Systems, Methods, and Devices for a Callback/Callback Reminder Feature

• US 20080226055A1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC. FORMERLY KNOWN AS BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP.
• Inventors: Meadows, Vernon, Holder, Maleike C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,000,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/210.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48

Abstract

A telecommunications device. The device includes a receiver for receiving an incoming call and a processor in communication with the receiver. The processor has a callback/callback reminder module for automatically calling back a calling party of an incoming call or for sending a user a reminder to callback the calling party.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor configured to perform a callback module, said callback module configured to automatically call back a first party if a second party has enabled a callback function.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is one of a wireless telephone and a wireline telephone.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an RF transceiver unit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises at least one of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to send a text message to the second party for notification that an automatic callback is occurring.

6. A method for calling back a first party of an incoming call to a telecommunications device, the method comprising:

detecting whether a second party has enabled a function that provides a callback to said first party for an unanswered call; and

automatically calling back said first party to connect the first party and the second party.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing information regarding said incoming call in the telecommunications device.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing one of said first party and said second party an option to enter an alternative callback number.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising setting a timer to initiate said callback to said first party.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing said second party with selection options, said options comprising at least one of selecting a callback function, resetting said callback function, and canceling said callback function.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether said second party has globally enabled a callback function for all said incoming calls.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether said second party has enabled a callback function for a group of predetermined call-in numbers.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether said second party has enabled a callback function on a call-by-call basis.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether a call was received from the first party within a predetermined time period.

15. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending a text message to the second party for notification that an automatic callback is occurring.

16. A telecommunications system, comprising:

an application module in communication with a telecommunications device, wherein said application module determines whether a second party has enabled a function on the telecommunications device that provides an automatic callback to connect a first party and a second party.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said application module is configured to function as a gateway to allow a landline network to access an Internet service provider.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said gateway is configured to function as a voice/web gateway.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said application module is configured to send one of a voice message and text message to said telecommunications device when a callback function is enabled.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for sending a text message to the second party for notification that an automatic callback is occurring.