Abstract:
Transmitting a “plugged into charger” message to a wireless telecommunication switching system by a wireless terminal when inserted into a charging unit. The wireless telecommunication switching system is responsive to the “plugged into charger” message to remove the wireless terminal from the call coverage path of the user. The wireless telecommunication switching system can add to the call coverage path of the user the telephone number of the cellular telephone utilized by the user when the user is out of the building. In a second embodiment of the invention, the wireless terminal transmits the message to invoke the “send all calls” state when the wireless terminal is plugged into a charging unit. In a third embodiment of the invention, the wireless terminal transmits a call transfer message that transfers all incoming calls to another terminal when the wireless terminal is plugged into the charging unit.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to telecommunications switching, and in particular, to wireless terminals. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wireless terminals utilized in an in-building environment normally are part of the user&#39;s call coverage group (also referred to as a call coverage path). Often, the call coverage group will consist of the user&#39;s wired telephone, wireless telephone, secretarial support telephone, and voice messaging system. In most instances, a wireless terminal is left in a desktop or a bulk charging unit when the user is not expecting to receive calls or has left the building. Since the wireless terminal is typically within the wireless coverage area of the wireless telecommunication switching system capable of receiving calls, the wireless telecommunication switching system attempts to deliver calls to the wireless terminal as part of the call coverage group. Normally, a wireless telecommunication switching system will attempt to alert a wireless terminal for 24 seconds before attempting to complete an incoming call on the next unit in the call coverage group. The wireless telecommunication switching system has no mechanism for determining that the wireless terminal is being charged. In many installations, bulk charging units are utilized. The bulk charging unit is placed next to the exit and entrance from the building and is utilized to charge a number of wireless terminals at one time while the users are out of the building. 
     The prior art has attempted to resolve this problem by allowing the user to turn the wireless terminal off, thus providing an “out of area” indication to the wireless telecommunication system when the wireless terminal is turned off. Unfortunately, it takes a great amount of time before the wireless telecommunication system detects that the wireless terminal is no longer powered on. In addition, it is very easy for the user to forget to power down the wireless terminal when inserting it into a battery charger. Other prior art wireless telecommunication systems allow the user to activate a button on the wireless terminal to place the wireless terminal in a “send all calls” state by initiating the “send all calls” feature. This causes the prior art wireless telecommunication switching system to immediately advance to the next device in the call coverage path. Unfortunately, users forget to initiate the “send all calls” state before they insert their wireless terminal into the charger. Also, users will forget to deactivate the “send all calls” feature after removing their wireless terminals from the charger. This results in the users missing calls that normally would have been received on their wireless terminals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to solving these and other problems and disadvantages of the prior art. Illustratively according to the invention, a wireless terminal when inserted into a charging unit transmits to a wireless telecommunication switching system a “plugged into charger” message. The wireless telecommunication switching system is responsive to the “plugged into charger” message to remove the wireless terminal from the call coverage path of the user. 
     Advantageously, the wireless telecommunication switching system can add to the call coverage path of the user the telephone number of the cellular telephone utilized by the user when the user is out of the building. 
     Advantageously, in a second embodiment of the invention, the wireless terminal transmits the message to invoke the “send all calls” state when the wireless terminal is plugged into a charging unit. Advantageously, in a third embodiment of the invention, the wireless terminal transmits a call transfer message that transfers all incoming calls to another terminal when the wireless terminal is plugged into the charging unit. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the invention considered together with the drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 illustrates, in block diagram form, a system for implementing the invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates, in flow chart form, steps for implementing the first embodiment of the invention by a wireless terminal; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates, in flow chart form, steps for implementing the second embodiment of the invention by a wireless terminal; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates, in flow chart form, steps for implementing a third embodiment of the invention by a wireless terminal; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates, in flow chart form, steps for implementing the first embodiment of the invention by a wireless telecommunication switching system; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates, in flow chart form, steps for implementing the second embodiment of the invention by a wireless telecommunication switching system; and 
     FIG. 7 illustrates, in flow chart form, steps for implementing the third embodiment of the invention by a wireless telecommunication switching system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment for implementing the invention. In-building wireless telecommunication switching system  101  provides a wireless service via base stations  103 - 104  to wireless terminals  107 - 108 . In addition, in-building switching system  101  provides wired service to wired terminals  109 - 110 . Voice messaging system  102  is connected to in-building switching system  101  so as to provide voice messaging capabilities. In-building switching system  101  is interconnected to public telephone system  111  and to cellular switching system  112  via public telephone system  111 . When in the building serviced by in-building switching system  101 , each user has associated with them a wired terminal and a wireless terminal. In addition, each user has a call coverage path which includes their wired terminal, their wireless terminal, voice messaging system  102 , and another wired terminal. For example, assume that a user is assigned wired terminal  109 , is assigned wireless terminal  107 , and is provided coverage by wired terminal  110 . The user&#39;s call coverage path could advantageously be that the call is first placed to wired terminal  109 , then to wireless terminal  107 , then to wired terminal  110 , and finally if none of the terminals answered, to voice messaging system  102 . In the first embodiment of the invention, when the user inserts wireless terminal  107  into battery charger  106 , wireless terminal  107  sends a message to in-building switching system  101  informing in-building switching system  101  that it has been inserted into a battery charger. In-building switching system  101  is responsive to the message to alter the call coverage path for the user of wireless terminal  107 . This alteration of the call coverage path may be as simple as temporarily removing wireless terminal  107  from the call coverage path so that a call is first routed to wired terminal  109 , then to wired terminal  110 , and finally to voice messaging system  102 . Advantageously, if the user has assigned to them cellular terminal  113  and it is assumed they have left the building, then, in-building switching system  101  substitutes the telephone number for cellular terminal  113  in place of the telephone number of wireless terminal  107 . 
     In the second embodiment of the invention, when plugged into battery charger  106 , wireless terminal  107  sends a “send all calls” message to in-building switching system  101 . In-building switching system  101  responds to this message as if the user had manually caused the “send all calls” message to be transmitted. 
     In the third embodiment of the invention when plugged into battery charger  106 , wireless terminal  107  sends a “call transfer” message to in-building switching system  101 . The “call transfer” message includes the telephone number to which all calls directed to wireless terminal  107  are to be redirected. In general, when the third embodiment is implemented, wireless terminal  107  is not part of a call coverage path. For example, if the user of wireless terminal  107  is going to be out of the building and using cellular terminal  113 , wireless terminal  107  is programmed by the user to transmit the telephone number of cellular terminal  113  as part of the “call transfer” message. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates, in flow chart form, the steps performed by a wireless terminal in implementing the first embodiment of the invention. Once started, decision block  201  determines if the wireless terminal is plugged into a charger. If the answer is no, control is transferred to decision block  202  which determines if the charger flag is set. The charger flag is set by the wireless terminal when it is plugged into the charger. If the answer is no in decision block  202 , control is transferred to decision block  203  for normal processing before control is returned back to decision block  201 . A no in decision block  202  indicates that the wireless terminal has not just been removed from the battery charger. If the answer in decision block  202  is yes, control is transferred to block  204  which resets the charger flag before transferring control to block  206 . Block  206  sends the “unplugged from charger” message to in-building switching system  101  before returning control back to decision block  201 . 
     Returning to decision block  201 , if the answer is yes, control is transferred to decision block  207  which determines if the charger flag is set. If the answer in decision block  207  is yes, the wireless terminal has remained plugged into the battery charger and no action is necessary. Hence, control is transferred to block  211  for normal processing before being transferred back to decision block  201 . If the answer in decision block  207  is no, control is transferred to block  208  which sets the charger flag before transferring control to block  209 . Block  209  sends the “plugged into charger” message to in-building switching system  101  before transferring control back to decision block  201 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates, in flow chart form, the steps performed by a wireless terminal in implementing the second embodiment of the invention. Once started, decision block  301  determines if the wireless terminal is plugged into a charger. If the answer is no, control is transferred to decision block  302  which determines if the charger flag is set. The charger flag is set by the wireless terminal when it is plugged into the charger. If the answer is no in decision block  302 , control is transferred to decision block  303  for normal processing before control is returned back to decision block  301 . A no in decision block  302  indicates that the wireless terminal has not just been removed from the battery charger. If the answer in decision block  302  is yes, control is transferred to block  304  which resets the charger flag before transferring control to block  306 . Block  306  sends the “cancel send all calls” message to in-building switching system  101  before returning control back to decision block  301 . 
     Returning to decision block  301 , if the answer is yes, control is transferred to decision block  307  which determines if the charger flag is set. If the answer in decision block  307  is yes, the wireless terminal has remained plugged into the battery charger and no action is necessary. Hence, control is transferred to block  311  for normal processing before being transferred back to decision block  301 . If the answer in decision block  307  is no, control is transferred to block  308  which sets the charger flag before transferring control to block  309 . Block  309  sends the “send all calls” message to in-building switching system  101  before transferring control back to decision block  301 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates, in flow chart form, the steps performed by a wireless terminal in implementing the third embodiment of the invention. Once started, decision block  401  determines if the wireless terminal is plugged into a charger. If the answer is no, control is transferred to decision block  402  which determines if the charger flag is set. The charger flag is set by the wireless terminal when it is plugged into the charger. If the answer is no in decision block  402 , control is transferred to decision block  403  for normal processing before control is returned back to decision block  401 . A no in decision block  402  indicates that the wireless terminal has not just been removed from the battery charger. If the answer in decision block  402  is yes, control is transferred to block  404  which resets the charger flag before transferring control to block  406 . Block  406  sends the “cancel call forwarding” message to in-building switching system  101  before returning control back to decision block  401 . 
     Returning to decision block  401 , if the answer is yes, control is transferred to decision block  407  which determines if the charger flag is set. If the answer in decision block  407  is yes, the wireless terminal has remained plugged into the battery charger and no action is necessary. Hence, control is transferred to block  411  for normal processing before being transferred back to decision block  401 . If the answer in decision block  407  is no, control is transferred to block  408  which sets the charger flag before transferring control to block  409 . Block  409  sends the “call forwarding with telephone number” message to in-building switching system  101  before transferring control back to decision block  401 . The telephone number included in the message to invoke call forwarding is the telephone number to which calls are to be forward. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates, in flow chart form, the steps performed by in-building wireless telecommunication switching system  101  in implementing the first embodiment of the invention. When started, decision block  501  examines a message to determine if it is from a wireless terminal. If the answer is no, block  502  performs normal processing before returning control back to decision block  501 . Block  502  performs processing that is well-known by those skilled in the art for a switching system such as in-building switching system  101 . If the answer is yes in decision block  501 , control is transferred to decision block  503  which determines if a “plugged into charger” message has been received from a wireless terminal. If the answer is yes, control is transferred to block  504  which updates the call coverage path of which the wireless terminal is part. In the previously described examples for the first embodiment, the operations performed by block  504  could consist of removing wireless terminal  107  from the call coverage path associated with the user of wireless terminal  107  or could involve replacing the telephone number of wireless terminal  107  with the telephone number of cellular terminal  113 . 
     If the answer is no in decision block  503 , control is transferred to decision block  506 . The latter decision block determines if a “unplugged from charger” message has been received from a wireless terminal. If the answer is no, control is transferred to block  508  which performs the processing that is well-known by those skilled in the art for providing service to a plurality of wireless terminals by a system such as in-building wireless telecommunication switching system  101 . If the answer yes in decision block  506 , control is transferred to block  507  which resets the call coverage path for the user of the wireless terminal  107  as it would be when wireless terminal  107  is in use by the user. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates, in flow chart form, the steps performed by in-building wireless telecommunication switching system  101  in implementing the second embodiment of the invention. When started, decision block  601  examines a message to determine if it is from a wireless terminal. If the answer is no, block  602  performs normal processing before returning control back to decision block  601 . Block  602  performs processing that is well-known by those skilled in the art for a switching system such as in-building switching system  101 . If the answer is yes in decision block  601 , control is transferred to decision block  603  which determines if a “send all calls” message has been received from a wireless terminal. If the answer is yes, control is transferred to block  604  which performs normal processing to implement the “send all calls” feature. 
     If the answer is no in decision block  603 , control is transferred to decision block  606 . The latter decision block determines if a “cancel send all calls” message has been received from a wireless terminal. If the answer is no, control is transferred to block  608  which performs the processing that is well-known by those skilled in the art for providing service to a plurality of wireless terminals by a system such as in-building wireless telecommunication switching system  101 . If the answer yes in decision block  606 , control is transferred to block  607  which cancels the “send all calls” feature as it would if wireless terminal  107  had been manually activated by the user. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates, in flow chart form, the steps performed by in-building wireless telecommunication switching system  101  in implementing the third embodiment of the invention. When started, decision block  701  examines a message to determine if it is from a wireless terminal. If the answer is no, block  702  performs normal processing before returning control back to decision block  701 . Block  702  performs processing that is well-known by those skilled in the art for a switching system such as in-building switching system  101 . If the answer is yes in decision block  701 , control is transferred to decision block  703  which determines if a “call forwarding” message has been received from a wireless terminal. If the answer is yes, control is transferred to block  704  which performs normal processing to implement the “call forwarding” feature by forwarding calls to the telephone number included in the message. 
     If the answer is no in decision block  703 , control is transferred to decision block  706 . The latter decision block determines if a “cancel send all calls” message has been received from a wireless terminal. If the answer is no, control is transferred to block  708  which performs the processing that is well-known by those skilled in the art for providing service to a plurality of wireless terminals by a system such as in-building wireless telecommunication switching system  101 . If the answer yes in decision block  706 , control is transferred to block  707  which cancels the “call forwarding” feature as it would if wireless terminal  107  had been manually activated by the user. 
     Of course, various changes and modifications to the illustrative embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the following claims except insofar as limited by the prior art.