Nonintrusive call notification method and system using content-specific information

• US 6,438,216 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1998
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Aktas, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/126,313
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.22, 379/93.15, 379/93.17, 379/142.08, 379/215.01, 379/202.01, 704/270, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/14.1, 370/260, 370/261, 709/204
• US Class Current: 379/88.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for enabling call notification for a user of a telephonic device, such as a telephone, computer or video conference system, include forming a notification message having content-specific information relating to the subject matter of interest to the calling party. Preferably, the notification message also includes caller identification. In one embodiment, the application of the method is restricted to call-waiting circumstances, but this is not critical. The content-specific information is acquired using automated processes, such as interactive voice recognition. Voice responses are converted to a proper text format for presentation on a display of the target telephonic device. The display of the notification message presents the content-specific information in a nonintrusive manner. The called party is thereby able to form an informed decision as to whether to answer the incoming call, interrupt an ongoing call, or forward the call and/or the notification message to a mailbox.

Claims

1. A method of providing call notification comprising steps of:

detecting an incoming call directed to a user of a target telephonic device;

utilizing automated processing to acquire information specific to intended subject matter of a conversation upon connection of said incoming call to said target telephonic device, such that content-specific information is acquired, including electronically converting said content-specific information from a first format to a second format, wherein said second format is compatible with a display capability of said target telephonic device, said first format and said second format being different formats, said step of utilizing automated processing including employing interactive voice recognition techniques for interrogating a calling party, including presenting a plurality of separate communications for soliciting a plurality of corresponding responses from said calling party, each of said responses being made in reply to a corresponding said communication;

visually displaying said content-specific information using said display capability of said target telephonic device; and

monitoring said target telephonic device for a signal to connect said incoming call to said target telephonic device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of acquiring content-specific information is implemented as a response to a step of determining that said target telephonic device is engaged in an on-going call.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of storing said content-specific information along with calling party information in memory as a response to not detecting said signal within a preset period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of utilizing automated processing includes acquiring said content-specific information as voice information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of utilizing automated processing includes employing speech-to-text conversion techniques to convert said voice information from a calling party to textual content-specific information formatted for compatibility with said display capability.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of visually displaying caller identification information generally simultaneously with said content-specific information, said caller identification information being indicative of a calling telephonic device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of detecting said incoming call includes recognizing an incoming video call to a video conferencing system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of visually displaying said content-specific information includes utilizing an idle telephone line when said target telephonic device is engaged in a telephone call on a first telephone line.

9. An automated method of providing call notification comprising steps of:

detecting unavailability of a target communication device to receive an incoming call;

using automated electronic techniques for interrogating a calling communication device, including interactively acquiring multiple voice responses from a calling party to determine information relating to subject matter of interest to said calling party at said calling communication device, at least a portion of said information being information other than caller identification and being received as speech responses, said automated electronic techniques being implemented within said target communication device;

displaying said information on a display of said target communication device, thereby enabling a called party at said target communication device to identify said subject matter of interest;

enabling said target communication device to accommodate receiving said incoming call; and

storing said information for retrieval if said target communication device does not receive said incoming call.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of displaying said information includes converting said speech responses from said calling party to a text format compatible with said display of said target communication device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of detecting said unavailability includes identifying an unavailable condition of said target communication device, said target communication device being a video conference system, a telephone or a personal computer equipped with telephony capabilities.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of displaying said information is executed while said target communication device remains in said unavailable condition.

13. An automated system for providing call notification comprising:

a communications server for detecting an incoming call directed to a target telephonic device having a display;

automated interrogation means for acquiring content-specific information relating to subject matter of interest to a caller of said incoming call, said content-specific information being attained from said caller as responses to answering a predetermined sequence of questions, at least a portion of said content-specific information being information other than call identification;

means, in communication with said display, for converting said content-specific information of said caller from a non-text format to a text format compatible with said display of said target telephonic device and for transmitting said text formatted content-specific information to said display; and

means for coupling said incoming call to said target telephonic device in response to a signal from said target telephonic device, said signal being subsequent to said transmission of said text formatted content-specific information to said display and being indicative of an availability to receive said incoming call.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said interrogation means has an idle state and an active state, said interrogation means being switched from said idle state to said active state only upon detection that said target telephonic device is in an unavailable condition when said incoming call is received at said communications server.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said interrogation means includes an interactive voice recognition device that is responsive to caller responses in a voice data format.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for converting includes a speech-to-text converter connected to said interactive voice recognition device to convert said caller responses to said text format.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein said communications server is connected for supporting a plurality of telephonic devices, including a video conference system.

18. A method of providing call notification comprising steps of:

detecting an incoming call directed to a user of a target telephonic device;

utilizing automated processing to acquire information specific to intended subject matter of a conversation upon connection of said incoming call to said target telephonic device, such that content-specific information is acquired, including;

(a) electronically formatting said content-specific information for compatibility with a display capability of said target telephonic device,

(b) detecting a text message generated by a calling party at a calling telephonic device, said text message being indicative of said intended subject matter, and

(c) monitoring signals related to said incoming call to detect said text message containing said content-specific information, said text message being generated by said calling party prior to initiating said incoming call;

visually displaying said content-specific information using said display capability of said target telephonic device; and

monitoring said target telephonic device for a signal to connect said incoming call to said target telephonic device.