TEXT ALTERNATIVE TO ESTABLISHED VOICE CALL SESSION

• US 20130012246A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Gilson, Ross
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Methods and systems are described wherein an initiating device sends a communication requesting a voice call session with a recipient device. In response, the initiating device receives a communication indicating that the initiating device can provide a text message instead of establishing the voice call session. In some cases, the communication may refuse the request voice call session, while in other cases the communication may simply indicate that the recipient device supports text messaging as an alternative to voice mail. As a result of the received communication, the initiating device outputs a text input prompt. After receiving text input in response to the prompt, the initiating device sends a text message containing the received text input.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending a first communication from an initiating device requesting a voice call session with a recipient device;

receiving a second communication at the initiating device responsive to the first communication, the second communication containing an indication of a refusal of the requested voice call session and an indication that the initiating device can provide a text message; and

generating, based on input by an initiating party, a text message responsive to the indication that the initiating device can provide a text message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the text message from the initiating device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically populating the text message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication comprises a second text message received from the recipient device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication comprises a voice message or a graphic.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an acknowledgment communication from the initiating device as a result of the second communication, the acknowledgement communication containing an indication that the initiating device will send a text message in response to the received second communication.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the acknowledgment communication is sent prior to sending the text message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call communication at the recipient device containing an indication of the voice call session request by the initiating device;

receiving a communication at the recipient device containing an indication that the initiating device will send a text message;

determining that the text message has been received at the recipient device within a predetermined time period; and

responsive to the determination, omitting the requested voice call session from a listing of missed calls.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call communication at a network element containing an indication of the voice call session request by the initiating device, wherein the network element is different from the recipient device;

receiving a communication at the network element containing an indication that the initiating device will send a text message;

determining that the text message has been received within a predetermined time period; and

responsive to the determination, omitting the requested voice call session from a listing of missed calls.

10. A communication device, comprising:

at least one memory; and

at least one processor, the at least one memory and at least one processor configured to cause the communication device to perform operations that comprise;

sending a first communication requesting a voice call session with a recipient device;

receiving a second communication containing an indication of a refusal of the requested voice call session and an indication to provide a text message; and

generating, based on input by an initiating party, a text message responsive to the indication to provide a text message.

11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the at least one memory and at least one processor are configured to cause the communication device to automatically populate the text message.

12. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the second communication comprises a text message received from the recipient device.

13. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the second communication comprises a voice message or a graphic.

14. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the at least one memory and at least one processor are configured to cause the communication device to perform operations that comprise sending an acknowledgment communication responsive to the second communication, the acknowledgement communication containing an indication that the communication device will send a text message in response to the received second communication.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the acknowledgment communication is sent prior to sending the text message.

16. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the communication device is part of a system that includes the recipient device, the recipient device comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to cause the recipient device to perform operations that comprise

receiving an incoming call communication containing an indication of the voice call session request by the communication device,

receiving a communication containing an indication that the communication device will send a text message,

determining that the text message has been received within a predetermined time period, and

responsive to the determination, omitting the requested voice call session from a listing of missed calls.

17. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the communication device is part of a system that includes a network element, wherein the network element is different from the recipient device, the network element comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to cause the network element to perform operations that comprise

receiving an incoming call communication containing an indication of the voice call session request by the communication device,

receiving a communication containing an indication that the communication device will send a text message,

determining that the text message has been received within a predetermined time period, and

responsive to the determination, omitting the requested voice call session from a listing of missed calls.

18. A method comprising:

initiating, by a first device, a text response request for instructing a second device requesting to establish a voice communication session to instead send a text message;

receiving a first communication from the second device requesting to establish a voice communication session subsequent to the initiating of the text response request; and

sending a second communication to the second device responsive to the first communication, the second communication containing an indication that the second device can provide a text message.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second communication indicates refusal of the requested voice communication session.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second communication comprises a voice message or a graphic.