(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2001/0055974 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 27, 2001
`Bates et al.
`
`US 20010055974A1
`
`(54) TELEPHONE SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR
`SELECTIVELY RINGING ONE OR MORE
`LAND PHONES OR PORTABLE PHONES
`BASED ON THE SELF-DETECTED
`GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OFA
`PORTABLE PHONE
`
`(76) Inventors: Cary Lee Bates, Rochester, MN (US);
`Jeffrey Michael Ryan, Byron, MN
`(US); John Matthew Santosuosso,
`Rochester, MN (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`MARTIN & ASSOCIATES, LLC
`PO BOX 548
`CARTHAGE, MO 64836-0548 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`09/759,784
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan. 12, 2001
`
`1 OO
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/591,331,
`filed on Jun. 9, 2000.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................................... H04Q 7/20
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................ 455/456; 455/445
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A portable phone is equipped with a position detector that
`detects the geographical position of the portable phone, and
`a telephone System may ring one or more land-based phones
`or portable phones according to the geographical position of
`the portable phone. One or more geographical regions are
`defined, with corresponding telephone parameters defined
`for each region. When a portable phone enters a defined
`region, exits a defined region, or changes between two
`defined regions, the function of one or more land-based
`phones or portable phones may change. The preferred
`embodiments thus allow changing the function of one or
`more other phones based on the Self-detected geographical
`position of a portable phone. In this manner the convenience
`of using portable phones is greatly enhanced.
`
`Antenna 11 O
`
`Processor
`
`210
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Microphone
`150
`
`POSition
`Detector
`220
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 1 of 18
`
`SAMSUNG EX-1212
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 1 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`1OO
`
`Microphone
`150
`
`
`
`Position
`Detector
`
`Page 2 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 2 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`Home
`
`Church
`
`Office
`
`Job Site
`
`Theater
`
`FIG. 3
`
`
`
`Set PhOne Parameters
`for Region
`
`Page 3 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 3 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`Phone Display Prompts for
`Boundary Points of Region
`
`Go to Next Boundary Point
`
`Press Key on Phone to
`Store Boundary Point
`
`Store Current Position from Position
`Detector as Boundary Point
`650
`
`
`
`YES
`
`More Boundary
`PointS2
`
`NO
`Press Key on Phone to Compute
`Region from Boundary Points
`
`600
`1.
`
`640
`
`660
`
`670
`
`Phone Computes Region by
`Connecting Boundary Points
`
`Phone Displays Menu of
`Ring Parameters for Region
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`User Selects Phone
`Parameters for Region
`Using Menu
`
`68O
`
`690
`
`Page 4 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`Telephone
`Company Network
`
`Call Router
`
`750
`
`
`
`
`
`732
`
`Work PhOne
`
`
`
`Home
`
`FIG. 7
`
`800
`
`PhOne Parameters
`Allowed is
`555-0011
`855-1234
`555-2233
`
`555-OO11
`855-1234
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Page 5 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet S of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`Telephone
`Company Network
`
`Call Router
`
`750
`
`Work Phone
`
`
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Phone Parameters
`Allowed is
`555-0011
`
`555-2233
`
`800
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 6 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 6 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Telephone
`Company Network
`
`Cal Router
`
`750
`
`FIG 11
`
`Work Phone
`
`PhOne Parameters
`Allowed his
`555-O011
`
`
`
`800
`.
`
`
`
`Work
`
`
`
`555-2233
`855-1234
`
`555-2233
`855-1234
`
`Page 7 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 7 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`1300
`1.
`
`Determine from Position
`Detector the Geographical
`Location of Phone
`
`PhOne
`Exits Defined
`Region?
`
`YES
`
`1330
`
`Send Exiting Region
`Message to Tower
`
`PhOne
`Enters Defined
`Region?
`
`Send Entering Region
`Message to Tower
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1410
`/
`Call Router Maintains Phone Parameters for Named
`Regions According to Entering Region and Exiting
`Region Messages Received from Portable Phone
`
`Call Router Rings Phones and Routes Calls According
`to Phone Parameters for Named Regions
`
`1400
`1.
`
`142O
`
`FIG. 14
`
`Page 8 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 8 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`Event Received
`
`1510
`
`
`
`1512
`
`ls Event a Call
`to a Number?
`
`1410
`1.
`
`1540
`
`Phone
`Parameters Set for
`his Number2
`
`
`
`1520
`
`
`
`
`
`ls Event "Enter
`a Region"?
`
`Route Cal to Phone for
`Number Called
`
`1544
`
`Route Call According
`to Phone Parameters
`for This Number
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Alter Phone Parameters
`for This Region
`
`
`
`
`
`1532
`
`
`
`1530
`
`ls Event "Exit
`a Region"?
`
`Phone System Performs
`Normal Event Processing
`
`1534
`
`FIG. 15
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Phone Affects Phone NO
`Parameters for This
`Region2
`
`Alter Phone Parameters
`for This Region
`
`Exit
`
`Page 9 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 9 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`
`
`Determine from Position
`Detector the Geographical
`Location of Phone
`
`1600
`1.
`
`1610
`
`FG 16
`
`Transmit Geographical
`Location of Phone to Tower
`
`1620
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`17OO
`
`1710
`
`YES
`
`Phone
`ExitS Defined
`Region?
`
`Update Phone Parameters
`for Exited Region
`
`Phone
`Enters Defined
`Region?
`
`
`
`Update Phone Parameters
`for Entered Region
`
`FIG. 17
`
`Page 10 of 18
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Dec. 27, 2001 Sheet 10 of 10
`
`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`1800
`1.
`
`Assign Phone Number to a
`Defined Geographical Region
`
`1810
`
`Assign Defined Geographical Region to
`One Or More Portable Phones
`
`182O
`
`1830
`
`Phone Number Caled?
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`1840
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Any Assigned
`Phones in Region?
`
`NO
`
`1850
`
`1860
`
`Provide Voice Message
`
`
`
`Ring Assigned Phone(s)
`that are in Region
`
`Page 11 of 18
`
`

`

`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`TELEPHONE SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR
`SELECTIVELY RINGING ONE OR MORE LAND
`PHONES OR PORTABLE PHONES BASED ON
`THE SELF-DETECTED GEOGRAPHICAL
`POSITION OF A PORTABLE PHONE
`
`REFERENCE TO PARENT APPLICATION
`0001. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of
`the co-pending patent application “PORTABLE PHONE
`THAT CHANGES FUNCTION ACCORDING TO ITS
`SELF-DETECTED GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION', Ser.
`No. 09/591,331 filed by Bates et al. on Jun. 9, 2000, which
`is incorporated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0002) 1. Technical Field
`0003. This invention generally relates to telephone sys
`tems and more Specifically relates to portable phones.
`0004 2. Background Art
`0005 Since Alexander Graham Bell uttered those famous
`words “Mr. Watson-come here-I want to see you”, the
`telephone has evolved into a necessity of modern living.
`Land-based telephone Systems are the most ubiquitous, and
`have been found in most homes and businesses in the United
`States for many decades. Recently, wireleSS phones have
`gained in popularity. WireleSS phones include cellular
`phones, digital phones, Satellite phones, etc. For the purpose
`of discussion herein, the term "portable phone” applies to
`any and all types of wireleSS phones, whether now known or
`developed in the future.
`0006 Known portable phones are like land-based phones
`in the respect that they ring when the number that is assigned
`to the portable phone receives a call. Portable phones
`currently cannot affect the function of other portable phones
`or of land-based phones. Modern life makes it desirable for
`the location of a portable phone to affect how other land
`based phones or other portable phones function. For
`example, when a user of a portable phone takes the phone
`home, it may be desirable for a call to the portable phone to
`ring the user's home phone instead, thereby avoiding wire
`leSS charges during the call. Without a way for a portable
`phone to change the function of other phones based on its
`geographical position, the power of using portable phones
`will not fully be realized.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`0007 According to the preferred embodiments, a por
`table phone is equipped with a position detector that detects
`the geographical position of the portable phone, and a
`telephone System may ring one or more land-based phones
`or portable phones according to the geographical position of
`the portable phone. One or more geographical regions are
`defined, with corresponding telephone parameters defined
`for each region. When a portable phone enters a defined
`region, exits a defined region, or changes between two
`defined regions, the function of one or more land-based
`phones or portable phones may change. The preferred
`embodiments thus allow changing the function of one or
`more other phones based on the Self-detected geographical
`position of a portable phone. In this manner the convenience
`of using portable phones is greatly enhanced.
`
`0008. The foregoing and other features and advantages of
`the invention will be apparent from the following more
`particular description of preferred embodiments of the
`invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`0009. The preferred embodiments of the present inven
`tion will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the
`appended drawings, where like designations denote like
`elements, and:
`0010 FIG. 1 is a diagram of a portable phone in accor
`dance with the preferred embodiments;
`0011 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components in the
`portable phone of FIG. 1;
`0012 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing different regions that
`may be defined for the portable phone of FIGS. 1 and 2;
`0013 FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing the steps in
`defining one or more geographical regions and in defining
`phone parameters for each defined geographical regions,
`0014 FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how a region may be
`dynamically defined in accordance with the preferred
`embodiments,
`0015 FIG. 6 is a flow diagram that shows one specific
`implementation of method 400 of FIG. 4 for dynamically
`defining a region and defining phone parameters for each
`defined geographical region;
`0016 FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a sample configura
`tion in accordance with the preferred embodiments that
`allows Selectively ringing two land-based telephones
`depending on the Self-detected geographical position of a
`portable phone, with the portable phone at home;
`0017 FIG. 8 is a block diagram of sample phone param
`eters for the sample configuration of FIG. 7;
`0018 FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the sample configu
`ration of FIG. 7 with the portable phone between home and
`work;
`0019 FIG. 10 is a block diagram of sample phone
`parameters for the sample configuration of FIG. 9;
`0020 FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the sample configu
`ration of FIG. 7 with the portable phone at work;
`0021
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram of sample phone
`parameters for the sample configuration of FIG. 11;
`0022 FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a method for a
`portable phone to Send messages when defined regions are
`entered and exited;
`0023 FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a step for a telephone
`System to maintain phone parameters for named regions as
`entering region and exiting region messages are received
`from a portable phone (such as when steps 1330 and 1350
`of FIG. 13 are performed);
`0024 FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of one specific imple
`mentation of step 1410 of FIG. 14 in accordance with the
`preferred embodiments,
`0025 FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of a method for a
`portable phone to transmit geographical location informa
`tion to a telephone company network;
`
`Page 12 of 18
`
`

`

`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`0026 FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of a method for a
`telephone company network to process the geographical
`location information transmitted in step 1620 of FIG. 16 to
`determine whether the portable phone exits or enters a
`defined region; and
`0.027
`FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of a method for assign
`ing a phone number to a geographical region and assigning
`one or more phones to the assigned phone number, and for
`ringing an assigned phone only when the assigned phone is
`within the defined geographical region.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`0028. Throughout history, the telephone has been an
`important device for communicating the need for emergency
`Services. The phrase “Operator, get me the police' has been
`used in many Hollywood movies. Land-based telephone
`Systems have evolved to include emergency Systems known
`as "911" Systems that catalog the location of each telephone
`along with its telephone number. Modern land-based tele
`phone Systems communicate an identifier when placing a
`call, often referred to as a “caller ID". When a person calls
`911 from a land-based phone, the 911 computer system
`automatically detects the caller ID, and displays the caller's
`location from its database. This allows emergency Vehicles
`to be dispatched even if the caller is unable to Speak or
`identify his or her location.
`0029) Retrieving the location of a land-based phone when
`a person calls 911 is a simple task because the location of the
`phone does not change over time. However, with portable
`phones, there is currently no “911' equivalent system that
`allows emergency vehicles to be dispatched to the portable
`phone's location, because the location constantly changes.
`In one case in South Dakota, a woman ran her car into a ditch
`during a blizzard. She called the police on her cellular phone
`and said she had no idea where she was located. Over the
`next Several hours, she called in Several times for a few
`minutes at a time (to preserve her phone's battery life) while
`emergency Services perSonnel worked with the cell phone
`company to locate the woman's phone based on a well
`known technique known as “triangulation' of her cellphone
`Signal. After Several hours, her location was identified with
`enough certainty to allow emergency workers to find her.
`While this outcome was a happy one, it is clear that many
`people who have emergencies do not have hours to wait for
`help to arrive. This case illustrates the need for a 911-type
`of System for portable phones. If a perSon is having a heart
`attack, that perSon may well be dead in a few minutes if
`medical help is not received immediately. For this reason the
`Federal Communications Commission has mandated that
`portable phone providers implement an Enhanced 911
`(E911) system by the end of the year 2001.
`0.030. One way to implement an enhanced 911 system for
`portable phones is to place a position detector in each phone
`that communicates the position of the phone to the portable
`phone Service provider. One popular type of position detec
`tor is a Global Positioning System (GPS) detector that
`detects its geographical position based on Signals received
`from several satellites. A press release dated Aug. 10, 1998
`at www.sirf.com/as pr13.htm States that Nokia, one of the
`leading manufacturers of portable phones, invested in the
`GPS technology of SiRF Technology, Inc. to allow putting
`
`SiRF’s GPS detectors into Nokia phones in order to meet the
`FCC mandate for an E911 system.
`0031 While the prior art suggests placing a GPS detector
`in a portable phone, this teaching is for the purpose of
`implementing an E911 system, as described above. An E911
`System can be implemented by communicating the location
`of the phone to the cellphone provider without changing the
`apparent function of the portable phone or other phones. The
`preferred embodiments described herein use the position
`information from an on-board position detector (e.g., GPS
`detector) to change the function of the portable phone or
`other phones according to one or more geographical regions
`defined by the user. In this manner a portable phone may
`make other phones Selectively ring or not ring without
`intervention by a user as the position of the portable phone
`enters or exits a defined region.
`0032 Referring now to FIG. 1, a portable phone 100 in
`accordance with the preferred embodiments includes a case
`105. Within or attached to case 105 are antenna 110, keypad
`120, display 130, speaker 140, and microphone 150.
`Antenna 110 is a Standard antenna as is known in the art for
`allowing portable phone 100 to communicate with its ser
`Vice provider in placing and receiving calls. Keypad 120
`includes the traditional ten numerals, Star, and pound key
`found on most telephone keypads. In addition, keypad 120
`includes a “Send' key for placing a call, an “End” key for
`terminating a call, a “Clear” key for clearing a portion of the
`display 130, a “Menu" key for displaying a menu on the
`display 130, up arrow and down arrow keys for scrolling
`through menus and lists on the display 130, a “Mem” key
`(short for “memory”) that displays information stored in
`phone 100, and an “ABC key that changes the ten numeral
`keys from numeric input to alpha character input. It is well
`known in the art that the 2 through 0 numeral keys on
`Standard telephones include most of the alphabet characters.
`For the Sake of clarity in the drawing, the alpha characters
`asSociated with numeral keys 2 through 0 are not shown. By
`pressing the “ABC key, the phone enters an alpha input
`mode that allows inputting text information into phone 100
`via keypad 120 that can be displayed on display 130. The
`keys on keypad 120 in FIG. 1 are shown by way of example,
`and many different keys not explicitly shown may be Sub
`stituted or added within the scope of the preferred embodi
`mentS.
`0033 Display 130 is preferably a backlit liquid crystal
`display (LCD) that includes multiple lines of alphanumeric
`display capability. Speaker 140 is a small, low-power
`Speaker as is known in the art for portable phones. In
`addition, microphone 150 is a small, low-power microphone
`as is known in the art for portable phones.
`0034) The components of FIG.1, except for case 105, are
`shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2. The keypad 120 and
`microphone 150 are input devices, the display 130 and
`speaker 140 are output devices, and antenna 110 is both an
`input and an output device. Portable phone 100 includes a
`processor 210 that is coupled to the antenna 110, keypad
`120, display 130, speaker 140, and microphone 150. In
`addition, processor 210 is also coupled to a position detector
`220 and to a memory 230. Position detector 220 is an
`electronic device that provides its geographical position to
`processor 210, preferably in longitude and latitude coordi
`nates. In the preferred embodiments, position detector 220 is
`
`Page 13 of 18
`
`

`

`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`a global positioning system (GPS) detector. Memory 230
`may include any combination of volatile and non-volatile
`memory, and preferably includes one or more defined geo
`graphical regions 240. Processor 210 takes input from
`keypad 120, microphone 150, position detector 220, antenna
`110, and memory 230, and generates appropriate output on
`display 130, speaker 140, antenna 110, and memory 230.
`Note that the block diagram of FIG. 2 does not include many
`components or features known in prior art portable phones.
`FIG. 2 is a simple diagram showing only the most com
`monly-known components and features that allow a com
`plete description of the preferred embodiments of the
`present invention. Of course, portable phone 100 could also
`include any component or feature that is known in the art in
`addition to those shown within the scope of the preferred
`embodiments.
`0.035
`FIG. 3 illustrates different geographical regions
`that a user may want to define in order to alter the function
`of a telephone System according to whether or not a portable
`phone is in a defined region. For example, we assume that
`an architect is the user of a portable phone in accordance
`with the preferred embodiments, and wants to program her
`phone for the five different regions shown in FIG. 3: home,
`church, office, job Site, and theater. These regions are shown
`by way of example, and the preferred embodiments
`expressly extend to the definition of any Suitable geographi
`cal region.
`0036) Referring to FIG.4, a method 400 shows the steps
`in defining regions and Setting phone parameters for each
`region. First, a geographical region is defined (step 410).
`Next, phone parameters are set for this newly-defined region
`(step 420). Method 400 is repeated for each region that
`needs to be defined, thus creating phone parameters for each
`region that are independent of the phone parameters of other
`regions. Once the desired geographical regions and the
`corresponding phone parameters are defined, a telephone
`System will function differently according to the detected
`geographical position of a portable phone.
`0037 Step 410 in FIG. 4 allows the user to define a
`geographical region of interest. There are numerous ways
`for the user to define a geographical region. AS Stated above,
`the preferred implementation of position detector 220 in
`FIG. 2 is a GPS detector. If position detector 220 is a GPS
`detector, the geographical region must be defined in GPS
`coordinates. With the proliferation of GPS detectors, it may
`well be that a user may be able to consult a database to
`retrieve GPS coordinates for a given location. For example,
`a mapping company may provide a web site that provides
`GPS coordinates for any Selected region on a map. A user
`could then enter these coordinates into portable phone 100
`using keypad 120 and display 130 to define a region. In the
`alternative, a company may offer a Service that allows a user
`to call the company using the portable phone 100, which
`then communicates to the Service an identifier for the region
`of interest (Such as an address), and the Service could then
`download GPS coordinates for the region of interest into
`portable phone 100. Another way for a user to define a
`geographical region in Step 410 of FIG. 4 takes advantage
`of the on-board position detector 220 within portable phone
`200 to allow a user to dynamically define a region of interest.
`The dynamic creation of a geographical region of interest is
`explained below with reference to FIG. 5. The preferred
`embodiments expressly extend to all mechanisms and meth
`
`ods for defining a geographical region, whether currently
`known or developed in the future.
`0038 We assume for the sake of illustration that the
`architects office in FIG. 3 is located within an L-shaped
`office building, the outline of which is shown as 510 in FIG.
`5. The architect can dynamically define the geographical
`region corresponding to her office building by placing the
`portable phone in a menu-driven "region definition' mode
`that prompts the user to perform certain actions to define a
`region. When the “region definition” mode is entered, the
`display 130 prompts the user to travel to the location of a
`corner (i.e., boundary point) of the region and press a key
`(such as the # key). In the example of FIG. 5, we assume that
`the user puts her portable phone 100 into “region definition”
`mode, then walks to point A that corresponds to a corner of
`building 510. The user then presses the # key, which causes
`processor 210 to read the current geographical position of
`the portable phone from the position detector 220 and store
`this coordinate in memory 230. The user then travels to point
`B, and presses the # key again, causing the processor 210 to
`get a new position from position detector 220 and Store the
`coordinate in memory 230. The user then travels to points C,
`D, E and F, pausing each time to preSS the # key to Store the
`current position as a boundary point of the region. After
`pressing the # key at point F, the user then presses another
`key (such as the “End” key) to instruct the processor 210 to
`compute a region based on the entered comer points. Pro
`cessor 210 takes each boundary point and effectively “con
`nects the dots” to generate a region of interest. By allowing
`a user to dynamically define regions of interest using the
`position detector 220 within the portable phone 100, the user
`does not need to acceSS any position information in any
`database when defining regions of interest.
`0039) Note that a GPS detector reading is only accurate
`to within a Specified tolerance. For this reason, after con
`structing the region 510 in FIG. 5, the region may be
`enlarged by the amount of the tolerance, as shown as 520 in
`FIG. 5. Expanding the region by the amount of allowable
`tolerance assures that any reading taken within the building
`will be detected as lying within the defined region.
`0040 Another method for dynamically defining a region
`is to preSS a key that causes the processor 210 to get the
`current position from position detector 220, and then press
`one or more keys to Specify a radius for defining a circular
`region. This is a much simpler way of defining a region if a
`circle can adequately approximate that region that needs to
`be defined. For example, if a perSon lives in a house, they
`may dynamically define a home Zone by going to the
`approximate center of the house, pressing a key to enter the
`position at that point, and entering a radius of 50 feet. This
`is a much simpler way of defining a region if a circle can
`adequately approximate that region that needs to be defined.
`0041) Referring now to FIG. 6, a method 600 illustrates
`one specific implementation of method 400 of FIG. 4 that
`allows a user to dynamically define a region of interest as
`explained above with reference to FIG. 5, and to define
`phone parameters for the region of interest. First, the phone
`display prompts for boundary points of the region (step 610).
`The user then goes to a boundary point (step 620) and
`presses a key on the phone to store the boundary point (Step
`630). The phone then stores the current position read from
`the position detector 220 as a boundary point (step 640). If
`
`Page 14 of 18
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`US 2001/0055974 A1
`
`Dec. 27, 2001
`
`there are more boundary points to define (step 650=YES),
`steps 610-640 are repeated until all boundary points have
`been entered (step 650=NO). At this point a different key is
`pressed on the phone to compute the region from the Stored
`boundary points (step 660). The phone computes the region
`by connecting the boundary points (step 670). The phone
`then displays a menu of phone parameters to the user (Step
`680). The user selects the phone parameters for the newly
`defined region using the menu and keypad 120. Note that for
`this particular implementation, steps 610-670 correspond to
`step 410 in FIG. 4, and steps 680-690 corresponds to step
`420 in FIG. 4. Method 600 thus allows a user to dynamically
`define a region, then Set the corresponding phone parameters
`for that region.
`0042. Note that the term “phone parameters” is a broad
`term that encompasses any information that may affect the
`ringing of phones or routing of calls based on the geographi
`cal location of a portable phone. For example, phone param
`eters may include an indication of land-based phones to ring
`when a portable phone is within or outside of a defined
`region. Phone parameters may include an indication of
`whether to ring a single phone or multiple phones when a
`portable phone is within or Outside of a defined region.
`Phone parameters may include an indication of whether to
`ring a portable phone that is within or outside of a defined
`region when a land-based phone or another portable phone
`within the region rings. These examples are provided to
`Simply illustrate that the term "phone parameters' includes
`any information that may affect the ringing or routing of
`calls based on the Self-detected geographical location of a
`portable phone.
`0.043
`FIG. 7 shows one sample configuration that is
`useful in illustrating the concepts of the preferred embodi
`ments. We continue with our example above relating to an
`architect who lives in a home 710 and works in an office 730.
`At home, the architect has a home phone 712 that is a
`land-based phone that is coupled via a wire connection 714
`to a telephone company network 740, as is known in the art.
`Similarly, the architect has a work phone 732 at her office
`730 that is also a land-based phone that is coupled via a wire
`connection 734 to the telephone company network 740.
`Note that telephone company network 740 includes a call
`router 750 that ring phones and routes calls according to the
`geographical position of a portable phone 100, shown in
`FIG. 7 to be at home 710. Telephone company network 740
`is also coupled to a mechanism for communicating with
`portable phones, shown in FIG. 7 as a cellular phone tower
`760. The specific example of FIG. 7 assumes that a tele
`phone company network 740 that provides local telephone
`Service is also a Service provider for portable phones. This
`assumption is made for the purpose of illustrating the
`preferred embodiments, which expressly extend to any and
`all configurations and combinations of telephone networks
`and companies that are needed to communicate with both
`land-based telephones and portable telephones.
`0044) Suitable phone parameters 800 for the example of
`FIG. 7 are shown in FIG. 8. We assume for this simple
`example that a region is defined that corresponds to the
`architect's home 710, and a separate region is defined that
`corresponds to the architects office 730. Phone parameters
`800 shown that each defined region has a list of allowed
`phone numbers that are allowed to be affected by the
`presence or absence of portable phone 100 within a region.
`
`Each region also has a list of current phone numbers whose
`operation may be affected by the presence or absence of
`portable phone 100 within a region. For the simple example
`in FIGS. 7 and 8, we assume the following: portable phone
`100 has a telephone number of 855-1234; home phone 712
`has a telephone number of 555-0011; and work phone 732
`has a telephone number of 555-2233. The entry in phone
`parameters 800 for home indicates that both the home phone
`number and the portable phone number are allowed num
`bers, and that both of these are current numbers, because the
`portable phone is at home. For this Specific example, we
`assume when the portable phone is at home 710 that a call
`to either the home phone 710 or the portable phone 100 will
`cause the call router 750 to ring both phones 712 and 100,
`and the call router 750 will then connect the call to which
`ever phone is answered first. Of course, other variations are
`also possible within the Scope of the preferred embodiments.
`For example, when the portable phone 100 is at home 710,
`the call router 750 could route calls to the portable phone
`100 to the home phone 712 without the portable phone 100
`ringing, while the call router routes calls to the home phone
`712 only to the home phone, and not to the portable phone
`100. These types of variations could be easily programmed
`into the phone parameters that dictate the function of the
`portable phone and other phones according to the Self
`detected geographical position of the portable phone.
`0045. Note that the phone parameters 800 shown in FIG.
`8 for the defined “work” region show that both the work
`phone number and the portable phone number are allowed
`numbers, but only the work phone number is a current
`number because the portable phone 100 is not at work 730.
`We now assume that the architect leaves home 710 with the
`portable phone 100 to begin the journey to work 730. This
`situation is shown in FIG. 9, where the portable phone 100
`is located Somewhere between home 710 and work 730.
`Phone parameters 800 in FIG. 10 now indicate that the
`phone number for the portable phone (855-1234) is not a
`current number for either the home region or the work
`region, because the portable phone 100 is not located within
`either of these regions. As a result, the call router 750 will
`route a call to the home phone 712 to only the home phone;
`will route a call to the work phone 732 only to the work
`phone; and will route a call to the portable phone 100 only
`to the portable phone. Thus, the operation of the telephone
`system for the specific example in FIG. 9 is the same as in
`the prior art when the portable phone 100 is not in any
`defined region.
`0046 Referring now to FIG. 11, the architect now arrives
`at work 730 with her portable phone 100. Because the
`portable phone 100 is now within a defined Zone (i.e., work)
`where it is an allowed number, the portable phone number
`855-1234 is added to the current number list for the work
`region, as shown in FIG. 12. T