Unified messaging/call routing configuration using palmtop computer

• US 7,319,744 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Soriano, Fermin, Arnold, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/775,321
• Time in Patent Office: 2,540 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/205, 709/203, 379/201.12, 379/207.02, 379/207.03, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/201.03, 379/119, 379/201.01, 379/88.13, 340/815.4, 455/445, 455/555, 361/681
• US Class Current: 379/201.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• 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 of routing telephone calls, emails and faxes using a palmtop computer. Using a date book forming a part of a personal information manager application of a palmtop computer, the user enters an appointment into the date book. Such an appointment has a starting and an ending time. The user then selects (either at the time of entry of the appointment or after receipt of an alarm reminder of the appointment) a destination telephone number for routing of telephone calls between the starting time and the ending time. This selection can be in the form of a menu selection of a predetermined profile for routing telephone calls. The palmtop computer then sends a representation of the destination telephone number, the starting time and the ending time to a telephone call server (and/or email server and/or fax server), so that the telephone call server routes telephone calls to the destination telephone number between the starting time and the ending time.

Claims

1. A method of controlling routing of telephone calls and communications in a portable computer, comprising the steps of:

providing a date book as part of a personal information manager application operating on the portable computer;

outputting, on the portable computer, a date book alarm with an audible alert from the date book to alert a user of a particular appointment;

receiving, on said portable computer, an acceptance of said date book alarm;

outputting, on said portable computer, a plurality of routing profiles when said user accepts said date book alarm, wherein a routing profile defines one or more rules for routing incoming telephone calls to one or more telephone numbers associated with said user;

receiving, on said portable computer, a selected routing profile for said particular appointment;

outputting, on said portable computer, said selected routing profile and information relating to said particular appointment; and

receiving, on a telephone server, said selected routing profile and said information relating to said particular appointment;

directing, on said telephone server, a plurality of calls using active profiles at a time of receipt of each call, wherein said active profiles comprises said selected routing profile and said information relating to said particular appointment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the audio alert indicates that it is time for said particular appointment.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said date book alarm comprises a visual alert that it is time for said particular appointment.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, on said portable computer, a new appointment;

outputting, on said palmtop computer, a data entry form to permit said user to establish a routing profile for said new appointment;

outputting, on said portable computer, said established routing profile and information relating to said new appointment to a telephone server, and

wherein active profiles on said telephone server further comprises said established routing profile and said information relating to said new appointment.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of routing profiles comprises a destination phone number.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said destination phone number is selected from a group of phone numbers associated with said user.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein one or more of said plurality of routing profiles further comprises a source phone number.

8. A method of controlling communication routing in a portable computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving, on a portable computer, a new appointment;

outputting, on said portable computer, a data entry form to permit said user to establish a routing profile for said new appointment, wherein said routing profile defines one or more rules for routing incoming telephone calls to one or more telephone numbers associated with a user of said portable computer between a starting time and an ending time; and

outputting, on said portable computer, said established routing profile and information relating to said new appointment to a telephone server for activation by said telephone server during a time indicated by said information relating to said new appointment.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said established routing profile comprises a destination phone number.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said destination phone number is selected from a group of phone numbers associated with said user.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said established routing profile further comprises a source phone number.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein said established information related to said new appointment includes a start time and an end time.

13. A method of controlling communication routing in a portable computer, comprising the steps of:

outputting, on a portable computer, a date book alarm to audibly alert a user of a particular appointment;

receiving, on said portable computer, an acceptance of said date book alarm;

outputting, on said portable computer, a user interface that enables said user to select from a plurality of routing profiles, each of said plurality of routing profiles defining one or more rules for routing incoming telephone calls to one or more telephone numbers associated with said user; and

outputting, on said palmtop computer, an indication of a user selection of a routing profile and information relating to said particular appointment to a telephone server for control of incoming calls to said user during said particular appointment.