IP Library Granted Patent US 8,046,470
Granted Patent B2
US 8,046,470 · App. 10/224,208 · Granted Oct 25, 2011

Method and system for incoming call notification

Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,046,470
App. No.
10/224,208
Granted
Oct 25, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mobile station that is fully engaged such that it cannot be connected to an incoming call without being disconnected from an existing call receives an incoming call notification. The incoming call notification may, for example, take the form of a short message system (SMS) message or a packet protocol message, such as a session initiation protocol (SIP) message. The incoming call notification may identify the calling party and may explain how to take the incoming call. If the user accepts the incoming call, the mobile station is disconnected from existing calls and connected to the incoming call.

Claims (33)

1. A method of incoming call notification for a mobile station, said mobile station being connected to at least one call over an air interface, said method comprising:

detecting a request to connect an incoming call to said mobile station;

making a determination that said mobile station is fully engaged such that said mobile station cannot be connected to said incoming call without being disconnected from at least one of said at least one call; and

in response to said determination, transmitting an incoming call notification to said mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to said incoming call notification, said mobile station providing a user-discernible indication.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein providing a user-discernible indication includes said mobile station visibly displaying an incoming call notification message.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said incoming call notification message identifies said incoming call.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said incoming call notification message includes text identifying a calling party of said incoming call.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said text includes a telephone number of said calling party.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an incoming call acceptance from said mobile station; and

in response to said incoming call acceptance, disconnecting at least one of said at least one call and connecting said incoming call.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one call includes a voice call.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein transmitting an incoming call notification to said mobile station includes transmitting a short message service (SMS) message to said mobile station.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one call includes an active data session.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein transmitting an incoming call notification to said mobile station includes transmitting a packet protocol message to said mobile station.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said packet protocol message is a session initiation protocol (SIP) message.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving an incoming call acceptance from said mobile station; and

in response to said incoming call acceptance, disconnecting said active data session and connecting said incoming call.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one call includes a first voice call and a second voice call.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving an incoming call acceptance from said mobile station; and

in response to said incoming call acceptance, disconnecting said first voice call and said second voice call and connecting said incoming call.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one call includes a voice call and an active data session.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting whether said mobile station is engaged in an active data session;

if said mobile station is engaged in an active data session, transmitting said incoming call notification to said mobile station as a packet protocol message; and

if said mobile station is not engaged in an active data session, transmitting said incoming call notification to said mobile station as a short message service (SMS) message.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said packet protocol message is a session initiation protocol (SIP) message.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting an incoming call notification to said mobile station includes transmitting a short message service (SMS) message to said mobile station and transmitting a packet protocol message to said mobile station.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said packet protocol message is a session initiation protocol (SIP) message.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 11, 2022
From: SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.
To: SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 059044/0022 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 3, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.
Reel/Frame 052313/0299 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 3, 2017
From: SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041937/0632 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2002
From: LEWIS, RONALD E.; WOODSON, CHARLES E.; ZHANG, BAOQUAN; FURNESS, DAREN R.; SANTHARAM, ARUN; FURNESS, DAREN R.; MCCONNELL, VON K.
To: SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.
Reel/Frame 013225/0762 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 09708836 · Nov 8, 2000
Related Publication 20020194331A1 · Dec 19, 2002