Automatic mobile call forwarding with time-based and location-based trigger events
First Claim
1. A method of forwarding calls directed to a cellular phone to a target phone number, comprising the steps of:
- (i) defining a call forward profile associated with the cellular phone, the call forward profile defining call forward criteria and identifying the target phone number associated with the call forward criteria, the call forward criteria including time-based and location-based trigger events for activating call forwarding;
(ii) storing the call forward profile in memory in the cellular phone; and
(iii) thereafter, (a) determining the current time;
(b) determining the current location of the cellular phone; and
(c) if the cellular phone determines that the time-based and location-based trigger events for activating call forwarding are both satisfied based on the current time and the current location of the cellular phone, then notifying a cellular provider associated with cellular phone to forward later-received calls intended for the cellular phone to the target number.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of forwarding calls directed to a cellular phone to a target phone number based on time-based and location-based trigger events. A call forward profile associated with the cellular phone is defined and stored in memory in the cellular phone, wherein the profile includes call forward criteria and the target phone number. Call forward criteria includes time-based and location-based trigger events. Thereafter, the cellular phone periodically determines the current time and its location and, if the cellular phone determines that the time-based and location-based trigger events for a particular profile are both satisfied, the cellular phone notifies the cellular provider associated with the phone to forward later-received calls to the target number using the cellular provider'"'"'s own activation and deactivation codes. Notification by the cellular phone to the cellular provider may be set to automatic or only after a prompt to the cellular phone user.
145 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method of forwarding calls directed to a cellular phone to a target phone number, comprising the steps of:
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(i) defining a call forward profile associated with the cellular phone, the call forward profile defining call forward criteria and identifying the target phone number associated with the call forward criteria, the call forward criteria including time-based and location-based trigger events for activating call forwarding;
(ii) storing the call forward profile in memory in the cellular phone; and
(iii) thereafter, (a) determining the current time;
(b) determining the current location of the cellular phone; and
(c) if the cellular phone determines that the time-based and location-based trigger events for activating call forwarding are both satisfied based on the current time and the current location of the cellular phone, then notifying a cellular provider associated with cellular phone to forward later-received calls intended for the cellular phone to the target number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of pre-programming a cellular telephone having a cell phone number to forward calls to a target phone number, the cellular telephone being associated with a cellular provider, comprising:
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(i) defining a call forward profile associated with the cellular phone, the call forward profile identifying time-based and location-based trigger events for activating call forwarding, the call forward profile further identifying the target phone number associated with the trigger events;
(ii) storing the call forward profile in memory in the cellular telephone; and
(iii) thereafter, (a) determining the current time and current location of the cellular phone;
(b) on a periodic basis, determining whether the time-based and location-based trigger events are both satisfied based on the current time and current location of the cellular phone; and
(c) if the time-based and location-based trigger events for activating call forwarding are both satisfied, notifying the cellular provider to forward later-received calls directed to the cell phone number to the target number. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of enabling activation and deactivation of call forwarding in a cellular phone, comprising:
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(i) enabling a user of the cellular phone to define a plurality of call forward profiles associated with the cellular phone, each call forward profile defining time-based and location-based activation and deactivation trigger events, each call forward profile having associated therewith a target phone number for call forwarding purposes;
(ii) storing the call forward profiles in memory in the cellular phone; and
(iii) upon the occurrence of trigger events associated with a respective call forward profile, activating or deactivating call forwarding to the respective target phone number in accordance with the respective call forward profile. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A cellular phone associated with a cellular provider and having software installed thereon that is configured to perform the steps comprising:
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(i) providing a user-interface to a user of the cellular phone to define a call forward profile, the call forward profile defining time-based and corresponding location-based trigger events for activating and deactivating call forwarding associated with the cellular phone, the call forward profile identifying a target phone number associated therewith;
(ii) storing the call forward profile in memory in the cellular phone;
(iii) thereafter, determining the occurrence of both time-based and location-based trigger events for activating call forwarding; and
(iv) if both time-based and corresponding location-based trigger events are satisfied, notifying the cellular provider to forward subsequent calls intended for the cellular phone to the target phone number. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification