer-executable instructions further includes at least one of:

routing calls based on a physical location of the communications device, and

routing calls based on one of a day and a time.

8. A method, for forwarding calls, comprising:

receiving, at a first network interface module, a first detection signal associated with a first network, wherein the first detection signal is generated in response to a communications device coming into proximity to the first network;

generating, at a first presence interface module, a first presence signal associated with the first network, wherein the first presence signal varies in response to a condition of a first connection between the communications device and the first network;

evaluating, at a network selection module, the first presence signal to assess whether the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network;

if the network selection module determines that the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network, and in response to one of an incoming call and a message sent to a number associated with another device, other than a primary number of the communications device, the first network forwarding the call or message to the primary number of the communications device; and

if the network selection module determines that the condition of the first connection does not permit ongoing communication on the first network, the first network initiating hand over to a second network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, at a second network interface module, at least a second detection signal associated with the second network, wherein the second detection signal is generated in response to the communications device coming into proximity of the second network;

generating, at a second presence interface module, a second presence signal associated with the second network, wherein the second presence signal varies in response to a condition of a second connection between the communications device and the second network; and

the second network forwarding calls dialed to the number associated with the other communications device to the primary number of the communications device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the other communications device is associated with at least one of a landline phone, a mobile device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, and a computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein forwarding the call or message comprises at least one of forwarding multimedia, a video, an instant message, an email, a text message, and a voice mail message.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein forwarding the call or message comprises identifying an identification of a caller by at least one of associating distinctive ring functions to the number dialed, associating distinctive ring functions to an identification of the caller, associating distinctive tones to the number dialed, and associating distinctive tones to an identification of the caller.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising at least one of:

routing calls based on a physical location of the communications device, and routing calls based on one of a day and a time.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method comprising:

receiving a first detection signal associated with a first network, wherein the first detection signal is generated in response to a communication device coming into proximity to the first network;

generating a first presence signal associated with the first network, wherein the first presence signal varies in response to a condition of a first connection between the communication device and the first network;

evaluating the first presence signal to assess whether the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network;

if it is determined that the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network, and in response to one of an incoming call and a message sent to a number associated with another device, other than a primary number of the communications device, forwarding the call or message to the primary number of the communications device; and

if it is determined that the condition of the first connection does not permit ongoing communication on the first network, initiating hand over to a second network.

15. A system, for handling simultaneous ringing, comprising:

a first network interface module configured to receive a first detection signal associated with a first network, wherein the first detection signal is generated by the first network in response to a communications device coming into proximity to the first network;

a first presence interface module configured to generate a first presence signal associated with the first network, wherein the first presence signal varies in response to a condition of a first connection between the communications device and the first network, and send the first present signal to a network selection module; and

the network selection module being configured to evaluate the first presence signal to assess whether the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network;

the first network being configured to provide simultaneous rings to;

the primary number associated with the communication device; and

the identified number associated with the other communications device,

if the network selection module determines that the condition of the first connection permits ongoing communication on the first network, and in response to one of an incoming call and a message sent to a number selected from a group of numbers consisting of (i) a primary number associated with the communications device and (ii) an identified number associated with an other communications device; and

the first network being configured to initiate hand over to a second network, if the network selection module determines that the condition of the first connection does not permit ongoing communication on the first network.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second network interface module configured to receive at least a second detection signal associated with the second network, wherein the second detection signal is generated in response to the communications device coming into proximity of the second network;

a second presence interface module configured to generate a second presence signal associated with the second network, wherein the second presence signal varies in response to a condition of a second connection between the communications device and the second network; and

the second network being configured to provide simultaneous rings to;

the primary number associated with the communications device; and

the identified number associated with the other communications device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network, in being configured to provide the simultaneous rings to the primary number associated with the communications device and to the identified number associated with the other communications device, is configured to provide the simultaneous rings to the primary number with at least one of distinctive ring functions, tones, audible notifications, and visual indications.