Call management

Abstract

When a call is received for a device within an area of coverage, all devices within the area of coverage are rung. The call may be connected to the first device that picks up. All devices may be rung at the same time or in a predetermined order. For example, the first device rung may be a device that was most recently moved, a device that was most recently active, based on a time of day, or the like.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 detecting mobile devices connected to a wireless network having a coverage area, wherein each of the mobile devices is located within one of a plurality of zones of the coverage area, and wherein each of the plurality of zones has a respective priority value that differs depending upon a time of day;   receiving a call for a designated device of the mobile devices;   determining that the respective priority value of a first zone of the plurality of zones containing a first subset of the mobile devices is greater than the respective priority value of a second zone of the plurality of zones containing a second subset of the mobile devices;   providing a first indication of the call to the first subset; and   if none of the first subset answers the call after a predetermined period, providing a second indication of the call to the second subset.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone does not overlap with the second zone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein boundaries of each of the plurality of zones are independent of locations of the mobile devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting the call to a first mobile device of the mobile devices that answers the call. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 if none of the second subset answers the call after a second predetermined period, providing a third indication of the call to a third subset of the mobile devices, the third subset being located within a third zone of the plurality of zones,   wherein the respective priority of the third zone is lower than the respective priority of the first zone.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the respective priority of the third zone is lower than the respective priority of the second zone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a record of a plurality of identifiers, each identifier identifying one of the mobile devices; and   upon the device entering the coverage zone, adding a specific identifier of the device to the record.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   memory storing instructions that cause the processor to effectuate operations, the operations comprising:
 detecting mobile devices connected to a wireless network having a coverage area, wherein each of the mobile devices is located within one of a plurality of zones of the coverage area and wherein each of the plurality of zones has a respective priority value that differs depending upon a time of day; 
 detecting that a call for a designated device of the mobile devices has been made; 
 determining that the respective priority value of a first zone of the plurality of zones containing a first subset of the mobile devices is greater than the respective priority value of a second zone of the plurality of zones; and 
 providing a first indication of the call to the first subset. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 if none of the first subset answers the call after a predetermined period, providing a second indication of the call to a second subset of the mobile devices, the second subset being located within the second zone.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , the operations further comprising:
 if none of the second subset answers the call after a second predetermined period, providing a third indication of the call to a third subset of the mobile devices, the third subset being located within a third zone of the plurality of zones,   wherein the respective priority of the third zone is lower than the respective priority of the second zone.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first zone does not overlap with the second zone,   the first zone does not overlap with the third zone, and   the second zone does not overlap with the third zone.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising connecting the call to a first device of the mobile devices that answers the call. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless network comprises a femtocell. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each mobile device of the first subset has a device priority, and wherein providing the first indication to the first subset comprises:
 notifying a first mobile device of the first subset; and   if the first device of the first subset does not answer the call after a first portion of the predefined time, notifying a second device of the first subset,   wherein the device priority of the first device of the first subset is greater than the device priority of the second device of the first subset.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 detecting mobile devices connected to a wireless network having a coverage area, wherein each of the mobile devices is located within one of a plurality of zones of the coverage area and wherein each of the plurality of zones has a respective priority value that differs depending upon a time of day;   receiving a call for a designated device of the mobile devices;   determining that the respective priority value of a first zone of the plurality of zones containing a first subset of the mobile devices is greater than the respective priority value of a second zone of the plurality of zones containing a second subset of the mobile devices;   determining that a first device priority of a first device of the first subset is greater than a second device priority of a second device of the first subset;   providing a first indication of the call to the first device of the first subset; and   if the first device of the first subset does not answer the call after a predetermined period, providing a second indication of the call to the second device of the first subset.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising
 if none of the first subset answers the call after a second predetermined period, providing a third indication of the call to the second subset.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first zone does not overlap with the second zone. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein boundaries of each of the plurality of zones are independent of locations of the plurality of the mobile devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first device priority and the second device priority are based on at least the time of day. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein wireless network comprises a femtocell.