Telecommunications services and apparatus regarding lost connectivity events

• US 7,130,620 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Suermondt, Henri Jacques, Forman, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/193,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 455/413, 455/416, 455/417, 455/517, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414, 455/445, 455/412, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/424 Arrangements for automatic redialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4283 Call holding circuits

Abstract

A telecommunications system and operations technique associated with unintentionally disconnected wireless communications. When a call is severed other than intentionally by the parties, value-added options are provided automatically. Recorded messages, call-backs, and similar options are appropriately distributed among the parties to the severed call. A method of doing business and appropriate system equipment and programming is described.

Claims

1. Telecommunication service method comprising:

conducting a telephone call between participants; and

in response to the telephone call being disconnected for a reason other than a hang-up event, prompting a first participant, from among the participants, to send a message to at least one other of the participants,

wherein the message is stored on a telephone being used by the first participant until telephone service is restored and subsequently transferred to the at least one other of the participants when telephone service is restored.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

determining the reason for the telephone call being disconnected by monitoring a wireless communication between the participants for signal fade disconnect events.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said message is selected from voicemail messaging or electronic text messaging or video messaging.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first participant is a cell phone user whose wireless connection has been terminated.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one other of the participants who receives the message comprises a person who initiated the telephone call and who uses caller-identification blocking.

6. Telecommunications services method comprising:

determining a disconnect of a telephone call between participants is due to a reason other than a hang-up event; and

automatically in response to said determination, querying a first participant, from among the participants, as to whether said first participant would like to transmit a message to an other one of said participants,

wherein the message is stored on a telephone being used by the first participant until telephone service is restored and subsequently transferred to the other one other of the participants when telephone service is restored.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the other one of the participants who receives the message initiated the telephone call and uses caller-identification blocking.

8. A telecommunications device, comprising:

means for determining if active connectivity with a telecommunication provider, during a telephone call, has been severed due to a signal fade event;

means for automatically giving a user of the device, in response to said determination, an option to send a message without re-establishing immediate connectivity with the telecommunication provider;

means for recording and storing said message; and

means for sending said message following re-connectivity between said device and said telecommunication provider.

9. A telecommunications device according to claim 8, wherein said means for sending the message automatically sends the message following re-connectivity between said device and said telecommunication provider.

10. Telecommunications services method comprising:

determining a disconnect of a telephone call between participants is due to a reason other than a hang-up event; and

automatically in response to said determination, querying at least one of said participants as to whether said at least one of said participants would like to transmit a message to an other one of said participants,

wherein the reason for the disconnect is a signal fade event which terminates a wireless connection of a telephone being used by said at least one of said participants, and wherein said telephone identifies the signal fade event and, in response, queries said at least one of said participants as to whether said at least one of said participants would like to transmit a message to said other one of said participants.

11. A method for execution by a telecommunications device, comprising:

determining if active connectivity between a telecommunications device and a telecommunication provider, during a telephone call, has been severed due to a signal fade event;

automatically giving a user of the telecommunications device, in response to said determination, an option to send a message without re-establishing immediate connectivity with the telecommunication provider;

recording and storing said message on the telecommunications device until connectivity between said telecommunications device and said telecommunication provider is restored; and

sending said message from the telecommunications device following re-connectivity between said telecommunications device and said telecommunication provider.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said message automatically is sent following re-connectivity between said telecommunications device and said telecommunication provider.

13. A telecommunication device for conducting telephone calls, comprising components configured to:

conduct a telephone call with an other party via a telecommunication provider;

determine if active connectivity with the telecommunication provider, during the telephone call, has been severed for a reason other than a hang-up event;

automatically provide a user of said telecommunication device, in response to said determination, an option to send a message to said other party without re-establishing immediate connectivity with the telecommunication provider;

record and store said message; and

send the message for delivery to the other party following re-connectivity between said telecommunication device and said telecommunication provider.

14. A telecommunication device according to claim 13, wherein said message automatically is sent following re-connectivity between said telecommunication device and said telecommunication provider.

15. A telecommunication device according to claim 13, wherein said message is selected from voicemail messaging or electronic text messaging or video messaging.