Communication device auto negotiate reconnect

• US 20070274488A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Callaghan, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.10
• 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 1/2749 Automatic dialling or redialling systems, e.g. on off-hook or redial on busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment

Abstract

The embodiments contemplate a negotiation and reconnection method between two devices for use when an original call connection is dropped. In order to allow a reconnected call to be easily made without multiple calls from each user, a negotiation between the two devices is made during the original call, assigning reconnection authority to one of the devices. If the original call is inadvertently dropped, due to for example environmental conditions, the assigned device initiates reconnection by bypassing voicemail options that are typically encountered in a reconnection situation. The reconnection may be used when each of the two devices is attempting to reconnect. Alternatively, if the device that lost coverage is without coverage for an extended period of time, a message may be sent to the other device to inform the user of that device of the situation.

Claims

1. A negotiation method for assigning responsibility to an offering device or a non-offering device for initiating a reconnection between two devices in an event that an original connection is dropped and that each device is attempting a subsequent reconnection, the method comprising:

determining if an offer for initiating reconnection is received;

consulting predetermined rules for assigning responsibility for initiating the reconnection if no offer or two offers are received;

determining if the non-offering device agrees to the offer from the offering device if one offer is received;

if the non-offering device does not agree to the offer, determining if the offering device will act as the non-offering device; and

assigning reconnection responsibility to the offering device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning reconnection responsibility to the offering device comprises allowing the offering device to, upon an attempted reconnection by each device, bypass a voicemail option and reconnect the two devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer comprises a message from the offering device, wherein the message comprises at least one of (i) an audio tone;

(ii) a SMS message; and

(iii) a data packet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined rules comprise criteria used to determine the device to assign responsibility for initiating the reconnection between the two devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined rules are hierarchically assigned by at least one of (i) a network component of at least one of the two devices;

and (ii) a user of at least one of the two devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the offering device will act as the non-offering device comprises receiving a message from the offering device indicating a decision to act as a non-offering device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon determination that the offering device does not agree to act as the non-offering device, allowing the reconnection between the two devices in the event that the original connection is dropped and that each device is attempting a subsequent reconnection to proceed without either of the two devices responsible for the subsequent reconnection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning reconnection responsibility to the offering device comprises assigning reconnection responsibility to the original non-offering device if the original non-offering device does not agree to the offer and upon determination that the offering device will act as the non-offering device.

9. A reconnection method for reconnecting a call between two devices in an event that an original connection is dropped and that each device is attempting a subsequent reconnection, the method comprising:

upon a determination that the call is inadvertently dropped and that each of the two devices is attempting to reconnect with the other of the two devices, determining if a loss of coverage for one of the two devices exceeds a predetermined time period;

if the loss of coverage for one of the two devices exceeds the predetermined time period, sending a message to the other of the two devices to alert of the loss of coverage; and

if the loss of coverage for one of the two devices does not exceed the predetermined time period, reconnecting the call by one of the two devices assigned as a reconnection authority.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined time period is set by a user of one of the two devices that is responsible for the loss of the original connection.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the determination that the call is advertently dropped comprises a determination by at least one of the two devices that a user of at least one of the two devices did not cause the dropped connection.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the determination that each of the two devices is attempting to reconnect comprises a determination by one of the two devices that an incoming call from the other of the two devices is the same as the outgoing call from the one of the two devices.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the two devices is assigned as a reconnection authority during the original connection at call establishment.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the two devices is assigned as a reconnection authority through an offer by one of the two devices and an acceptance from the other of the two devices.

15. A handheld computing device comprising:

a memory;

a processor;

a network component to couple the handheld computing device to a network in order to communicate with another device; and

control code stored in a portion of the memory comprising computer-readable instructions capable of performing the following;

upon a determination that an original call between the handheld computing device and another device is inadvertently dropped and that each of the two devices is attempting a subsequent reconnection with the other of the two devices, determining if a loss of coverage for one of the two devices exceeds a predetermined time period;

if the loss of coverage for one of the two devices exceeds the predetermined time period, sending a message to the other of the two devices to alert of the loss of coverage; and

if the loss of coverage for one of the two devices does not exceed the predetermined time period, reconnecting the call by one of the two devices assigned as a reconnection authority.

16. The handheld computing device of claim 15, wherein the handheld computing device is a smart phone.

17. The handheld computing device of claim 15, wherein the handheld computing device is assigned as the reconnection authority if the other device is not a smart phone.

18. The handheld computing device of claim 15, wherein the network component comprises:

protocol stacks to implement a network interface; and

network interface circuitry.

19. The handheld computing device of claim 15, wherein the network is at least one of (i) a wired network;

and (ii) a wireless network.

20. The handheld computing device of claim 15, wherein the network comprises a network store, and wherein the network interfaces with at least one of (i) the network store and (ii) one of the two devices to determine the device to which to assign responsibility for initiating the reconnection between the two devices.