Patent EP0216381A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0216381A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Discretionary call forwarding
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1986-09-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A call forwarding method that allows the called party to selectively forward individual alerting calls based, for example, on the calling party identity or on how busy the called party is at any given time, but without requiring the called party to first answer the calls. The called party can effect the transfer even though engaged in conversation with someone else.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Evans Diesel
- 👤 Louis Michael Taff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/54; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04M3/436; H04M3/546; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2011; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A call forwarding method for use by a switching arrangement interconnecting a plurality of station sets comprising transmitting a message for an incoming call to one station set to place said one station set in an alerting state, without said call being answered at said one station set, receiving a request to forward said call in response to a manual command at said one station set and attempting to complete said call to another station set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A call forwarding method for use by a switching arrangement interconnecting a plurality of station sets comprising transmitting a message for an incoming call to one station set to place said one station set in an alerting state, without said call being answered at said one station set, receiving a request to forward said call in response to a manual command at said one station set and attempting to complete said call to another station set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said one station set is connected to said switching arrangement by at least one voice channel and at least one signaling channel out of band with respect to said voice channel, wherein said message is transmitted to said one station set in said signaling channel and said message defines that said call is to be completed to said voice channel, and wherein said request is received from said one station set in said signaling channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said request includes forward-to information and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said request includes forward-to information, wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing busy/idle data for said station sets and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information, reading the busy/idle data for said determined terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set only when said read busy/idle data defines that said determined terminating station set is idle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising after unsuccessfully attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set for a predetermined time, attempting to complete said call to said one station set.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising receiving a request to pick up said call from said one station set, when said call has not yet been successfully completed to said determined terminating station set, responding to said request to pick up said call by stopping the attempt to complete said call to said determined terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said one station set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising when said call has been successfully completed to said determined terminating station set, responding to said request to pick up said call by bridging said one station set onto said call.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receiving step is performed during the existence of another call to said one station set.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said request includes forward-to information and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said request includes forward-to information, wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing busy/idle data for said station sets and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information, reading the busy/idle data for said determined terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set only when said read busy/idle data defines that said determined terminating station set is idle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said request includes forward-to information, wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing group data defining groups of said station sets, and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information, reading the group data for said determined terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set only when said read group data defines that said determined terminating station set is in the same group with said one station set.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing incoming call data for said station sets, wherein said method further comprises before said attempting to complete step is performed, reading the incoming call data for said one station set, and wherein said attempting to complete step is performed only when said read incoming call data defines an incoming call for said one station set.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing data defining whether each of said station sets is assigned a SEND THIS CALL feature, wherein said method further comprises before said attempting to complete step is performed, reading the feature assignment data for said one station set, and wherein said attempting to complete step is performed only when said read feature assignment data defines that said SEND THIS CALL feature is assigned to said one station set.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing default forward-to information for said station sets, wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set, and wherein said determining a terminating station set step comprises when said request includes forward-to information, determining said terminating station set based on said included forward-to information, when said request does not include forward-to information, reading the default forward-to information for said one station set and determining said terminating station set based on said read default forward-to information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising after unsuccessfully attempting to complete said call to said another station set for a predetermined time, attempting to complete said call to said one station set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transmitting calling party information to said one station set.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transmitting forwarding party information to said another station set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving a request to pick up said call from said one station set, when said call has not yet been successfully completed to said another station set, responding to said request to pick up said call by stopping the attempt to complete said call to said another station set and attempting to complete said call to said one station set.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 18 further comprising when said call has been successfully completed to said another station set, responding to said request to pick up said call by bridging said one station set onto said call.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
A call forwarding method for use in a switching arrangement interconnecting a plurality of station sets comprising one station set, in response to an incoming call from said switching arrangement and to a manual command while said one station set is in an alerting state, and without said call being answered, transmitting a request to said switching arrangement to forward said call and said switching arrangement attempting to complete said call to another station set.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
A call forwarding method for use in a switching arrangement interconnecting a plurality of station sets comprising one station set, in response to an incoming call from said switching arrangement and to a manual command while said one station set is in an alerting state, and without said call being answered, transmitting a request to said switching arrangement to forward said call and said switching arrangement attempting to complete said call to another station set.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said one station set is connected to said switching arrangement by at least one voice channel and at least one signaling channel out of band with respect to said voice channel, wherein said incoming call is to be completed to said voice channel and wherein said request is transmitted in said signaling channel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said request includes forward-to information and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said request includes forward-to information, wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing busy/idle data for said station sets and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information, reading the busy/idle data for said determined terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set only when said read busy/idle data defines that said determined terminating station set is idle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising after unsuccessfully attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set for a predetermined time, said switching arrangement again attempting to complete said call to said one station set.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising said one station set transmitting to said switching arrangement a request to pick up said call, when said call has not yet been successfully completed to said determined terminating station set, said switching arrangement responding to said request to pick up said call by stopping the attempt to complete said call to said determined terminating station set and said switching arrangement attempting to complete said call to said one station set.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 25 further comprising when said call has been successfully completed to said determined terminating station set, said switching arrangement responding to said request to pick up said call by bridging said one station set onto said call.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said transmitting step is performed during the existence of another call to said one station set.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said request includes forward-to information and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said request includes forward-to information, wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing busy/idle data for said station sets and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information, reading the busy/idle data for said determined terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set only when said read busy/idle data defines that said determined terminating station set is idle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said request includes forward-to information, wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing group data defining groups of said station sets, and wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set in response to said forward-to information, reading the group data for said determined terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set only when said read group data defines that said determined terminating station set is in the same group with said one station set.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing incoming call data for said station sets, wherein said method further comprises before said attempting to complete step is performed, said switching arrangement reading the incoming call data for said one station set, and wherein said attempting to complete step is performed only when said read incoming call data defines an incoming call for said one station set.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing data defining whether each of said station sets is assigned a SEND THIS CALL feature, wherein said method further comprises before said attempting to complete step is performed, said switching arrangement reading the feature assignment data for said one station set, and wherein said attempting to complete step is performed only when said read feature assignment data defines that said SEND THIS CALL feature is assigned to said one station set.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said switching arrangement further comprises memory means for storing default forward-to information for said station sets, wherein said attempting to complete step comprises determining a terminating station set and attempting to complete said call to said determined terminating station set, and wherein said determining a terminating station set step comprises when said request includes forward-to information, determining said terminating station set based on said included forward-to information, when said request does not include forward-to information, reading the default forward-to information for said one station set and determining said terminating station set based on said read default forward-to information.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 further comprising after unsuccessfully attempting to complete said call to said another station set for a predetermined time, said switching arrangement again attempting to complete said call to said one station set.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with 20 wherein said one station set comprises display means for visually displaying information, said method further comprising said switching arrangement transmitting calling party information to said one station set and said one station set visually displaying said calling party information.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with 20 wherein said one station set comprises display means for visually displaying information, said method further comprising said switching arrangement transmitting calling party information to said one station set and said one station set visually displaying said calling party information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said another station set comprises display means for visually displaying information, said method further comprising said switching arrangement transmitting forwarding party information to said another station set and said another station set visually displaying said forwarding party information.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 further comprising said one station set transmitting to said switching arrangement a request to pick up said call, when said call has not been yet been successfully completed to said another station set, said switching arrangement responding to said request to pick up said call by stopping the attempt to complete said call to said another station set and said switching arrangement attempting to complete said call to said one station set.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method in accordance with claim 37 further comprising when said call has been successfully completed to said another station set, said switching arrangement responding to said request to pick up said call by bridging said one station set onto said call.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
95 words
A call forwarding method for a communication station set having a signaling channel out-of-band with respect to a voice channel comprising receiving a message in said signaling channel defining an incoming call for said voice channel,___ said station set responding to said message by entering an alerting state, in response to a manual command at said station set, transmitting in said signaling channel a request to forward said call without said call being answered at said station set and obtaining a verification via said signaling channel that the forwarding of said call is in progress.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
95 words
A call forwarding method for a communication station set having a signaling channel out-of-band with respect to a voice channel comprising receiving a message in said signaling channel defining an incoming call for said voice channel,___ said station set responding to said message by entering an alerting state, in response to a manual command at said station set, transmitting in said signaling channel a request to forward said call without said call being answered at said station set and obtaining a verification via said signaling channel that the forwarding of said call is in progress.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 39 wherein said request includes forward-to information dialed at said station set.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 39 further comprising after said request is transmitted, transmitting in said signaling channel at least one message including forward-to information dialed at said station set.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 39 further comprising after said obtaining step, transmitting in said signaling channel a request to pick up said call.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 42 further comprising when said call has not yet been successfully completed to another station set, receiving a message in said signaling channel to complete said call to said voice channel.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 42 further comprising when said call has been successfully completed to another station set, receiving a message in said signaling channel to bridge said voice channel onto said call.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
94 words
A call forwarding method for use by a switching arrangement interconnecting a plurality of station sets comprising transmitting a message for an incoming call to one station set to place said one station set in an alerting state, receiving instructions including second station set identity data in response to a manual command at said one station set without said call being answered at said one station set and enabling said switching arrangement in response to the received instructions including said second station set identity data, for establishing call connections to said second station set.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
94 words
A call forwarding method for use by a switching arrangement interconnecting a plurality of station sets comprising transmitting a message for an incoming call to one station set to place said one station set in an alerting state, receiving instructions including second station set identity data in response to a manual command at said one station set without said call being answered at said one station set and enabling said switching arrangement in response to the received instructions including said second station set identity data, for establishing call connections to said second station set.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
79 words
A call forwarding method for use by a switching arrangement interconnecting a plurality of station sets comprising transmitting a message to one of said station sets for the placing of said one station set in an alerting state for a call to said one station set and without said call being answered at said one station set, responding to a request from said one station set to effect a forwarding of said call to another of said station sets.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
79 words
A call forwarding method for use by a switching arrangement interconnecting a plurality of station sets comprising transmitting a message to one of said station sets for the placing of said one station set in an alerting state for a call to said one station set and without said call being answered at said one station set, responding to a request from said one station set to effect a forwarding of said call to another of said station sets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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