Original calling identification with mobile phone in docked mode

• US 9,736,665 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Sujin Catherine, Mishra, Punita, Eichen, Elliot G., Goodman, Lee N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kassim, Khaled
• Assistant Examiner(s): BELETE, BERHANU D
• Application Number:
  US13/040,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20120155332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 370250-260, 455414-417, 4554351, 455560
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/182 wireless circuit-switched
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• 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: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A mobile device determines whether the mobile device is docked with a docking station that connects to a VoIP network, where the mobile device is capable of receiving calls to a cellular telephone number and calls to a VoIP telephone number. The mobile device notifies, if the mobile device is docked with the docking station, a call handling node in a cellular network to forward calls destined for the cellular telephone number to the VoIP telephone number at a VoIP call server. The mobile device receives a call forwarded from the VoIP call server, where the call was originally destined for the cellular telephone number.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory configured to store a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) client application;

a docking station interface configured to interface with a docking port of a docking station, wherein the docking station connects to a VoIP network; and

a processing unit configured to execute the VoIP client application to;

determine whether the mobile device is docked with the docking station, wherein the mobile device is capable of receiving calls to a cellular telephone number and calls to a VoIP telephone number,

notify, via the docking station interface if the mobile device is determined to be docked with the docking station, a call handling node in a cellular network to forward incoming calls destined for the mobile device'"'"'s cellular telephone number to a proxy telephone number at a VoIP call server in the VoIP network, wherein the proxy telephone number is different than the cellular telephone number and the VoIP telephone number,

receive, via the docking station interface, a call forwarded from the VoIP call server to the VoIP telephone number via the VoIP network, wherein the VoIP call server uses the proxy telephone number to identify the VoIP telephone number based on a table look-up and wherein the call was originally destined for the cellular telephone number.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the docking station interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface and wherein, when the mobile device is docked with the docking station, the USB interface connects with a USB port in the docking port of the docking station.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the docking station connects to the VoIP network via a wired connection and, when the mobile device is docked with the docking station, the mobile device connects to the VoIP network via the USB interface, the USB port, and the wired connection from the docking station to the VoIP network.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute the VoIP client application to:

cause the call forwarded from the VoIP call server to be displayed to a user of the mobile device differently than VoIP calls received at the mobile device that were originally destined for the VoIP telephone number.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to receive information associated with the call forwarded from the VoIP call server that identifies that the call was originally destined for the cellular telephone number.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the information associated with the call forwarded from the VoIP call server comprises alert information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) header associated with the call that identifies the call as having originated in a cellular network.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to use distinctive ringing for the call forwarded from the VoIP call server that is different than ringing used for VoIP calls originally destined for the VoIP telephone number.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the docking station comprises a VoIP phone that has a wired connection to the VoIP network and has a docking port that permits the mobile device to be inserted into, and docked with, the docking station.

10. A system, comprising:

a call handling node in a cellular network configured to;

receive a notification from a mobile device, responsive to the mobile device docking with a docking station, wherein the mobile device is capable of receiving calls to a cellular telephone number and calls to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone number, wherein the notification instructs the call handling node to forward incoming calls destined for the mobile device'"'"'s cellular telephone number to a proxy telephone number, and wherein the proxy telephone number is different than the cellular telephone number and the VoIP telephone number,

receive a call destined for the cellular telephone number of the mobile device, and

forward the call from the call handling node to the proxy telephone number via the cellular network; and

a VoIP call server in a VoIP network configured to;

receive the call forwarded from the call handling node to the proxy telephone number,

perform a table look-up to identify, using the proxy telephone number, the VoIP telephone number, and

forward the call to the mobile device at the VoIP telephone number via the VoIP network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the VoIP call server, when forwarding the call, is further configured to:

include information in SIP signaling associated with the call that identifies the call as a cellular network originated call.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the signaling comprises SIP signaling and wherein the information is included in a SIP header of the SIP signaling.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the docking station comprises a VoIP phone that has a wired connection to the VoIP network and has a docking port that permits the mobile device to be inserted into, and docked with, the docking station.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

15. A system, comprising:

a call handling node in a cellular network configured to;

receive a notification from a mobile device, responsive to the mobile device docking with a docking station, wherein the mobile device is capable of receiving calls to a cellular telephone number and calls to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone number, wherein the notification instructs the call handling node to forward incoming calls destined for the mobile device'"'"'s cellular telephone number to the VoIP telephone number,

receive a call destined for the cellular telephone number of the mobile device, and

forward the call from the call handling node to the VoIP telephone number via the cellular network; and

a VoIP call server in a VoIP network configured to;

receive the call forwarded from the call handling node to the VoIP telephone number,

set a flag in signaling associated with the call that indicates that the call was originally destined for the cellular telephone number of the mobile device,

include the cellular telephone number in the signaling associated with the call, and

forward the call to the mobile device at the VoIP telephone number via the VoIP network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the signaling comprises Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling and wherein the flag is set, and the cellular telephone number is included, in a SIP header of the SIP signaling.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the docking station comprises a VoIP phone that has a wired connection to the VoIP network and has a docking port that permits the mobile device to be inserted into, and docked with, the docking station.