Method and apparatus for monitoring telephone status

• US 20060140350A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Alderucci, Dean P., Walker, Jay S., Kessman, Marc D., Dickerson, John B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/32.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/609 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/08 ISDN systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• 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 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

The monitor is for monitoring the status of a first client telephone, and for sending this status information via a central server to an authorized second client telephone. The central server stores a database of registered client telephones and corresponding client telephones that the client may monitor. A user of a registered client telephone monitors in real time the telephone status of registered friends, family, or co-workers that have agreed to be monitored by the user.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a second telephone that is authorized to monitor a first telephone;

receiving a request from the second telephone to monitor the first telephone;

receiving a status, from the first telephone, which indicates whether the first telephone is using a text messaging feature of the first telephone;

sending the status to the second telephone;

receiving a signal from the first telephone;

determining a GPS location of the first telephone based on the received signal; and

establishing that while the first telephone is at the determined GPS location, calls to the first telephone from the second telephone are to be blocked.

20. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a second telephone that is authorized to monitor a first telephone;

receiving a request from the second telephone to monitor the first telephone;

receiving a first signal from the first telephone;

determining a first location of the first telephone based on the first signal;

receiving a second signal from a user of the first telephone, the second signal indicating that the first location is a blocked location;

in response to the second signal, establishing that while the first telephone is at the first location, calls to the first telephone from the second telephone are to be blocked;

determining that the first telephone has moved from the first location; and

in response to determining that the first telephone has moved from the first location,

automatically transmitting to the second telephone a status indicating that the first telephone is available to receive calls.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a signal from a user of a cellular telephone, the signal indicating that a first location is a blocked location;

based on the signal, establishing that calls to the cellular telephone are to be blocked while the cellular telephone is in the first location;

determining that the cellular telephone is at a second location;

transmitting to at least one telephone an indication that the cellular telephone is available to receive calls;

determining that the cellular telephone is at the first location;

receiving an incoming call to the cellular telephone while the cellular telephone is at the first location; and

preventing the incoming call from connecting to the cellular telephone based on the first location.

22. A method comprising:

receiving a signal from a wireless telephone;

determining a GPS location of the wireless telephone based on the received signal; and

based on the determined GPS location, determining whether to block at least one call to the wireless telephone while the wireless telephone is at the determined GPS location.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

transmitting to a second telephone an indication that a call to the wireless telephone while the cellular telephone is at the determined GPS location will not be connected.

24. A method comprising:

receiving a signal from a user of a cellular telephone while the user is at a first location,

the signal indicating a preference of the user to have the cellular telephone be unavailable for receiving calls while the cellular telephone is at the first location;

establishing, based on the preference of the user, that the cellular telephone is to be unavailable for receiving calls while the cellular telephone is at the first location;

determining that the cellular telephone has moved from the first location; and

in response to determining that the cellular telephone has moved from the first location,

automatically transmitting to at least one telephone an indication that the cellular telephone is available to receive calls.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call to the cellular telephone;

receiving a second signal from the cellular telephone;

determining a current location of the cellular telephone based on the second signal; and

blocking the incoming call to the cellular telephone if the current location is the first location.