Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-18
2001-06-12
Trost, William G. (Department: 2683)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S412100, C455S560000, C379S142030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246889
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telecommunication systems, methods, and apparatus for subscriber features, and more specifically to a method, system, and apparatus for delayed call answering.
2. Background and Objects of the Present Invention
The widespread availability of mobile phones permits subscribers to remain in contact with others at virtually any given time. A mobile phone subscriber is not required to remain in close proximity to a fixed phone line like an ordinary subscriber. Thus, the mobile phone subscriber can remain in contact while in transit.
While a mobile phone subscriber can be contacted at virtually any given time, there are a number of temporary circumstances in which a mobile phone subscriber may not desire, or even be able to respond when contacted. An example might be when a call is received by a mobile phone subscriber who is in attendance at a public gathering or meeting. The first distraction occurs when the mobile phone alerts the subscriber by ringing. The distraction is aggravated when the mobile phone subscriber answers the call and begins a conversation.
An alternative approach to solve this problem is to manufacture mobile phones that vibrate instead of ring when receiving an incoming call. This approach avoids the distractions caused by an audible ring during a public gathering or meeting. Moreover, the distraction of an incoming call can be completely avoided if the mobile phone subscriber ignores the incoming call.
Ignoring the incoming call causes the call to either be rerouted to a voice mail or be abandoned by the calling party. This could be undesirable when an important call is received while the mobile phone subscriber is temporarily unable to respond. In such a case, the mobile phone subscriber may wish to indicate their presence, but avoid creating a distraction for others. Presently, this is extremely problematic since the mobile phone subscriber must verbally indicate their presence, thus creating a distraction.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a way for a called party to indicate their presence to a calling party unobtrusively, particularly without having to make a verbal reply.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method for answering a call by forwarding the call to the called party, receiving the subscriber selection from the called party, and responsive to the subscriber selection, transmitting a message to the calling party, if the call receives delayed answer treatment, receiving another subscriber selection from the called party, and setting up a voice connection when the called party chooses to answer the call receiving delayed answer treatment.
The present invention is also directed to a phone which includes a transceiver for receiving a call and transmitting an electronic signal, a control panel for inputting a subscriber selection signal, a microphone memory for storing prerecorded messages, a controller for receiving inputs from the control panel, and if the input is a delayed answering signal, forwarding a prerecorded message to the transceiver, and if the input is a call answering signal, connecting the microphone to the transceiver.
The present invention is also directed to a system for answering a call which includes an outgoing line for alerting the called terminal, a transmitter for transmitting a prerecorded message to the calling terminal, a group switch for connecting an incoming line to either the outgoing line or the transmitter and a traffic handler for handling a subscriber selection command and directing the group switch to either connect the incoming line to the outgoing line or the transmitter.
The present invention is additionally directed to a switching office for routing a call including an incoming line for receiving a call, an outgoing line connected to a transceiver in communication with the called party, an announcement machine with a prerecorded message, a group switch connected to the incoming line, for connecting the incoming line to the outgoing line responsive to one control signal, and connecting the incoming line to the announcement machine responsive to another control signal, and a traffic handler for handling a subscriber selection signal from the subscriber, and providing one control signal if the subscriber's selection is a call answering signal, and providing another control signal if the subscriber's selection is a delayed answering signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: WO 94/29992 (1994-12-01), None
patent: WO 96/12378 (1996-04-01), None
Alperovich Vladimir
Boltz David
Ericsson Inc.
Jenkens & Gilchrist P.C.
Perez-Gutierrez Rafael
Trost William G.
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