Method for sending a message to a calling phone when called phone aborts an incoming call request

• US 20060264216A1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Benco, David S., Kanabar, Paresh C., Nguyen, John C.V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• 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 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request. A mobile unit receives a call request from a calling phone. The communication network determines that the mobile unit has aborted the call request during ringing. For example, the mobile unit may abort the call request by pressing a predetermined key, such as the <END> key, on the mobile unit. The communication network alerts the calling phone that the mobile unit aborted the call request during ringing. The network can play a message to the calling phone that the mobile unit has aborted the call request during ringing, and the message can include additional information, such as the expected length of time that the mobile unit will be unavailable or other predetermined messages.

Claims

1. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request, the method comprising:

receiving a call request at a mobile unit from a calling phone;

determining that the mobile unit has aborted the call request during ringing; and

alerting the calling phone that the mobile unit aborted the call request during ringing.

2. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of determining that the mobile unit has aborted the call request during ringing comprises determining that a predetermined key on the mobile unit has been pressed.

3. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 2, wherein the predetermined key pressed is the <

END>

key on the mobile unit.

4. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 2, the method further comprising the step of determining additional keys pressed on the mobile unit prior to the predetermined key being pressed.

5. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 4, the method further comprising the step of sending additional information to the calling phone based upon the additional keys pressed.

6. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of alerting the calling phone that the mobile unit aborted the call request during ringing comprises playing a message to the calling phone.

7. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of alerting the calling phone that the mobile unit aborted the call request during ringing comprises communicating the number of minutes that the user expects the current call to last to the calling phone.

8. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 7, the method further comprising the step of blocking incoming call requests intended for the mobile unit during the number of minutes that the user expects the current call to last.

9. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 8, wherein the step of blocking incoming call requests intended for the mobile unit comprises blocking incoming call requests intended for the mobile unit from the calling phone during the number of minutes that the user expects the current call to last.

10. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 1, the method further comprising the step of sending a predetermined message to the calling phone, the predetermined message being associated with a predetermined key sequence pressed on the mobile unit to abort the call request and determine the predetermined message to send.

11. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 10, wherein the predetermined message is assigned by a service provider.

12. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 10, wherein the predetermined message is programmed by the mobile unit.

13. A method for sending a message to a calling phone when a called phone aborts an incoming call request in accordance with claim 1, the method further comprising the step of releasing all system resources that were reserved upon receiving the call request.