Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Special service
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-04
2001-02-13
Hunter, Daniel S. (Department: 2749)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Special service
C455S414200, C455S550100, C379S142030, C379S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188886
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system and method for a server based telephone system wherein interactive handsets can operate within a data communication mode and a voice communication mode concurrently.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wireless in building telephones deploying a pico-cellular architecture allow employees to work away from their desks without the worry associated with missing incoming callers. A communication system such as this consisting of a central controller, base stations connected to the controller, and wireless handsets carried by the employees have allowed increased freedom and accessibility in the work place.
The central controller manages all incoming calls for the individual wireless handsets using an in building telecommunication network. The network is divided into cells which service the handsets in a defined area. Each cell contains a base station which exchanges voice and data information with the handsets located within the cell's coverage area. When a call arrives for a particular handset, the controller determines the cell location of the requested handset and alerts the user with a notification alarm on the handset.
As aforementioned, one key advantage of this system is the ability of the user to work away from their work area while not missing incoming calls. A problem results from the fact that this inevitably increases the time the employee is away from his/her Personal Computer (PC) and its associated applications and databases. This reduction in access to valuable resources can harm productivity and limits the true freedom gained by the use of the portable telephone system.
The ability to communicate caller identification data from the central controller to the handset is well known. Generally, this information which includes the name and/or number of the calling party is transferred to the liquid crystal display (LCD) of the handset when the handset is alerted of an incoming call. Such an apparatus is typified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,599 Tsuji et al, issued Dec. 3, 1996, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This innovation allows limited information about the calling party to become available to the user of the portable telephone. This information, although useful, does not allow a user to gain access to applications or databases that may be located on a PC. If a user required additional information about a calling party before accepting the call, it would necessitate access to a PC and the specific databases needed.
There are presently available digital telecommunication systems that allow data sessions between the portable handset and the central controller. These data sessions may be initiated by the user or by applications running on a personal computer (PC) connected to the controller. Samples of these systems include the Companion
200
and Meridian Companion Mobility Option (MCMO) produced by Northern Telecom Limited and the Pocket Communication Systems (PCS) PCS50E, PCS150E, and PCS2000E produced by SpectraLink Corporation. These data sessions allow the user to access applications located on a server connected to the central controller remotely through a handset. While the user is away from a PC, this system allows for the activating and running of computer programs that may be required without prescribing that the user be situated at the same location as the PC. This increases the accessibility of information to the user while away from a PC.
An inherent problem that occurs through the use of the portable telephone as both a means for voice communication and a means for data communication is the inability of the central controller to access the user for a voice call while the user is engaged in a data session on the handset with the server. This reduces the availability of the user to outside callers and limits the advantages gained by the portable telephone system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantage of the prior art and, in particular, to provide a technique whereby a user engaged in a data session may be offered a voice call which he/she may accept or reject.
According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a telephone communications network capable of operation in both data communication and voice communication mode, the network comprising: at least one display based telephone handset; a central switching controller coupled to the telephone handset and connectable to an external switched telephone network for selective switching of the telephone handset to the external switched network; and a central computing device connected to the central switching controller and controlling operation of the central switching controller by means of control software running on the central computing device and providing selective access by the telephone handset through the central switching controller to application software running on the central computing device, wherein the control software operates, while the telephone handset is in a data communication mode with the application software and an incoming voice call for the telephone handset is received at the central switching controller, to save in memory information about the telephone handset, to offer the incoming voice call to a display on the telephone handset, to connect the voice call to the telephone handset in the event that an acceptance signal is sent from the telephone handset or to reject the voice call to the telephone handset in the event that a rejection signal is sent from the telephone handset, and to restore the information about the telephone handset to the telephone handset and reconnect the telephone handset to the data communication mode with the application software after reception of the acceptance signal or the rejection signal.
According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of offering an incoming voice call to a particular display based telephone handset in a telephone communications network while the particular handset is in a data communication mode with an application software, the telephone communications network capable of operation in both data communication and voice communication mode and comprising at least one display based telephone handset; a central switching controller coupled to the telephone handset and connectable to an external switched telephone network for selective switching of the telephone handset to the external switched network; and a central computing device connected to the central switching controller and controlling operation of the central switching controller by means of control software running on the central computing device and providing selective access by the telephone handset through the central switching controller to an application software running on the central computing device, the method comprising:
A) on receipt of the incoming voice call, saving in memory information about that particular handset;
B) offering the incoming voice call to a display on that particular handset;
C) connecting the voice call to that particular handset in the event that an acceptance signal is sent from the particular handset or rejecting the voice call in the event that a rejection signal is sent from the particular handset;
D) restoring the information about that particular handset to the particular handset after reception of the acceptance signal or the rejection signal; and
E) reconnecting the particular handset to the data communication mode with the application software after receipt of the acceptance signal or the rejection signal.
According to a third aspect, the invention provides a computer readable storage medium containing control software that when running on a central computing device connected to a central switching controller which is further coupled to at least one display based telephone handset capable of operation in both data communication and voice communication mode, controls the operation of the central switching controller through a plurality of control steps, wherein the cent
Egan Brian
Macaulay Robert Paul
Hunter Daniel S.
Nortel Networks Limited
Tran Pablo
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