INTELLIGENT CALL FORWARDING

• US 20150024726A1
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Best Buy Health Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GreatCall Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Salisbury, John, Williams, Dean, Matsuo, Kotaro
• Granted Patent: US 9,300,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 Call deflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing alternate communication paths for telephone calls. Calls directed to a telephone are relayed to a second electronic communication device, which may be a second telephone, based on the physical relationship of the telephone and the second device. According to one aspect, the physical relationship is automatically detected and compared with one or more conditions. When one of the conditions is met, an incoming call directed to the telephone is relayed to the second electronic communication device. Detection of the physical relationship may include detecting whether the telephone and the second device are in close proximity, whether one or both of the telephone and the second device is moving, or other aspects of the relationship.

Claims

1. A method of providing an alternate communication path for telephone calls, the method comprising:

automatically detecting a physical relationship between a telephone and a second electronic communication device, the second electronic communication device having a simplified user interface;

comparing the detected physical relationship with a predetermined condition; and

causing a telephone call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device when the condition is met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone is a first telephone and the second electronic communication device is a second telephone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein causing the telephone call directed to the first telephone to be relayed to the second telephone comprises sending an instruction configuring a telephone switching network to forward telephone calls directed to the first telephone directly to the second telephone.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising sending a second instruction configuring the telephone switching network to, when the forwarded call to the second telephone is not answered, redirect the forwarded call to a voice message system associated with the first telephone.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising for a telephone call forwarded to the second telephone, automatically sending a message to the first telephone identifying the party who placed the telephone call directed to the first telephone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the message is a short message service message.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising prompting a user for a confirmation before sending the instruction configuring the telephone switching network to forward telephone calls directed to the first telephone directly to the second telephone.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein causing the telephone call directed to the first telephone to be relayed to the second telephone comprises sending an instruction configuring a telephone switching network to redirect telephone calls directed to the first telephone to the second telephone when the first telephone is not answered.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising sending a second instruction configuring the telephone switching network to, when the call redirected to the second telephone is not answered, further redirect the redirected call to a voice message system associated with the first telephone.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein causing the telephone call directed to the first telephone to be relayed to the second telephones comprises:

receiving by the first telephone the incoming call directed to the first telephone;

initiating a three-way call with the second telephone; and

when the second telephone is answered, merging the incoming call into the three-way call.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein when the second telephone is not answered, redirecting the incoming call to a voice message system associated with the first telephone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone is a mobile telephone.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic communication device does not include voice capability, and wherein causing a telephone call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device further comprises:

causing at least some audio content of the telephone call to be converted to textual information; and

causing the textual information to be sent to the second electronic communication device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically detecting the physical relationship between the telephone and the second electronic communication device comprises automatically detecting whether the telephone and the second electronic communication device can directly communicate over a channel that does not require a telephone switching network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically detecting a physical relationship between the telephone and the second electronic communication device comprises automatically detecting whether one or both of the telephone and the second electronic communication device is in motion.

16. A method of providing an alternate communication path for telephone calls, the method comprising:

automatically detecting a physical relationship between a telephone and a second electronic communication device;

comparing the detected physical relationship with a predetermined condition;

causing a telephone call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device when the condition is met; and

for a telephone call relayed to the second electronic communication device, automatically sending a message to the telephone indicating that the call was relayed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the message indicating that the call was relayed identifies the party who placed the telephone call directed to the telephone.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the telephone is a first telephone and the second electronic communication device is a second telephone.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein causing a telephone call directed to the first telephone to be relayed to the second telephone comprises sending an instruction configuring a telephone switching network to forward telephone calls directed to the first telephone directly to the second telephone.

20. The method of claim 20, further comprising prompting a user for a confirmation before sending the instruction configuring the telephone switching network to forward telephone calls directed to the first telephone directly to the second telephone.