US6480593B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communications system automatically diverting calls when user not present
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
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Filing: 1997-12-03
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Granted: 2002-11-12
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Expires: 2017-12-03
Abstract
Abstract In a communications network ( 130 ), call divert, for calls directed to a local telephone ( 100 ), from the local telephone ( 100 ) to a remote telephone ( 150 ) is initiated by a computer system ( 160 ) after the user has had no interaction with the computer system for a predetermined period of time. Thus, a user need not remember to initialize call divert manually before leaving the vicinity of the local telephone ( 100 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Alan C Munday
- 👤 Graham J Norbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/006; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/54; H04M1/253; H04M1/2535; H04M3/42229; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04M7/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S379/00; Y10S379/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
Call control apparatus comprising: inference means for inferring an absence of a user from the vicinity of user equipment, said inference means including a timer and being arranged to infer user absence by a lack of user direct interaction with the user equipment for longer than a pre-determined period of time; and control means being responsive to said inference means such that inference of user absence from the vicinity of said user equipment causes a call subsequently made to a first communications terminal after the absence of a user has been inferred to be re-directed to a second communications terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
Call control apparatus comprising: inference means for inferring an absence of a user from the vicinity of user equipment, said inference means including a timer and being arranged to infer user absence by a lack of user direct interaction with the user equipment for longer than a pre-determined period of time; and control means being responsive to said inference means such that inference of user absence from the vicinity of said user equipment causes a call subsequently made to a first communications terminal after the absence of a user has been inferred to be re-directed to a second communications terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Call control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user equipment is a computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Call control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said inference means includes a screen-saver process performed by said computer system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Call control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control means includes means for transmitting a control signal to a communications network to initiate call re-direction.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of re-directing calls comprising: inferring the absence of a user from an area by detecting a lack of user direct interaction with user equipment; and re-directing calls subsequently made after the absence of said user direct interaction has been inferred to a first communications terminal situated in or near said area, in response to an inferred absence, from the first communications terminal to a second communications terminal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of re-directing calls comprising: inferring the absence of a user from an area by detecting a lack of user direct interaction with user equipment; and re-directing calls subsequently made after the absence of said user direct interaction has been inferred to a first communications terminal situated in or near said area, in response to an inferred absence, from the first communications terminal to a second communications terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A data transfer system comprising: inference means to infer an absence of a user from an area, said inference means including timer means and being arranged to infer user absence by a lack of user direct interaction with user equipment for longer than a pre-determined period of time; and control means being responsive to the inference means such that inference of user absence from a vicinity of said user equipment causes, in use, a transfer of data subsequently directed after the absence of a user has been inferred to a first communications terminal in or near said area to be re-directed to a second communications terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
A data transfer system comprising: inference means to infer an absence of a user from an area, said inference means including timer means and being arranged to infer user absence by a lack of user direct interaction with user equipment for longer than a pre-determined period of time; and control means being responsive to the inference means such that inference of user absence from a vicinity of said user equipment causes, in use, a transfer of data subsequently directed after the absence of a user has been inferred to a first communications terminal in or near said area to be re-directed to a second communications terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A data transfer system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the user equipment is a computer system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A data transfer system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said inference means includes a screen-saver process performed by said computer system.
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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) | 2005-11-11 | 2006-05-13 | 2006-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-11 | 2010-05-13 | 2010-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-11 | 2014-05-13 | 2014-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |