Avaya Technology LLC

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Bell Telephone Laboratories

Other

At+t Corp.

Avaya Inc.

Gary L Griffith

Norman W Petty

Michael L Nienaber

Wilfred E Lehder, Jr

David Lee Chavez, Jr

Larry J Hardouin

Charles J Sherman

Woong K Yoon

Vernon L Brown

Wade H Greenwood

Joseph C Rorick, Jr

Bruce M Bales

David A Norte

Thomas Chia Hanson

Kevin William Gould

Majid Ressalei

Stuart D Conklin

Nawal Kishore Sharma

Mark F Amberg

Kenneth J Roberge

Vijai Prakash

Wilfred E Lehder

Richard G Johnsen

Michael J Stima

The priority incoming call alerting system for a wireless communication system functions to automatically identify the subscriber's need for privacy in terms of the present location of a wireless subscriber or the subscriber's manually indicated preference, and process incoming calls as a function of this desired privacy and the priority of the incoming call. This is accomplished by providing a wireless communication system with a priority incoming call alerting system that includes call priority identification apparatus and optionally subscriber location identifying apparatus to thereby enable the wireless communication system to automatically screen incoming calls that are directed to the wireless subscriber and only alert the subscriber of the presence of a priority incoming call from a calling party, yet routes all non-priority calls to a call coverage point. The priority incoming call alerting system functions to identify various locales in which the call alerting system should be automatically activated and incoming calls to a subscriber's wireless communication device are not processed unless the incoming call has assigned thereto a predetermined priority. The activation of this capability can be effected in numerous ways, including the use of a low power infrared transmitter located in the selected privacy environments which activate the subscriber's wireless communication device to enter the call screening mode. This mode setting can also be accomplished by the wireless subscriber manually activating the wireless communication device to select this call screening feature.

Priority incoming call alerting system for a wireless communication system

The incoming call routing system for a communication system that serves a facility, and which functions to automatically direct the incoming call to the specific service provider who is presently assigned to provide services for an identified resident of the facility. This is accomplished by providing an incoming call routing system, and optionally an integrated wireless communication system, to automatically effect the desired communication connections. The present description uses the hospital communication system as a well known example of such a communication environment in which the present system incoming call routing system is operational. The incoming call routing system of the hospital communication system functions to identify the hospital patient about whom the calling party is requesting information. The calling party is provided with a voice prompt based menu to enable the calling party to select the one particular class of care giver that can provide the calling party with the desired information. The incoming call routing system uses the patient identity data and the calling party's responses to the menu to identify the particular care giver who is presently assigned the responsible to provide specific information about this patient. The identity of this care giver is then translated into the telephone number of the wireless communication device or wired telephone used by this identified care giver. An incoming communication connection is then established from the calling party through the wireless communication system to the identified care giver's wireless communication device.

Incoming call routing system with integrated wireless communication system

An alphanumeric messaging system for exchanging alphanumeric messages over a communications connection. The alphanumeric messaging system comprises a communications circuitry, an alphanumeric telephone, and a switching system. The communications circuitry is configured to originate a communications connection in response to receiving a stimulus and exchange alphanumeric messages over the communications connection. The alphanumeric telephone configured to originate a call connection and exchange the alphanumeric messages over the call connection. The switching system is configured to establish the communications connection and the call connection and exchange the alphanumeric messages for the alphanumeric telephone and the communications circuitry.

Alphanumeric messaging system

A snap mounted electrical power connector for a printed circuit board. The electrical power connector is included of an input power receptacle that forms a first portion of a current carrying path through the electrical power connector and an output power receptacle that forms a second portion of the current carrying path through the electrical power connector. The input power receptacle and the output power receptacle are configured to connect along a common axis perpendicular to the printed circuit board by a snap connection.

Electrical power connector for printed circuit boards

When a wireless terminal enters a new location, the telephone number assigned to the wireless terminal is automatically changed to a telephone number assigned to that location based on an assignment level of the wireless terminal for that location. The features associated with the wireless terminal will also be changed to the features assigned to the location. In addition, this invention allows flexibility for the telephone number of the wireless terminal to remain fixed and not to be changed to a telephone number assigned to a particular location. Further, a wireless terminal has a plurality of assignment levels with different assignment levels being utilized for different locations. This allows the user of the wireless terminal to perform different functions within different locations. In addition, each wireless terminal has a personal telephone number assigned to it. The wireless telephone can use either its personal telephone number or the telephone number of the present location for purposes of caller identification during call originations.

Automatic reassignment of a telephone number of a wireless terminal based on location of the wireless terminal

The communication device provides the capability to automatically convert between voice and text messages. This communication device enables the calling party to input a message in voice mode, then activate the communication device to automatically convert the message into a text message format for transmission to the called party. The communication device can display the content of the text message prior to transmission or can retrieve the message from its memory and play the message back to the calling party in an audio mode. The communication device automatically initiates the outgoing call and, since the message is transmitted in a text mode to the called party, the destination can be a computer system or output to a printer. This feature therefore enables hands free operation for E-Mail. The communication device also provides a data retrieval feature where the user can retrieve E-Mail or voice mail messages using the communication device and have the retrieved messages output in either text or audio format. The retrieved messages, since they are stored in memory in the communication device, can be forwarded to another destination once the user has reviewed their content.

Communication device having capability to convert between voice and text message

Utilizing a wireless telephone functioning as a transaction device. The wireless telephone places a call to a site computer controlling a transaction unit. For example, the transaction unit may be a cash register at a supermarket. The wireless telephone then transfers to the transaction unit account information specifying the type of account against which the transaction is to be billed and identification of that transaction. The site computer controlling the transaction unit responds with a transaction number which is transmitted to the transaction unit and wireless telephone. The user of the wireless telephone then confirms the transaction when the correct transaction number is displayed on the transaction unit. After the transaction is completed, the site computer controlling the transaction unit transmits the data defining the transaction to the wireless telephone which stores this information in a database associated with the account against which the transaction was charged. In a second embodiment, the transaction number is not visually displayed but rather is transmitted over a second transmission media to the wireless telephone confirming that the correct transaction is taking place.

Wireless telephone as a transaction device

Providing by a telecommunication switching system an automatic call distribution function using agents having wireless terminals by determining the location of the agents, determining the agents' skills, and routing calls to agents based on their physical location and the agents' skills. The telecommunication switching system determines the location of particular agents based on information obtained from wireless base stations. In addition, the telecommunication switching system transmits to the agent, who has been selected to help, the location where the agent is to go. This notification can be done utilizing a display on the wireless terminal or by using an audio message to the agent. Also, if an individual needing help goes off hook on a special wired telephone connected to the telecommunication switching system, the telecommunication switching system determines the location of the wired telephone and selects an agent who is then directed to the location of the wired telephone.

Automatic call distribution based on physical location of wireless terminals

Detecting a wireless terminal being taken from a facility. In a first embodiment, a base station is assigned to each exit from the facility. The base station uses a directional antenna which only communicates with wireless terminals within the exit area. When a wireless terminal enters the exit area and registers on the base station, the base station transmits the registration information to a wireless switching system that immediately places a telephone call to the user of the wireless terminal to inform them that they have not turned in their wireless terminal. Alernatively, in a third embodiment, after the wireless terminal is registered, the base station rather than the wireless switching system places a telephone call to the user of the wireless terminal to inform them that they have not turned in their wireless terminal. In a second embodiment of the invention, a transmission signal separate from the frequencies utilized for voice and data communication by the wireless switching system is utilized to alert the wireless terminal to the fact that the wireless terminal is in an exit area. The wireless terminal is responsive to this alerting to place a call to the wireless switching system to inform the wireless switching system of this fact. The wireless switching system then alerts the user via the wireless terminal.

Wireless terminal automatically alerting user upon wireless terminal entering a specified physical location

When a wireless terminal enters a new location, the telephone number assigned to the wireless terminal is automatically changed to be a telephone number assigned to that location. The features associated with the wireless terminal will also be changed to the features assigned to the location. In addition, this invention allows flexibility for the telephone number of the wireless terminal to remain fixed and not to be changed to a telephone number assigned to a particular location.

Utilizing a wireless telephone to function as a transaction device in conjunction with central computer that establishes the validity of the wireless telephone to make transactions. In a first embodiment, a wireless telephone places a call to a central computer which provides a central verification of the wireless terminal's authorization to make transactions. The central computer requests from the wireless telephone personal information of the user that can be used to verify a transaction. Once the wireless telephone is verified, the wireless telephone transmits to the central computer account information. The central computer then contacts a site computer that is controlling a transaction unit with which the wireless telephone wishes to complete a transaction. The site computer then transmits to the transaction unit and the central computer a transaction number. The central computer relays this transaction number to the wireless terminal which displays it to the user. The site computer relays the transaction number to the transaction unit, and the transaction unit also displays the transaction number. The user of the wireless terminal then confirms the transaction when the correct transaction number is displayed. In a second embodiment, the transaction number is not visually displayed but rather is transmitted over a second transmission medium to the wireless telephone confirming that the correct transaction is taking place.

Identification by a central computer of a wireless telephone functioning as a transaction device

Utilizing a wireless telephone to function as a transaction device. In a first embodiment, the wireless telephone places a call to the transaction unit directly. For example, the transaction unit may be a cash register at a supermarket. The wireless telephone then transfers to the transaction unit account information specifying the type of account against which the transaction is to be billed and identification of that transaction. The transaction unit responds with a transaction number that is transmitted to the wireless telephone. The user of the wireless telephone then confirms the transaction when the correct transaction number is displayed on the transaction unit. After the transaction is completed, the transaction unit transmits the data defining the transaction to the wireless telephone which stores this information in a database associated with the account against which the transaction was charged. In a second embodiment, the transaction number is not visually displayed but rather is transmitted over a second transmission media by the transaction unit to the wireless telephone confirming that the correct transaction is taking place.

Interaction of a wireless telephone with a transaction unit

Assigning a wireless terminal as the only piece of telecommunication equipment for providing an individual user with full business telephone operations. The wireless terminal can be inserted into a plurality of different types of auxiliary desktop units, recognize the type of auxiliary desktop unit, and customize the displays of the auxiliary desktop unit to be that designated by the user of the wireless terminal. Each type of auxiliary desktop unit has a plurality of programmable buttons and indicators. The labels for the programmable buttons and indicators are LCD displays. The wireless terminal utilizes these LCD displays to customize the programmable buttons and indicators of the user interface for each individual user when the user's wireless terminal is in communication with the auxiliary desktop unit. This allows the user to receive the same label information regardless of the auxiliary desktop unit they are utilizing. Each user has a home auxiliary desktop unit for which they have customized their user interface. In the case where the user is utilizing a non-home auxiliary desktop unit that has fewer programmable buttons and indicators than the home unit, the wireless telephone unit displays the most relevant programmable buttons with labels. In addition, the wireless terminal unit provides the user with the option of selecting the buttons and indicators presently not displayed through the actuation of a button on the non-home auxiliary desktop unit.

Wireless handset for implementing a virtual office

Providing by a wireless terminal the sole communication link to a wireless telecommunication switching system, and inserting the wireless terminal into an auxiliary desktop unit to provide the full functional capabilities of a business telecommunication terminal. The result is that a user has one telephone number for the wireless terminal, and yet, when the wireless terminal is inserted into the auxiliary unit, the user is provided the full capabilities of a modern business telecommunication wired terminal. Also, no wired telephone links must be installed since the wireless terminal communicates solely over a wireless media.

Wireless terminal with auxilary desktop unit

The present locking mechanism for rotatable fastener functions to reliably and inexpensively secure a rotatable fastener in place once it is seated. This is accomplished by the formation of an aperture into the body of the rotatable fastener in a lengthwise direction coaxial with the axis of the cylindrical shaped rotatable fastener. A second aperture is formed in the body of the rotatable fastener perpendicular to the first aperture and intersecting same. A locking pin is placed in the second aperture such that one end of the locking pin is flush with the surface of the body of the rotatable fastener, non-interfering with the operation of the threads formed on the exterior surface of the body of the rotatable fastener. A second end of the locking pin protrudes into the first aperture. A locking post is placed in the first aperture, located above the locking pin and accessible via the open end of the first aperture in the head of the rotatable fastener. A craftsperson uses a tool to force the locking post down into the first aperture to thereby engage the protruding end of the locking pin, forcing the locking pin to move in the second aperture away from the first aperture. The locking pin is thereby driven into the wall of the cylindrical shaped aperture into which the rotatable fastener is threaded and prevents the further rotation of the rotatable fastener in either direction.

Growing community of inventors

Arvada, CO, United States of America

Gary L Griffith