SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GRANTING FEATURE CONTROL BASED ON USER LOCATION

• US 20120218919A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Krahn, Renee F., Chriss, William Howard, Abramson, Sandra R., Kesselring, Ana, Mendiratta, Harsh V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,625,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42272 whereby the subscriber registers to the terminals for personalised service provision
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A communication system comprises a plurality of communication devices and a feature control module. The plurality of communication devices reside at a plurality of locations associated with a user and are operatively associated with a communication network. The feature control module is configured to identify a location of the user, identify at least one of the communication devices at the plurality of locations, and grant feature control for a communication session to at least one communication device based on the identification of the location of the user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a feature control module within a communications system, comprising:

identifying a location of a user, wherein a plurality of communication devices are associated with the user;

identifying at least one of the communication devices in proximity to the location of the user; and

granting feature control for a communication session to at least one communication device based on the identification of the location of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to initiate the communication session and directing the request to initiate the communication session to at least the communication device in proximity to the user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising withdrawing feature control from the communication devices not at the location of the user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining if the user moves to a different location;

identifying communication devices at the different location; and

responsive to the identification of the user'"'"'s move to the different location granting feature control to communication devices at the different location and withdrawing feature control from user devices not at the different location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the at least one communication device in proximity to the user includes determining an inferred location of the user and identifying at least one communication device in proximity to the inferred location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the inferred location of the user includes detecting a presence of a secondary device associated with the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein detection of the secondary device includes detection of short range wireless signals.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the inferred location of the user includes detection of a credential associated with the user, wherein the credential is identified by at least one sensor at a known location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary device includes a badge and the at least one sensor includes a badge reader.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the inferred location of the user includes receiving input via the communication device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving input via the communication device includes receiving input corresponding to actuation of a button on the communication device.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the inferred location of the user includes detection of activity on a secondary device in proximity to one of the communication devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the detection of activity on the secondary device includes detecting typing on a computing device associated with the user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the inferred location of the user includes analyzing a calendar associated with the user, identifying a location for appointment in the calendar for a time of the communication session, and identifying devices at the location of the appointment.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least one communication device in proximity to the user includes performing speech analytics to confirm an identity of the user.

16. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed perform a method for operating a feature control module, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a location of a user, wherein a plurality of communication devices are associated with the user;

identifying at least one of the communication devices in proximity to the location; and

granting feature control for a communication session to at least one communication device based on the identification of the location of the user.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for inferring presence of a user at the location based on identification of a presence of a secondary device.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for inferring presence of a user at the location based on identification of a activity on a secondary device.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for determining the presence of a user at the location based on voice analytics.

20. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of communication devices at a plurality of locations associated with a user and operatively associated with a communication network; and

a feature control module configured to identify a location of the user, identify at least one of the communication devices at the plurality of locations, and grant feature control for a communication session to at least one communication device based on the identification of the location of the user.