Communication mechanism for calls in which speaking is not possible

• US 20050261034A1
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Punaganti, Murali, Malu, Chand
• Application Number:
  US10/527,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261034A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

In situations in which one or both parties of a call cannot speak on a telephone, a voice call establishment request (5-0) from an calling terminal (A) to a called terminal (B) is processed as follows. The called terminal (B) is alerted and a two-way connection (5-14; 5-24 . . . 5-28) is established between the calling terminal (A) and the called terminal (B). In response to determining (3-10; 3-14; 5-8) that a two-way voice call between the calling terminal (A) and the called terminal (B) is not allowed; a mode server (MS, MS′) receives silent messages (5-14; 5-24) via a user interface (UI) of the called terminal (B) and conveys (5-14; 5-26 . . . 5-28) information based on said silent messages to the calling terminal (A).

Claims

1. A method for processing a voice call establishment request from an calling terminal to a called terminal, the method comprising:

detecting the call establishment request;

in response to said detecting, alerting the called terminal; and

setting up a two-way connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal;

wherein the method further comprises;

determining that a two-way voice call between the calling terminal and the called terminal is not allowed; and

receiving silent messages via a user interface of said called terminal and/or calling terminal and conveying information based on said silent messages to the calling terminal and/or called terminal, respectively.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining is based on detecting a predetermined input via the user interface of the called terminal after said alerting.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining is based on detecting a predetermined profile associated with the called terminal, the profile being set prior to said alerting.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the two-way connection is or comprises a chat connection.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said conveying comprises converting said silent messages to speech.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said converting comprises text-to-speech synthesis.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said converting comprises receiving an indication of one of a plurality of predetermined voice messages.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined voice messages is dimensioned such that any predetermined voice message is selectable without moving fingers on the user interface.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining step is carried out by a network element.

10. A method according to claim 5, wherein the converting step is carried out by a network element.

11. An apparatus for processing a voice call establishment request from an calling terminal to a called terminal, the called terminal comprising alerting means for alerting a user and means for setting up a two-way connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal;

the apparatus comprising means for detecting the call establishment requests;

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

means for determining that a two-way voice call between the calling terminal and the called terminal is not allowed;

means for receiving silent messages via the called terminal'"'"'s user interfaces; and

means for conveying information based on said silent messages to the calling terminal.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is located in a network element.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is located in the called terminal.

14. An apparatus for processing a voice call establishment request from an calling terminal to a called terminal, the called terminal comprising alerting means for alerting a user and means for setting up a two-way connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal, the apparatus being configured to detect the call establishment request;

wherein the apparatus is further configured to;

determine that a two-way voice call between the calling terminal and the called terminal is not allowed;

receive silent messages via the called terminal'"'"'s user interface; and

convey information based on said silent messages to the calling terminal.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is located in a network element.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is located in the called terminal.