Method and device for remotely routing a voice call

• US 20030103599A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Mazzara, William E. Jr., Schwinke, Steven P., Correia, John J., Fraser, Ronald W., Jijina, Jasmin
• Granted Patent: US 6,904,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A device for implementing a method of remotely routing a voice call forward to a telematic device is disclosed. The device first maintains a call state of the voice call in response to an answering of call forwarding rings by the telematic device. The device then forwards the calls to the next assigned device in response to a failure of a user of the telematic device to answer fake rings from the telematic device. Such a failure can be indicated by a monitoring of a prescribed number of back ring tones or a dropping of call within a prescribed timer window.

Claims

1. A method for remotely routing a voice call forwarded to a first telematic device, said method comprising:

maintaining a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call; and

forwarding the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to a failure of a user of the first telematic device to answer one or more fake rings indicative of the voice call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring ring back tones provided by the first telematic device in response to answering the one or more call forwarding rings,

wherein the voice call is forwarded to either the voice mail module, the second telematic device or the telecommunication device in response to a failure of a user of the first telematic device to answer one or more fake rings after a prescribed number of ring back tones.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a timer in response to the answering of the one or more call forwarding rings by the telematic device,

wherein the voice call is forwarded to either the voice mail module, the second telematic device or the telecommunication device in response to the first telematic device dropping the voice call within a prescribed timer window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an announcement to a caller of the voice call, the announcement indicating the forwarding of the voice call to the first telematic device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

playing music for a caller of the voice call while maintaining the call state of the voice call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

running an advertisement for a caller of the voice call while maintaining the call state of the voice call.

7. A method for remotely routing a voice call forwarded to a first telematic device, said method comprising:

maintaining a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call;

monitoring ring back tones provided by the first telematic device in response to answering the one or more call forwarding rings; and

forwarding the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to a failure of a user of the first telematic device to answer one or more fake rings indicative of the voice call after a prescribed number of ring back tones.

8. A method for remotely routing a voice call forwarded to a first telematic device, said method comprising:

maintaining a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call;

initiating a timer in response to the answering of the one or more call forwarding rings by the telematic device; and

forwarding the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to the first telematic device dropping the voice call within a prescribed timer window.

9. A device, comprising:

a first module operable to forward a voice call to a first telematic device; and

a second module operable to maintain a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call, said second module further operable to forward the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to a failure of a user of the first telematic device to answer one or more fake rings indicative of the voice call.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein:

said second module is further operable to monitor ring back tones provided by the first telematic device in response to answering the one or more call forwarding rings; and

said second module forwards the voice call to either the voice mail module, the second telematic device or the telecommunication device in response to a failure of a user of the first telematic device to answer one or more fake rings after a prescribed number of ring back tones.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein:

said second module is further operable to initiate a timer in response to the answering of the one or more call forwarding rings by the telematic device; and

said second module forwards the voice call to either the voice mail module, the second telematic device or the telecommunication device in response to the first telematic device dropping the voice call within a prescribed timer window.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein:

said second module is further operable to provide an announcement to a caller of the voice call, the announcement indicating the forwarding of the voice call to the first telematic device.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein:

said second module is further operable to play music for a caller of the voice call while maintaining the call state of the voice call.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein:

said second module is further operable to run an advertisement for a caller of the voice call while maintaining the call state of the voice call.

15. A device, comprising:

a first module operable to forward a voice call to a first telematic device; and

a second module operable to maintain a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call,

wherein said second module is further operable to monitor ring back tones provided by the first telematic device in response to answering the one or more call forwarding rings, and

wherein said second module is further operable to forward the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to a failure of a user of the first telematic device to answer one or more fake rings indicative of the voice call after a prescribed number of ring back tones.

16. A device, comprising:

a first module operable to forward a voice call to a first telematic device; and

a second module operable to maintain a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call,

wherein said second module is further operable to initiate a timer in response to the answering of the one or more call forwarding rings by the telematic device, and

wherein said second module is further operable to forward the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to the first telematic device dropping the voice call within a prescribed timer window.

17. A device, comprising:

means for maintaining a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call; and

means for forwarding the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to a failure of a user of the first telematic device to answer one or more fake rings indicative of the voice call.

18. A device, comprising:

means for maintaining a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call;

means for monitoring ring back tones provided by the first telematic device in response to answering the one or more call forwarding rings; and

means for forwarding the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to a failure of a user of the first telematic device to answer one or more fake rings indicative of the voice call after a prescribed number of ring back tones.

19. A device, comprising:

means for maintaining a call state of the voice call in response to an answering by the first telematic device of one or more call forwarding rings indicative of the voice call;

means for initiating a timer in response to the answering of the one or more call forwarding rings by the telematic device; and

means for forwarding the voice call to either a voice mail module, a second telematic device or a telecommunication device in response to the first telematic device dropping the voice call within a prescribed timer window.