Peer-to-peer discovery for location-based forwarding

• US 7,392,048 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Seligmann, Doree Duncan, Sammon, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Creighton H
• Application Number:
  US11/169,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20050250482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/416, 455/417, 379/211.01, 379/211.02
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for enabling signals directed to a first telecommunications terminal to be forwarded intelligently to a second telecommunications terminal in the vicinity of the first terminal is disclosed. In particular, the illustrative embodiment automatically forwards signals from a first terminal to the closest terminal in the network that the first terminal is authorized to forward to. The closest authorized terminal is determined via short-range wireless communication between the first terminal and other terminals in the first terminal'"'"'s vicinity. In the illustrative embodiment, the terminals communicate with each other via Bluetooth transceivers.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at a first telecommunications terminal a first peer-to-peer wireless signal from a second telecommunications terminal, wherein said first peer-to-peer wireless signal is in response to a second peer-to-peer signal that is transmitted by said first telecommunications terminal; and

transmitting a message that causes a signal that is directed to said first telecommunications terminal to be forwarded to said second telecommunications terminal.

2. A method comprising:

receiving at a first telecommunications terminal a first peer-to-peer wireless signal from a second telecommunications terminal, wherein said first peer-to-peer wireless signal comprises a forwarding permission that indicates whether said second telecommunications terminal authorizes the forwarding of signals that are directed to said first telecommunications terminal to said second telecommunications terminal; and

transmitting, only when said forwarding permission is true, a message that causes a signal that is directed to said first telecommunications terminal to be forwarded to said second telecommunications terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first peer-to-peer wireless signal is in response to a second peer-to-peer signal that is transmitted by said first telecommunications terminal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said second peer-to-peer wireless signal specifies a forwarding operation, and wherein whether said second telecommunications terminal authorizes said forwarding of signals is based on said forwarding operation, and wherein said message causes a signal that is directed to said first telecommunications terminal to be forwarded to said second telecommunications terminal in accordance with said forwarding operation.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said forwarding operation is redirecting out.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said forwarding operation is transferring out.

7. A method comprising:

receiving at a first telecommunications terminal a first peer-to-peer wireless signal from a second telecommunications terminal, wherein said first peer-to-peer wireless signal is in response to a second peer-to-peer signal that is transmitted by said first telecommunications terminal; and

transmitting a message that causes a signal that is directed to said second telecommunications terminal to be forwarded to said first telecommunications terminal.

8. A method comprising:

receiving at a first telecommunications terminal a first peer-to-peer wireless signal from a second telecommunications terminal, wherein said first peer-to-peer wireless signal comprises a forwarding permission that indicates whether said second telecommunications terminal consents to the forwarding of signals that are directed to said second telecommunications terminal to said first telecommunications terminal; and

transmitting, only when said forwarding permission is true, a message that causes a signal that is directed to said second telecommunications terminal to be forwarded to said first telecommunications terminal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said first peer-to-peer wireless signal is in response to a second peer-to-peer signal that is transmitted by said first telecommunications terminal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said second peer-to-peer wireless signal specifies a forwarding operation, and wherein whether said second telecommunications terminal consents to said forwarding of signals is based on said forwarding operation, and wherein said message causes a signal that is directed to said second telecommunications terminal to be forwarded to said first telecommunications terminal in accordance with said forwarding operation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said forwarding operation is bridging in.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said forwarding operation is connecting in.

13. A method comprising:

receiving at a second telecommunications terminal a first peer-to-peer wireless signal from a first telecommunications terminal; and

transmitting from said second telecommunications terminal a second peer-to-peer wireless signal to said first telecommunications in response to said first peer-to-peer wireless signal, wherein said second peer-to-peer wireless signal comprises a forwarding permission that indicates whether said second telecommunications terminal authorizes the forwarding of signals that are directed to said first telecommunications terminal to said second telecommunications terminal.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first peer-to-peer wireless signal specifies a forwarding operation, and wherein whether said second telecommunications terminal authorizes said forwarding of signals is based on said forwarding operation.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said second peer-to-peer wireless signal also comprises a contact identifier that is associated with said second telecommunications terminal.

16. A method comprising:

receiving at a second telecommunications terminal a first peer-to-peer wireless signal from a first telecommunications terminal; and

transmitting from said second telecommunications terminal a second peer-to-peer wireless signal to said first telecommunications in response to said first peer-to-peer wireless signal, wherein said second peer-to-peer wireless signal comprises a forwarding permission that indicates whether said second telecommunications terminal consents to the forwarding of signals that are directed to said second telecommunications terminal to said first telecommunications terminal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first peer-to-peer wireless signal specifies a forwarding operation, and wherein whether said second telecommunications terminal consents to said forwarding of signals is based on said forwarding operation.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said second peer-to-peer wireless signal also comprises a contact identifier associated that is with said second telecommunications terminal.