Title of Invention	A CORDLESS TELEPHONE BASE STATION AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE ROUTING OF CALLS
Abstract	A cordless telephone base station 1 for connection to a telecommunications network 7 has means (11) for handling incoming calls according to the presence or absence of the handsets (3a, 3b) as detected by responses to paging signals transmitted by the station

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these circumstances it is clearly impossible to initiate the diversion from the handset. Moreover, if the handset is one of several associated with the cordless base station, diversion to the cellular number of calls intended for the fixed exchange line would prevent the other handsets receiving incoming calls. According to the invention there is provides a cordless telephone base station comprising means for connection to an exchange connection of a tele-communications network; wireless communication means for establishing wireless communication with one or more handsets to enable telephone communication between the handsets and the telecommunications network; paging means for transmitting a wireless paging signal to the or each handset; and handset detection means for detecting a response, transmitted by the handset, to such a paging signal; characterized in that the base station has call handling means for generating call diversion instructions and means for transmitting said call diversion instructions over the exchange connection to cause the network to direct incoming calls to the said exchange connection or to a second connection according to the presence or absence of the handsets as detected by the paging signal responses, and in that the second connection is specified in the call diversion instructions generated by the call handling means. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling the routing of calls directed over a telecommunications network to a cordless telephone base station connected thereto and arranged for wireless .communication with one or more cordless handsets, wherein the base station transmits paging signals to one or more of said handsets, detects the presence or absence of responses to said paging signals, generates call diversion instructions, and transmits said call diversion instructions over the exchange connection to cause the network to direct incoming calls to the said exchange connection or to a predetermined other connection, specified in the instructions, according to the detected presence or absence of said paging signals. The invention makes use of the fact that although the handset is not in communication with the fixed exchange line when it goes out of range of the base station, the base station itself is still connected to the network. In normal cordless telephone systems, a base station and handset exchange coded paging signals when a call is initiated by either of them, in order to ensure that the handset is We Claim: 1. A cordless telephone base station (1) comprising means (6) for connection to an exchange connection of a tele-communications network (7); wireless communication means (2) for establishing wireless communication with one or more handsets (3a) to enable telephone communication between the handsets (3a) and the telecommunications network (7); paging means (12) for transmitting a wireless paging signal to the or each handset (3a); and handset detection means (13) for detecting a response, transmitted by the handset (3 a), to such a paging signal; characterized in that the base station has call handling means (11) for generating call diversion instructions and means (14) for transmitting said call diversion instructions over the exchange connection to cause the network to direct incoming calls to the said exchange connection (6) or to a second connection according to the presence or absence of the handsets (3a) as detected by the paging signal responses, and in that the second connection is specified in the call diversion instructions generated by the call handling means (11). 2. A cordless telephone base station according to claim 1, wherein the paging means (12) is arranged to send paging signals periodically, and is controlled by the detection means (13) such that if the detection means detects a response to a first paging signal, but fails to detect a response to the next paging signal, further paging signals are transmitted by the paging means (12) at a shorter time interval. 3. A cordless base station according to claim 1 or claim 2 the detection means (13) comprising means for measuring the strength of the response signal detected, and the paging means (12) being arranged to transmit paging signals at a rate related to the strength of the response signal. 4. A cordless telephone base station according to any preceding claim, wherein the wireless communication means (2) is arranged to establish wireless communication with more than one handset (3a, 3b); the call handling means having signal detection means (22, 23, 29) for detecting signaling received from the network (7) indicative of the calling party's identity and/or preferences, and connection selection means arranged to attempt communication with one of the handsets (3a, 3b), selected in response to signals detected by the signal detection means (22, 23, 29) and handset detection means (13). 5. A cordless telephone base station according to claim 4, further comprising caller interface means, the caller interface means comprising option generation means (27) for generating and transmitting messages inviting a calling party to transmit additional signaling to select one of the available handsets (3a, 3b), and caller response means responsive to such signaling to select such a connection. 6. A cordless telephone base station according to claim 5 wherein the signal detection means has means (22, 23, 29) for detecting signaling indicative of the preferences and/or the identity of the calling party and wherein the option generation means (27) is controlled to offer connections in response to signals detected by the signal detection means indicative of the calling party's identity and/or preferences. 7. A cordless telephone base station according to claim 6, having programming means (15) for programming the option generation means to select which connections are offered, according to the called and/or calling numbers detected. 8. A cordless telephone base station according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the signal detection means (22) is responsive to a ringing cadence or pattern, indicative of a calling party preference. 9. A cordless telephone base station according to any of claims 4 to 8, wherein one of the connections offered is to an answering machine. 10. A method of controlling the routing of calls directed over a telecommunications network (7) to a cordless telephone base station (1) connected thereto and arranged for wireless communication with one or more cordless handsets (3a, 3b), wherein the base station transmits wireless paging signals to one or more of said handsets, detects the presence or absence of responses to said paging signals, characterised in that the base station has call handling means (11) which generates call diversion instructions, and transmits said call diversion instructions over an exchange connection (6) to cause the network (7) to direct incoming calls to the said exchange connection or to a second connection, according to the detected presence or absence of said paging signals, and in that the second connection is specified in the call diversion instructions generated by the call handling means (11). 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein paging signals are sent periodically, and if a response to a first paging signal is detected, but no response to the next paging signal is detected, further paging signals are transmitted at a shorter time interval. 12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the strength of the response signal is detected, and paging signals are transmitted at a rate related to the strength of the response signal. 13. A method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein incoming calls are routed to individual handsets (3a, 3b) in response to signaling received from the network (7), and the presence or absence of said handsets. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the signaling is characteristic of the identity of the calling party and/or of preferences selected by the calling party. 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the signaling is characteristic of the telephone number dialed by the calling party. 16. A method as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein handset selection is made according to signaling initiated by the calling party in response to options offered by the base station, the options to be offered being selected ac- cording to the detected presence or absence of the handsets (3a, 3b) and/or the signaling received from the network (7). 17. A method according to claim 13, 14, 15 or 16 wherein the calls may be routed to an answering machine (5) or answering service. 18. A method according to claim 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 wherein the calls may be routed to another of the handsets (3a, 3b), 19. A cordless telephone base station, substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1491-mas-1997- abstract.pdf

1491-mas-1997- claims duplicate.pdf

1491-mas-1997- claims original.pdf

1491-mas-1997- correspondence others.pdf

1491-mas-1997- correspondence po.pdf

1491-mas-1997- descripition complete duplicate.pdf

1491-mas-1997- descripition complete original.pdf

1491-mas-1997- drawings.pdf

1491-mas-1997- form 1.pdf

1491-mas-1997- form 26.pdf

1491-mas-1997- form 3.pdf

1491-mas-1997- form 6.pdf

1491-mas-1997- pct.pdf