Handling declined calls for alternate phone number on mobile device

• US 10,237,410 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pinger Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pinger Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhou, Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Nathan S
• Application Number:
  US15/582,469
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 4554221, 455411-415
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 Call deflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]

Abstract

According to various embodiments, declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number on a mobile device can be handled differently than declined calls to the device'"'"'s native phone number. For example, such declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number can be sent to a different voicemail system than the primary voicemail system associated with the device'"'"'s native voice call functionality. The techniques described herein can be applied to any situation in which a call is declined or otherwise disposed of, including, for example: the recipient failing to answer the call; the device being in airplane mode; a “do not disturb” setting preventing acceptance of the call; or the like.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for handling a declined voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising, at a device having native voice call functionality:

receiving a message indicating that a voice call has been made from a caller to an alternate telephone number associated with the device;

responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiating monitoring for a change in device state that is detectable without monitoring user input, wherein the monitored device state comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

an idle state;

a ringing state; and

an answered state;

subsequent to receiving the message, receiving a voice call forwarded to the device via a server;

based on the monitored device state, automatically determining whether a user of the device has declined the voice call; and

responsive to a determination that the user has declined the voice call, automatically performing a call handling function distinct from transferring the call to a native voicemail system associated with a primary number for the device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises causing a server to redirect the call to a voicemail system distinct from the native voicemail system.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises causing a server to redirect the call to a voicemail system associated with the alternate telephone number.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the user accepting the call, establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call comprises establishing a voice connection between the caller and the device using the native voice calling functionality of the device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving a message comprises receiving a push notification.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a mobile device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a wireless phone.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a voice call forwarded to the device via a server comprises receiving a voice call originating from a telephone number associated with the server.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically determining whether a user of the device has declined the voice call comprises detecting a ringing state followed by an idle state.

9. A computer-implemented method for handling a declined voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising:

at a server, receiving a call made from a caller to a telephone number;

at a processor associated with the server, identifying the called number as an alternate number associated with a device having native voice call functionality;

at the processor, identifying a registered number associated with the called alternate number;

transmitting a message from the server to the device associated with the alternate number, the message comprising an indication of the called alternate number, so as to initiate monitoring for a change in device state that is detectable without monitoring user input at the device, wherein the monitored device state comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

an idle state;

a ringing state; and

an answered state;

subsequent to transmitting the message, forwarding the call to the device associated with the alternate number; and

responsive to receiving an indication of device state indicating that the call was declined, performing a call handling function distinct from transferring the call to a native voicemail system associated with a primary number for the device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises redirecting the call to a voicemail system distinct from the native voicemail system.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises redirecting the call to a voicemail system associated with the alternate telephone number.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising, responsive to the user accepting the call, establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein transmitting a message comprises transmitting a push notification.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a mobile device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a wireless phone.

48. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication of device state indicating that the call was declined comprises an indication of a ringing state followed by an idle state.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for handling a declined voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor on a device having native voice call functionality, perform the steps of:

receiving a message indicating that a voice call has been made from a caller to an alternate telephone number associated with the device;

responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiating monitoring for a change in device state that is detectable without monitoring user input, wherein the monitored device state comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

an idle state;

a ringing state; and

an answered state;

subsequent to receiving the message, receiving a voice call forwarded to the device via a server;

based on the monitored device state, automatically determining whether a user of the device has declined the voice call; and

responsive to a determination that the user has declined the voice call, automatically performing a call handling function distinct from transferring the call to a native voicemail system associated with a primary number for the device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises causing a server to redirect the call to a voicemail system distinct from the native voicemail system.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises causing a server to redirect the call to a voicemail system associated with the alternate telephone number.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising, responsive to the user accepting the call, establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call comprises establishing a voice connection between the caller and the device using the native voice calling functionality of the device.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein receiving a message comprises receiving a push notification.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a mobile device.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a wireless phone.

49. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein receiving a voice call forwarded to the device via a server comprises receiving a voice call originating from a telephone number associated with the server.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein automatically determining whether a user of the device has declined the voice call comprises detecting a ringing state followed by an idle state.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for handling a declined voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor on a server, perform the steps of:

receiving a call made from a caller to a telephone number;

identifying the called number as an alternate number associated with a device having native voice call functionality;

identifying a registered number associated with the called alternate number;

causing a message to be transmitted from the server to the device associated with the alternate number, the message comprising an indication of the called alternate number, so as to initiate monitoring for a change in device state that is detectable without monitoring user input at the device, wherein the monitored device state comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

an idle state;

a ringing state; and

an answered state;

subsequent to transmitting the message, causing the call to be forwarded to the device associated with the alternate number; and

responsive to receiving an indication of device state indicating that the call was declined, performing a call handling function distinct from transferring the call to a native voicemail system associated with a primary number for the device.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises redirecting the call to a voicemail system distinct from the native voicemail system.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises redirecting the call to a voicemail system associated with the alternate telephone number.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising, responsive to the user accepting the call, establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein transmitting a message comprises transmitting a push notification.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the device comprises a mobile device.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the device comprises a wireless phone.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the indication of device state indicating that the call was declined comprises an indication of a ringing state followed by an idle state.

31. A system for handling a declined voice call to an alternate telephone number at a device having native voice call functionality, comprising:

a communications interface, configured to receive a message indicating that a voice call has been made from a caller to an alternate telephone number associated with the device;

a processor, communicatively coupled to the communications interface, configured to, responsive to receiving the message, automatically initiate monitoring for a change in device state that is detectable without monitoring user input, wherein the monitored device state comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

an idle state;

a ringing state; and

an answered state; and

a voice communication component, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to, subsequent to receiving the message, receive a voice call forwarded to the device via a server;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

based on the monitored device state, automatically determine whether a user of the device has declined the voice call; and

responsive to a determination that the user has declined the voice call, automatically performing a call handling function distinct from transferring the call to a native voicemail system associated with a primary number for the device.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises causing a server to redirect the call to a voicemail system distinct from the native voicemail system.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises causing a server to redirect the call to a voicemail system associated with the alternate telephone number.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the voice communication component is further configured to, responsive to the user accepting the call, establish a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call comprises establishing a voice connection between the caller and the device using the native voice calling functionality of the device.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein receiving a message comprises receiving a push notification.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the device comprises a mobile device.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the device comprises a wireless phone.

52. The system of claim 31, wherein receiving a voice call forwarded to the device via a server comprises receiving a voice call originating from a telephone number associated with the server.

53. The system of claim 31, wherein automatically determining whether a user of the device has declined the voice call comprises detecting a ringing state followed by an idle state.

39. At a server, a system for handling a declined voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising:

a voice call component, configured to receive a call made from a caller to a telephone number;

a processor, communicatively coupled to the voice call component, configured to;

identify the called number as an alternate number associated with a device having native voice call functionality; and

identify a registered number associated with the called alternate number; and

a communications interface, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to transmit a message from the server to the device associated with the alternate number, the message comprising an indication of the called alternate number, so as to initiate monitoring for a change in device state that is detectable without monitoring user input at the device, wherein the monitored device state comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

an idle state;

a ringing state; and

an answered state;

wherein the voice call component is configured to, subsequent to transmitting the message, forward the call to the device associated with the alternate number;

and wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to receiving an indication of device state indicating that the call was declined, perform a call handling function distinct from transferring the call to a native voicemail system associated with a primary number for the device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises redirecting the call to a voicemail system distinct from the native voicemail system.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein automatically performing a call handling function comprises redirecting the call to a voicemail system associated with the alternate telephone number.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the voice communication component is further configured to, responsive to the user accepting the call, establish a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein transmitting a message comprises transmitting a push notification.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein the device comprises a mobile device.

45. The system of claim 39, wherein the device comprises a wireless phone.

54. The system of claim 39, wherein the indication of device state indicating that the call was declined comprises an indication of a ringing state followed by an idle state.