GB2371717A

GB2371717A - Dual mode mobile phone system having automatic call divert

Info

Publication number: GB2371717A
Application number: GB0122060A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip Jarrett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-02
Filing date: 2001-09-13
Publication date: 2002-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-13
Also published as: GB0122060D0; GB2371717B

Abstract

A dual mode mobile phone system where, in a first mode, mobile phone 1 may communicate by GSM signals 8 with cellular network base station 2. In a second mode, mobile phone 1 may communicate by DECT signals 9 with cordless phone base station 3 connected to local-loop socket 5 via cable 4. The base station 3 may incorporate a transceiver powered by a transformed supply derived from power supply 7 provided to base station 3 via electrical cable 6. When it is detected that the mobile phone 1 is outside radio communication range with cordless base station 3, the system is characterised by incorporation of means to initiate diversion to a user pre-designated number, such as cellular number of any incoming call made to the local-loop telephone number associated with local-loop socket 5 via automatic activation of the call diversion facilities provided by the fixed telephone network operator. The cordless stand may also determine whether a mobile is within range, informing the network to divert calls if the mobile is out of range. If the multi mode phone is within range of a cordless base, then it may automatically advise the cellular network control centre to redirect calls to that cordless set. The distance to a cordless base station may be determined from navigational coordinates such as GPS. Thus a signal may be directed from a first cordless number to the cellular number and then redirected to a second cordless local-loop number.

Description

DUAL MODE MOBILE PHONE SYSTEM HAVING AUTOMATIC CALL DIVERT The present invention relates to a dual mode mobile phone able to communicate either with a local base station of a cellular phone network or with a radio linked cordless base station connected to a local-loop within a fixed telephone network, the system incorporating automatic means for call diversion.

Throughout the following description and claims, the words"mobile phone"and"cordless phone"are used as generic terms for any compact portable device (for example, handheld phones, wrist phones, wearable phones incorporated into clothing) suitable for personal communication of voice/sound, data and/or visual image signals via a radio link.

There is at least one model of dual mode mobile phone commercially available (for example, Ericsson TH688) which is capable of radio communication either via a local base station of a cellular phone network or via a local-loop connection of a fixed telephone network. The phone combines both GSM and DECT technologies within a single handset, using the GSM standard for radio communication via a local cellular network base station and the DECT standard for radio communication via a cordless phone base station connected to a fixed telephone network.

In DECT mode, the above phone can be programmed to initially search for a DECT radio communication access. However, if no DECT access is found, then the dual mode phone automatically changes to GSM mode and searches for a GSM radio communication access.

The dual mode phone may be integrated with a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) system offering a dual mode DECT/GSM terminal capability allowing business users to have one phone, plus a single personal number for use on the road, in the office and when working from home. Only when a person leaves the office does the dual mode phone switch to GSM mode; incoming calls to the user's personal number are then automatically routed to the dual mode phone via the GSM network. Due to the need for a private PBX and on site DECT radio infrastructure, the system is targeted at corporate businesses and other large organisations.

One objective of the present invention is to extend the above single personal number concept to a simple radio communication system suitable for use by the private and/or small business user.

At the present time, one call diversion option available to the private and/or small business user involves the use of a premium rate personal contact number via a telecom service provider. The user advises the latter to divert any incoming call made to the personal contact number either to the user's mobile phone number, or, to a pre-designated local-loop number. However, any commercial enterprise having a premium rate telephone number suffers from the serious disadvantage that prospective customers may be reluctant to phone the business, due to the extra phone charges involved. Also, the user has to remember to advise the telecom service provider of their location, if temporary diversion to a local-loop number is required.

A second objective of the present invention is to allow a standard local-loop fixed network number to be used as the single personal contact number, with optional on-going call diversion to a mobile network number, so that the caller is not required to pay a premium rate for the call.

An alternative call diversion option available to the private and/or small business user requires the latter to remember to manually advise the fixed network exchange to divert calls made to the local-loop number to the user's mobile network number (for example, the fixed network call diversion facility provided by British Telecom is activated by entering *21 * followed by"phone number to divert to"followed by #). However, if the user subsequently wishes to make direct use of the fixed telephone network to accept incoming calls, the divert has to be cancelled manually (for example, the call diversion facility provide by British Telecom is cancelled by entering #21#).

A third objective of the present invention is to provide means for automatic diversion of incoming calls to a local-loop fixed network number, for example, the user may wish to have incoming calls diverted to an answering service. Alternatively, the incoming call may be diverted to the cellular number of a mobile phone not forming part of the system.

Some practical embodiments of the present invention will now be described, as examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings: Fig 1 shows the block diagram of a typical prior art mobile phone system, where the dual mode mobile phone is able to communicate either with a local base station within a cellular phone network or with a cordless phone base station connected to a fixed telephone network; Fig 2 shows a flow chart according to one embodiment of the present invention describing the call divert software associated with the dual mode mobile phone; Fig 3 shows a flow chart according to the same embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig 2 describing the call divert software associated with a cordless phone base station; Fig 4 shows a flow chart according to a second embodiment of the invention, involving multiple cordless base stations, describing the method of routing diverted calls when the mobile phone is operating in GSM mode; Fig 5 shows a flow chart according to the same embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig 4, involving multiple cordless base stations, describing the method of routing diverted calls when the mobile phone is operating in DECT mode; Fig 6 shows the first part of a flow chart according to a third embodiment of the invention describing the call divert software associated with a cordless phone base station, having the facility to divert to a telephone number not forming part of the dual mode mobile phone system; Fig 7 shows the second part of a flow chart according to the same embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig 6; Fig 8 shows the block diagram of a prior art 2-piece dual mode mobile phone system, where a cordless phone is able to communicate either via a mobile transponder unit with a local base station within a cellular phone network or with a cordless phone base station connected to a fixed telephone network.

Referring to Fig 1, in a first mode, dual mode mobile phone 1 is able to communicate signals 8 with cellular network base station 2. Alternatively, in a second mode, dual mode mobile phone 1 is able to communicate signals 9 with a cordless phone base station 3 connected to local-loop socket 5 via multi-core cable 4. The telephone number of the local-loop socket 5 and hence the cordless phone base station 3 is designated"N", where"N"represents the phone number within a fixed telephone network allocated to local-loop socket 5.

The cordless phone base station 3 incorporates a transceiver (not shown) powered by a transformed and rectified power supply (not shown) derived from the ac power supply 7 provided to base station 3 via electrical cable 6.

The dual mode mobile phone 1 may, for example, incorporate a GSM transceiver (not shown) for communicating signals 8 with cellular base station 2 and a DECT transceiver (not shown) for communicating signals 9 with cordless base station 3. The dual mode mobile phone 1 contains a SIM card (not shown) with designated telephone number"C", where"C"represents the phone number within a cellular phone network allocated to the SIM card.

Referring to Fig 2, when the dual mode mobile phone has been activated at 12, a decision is made at 13 whether a local-loop number"N"has been entered by the user (if negative, a loop is entered at decision box 13). Decision box 14 then determines whether cordless base station"N" has been detected (by means of DECT identification signal"N"described later for Fig 3) and, if positive, the dual mode mobile phone continuously transmits its own DECT identification signal "C"at 15. The decision box 16 then determines whether selection of incoming call divert has been entered by the user at 10 (including the call divert code which has previously been determined at decision box 11) and, if positive, the Cellular Network Control Centre is automatically advised at 17 to divert any incoming calls made to the cellular network number "C"phone to the fixed network number"N"of the local-loop socket. On the other hand, if the decision at box 16 is negative, box 17 is by-passed directly to box 18 where outgoing calls are routed via base station"N". The decision box 19 then determines whether the cordless base station"N"continues to be detected (by means of DECT identification signal"N") and, if so, a loop is entered. On the other hand, if the decision is negative at box 19, all outgoing calls revert at 20 to being routed via the cellular network and any incoming call divert to local-loop number "N"is automatically cancelled at 22 if decision box 21 determines that the divert cancel code has previously been entered (otherwise, box 22 is by-passed). The DECT identification signal"C"is then cancelled at 23, the flow chart ending at 24.

Referring to Fig 3, when the power supply of the cordless phone base station has been user connected at 25, decision box 28 confirms that the local-loop number"N"has been entered and continuous DECT identification signal"N"is transmitted at 29 (otherwise, a loop is entered at decision box 28). Decision box 30 then continuously checks if a cellular number"C"has been entered and, if so, decision box 31 determines whether mobile phone"C"has been detected (by means of DECT identification signal"C"previously described for Fig 2). If the answer is positive at decision box 31 (if negative at box 31, a loop is entered), then any incoming call divert is cancelled at 33 by automatically advising the fixed network exchange (assuming a divert cancel code is determined at decision box 32 as having been previously entered, otherwise box 33 is by-passed). A further decision box 34 confirms mobile phone"C"continues to be detected and then enters a loop. On the other hand, if the decision at box 34 is negative, decision box 35 determines whether the selection of incoming call divert has been entered by the user at 26 (including the call divert code which has previously been determined at decision box 27) and, if so, all incoming calls to the local-loop number are automatically diverted at 36 to the cellular number"C". If negative at 35, then box 36 is by-passed and the flow chart ends at 37.

Unless it is determined at decision box 30 that the cellular number"C"has been entered (either by the end-user, or, by the system supplier), the cordless phone base station will not be able to detect the presence of mobile"C"at decision boxes 31 and 34.

Referring to Fig 2 and Fig 3, it is clear that the described software provides the facility for a single personal contact number, namely, either cellular number"C"or local-loop number"N".

Given the lower charge tariff, a small business would designate number"N" ; on the other hand, for private use, number"C"might be designated.

Referring to Fig 4, the dual mode mobile phone 1 is shown in conjunction with multiple cordless phone base stations (not shown) connected to the local-loop sockets represented by boxes 46 and 39. For example, one base station (not shown) might be connected to local-loop number"1"at 46, perhaps located at the user's normal place of business. On the other hand, a second base station (not shown) might be connected to local-loop number"N"at 39 located at the user's home office. For a given cordless phone base station, if incoming call divert has been selected (for example, at 26 in Fig 3), then any incoming call designated"IC", namely, 45 or 40 made direct to the respective local-loop number"1"at 46, or,"N"at 39 will automatically be diverted to the cellular number"C"at 41 via links 47 and 38, respectively.

Referring again to Fig 4, the dual mode mobile phone 1 is shown as operating in GSM mode, communicating outgoing GSM signals 43 and incoming GSM signals 44 with cellular base station 2 connected via link 42 with the Cellular Network Control Centre at 41. In view of this, any incoming calls made to the cellular number"C" (either directly as 48, or indirectly as 45 and 40) will be passed via link 42 to the cellular base station 2 local to dual mode mobile phone 1.

On the other hand, any calls made by mobile phone 1 will pass via cellular base station 2 and link 42, with onward routing as outward call designated as"OC", namely 49, to its ultimate destination.

Referring to Fig 5, the dual mode mobile phone 1 is shown as operating in DECT mode, communicating outgoing DECT signals 53 and incoming DECT signals 52 with cordless base station 3 connected via multi-core cable 4 to the local-loop socket number"N"at 39. If incoming call divert has been selected (for example, at 10 in Fig 2), then any incoming calls 48 made direct to the cellular number"C"at 41 will automatically be diverted to the local-loop number"N"at 39 via link 50. Similarly, if incoming call divert has been selected for local-loop number"1" (for example, at 26 in Fig 3), then incoming call 45 will initially be diverted via link 47 to cellular number"C"and subsequently be re-diverted via link 50 to local-loop number"N".

Referring again to Fig 5, any incoming calls made to the local-loop number"N" (either directly as 40, or indirectly as 45 and 48) will thus be passed via cable 4 to cordless phone base station 3 local to dual mode phone 1. On the other hand, any calls made by dual mode mobile phone 1 will pass via cordless base station 3 and cable 4, with onward routing as outward call 51 to its ultimate destination.

Referring to Fig 4 and Fig 5, it is clear that the automatic divert system is able to work with multiple local-loop numbers forming part of the system providing"call divert"is available from their respective fixed network service providers. In addition, the cellular network service provider needs to have a similar facility available.

Although the diverts within the dual mode mobile phone system shown in Fig 4 and Fig 5 could be set manually by the user, in practice, users either forget to set the necessary divert and/or to remove the divert when changing locations. On the other hand, if suitable software as charted in Fig 2 is provided within dual mode mobile phone 1 and within typical cordless base station 3 as charted in Fig 3, then the divert system becomes fully automatic and thus much more user friendly.

Referring to Fig 6, the first part of the flow chart shows the user having the option of selecting call diversion to the (dual mode) cellular phone at box 57, or, to a non-system number at box 54 (for example, to another cellular phone number, or, to a local-loop number; neither forming part of the system). Given that only one user pre-designated telephone number for call divert can be active at any given time, boxes 55 and 58 cancel any different call divert selection previously made by the user. If the user has selected non-system call divert at box 54, decision box 56 ensures a corresponding number"X"has been entered before passing to decision box 27.

It will be noted that boxes 27 through to 33 serve the same software functions as already described for Fig 3, the first part of the flow chart ending at box 59 before passing to box 60 (Fig 7).

Referring to Fig 7, box 34 serves the same software function as already described for Fig 3 and, if the decision at box 34 is negative, decision box 61 determines if cellular call divert has been selected at box 57 (Fig 6). If so, incoming call divert to cellular number"C"is activated at box 62, the flow chart ending at box 65. If the decision at box 61 is negative, decision box 63 then determines if non-system call divert has been selected at box 54 (Fig 6) and, if so, incoming call divert to a non-system number"X"is activated at 64, the flow ending at box 65.

Referring to Fig 8, in a first mode, cordless phone 66 is able to communicate low power signals 9 with mobile transponder unit 67. Alternatively, in a second mode, cordless phone 66 communicates low power signals 9 with cordless base station 3 connected to local-loop socket 5 via multi-core cable 4. In the first mode, mobile transponder unit 67 is also able to communicate high power signals 8 with cellular network base station 2, thus enabling communication between cordless phone 66 and cellular base station 3. Similar to Fig 1, the telephone number of the local-loop socket 5 and hence the cordless phone base station 3 is designated"N", where"N"represents the phone number within a fixed telephone network allocated to local-loop socket 5.

Fig 8 thus describes a 2-piece dual mode mobile phone system where the dual mode mobile phone comprises the following radio linked components: cordless phone 66 and mobile transponder unit 67. The transponder 67 may, for example, incorporate both a GSM transceiver (not shown) for communicating high power signals 8 with cellular base station 2 and a DECT transceiver (not shown) for communicating low power signals 9 with cordless phone 66. The mobile transponder unit 67 also contains a SIM card (not shown) with designated telephone number"C", where"C"represents the phone number within a cellular phone network allocated to the SIM card.

At the present time, the 2-piece dual mode mobile phone system shown in Fig 8 has not been implemented commercially although having previously been described by Grant (GB 2340691A). The main advantage of the type of 2-piece mobile phone system described is that the mobile transponder unit 67 may be located some distance away from the user's body: for example, in a briefcase, in a hand/shoulder bag, or, in a loose fitting jacket pocket. Under these circumstances, the level of high power signals 8 penetrating the user's body is substantially reduced, approximately in accordance with the Inverse Square Law, thus avoiding the potentially adverse health effects which have been alleged by others.

In the foregoing embodiments, it is obvious that the dual mode mobile phone 1 (Fig 1), or, cordless phone 66 plus mobile transponder unit 67 (Fig 8) and the typical cordless base station 3 will need to incorporate suitable electronic processors, in order to practically facilitate incorporation of the various software previously described. The entry of data by the user may be carried out via the keypad of mobile phone 1 or the keypad of cordless phone 66, when the respective phones are within radio communication range of a cordless base station 3.

Comparing Fig 8 and Fig 1, the dual mode mobile phone comprises 2 components in Fig 8, namely, cordless phone 66 and mobile transponder unit 67; whereas, in Fig 1, the dual mode mobile phone comprises a single integral component, namely, item 1. However, other system embodiments (not shown) are feasible incorporating a dual mode mobile phone having multiple components. For example, a dual mode phone containing both DECT and GSM transceivers might be radio linked to a headset containing a microphone and earpiece plus a separate wrist located keypad, the dual mode mobile phone thus comprising 3 discrete components.

A further system embodiment (not shown) comprises a dual-mode mobile phone incorporating a Global Positioning System (GPS) capability allowing the phone to continuously determine its navigational co-ordinates. In this case, the dual-mode phone includes software to compute its distance from the navigational co-ordinates corresponding to the respective locations of one or more cordless base stations forming part of the system. The navigational co-ordinates of a cordless base station may be pre-determined by holding the GPS dual-mode mobile phone in close proximity to (say, less than 1 metre away from) a cordless base station and then entering the displayed co-ordinates plus the associated local-loop telephone number into the dual-mode phone.

Referring again to Fig 2, a cordless base station"N"would then be"detected"at decision boxes 14 and 19, respectively, by determining whether the dual-mode mobile phone is within a given distance of the cordless base station"N" (for example, the given distance for radio communication between DECT transceivers is typically 100 metres).

The dual mode mobile phone systems described in the foregoing embodiments use the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony) when communicating with the cordless base station.

The DECT standard is widely used within Europe but other embodiments are possible using alternative short range radio communication standards such as PWT (Personal Wireless Telephony) which is commonly used in North America. Alternatively, the Bluetooth Specification for wireless communications (operating in the ISM band at 2.4 GHz) could be utilised.

For communication with the cellular network, the foregoing embodiments describe use of the GSM digital radio technology standard which, again, is widely used within Europe. However, other standards, such as CDMA One and WCDMA which are commonly used in North America, or, the PDC standard used in Japan could be utilised.

In addition to the foregoing digital standards, analogue embodiments are also possible, for example, based on the AMPS, ETACS, or, NMT standards which remain in use in some geographical areas of the world.

At the present time, new network infrastructures and handsets based on so-called Third Generation (3G) systems are being developed to provide enhanced communications within cellular networks. Wireless technologies such as EDGE and GPRS followed by the evolution ofUMTS thus provide other options for inclusion within further embodiments of the described invention.

Throughout the foregoing description and the following claims, the phrase"fixed telephone network"is used as a generic term for any non-cellular phone network and the latter can thus include both public (PSTN) and private networks. The phrase"local-loop connection"is normally understood to mean a landline connection between the customer and the local PSTN exchange and is sometimes alternatively called a Customer Access Connection (CAN), particularly in North America. In addition to use of the traditional twisted pair of copper wires for a local-loop connection, the latter may also be provided via a Cable TV (CATV) network, or, via fixed radio access technology (Wireless Access Loop). The use of an electrical power supply cable for local-loop access has also been demonstrated using Power Line Communication (PLC) technologies.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A dual mode mobile phone system comprising a dual mode mobile phone and one or more cordless base stations; the dual mode mobile phone is capable of communicating voice/sound, data and/or visual image signals either with a local base station of a cellular phone network or with a radio linked cordless base station connected to a local-loop within a fixed telephone network ; when it is automatically determined that the mobile phone is outside radio communication range with a cordless base station, the system is characterised by incorporation of means to initiate diversion to a user pre-designated number of any incoming call made to the local-loop telephone number associated with a cordless base station via automatic activation of the call diversion facilities provided by the fixed telephone network operator.
2. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 1, wherein the user pre-designated number is the cellular number of the dual mode mobile phone.
3. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 1, wherein the user pre-designated number is either a local-loop number or the cellular number of a mobile phone where neither the local-loop is connected to a cordless base station forming part of the system nor the mobile phone forms part of the system.
4. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 1, wherein the dual mode phone is able to automatically detect whether it is within radio communication range of a cordless base station forming part of the system.
5. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 4, wherein if the dual mode phone detects it is within radio communication range of a cordless base station forming part of the system, it automatically advises the Cellular Network Control Centre to divert any incoming calls made to the cellular network number of the dual mode phone via the local-loop telephone number associated with the detected cordless base station.
6. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 4, wherein the dual mode mobile phone determines it is within radio communication range of a cordless base station forming part of the system by detection of an identification signal transmitted by the cordless base station corresponding to a pre-entered local-loop telephone number.
7. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 4, wherein the dual mode mobile phone determines it is within radio communication range of a cordless base station forming part of the system by computing its distance from the navigational co-ordinates of the cordless base station.
8. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 1, wherein a cordless base station forming part of the system is able to automatically determine whether or not it is within radio communication range of the dual mode mobile phone.
9. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 8, wherein if the cordless base station determines it is not within radio communication range of the dual mode mobile phone, the cordless base station automatically advises the fixed telephone network exchange to divert any incoming calls to a user pre-designated number.
10. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 8, wherein the cordless base station determines whether or not it is within radio communication range of the dual mode mobile phone by detection of an identification signal transmitted by the dual mode mobile phone corresponding to a pre-entered cellular network phone number.
11. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 1, wherein any call made to a local-loop telephone number forming part of the system, where the connected cordless base station determines it is not within radio communication range of the dual mode mobile phone, is automatically diverted to the cellular number of the dual mode mobile phone and then automatically re-diverted to another local-loop number forming part of the system where the connected cordless base station is within radio communication range of the dual mode mobile phone.
12. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 1, wherein the dual mode mobile phone comprises a single integral component.
13. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 1, wherein the dual mode mobile phone comprises multiple discrete components.
14. A dual mode mobile phone system according to Claim 1, wherein the dual mode mobile incorporates a Global Positioning System (GPS) capability.