TELEPHONE RING EXTENDER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100056226A1
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Moore, John E., Hadinata, Martinianus B., O'Connell, Brian M., Bansal, Ravi P., Lingafelt, Charles S., Walker, Keith R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A system and method to extend a ring of a telephone using presence detection of a user of a telecommunication device, and/or motion detection of a mobile telecommunication device. Presence detection and a ring control system are used to extend the ring of the telecommunication device based on user presence senor detection output signals and user preferences. Device motion detection and a ring control system are used to extend the ring of the mobile telecommunication device based on device motion detection output signals and user preferences.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a call alert for a mobile personal telecommunication device for an incoming call to the mobile personal telecommunication device, the method comprising:

determining whether a call alert extender function for the mobile personal telecommunication device is enabled for an incoming call to the mobile personal telecommunication device;

determining the presence of a direction/velocity motion detect signal indicating that the mobile personal telecommunication device has surpassed a predetermined threshold direction/velocity of motion; and

setting an extended call alert count associated with the call alert extender function for the mobile personal telecommunication device in response to the call alert extender function being enabled and the direction/velocity detect signal being present.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the direction/velocity detect signal is present includes a determination that the mobile personal telecommunication device has surpassed a predetermined velocity of motion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of whether the direction/velocity detect signal is present includes a determination that the mobile personal telecommunication device has surpassed a predetermined change of vertical elevation of motion.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically transferring the incoming call to voicemail associated with the mobile personal telecommunication device in response to the extended call alert count associated with the mobile personal telecommunication device having transpired.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a caller associated with the incoming call with a message that a user of the mobile personal telecommunication device is presently unavailable, in response to the call alert extender function being enabled and the direction/velocity detect signal being present.

6. A method of controlling a call alert for a stationary personal telecommunication device for an incoming call to the stationary personal telecommunication device, the method comprising:

determining whether a call alert extender function for the stationary personal telecommunication device is enabled for an incoming call to the stationary personal telecommunication device;

determining the presence of a user presence detect signal indicating that the a potential user of the stationary personal telecommunication device is in physical proximity to the stationary personal telecommunication device; and

setting an extended call alert count associated with the call alert extender function for the mobile personal telecommunication device in response to the call alert extender function being enabled and user presence detect signal being present.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining of the presence of a user presence detect signal includes detecting the presence of a unique identification (ID) signal of a mobile telecommunications device in operation in proximity to the stationary telecommunication device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining of the presence of a user presence detect signal includes detecting the presence of a computer use signal associated with present use of a computer in physical proximity to the stationary personal telecommunication device.

9. A call alert control system for a personal telecommunication device for an incoming call to the personal telecommunication device, comprising:

a personal telecommunication device;

a call alert controller connected to the personal telecommunication device;

at least one sensor to provide a sensor detect signal to the call alert controller such that the call alert controller provides a predetermined number of call alerts to the personal telecommunication device during an incoming call to the personal telecommunication device in response to the sensor detect signal.

10. The call alert control system of claim 9, wherein the personal telecommunication device is a stationary telecommunication device, and wherein the at least one sensor provides a presence detect signal to the call alert controller in response to the at least one sensor detecting a presence of a potential user of the stationary telecommunication device in physical proximity to the stationary telecommunication device.

11. The call alert control system of claim 10, wherein the presence detect signal is provided by the at least one sensor in response to detecting the presence of a unique identification (ID) signal of a mobile telecommunications device in operation in proximity to the stationary telecommunication device

12. The call alert control system of claim 9, wherein the personal telecommunication device is a mobile telecommunication device, and wherein the at least one sensor provides a direction/velocity detect signal to the call alert controller in response to the at least one sensor detecting that the mobile stationary telecommunication device has surpassed a predetermined velocity of motion.

13. The call alert control system of claim 9, wherein the personal telecommunication device is a mobile telecommunication device, and wherein the at least one sensor provides a direction/velocity detect signal to the call alert controller in response to the at least one sensor detecting that the mobile stationary telecommunication device has surpassed a predetermined change of vertical elevation of motion.

14. The call alert control system of claim 9, wherein a caller of the incoming call is provided a message by a caller messaging controller, which is connected to the call alert controller, that a user of the personal telecommunication device is presently unavailable in response to a call alert extender function for the personal telecommunication device being enabled and the sensor detect signal being provided to the call alert controller by the at least one sensor.

15. The call alert control system of claim 9, wherein the incoming call to the personal telecommunication device is automatically sent to voice mail associated with the personal telecommunication device in response to transpiration of the predetermined number of call alerts provided to the personal telecommunication device.