Method and apparatus for using DTMF for controlling context calls, and mutual context information exchange during mobile communication

• US 20020077086A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kemppainen, Jarkko, Hoisko, Jyrki, Kangas, Petri, Mantyjarvi, Jani, Tuomela, Urpo, Kangas, Kari
• Application Number:
  US09/741,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2038 Call context notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/654 Pre, in or post-call message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method for operating a wireless communication system includes steps of setting a context-sensitive facility in one of a mobile station or in a wireless network; informing a caller of the setting; and overriding the setting by sending a signal from the caller to the context-sensitive facility. The context-sensitive facility can be implemented as an answering service, the signal can be a DTMF signal generated in response to an input from the caller, and in this case the step of overriding forces the call through to a called parties'"'"' mobile station when the setting is to not allow calls to be made to the called parties'"'"' mobile station. A further aspect of these teachings provides a method for operating a wireless communication system using steps of specifying context information at a calling parties'"'"' mobile station; transmitting signaling during a call origination phase to selectively exchange context information between the calling party and a called party, the context information being in the form of at least one of graphical icons, text, or information codes specifying graphical icons; and displaying the context information to at least one of the calling party or the called party prior to establishing a voice call. The step of specifying can be performed manually by the calling party or it can be performed at least in part in an automatic fashion based on the outputs of one or more sensors that are responsive to a context of the calling party. The step of transmitting occurs over a control channel, prior to establishment of a voice channel. A graphical icon may be displayed by first accessing a memory of the mobile station to retrieve a prestored icon bit-map, which may have been downloaded from a source of icons, or one previously received from the other party. Additional information can be transmitted during call termination. For a case where the called party does not accept the call or does not answer the call, the method includes further steps of storing the context information, and subsequently displaying the context information in conjunction with a display of missed calls. In general, a single displayable graphical icon of n pixels is specified by transmitting m messages, each conveying up to n/m pixels, where m is equal to or greater than one.

Claims

1. A method for operating a wireless communication system, comprising steps of:

setting a context-sensitive facility in one of a mobile station or in a wireless network;

informing a caller of the setting; and

overriding the setting by sending a signal from the caller to the context-sensitive facility.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the context-sensitive facility is comprised of an answering service.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the signal is comprised of a DTMF signal generated in response to an input from the caller.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the context-sensitive facility is comprised of an answering service, wherein the signal is comprised of a DTMF signal generated in response to an input from the caller, and wherein the step of overriding forces the call through to a called parties'"'"' mobile station when the setting is to not allow calls to be made to the called parties'"'"' mobile station.

5. A wireless communication system, comprising a context-sensitive facility in one of a mobile station or in a wireless network, said context-sensitive facility having an ability to inform a caller of the setting and for overriding the setting in response to receiving a signal sent from the caller to the context-sensitive facility.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the context-sensitive facility is comprised of an answering service.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein the signal is comprised of a DTMF signal generated in response to an input from the caller.

8. A system as in claim 5, wherein the context-sensitive facility is comprised of an answering service, wherein the signal is comprised of a DTMF signal generated in response to an input from the caller, and wherein the step of overriding forces the call through to a called parties'"'"' mobile station when the setting is to not allow calls to be made to the called parties'"'"' mobile station.

9. A method for operating a wireless communication system, comprising steps of:

specifying context information at a calling parties'"'"' mobile station;

transmitting signaling during a call origination phase to selectively exchange context information between the calling party and a called party, the context information being in the form of at least one of graphical icons, text, or information codes specifying graphical icons; and

displaying the context information to at least one of the calling party or the called party prior to establishing a voice call.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the step of specifying is performed manually by the calling party.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the step of specifying is performed at least in part in an automatic fashion based on the outputs of one or more sensors that are responsive to a context of the calling party.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein the step of transmitting occurs over a control channel, prior to establishment of a voice channel.

13. A method as in claim 9, wherein a graphical icon is displayed by first accessing a memory of the mobile station to retrieve a prestored icon bit-map.

14. A method as in claim 9, wherein a graphical icon is displayed by first accessing a memory of the mobile station to retrieve a prestored icon bit-map that was previously received from the other party.

15. A method as in claim 9, and further comprising a step of transmitting additional information during call termination.

16. A method as in claim 9, wherein for a case where the called party does not accept the call or does not answer the call, the method comprises further steps of storing the context information, and subsequently displaying the context information in conjunction with a display of missed calls.

17. A method as in claim 9, wherein a single displayable graphical icon of n pixels is specified by transmitting m messages, each conveying up to n/m pixels, where m is equal to or greater than one.

18. A wireless communication system, comprising a user interface for specifying context information at a calling parties'"'"' mobile station;

a transmitter for transmitting signaling during a call origination phase to selectively exchange context information between the calling party and a called party, the context information being in the form of at least one of graphical icons, text, or information codes specifying graphical icons; and

a display for displaying the context information to at least one of the calling party or the called party prior to establishing a voice call.