US5550907A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal communication using intelligent terminals
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1994-12-23
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Granted: 1996-08-27
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Expires: 2014-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An intelligent terminal (which can be a telephone, a facsimile machine, or similar device) is arranged so that (a) it can store information indicating when (e.g., date and time) a particular subscriber last was present at the terminal, and (b) the stored information can be retrieved from the terminal remotely, preferably without completing a conventional call to the terminal. A central processor contains, for each subscriber, a list of the intelligent terminals that have been pre-designated for use by that subscriber, and has the ability to query terminals on the list. In response to a call placed to the subscriber by dialing the subscriber's unique personal number, specific intelligent terminals on that subscriber's list are queried by the central processor to determine when the subscriber was last present at each terminal. The central processor then generates a control signal such that the call is then completed to the particular terminal that was most recently visited by the subscriber.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Carlsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04Q3/005; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/247; H04M1/2473; H04M1/26; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/4228; H04M3/42229; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13248; H04Q2213/13513; H04Q2213/13527; H04Q2213/13547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for completing telephone calls placed to a selected one of a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers having a personal telephone number, said method including the steps of storing information indicating when each of a plurality of intelligent terminals associated with a selected subscriber was last visited, storing in a central processor, for each respective subscriber, a corresponding list of associated intelligent terminals that have been pre-designated for use by that subscriber, responsive to a call placed to a selected subscriber by dialing said selected subscriber's unique personal number, querying specific pre-designated intelligent terminals on said selected subscriber's list to determine when said selected subscriber was last present at each terminal, said stored information being retrieved from each terminal remotely, without completing a conventional call to the terminal, and completing the call to the particular terminal that was most recently visited by the subscriber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for completing telephone calls placed to a selected one of a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers having a personal telephone number, said method including the steps of storing information indicating when each of a plurality of intelligent terminals associated with a selected subscriber was last visited, storing in a central processor, for each respective subscriber, a corresponding list of associated intelligent terminals that have been pre-designated for use by that subscriber, responsive to a call placed to a selected subscriber by dialing said selected subscriber's unique personal number, querying specific pre-designated intelligent terminals on said selected subscriber's list to determine when said selected subscriber was last present at each terminal, said stored information being retrieved from each terminal remotely, without completing a conventional call to the terminal, and completing the call to the particular terminal that was most recently visited by the subscriber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the intelligent terminal is a telephone, a facsimile machine, or a cellular telephone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said querying step includes receiving and transmitting signals to said intelligent terminal while said terminal is in an on-hook condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said intelligent terminals are queried and respond with messages using the X.25 protocol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said central processor is a Service Control Point (SCP) in the public switched telephone network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said completing step is performed by a switch in the public switched telecommunications network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said central processor includes processing and storage elements in a personal computer and said querying and completing steps are performed in a switching element in said personal computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said central processor includes processing and storage elements in a private branch exchange (PBX) and said querying and completing steps are performed in a switching element in said PBX.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein each of said intelligent terminals includes a login memory, and wherein said first mentioned storing step includes storing, in the login memory in each of said terminals, information indicating the current date and time when a login code was entered in said terminal while in the on-hook state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 1 further including retrieving stored information from at least one of said terminals using an Analog Display Services Interface (ADSI) protocol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said terminals is an ISDN terminal, and wherein said method includes retrieving stored information from said terminal using the ISDN D channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said personal telephone number is a 500 number.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
189 words
A system for completing telephone calls placed to a selected one of a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers having a personal telephone number, said system including a plurality of intelligent terminals, each of said intelligent terminals being associated with one of said plurality of subscribers and being arranged (a) to store information indicating when it was last visited by its associated subscriber and (b) to permit remote retrieval of said stored information, without completing a conventional call to the terminal, a central processor containing, for each respective subscriber, a corresponding list of associated intelligent terminals that have been pre-designated for use by that subscriber, said central processor arranged to query said pre-designated intelligent terminals on a selected subscriber's list in order to determine when the selected subscriber was last present at each associated terminal, and calling means responsive to a call placed to the selected subscriber by dialing the selected subscriber's unique personal number for causing said central processor to query said pre-designated intelligent terminals and for completing the call to the particular terminal that was determined to be the terminal most recently visited by the subscriber.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
189 words
A system for completing telephone calls placed to a selected one of a plurality of subscribers, each of the subscribers having a personal telephone number, said system including a plurality of intelligent terminals, each of said intelligent terminals being associated with one of said plurality of subscribers and being arranged (a) to store information indicating when it was last visited by its associated subscriber and (b) to permit remote retrieval of said stored information, without completing a conventional call to the terminal, a central processor containing, for each respective subscriber, a corresponding list of associated intelligent terminals that have been pre-designated for use by that subscriber, said central processor arranged to query said pre-designated intelligent terminals on a selected subscriber's list in order to determine when the selected subscriber was last present at each associated terminal, and calling means responsive to a call placed to the selected subscriber by dialing the selected subscriber's unique personal number for causing said central processor to query said pre-designated intelligent terminals and for completing the call to the particular terminal that was determined to be the terminal most recently visited by the subscriber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein the intelligent terminal is a telephone, a facsimile machine, a personal computer or a cellular telephone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said intelligent terminal includes means for receiving and transmitting signals while in an on-hook condition, using the X.25 protocol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said intelligent terminals are queried and respond without completion of a conventional call.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said central processor is a Service Control Point (SCP) in the public switched telephone network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said call handling means is a switch in the public switched telecommunications network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said central processor includes processing and storage elements in a personal computer and said call handling means includes a switching element in said personal computer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said central processor includes processing and storage elements in a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and said call handling means includes a switching element in said PBX.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein each of said intelligent terminals includes a login memory, and wherein each of said terminals is arranged to store information indicating the current date and time when a login code is entered in said terminal while in the on-hook state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention defined in claim 21 wherein said login memory is arranged to store login information indicating when a plurality of subscribers were last at said terminal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein stored information is retrieved from at least one of said terminals using an Analog Display Services Interface (ADSI) protocol.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein at least one of said terminals is an ISDN terminal, and wherein stored information is retrieved from said terminal using the ISDN D channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said personal telephone number is a 500 number.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-27 | 2000-02-26 | 2000-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-27 | 2004-02-26 | 2004-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-27 | 2008-02-26 | 2008-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |