Presence Over Existing Cellular and Land-Line Telephone Networks

Abstract

Presence information is received and processed at a base station from one or more wireless headsets or wireless telephones. The base station is coupled to a PSTN network or cellular network. The base station outputs a plurality of caller selectable options associated with the plurality of presence information to a far end caller and receives a far end caller selected option

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method of reporting headset presence characteristics over a cellular communications network comprising:
 receiving and processing at a computing device a plurality of presence information from a wireless headset and the computing device, wherein the computing device is in a cellular communications network;   receiving a telephone call at the computing device over the cellular communications network from a far end caller;   outputting from the computing device a plurality of user selectable options associated with the plurality of presence information to the far end caller; and   receiving a user selected option from the far end caller.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising routing the telephone call to the computing device or the wireless headset responsive to receiving the user selected option. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein receiving a user selected option comprises receiving a DTMF signal sent from the far end caller. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising generating a plurality of voice prompts. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of presence information associated with the wireless headset or the computing device comprises usage characteristics or proximity information of the wireless headset or the computing device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the proximity information is determined by measuring strengths of signals received by the wireless headset or the computing device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the usage characteristics comprise whether the wireless headset or computing device are donned or doffed, are in a charging station, or are being carried but not worn. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the wireless headset or the computing device comprises a motion detector. 
     
     
         35 .- 67 . (canceled)