GB2491860A

GB2491860A - Fixed cellular terminal with automated attendant

Info

Publication number: GB2491860A
Application number: GB1109992.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David C Robson
Original assignee: BURNSIDE TELECOM Ltd
Current assignee: BURNSIDE TELECOM Ltd
Priority date: 2011-06-14
Filing date: 2011-06-14
Publication date: 2012-12-19
Also published as: GB201109992D0

Abstract

A radio terminal 1, such as a fixed cellular terminal or a fixed wireless terminal, is provided that has respective interfaces 2, 5, to a telephone landline network 2 and a wireless network 6. Mobile or landline telephone numbers are stored in memory 13 that correspond to a number of destinations 4, 7, selectable by a caller in response to a user recordable message (automated attendant 10). The caller selects from a list of destinations by pressing keys on the caller's Dual Tone Multi-Frequency, DTMF, capable telephone, in response to which the terminal initiates dialling of the corresponding stored number via other of the landline and wireless network interface respectively. The terminal is particularly useful for receiving a call at the telephone landline network interface 2 and initiating dialing to a stored mobile telephone number via the wireless network interface 5. The radio terminal 1 may comprise an Interactive Voice Response IVR unit 11 and may be connected to a Private Branch Exchange PBX 9.

Description

RADIOTELEPHONE TERMINAL WITH AUTOMATED ATTENDANT

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of radiotelephone terminals and to the provision of private branch exchange (PBX) functionality in such terminals.

Backtround to the Invention There is a need to enable incoming callers to fixed cellular terminals to select and be connected to one of a list of different virtual extensions or destinations.

The availability of very low cost or zero incremental cost calls between cellular terminal equipments fitted with group tariff SIMS such as those provided by the Vodafone Sharetime (trade mark) and T-Mobile Daytime 3000 (trade mark) provide very economical communications between work or family groups. Unlike handheld terminals (mobile) fixed cellular terminals offer such groups a fixed, permanent and shareable device for making and receiving cellular calls.

Fixed cellular terminals are now available that have interfaces to both wireless and landline networks like the Telular SXSD LCR (trade mark). However such devices are designed primarily to route outgoing calls via the least cost route (LCR) and cannot receive a call from one network and divert it out via the other.

The most common route for members of a work group or family group to receive telephone calls is via landline networks. It is for this reason that the only telephone numbers listed in directories for such groups is the landline telephone number. The problem is that calls to people in such groups frequently fail on the first attempt because the called party is frequently not available to take the call at that fixed location at the time of the call. So many attempts have to be made playing telephone tag before a successful connection is made.

It is now common for most people to have their own mobile wireless telephone, which they carry on their persons at all times and in all locations. So a fixed terminal fitted with a low cost tariff SIM that was able to accept calls directly from a landline network and would enable a caller to select and be connected directly to one of a number of mobile phones would increase the chances of a successful on the first attempt call and significantly reduce the cost of diverted landline to mobile calls imposed by telephone companies like British Telecom (trade mark).

Summary of the Invention

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a radiotelephone terminal comprising: a) an interface to a telephone landline network and an interface to a wireless network, each to receive and make calls b) a memory to store mobile or landline telephone numbers which correspond to a number of destinations selected by the caller c) a user recordable message (automated attendant) that automatically plays on receipt of a call enabling the caller to hear and select from a list of destinations by pressing keys on the caller's DTMF capable telephone d) a decoder to interpret the received tones and to initiate dialling of the corresponding stored number via the other of the landline and wireless network interface respectively.

Preferably means are provided to connect a call to a locally connected standard telephone and/or to a PBX.

Preferably an interactive voice response generator to deliver information on call progress to caller, called party and locally connected telephone or PBX.

Preferably the device includes a display to display functions and status of the terminal.

Preferably a console telephone is used to record an automated attendant message and enter destination telephone numbers into the memory.

Preferably an incoming call from a landline or wireless network is connected to a standard console telephone or PBX after a predetermined period of time if no destination options are selected by the caller.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the memory stores mobile telephone numbers which correspond to a number of destinations for selection by a caller, and, upon receipt of a call via the interface to the telephone landline network, the decoder interprets the received tones and initiates dialling of the corresponding stored mobile telephone number via the wireless network interface.

Brief Description of the Drawinus

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a radiotelephone terminal in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a schematic diagram of a telephone terminal of the invention.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a telephone terminal 1. Terminal 1 is located at a fixed location such as in an office or home.

Terminal 1 has an interface 2 for connecting to a landline network 3.

Terminal 1 has an interface 5 for connecting via an antenna 14 to a wireless network.

Terminal 1 has a memory to store one or more remote mobile telephone 7 or landline telephone 4 numbers and associated virtual extension numbers [destinations].

Terminal 1 is also connected to a standard console dtmf telephone 8 and/or PBX 9 (forming additional destinations).

Terminal 1 has an automated attendant 10 capable of recording a message and delivering the message to a caller on remote telephones 4 or 7. The message gives the caller a list of destinations that the caller may select from. For example the message may say "Welcome to our company. To speak to Mr Smith (who may own mobile phone 7) press 1, to speak to Mr Jones (who may own landline telephone 4) press 2 etc.", to cover all destinations.

Terminal 1 includes a decoder to receive tone signals sent from the caller's telephone.

An encoder then dials the destination selected by the caller.

When a call is received from the wireless network 6, the caller's selected destination causes the terminal 1 to make a call to the destination through the landline network 3 if local telephone 8 or PBX 9 is not selected.

When a call is received from the landline network 3, the caller's selected destination causes the terminal 1 to make a call to the called party through the wireless network 6 if local telephone 8 or PBX 9 is not selected.

Terminal 1 also includes an interactive voice response generator 11 to deliver voice information to the caller and/or destination relating to progress of the call. For example the voice generator might tell the caller "please hold the line whilst we transfer your call".

The handset and keyboard of console telephone 8 is also used to record the automated attendant 10 and enter destination telephone numbers into memory. Telephone terminal 1 includes a display 12 to display functions and status of the terminal whilst it is in use and during programming.

The terminal 1 may also connect extensions on PBX 9 to enable them to make and receive calls from landline network 3 or wireless network 6.

The terminal 1 may also be programmed to always ring console telephone 8 or PBX 9 in addition to any selected remote destination. Whichever instrument takes the call first the other will cease ringing or the console telephone 8 or PBX 9 will cease ringing after a predetermined time interval.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A radio terminal comprising: an interface to a telephone landline network and an interface to a wireless network, each to receive and make calls; a memory to store mobile or landline telephone numbers which correspond to a number of destinations selected by a caller; a user recordable message that automatically plays on receipt of a call enabling the caller to hear and select from a list of destinations by pressing keys on the caller's DTMF capable telephone; and a decoder to interpret received tones and to initiate dialling of the corresponding stored number via other of the landline and wireless network interface respectively.
2. The radiotelephone terminal of claim 1, wherein dialling of the corresponding stored number is to any one of a locally connected standard telephone and a PBX.
3. The radiotelephone terminal of claim 1, further comprising an interactive voice response generator to deliver information on call progess to any one of the caller, a called party, locally connected telephone and PBX.
4. The radiotelephone terminal of claim 1, wherein the device includes a display to display functions and status of the radiotelephone terminal.
5. The radiotelephone terminal of claim 1, whereby a console telephone is used to record an automated attendant message and to enter destination telephone numbers into the memory.
6. The radiotelephone terminal of claim 1, whereby an incoming call from the landline or wireless network is connected to any one of a standard console telephone and PBX after a predetermined period of time if no destination options are selected by the caller.
7. A radiotelephone terminal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1.
8. A method of handling a telephone call comprising: receiving a call from a caller at an interface to a telephone landline network; playing a user recorded message automatically on receipt of the call, enabling the caller to hear and select from a list of destinations; receiving and decoding one or more tones which correspond to a destination selected by the caller; performing a memory look-up for a pre-stored mobile telephone number which corresponds to the decoded tone(s); and initiating dialling of a corresponding stored mobile telephone number via a wireless network.
9. A method of handling a telephone call comprising: receiving a call from a caller at an interface to a telephone landline network; playing a user recorded message automatically on receipt of the call, enabling the caller to hear and select from a list of destinations; receiving and decoding one or more tones which correspond to a destination selected by the caller; selecting between a locally connected telephone and a stored mobile telephone number, wherein the selection depends on the tone(s) received; and connecting the call to the locally connected telephone, or performing a memory look-up for a pre-stored mobile telephone number and initiating dialling to that mobile telephone number via a wireless network, depending on the selection and the tone(s) received.