Selection of a communication terminal for receiving an incoming call

• US 5,481,590 A
• Filed: 10/26/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grimes, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US08/329,392
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 379/57, 379/58, 379/61, 379/201, 379/210-212
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• 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 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: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers

Abstract

An apparatus that allows a pager to select a telecommunication terminal to which a telecommunications switching system terminates all incoming calls destined for the user of the pager. The selection is made under control of the user. The pager request that communication terminals transmit their identities to the pager. The pager then displays the identities of communication terminals to the user who selects one of the communication terminals to be the selected communication terminal. In response to the selection by the user, the pager signals the selected communication terminal. In turn, the selected communication terminal signals the telecommunications switching system that all incoming calls for the user of pager are to be terminated on the selected communication terminal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for allowing a user of a pager to control the termination of incoming telephone calls that are intended for the user, comprising:

means for identifying communication terminals to the pager;

means for selecting one of the identified communication terminal in response to a first message from the pager that is actuated by the user of the pager; and

means for directing the incoming calls to the selected communication terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for identifying is responsive to a second message from the pager.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprises means for detecting that a distance between the selected communication terminal and the pager exceeds a predetermined amount and for signaling the means for directing of the distance;

and

the means for directing responsive to the signaling to cease directing incoming calls to the selected communication terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for identifying comprises means in each of the communication terminals for transmitting the identity of each in response to the second message from the pager.

5. A pager for controlling the termination of incoming telephone calls intended for a user of the pager, comprising:

means for requesting that a plurality of communication terminals transmit identities of the communication terminals;

means for displaying the identities of the communication terminals;

means for selecting one of the communication terminals in response to input from the user; and

means for transmitting a request to have incoming calls terminated on the selected communication terminal.

6. The pager of claim 5 further comprises means responsive to the transmitted identities for prioritizing the communication terminals.

7. The pager of claim 6 wherein means for displaying displays the identities of the communication terminals in order of prioritization.

8. The pager of claim 7 wherein the means for prioritizing uses signal strength of the transmissions from the communication terminals for prioritization.

9. The pager of claim 8 wherein the means for displaying further displays the identities one at a time in response to user actuation.

10. The pager of claim 9 wherein the means for selecting comprises means for designating the communication terminal whose identity is presently displayed.

11. The pager of claim 10 wherein the means for requesting comprises means for transmitting a message to the communication terminals.

12. The pager of claim 11 further comprises means for resetting the pager upon signal strength of transmissions from the selected communication terminal being below a predefined level.

13. A method for allowing a user of a pager to control the termination of incoming telephone calls that me intended for the user, comprising the steps of:

identifying communication terminals to the pager;

selecting one of the identified communication terminal in response to a first message from the pager that is actuated by the user of the pager; and

directing the incoming calls to the selected communication terminal.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of identifying is responsive to a second message from the pager.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprises the step of detecting that a distance between the selected communication terminal and the pager exceeds a predetermined amount and for signaling the step of directing of the distance;

and

the step of directing responsive to the signaling to cease directing incoming calls to the selected communication terminal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of identifying comprises the step of transmitting, in each of the communication terminals, the identity of each in response to the second message from the pager.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprises prioritizing the communication terminals in responsive to the transmitted identities.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the means for displaying the identities of the communication terminals displays the identities in order of prioritization.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of prioritizing uses signal strength of the transmissions from the communication terminals for prioritization.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of displaying further displays the identities one at a time in response to user actuation.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of selecting comprises the step of designating the communication terminal whose identity is presently displayed.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of requesting comprises the step of transmitting a message to the communication terminals.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprises the step of resetting the pager upon signal strength of transmissions from the selected communication terminal being below a predefined level.

24. A method for controlling a pager to terminate incoming telephone calls intended for a user of the pager, comprising the steps of:

requesting that a plurality of communication terminals transmit identities of the communication terminals;

displaying the identities of the communication terminals;

selecting one of the communication terminals in response to input from the user; and

transmitting a request to have incoming calls terminated on the selected communication terminal.