Abstract:
A mobile telephone has radio-frequency connection to a cellular network, a speaker, a stored contact list including telephone numbers for the contacts, a DTMF tone generator coupled to the speaker, and coded intelligence executing from a non-transitory physical medium, enabling a user to select a contact, causing the DTMF tone generator to produce a DTM tone sequence associated with the contact&#39;s telephone number audibly over the speaker.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present case is a divisional application of pending case U.S. Ser. No. 13/443,271, filed Apr. 10, 2012, which was a continuation of case Ser. No. 12/105,532 filed Apr. 18, 2008, now abandoned, which claimed priority to a U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/914,508, filed Apr. 27, 2007, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Transferring a Number Dialing Operation to a Second Telephone Unit from a Mobile Dialer”. Priority is claimed to the date of filing for provisional application 60/914,508, and all common disclosure is incorporated herein in its entirety at least by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is in the field of telephony and pertains particularly to a system and methods for establishing a telephone session using remotely received commands from a dialing unit. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0005]    In the field of telephony, more particularly telephone equipment, the mobile or cellular telephone has gained wide acceptance in the market, mainly because of convenience. Most people now own a mobile telephone and subscribe to mobile telephone services in place of or in addition to a landline telephone service subscription. Demographics may vary somewhat regionally, however families often have several mobile units, subscribe to a mobile service while retaining their landline service as well. 
         [0006]    The benefits of using a mobile telephone are well known. Some benefits of going mobile include security for family members including children, and having, hopefully, a reliable connection to friends, business associates, and family regardless of location. The mobile telephone is also convenient in that it generally includes an address book or phonebook where numbers can be pre-entered for easy dialing by highlighting an entry in the book and hitting the “dial”, “call”, or “talk” button on the phone, or, in some cases, by speaking a code name or alias. 
         [0007]    One lingering problem with many wireless cellular and digital network services is that service is not always available in terms of suitable signal strength in some locations, such as at the edge of and between service cells or sectors. Due to the nature of wireless signal propagation between towers, satellites and relay points, some geographic features on the ground like mountains, tall buildings, tunnels, and low-lying depressions may serve as significant obstacles to obtaining a suitable signal for connecting to services, even when signal strength is generally good in the overall region. Low or no-service areas are often termed dead spots in the art. Moreover, in satellite-assisted digital networks, bad or stormy weather might also play a significant role in inhibiting signal strength in certain service areas, at least temporarily. 
         [0008]    Landline services generally are more reliable than mobile services, because they use dedicated landlines to propagate the signal. It has occurred to the inventor that a mobile telephone having an address or phonebook may dial a number, producing thereby a clearly audible Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) dial sequence regardless of the level of signal strength that might be available at the time of the call. Also, the process of dialing an address book entry is more convenient than it is in most landline telephone handsets. Many landline telephone handsets have programmable speed dialing options, but the number of entries that can be pre-programmed is generally limited. Unless those speed-dial numbers are visibly associated with a name on a handset insert card, many times the number/name association if forgotten by the user. On the other hand an address book always has a readily visible association between the name and number of an entry. 
         [0009]    What is clearly needed are a system and methods for establishing a telephony session by transferring dialing intelligence executed from a mobile dialing unit to a second dialing unit, which actually dials the number based on a received command. This capability would increase the reliability of existing mobile telephone services by virtue of leveraging more reliable units at the time of the call attempt to actually place calls. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In an embodiment of the invention a mobile telephone is provided, comprising radio-frequency connection to a cellular network, a speaker, a stored contact list including telephone numbers for the contacts, a DTMF tone generator coupled to the speaker, and coded intelligence executing from a non-transitory physical medium, enabling a user to select a contact, causing the DTMF tone generator to produce a DTM tone sequence associated with the contact&#39;s telephone number audibly over the speaker. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment the mobile telephone further comprises a control input enabling the user to adjust the volume level of the speaker. Also in one embodiment the mobile telephone further comprises a mechanism determining and displaying signal strength to the user. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention a method is provided, comprising the steps (a) selecting in a display of a mobile cellular telephone, from a contact list, a contact to call; (b) generating by a DTMF generator in the cellular telephone a DTMF sequence associated with a telephone number listed in the contact list for the contact selected; and (c) producing the DTMF sequence as audible tones by a speaker of the cellular telephone. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment the method further comprises a step placing the speaker of the cellular telephone near a microphone of a land-line analog telephone, off-hook and connected to a central telephone exchange, causing the analog telephone to dial the telephone number. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an architectural overview of a telephony network according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an architectural overview of a telephone system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating software for enabling intelligent dialing transfer between two telephone units according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for executing a book entry from a mobile unit causing landline dialing execution according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for requesting a dialing execution for a book entry of one mobile unit the number dialed by another mobile unit or capable landline unit. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an architectural overview of a telephone system accepting dialing intelligence from a mobile laptop computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The inventor provides a system and methods for transferring telephony dialing instruction from one telephony device to another so that the second or receiving telephony device can execute a call to a destination device based on the instruction and intelligence received from the first or initiating device. The system and methods are detailed below in various illustrated embodiments. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an architectural overview of a telephony network  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Network  100  represents a telephony communications network supporting practice of the present invention according to several different embodiments. In this example, communications network  100  includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) telephone network  102 , and a wireless telephone network  101 . Communications network  100  may also be referred to herein as a telephony network  100  comprising one or more telephone networks. 
         [0022]    PSTN network  102  may be a private telephone network rather than a public network without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. A reason for exemplifying the PSTN network is because of its high public access characteristics and the use of land lines and cables for carrying communications in a reliable manner. PSTN network  102  includes at least a local telephone switch  107  for purposes of discussion. Switch  107  may be an automated call distributor (ACD) switch or a private branch exchange (PBX) switch or some other type of telephone switch. The only requirement for switch  107  is that is capable of processing call requests and connecting parties to a telephone session. 
         [0023]    A call destination premises  103  is illustrated in this example and includes a landline telephone  117  having connectivity and communications access to switch  107  in telephone network  102  by way of a telephone line  108 . Premises  103  represents anyplace a call may be placed to where telephone  117  represents any destination telephone or telephony device. A call origination premise  104  is illustrated in this example and includes a landline telephone  113  having communications access to switch  107  in network  102  via a telephone line  118 . Thus landline telephones  117  and  113  are wired to communicate with one another through PSTN  102 . 
         [0024]    Landline telephones  117  and  113  may be plain old telephony service (POTS) telephones with modern features or any variation of newer telephone models or appliances for voice communication like Internet Protocol (IP) telephones or base station handsets or head sets that communicate wirelessly with customer premises equipment (CPE), such as a base station for example. In this example telephones  117  and  113  are POTS telephones having at least limited programming capabilities such as a programmable dialer including normal telephone dialing and answering features. 
         [0025]    Wireless network  101  may be a cellular telephone network including analog and digital capabilities that may include Internet access services over the digital wireless network. Wireless network includes a satellite transmitter/receiver  106  connected to a wireless service provider (WSP) premises  105 . WSP  105  provides wireless telephone services and may be a known service company of which there are several. Network  101  includes a cellular relay tower  110  and relay satellite  109  representing typical equipment that might operate in a wireless network such as network  101 . 
         [0026]    A mobile telephone  112  is illustrated in this example in near proximity to landline telephone  113  in call origination premises  104 . It is noted herein that designation of premises  104  as a calling premises is exemplary only. Any premises having a suitable telephone can be a call originating premises. Likewise, the designation of premises  103  as a destination premises is completely random. Any connected telephone may receive and send calls. 
         [0027]    Wireless telephone  112  may be a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or another network appliance capable of wireless telephony. In this example telephone  112  is enabled through a service subscription to a wireless telephone service such as one provided by WSP  105 . In this example telephone  112  has communication access to network  101  but is not receiving a good wireless signal as is illustrated herein by a connectivity break  111  between cell tower  110  and telephone  112 . Therefore, in this example it is possible that the caller receiving poor signal strength wants to use landline telephone  113  to place a call to an entity stored in the address book of mobile unit  112 . 
         [0028]    Typically speaking, there are no connection issues such as dropout, call fuzziness, or other such problems generally attributable to low signal strength in a landline telephone. Therefore a call placed to destination premises  103  such as to landline telephone  117  from landline telephone  113  would result in a more reliable communication session from the standpoint of quality of service (QoS) while a call placed to landline telephone  117  from mobile unit  112  might not even connect depending upon the current condition related to the wireless services. 
         [0029]    Mobile telephone  112  has software (SW) or in some cases firmware  115  installed thereon and adapted to enable the telephone to play dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones representing telephone number characters used to dial a telephone number. SW  115  enables the DTMF number string to be assembled and played through the speaker system of mobile  112  with speaker phone option set to on, among other capabilities. In a preferred embodiment the numbers to be dialed out are listed with other data as telephone address book entries in a displayable address book on phone  112 . The numbers to dial may be selected from the telephone address book. 
         [0030]    Landline telephone  113  has software (SW) or in some cases firmware  116  installed thereto in one embodiment of the present invention. SW  116  may be adapted to listen for a DTMF number dialing sequence played by telephone  112  with the aid of SW  115  using the telephone microphone, among other capabilities. Telephone  113  is illustrated in this example with a telephone handset  114  lifted off of the telephone and positioned to receive a DTMF signal via the speaker output of mobile telephone  112 . The speaker mode of mobile telephone  112  may be adapted to turn on automatically when the DTMF dialing sequence initiates. Further, the volume of the DTMF signal generated is managed to be of sufficient magnitude to activate the dialing process in telephone  113 . In the case of analog telephones there need not be a program to receive the input and to recognize it as a dial-out because the signal path will be open to the exchange. In the case of the digital device telephone using software, the input need not be DTMF, but could be any code that both software/firmware  115  and  116  understand and agree upon. SW  116  interprets the audible DTMF dial tones (or other code) as dialing intelligence or instruction and a command to dial the sequence out over the landline and make a connection to the number. In this aspect SW  116  may include a small program that sets the dialer of the origination telephone ( 113 ) to accept the recorded sequence as it normally does for a push-button dialing sequence. 
         [0031]    In a simple embodiment a user operating mobile unit  112  under low signal-strength conditions decides to transfer a dialing operation to a nearby landline telephone such as telephone  113  in this example. The user may select or highlight an address book entry such as one representing the destination number assigned to telephone  117 . The user may press “transfer dial” or “call” (in transfer mode) with the speaker of mobile  112  on and the handset  114  of telephone  113  lifted off of the receiver and positioned to pickup the sequence as it is played over the speaker system of the mobile. Landline telephone  113  automatically recognizes and executes dialing of the DTMF sequence representing the number selected and attempt to establish a call connection to telephone  117  over the PSTN network as would be the case if the telephone number was dialed manually from telephone  113 . The user of mobile  112  may then use landline  113  to engage the called party in a telephone conversation. 
         [0032]    The practice of the present invention does not necessarily hinge on low signal strength for mobile  112  as a reason to transfer dialing execution to landline  113 . There may be a host of other reasons to use landline telephone  113  to dial and to connect with the called party such as a lower cost for the call, or simply that the user does not wish to manually dial the address book entry that is programmed on the mobile but not already part of an address list or book programmed into the landline telephone. 
         [0033]    In this embodiment mobile unit  112 , landline telephones  113  (execution) and  117  (destination), and telephone switch  107  for a routing system for routing a dialing instruction and establishing a telephone call based on the instruction. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is an architectural overview of a telephony network  200  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Network  200  represents a telephony communications network similar to network  100  incorporating the PSTN network of  FIG. 1  and the wireless telephone network of  FIG. 1 . Many of the same communications components illustrated in  FIG. 1  are also present in  FIG. 2 . Elements common to both examples will not be reintroduced. An additional wireless telephone network  201  is illustrated as a part of communications network  200 . Wireless network  101  may be referred to herein as wireless network A and wireless network  201  may be referred to herein as wireless network B. Wireless networks A and B may refer to separate proprietary service networks A and B in this example, each network having its own WSP. In this example WSP  105  administers network traffic through network A and WSP  206  administers traffic over network B. Wireless network B ( 201 ) includes typical wireless communications components analogous to those described in  FIG. 1  such as a satellite  205 , WSP  206 , satellite transceiver  203 , and cell tower  210 . 
         [0035]    In this embodiment, wireless networks A ( 101 ) and B ( 201 ) are bridged for communication to PSTN network  102  through a network bridge (NTB) facility  204  and a NTB facility  207 . NTB  204  and NTB  207  may be one of a number available bridging facilities adapted to extend wireless telephone calls into the PSTN network over the PSTN land lines. One with skill in the art of network bridging facilities will recognize that the appropriate telephone command protocol and call data conversion methods are well known and already in place for seamlessly transferring calls between networks in both directions. 
         [0036]    WSP  105  has connection to NTB  204  and access to telephone switch  107  through the bridge. Likewise, WSP  206  has connection to NTB  207  and access to telephone switch  107  through the bridge. In this example mobile telephone  112  leverages wireless network  101  administered through WSP  105 . A mobile telephone  202  is illustrated in this example and has connection to wireless network  201  through subscription to WSP  206 . In this example mobile telephone  112  is not authorized to use network B and mobile  202  is not authorized to use network A. Logically speaking then the networks are separated according to proprietary services if not actual towers, satellites, and other equipment. 
         [0037]    Mobile telephone  112  has software (SW) or firmware  209  installed thereon. SW  209  may be somewhat analogous to SW  115  of  FIG. 1 . Mobile telephone  202  has SW  208  or equivalent firmware installed thereon. SW  208  may also be somewhat analogous to SW  115  of  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment mobile  112  is receiving little or no signal strength from network A as illustrated logically herein by a service break or lull  211 . On the other hand, mobile telephone  202  is receiving adequate or strong signal strength. The operator of mobile telephone  112  has decided to transfer a destination number dialing sequence and command to mobile telephone  202 , which will actually dial the destination number and forge the connection. 
         [0038]    In this example the transfer is made, not by playing a DTMF string, but by sending a number dialing sequence code and command instruction using a local wireless network capability like Bluetooth™ or an 802.xx wireless capability. In this case the motivation for transferring the dialing capability from phone  112  to phone  202  is low signal strength but that should not be construed as a limitation. If mobile  112  had good signal strength, there still may be motivating circumstances for transferring the dialing capabilities to mobile  202  such as lower connection and session costs in network B. 
         [0039]    Mobile telephone  112  has an address book entry programmed therein that represents, for the purpose of discussion, the number and profile of the user operating telephone  117 . It is noted herein that a destination address book entry may also be that of a mobile telephone or some other automated device capable of receiving a telephone session request without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0040]    A user operating mobile telephone  112  aided by SW  209  may first connect to mobile telephone  202  using Bluetooth™ or another available wireless protocol. The user may then select a phonebook entry and press dial while in a correct mode for transfer of the dialing instructions. Options such as “transfer dial” or “call transfer” may be provided so that the mobile telephone does not attempt to dial the selected entry. Mobile phone  112  aided by software  209  may produce the dialing code and embed the code in a message or command that is automatically sent as a dialing request including instruction to mobile phone  202  using the near proximity wireless protocol. Mobile phone  202  aided by SW  208  receives the message or command, parses it for the number dialing sequence, and automatically dials the telephone number. The call is placed through wireless network B, NTB  207 , and switch  107  to the destination number such as to telephone  117 . 
         [0041]    Transferring the dialing intelligence and command from mobile  112  to mobile  202  is not limited to short-range wireless capability generic to those telephone sets. In one embodiment of the present invention a message like email or a short message service (SMS) message may be generated by mobile phone  112  for send to mobile phone  202 . The message may contain the destination number dialing command instruction and code. In this aspect the signal strength to both mobile phones needs to be sufficient enough for SMS, instant messaging (IM), or email messaging. Motivation for transferring dialing execution from one mobile phone to another mobile phone may simply be the cost of the call. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment motivation may simply consist of one person wanting to call a number that is not programmed in the phonebook on his or her mobile telephone so another person who has the contact listed in the phonebook on his or her mobile telephone simply selects the entry and presses a button to initiate the transfer of dialing intelligence so the second unit may dial the number. After the session, the user of the second mobile phone may save the number as a new contact in the phonebook on that phone, if desired. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating components  300  for enabling intelligent dialing transfer between two telephone units according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to  FIG. 3 , basic software SW components  300  are illustrated in block form. Components  300  comprise a program that may be installed partially on a mobile unit and partially on a landline telephone system including any connecting phone that actually dials the destination number. An address entry book  301  is generally required on the mobile phone that will transfer the dialing intelligence and command or request to dial to a connecting unit. The destination number at a minimum may be provided in a displayable list on the phone. DTMF dialing software  302  is provided at least in an embodiment wherein a DTMF dialing string is created and played over the phone speaker system as described further above with respect to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]    In one embodiment where a DTMF dialer is used, an add location/profile interface  303  is provided. Interface  303  is used when a certain dialing profile is needed for the purpose of conforming to the dialing rules of the situation at hand. For example, to dial out from a hotel room in London for a tourist from the U.S., there may be several requirements to place the call. For example, the phonebook on the mobile phone may show a destination number for a call as 1+area code (309) followed by the telephone number 444 5555. The dialing instruction may be created as a profile for the hotel in London as follows. The profile name (location) may be “London” or the name of the hotel in London if it is a frequent location or one that the user often travels to when abroad. For the profile “Canterbury”, for example, “use the following dialing instructions”: Outside long distance line=72; Pause for line seizure=comma; Number of service provider=800 2345 678 Long pause for response=3 commas; Authorization code=123456; Pause for authorization=2 commas; International access code=00; Number=[1-309-444-5555]. 
         [0045]    Therefore, the number to dial according to the created location using the selected destination number is “72, 800 2345 678 ,,, 123456 ,, 00 1 309 444 5555. Once the correct location profile is created, it may be used over and over with any destination number within the address book for the specified country. Other destination numbers of other countries can be automatically plugged into transferred dialing command intelligence and the connecting phone will automatically use the appropriate country access codes for those countries without having to create multiple dialing instructions for the one location. 
         [0046]    If the user is at home in the U.S. then the profile can be “Home” and the connecting telephone will simply dial the number that is in the book or 444-5555 if the call is local and not a long distance destination number. If the service provider requires all of the digits to be dialed such as 1-309-444-5555, then the access and area code is automatically dialed. The entry should include the access code and area code if this is the case. 
         [0047]    A DTMF audible dialer extension  304  is provided on the mobile phone in the DTMF embodiment and is adapted to enable the mobile telephone to dial the number using the DTMF dialing software without attempting to connect to the number. This feature may be likened to a “transfer dialing feature”. The option may be provided as a static option visible in the displayed phonebook on the mobile telephone so that a user may select a destination number and then select “normal dial” or “transfer dial”. Selecting the first option may simply dial the number and includes an attempt to connect to the destination party. The second option may cause the DTMF string to be played over the speaker system on the mobile phone so that the receiving phone responsible for dialing the number can incorporate the signal and actually dial the destination number and establish the connection with the aid of a telephone switch. 
         [0048]    In an alternate embodiment where close proximity wireless messaging or typical service sponsored network messaging might be used to “transfer dial”, then a book entry dialing request generator  305  may be provided as an extension to the mobile telephone phonebook or SW. The actual format and content of a generated request may vary somewhat with the type of technology used to convey the message whether close proximity messaging or network messaging. Close proximity messaging may include use of Bluetooth™ technology or some other available wireless tether like infrared, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), or the like. Network messaging may include e-mail, IM, and SMS conventions or other like conventions that may be available to the inventor. 
         [0049]    Components  300  may include a DTMF dialing software  306  installed on the connecting telephone that will record the DTMF string played over speaker system by the mobile unit and use it as dialing intelligence for a number dialing execution. A DTMF tone/microphone dialing extension  307  may be provided to set the phone to a mode for listening to the DTMF audible signals. Extension  307  is adapted to control the dialer whenever a correct DTMF sequence is recognized. 
         [0050]    In an alternate embodiment wherein messaging is used to request a dialing sequence, a book entry dialing request parser  308  may be provided. Parser  308  may be adapted to recognize a message containing a dialing request and code for dialing the number. Once recognized, the parser interprets the intelligence and then initiates the dialing of the number. 
         [0051]    Components  300  may include fewer or more components than were illustrated in this example without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, Bluetooth™ or other close proximity wireless SW modules and extensions may be present. In some embodiments the connecting phone may be a mobile telephone and may therefore contain some or all of the mentioned components adapted for the mobile unit. 
         [0052]      FIG. 4  is a process flow chart illustrating steps  400  for executing a book entry from a mobile unit causing landline dialing execution according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , steps  400  are for transferring a dialing operation from a mobile unit to a landline telephone. In step  401  a user selects a dialing profile or creates one if an appropriate profile does not exist. The dialing profile may be created using an add location interface like interface  303  described above. The dialing profile is sensitive to the location of the actual call placed according to known dialing rules for that location. 
         [0053]    In step  402  the user may highlight a phonebook entry containing minimally a dialable telephone number. In step  403  the user may remove the handset receiver of a landline telephone analogous to telephone  113  of  FIG. 1  and position it to listing for a dialing sequence. In step  404  the user may select the appropriate telephone number to dial in a case where there is more than one telephone number such as by double clicking on the telephone number in the entry in some cases or by highlighting the exact telephone number. Many phonebook entries for one party contain multiple telephone numbers. In one embodiment where there is only one telephone number associated with an entry or a priority number (first number dialed) is acceptable, then step  404  may not be required. 
         [0054]    In step  405  the user positions the mobile telephone with the speaker on next to the handset of the landline telephone so that the pending DTMF string can be picked up using the handset microphone. In step  406  the user may press a dial button or a “transfer dial” button if one is available. It is important that a feature for determining when or not an actual connection attempt is made or a dial transfer operation is made can be executed. One way to ensure that the mobile telephone will not attempt to connect to the destination party during a dial transfer operation is to provide a special button or mode for the operation. Another way to accomplish the correct operation on a generic mobile phone is to select the correct operation from available static options displayed and visible in the phonebook entry highlighted such as by selecting an option “Normal Dial” or by selecting an option “Dial Transfer” before depressing a generic call button on the phone. 
         [0055]    In this embodiment, software on the landline telephone or generic DTMF capabilities built into the telephone enable the phone to record the DTMF signaling played through the speaker system of the mobile unit and to use the intelligence as a command to dial the number according to the provided number sequence and any dialing rules associated with the profile. 
         [0056]    One with skill in the art will agree that the exact number and order of steps illustrated in this example may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment an error message may play on the landline telephone in an event where the dialing rules or selected location profile is incorrectly selected or configured. It may be that some dialing rules need to be updated or that a user has inadvertently selected the wrong profile for the location of the call causing the wrong numbers to be dialed along with the destination telephone number. 
         [0057]      FIG. 5  is a process flow chart illustrating steps  500  for requesting a dialing execution for a book entry of one unit the number dialed by another unit. Steps  500  are provided to illustrate dial transfer options depending on included capabilities and scenarios including whether or not messaging or DTMF signaling is used in the transfer operation. At step  501  a user may verify that a sending unit and an executing or dialing unit is available to practice a dial transfer operation. A sending unit is typically a mobile telephone but may be any other device capable of practicing telephony. An executing unit is typically a landline telephone but may be a mobile device with good wireless reception. The term unit will be used in this description to refer to a telephony device mobile or not that is adapted to practice the invention. 
         [0058]    At step  502  the user may decide if a messaging service will be used to initiate the dial transfer operation. If in step  502  the user decides that a messaging service will be used, the user may select a phonebook entry containing minimally one telephone number to dial at step  503 . In this example it is assumed that all of the proper dialing rules are made available through a location profile or otherwise known to the dialing unit. The user may be required to select a telephone number to dial from more than one available telephone number displayed in the phonebook entry on the sending unit. It is noted herein that both the sending and executing units must be capable of practicing the network-based messaging determined for carrying the transfer of instructions. Both units must also be connected to the network hosting the messaging service to enable send and receipt of messages. 
         [0059]    In step  504 , the user may generate a message (MSG) addressed to the second telephone or dialing unit. The second telephone may also be a mobile telephone. The message type may be an email message, an instant message, or a short message service (SMS) message. The carrier network may be the Internet network including any connected sub-networks. 
         [0060]    At step  505  the user may send the message generated at step  504 . The message may contain the dialing instruction, number to be dialed, and code to the dialing unit. At step  506  the dialing unit may receive the message and may dial the number according to the message data, which includes any instruction in addition to the exact telephone number to dial. A feature may be available in the mobile phonebook that enables the user to select a “Normal Dial” or to select a “Dial Transfer” operation so that if the “Dial Transfer” option is selected, the message is automatically generated except for the addressing of the message to the receiving unit that will actually dial the number. The address of the receiving unit may be a telephone number, an IM handle or an email address. 
         [0061]    In step  506 , the receiving unit recognizes and accepts the message parses the instructions and dials the number according to the message parameters. The participating units may be mobile telephones using one or more than one wireless service. The executing unit might be a landline unit that is enabled for messaging. 
         [0062]    Referring back to step  502  if the user decides not to use a messaging service, then the user may decide if DTMF signaling will be used at step  507 .  FIG. 4  illustrates steps used for dial transfer to a landline telephone. It may be assumed in this example that the sending unit is another mobile telephone or a landline unit capable of messaging and/or short-range wireless communication. A mobile dialing unit may be adapted to recognize DTMF tones and may serve as the executing unit. If at step  507  the user decides to use DTMF signaling, the user may set the speaker phone on the sending unit to on at step  508 . At step  509  the user may select a phonebook entry that contains at least one telephone number to dial at minimum. In case of more than one listed telephone number, the user may select a correct or preferred number. Also in this step, the user may select an option “Dial Transfer” or an equivalent option so that the sending unit does not attempt to connect with the destination number. 
         [0063]    The user may position the sending unit near the dialing unit once the sending unit is set to transfer a dialing operation. The user may set the dialing (executing) unit to receive the DTMF signaling by lifting the phone receiver or flip-top lid (if mobile) or otherwise activating the microphone on the unit as part of step  510 . This step may be undertaken before the phonebook entry number is selected for dial transfer at step  509 . At step  511  the user may depress a dial button or equivalent on the sending unit to initiate the transfer. The DTMF dialing string will be played over the speaker and will be picked up by the microphone of the dialing unit, which will automatically dial the number and attempt connection to the destination party. 
         [0064]    The user may decide not to use DTMF referring back to step  507 . A third option exists if the units can communicate with each other via Bluetooth™ or some other close proximity wireless protocol. If at step  507  the user has decided not to use DTMF after also deciding not to use a messaging service in step  502 , the user may enable a wireless link between the units involved at step  512  for the purpose of sending a message to initiate the dial transfer operation. In this case, the process resolves back to step  503  through step  506  using generally the same sequence used if a messaging service is selected. The only difference is that the message passes directly from mobile to mobile and the units do not have to be connected to a network supporting messaging. 
         [0065]    One with skill in the art will agree that the exact number and order of steps required to practice the illustrated options may vary somewhat without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, a user may decide whether to use DTMF before deciding whether to use a messaging service or whether to use a wireless link to initiate a dial transfer operation. The use of DTMF signaling in this example assumes that both units (sending and executing) are adapted for the purpose with the aid of the software of the present invention or its equivalent in firmware. 
         [0066]      FIG. 6  is an architectural overview of telephone network  100  supporting receipt of dialing intelligence from a mobile laptop computer during a dialing transfer operation according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to  FIG. 6 , network architecture identical to that of  FIG. 1  is illustrated. Many of the same components illustrated and described in  FIG. 1  are also illustrated in this example and therefore shall retain the same element numbers and shall not be reintroduced. In place of mobile unit  112  described with respect to  FIG. 1  further above, a laptop computer  602  is illustrated. Laptop  602  has a wireless connection to wireless network  101 . Laptop computer  602  has SW  601  installed thereon for practicing the present invention using an address book on the laptop and PC dialing software, typically dialing out through a software modem or wireless network card. SW  601  may be similar to SW  115  described in  FIG. 1  accept that it is adapted for a PC instead of a mobile telephone. 
         [0067]    Laptop  602  may be wirelessly connected to any wired or wireless network including LAN, WAN, or WiFi networks without affecting DTMF dialing function. Laptop  602  may dial out a selected telephone book entry number without attempting to connect to the party of the number by properly setting previously mentioned features in the phonebook display such as “Normal Dial”, or Transfer Dial” as is the case with a mobile telephone. Messaging services and close proximity messaging may also be used with the laptop if it is enabled for those technologies. However in this example, telephone  113  may be a POTS telephone and therefore may not be able to accept electronic messages. Therefore DTMF transfer may be an only option in this particular example. The process for initiating a dial transfer using DTMF signaling from laptop  602  to telephone  113  is the same as that process illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Telephone unit  113  may be a telephone that has messaging capabilities including wireless short range communication capabilities like Bluetooth™. In one embodiment unit  113  may be a desktop or laptop PC connected to the Internet and enabled for dial-out telephony. There are many unit configurations possible. 
         [0068]    It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the methods and apparatus of the invention for enabling a dial transfer operation from a mobile telephone to a telephone dialer (landline or mobile) may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are exemplary of inventions that may have far greater scope than any of the singular descriptions. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.