Automatic telephone service forwarding device

Abstract

An automatic telephone service forwarding device including a base or enclosure defining a socket for receiving a wireless telephone. Upon detecting the presence of the wireless telephone in the socket, the device automatically forwards telephone service for the wireless telephone to a previously-stored forwarding directory number, typically the directory number of a wireline unit located nearby. Alternatively, the automatic telephone service forwarding device may be incorporated directly into a wireless telephone. In this case, the wireless telephone includes a 'forward' button and a scrollable list of forwarding telephone numbers. The automatic telephone service forwarding device may also be configured to automatically select certain forwarding directory numbers from the list in accordance with a predefined time-based profile. The automatic telephone service forwarding device may forward the telephone service by causing the wireless telephone to transmit a forwarding message to a telephone redirection device on an overhead data channel associated with a wireless communications network. Alternatively, the automatic telephone service forwarding device may forward the telephone service by placing a telephone call to the call redirection device. The call redirection device may include automatic call redirection equipment that is configured to enter forwarding instructions into a home location register for the wireless telephone by emulating a visitor location register in which the wireless telephone is attempting to register for roaming service.