US6185433B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication device and method for determining a busy status thereof in a dispatch system
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1998-06-29
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Granted: 2001-02-06
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Expires: 2018-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A communication device (e.g., 103 ) includes a user interface ( 209 ), a receiver ( 203 ), a controller ( 205 ), and a transmitter ( 201 ). A user of the communication device uses the user interface to place the communication device in a busy operational mode in which the communication device is not involved in a voice communication, but is nevertheless unavailable to participate in a voice communication. While in the busy mode, the communication device receives a voice communication from a calling device (e.g., 104 ) and automatically responds with a data message indicating that the communication device is in the busy mode, thereby informing a user of the calling device of the busy status of the called device without disrupting the user of the called device.
Inventors
- 👤 Kamlesh S. Lele
- 👤 John M. Restrepo
- 👤 Jeffrey T. Brady
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for a first communication device to inform a second communication device of an operational status of the first communication device, the method comprising the steps of: entering a busy operational mode, the busy operational mode being an operational mode in which the first communication device is not involved in a voice communication, but is nevertheless unavailable to participate in a voice communication; while in the busy operational mode, receiving a first voice communication from the second communication device; while in the busy operational mode and subsequent to the step of receiving the first voice communication, determining whether the second communication device is data capable; and when the second communication device is data capable, automatically transmitting, responsive to the first voice communication, a data message to the second communication device, the data message indicating that the first communication device is in the busy operational mode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for a first communication device to inform a second communication device of an operational status of the first communication device, the method comprising the steps of: entering a busy operational mode, the busy operational mode being an operational mode in which the first communication device is not involved in a voice communication, but is nevertheless unavailable to participate in a voice communication; while in the busy operational mode, receiving a first voice communication from the second communication device; while in the busy operational mode and subsequent to the step of receiving the first voice communication, determining whether the second communication device is data capable; and when the second communication device is data capable, automatically transmitting, responsive to the first voice communication, a data message to the second communication device, the data message indicating that the first communication device is in the busy operational mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of transmitting the data message via an infrastructure of a radio communication system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of entering comprises the step of entering the busy operational mode for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the data message is one of a plurality of user-defined messages stored in a memory of the first communication device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving further comprises the step of storing an identification of the second communication device in a memory of the first communication device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first voice communication is a dispatch call or a telephone call.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: when the second communication device is not data capable, automatically forwarding the first voice communication to a voice mail server for the first communication device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for an infrastructure of a communication system to inform a first communication device of an operational status of a second communication device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first voice communication from the first communication device; transmitting the first voice communication to the second communication device; receiving, responsive to transmission of the first voice communication, a data message from the second communication device, the data message indicating that the second communication device is in a busy operational mode, the busy operational mode being an operational mode in which the second communication device is not involved in a voice communication, but is nevertheless unavailable to participate in the first voice communication; transmitting an acknowledgment of receipt of the data message to the second communication device; and transmitting the data message to the first communication device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for an infrastructure of a communication system to inform a first communication device of an operational status of a second communication device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first voice communication from the first communication device; transmitting the first voice communication to the second communication device; receiving, responsive to transmission of the first voice communication, a data message from the second communication device, the data message indicating that the second communication device is in a busy operational mode, the busy operational mode being an operational mode in which the second communication device is not involved in a voice communication, but is nevertheless unavailable to participate in the first voice communication; transmitting an acknowledgment of receipt of the data message to the second communication device; and transmitting the data message to the first communication device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the infrastructure of the communication system includes a short message service processor and wherein the step of transmitting the data message to the first communication device comprises the steps of: determining, by the short message service processor, a short text message based on the data message; and transmitting the short text message to the first communication device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
190 words
A two-way communication device having a plurality of operational modes, the two-way communication device comprising: a user interface that allows a user of the two-way communication device to place the two-way communication device in a busy operational mode, the busy operational mode being an operational mode in which the two-way communication device is not involved in a voice communication, but is nevertheless unavailable to participate in a voice communication; a receiver that receives a first voice communication from a calling communication device while the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode; a controller, coupled to the user interface and the receiver, that detects that the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode, that determines, while the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode, whether the calling communication device is data capable, and, when the calling communication device is data capable, generates a data message indicating that the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode; and a transmitter, coupled to the controller, that transmits the data message to the calling communication device, while the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
A two-way communication device having a plurality of operational modes, the two-way communication device comprising: a user interface that allows a user of the two-way communication device to place the two-way communication device in a busy operational mode, the busy operational mode being an operational mode in which the two-way communication device is not involved in a voice communication, but is nevertheless unavailable to participate in a voice communication; a receiver that receives a first voice communication from a calling communication device while the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode; a controller, coupled to the user interface and the receiver, that detects that the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode, that determines, while the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode, whether the calling communication device is data capable, and, when the calling communication device is data capable, generates a data message indicating that the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode; and a transmitter, coupled to the controller, that transmits the data message to the calling communication device, while the two-way communication device is in the busy operational mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The two-way communication device of claim 10 , further comprising a memory device, coupled to the controller, having stored therein of a plurality of user-defined messages, wherein the data message is one of the plurality of user-defined messages.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The two-way communication device of claim 10 , wherein the receiver further receives an identification of the calling communication device, the two-way communication device further comprising a memory device, coupled to the receiver, that stores the identification of the calling communication device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The two-way communication device of claim 10 , further comprising a timer, coupled to the controller, that starts when the two-way communication device enters the busy operational mode and expires after a predetermined period of time to thereby return the two-way communication device to a non-busy operational mode in which the two-way communication device is available to participate in a voice communication.
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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) | 2004-02-06 | 2004-08-07 | 2005-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | 2009-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-06 | 2012-08-07 | 2013-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |