US5428663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Incoming communications forwarding technique utilizing a called party location indicator
Assignee: Avaya Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-30
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Granted: 1995-06-27
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Expires: 2013-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A communications signal-transmitting device carried by a communications system user indicates the location of that user relative to other wired or wireless communications devices connected to a communications system. This location indication is utilized by the communications system to forward incoming voice and/or data communications for that user to the other communications device so that the user can receive such communications. As a result, the location of any potential system user is provided and call forwarding for that user is accomplished without the prior art problems associated with activation and deactivation. In the disclosed embodiments which pertain to the forwarding of voice communications in a PBX environment, the communications device is a pager which communicates with the wired or wireless telephone sets connected to the line side of the PBX to provide the PBX with the location of the system user relative to these telephone sets.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary J. Grimes
- 👤 Lawrence J. Haas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42229; H04M11/00; H04M11/02; H04M11/022; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/54; H04M3/546; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/47; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/10; H04M2203/1091; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/30; H04M3/42314; H04M7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A pager which signals the arrival of an incoming communications destined for a pager user, said pager comprising means for developing a plurality of signals, each signal identifying said pager and being associated with a different communications feature, a first one of these communications feature being a call forwarding feature wherein an incoming call destined for said pager user can be redirected to a communications device that is in close proximity to said pager, a second one of these features being a selective call forwarding feature wherein said call forwarding feature is only provided when said incoming communications originates from one of a predetermined number of sources, and a third one of these features being a location feature which upon being activated, identifies the pager user to said communication device such that said communication device displays the identity of said pager user, and upon being deactivated, the location feature blocks the identification of the pager user to said communication device; and means responsive to each developed signal for transmitting that developed signal to a communications system which, in response thereto regulates operation of the communications feature associated with said transmitted signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A pager which signals the arrival of an incoming communications destined for a pager user, said pager comprising means for developing a plurality of signals, each signal identifying said pager and being associated with a different communications feature, a first one of these communications feature being a call forwarding feature wherein an incoming call destined for said pager user can be redirected to a communications device that is in close proximity to said pager, a second one of these features being a selective call forwarding feature wherein said call forwarding feature is only provided when said incoming communications originates from one of a predetermined number of sources, and a third one of these features being a location feature which upon being activated, identifies the pager user to said communication device such that said communication device displays the identity of said pager user, and upon being deactivated, the location feature blocks the identification of the pager user to said communication device; and means responsive to each developed signal for transmitting that developed signal to a communications system which, in response thereto regulates operation of the communications feature associated with said transmitted signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pager of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes a wireless signal transmitter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pager of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes a connector capable of coupling the developed signal from said pager to another communications device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
209 words
A communications system for connecting incoming communications to communication devices, said system comprising a pager which indicates arrival of incoming communications for a pager user, said pager including means for developing a plurality of signals, each signal being associated with a user of said pager and with a different communications feature, a first one of these communications features being a call forwarding feature wherein an incoming call destined for said pager user can be redirected to a communications device that is in close proximity to said pager user, a second one of these features being a selective call forwarding feature wherein said call forwarding feature is only provided when said incoming communications originates from one of a predetermined number of sources, and a third one of these communication features being a location feature which upon being activated, provides the identification of the pager used to said communications devices participating in said incoming communications such that said communication devices display the identity of said pager user and which upon being deactivated, the location feature blocks the identification of the pager user to said participating communication devices means for receiving each developed signal and in response thereto controlling operation of the communications feature associated with said received signal for said user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
209 words
A communications system for connecting incoming communications to communication devices, said system comprising a pager which indicates arrival of incoming communications for a pager user, said pager including means for developing a plurality of signals, each signal being associated with a user of said pager and with a different communications feature, a first one of these communications features being a call forwarding feature wherein an incoming call destined for said pager user can be redirected to a communications device that is in close proximity to said pager user, a second one of these features being a selective call forwarding feature wherein said call forwarding feature is only provided when said incoming communications originates from one of a predetermined number of sources, and a third one of these communication features being a location feature which upon being activated, provides the identification of the pager used to said communications devices participating in said incoming communications such that said communication devices display the identity of said pager user and which upon being deactivated, the location feature blocks the identification of the pager user to said participating communication devices means for receiving each developed signal and in response thereto controlling operation of the communications feature associated with said received signal for said user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications system of claim 4 wherein said communications system is a private branch exchange.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications system of claim 4 wherein said communication system is a central office switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The communications system of claim 4 wherein said communications device is a telephone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications system of claim 4 wherein each signal transmitted by said pager is received by those of said communications devices within a signal range of said pager.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The communications system of claim 4 wherein said pager transmits each signal through one of said communications devices which is interconnected thereto at a given time via a wired signal path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications system of claim 4 wherein said pager transmits each signal through one of said communications devices which receives that transmitted signal via a wireless signal path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communications system of claim 4 wherein said receiving means compares the signal received by a plurality of communications devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communications system of claim 4 wherein said receiving means includes a connector and said pager includes another connector which is mateable to said connector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The communications system of claim 4 further including means capable of further forwarding said incoming communications destined for said user from a preferred communications device to another communications device upon a predetermined condition when said call forwarding feature is operating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications system of claim 13 wherein said predetermined condition is that said incoming communications is not answered by said preferred communications device within a predetermined time period.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communications system of claim 13 wherein said another communications device is a call coverage communications device associated with the preferred communications device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communications system of claim 15 wherein said another communications device is an electronic messaging system associated with the preferred communications device.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for use in a communications system which connects incoming communications to communications devices, said method comprising the steps of developing a plurality of signals in a pager, each signal being associated with a user of said pager and with a different communications feature, a first one of these communications features being a call forwarding feature wherein an incoming call destined for said pager user can be redirected to a communications device that is in close proximity to said pager, a second one of these features being a selective call forwarding feature wherein said call forwarding feature is only provided when said incoming communications originates from one of a predetermined number of sources, said pager being capable of changing location relative to said communication devices with time, and a third one of these features being a location feature which upon being activated, identifies the pager user to said communication device such that said communication device displays the identity of said pager user, and upon being deactivated, the location feature blocks the identification of the pager used to said communication device; and receiving each developed signal and in response thereto controlling operation of the communications feature associated with said received signal for said user.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for use in a communications system which connects incoming communications to communications devices, said method comprising the steps of developing a plurality of signals in a pager, each signal being associated with a user of said pager and with a different communications feature, a first one of these communications features being a call forwarding feature wherein an incoming call destined for said pager user can be redirected to a communications device that is in close proximity to said pager, a second one of these features being a selective call forwarding feature wherein said call forwarding feature is only provided when said incoming communications originates from one of a predetermined number of sources, said pager being capable of changing location relative to said communication devices with time, and a third one of these features being a location feature which upon being activated, identifies the pager user to said communication device such that said communication device displays the identity of said pager user, and upon being deactivated, the location feature blocks the identification of the pager used to said communication device; and receiving each developed signal and in response thereto controlling operation of the communications feature associated with said received signal for said user.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-26 | 1998-12-26 | 1999-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-26 | 2002-12-26 | 2003-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-26 | 2006-12-26 | 2007-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |