Method and system for processing incoming calls on a communication unit

• US 6,745,040 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, John
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US09/891,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/566, 455/550.1, 455/567, 455/414.1, 455/458, 455/459
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• 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: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A method is provided for a wireless message receiving apparatus to selectively and independently respond to received messages having multiple directory numbers associated therewith. Each directory number associated with the wireless communication unit is considered to be associated with one of a plurality of user personas or identities. For example, a first directory number may be associated with a “worker” identity, a second directory number may be associated with a “homemaker” identity” and so on. When a caller dials one of the directory numbers, the caller is considered to be accessing the associated user persona. The communication unit, upon receiving a call, responsively identifies the persona that is being accessed and independently responds in accordance with a pre-stored general disposition instruction.

Claims

1. A method of responding to calls received by a communication unit that receives calls via two or more directory numbers, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving from a caller a call over one of said two or more directory numbers;

b) identifying the one of the two or more directory numbers over which the call is received;

c) identifying the calling number from which the call is placed;

d) determining whether the call from the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is subject to an exception disposition instruction;

e) where it is determined that the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is not subject to an exception disposition instruction in step d, responding to the call by performing a general disposition instruction for the identified one directory number; and

f) where it is determined that the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is subject to an exception disposition instruction in step d, responding to the call by performing the exception disposition instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the general disposition instruction is one selected from the group of a call forwarding instruction and an instruction to use a particular ring tone when connecting the call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication unit is one selected from the group of a cellular telephone, a pager, a pda device, a server and a wired telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the calling number from which the call is placed includes determining the calling number using caller ID data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the call from the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is subject to an exception disposition instruction comprises consulting a memory comprising exception disposition instructions each associated with one of the directory numbers and an exception number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining whether the call from the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is subject to an exception disposition instruction comprises consulting the memory to determine whether an exception disposition instruction is associated in the memory with an exception number corresponding to the identified calling number and the identified one directory number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of responding to the call by performing a general disposition instruction for the identified one directory number in step e comprises consulting a memory to determine a general disposition instruction associated with the identified one directory number.

8. A communication unit responsive to a call from a caller at a calling number and received via one of two or more directory numbers, the communication unit comprising a processor, the processor a) identifying the one of the two or more directory numbers over which the call is received, b) identifying the calling number from which the call is placed and c) determining whether the call from the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is subject to an exception disposition instruction, wherein where the processor determines that the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is not subject to an exception disposition instruction, the processor responds to the call by initiating a general disposition instruction for the identified one directory number and wherein where the processor determines that the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is subject to an exception disposition instruction, the processor responds to the call by performing the exception disposition instruction.

9. The communication unit of claim 8, wherein the communication unit is one selected from the group of a cellular telephone, a pager, a pda device, a server and a wired telephone.

10. The communication unit of claim 8, wherein the processor identifies the calling number from which the call is placed using caller ID data received with the call.

11. The communication unit of claim 8, wherein the processor determines whether the call from the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is subject to an exception disposition instruction by consulting a memory comprising exception disposition instructions each associated with one of the directory numbers and an exception number.

12. The communication unit of claim 11, wherein the processor determines whether the call from the identified calling number to the identified one directory number is subject to an exception disposition instruction by consulting the memory to determine whether an exception disposition instruction is associated in the memory with an exception number corresponding to the identified calling number and the identified one directory number.

13. The communication unit of claim 8, wherein responding to the call by performing a general disposition instruction for the identified one directory number by the processor comprises consulting a memory to determine a general disposition instruction associated with the identified one directory number.