CALL HANDLING

• US 20100166166A1
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arona Limited
• Original Assignee: Arona Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Steven, Price, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/52 Telephonic communication in combination with fax communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/052 software update
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for handling telephone calls which comprises: means for configuring the operation of the apparatus based on user preferences relating to the handling of calls from particular callers, means for storing the user preferences, means for processing incoming calls based on the user preferences, and means for receiving updates to the user preferences in dependence on changes to a preference database for storing the preferences of at least one user. The invention also relates to a telecommunications system, and to an associated server.

Claims

1-204. -204. (canceled)

205. An apparatus for handling telephone calls which comprises:

means for configuring the operation of the apparatus based on user preferences relating to the handling of calls from particular callers, means for storing the user preferences in a preference database, means for processing incoming calls based on the user preferences, means for enabling the user to select, during an incoming call from a caller, one of a plurality of call handling options relating to the handling of that call, and means for classifying without further intervention from the user the incoming call into one of a plurality of respective categories on the basis of that call handling option that has been selected by the user from said plurality of call handling options, said classification being stored as a user preference in the preference database, whereby future calls from said caller are handled in the same way that the user handles that call.

206. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the options are selected via a telephone keypad.

207. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the classifying means is adapted to classify an incoming call by storing information relating to the call in a list corresponding to each category.

208. An apparatus according to claim 207, wherein the information relates to a caller line identity (CLI).

209. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the user is able to select one of the options after the line has been picked up.

210. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the classifying means is adapted to add the caller information to a “

numbers the user is not willing to receive calls from category”

if a received call is rejected by a user.

211. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the storing means is adapted to store a complete audit of the handling of all incoming calls.

212. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the apparatus is adapted to handle incoming calls in accordance with archived data stored on the apparatus, and wherein the archived data preferably contains information relating to whether the particular caller has called previously, and how the call was handled.

213. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the configuration means enables a user to specify that all numbers dialed out by the user are added to a particular category, and preferably wherein the configuration means enables a user to specify that all numbers dialed out by the user are automatically added to a generic “

allowed callers”

category.

214. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the configuration means is further adapted to be configured by the user to handle the most recent call in a particular fashion, and preferably wherein the configuration means provides the user with a selection of possible caller types or categories into which the most recent caller may be categorized.

215. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the apparatus is adapted to enable the user to allow a call to ring a telephone extension, to direct it to voicemail, to redirect the call to a mobile phone or to instruct the apparatus to play a message to the caller explaining that the user does not accept solicitations.

216. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the configuration means enables the user to specify at least one category of caller which should be handled in a particular manner.

217. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the configuration means enables a user to specify that callers in the or each category should be conditionally accepted or rejected.

218. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the configuration means enables a user to specify that callers in the or each category should be unconditionally accepted or rejected.

219. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the configuration means further enables the user to configure processing preferences relating to the handling of incoming calls, and wherein the processing preferences are based on at least one of the following criteria:

the date, the day of the week, the time of day, the geographical origin of the call, any distinctive ring data associated with the call, the status of the apparatus, and whether the call is a voice call or a data call.

220. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the processing means is adapted to identify callers based on information accompanying incoming calls, such as caller line identity (CLI) information or text accompanying caller line identity (CLI) information.

221. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the apparatus is at least in part in the form of a stand-alone device connectable between a telephone and telephone line.

222. An apparatus according to claim 205, further comprising means for detecting information transmitted with an incoming call request, and preferably, wherein the information includes at least one of the following details:

the caller line identity (CLI), text information accompanying a CLI, the geographical origin of the call, distinctive ring data, and whether the call is a voice call or a data call.

223. An apparatus according to claim 205, wherein the means for enabling the user to select one of a plurality of call handling options comprises an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

224. An apparatus for handling telephone calls which comprises:

a processor and associated memory for configuring the operation of the apparatus based on user preferences relating to the handling of calls from particular callers;

processing incoming calls based on the user preferences, enabling a user to select, during an incoming call from a caller, one of a plurality of call handling options relating to the handling of that call; and

classifying without further intervention from the user the incoming call into one of a plurality of respective categories on the basis of that call handling option that has been selected by the user from said plurality of call handling options, said classification being stored as a user preference in a preference database, whereby future calls from said caller are handled in the same way that the user handles that call; and

a memory for storing the user preferences in the preference database.