Method and apparatus for network paging

• US 6,434,383 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Markowitz, Robert Edward, Robinson, Bethany Scott, Katseff, Howard Paul, Bruno, Richard Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles N.
• Application Number:
  US09/814,795
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7.1, 340/7.2, 340/7.21, 340/7.22, 340/7.29, 340/280.01, 340/286.02, 340/7.54, 455/426, 455/39, 455/458, 455/445, 455/434, 455/422, 455/414, 455/412, 455/417, 455/517, 455/461, 455/459, 379/88.12, 379/93.24, 379/88.15, 379/88.17, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 370/241, 370/352, 370/474, 370/475
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• 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

The invention provides a network paging system that includes a method and apparatus for sending messages to a subscriber. When one party attempts to contact another party, via a page message for example, the system may determine if the paged party is logged onto the network system. If the paged party is logged onto the network, the page message may be sent to the paged party'"'"'s personal computer. If the paged party is not logged onto the network, the page message may be sent to the paged party'"'"'s pager. Advantageously, the invention eliminates the need or expense of sending a message both via the Internet and a pager.

Claims

1. A method for operating a paging service for handling a page from a party to a subscriber in a communications network, comprising:

receiving the page from the party in a network paging device;

receiving an indication that the subscriber is logged onto an Internet communication network at a terminal;

transmitting a page notification to the terminal if the subscriber is logged onto the Internet communication network, and if the subscriber is not logged onto the Internet communication network, transmitting a page message to a wireless communications device of the subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the subscriber acknowledges the page notification from the terminal within a predetermined time period; and

transmitting the page to the terminal if the determining step determines that the subscriber acknowledged the page notification within the predetermined time period.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the page message to the wireless communications device if the determining step determines that the subscriber did not acknowledge the page notification within the predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

securing the page message with a password.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the subscriber acknowledges the page notification using the password.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving a subscriber'"'"'s Internet Protocol (IP) address from a database; and

sending the page to the terminal corresponding to the subscriber'"'"'s IP address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a subscriber'"'"'s profile from a database.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the subscriber profile comprises an identification of the subscriber, a password, and a predetermined period for response associated with the subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a subscriber'"'"'s Internet Protocol (IP) address;

storing the subscriber'"'"'s IP address in a database;

receiving an indication that the subscriber is logged-off of the Internet communication network; and

removing the subscriber'"'"'s IP address from the database.

10. A device for operating a paging service for handling a page from a party to a subscriber in a communications network comprising:

a database; and

a controller which receives the page from the party in a network paging device, receives an indication that the subscriber is logged onto an Internet communication network at a terminal, transmits a page notification to the terminal if the subscriber is logged onto the Internet communication network, and if the subscriber is not logged onto the Internet communication network, transmits a page message to a wireless communications device of the subscriber.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller determines if the subscriber acknowledges the page notification from the terminal within a predetermined time period, and transmits the page message to the terminal if the controller determines that the subscriber acknowledged the page notification within the predetermined time period.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the controller transmits the page message to the wireless communications device if the controller determines that the subscriber did not acknowledge the page notification within the predetermined time period.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the controller secures the page message with a password.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the subscriber acknowledges the page notification using the password.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller retrieves a subscriber'"'"'s Internet Protocol (IP) address from the database, and sends the page notification to the terminal corresponding to the subscriber'"'"'s IP address.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller retrieves a subscriber profile from the database.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the subscriber profile comprises an identification of the subscriber, a password, and a predetermined period for response associated with the subscriber.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller receives a subscriber'"'"'s Internet Protocol (IP) address, stores the subscriber'"'"'s IP address in the database, receives an indication that the subscriber is logged-off from the Internet communication network, and removes the subscriber'"'"'s IP address from the database.