Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HANDLING INCOMING COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTED TO A TELEPHONY DEVICE
Background of the Invention
[0001] The invention is related to systems and methods for terminating
telephony communications to a telephony device. More specifically, the
invention
relates to systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a
telephony device via a non-native Internet Protocol (IF) telephony system.
[0002] Mobile telephony devices, such as cellular telephones and mobile
computing devices with cellular telephony capabilities, are typically provided
their
native telephony service by a cellular telephony service provider. However,
such
telephony devices are also often capable of running software applications
which
can conduct an Internet protocol telephony communication via a data network,
such as the Internet. Thus, it is possible for a single telephony device to
conduct
telephony communications through both a cellular telephony services provider
and an Internet protocol telephony services provider.
[0003] Because most telephony devices are primarily designed to conduct
telephony communications via a cellular telephony system, if a user is
conducting
an IF telephony communication via a data network when a new incoming cellular
telephony communication is received by the telephony device, the telephony
device either terminates the IF telephony communication (so that the cellular
telephony communication can be received), or the IF telephony communication is
placed on hold so that the cellular telephony communication can be initiated.
In
many cases, this interruption of the IF telephony communication is
undesirable.
[0004] In addition, many telephony devices are used for functions other
than
conducting telephony communications. For example, many new smart phones
allow a user to play prerecorded music, or stream music via a data connection.
Many smart phones also allow a user to play games and conduct other functions
using the telephony device's display, audio capabilities and installed
software.
[0005] Here again, if a user is conducting a function other than conducting
a
cellular based telephony communication, and a new incoming cellular telephony
communication is received by the telephony device, the telephony device
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typically terminates the ongoing function so that the incoming cellular
telephony
communication can be received. The automatic termination of the other function
when a new cellular communication is also undesirable.
[0006] It would be desirable for a telephony device to operate such that when
the telephony device is performing a function other than conducting a cellular
telephony communication, and a new cellular telephony communication is
received, the user is provided with an option to either continue with the
original
function, or to receive the incoming cellular telephony communication.
Brief Description of the FIGURES
[0006] Figure 1 is diagram illustrating how an IP telephony system and a
telephony device according to one embodiment of the invention interact with
other elements of a communications environment;
[0007] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a controller that may be used in an
IF telephony system or a telephony device according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0008] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of an IP
telephony system according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0009] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of a
telephony
device according to one embodiment of the invention;
[00010] Figure 5 illustrates how a forwarding agent can be utilized by an IF
telephony system embodying the invention or a telephony device embodying the
invention to cause a telephony service provider to implement or cancel
forwarding instructions;
[00011] Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating steps of a method that could
be
performed by an IF telephony system according to one embodiment of the
invention to terminate forwarded communications;
[00012] Figure 7 if a flow diagram illustrating steps of a method that could
be
performed by a telephony device according to one embodiment of the invention
to handle incoming forwarded communications; and
[00013] Figure 8 is a flow diagram illustrating steps of a method that could
be
performed by an IF telephony system or a telephony device according to one
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embodiment of the invention to cause a telephony service provider to implement
or cancel forwarding instructions.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0021] In the
following description, references will be made to an "IF telephony
device." This term is used to refer to any type of device which is capable of
interacting with an IF telephony system to complete a telephone call. An IF
telephony device could be an IF telephone, a computer running IP telephony
software, a terminal adapter which is connected to an analog telephone, or
some
other type of device capable of communicating via data packets. An IP
telephony
device could also be a cellular telephone or a portable or tablet computing
device
that runs a software client that enables the device to act as an IP telephone.
Thus, a single device might be capable of operating as both a cellular
telephone
and an IF telephony device.
[0022]
Moreover, certain devices that are not traditionally used as telephony
devices may act as telephony devices once they are configured with appropriate
client software. Thus, some devices that would not normally be considered
telephony devices may become telephony devices or IF telephony devices once
they are running appropriate software. One example would be a desktop or a
laptop computer that is running software that can interact with an IF
telephony
system over a data network to conduct telephone calls. Another example would
be a portable computing device, such as an Apple iPod touchTM, which includes
a
speaker and a microphone. A software application loaded onto an Apple iPod
touchTM can be run so that the Apple iPod touchTM can interact with an IP
telephony system to conduct a telephone call.
[0023] The following description will also refer to telephony communications
and telephony activity. These terms are intended to encompass all types of
telephony communications, regardless of whether all or a portion of the
communications are carried in an analog or digital format. Telephony
communications could include audio or video telephone calls, facsimile
transmissions, text messages, SMS messages, MMS messages, video
messages, and all other types of telephony and data communications sent by or
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received by a user. These terms are also intended to encompass data
communications that are conveyed through a PSTN or VOIP telephony system.
In other words, these terms are intended to encompass any communications
whatsoever, in any format, which traverse all or a portion of a communications
network or telephony network.
[0024] In the following description, the term "call" or "telephone call"
may be
used .in certain instances for ease of reference, clarity and brevity.
However, the
systems and methods described below, which handle, route and terminate calls
may also be capable of handling, routing and terminating other forms of
telephony-based communications. Thus, the terms call and telephone call are
intended to include other forms of telephony-based communications beyond
voice and video calls.
[0025] The following description also refers to terminating a telephony
communication. This phrase could mean completing an incoming telephony
communication, such as a voice or video telephone call, to a telephony device.
However, terminating an incoming communication could include activities other
than completing the incoming telephony communication to a telephony device.
Instead, terminating an incoming telephony communication could include sending
the calling party to voicemail, or forwarding the incoming communication to an
alternate telephone number or telephony device. Terminating an incoming
telephony communication could also include playing a message to the calling
party, and then terminating the call. Alternatively, an interactive voice
response
system could be performed for the calling party such that the calling party is
capable of performing one or more functions. Virtually any way of handling an
incoming telephony communication could be termed terminating the
communication.
[0026] The following description makes references to a native telephony
service provider. In the case of cellular telephones or smart phones with
cellular
capabilities, the native telephony service provider is often the cellular
service
provider that provides a cellular telephone or a smart phone with its cellular
service. The native telephony service provider typically assigns a telephone
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number to the telephony device, which other parties can use to direct
communications to the telephony device.
[0027] Note, when a user purchases a telephony device, it will often be
provided with its native telephony service from a first cellular service
provider.
However, the user of the telephony device can terminate the original service
agreement with the first cellular service provider and register the telephony
device with a second cellular service provider that provides the telephony
device
with its native telephony service. An original telephone number assigned by
the
first cellular service provider can be retained, or the second cellular
service
provider can assign a new telephone number. Thus, the first cellular service
provider to have provided a telephony device with cellular service may not
always
be the native telephone service provider. For purposes of the following the
description, the native telephony service provider is the telephony service
provider that is currently providing the telephony device with its cellular
service.
[0028] The following description also refers to an identifier that is assigned
to
or associated with a telephony device. In many instances, the identifier is a
telephone number that is assigned to or associated with a telephone device. In
other instances, the identifier could take other forms. Virtually any string
of
characters capable of uniquely identifying a telephony device could be used as
an identifier for the telephony device. The native identifier of a telephony
device
is typically assigned to the telephony device by the native telephony service
provider.
[0029] In many instances, when a cellular telephony service provider
receives
a new incoming telephony communication which is directed to the native
identifier
of a telephony device, the cellular telephony services provider will have
little or no
information about any activity which is currently being conducted on the
telephony device. As a result, the cellular telephony service provider simply
attempts to terminate the incoming communication to the telephony device. No
check is performed to determine if other activity is currently being conducted
on
the telephony device. For the reasons explained above, this can result in the
new incoming cellular communication interrupting an ongoing function.
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[0030] When a user has activated a software program on the telephony device
which is used to conduct an IF based telephony communication, the software
application is often able to determine the status of the telephony device at
any
given point in time. Thus, an IF telephony software application on a telephony
device could be used to determine whether the user is conducting some other
activity when a new incoming telephony communication is received. In addition,
because the software application can be configured to communicate with an IF
telephony service provider via a data network connection, information gathered
by the software application regarding the current status of the telephony
device
can be forwarded to the IF telephony service provider.
[0031] Indeed, any software application that is running on a telephony device
may be capable of determining the present status of the telephony device and
determining whether the telephony device is performing a function. Thus, a
software application on a telephony device could have as its purpose, the
determination and reporting of the status of the device.
[0032] In systems and methods embodying the invention, an IF telephony
service provider issues forwarding instructions to a telephony device's native
telephony service provider which causes the native telephony service provider
to
forward any incoming communications that are directed to the native identifier
of
the telephony device to the IP telephony system. Elements of the IP telephony
system then check with a software application which is being run on the
telephony device to determine if the telephony device is presently conducting
some other activity which should not be interrupted by the incoming
communication. Alternatively, the IF telephony system may cause a query to be
displayed to the user, asking if the user would like to receive the new
incoming
communication. If no activity is being conducted, or if the user indicates
that he
wishes to receive the incoming communication, the IF telephony system forwards
the new incoming communication to the telephony device via the data network
connection. In other words, the incoming communication which was originally
directed to the native identifier of the telephony device, and which has been
forwarded from the native telephony service provider to the IF telephony
service
provider, is connected to the telephony device in an IF telephony format.
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[0033] Where the IP telephony system is able to cause a notification to be
displayed to the user, the user may have the option of answering the call, or
declining the call. The user might have a variety of additional options, such
as
sending the call to voicemail, forwarding the call to an alternate telephone
number, or causing a message to be played to the calling party before the
communication is terminated.
[0034] In other embodiments of the invention, the software application on
the
device itself could receive the incoming telephony communication from the IF
telephony system, and the software application on the telephony device could
interact with the user to determine how to handle the incoming communication.
In this instance, the IF telephony system simply connects an incoming
communication which has been forwarded from the native telephony service
provider, and the software application on the telephony device determines how
to
handle the incoming communication, either with or without the user's input. If
the
user is already performing some other function with the telephony device when
the incoming telephony communication is received, the software application on
the telephony device could give the user the option to either accept the new
incoming communication, or ignore it so that the function already being
performed can be continued.
[0035] in order for the above actions to be performed, it is first necessary
for
any incoming telephony communication directed to the native identifier of the
telephony device, and which is first received by the native telephony service
provider, to be forwarded to an IF telephony services provider which can then
terminate the incoming telephony communication to a software application on
the
telephony device. Thus, it is first necessary to cause the native telephony
service provider to implement forwarding instructions. As will be explained
below, those forwarding instructions can be implemented and canceled
depending on conditions which exist on the telephony device.
[0036] Figure 1 depicts various elements of a communications environment
100 that may be involved in terminating telephony communications to a
telephony device in accordance with aspects of the invention. The elements in
Figure 1 include an IF telephony system 124 which can communicate with
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various other devices and systems via the Internet 116, and/or via gateways
120A, 120B. Mobile telephony service provider A 114 provides telephony service
to mobile telephony devices located in country 1. Mobile telephony service
provider A 114 could be, for example, a cellular telephony network. Figure 1
also
depicts a traditional publically switched telephone network (PSTN) 130. An
analog telephone 132 can utilize the PSTN 130 to place and receive calls.
Figure 1 also depicts a cellular telephone 110 that is provided with service
by
mobile telephony service provider A 114. Figure 1 further depicts an IF
telephony device 111 that can conduct IF based telephony communications over
the Internet 116. The IF telephony device 111 could receive service from the
IF
telephony system 124, or from other telephony service providers. Figure 1 also
illustrates a first IF telephony device with cellular capabilities 109. The
first
telephony device 109 can conduct telephony communications either via the
mobile telephony service provider A 114, or via the IP telephony system 124,
using the Internet 116. All of the above-described elements are located in a
first
country.
[0037] Figure 1 shows that a second IF telephony device with cellular
capabilities 112 may be located in a second country. The second telephony
device 112 can conduct cellular based telephony communications via mobile
telephony service provider B 140 located in a second country, or IF based
telephony communications using the IF telephony system 124. As illustrated in
Figure 1, a wireless interface 118 in the second country may be used by the
second telephony device 112 to access the Internet 116, and thereby
communicate with the IF telephony system 124.
[0038] In some instances, the first telephony device 109 and the second
telephony device 112 are capable of establishing a data connection to the
Internet 116 either directly, or via a wireless interface 118. In other
embodiments, the first telephony device 109 and second telephony device 112
may be capable of establishing a data link to a data network, such as the
Internet
116, via a data channel provided by mobile telephony service provider A 114 or
mobile telephony service provider B 140. The data channel may be separate
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from a channel used for audio or video communications that are established
through the mobile telephony service providers 114/140.
[0039] Figure 2 illustrates elements of a computer processor 250 that can be
used as part of the IF telephony system 124, or as part of an IF telephony
device, to accomplish various functions. The IF telephony system 124 or an IF
telephony device could include multiple processors 250, along with their
operating components and programming, each carrying out a specific or
dedicated function.
[0040] The processor 250 shown in Figure 2 may be one of any form of a
general purpose computer processor used in accessing an IF-based network,
such as a corporate intranet, the Internet or the like. The processor 250
comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 252, a memory 254, and support
circuits 256 for the CPU 252. The processor 250 also includes provisions
258/260 for connecting the processor 250 to customer equipment, to service
provider equipment, to IF network or gateways, as well as possibly one or more
input/output devices (not shown) for accessing the processor and/or performing
ancillary or administrative functions related thereto. The provisions 258/260
are
shown as separate bus structures in Figure 2; however, they may alternately be
a
single bus structure without degrading or otherwise changing the intended
operability of the processor 250.
[0041] The memory 254 is coupled to the CPU 252. The memory 254, or
computer-readable medium, may be one or more of readily available memory
such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), floppy disk,
hard disk, flash memory or any other form of digital storage, local or remote,
and
is preferably of non-volatile nature. The support circuits 256 are coupled to
the
CPU 252 for supporting the processor in a conventional manner. These circuits
include cache, power supplies, clock circuits, input/output circuitry and
subsystems, and the like.
[0042] A software routine 262, when executed by the CPU 252, causes the
processor 250 to perform processes of the disclosed embodiments, and is
generally stored in the memory 254. The software routine 262 may also be
stored and/or executed by a second CPU (not shown) that is remotely located
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from the hardware being controlled by the CPU 252. Also, the software routines
could also be stored remotely from the CPU. For example, the software could be
resident on servers and memory devices that are located remotely from the CPU,
but which are accessible to the CPU via a data network connection.
[0043] The software routine 262, when executed by the CPU 252, transforms
the general purpose computer into a specific purpose computer that performs
one or more functions of an IP telephony system 124 or an IP telephony device.
Although the processes of the disclosed embodiments may be discussed as
being implemented as a software routine, some of the method steps that are
disclosed therein may be performed in hardware as well as by a processor
running software. As such, the embodiments may be implemented in software as
executed upon a computer system, in hardware as an application specific
integrated circuit or other type of hardware implementation, or a combination
of
software and hardware. The software routine 262 of the disclosed embodiments
is capable of being executed on any computer operating system, and is capable
of being performed using any CPU architecture.
[0044] Figure 3 illustrates an IP telephony system in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention. The IP telephony system 300 includes a call set
up
unit 302, a CDR unit 304 and a billing unit 306. The CDR unit 304 receives and
processes call detail records relating to the communications that are handled
by
the IP telephony system 300. The billing unit 306 uses information contained
in
the CDR unit 304 to bill customers for processing the communications.
[0045] The IP telephony system 300 also includes a forwarded call termination
unit 310. The forwarded call termination unit 310 is responsible for receiving
calls which have been forwarded from a different telephony system, and for
terminating those calls either to a telephony device, or in some other
fashion.
[0046] The forwarded call termination unit 310 includes a registration unit
312,
which is responsible for registering telephony devices which communicate with
the IP telephony system 300 via a data network. The forwarded call termination
unit 310 also includes a triggering unit 314, which is responsible for
determining
when call forwarding instructions should be implemented by another telephony
system, and for determining when previously implemented forwarding
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instructions should be cancelled. A forwarding instruction unit 316 is
responsible
for causing forwarding instructions to be implemented and cancelled by other
telephony systems. Finally, the forwarded call termination unit 310 includes a
communications termination unit 318 which is responsible for terminating
incoming telephony communications which have been forwarded from another
telephony system. How the various elements of the IP telephony system 300
described above act in order to accomplish methods in accordance with the
invention is described in detail below.
[0047] Figure 4 illustrates a telephony device 400 in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention. The telephony device 400 includes a wireless data
transceiver 402 which is configured to establish a wireless data link with a
data
network, such as the Internet. The telephony device 400 also includes a
wireless
cellular transceiver 404 which is responsible for establishing a wireless link
to
one or more elements of a cellular telephony system.
[0048] The telephony device 400 also includes an IP telephony software
application 410. The IF telephony software application 410 includes an IF
telephony system communication unit 412 which communicates with an IF
telephony system 300 as illustrated in Figure 3. A user interaction unit 414
is
configured to interact with the user of the telephony device 400. The user
interaction unit 414 can obtain information and instructions from the user,
and
present information to the user for various purposes.
[0049] The IF telephony software application 410 also includes a triggering
unit 416 which determines when it is necessary or desirable to cause
forwarding
instructions to be implemented b y a telephony system, such as the native
telephony system which provides the telephony device 400 with its native
telephony service. The triggering unit 416 may also determine when it is
necessary or desirable for previously implemented forwarding instructions to
be
cancelled. A forwarding instruction unit 418 is responsible for actually
causing a
telephony system to implement or cancel forwarding instructions.
[0050] The IF telephony software application 410 also includes an activity
monitoring unit 420 which is responsible for determining when the telephony
device is engaged in a function or operation. This could include the user
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interacting with the telephony device 400 to either accomplish a function or
to
perform a certain type of activity. As explained above, if the activity
monitoring
unit 420 determines that the telephony device is already performing a
function,
and/or that the user is already utilizing the telephony device 400 in some
fashion
when an incoming telephony communication is received, the user may be given
the option to continue the function, rather than immediately accepting the
incoming telephony communication.
[0051] For purposes of the following explanation, we will assume that the
first
IF telephony device with cellular capability 109 illustrated in Figure 1 has
the
features of the telephony device 400 illustrated in Figure 4. As a result, the
first
IF telephony device with cellular capability 109 is capable of accepting an
incoming telephony communication from either the IF telephony system 124 or
from the mobile telephony service provider A114.
[0052] As explained above, the mobile telephony service provider A114 is
typically not capable of knowing or determining whether the first IF telephony
device with cellular capability 109 is already performing some other function
for
the user when a new incoming telephony communication directed to the first
telephony device 109 is received. As a result, the user of the first IP
telephony
device 109 may be interrupted by the new incoming telephony communication.
To prevent this from occurring, in systems and methods embodying the invention
the mobile telephony service provider A114 is instructed to forward all
incoming
communications directed to the first IF telephony device 109 to the IF
telephony
system 124. Elements of the IF telephony system 124 and/or elements of the
first IF telephony device 109 then determine whether the incoming
communication should be received by the IF telephony device, or terminated in
some other fashion. This provides the user with much greater control over how
incoming telephony communications are handled.
[0053] There are many different ways that the mobile telephony service
provider A114 could be instructed to forward telephony communications directed
to the first IF telephony device 109 to the IF telephony system 124. In some
instances, the IF telephony system 124 could directly interact with the mobile
telephony service provider A114 in order to instruct mobile telephony service
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provider A114 to forward such communications. In other instances, the first IP
telephony device with cellular capability 109 could send forwarding
instructions to
the mobile telephony service provider A 114 which instruct that all incoming
communications be directed to the IP telephony system 124. In still other
instances, a third party forwarding agent 500, as illustrated in Figure 5,
could be
utilized to relay forwarding instructions to mobile telephony service provider
A114.
[0054] Detailed descriptions of various ways in which forwarding
instructions
can be provided to a first telephony service provider in order to cause the
first
telephony service provider to forward communications to a second telephony
service provider are provided in the following co-pending U.S. applications:
Application Serial No. 13/334,849, filed on December 22, 2011;
Application Serial No. 13/492, 361, filed on June 8, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/562,542, filed on July 31, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/568,461, filed on August 7, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/569,384, filed on August 8, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/597,396, filed on August 29, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/597,916, filed on August 29, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/668,826, filed on November 5, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/671,006, filed on November 7, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/673,043, filed on November 9, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/649,847, filed on October 11,2012;
Application Serial No. 13/671,162, filed on November 7, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/597,485, filed on August 29, 2012;
Application Serial No. 13/669,009, filed on November 5, 2012.
[0055] The disclosure of all above identified co-pending applications is
hereby
incorporated by reference.
[0056] In many instances, the forwarding instructions which are provided to
a
separate telephony service provider are provided by either the IP telephony
system 124 or by the telephony device itself. However, Figure 5 shows an
alternate situation where a forwarding agent 500, which can be operated by a
third party, is responsible for sending forwarding instructions to a mobile
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telephony service provider A114 or to a mobile telephony service provider
B140.
In these instances, the IP telephony system 124 could instruct the forwarding
agent 500 to send forwarding instructions to either a mobile telephony service
provider A114 or a mobile telephony service provider B140. Alternatively, the
second IP telephony device 112 with cellular capabilities could instruct a
forwarding agent 500 to send forwarding instructions to either the mobile
telephony service provider A114 or the mobile telephony service provider B
140.
Thus, although the forwarding agent 500 actually relays the forwarding
instructions to the mobile telephony service provider, the instructions are
caused
to be generated and provided by either the IP telephony system 124 or the
second IP telephony device with cellular capabilities 112.
Cancellation of
previously implemented forwarding instructions would be sent in the same
fashion.
[0057] Once forwarding instructions have been implemented by a native
telephony service provider which provides a telephony device with its native
telephony service, when a new incoming communication directed to the
telephony device is received by the native telephony service provider, the
incoming communication is forwarded to a second telephony service provider,
such as an IP telephony system. Returning to Figure 1, assume that the first
IP
telephony device with cellular capability 109 receives its native telephony
service
from mobile telephony service provider A114. Assume
also that mobile
telephony service provider A114 has implemented forwarding instructions such
that any incoming telephony communication directed to native identifier of the
first IP telephony device with cellular capability 109 is forwarded to the IP
telephony system 124. Once the
forwarding instructions have been
implemented, a method as illustrated in Figure 6 can be performed in order to
control how new incoming telephony communications are terminated to the first
IP telephony device with cellular capability 109.
[0058] As illustrated in Figure 6, the method 600 begins and proceeds to step
S602 where an IP telephony system 300, such as the one illustrated in Figure
3,
receives a forwarded communication from a telephony service provider. This
would be a telephony communication that is directed to the native identifier
of a
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telephony device 400, such as the one illustrated in Figure 4, and the native
telephony service provider for that telephony device 400 will have forwarded
the
communication to the IP telephony system 300. A forwarded call termination
unit
310 of the IF telephony system 300 actually receives the forwarded
communication in step S602.
[0059] Next, in step S604, the call termination unit 318 of the forwarded call
termination unit 310 sends a message to the telephony device 400 regarding the
incoming communication. If the call termination unit 318 does not receive any
reply to that message, then the forwarded communication is terminated
according to predetermined termination instructions. For example, if the call
termination unit 318 does not receive any reply to the message sent to the
telephony device 400 in step S604, then in step S606 the call termination unit
318 could send the telephony communication to a voice mailbox associated with
the telephony device 400. Alternatively, some other pre-determined way of
terminating the incoming communication, such as forwarding the communication
to an alternate telephone number, could also be accomplished in step S606.
[0060]
Alternatively, if the call termination unit 318 receives a response back
from the telephony device indicating that the user wishes to receive the
incoming
telephony communication, in step S606 the call termination unit 318 sends the
incoming telephony communication to the telephony device 400 in an IF format
via a data network. The user of the telephony device 400 could then answer the
call.
[0061] In yet other embodiments, a response from the telephony device 400
could be received by the call termination unit 118, And the response could
indicate how the call is to be terminated. For example, the telephony device
400
could send a response to the message indicating that the user wishes for the
communication to be sent to voicemail. In that instance, in step S606 the call
termination unit 318 of the IF telephony system 300 sends the communication to
an associated voice mailbox.
[0062] As it is apparent, the user of the telephony device gains much greater
control over how the communication is terminated when a method as illustrated
in Figure 6 is performed.
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[0063] In some embodiments, the user of the telephony device 400 will
establish a set of predetermined call termination instructions which are to be
executed by the IF telephony system 300 under certain conditions. For example,
the predetermined call termination instructions could indicate that during
certain
times of the day, any incoming forwarded communications (which were originally
directed to the native identifier of the telephony device 400) are to be sent
to
voicemail. The predetermined termination instructions could also indicate that
incoming forwarded communications directed to the native identifier should be
terminated in other ways. Further, the predetermined termination instructions
could indicate that if the IF telephony system 300 is not in direct contact
with the
telephony device 400 via a data network, then the IP telephony system 300
should take steps to have the incoming communication terminated to the
telephony device 400 via its native telephony service provider. This could
involve
cancelling previously implemented forwarding instructions, and sending the
incoming telephony communication back to the native telephony service
provider.
Because the forwarding instructions will have been cancelled, the native
telephony service provider can terminate the call to the telephony device via
normal procedures.
[0064] Figure 7 illustrates steps of a method which is performed by elements
of a telephony device 400 in one embodiment of the invention. Before the steps
illustrated in Figure 7 are performed, forwarding instructions will have been
implemented by the native telephony service provider for the telephony device
400, and an incoming telephony communication directed to the native identifier
of
the telephony device 400 will have been forwarded to an IF telephony system
300. The IF
telephony system 300 will have received the forwarded
communication, and will have sent a message to the telephony device 400
regarding the incoming the telephony communication.
[0065] The method illustrated in 700 then begins in step S702, where an IF
telephony system communication unit 412 of the telephony device 400 receives
the message about the incoming forwarded telephony communication. Next, a
user interaction unit 414 of the IF telephony system 400 causes a notification
regarding the incoming forwarded communication to be displayed or played to
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the user. The
notification could indicate that an incoming telephony
communication is ready to be received. The notification could also include
information about that telephony communication, such as caller ID information,
or
an identity of the calling party which is obtained from a contact list
maintained by
either the user or on the telephony device 400 using caller ID information.
[0066] Next, in step S706, the IF telephony software application 410 causes
the incoming telephony communication to be terminated based on either pre-
determined termination instructions, or a user's response to the notification.
For
example, if the user fails to respond to the notification in any fashion, pre-
determined termination instructions may indicate that the incoming
communication is to be terminated to voicemail. If the
user responds to the
notification with instructions, the IF telephony software application 410 will
handle
the incoming communication in accordance with those instructions.
[0067] In some instances, the IF telephony software application 410 on the
telephony device 400 would handle the ultimate termination of the incoming
communication. In
alternate embodiments, the IF telephony system
communication unit 412 may send a message back to the IF telephone system
300 instructing the IF telephony system 300 as to how the communication is to
be terminated. If the user responds to a notification sent from the IF
telephony
system 300 in some fashion, then the user's response could be used to
determine how the incoming communication is to be terminated. Here again, the
user's response could be sent back to the IF telephony system by the IF
telephony system communication unit 412 of the telephony device 400.
[0068] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to have the native telephony
system implement forwarding instructions at virtually all times so that any
incoming communications directed to the native identifier of a telephony
device
400 are automatically forwarded to an IF telephony system 300, which then
decides how to terminate the communication, or which then interacts with the
telephony device 400 to determine how to terminate the communication. In other
embodiments, the forwarding instructions could be implemented and then later
cancelled depending upon a status of the telephony device, or on other
factors.
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[0069] For example, a native telephony service provider may be instructed to
implement forwarding instructions only when the associated telephony device
400 is already engaged in an IF telephony communication set up by the IF
telephony system 300. While the IF telephony communication set up through the
IF telephony system 300 is ongoing, any incoming telephony communications
directed to the native identifier of the telephony device 400 are forwarded to
the
IF telephony system 300. The IF telephony system 300 could then handle
termination of those communications. This
would prevent a telephony
communication directed to the native identifier of the telephony device 400
from
interrupting the ongoing IF telephony communication being conducted through
the IF telephony system 300. Once the IF based telephony communication
conducted through the IF telephony system 300 terminates, the forwarding
instructions could be cancelled such that any future telephony communications
directed to the native identifier of the telephony device 400 are handled by
the
native telephony service provider in a normal manner.
[0070] In
another example, if the IF telephony software application 410 on the
telephony device knows that the user is conducting some type of activity with
the
IF telephony device, forwarding instructions could be implemented so that any
incoming communications directed to the native identifier of the telephony
device
400 are forwarded to the IF telephony system 300, and the communications are
then handled as described above. Here again, this would prevent an incoming
telephony communication directed to the native identifier of the telephony
device
from interrupting the ongoing activity being conducted by the user on the
telephony device 400.
[0071] Figure 8 illustrates steps of a method 800 which could be performed to
selectively implement and then later cancel forwarding instructions, as
described
above. The method illustrated in Figure 8 could be performed by the IF
telephony system 300, or by elements of an IF telephony device 400, or the
method could be performed by the coordinated activities of elements of the IF
telephony system 300 and the IF telephony device 400.
[0072] The method 800 would begin and proceed to step S802, where a
determination is made as to whether a condition of the telephony device 400 is
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satisfied. The condition could be whether the telephony device 400 is
conducting
an existing telephony communication through the IF telephony system 300, as
described above. Alternatively, the condition could be whether the telephony
device 400 is engaged in some other type of activity at the present time. If
the
determination made is step S802 indicates that the telephony device 400 is not
engaged in an existing communication or is not performing some other activity,
this would mean that the condition of the telephony device 400 is not
satisfied.
As a result, the method would proceed to step S804 where a delay period is
allowed to expire. The method then returns to step S802, where another
determination is made as to whether a condition of the telephony device is
satisfied. Steps S802 and S804 would continue to repeat until a condition is
determined to have been satisfied in step S802. At that point, the method
would
proceed to step 3808.
[0073] In step S808, either the telephony device 400 or the IF telephony
system 300 would cause forwarding instructions to be implemented by the native
telephony service provider for the telephony device 400. This could involve
the
forwarding instruction unit 316 of an IF telephony system 300 sending
forwarding
instructions to the native telephony service provider. Alternatively, a
forwarding
instruction unit 418 of an IF telephony software application 410 on a
telephony
device 400 could cause the forwarding instructions to be implemented by the
native telephony service provider.
[0074] The method then proceeds to step S810, where a determination is
made as to whether the condition of the telephony device 400 is still
satisfied.
For example, if the condition is that the telephony device 400 is conducting a
different IF based telephony communication with the IF telephony system 300,
the check made is step S810 would determine whether that IF telephony call is
still ongoing. If so, the method would proceed to step S812 where a delay
period
is allowed to expire. The method then returns to step S808 for another
determination as to whether the condition of the telephony device 400 is still
satisfied. Steps S810 and S812 would continue to be performed in a looping
fashion until a determination made in step S810 indicates that the condition
of the
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telephony device 400 is no longer satisfied. When that occurs, the method
proceeds to step S816.
[0075] In step S816, either the IF telephony system 300 or the telephony
device 400 causes the previously implemented forwarding instructions to be
cancelled. As a result, when the native telephony system receives an incoming
telephony communication directed to the native identifier of the telephony
device
400, the communication is sent from the native telephony service provider to
the
telephony device 400 in a normal fashion. The method returns to step S802, and
the method would continue as described above.
[0076] The method illustrated in Figure 8 would continue to be performed so
long as the forwarding scheme described above is desired by the user.
[0077] The determinations made in steps S802 and S810 could be performed
by the triggering unit 314 of the forwarding call termination unit 310 of the
IF
telephony system 300. Alternatively, the determinations made in steps S802 and
S810 could be performed by a triggering unit 416 of IF telephony software
application 410 on a telephony device 400. In still other embodiments, the
triggering unit 314 of an IF telephony system 300 and the triggering unit 416
on
the telephony device 400 could work together to determine whether the
condition
is satisfied.
[0078] In some embodiments of the invention, the user may be able to record
a set of preferences or rules that are used to determine how incoming
communications are to be handled. The preferences or rules can be based upon
activity occurring on the telephony device. Such preferences or rules could be
stored on the telephony device itself, or within an IF telephony system which
is
terminating communications to the user's telephony device. The rules could be
applied by the IP telephony system when a forwarded communication is
received. Alternatively, the rules could be applied by the user's telephony
device
when a communication is received at the telephony device from an IF telephony
system.
[0079] Also, in some of the embodiments described above, the user's
telephony device may cause forwarding instructions to be implemented or
canceled. The implementation or cancellation of forwarding instructions could
be
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caused by the user's telephony device in response to changes in the activity
that
is occurring on the user's telephony device. For example, when a certain type
of
activity begins on the user's telephony device, this may cause the user's
telephony device to instruct the native telephony service provider to
implement
forwarding instructions. Likewise, when the activity ceases, this may cause
the
user's telephony device to instruct the native telephony service provider to
cancel
forwarding instructions. Pre-recorded rules about when forwarding instruction
are to be implemented and canceled by be stored on the user's telephony device
and used to determine when to instruct the native telephony service provider
to
implement and cancel forwarding instructions.
[0080] In many of the examples given above, the methods are used to redirect
communications from a mobile telephony device's native telephony service
provider to an IF telephony system, and the IF telephony system then
terminates
the communication to the mobile telephony device via a data network
connection.
In alternate embodiments, the same procedures can be performed for telephony
devices that are not mobile telephony devices. The same basic procedures
could be used to redirect communications that were intended for an IF
telephone
that receives its native service from a different IF telephony system.
Likewise,
the same basic procedures can also be followed to re-direct communications
that
are directed to other types of telephony devices by virtually any type of
telephony
service provider.
[0081] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used
herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the
plural
forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be
further
understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations,
elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of
one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,
and/or groups thereof.
[0082] While the invention has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is
to
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be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed
embodiment,
but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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