System and method for providing a single telephone number for use with a plurality of telephone handsets

• US 8,532,679 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John A. III, Patterson, Gregory N., Smith, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/614,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20100056186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455415-417, 455/445, 455461-463, 455/517, 455/518, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/127.4, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/211.04, 370/338, 370/352, 370/401, 370/329, 370/259, 370/335
• US Class Current: 455/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

Systems and methods providing integrated voice and data services utilizing wired cordless access with unlicensed/unregulated connectivity sources and wireless access with licensed/regulated connectivity sources. A single telephone directory number is assigned for use with both a mobile wireless telephone and for use with a cordless wired Internet Protocol (IP) telephone. The mobile wireless telephone operates via a conventional licensed spectrum wireless network, and the IP telephone operates over voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) over a broadband packet data network service. Incoming calls simultaneously ring the user'"'"'s mobile wireless telephone and IP telephone. The user may be provided a personal voice mailbox that may be accessed from their mobile wireless telephone or from their IP telephone. The user may be provided a single services bill associated with use of both telephones.

Claims

1. A broadband residential gateway, comprising:

a first network device configured to communicate with a wired data network device of a wired data network;

a second network device configured to provide a communications link to a wired network device of a local wired network;

a broadband gateway wireless access point device configured to provide wireless access to the wired data network device via a first wireless connection connected to a voice service;

a broadband interface device configured to process voice information communicated via the voice service; and

a router configured to route the voice service to a wireless access point device and communicatively coupled to the broadband interface device, wherein the wireless access point device is configured to provide wireless access to the wired data network over the first wireless connection,

wherein the broadband residential gateway is communicatively coupled to a digital cordless handset configured to communicate with the wireless access point device via the first wireless connection, and wherein the digital cordless handset is assigned a same telephone number as another handset.

2. The broadband residential gateway of claim 1, wherein the first network device is assigned the same telephone number.

3. The broadband residential gateway of claim 1, wherein the wired network device comprises a home phone networking alliance network device.

4. The broadband residential gateway of claim 1, wherein the wired network device comprises an Ethernet connection.

5. The broadband residential gateway of claim 1, wherein the other handset comprises a wired handset communicatively coupled to a public switched telephone network device of a public switched telephone network.

6. The broadband residential gateway of claim 1, wherein the first wireless connection is communicated on a first wireless communications frequency, and wherein the broadband residential gateway is further communicatively coupled to a device of a network operative to facilitate telecommunications services on a second wireless communications frequency that is different from the first wireless communications frequency.

7. The broadband residential gateway of claim 6, wherein the first wireless communications frequency is a frequency that is not assigned to a service provider identity.

8. The broadband residential gateway of claim 1, wherein the broadband residential gateway is further communicatively coupled to a computing device comprising an interface configured to receive an input for controlling the voice service.

9. The broadband residential gateway of claim 8, wherein the broadband residential gateway is configured to control an amount of time during which the voice service is accessible from the digital cordless handset.

10. The broadband residential gateway of claim 1, wherein the broadband residential gateway is further communicatively coupled to a directory information data storage comprising access directory information.

11. The broadband residential gateway of claim 1, wherein the first wireless connection further connects to a data service.

12. The broadband residential gateway of claim 6, wherein the second wireless communications frequency is assigned to an identity associated with a service provider.

13. A method comprising:

wirelessly accessing, by a broadband residential gateway device comprising a processor, a wired data network device of a wired data network via a first wireless connection, wherein the wired data network device supports a voice service;

routing, by the broadband residential gateway device, the voice service to a wireless access point device configured to provide wireless access to the wired data network device via the first wireless connection;

processing, by a broadband interface device of the broadband residential gateway device, voice information received via the voice service;

communicatively coupling, by the broadband residential gateway device, to a digital cordless handset via the first wireless connection, wherein the digital cordless handset is assigned a same telephone number as another handset;

initiating, by the broadband residential gateway device, a first ring tone defined for the digital cordless handset in response to receiving a call directed to the digital cordless handset, wherein the first ring tone accords to a call processing rule associated with the digital cordless handset; and

initiating, by the broadband residential gateway device, a second ring tone defined for the other handset in response to receiving the call directed to the digital cordless handset.

14. A computer-readable storage device having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system to perform operations, comprising:

coupling a broadband residential gateway device to a wireless network device of a wireless network that includes a wireless access point device communicatively coupled to a wired data network device of a wired data network, wherein the wireless access point device is configured to provide wireless access to the wired data network device via a first wireless connection providing access to a voice service, wherein the coupling comprises communicatively coupling to a digital cordless handset configured to communicate with the wireless access point device via the first wireless connection, and the digital cordless handset is assigned a same telephone number as another handset;

communicating, by a first network device, with the wired data network device;

linking, by a second network device, to a wired network device via a local wired network device of a local wired network;

wirelessly accessing the wired data network device via the first wireless connection;

processing voice information received from the voice service; and

routing the voice service to the wireless access point device.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the linking comprises linking to the wired network device via a home phone networking alliance network device.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the linking comprises linking to the wired network device via an Ethernet connection.