Single wireless communication device with multiple, concurrent subscriber number capability

• US 20060234693A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E. Prince, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E. Prince, Inc.
• Inventors: Warner, Nesia E., Isidore, Eustace P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42187 Lines and connections with preferential service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• 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

A wireless communication device, a method, and a computer program product that enable multiple subscriber numbers to be concurrently assigned to and supported within a single communication device, such as a wireless/cellular phone. The communication device is designed with circuit components and logic that allows two or more subscriber numbers to be concurrently programmed into the device. Each subscriber number is individually supported, with the logic also providing some overlapping functionality. A user selectively utilizes one of the subscriber numbers to originate a new call out and/or accept an incoming call to that subscriber number and may toggle between subscriber numbers to communicate on.

Claims

1. A single wireless communication device comprising:

a first cellular subscriber number (CSN) enabling wireless voice and data communication; and

a second CSN enabling separate wireless voice and data communications, operationally supported within the same single wireless communication device.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one memory component on which is programmed (a) the first CSN and functionality associated with the first CSN and (b) the second subscriber number and functionality associated with the second subscriber number;

wherein when more than two CSNs are supported by the same device, each CSN and associated functionality is programmed on one of said at least one memory component.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first memory component on which is programmed the first CSN and functionality associated with the first CSN;

a second memory component on which is programmed the second CSN and functionality associated with the second CSN; and

a multiple number single device (MNSD) utility which enables selective use of the first CSN and associated functionality and the second CSN and associated functionality by accessing the corresponding memory component, wherein said MNSD utility further supports concurrent use of non-conflicting functions of both the first CSN and the second CSN.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a dual transceiver configuration having a first transceiver function associated with the first CSN and a second transceiver function associated with the second CSN; and

control means for enabling the dual transceiver configuration to concurrently support two subscriber services, each corresponding to one of the first and second CSNs.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver that supports receipt and transmission of wireless communication;

first configuration logic for associating the wireless transceiver with the first CSN based on a first set of parameters associated with a most recent wireless communication on the device, wherein said parameters identify the communication as belonging to the first CSN; and

second configuration logic for associating the wireless transceiver with the second CSN based on a second set of parameters associated with the most recent wireless communication on the device, wherein said parameters identify the communication as belonging to the second CSN.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry that simultaneously supports multiple subscriber numbers comprising at least the first CSN and the second CSN, said circuitry comprising;

a first wireless phone circuitry supporting the first CSN;

overlapping second wireless phone circuitry supporting the second CSN; and

a control mechanism that enables wireless communication functions to and from both the first CSN and the second CSN and localized navigational and menu functions to support both the first CSN and second CSN;

a graphical display that provides a user interface with displayed features and content of a menu utility of the wireless device, said displayed features comprising a display of one of the first CSN and the second CSN that is currently active within the wireless device; and

control logic for adjusting content of the user interface based on which of the multiple subscriber numbers is currently active.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a numerical keypad and navigation and menu buttons for user selection; and

a number toggle button that enables the user to selectively toggle between the first CSN and the second CSN, wherein the selection of the first CSN displays the first CSN and other pre-set display features of the first CSN on a display of the device and selection of the second CSN displays the second CSN and other pre-set display features of the second CSN on the display.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor;

a memory component; and

a multiple number single device (MNSD) utility, which when executed by the processor provides the functionality to support full wireless communication via both said first CSN and said second CSN, wherein said utility enables at least partial, concurrent, wireless communication with one of the first and second CSNs currently with full wireless communication functionality on the other one of the first and second CSNs.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the MNSD utility comprises:

means for enabling a user to select one of said first CSN and said second CSN as a primary number, wherein one of said first CSN and said second CSN is initially set as the default primary number at manufacture/configuration of the device and the user selection of the other CSN as the new primary number overrides the original default primary number setting;

means for enabling power-up of the wireless communication device to default to the primary number;

means, when only a single one of the CSNs is displayed on the device at a time, for automatically displaying the primary number following power-up; and

means for enabling selection of a new primary number following an initial power up of the device, wherein said selection is thereafter completed via a menu selection or on set up of a new CSN on the device.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

means for enabling a toggling between the first CSN and the second CSN by a user, wherein the selection of the first CSN displays the first CSN and other pre-determined display features of the first CSN on a display of the device and selection of the second CSN displays the second CSN and other pre-determined display features of the second CSN on the display.

means for providing a selectable affordance on the user interface that enables the user to select one of the first subscriber number and the second subscriber number to perform a next user function, said user function being one or more of placing a call, accessing associated voicemail, accessing a menu item associated with the subscriber number, and accessing a phone book associated with the subscriber number;

wherein, when the user selects the particular subscriber number, the communication device comprises means for performing a next user activated/selected function for the selected active CSN;

means for toggling between the first and second CSNs to enable communication features with a selected one of the first and second CSN that is toggled to;

means for displaying the currently active CSN of the first and second CSNs, wherein the currently active CSN represents the CSN from which outgoing calls originate and to which selected menu functions apply; and

means for automatically initiating each originating wireless communication from the CSN that is currently the active CSN on the wireless communication device.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

means for assigning priorities to the CSNs, wherein the priority indicates a method of handling overlapping calls received by the first CSN and the second CSN; and

means, when the second wireless communication is received for the second CSN while the communication is ongoing with the first CSN and responsive to a user selection to respond to the overlapping wireless communication, for enabling the user to place the wireless communication with the first CSN on hold and activating the wireless communication with the second CSN;

wherein when the second CSN is assigned higher priority than the first CSN, said means for placing the first CSN on hold further comprises;

means for providing a pre-set signal that provides unequivocal feedback to the user that the second wireless communication being received on the second CSN is a higher priority communication;

means for seamlessly responding to and conducting the second wireless communication; and

means for enabling passive termination of the first wireless communication after an elapsed pre-set amount of time on the second wireless communication.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the means for enabling passive termination comprises:

means for automatically generating a please hold message communicated on over the first wireless communication; and

means, when the first wireless communication reaches a timeout period on hold, for displaying options to the user for handling the first wireless communication from among;

switching back to call on the first CSN;

automatically issuing a recorded message for a later callback;

signaling callback options to the user when the communication on the second CSN ends;

storing the phone number of the call being terminated;

leaving a message on a voicemail of the CSN to complete the call.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

means for enabling storage of a first phonebook corresponding to the first subscriber number to a first memory component; and

means for concurrently storing a second phonebook corresponding to the second subscriber number to a second memory component, both components being local to the wireless device; and

means for storing particular configuration information related to the particular subscriber number within a respective entry on the memory component, such that each number may comprise or exhibit unique configuration.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

means for defaulting the first subscriber number as the primary number and the second subscriber number as the secondary number;

means for enabling user selection of one of the first subscriber number and the second subscriber number as a primary number; and

means, when an incoming communication is received for the primary number, while a first communication is ongoing with a secondary number, for dynamically initiating a primary number response protocol.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein initiating said primary number response protocol comprises:

means for activating a silent alert feature to inform the user that the second communication is being received for the primary number, and

when automatic switch-over option has been pre-set for the primary number, said device comprises;

means for immediately placing the first communication on hold;

means for playing a pre-recorded please hold message over the first communication;

means for automatically initiating the second communication on the primary number;

when the automatic switch-over has not been pre-selected, said device comprises means for;

silently signaling the user of the incoming call and call number identification (ID);

providing a switch over affordance option on the user interface to enable the user to switch between the ongoing communication and the incoming communication; and

enabling said call to be treated as a missed call wherein the call rings for a pre-set number of times and when the user does not switch over within the preset timeframe, the call is forwarded to the voicemail of the secondary number.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 14, further comprising:

means, when an incoming communication is received for the second number, while a first communication is ongoing with a primary number that is set up to not be disturbed by calls received on the secondary number, for;

forwarding the incoming communication to a voicemail of the second subscriber number;

signaling a receipt of an incoming communication and associated voicemail, if recorded, to the user after the completion of the first communication;

providing a call back signal indicating the termination of the ongoing first communication during a switch-over period; and

enabling automatic redial and call back by providing a user prompt to select a call-back/resume-call affordance on the user interface.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, further comprising a displayable menu that includes user selectable features comprising:

means for recording a playback message for on-hold during a switch-over to a primary number;

means for providing a call back message that is displayed on the user interface after a primary caller is terminated during the switch over period to a primary call.

18. The communication device of claim 1, wherein said first wireless number is provided by a first service provider and the second wireless number is provided by a second service provider, wherein the first service provider provides one of a GSM, a CDMA, and a TDMA system protocol while the second service provider provides one of a GSM, a CDMA, and a TDMA system protocol, wherein when the device supports multiple different protocols of wireless communication, said means for selecting one of the CSNs for completing wireless communication comprises:

means for dynamically switching to a protocol supported by the subscriber number from among the multiple protocols supported by the device.

19. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first subscriber identification module (SIM) and a second subscriber identification module (SIM), each providing functionality of a respective one of the first CSN and the second CSN.

20. The wireless communication device/device of claim 1, further comprising:

when the device is a multiple port GSM-configured device, at least two ports for receiving two different SIMs, each SIM configured to provide the functionality of one of the CSNs;

when the device is a single port GSM-configured device, a single SIM port for receiving a single D-SIM card that provides the functionality of the two CSNs and logic within the MNSD module to support the single D-SIM card; and

when the device is a GSM-CDMA configured device, a single SIM port for receiving a single SIM card configured to provide the functionality of the first CSN with GSM operations and circuitry for programming functionality of the second CSN for CDMA operations.

22. A method for manufacturing the wireless communication device of claim 1, the method comprising:

configuring within the wireless communication device a first circuitry to support the first CSN;

configuring within the wireless communication device a second circuitry to support a second CSN;

encoding within a processor chip of the wireless communication device a control logic that enables wireless communication for both the first CSN and the second CSN, while preventing concurrent utilization of features from both CSNs that would result in interference of an ongoing communication.

23. In a wireless communication device, a method comprising:

enabling a first wireless communication on the wireless communication device via a first subscriber number based on received first communication parameters associated with the most recent wireless communication that identify the communication as belonging to the first CSN; and

enabling a second wireless communication on the wireless communication device via a second subscriber number based on received second communication parameters associated with the most recent wireless communication that identify the communication as belonging to the second CSN;

wherein the first and second CSNs are simultaneously supported by the single wireless communication device and selectively enabled based on the received first and second communication parameters.

21. A dual SIM card (D-SIM) configured to operate within a single port GSM-configured device of claim 26.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

establishing a wireless communication (transmission and reception) via a first subscriber number supported by the wireless device;

receiving a signal for initiating a second wireless communication via a second subscriber number supported by the wireless device; and

responsive to a user selection of a menu option, placing the wireless communication with the first subscriber number on hold and activating the wireless communication with the second subscriber number;

when the second subscriber number is assigned higher priority than the first subscriber number;

generating a please hold message on the first wireless communication;

activating the second wireless communication;

indicating the priority of the second wireless communication to a user of the wireless device;

enabling termination of the first wireless communication;

when the first wireless communication reaches a timeout period, displaying options to the user for handling the first wireless communication from among return to call, issue recorded message for callback;

signaling callback options to the call origination point, including recording the cell number, leaving a message on voicemail, request for automatic callback on completion of the second wireless communication;

providing a specialized signal that provides unequivocal feedback to the user that the second call is a higher priority call received on the second subscriber number; and

displaying the origination number (station identifier (ID)) of the second wireless communication.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying a first subscriber number during use of the wireless device to conduct a communication with the first subscriber number;

displaying a second subscriber number during use of the wireless device to conduct a next communication with the second subscriber number; and

switching between the displaying of the first subscriber number and the displaying of the second subscriber number when the next communication is initiated and vice versa.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying both the first subscriber number and the second subscriber number during standby mode;

providing a selectable affordance on the user interface that enables the user to select one of the first subscriber number and the second subscriber number to perform a next user function, said user function being one or more of placing a call, accessing associated voicemail, accessing a menu item associated with the subscriber number, accessing a phone book associated with the subscriber number,

wherein, when the user selects the particular subscriber number, the method comprises performing a next user activated/selected function for (only) the selected particular subscriber number.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said first wireless number is provided by a first service providers and the second wireless number is provided by a second service provider, wherein the device supports multiple different bands of wireless communication, wherein the first service provider provides a GSM system configuration while the second service provider provides a CDMA/TDMA system configuration, said method for selecting one of the subscriber numbers further comprising:

dynamically switching to a band supported by the subscriber number from among the multiple bands supported by the device.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

defaulting the first subscriber number as the primary number and the second subscriber number as the secondary number;

enabling user selection of one of the first subscriber number and the second subscriber number as a primary number; and

when an incoming communication is received for the primary number, while a first communication is ongoing with a secondary number, dynamically initiating a primary number response protocol;

wherein initiating said primary number response protocol comprises;

activating a silent alert feature to inform the user that the second communication is being received for the primary number; and

when automatic switch-over option has been pre-set for the primary number, said device comprises;

means for immediately placing the first communication on hold;

means for playing a pre-recorded please hold message over the first communication; and

means for automatically initiating the second communication on the primary number; and

when the automatic switch-over has not been pre-selected, said device comprises;

silently signaling the user of the incoming call and call number identification (ID);

providing a switch over affordance option on the user interface to enable the user to switch between the ongoing communication and the incoming communication; and

enabling said call to be treated as a missed call wherein the call rings for a pre-set number of times and when the user does not switch over within the preset timeframe, the call is forwarded to the voicemail of the secondary number.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

recording a playback message for on-hold during a switch-over to a primary number; and

providing a call back memo that is displayed on the user interface after a primary caller is terminated during the switch over period to a primary call; and

enabling automatic redial and call back by providing a user prompt to select a call-back/resume-call affordance on the user interface.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

when an incoming communication is received for the secondary number, while a first communication is ongoing with a primary number that is set up to not be disturbed by calls received on the secondary number;

forwarding the incoming communication directly to a voicemail of the second subscriber number; and

signaling a receipt of an incoming communication and associated voicemail, if recorded, to the user after the completion of the first communication.

31. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and program means on the computer readable medium for enabling the features and functionality of claim 30.

32. A method for providing a service, comprising:

integrating a first cellular subscriber number into a cellular device;

integrating a second CSN into the same cellular device; and

downloading into the cellular device a software utility that enables a multiple-number single device (MNSD) functionality to support making and receiving calls via both the first CSN and the second CSN on the same cellular device without requiring physical hardware change between uses of the first and the second CSNs.