US5805683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for routing ground-to-air telephone calls
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-17
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2016-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A system for completing calls to a passenger aboard an aircraft. The passenger activates ground-to-air service by accessing a ground-to-air database subsystem that is located on the ground. The passenger gains access to the ground-to-air database by dialing a special service number and entering a Master Personal Identification Number (Master PIN). Once access to the database is obtained, the passenger may enter one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters which enable the system to forward ground initiated calls directly to the passenger. At anytime after ground-to-air service has been activated, but before it is terminated, a person on the ground may initiate a call to the passenger by dialing the special service number. In a preferred embodiment, a Ground-to-Air User PIN is employed to screen ground callers.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Charles Berberich, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/18502; H04B7/18506
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for routing a call that is made by a calling party located on the ground, and directed to a subscriber located aboard an aircraft, comprising the steps of: a) storing one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters in a database, wherein one of said ground-to-air forwarding parameters is a Ground-to-Air User PIN; b) accessing said database when said calling party on the ground places a call to said subscriber aboard the aircraft; c) receiving a PIN entry from said calling party; d) comparing said PIN entry to said Ground-to-Air User PIN to determine if there is a match; and e) when there is a match, routing the call to said subscriber according to said ground-to-air forwarding parameters, without requiring the calling party to hang up and wait for a return call from the subscriber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for routing a call that is made by a calling party located on the ground, and directed to a subscriber located aboard an aircraft, comprising the steps of: a) storing one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters in a database, wherein one of said ground-to-air forwarding parameters is a Ground-to-Air User PIN; b) accessing said database when said calling party on the ground places a call to said subscriber aboard the aircraft; c) receiving a PIN entry from said calling party; d) comparing said PIN entry to said Ground-to-Air User PIN to determine if there is a match; and e) when there is a match, routing the call to said subscriber according to said ground-to-air forwarding parameters, without requiring the calling party to hang up and wait for a return call from the subscriber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters comprises an aircall number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters comprises a seat number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters comprises a start time of forwarding and a duration of forwarding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of routing the call comprises the step of coupling the call to a ground station, said ground station providing a two-way radio link between the calling party's telephone and the aircraft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters comprises the steps of: receiving a subscriber initiated call at a ground-to-air database subsystem, said ground-to-air database subsystem having stored therein a Master PIN for the subscriber; receiving a PIN entry from the subscriber; comparing said PIN entry to said Master PIN to determine if there is a match; and when there is a match, (i) receiving said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters from the subscriber, and (ii) storing said received forwarding parameters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of receiving a PIN entry comprises the step of receiving one or more DTMF signals indicative of said PIN entry.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of receiving a PIN entry comprises the step of receiving one or more voice signals indicative of said PIN entry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters comprises the steps of: receiving a subscriber initiated call at a ground-to-air database subsystem, said ground-to-air database subsystem having stored therein a Master PIN for the subscriber; prompting the subscriber for a PIN entry; receiving said PIN entry from the subscriber; comparing said PIN entry to said Master PIN to determine if there is a match; and when there is a match, (i) prompting the subscriber for said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters, (ii) receiving said forwarding parameters from the subscriber, and (iii) storing said received forwarding parameters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of routing the call comprises the steps of: receiving the call at a ground-to-air database subsystem, said ground-to-air database subsystem having stored therein a Ground-to-Air User PIN for the subscriber; receiving a PIN entry from the calling party; comparing said PIN entry to said Ground-to-Air User PIN to determine if there is a match; and when there is a match, routing the call to the subscriber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of receiving a PIN entry comprises the step of receiving one or more DTMF signals indicative of said PIN entry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of receiving a PIN entry comprises the step of receiving one or more voice signals indicative of said PIN entry.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of routing the call comprises the steps of: receiving the call at a ground-to-air database subsystem, said ground-to-air database subsystem having stored therein a Ground-to-Air User PIN for the subscriber; prompting the calling party for a PIN entry; receiving said PIN entry from the calling party; comparing said PIN entry to said Ground-to-Air User PIN to determine if there is a match; and when there is a match, routing the call to the subscriber.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for routing a call that is made by a calling party at an originating communication device located on the ground, and is directed to a subscriber at a terminating communication device located aboard an aircraft, comprising the steps of: a) comparing a PIN entry entered by the calling party with a Ground-to-Air User PIN, and b) when there is a match, acquiring an identification number for the originating communication device; and c) passing said identification number to the aircraft for inspection by the subscriber, without requiring the calling party to hang up and wait for a return call from the subscriber.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for routing a call that is made by a calling party at an originating communication device located on the ground, and is directed to a subscriber at a terminating communication device located aboard an aircraft, comprising the steps of: a) comparing a PIN entry entered by the calling party with a Ground-to-Air User PIN, and b) when there is a match, acquiring an identification number for the originating communication device; and c) passing said identification number to the aircraft for inspection by the subscriber, without requiring the calling party to hang up and wait for a return call from the subscriber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of acquiring an identification number comprises the step of acquiring a telephone number for the originating communication device through ANI.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of routing the call comprises the steps of: coupling the call to a ground station; and passing said ground-to-air forwarding parameters to said ground station for use in establishing a two-way radio link between the originating communication device and the aircraft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of routing the call comprises the steps of: receiving the call at a ground-to-air database subsystem, said ground-to-air database subsystem having stored therein a Ground-to-Air User PIN for the subscriber; receiving a PIN entry from the calling party; comparing said PIN entry to said Ground-to-Air User PIN to determine if there is a match; and when there is a match, routing the call to the subscriber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of receiving a PIN entry comprises the step of receiving one or more DTMF signals indicative of said PIN entry.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of receiving a PIN entry comprises the step of receiving one or more voice signals indicative of said PIN entry.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of routing the call comprises the steps of: receiving the call at a ground-to-air database subsystem, said ground-to-air database subsystem having stored therein a Ground-to-Air User PIN for the subscriber; prompting the calling party for a PIN entry; receiving said PIN entry from the calling party; comparing said PIN entry to said Ground-to-Air User PIN to determine if there is a match; and when there is a match, routing the call to the subscriber.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
104 words
A system for routing a call that is made by a calling party at an originating communication device located on the ground, and directed to a subscriber at a terminating communication device located aboard an aircraft, comprising: a) means for accessing one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters; b) means for matching a caller entered PIN with a Ground-to-Air User PIN; c) means for routing the call to the subscriber according to said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters if the caller-entered PIN matches the Ground-to-Air User PIN, without requiring the calling party to hang up and wait for a return call from the subscriber.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
104 words
A system for routing a call that is made by a calling party at an originating communication device located on the ground, and directed to a subscriber at a terminating communication device located aboard an aircraft, comprising: a) means for accessing one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters; b) means for matching a caller entered PIN with a Ground-to-Air User PIN; c) means for routing the call to the subscriber according to said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters if the caller-entered PIN matches the Ground-to-Air User PIN, without requiring the calling party to hang up and wait for a return call from the subscriber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 21, further comprising a ground station for completing a two-way radio link between the originating communication device and the aircraft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said means for accessing comprises an AT&T Quantum Data Routing System.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 21, further comprising means for storing said one or more ground-to-air forwarding parameters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5592539A
Cited
US5519761A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-07 | 2002-03-09 | 2002-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-07 | 2006-03-09 | 2006-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-07 | 2010-03-09 | 2010-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |