Method to route an incoming call, telecommunication terminal, and destination terminal selection arrangement

Abstract

If a terminal (MOB_T) receives an incoming call and this receiving terminal (MOB_T) is not suitable to handle this incoming call, the receiving terminal (MOB_T) detects the service type of the incoming call, and notifies this service type to a destination terminal selecting arrangement (PRES_GATH). The destination terminal selecting arrangement (PRES_GATH) registers the presence and capabilities of all terminals (FAX_T, BB_T, MOB_T) within a certain area, and upon receipt of the service type of the incoming call selects the most suitable terminal (FAX_T) within the area of the receiving terminal (MOB_T) to handle the call. The destination terminal selecting arrangement (PRES_GATH) thereupon notifies the address of this most suitable terminal (FAX_T) to the receiving terminal (MOB_T) so that the receiving terminal (MOB_T) can forward the incoming call to the most suitable terminal (FAX_T).

1. A method of routing in a telecommunication system an incoming call from a receiving terminal to a suitable destination terminal, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving said incoming call in said receiving terminal; 
 detecting a service type associated with said incoming call; 
 notifying a destination terminal selecting arrangement of said service type, said destination terminal selecting arrangement registering a presence and capabilities of a plurality of terminals including said receiving terminal; 
 receiving at said receiving terminal an address of said suitable destination terminal from said destination terminal selecting arrangement, said suitable destination terminal having the best capabilities to handle calls of said service type; and 
 forwarding said incoming call from said receiving terminal to said suitable destination terminal. 
 
     
     
       2. A method of selecting a suitable destination terminal for routing thereto in a telecommunication system an incoming call received in a receiving terminal, said method comprising the steps of:
 registering presence and capabilities of a plurality of terminals within a certain area including said suitable destination terminal and said receiving terminal; 
 receiving from said receiving terminal a notification of a service type associated with said incoming call; 
 selecting said suitable destination terminal as being a terminal amongst said plurality of terminals with best capabilities to handle calls of said service type of said incoming call; and 
 notifying said receiving terminal of an address of said suitable destination terminal. 
 
     
     
       3. A receiving terminal suitable to receive in a telecommunication network an incoming call and to route said incoming call to a suitable destination terminal, said receiving terminal comprising:
 call receiving means, coupled to a first input terminal of said receiving terminal and adapted to receive said incoming call; 
 call forwarding means, coupled between to said call receiving means and a first output terminal of said receiving terminal, and adapted to forward said incoming call to said suitable destination terminal; 
 presence notification means, coupled with its output to a second output terminal of said receiving terminal and adapted to provide notification of presence and capabilities of said receiving terminal to a destination terminal selecting device which is able to register presence and capabilities of terminals within a certain area; 
 type detection means, coupled to said call receiving means and adapted to detect a service type associated with said incoming call; 
 type notification means, coupled between to said type detection means and a third output terminal of said receiving terminal, and adapted to provide notification of said service type of said incoming call to said destination terminal selecting arrangement device; and 
 address receiving means, coupled to a second input terminal of said receiving terminal and having an output coupled to a control input of said call forwarding means, said address receiving means being adapted to receive an address of said suitable destination terminal from said destination terminal selecting arrangement device and to apply said address to said call forwarding means. 
 
     
     
       4. A destination terminal selecting arrangement suitable for use in a telecommunication system wherein an incoming call received in a receiving terminal has to be routed to a suitable destination terminal, said destination terminal selecting arrangement comprising:
 terminal registration means, coupled to a first input terminal of said destination terminal selecting arrangement and adapted to register presence and capabilities of a plurality of terminals within a certain area including said suitable destination terminal and said receiving terminal; 
 type notification receiving means, coupled to a second input terminal of said destination terminal selecting device and adapted to receive from said receiving terminal a notification of a service type associated with said incoming call; 
 terminal selecting means, coupled to said terminal registration means and to said type notification receiving means, and adapted to select said suitable destination terminal as being a terminal amongst said plurality of terminals with best capabilities to handle calls of said service type of said incoming call; and 
 address notifying means, coupled between to said terminal selecting means and an output terminal of said destination terminal selecting arrangement, and adapted to provide notification of an address of said suitable destination terminal to said receiving terminal. 
 
     
     
       5. A destination terminal selecting arrangement according to  claim 4 , further comprising automatic de-registration means, being coupled to said terminal registration means and being adapted to automatically de-register a terminal amongst said plurality of terminals which does not provide re-notification of its presence in said area to said destination terminal selecting arrangement during a certain time interval. 
     
     
       6. A destination terminal selecting arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said destination terminal selecting arrangement is incorporated in a network node of said telecommunication system. 
     
     
       7. A destination terminal selecting arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said destination terminal selecting arrangement is incorporated in a terminal. 
     
     
       8. A telecommunication system comprising:
 a plurality of terminals interconnected via a network of links and network nodes, 
 at least one receiving terminal as defined in  claim 3 , and 
 at least one destination terminal selecting arrangement. 
 
     
     
       9. A network element for use in a telecommunication system, comprising:
 a type notification unit configured to receive, from a source terminal, a notification of a service type associated with a call;   a terminal selecting unit coupled to said type notification unit and configured to select one of a plurality of terminals as a destination terminal to handle said call based on said service type associated with said call; and   an address notification unit coupled to said terminal selecting unit and configured to provide an address of the destination terminal to the source terminal, permitting the source terminal to forward said call to said destination terminal.   
     
     
       10. The network element of claim 9, wherein said network element is a switching node. 
     
     
       11. The network element of claim 17, further comprising a de-registration unit coupled to said terminal registration unit and configured to automatically de-register a terminal amongst said plurality of terminals that does not provide notification of its presence in said area to said network element during a certain time interval. 
     
     
       12. The network element of claim 9, wherein the destination terminal is selected based on having the best capabilities for handling the call. 
     
     
       13. The network element of claim 9, wherein said destination terminal is configured to confirm receipt of the call to said source terminal. 
     
     
       14. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a network element from a source terminal, a notification of a service type associated with a call;   selecting, at said network element, one of a plurality of terminals as a destination terminal to handle said call based on said service type associated with said call; and   providing an address of the destination terminal to the source terminal, permitting the source terminal to forward said call to said destination terminal.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein said destination terminal is selected based on having the best capabilities for handling the call. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 14, wherein said destination terminal is configured to confirm receipt of the call to said source terminal. 
     
     
       17. The network element of claim 9, further comprising a terminal registration unit configured to register presence and capabilities of the plurality of terminals within a certain area. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 14, further comprising registering, at said network element, presence and capabilities of said plurality of terminals. 
     
     
       19. A receiving terminal comprising:
 a call receiving unit configure to receive an incoming call;   a type detection unit coupled to the call receiving unit and configured to detect a service type associated with the incoming call;   a type notification unit coupled to the type detection unit and configured to provide notification of the service type of the incoming call to a destination terminal selecting device;   an address receiving unit configured to receive an address of a suitable destination terminal from the destination terminal selecting device; and   a call forwarding unit coupled to the address receiving unit and configured to forward the incoming call to the suitable destination terminal using the received address.   
     
     
       20. The receiving terminal of claim 19, further comprising a presence notification unit configured to provide notification of presence and capabilities of the receiving terminal to the destination terminal selecting device which is configured to register presence and capabilities of terminals within a certain area. 
     
     
       21. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a receiving terminal, an incoming call;   the receiving terminal detecting a service type associated with the incoming call;   the receiving terminal providing notification of the service type of the incoming call to a destination terminal selecting device;   responsive to the providing, the receiving terminal receiving an address of a suitable destination terminal from the destination terminal selecting device; and   the receiving terminal subsequently forwarding the incoming call to the suitable destination terminal using the received address.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
 the receiving terminal providing notification of presence and capabilities of the receiving terminal to the destination terminal selecting device which is configured to register presence and capabilities of terminals within a certain area.   
     
     
       23. The network element of claim 9, wherein the network element is a node of a telecommunication system. 
     
     
       24. The network element of claim 9, wherein the network element is incorporated in a terminal. 
     
     
       25. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a mobile terminal, an incoming call;   the mobile terminal detecting a service type associated with said incoming call; and   the mobile terminal forwarding the incoming call to a suitable one of a plurality of destination terminals, wherein the suitable destination terminal is selected based on the service type of the incoming call.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
 the mobile terminal indicating the service type to a terminal selecting unit, wherein the terminal selecting unit selects the suitable one of the plurality of destination terminals; and   the mobile terminal receiving an address of the suitable destination terminal from the terminal selecting unit, wherein the incoming call is forwarded to the received address.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, wherein the terminal selecting unit is configured to register presence and capabilities of the plurality of destination terminals.