GB2353441A

GB2353441A - Telephone call routing for a local telephone network and associated router

Info

Publication number: GB2353441A
Application number: GB0012644A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jumembo Alec Lafourcade
Original assignee: Sagem SA
Current assignee: Sagem SA
Priority date: 1999-05-25
Filing date: 2000-05-24
Publication date: 2001-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-24
Also published as: GB0012644D0; GB2353441B; FR2794331A1; FR2794331B1; DE10025903A1

Abstract

The assembly comprises a telephone router (11), of a local telephone network (20), comprising at least one local telephone (1a-1d) associated with a telephone (12a-12d) of a cellular network (101), and a charger (2a-2d) of the cellular telephone (12a-12d), connected to the associated local telephone (1a-1d). In the case where the cellular telephone (12a-12d) is in the charger (2a-2d), the latter detects the presence of the cellular telephone (12a-12d), the local telephone (1a-1d) then signals to the router (11) the presence of the cellular telephone (12a-12d) in the charger (2a-2d) and, the two networks, local (20) and cellular (101), being interconnected, in the case of a call coming from the local network (20) and intended for the cellular telephone (12a-12d), the router directs the call to the associated local telephone (1a-1d).

Description

2353441 Telephone Call Routing Assembly For A Local Telephone Network And

Associated Router A local telephone network, such as is found within numerous companies, comprises a plurality of telephones connected to an automatic local exchange, which is a telephone router, itself connected to an external telephone network, for example the switched telephone network (STN), and intended to direct telephone calls sent by or destined for telephones of the local network, whether these be calls internal or external to the local network.

With the current development of cellular telephony, more and more people own cellular telephones. It is consequently frequently the case that the user of a telephone of a local network also possesses a cellular telephone. It proves generally easier to reach this user on his cellular telephone than on the telephone of the local network.

This is the reason why one sees today in local company networks an increase in the calls destined for cellular telephones, to the detriment of those destined for telephones is of the local networks, even when the latter are possible. This phenomenon contributes to increase further the load on cellular networks, already loaded, indeed overloaded. Moreover, the calls sent by telephones of the local network and destined for cellular telephones are very expensive for the companies.

Straight away it will be noted that by "cellular telephone network" it is intended also to 20 designate a telephone network comprising a plurality of terrestrial base stations as much as a network of satellites.

The present invention aims first of all to avoid unnecessary calls to cellular telephones.

To this end, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a telephone router, of a local telephone network comprising at least one local telephone associated with a telephone of a cellular network, means for detecting the presence of the cellular 2 telephone, in a space adjoining the associated local telephone, and means for signalling to the router the presence of the cellular telephone in said space, an assembly wherein the two networks, local and cellular, being interconnected, the router comprises means arranged, in the case where the cellular telephone is detected in said space, to direct a call coming from the local network and destined for the cellular telephone, to the associated local telephone.

Thanks to the invention, when a telephone of the local network calls the cellular telephone, detected in said space, the router directs the call to the telephone of the local network associated with this cellular telephone, thus transforming a cellular telephone 10 call into a call internal to the local network.

Advantageously, the router comprises means arranged, in the case where the cellular telephone is not detected in said space, to direct a call destined for the associated local telephone to one of the elements of the group comprising said associated cellular telephone, a voice mailbox and another local telephone.

In the case where the cellular telephone is not located in said space, any incoming call on the associated local telephone, whether it be internal or external to the local network, is directed either to the associated cellular telephone or to the voice mailbox, or to another local telephone. Thanks to this, the probability is increased that the caller manages to reach the person called, or at least to leave him a message.

In a particular embodiment, a cellular telephone charger is provided, connected to the local network and comprising means for detecting the presence of the cellular telephone in the charger.

The invention also relates to a telephone router, of a local telephone network comprising at least one local telephone associated with a telephone of a cellular 25 network, for the above assembly, comprising means arranged to direct a. call, coming 3 from the local network and destined for the cellular telephone associated with the local telephone, to said local telephone.

The invention also relates to a cellular telephone charger, for the above assembly, comprising means for detecting the presence of the cellular telephone in the charger.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of a particular embodiment of the assembly of the invention, with reference to the attached drawing on which:

- fig. 1 represents a synoptic view of the assembly of the invention and fig. 2 represents a functional block diagram of the router of the assembly of fig. 1.

The assembly of the invention comprises a local telephone network 20, in this case a company network, comprising a plurality of local telephones l a-1d, a telephone router 11, which acts as an automatic local exchange, connected to telephones 1 a- 1 d and to an external telephone network 100, here the switched telephone network (STN). The router 11 is intended to direct telephone calls, destined for or sent by a telephone is l a- l d of the local network 20, and to establish the corresponding telephone links. Each telephone 1 a- 1 d of the local network 20 is associated with a telephone 12a- 1 2d of a cellular network 10 1, here GSM, two associated telephones, of the local network 20 and the cellular network 10 1 respectively, having the same user. Straight away it will be noted that by "local telephone" and "cellular telephone" it is intended to designate a 20 telephone of the local network 20 and a telephone of the cellular network 101, respectively. The three networks, local 20, STN 100 and cellular 10 1 are interconnected.

4 Each telephone I a- I d of the local network 20 comprises here a telephone base, of the DECT standard, and a telephone handset connected to the base by radio link. The base, apart from the standard elements of a DECT base, comprises a connector for linking to a cellular telephone battery charger 2a-2d, a reception block, connected to the connector, for receiving a signal indicating the location of the cellular telephone, transmitted by the charger 2a-2d, and a block for transmitting to the router 11 a signal identifying and indicating the location of the cellular telephone.

Each charger 2a-2d comprises charging contacts, connected to an electric socket, a device for detecting the presence of a cellular telephone 12a12d, intended for detecting a loading current, and a telephone link connector, to connect the charger 2a- 2d to a telephone la-1d of the local network 20.

Each local telephone 1 a- 1 d is connected, here by a wired link, to the charger 2a-2d of the associated cellular telephone 12a-12d. Each charger 2a-2d is thus linked to the local network 20 via a local telephone I a-1 d.

is The device for detecting the presence of the charger 2a-2d is intended to detect the presence in the charger 2a-2d of the cellular telephone 12a12d and to transmit, through the telephone link connector, to the local telephone la-1d, a signal indicating the location of the cellular telephone 12a-12d, as will be explained further on. The charger 2a-2d thus defines a space, adjoining the local telephone la-1d, in which the 20 associated cellular telephone 12a- 12d is likely to be detected and located.

The router 11 comprises an interface 3 for linking to the telephones la1d of the local network 20, an interface 4 for connecting to the telephone network 100 and a directing and switching block 5.

The directing and switching block 5 is intended to direct the telephone calls, destined for or sent by a telephone la-1d of the local network 20, and to establish the corresponding telephone links.

The router 11 comprises in addition a telephone address acquisition block 6, a block 7 for acquisition of indications of location of a cellular telephone 12a- 12d, associated with a local telephone 1 a-1 d, a telephone address selection block 8, a database 9 and a block 10 for managing the database 9.

It will be noted here that there is attributed to each telephone la-1d of the local network 20, an identification number, an external telephone call number, to be called 10 from a telephone external to the local network 20, and an internal telephone call number, to be called from a local telephone network 20, these two call numbers, internal and external, constituting telephone addresses of the telephone I a -1 d.

The telephone call number acquisition block 6, connected to the two interfaces 3 and 4 and to the selection block 8, is intended, for each telephone call sent by or destined for is a telephone la-1d of the local network 20, to acquire the telephone call number of the telephone called.

The acquisition block 7 for indications of location, connected to the interface 3 for linking to the local network 20 and to the management block 10, is intended to acquire indications of location of a cellular telephone 12a-12d, associated with a local 20 telephone la-1d.

The database 9, connected to the selection block 8 and to the management block 10, contains, for each local telephone 1 a-1 d:

- the identification number and the telephone call numbers, internal and external, of this local telephone la-1d and 6 - the telephone call number and an indication of the location of the associated cellular telephone la-1d associated with this local telephone la-1d.

The block 10 for managing the database 9 is intended to manage the database 9 and especially to memorise there indications of location of the cellular telephones 12a- 1 2d, S associated with the local telephones I a-1 d.

The selection block 8 is intended, in the case of a call destined for or sent by a local telephone la-1d, to select, depending on the indication of the location of the cellular telephone 12a-12d associated with this local telephone la-1d, one of the telephone addresses, stored in the database 9 and comprising the telephone call numbers of this local telephone la-1d and the telephone call number of the associated cellular telephone 12a-12d, in order to direct the call to the selected telephone address, as will be explained later.

The method of routing a telephone call, sent by or destined for a telephone la-ld of the local network 20, corresponding to the fimctioning of the assembly of the invention, will now be described.

When the user of the telephone I a of the local network 20 places the cellular telephone 12a, associated with this local telephone la, in the charger 2a, the device for detecting the presence of the latter detects the presence of the cellular telephone 12a and transmits to the telephone la a signal indicating the location of the cellular telephone 12a, indicating the presence of the cellular telephone 12a in the charger 2a. The telephone 1 a then transmits to the router 11 a signal identifying and indicating the location of the cellular telephone 12a, containing the indication according to which the cellular telephone 12a is located in the charger 2a. and the identification number of the telephone la.

7 On the side of the router 11, the acquisition block 7 takes from the received signal the identification number of the telephone I a and the indication of location, and provides this information to the management block 10. The latter memorises the indication of location, according to which the cellular telephone 12a is located in the charger 2a, in S the database 9.

After the cellular telephone 12a has been removed from the charger 2a, the device for detecting the presence of the latter, no longer detecting the presence of the telephone 12a, transmits to telephone I a a signal indicating the location of the cellular telephone 12, indicating that the cellular telephone 12a is no longer located in the charger 2a.

The telephone l a then transmits to the router 11 a signal identifying and indicating the location of the cellular telephone 12a, containing the indication according to which the cellular telephone 12a is no longer located in the charger 2a and the identification number of the telephone l a.

On the side of the router, the acquisition block 7 takes from the received signal the identification number of the telephone la and the indication of location, and supplies this information to the management block 10. The latter memorises in the database 9 the indication according to which the cellular telephone 12a is not located in the charger 2a.

1) Tel ephone call sent by a telephone of the local network When the telephone lb of the local network 20 calls the cellular telephone 12a, associated with another telephone l a of the local network 20, it transmits to the router 11 a call signal containing the telephone call number of the cellular telephone 12a. The acquisition block 6 takes the telephone call number of the called cellular telephone 12a, from the call signal received and provides it to the selection block 8. The selection block 8 looks for the call number of the called cellular telephone 12a in the database 9 and reads there the indication of location of this telephone 12a.

8 In the case where the location indication indicates that the cellular telephone 12a is located in the charger 2a, the selection block 8 selects the call number of the local telephone 1 a, associated with the cellular telephone 12a, and provides this call number to the directing and switching block 5. The latter then directs the call to the local telephone la and, if need be, establishes the telephone link between the local telephones 1 a and lb.

In the case where the location indication indicates that the cellular telephone 12a is not located in the charger 2a, the selection block 8 selects the call number of the cellular telephone 12a and provides this call number to the directing and switching block 5.

The latter then directs the call to the cellular telephone 12a, transmitting a call signal, containing the call number of the cellular telephone 12a, to the telephone network 100, and thus to the cellular network 10 1, interconnected with network 100, and, if need be, establishes the telephone link between the telephone lb of the local network and the cellular telephone 12a.

is When a telephone la-1d of the local network 20 calls a telephone, the call number of which is not stored in the database 9, the router 11 directs the call to the called telephone in standard manner, without selecting any telephone address from the database 9.

2) Telephone call destined for a telephone of the local network When the router 11 receives a call destined for telephone I a of the local network 20, whether this be a call coming from the local network 20 or from an external telephone network 100, 101, the acquisition block 6 receives a call signal indicating the call number of the telephone la, takes from it this call number and provides it to the selection block 8. The selection block 8 searches for the call number of the called telephone la in the database 9 and reads there the indication of location of the cellular telephone 12a, associated with this local telephone l a.

9 In the case where the location indication indicates that the cellular telephone 12a is located in the charger 2a, the selection block 8 selects the call number of the local telephone I a and provides this call number to the directing and switching block 5. The latter then directs the call to the local telephone la and, if need be, establishes the 5 telephone link.

In the case where the location indication indicates that the cellular telephone 12a is not located in the charger 2a, the selection block 8 selects the call number of the cellular telephone 12a and provides this call number to the directing and switching block 5. The latter then directs the call to the cellular telephone 12a, transmitting a call signal containing the call number of the cellular telephone 12a to the telephone network 100 and, if need be, establishes the telephone link.

In another embodiment of the invention, for each local telephone, besides the identification number and the telephone call numbers, internal and external, of the local telephone, and the telephone call number and the indication of location of the associated cellular telephone, the database stores the telephone address of a voice mailbox and the telephone call numbers, internal and external, of another local telephone. In the case where the router receives a call signal from a local telephone and the cellular telephone associated with this local telephone is not located in its charger, the selection block selects one of the telephone addresses of the group comprising the telephone call number of the cellular telephone, the telephone call numbers, internal and external of said other local telephone and the telephone address of the voice mailbox, taking into account a preference previously memorised in the database. The router then directs the received call to the cellular telephone, to said other local telephone or to the voice mailbox.

In the description which has just been made, each of the telephones I a-l d of the local network 20 is associated with a cellular telephone 12a-12d. One could obviously envisage that only certain of the telephones of the local network are associated with cellular telephones.

One could also envisage connecting the battery chargers directly to the local network and not via a local telephone. In this case, the device for detecting the presence of the charger would include a connector to the telephone network and a transmission block to transmit, through this connector, an identification and location signal, containing identification data of the cellular telephone in question, or of the associated local telephone, as well as an indication of the location of the cellular telephone.

Instead of being wired, the link of a local telephone, or of a charger, to the local network could be a radio or infrared link.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to

11 any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

12

Claims

1. Assembly comprising a telephone router, of a local telephone network comprising at least one local telephone associated with a telephone of a cellular network, means for detecting the presence of the cellular telephone in a space adjoining the associated local telephone, and means for signalling to the router the presence of the cellular telephone in said space, an assembly wherein the two networks, local and cellular, being interconnected, the router comprises means arranged, in the case where the cellular telephone is detected in said space, to direct a call coming from the local network and destined for the cellular telephone, to the associated local telephone.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the router comprises means arranged, in the case where the cellular telephone is not detected in said space, to direct a call destined for the associated local telephone to one of the elements of the group comprising said cellular telephone, a voice mailbox and another local telephone (laI d).

3. Assembly according to one of claims I and 2, wherein a charger of the cellular telephone is provided, connected to the local network and comprising means for detecting the presence of the cellular telephone in the charger.

4. Assembly according to claim 3, wherein linking means are provided between the local telephone and the charger of the associated cellular telephone.

5. Assembly according to claim 4, wherein the local telephone, associated with the cellular telephone, comprises means for signalling to the router the presence of said cellular telephone in the charger.

6. Telephone router, of a local telephone network, comprising at least one local telephone associated with a telephone of a cellular network, for the assembly of claim 13 1, comprising means arranged to direct a call, coming from the local network and destined for the cellular telephone associated with the local telephone, to said local telephone.

7. Router according to claim 6, wherein means are provided for directing a call destined for the local telephone to one of the elements of the group comprising the associated cellular telephone, a voice mailbox and another local telephone.

8. Router according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein storage means are provided, intended for memorising a telephone address of the local telephone, the telephone address of the associated cellular telephone, and an indication of the location of the cellular telephone, and means for selecting one or other of said addresses according to said location indication.

9. Router according to claim 8, wherein storage means are intended, apart from the telephone address of the local telephone, the telephone address of the associated cellular telephone and the indication of the location of the cellular telephone, to is memorise at least one of the addresses of the group comprising the telephone address of a voice mailbox and the telephone address of another local telephone, and the selection means are arranged to select one of said addresses according to the location indication.

10. Assembly comprising a telephone router, which assembly is substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Router substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.