Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for use in a communications system wherein an incoming call from a calling party is connected to a called party, said apparatus comprising means responsive to said incoming call for determining a paging device associated with said called party and at least one other communications device possessing communications capabilities different from that of said paging device and associated with said called party; means responsive to the determined paging and other communications device for coupling an alerting signal to said paging and other communications device to alert said called party of said incoming call; means responsive to a first signal transmitted by said paging device for temporarily suspending any further processing of said incoming call and suspending coupling of said alerting signal to said other communications device; and means responsive to a predetermined signal received from a communications device for reinitiating processing of said incoming call and coupling said incoming call to said communications device where it is received by said called party, said communications device being any in a set of communications devices including said other communications device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for use in a communications system wherein an incoming call from a calling party is connected to a called party, said apparatus comprising means responsive to said incoming call for determining a paging device associated with said called party and at least one other communications device possessing communications capabilities different from that of said paging device and associated with said called party; means responsive to the determined paging and other communications device for coupling an alerting signal to said paging and other communications device to alert said called party of said incoming call; means responsive to a first signal transmitted by said paging device for temporarily suspending any further processing of said incoming call and suspending coupling of said alerting signal to said other communications device; and means responsive to a predetermined signal received from a communications device for reinitiating processing of said incoming call and coupling said incoming call to said communications device where it is received by said called party, said communications device being any in a set of communications devices including said other communications device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said other communications device has two-way communications capability.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said other communications device is a wired telephone station set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said other communications device is a wireless telephone station set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said alerting signal is only coupled to said pager and said other communications device when said calling party is on a predetermined list specifying one or more potential calling parties.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means responsive to a second signal transmitted by said paging device for directing said incoming call to a call coverage communications device, said call coverage device being specified prior to said incoming call.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined signal includes a password signal associated with said called party.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communications device is a wired telephone station set.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communications device is a wireless telephone station set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal transmitted by said paging device is a radio signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal transmitted by said paging device is an ultrasonic signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal transmitted by said paging device is an infrared signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said suspending means also couples a predetermined voice announcement to said calling party announcing said called party's intent to receive said incoming call.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
150 words
A pager for use in a communications system, said pager comprising means for receiving a signal from said communications system in response to an incoming call for a called party associated with said pager and another communications device possesing communication capabilities different from that of said pager, the presence of said signal being accompanied by the coupling of an alerting signal to said another communications device; and means for transmitting a first signal to said communications system indicating an intent of the called party to personally answer the call, said first signal temporarily suspending processing of said call and suspending coupling of said alerting signal to said another communications device, and said transmitting means also transmitting a second signal to said communications system indicating an intent of said called party not to personally answer said incoming call but to have said incoming call transferred to a call coverage communications device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
150 words
A pager for use in a communications system, said pager comprising means for receiving a signal from said communications system in response to an incoming call for a called party associated with said pager and another communications device possesing communication capabilities different from that of said pager, the presence of said signal being accompanied by the coupling of an alerting signal to said another communications device; and means for transmitting a first signal to said communications system indicating an intent of the called party to personally answer the call, said first signal temporarily suspending processing of said call and suspending coupling of said alerting signal to said another communications device, and said transmitting means also transmitting a second signal to said communications system indicating an intent of said called party not to personally answer said incoming call but to have said incoming call transferred to a call coverage communications device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pager of claim 14 wherein said first and second signals are radio signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pager of claim 14 wherein said first and second signals are ultrasonic signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pager of claim 14 wherein said first and second signals are infrared signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
208 words
A communication system for coupling incoming calls from a calling party to a called party, said system comprising at least one paging device; a plurality of other communications devices associated with prospective called parties, each of said other communications devices possessing communications capabilities different from said paging device; means responsive to signalling information in an incoming call for determining if any said paging device is associated with said called party and for determining which of said other communications devices is associated with said called party; means responsive to any determined paging and other communications device for coupling an alerting signal to said paging and other communications device to alert said called party of said incoming call; means responsive to a signal transmitted by said paging device for temporarily suspending any further processing of said incoming call and suspending coupling of said alerting signal to said other communications device; and means responsive to a predetermined signal received from a communications device for reinitiating processing of said incoming call and coupling said incoming call to said communications device, said communications device being any in a set of said other communications devices including said other communications device, whereby said incoming call is received by said called party at said communications device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
208 words
A communication system for coupling incoming calls from a calling party to a called party, said system comprising at least one paging device; a plurality of other communications devices associated with prospective called parties, each of said other communications devices possessing communications capabilities different from said paging device; means responsive to signalling information in an incoming call for determining if any said paging device is associated with said called party and for determining which of said other communications devices is associated with said called party; means responsive to any determined paging and other communications device for coupling an alerting signal to said paging and other communications device to alert said called party of said incoming call; means responsive to a signal transmitted by said paging device for temporarily suspending any further processing of said incoming call and suspending coupling of said alerting signal to said other communications device; and means responsive to a predetermined signal received from a communications device for reinitiating processing of said incoming call and coupling said incoming call to said communications device, said communications device being any in a set of said other communications devices including said other communications device, whereby said incoming call is received by said called party at said communications device.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for use in a communications system wherein an incoming call from a calling party is connected to a called party, said method comprising the steps of determining, in response to said incoming call, a paging device associated with said called party and at least one other communications device possessing communications capabilities associated with said called party and possessing communications capabilities different from that of said paging device; coupling an alerting signal to the determined paging and other communications device to alert said called party of said incoming call; temporarily suspending any further processing of said incoming call and suspending coupling of said alerting signal to said other communications device in response to a signal transmitted by said paging device; and reinitiating processing of said incoming call in response to a predetermined signal from a communications device and coupling said incoming call to said communications device, said communications device being any in a set of communications devices including said other communications device whereby said incoming call is received by said called party at said communications device.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for use in a communications system wherein an incoming call from a calling party is connected to a called party, said method comprising the steps of determining, in response to said incoming call, a paging device associated with said called party and at least one other communications device possessing communications capabilities associated with said called party and possessing communications capabilities different from that of said paging device; coupling an alerting signal to the determined paging and other communications device to alert said called party of said incoming call; temporarily suspending any further processing of said incoming call and suspending coupling of said alerting signal to said other communications device in response to a signal transmitted by said paging device; and reinitiating processing of said incoming call in response to a predetermined signal from a communications device and coupling said incoming call to said communications device, said communications device being any in a set of communications devices including said other communications device whereby said incoming call is received by said called party at said communications device.