SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING INCOMING CALLS

• US 20160261742A1
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alberto Leon-Garcia, Daniel Patrick Shea, David William Offen
• Original Assignee: Alberto Leon-Garcia, Daniel Patrick Shea, David William Offen
• Inventors: OFFEN, David William, SHEA, Daniel Patrick, LEON-GARCIA, Alberto
• Application Number:
  US15/155,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20160261742A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting
• 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 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A system is provided that provides for the prioritization of incoming calls to a communications device based on respective caller profiles. Each profile may include a caller priority value. The system may prioritize an incoming call based on the priority value. The priority value may be updated manually or automatically in accordance with a variety of factors. While the communications device receive an incoming call while an existing call is active, the communications device may request a call management command at the communications device or provide a notification that an incoming call has been received and is pending in accordance with the respective caller profile.

Claims

1. A method, performed by one of a communications device and a computer server, the communications device associated with a user and in communication with the computer server over a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call for the communications device when the communication device is maintaining an active call;

determining a correspondence between caller identity information for the incoming call and a respective caller profile;

determining a call priority value based on the respective caller profile; and

when the call priority value meets an interrupt criterion, interrupting the active call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a threshold priority level.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when a difference between the call priority value and a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a difference threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising preventing interruption of the active call when a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a threshold level.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein interrupting the active call comprises:

placing the active call on hold or initiating a conference call with the communication device, a second communication device on the active call, and a third communication device on the incoming call.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein interrupting the active call comprises:

playing a predetermined message or sending a notification to at least one of;

the communication device and a second communication device on the active call, the predetermined message or the notification providing an indication that the active call will be interrupted.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising updating the call priority value associated with the respective caller profile based on a frequency of communication with the user that are associated with the respective caller profile.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium or media tangibly embodying code that, when executed by at least one processor of at least one of a communications device and a computer server, the communications device associated with a user and in communication with the computer server over a communications network, configures the at least one processor for:

receiving an incoming call for the communications device when the communication device is maintaining an active call;

determining a correspondence between caller identity information for the incoming call and a respective caller profile;

determining a call priority value based on the respective caller profile; and

when the call priority value meets an interrupt criterion, interrupting the active call.

10. The medium or media of claim 9 wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a threshold priority level.

11. The medium or media of claim 9 wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call.

12. The medium or media of claim 9 wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when a difference between the call priority value and a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a difference threshold.

13. The medium or media of claim 9 wherein the code configures the at least one processor for preventing interruption of the active call when a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a threshold level.

14. The medium or media of claim 9 wherein interrupting the active call comprises:

placing the active call on hold or initiating a conference call with the communication device, a second communication device on the active call, and a third communication device on the incoming call.

15. The medium or media of claim 9 wherein interrupting the active call comprises:

playing a predetermined message or sending a notification to at least one of;

the communication device and a second communication device on the active call, the predetermined message or the notification providing an indication that the active call will be interrupted.

16. The medium or media of claim 9 wherein the code configures the at least one processor for updating the call priority value associated with the respective caller profile based on a frequency of communication with the user that are associated with the respective caller profile.

17. A system comprising a communications device and a computer server, the communications device associated with a user and in communication with the computer server over a communications network, at least one of the communications device and the computer server being configured for:

receiving an incoming call for the communications device when the communication device is maintaining an active call;

determining a correspondence between caller identity information for the incoming call and a respective caller profile;

determining a call priority value based on the respective caller profile; and

when the call priority value meets an interrupt criterion, interrupting the active call.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one of the communications device and the computer server is configured for:

preventing interruption of the active call when a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a threshold level.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein interrupting the active call comprises:

playing a predetermined message or sending a notification to at least one of;

the communication device and a second communication device on the active call, the predetermined message or the notification providing an indication that the active call will be interrupted.