Method and arrangement for connecting selectively a stationary subscriber apparatus to a neighboring mobile subscriber apparatus with the aid of a telephone switchboard function

Claim 1

In a communication system comprising a stationary subscriber apparatus and a plurality of mobile subscriber apparatus, a system for connecting an incoming call from the stationary subscriber apparatus to a telephone number associated with the plurality of mobile subscriber apparatus to a selected mobile subscriber apparatus comprising: means for generating voice messages; a switchboard including a computer, :means for establishing speech connections between the stationary subscriber apparatus and ones of the mobile subscriber apparatus, first means for connecting the incoming call to an outgoing line through the switchboard and to the generating means upon receipt of the incoming call, and second means for connecting calls from mobile subscriber apparatus through the switchboard to the generating means; wherein the switchboard ascertains and stores for each unoccupied mobile subscriber apparatus a respective geographic location; the establishing means establishes a speech connection between the stationary subscriber apparatus and the selected mobile subscriber apparatus; either the switchboard ascertains the stationary subscriber apparatus's telephone number and determines therefrom the stationary subscriber apparatus's geographic location, or the generating means generates a voice message that requests entry of a code number indicating the stationary subscriber apparatus's geographic location; and the switchboard selects the mobile subscriber apparatus based on a priority assigned to the mobile subscriber apparatus, each mobile subscriber apparatus's priority being determined by at least one of: proximity to the stationary subscriber apparatus; assignment to an area that includes the stationary subscriber apparatus's geographic location; duration that the mobile subscriber apparatus has been unoccupied; and availability for the stationary subscriber apparatus's geographic location.