Patent US5657372A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5657372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Systems and methods for selectively accepting telephone calls without establishing voice communications
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-17
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Granted: 1997-08-12
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Expires: 2014-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A cellular radio communications system and method including an answering delay for accepting a telephone call from a source telephone without establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone. The answering delay is actuated by selection of a hold selection by the user of the cellular telephone after the user has been alerted of an impending telephone call. Thereafter, voice communications can be established between the cellular telephone and the source telephone of the accepted telephone call by actuation of a release hold selection by the user of the cellular telephone. Accordingly, a user can accept an incoming telephone call without conversing with the calling party such that the user can complete their prior activities prior to establishing voice communications with the source telephone. Thus, the convenience and safety of accepting incoming cellular telephone calls is further enhanced.
Inventors
- 👤 Bjorn G. D. Ahlberg
- 👤 Anders Molne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/725; H04M1/72502; H04M1/72505; H04M1/72513; H04M1/724
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A cellular radio communications system comprising: a cellular telephone comprising: notification means for alerting a user of said cellular telephone that a source telephone has placed a telephone call to said cellular telephone; hold selection means; release hold selection means; and answer selection means; answering delay means, responsive to said notification means and further responsive to actuation of said hold selection means by the user of said cellular telephone, for accepting the telephone call from the source telephone without establishing voice communications between said cellular telephone and the source telephone, and for transmitting a predetermined signal to the source telephone; answering means, responsive to actuation of said answer selection means by the user of said cellular telephone after said notification means has alerted the user, for establishing voice communications between said cellular telephone and the source telephone without delay; and releasing means, responsive to actuation of said release hold selection means by the user of said cellular telephone after acceptance of the telephone call from the source telephone by said answering delay means, for establishing voice communications between said cellular telephone and the source telephone; wherein said answering delay means comprises timer means and wherein said answering delay means is responsive to actuation of said hold selection means only within a predetermined period of time after said notification means has alerted the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A cellular radio communications system comprising: a cellular telephone comprising: notification means for alerting a user of said cellular telephone that a source telephone has placed a telephone call to said cellular telephone; hold selection means; release hold selection means; and answer selection means; answering delay means, responsive to said notification means and further responsive to actuation of said hold selection means by the user of said cellular telephone, for accepting the telephone call from the source telephone without establishing voice communications between said cellular telephone and the source telephone, and for transmitting a predetermined signal to the source telephone; answering means, responsive to actuation of said answer selection means by the user of said cellular telephone after said notification means has alerted the user, for establishing voice communications between said cellular telephone and the source telephone without delay; and releasing means, responsive to actuation of said release hold selection means by the user of said cellular telephone after acceptance of the telephone call from the source telephone by said answering delay means, for establishing voice communications between said cellular telephone and the source telephone; wherein said answering delay means comprises timer means and wherein said answering delay means is responsive to actuation of said hold selection means only within a predetermined period of time after said notification means has alerted the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cellular radio communications system according to claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone further comprises a speaker and a microphone and wherein said answering delay means includes means for establishing a communications link between the source telephone and said cellular telephone without opening said speaker and said microphone such that voice communications are prevented therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cellular radio communications system according to claim 2 wherein said answering means comprises means for opening said speaker and said microphone such that voice communications are established between the source telephone and said cellular telephone without delay, and wherein said releasing means comprises means for opening said speaker and said microphone such that voice communications are established between the source telephone and said cellular telephone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cellular radio communications system according to claim 1, wherein said answering delay means comprises means for transmitting a predetermined message to the source telephone to announce the acceptance of the telephone call.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A cellular radio communications system according to claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone further comprises means for displaying a predetermined telephone number assigned to the source telephone such that the user of said cellular telephone can identify the user of the source telephone before responding to the alert of said notification means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
216 words
A cellular telephone comprising: notification means for alerting a user of the cellular telephone that a source telephone has placed a telephone call to the cellular telephone; hold selection means; release hold selection means; answer selection means; answering delay means, responsive to said notification means and further responsive to actuation of said hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone, for accepting the telephone call from the source telephone without establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone, and for transmitting a predetermined signal to the source telephone; answering means, responsive to actuation of said answer selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said notification means has alerted the user, for establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone without delay; and releasing means, responsive to actuation of said release hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after acceptance of the telephone call from the source telephone by said answering delay means, for establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone; wherein said answering delay means comprises timer means and wherein said answering delay means is responsive to actuation of said hold selection means only within a predetermined period of time after said notification means has alerted the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
216 words
A cellular telephone comprising: notification means for alerting a user of the cellular telephone that a source telephone has placed a telephone call to the cellular telephone; hold selection means; release hold selection means; answer selection means; answering delay means, responsive to said notification means and further responsive to actuation of said hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone, for accepting the telephone call from the source telephone without establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone, and for transmitting a predetermined signal to the source telephone; answering means, responsive to actuation of said answer selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said notification means has alerted the user, for establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone without delay; and releasing means, responsive to actuation of said release hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after acceptance of the telephone call from the source telephone by said answering delay means, for establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone; wherein said answering delay means comprises timer means and wherein said answering delay means is responsive to actuation of said hold selection means only within a predetermined period of time after said notification means has alerted the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cellular telephone according to claim 6 further comprising a speaker and a microphone and wherein said answering delay means includes means for establishing a communications link between the source telephone and the cellular telephone without opening said speaker and said microphone such that voice communications are prevented therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A cellular telephone according to claim 7 wherein said answering means comprises means for opening said speaker and said microphone such that voice communications are established between the source telephone and the cellular telephone without delay, and wherein said releasing means comprises means for opening said speaker and said microphone such that voice communications are established between the source telephone and the cellular telephone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cellular telephone according to claim 6 wherein said answering delay means comprises means for transmitting a predetermined message to the source telephone to announce the acceptance of the telephone call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cellular telephone according to claim 6 further comprising means for displaying a predetermined telephone number assigned to the source telephone such that the user of the cellular telephone can identify the user of the source telephone before responding to the alert of said notification means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
240 words
A feature node for providing predetermined functions to a plurality of cellular telephones of a cellular radio communications system, at least one cellular telephone comprising hold selection means, release hold selection means and answer selection means, the feature node comprising: notification means for alerting a user of a cellular telephone that a source telephone has placed a telephone call to the cellular telephone; answering delay means, responsive to said notification means and further responsive to actuation of the hold selection means of the cellular telephone by the user of the cellular telephone, for accepting the telephone call from the source telephone without establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone, and for transmitting a predetermined signal to the source telephone; answering means, responsive to actuation of the answer selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said notification means has alerted the user, for establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone without delay; releasing means, responsive to actuation of the release hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after acceptance of the telephone call from the source telephone by said answering delay means, for establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone; and timer means and wherein said answering delay means is responsive to actuation of said hold selection means only within a predetermined period of time after said notification means has alerted the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
240 words
A feature node for providing predetermined functions to a plurality of cellular telephones of a cellular radio communications system, at least one cellular telephone comprising hold selection means, release hold selection means and answer selection means, the feature node comprising: notification means for alerting a user of a cellular telephone that a source telephone has placed a telephone call to the cellular telephone; answering delay means, responsive to said notification means and further responsive to actuation of the hold selection means of the cellular telephone by the user of the cellular telephone, for accepting the telephone call from the source telephone without establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone, and for transmitting a predetermined signal to the source telephone; answering means, responsive to actuation of the answer selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said notification means has alerted the user, for establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone without delay; releasing means, responsive to actuation of the release hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after acceptance of the telephone call from the source telephone by said answering delay means, for establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone; and timer means and wherein said answering delay means is responsive to actuation of said hold selection means only within a predetermined period of time after said notification means has alerted the user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A feature node according to claim 11 wherein the at least one cellular telephone also includes a speaker and a microphone and wherein said answering delay means includes means for establishing a communications link between the source telephone and the cellular telephone without opening the speaker and the microphone such that voice communications are prevented therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
A feature node according to claim 12 wherein said answering means comprises means for opening said speaker and said microphone such that voice communications are established between the source telephone and the cellular telephone without delay, and wherein said releasing means comprises means for opening said speaker and said microphone such that voice communications are established between the source telephone and the cellular telephone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A feature node according to claim 11 wherein said answering delay means comprises means for transmitting a predetermined message to the source telephone to announce the acceptance of the telephone call.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A feature node according to claim 11 further comprising means for providing a predetermined telephone number of the source telephone to the cellular telephone such that the user of the cellular telephone can identify the user of the source telephone before responding to the alert of said notification means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of selectively establishing voice communications between a cellular telephone and a source telephone placing a telephone call to the cellular telephone, wherein the cellular telephone comprises hold selection means, release hold selection means and answer selection means, the method comprising the steps of: alerting a user of the cellular telephone that the source telephone has placed a telephone call to the cellular telephone; accepting the telephone call from the source telephone upon actuation of the hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said alerting step without establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone; establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone without delay upon actuation of the answer selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said alerting step; establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone of the previously accepted telephone call upon actuation of the release hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said accepting step; and determining the elapsed time since the user of the cellular telephone was initially alerted wherein the telephone call from the source telephone can be accepted only within a predetermined period of time after the user of the cellular telephone was initially alerted.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of selectively establishing voice communications between a cellular telephone and a source telephone placing a telephone call to the cellular telephone, wherein the cellular telephone comprises hold selection means, release hold selection means and answer selection means, the method comprising the steps of: alerting a user of the cellular telephone that the source telephone has placed a telephone call to the cellular telephone; accepting the telephone call from the source telephone upon actuation of the hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said alerting step without establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone; establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone without delay upon actuation of the answer selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said alerting step; establishing voice communications between the cellular telephone and the source telephone of the previously accepted telephone call upon actuation of the release hold selection means by the user of the cellular telephone after said accepting step; and determining the elapsed time since the user of the cellular telephone was initially alerted wherein the telephone call from the source telephone can be accepted only within a predetermined period of time after the user of the cellular telephone was initially alerted.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the cellular telephone further comprises a speaker and a microphone and wherein said accepting step comprises the step of establishing a communications link between the source telephone and the cellular telephone without opening the speaker and the microphone such that voice communications are prevented therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein both said steps of establishing voice communications comprise the step of opening the speaker and the microphone such that voice communications are established between the source telephone and the cellular telephone to announce the acceptance of the telephone call.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein said accepting step comprises the step of transmitting a predetermined message to the source telephone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein said alerting step comprises the step of displaying a predetermined telephone number assigned to the source telephone such that the user of said cellular telephone can identify the user of the source telephone before responding to the alert.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-11 | 2001-02-10 | 2001-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-11 | 2005-02-10 | 2005-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-11 | 2009-02-10 | 2009-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |