System and method for indicating the priority of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls

• US 7,333,496 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2001
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Labhesh, Sarkar, Shantanu, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam; Phirin
• Application Number:
  US10/037,006
• Time in Patent Office: 2,241 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/395.42
• 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 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method for indicating the priority of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call includes receiving a dialed number for a connection, generating a call set up request including the dialed number, receiving a priority for the call based on user input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, generating a priority indicator based on the priority, and transmitting the call setup request and priority indicator to a destination device.

Claims

1. A method for indicating a priority of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, comprising:

receiving a dialed number for a connection;

generating a call setup request including the dialed number;

receiving a caller-specified priority for the call based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority is independent of a call recipient;

accessing a rule base to validate the priority;

generating a priority indicator based on the priority;

negating the priority indicator if determined invalid based on the rule base; and

transmitting the call setup request and priority indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving an alerting phrase from a user; and

transmitting the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority is high.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority is low.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller input is received after the call setup request has been transmitted.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller input is received as a prefix to the dialed number.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the priority in response to at least activation of a button on an input device by a user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting a user for the priority with an automated system.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the priority in response to at least a spoken input sound recognized by voice recognition logic.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating the priority at a calling party device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating the priority at a called party device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding both calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

16. A method for indicating a priority of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, comprising:

receiving a call setup request to a dialed number;

receiving a caller-specified priority indicator for a connection based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority indicator is independent of a call recipient;

processing the call setup request to set up the connection; and

transmitting the priority indicator for delivery to a destination device for indication to the call recipient.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving an alerting phrase from a user; and

transmitting the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the priority is high.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the priority is low.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the caller input is received after the call setup request has been processed.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the caller input is received as a prefix to the dialed number.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

accessing a rule base to validate the priority; and

negating the priority indicator if determined invalid based on the rule base.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a combination of calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

27. A method for indicating a priority of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, comprising:

ringing a dialed number to establish a connection with a calling party;

receiving a caller-specified priority indicator for the connection based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority indicator is independent of a call recipient;

indicating to the call recipient the priority of the connection.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving an alerting phrase from a user; and

transmitting the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the priority is high.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the priority is low.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

accessing a rule base to validate the priority; and

indicating the priority if valid.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the rule base is based on the statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a combination of calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the priority is indicated by a distinctive ring.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the priority is indicated by a flashing light.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the priority is indicated by a display on an LCD display.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the priority is indicated by a spoken phrase.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the spoken phrase is a pre-recorded voice file.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the spoken phrase is a real-time uttered phrase of the calling party.

42. A system, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

,

the logic being operable to receive a dialed number for a connection;

generate a call setup request including the dialed number;

receive a caller-specified priority for the call based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority is independent of a call recipient;

access a rule base to validate the priority;

generate a priority indicator based on the priority;

negate the priority indicator if determined invalid based on the rule base; and

transmit the call setup request and priority indicator.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

44. The system of claim 43, the logic further operable to:

receive an alerting phrase from a user; and

transmit the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the priority is high.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein the priority is low.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein the caller input is received after the call setup request has been transmitted.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein the caller input is received as a prefix to the dialed number.

49. The system of claim 42, the logic further operable to generate the priority in response to at least activation of a button on an input device by a user.

50. The system of claim 42, the logic further operable to prompt a user for the priority with an automated system.

51. The system of claim 42, the logic further operable to generate the priority in response to at least a spoken input recognized by voice recognition logic.

52. The system of claim 42, the logic further operable to validate the priority at a calling party device.

53. The system of claim 42, the logic further operable to validate the priority at a called party device.

54. The system of claim 42, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

55. The system of claim 42, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a combination of calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

56. The system of claim 42, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

57. A system, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

,

the logic being operable to receive a call setup request to a dialed number;

receive a caller-specified priority indicator for a connection based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority indicator is independent of a call recipient;

process the call setup request to set up the connection; and

transmit the priority indicator for delivery to a destination device for indication to the call recipient.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

59. The system of claim 57, the logic further operable to:

receive an alerting phrase from a user; and

transmit the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein a priority is high.

61. The system of claim 57, wherein a priority is low.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein the caller input is received after the call setup request has been processed.

63. The system of claim 57, wherein the caller input is received as a prefix to the dialed number.

64. The system of claim 57, the logic further operable to:

access a rule base to validate a priority;

negate the priority indicator if determined invalid based on the rule base.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a combination of calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

67. The system of claim 64, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

68. A system, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

the logic being operable to ring a dialed number to establish a connection with a calling party;

receive a caller-specified priority indicator for the connection based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority indicator is independent of a call recipient;

indicate to the call recipient a priority of the connection.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

70. The system of claim 69, the logic further operable to:

receive an alerting phrase from a user; and

transmit the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

71. The system of claim 68, wherein the priority is high.

72. The system of claim 68, wherein the priority is low.

73. The system of claim 68, the logic further operable to:

access a rule base to validate the priority; and

indicate the priority if valid.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

75. The system of claim 73, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a combination of calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

76. The system of claim 73, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

77. The system of claim 73, wherein the priority is indicated by a distinctive ring.

78. The system of claim 73, wherein the priority is indicated by a flashing light.

79. The system of claim 73, wherein the priority is indicated by a display on an LCD display.

80. The system of claim 73, wherein the priority is indicated by a spoken phrase.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the spoken phrase is a pre-recorded voice file.

82. The system of claim 80, wherein the spoken phrase is a real-time uttered phrase of a calling party.

83. A system, comprising:

a means for receiving a dialed number for a connection;

a means for generating a call setup request including the dialed number;

a means for receiving a caller-specified priority for a call based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority is independent of a call recipient;

a means for accessing a rule base to validate the priority;

a means for generating a priority indicator based on the priority;

a means for negating the priority indicator if determined invalid based on the rule base; and

a means for transmitting the call setup request and priority indicator.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

85. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

a means for receiving an alerting phrase from a user; and

a means for transmitting the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

86. The system of claim 83, wherein the priority is high.

87. The system of claim 83, wherein the caller input is received after the call setup request has been processed.

88. The system of claim 83, wherein the caller input is received as a prefix to the dialed number.

89. The system of claim 83, further comprising a means for generating the priority in response to at least activation of a button on an input device.

90. The system of claim 83, further comprising a means for prompting a user for the priority with an automated system.

91. The system of claim 83, further comprising a means for generating the priority in response to at least a spoken input recognized by voice recognition logic.

92. The system of claim 83, further comprising a means for validating the priority at a calling party device.

93. The system of claim 83, further comprising a means for validating the priority at a called party device.

94. The system of claim 83, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

95. The system of claim 83, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a combination of calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

96. The system of claim 83, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

97. A system, comprising:

a means for receiving a call setup request to a dialed number;

a means for receiving a caller-specified priority indicator for a connection based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority indicator is independent of a call recipient;

a means for processing the call setup request to set up the connection; and

a means for transmitting the priority indicator for delivery to a destination device for indication to the call recipient.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

99. The system of claim 98, further comprising:

a means for receiving an alerting phrase from a user; and

a means for transmitting the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

100. The system of claim 97, wherein a priority is high.

101. The system of claim 97, wherein a priority is low.

102. The system of claim 97, wherein the caller input is received after the call setup request has been processed.

103. The system of claim 97, wherein the caller input is received as a prefix to the dialed number.

104. The system of claim 97, further comprising:

a means for accessing a rule base to validate the priority; and

a means for negating the priority indicator if determined invalid based on the rule base.

105. The system of claim 104, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

106. The system of claim 104, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a combination of calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

107. The system of claim 104, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

108. A system, comprising:

a means for ringing a dialed number to establish a connection with a calling party;

a means for receiving a caller-specified priority indicator for the connection based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority indicator is independent of a call recipient;

a means for indicating to the call recipient a priority of the connection.

109. The system of claim 108, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE).

110. The system of claim 109, further comprising:

a means for receiving an alerting phrase from a user; and

a means for transmitting the alerting phrase with the priority indicator.

111. The system of claim 108, wherein the priority is high.

112. The system of claim 108, wherein the priority is low.

113. The system of claim 108, further comprising:

a means for accessing a rule base to validate the priority; and

a means for indicating the priority if valid.

114. The system of claim 113, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information gathered regarding a calling party device.

115. The system of claim 113, wherein the rule base is based on statistical information regarding a combination of calling and called parties'"'"' devices.

116. The system of claim 113, wherein the rule base is based on input provided by a user at a called party device.

117. The system of claim 113, wherein the priority is indicated by a distinctive ring.

118. The system of claim 113, wherein the priority is indicated by a flashing light.

119. The system of claim 113, wherein the priority is indicated by a display on an LCD display.

120. The system of claim 113, wherein the priority is indicated by a spoken phrase.

121. The system of claim 120, wherein the spoken phrase is a pre-recorded voice file.

122. The system of claim 120, wherein the spoken phrase is a real-time uttered phrase by the calling party.

123. A method for indicating a priority of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, comprising:

receiving contemporaneously with placement of a call a caller-specified priority for the call, wherein the priority is independent of a call recipient; and

communicating the caller-specified priority as part of placement of the call for indication of the priority to the call recipient.

124. The method of claim 123, further comprising blocking indication of the priority based on input provided by the call recipient.

125. A method for indicating the priority of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, comprising:

receiving a dialed number for a connection;

generating a call setup request including the dialed number;

receiving a caller-specified priority for the call based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority is independent of a call recipient;

generating a priority indicator based on the priority, wherein the priority indicator is an information element (IE);

receiving an alerting phrase from a user; and

transmitting the call setup request, the priority indicator, and the alerting phrase.

126. A method for indicating the priority of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, comprising:

receiving a dialed number for a connection;

generating a call setup request including the dialed number;

receiving a caller-specified priority for the call based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority is independent of a call recipient;

generating the priority in response to at least activation of a button on an input device by a user;

generating a priority indicator based on the priority; and

transmitting the call setup request and priority indicator.

127. A method for indicating the priority of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, comprising:

receiving a dialed number for a connection;

generating a call setup request including the dialed number;

receiving a caller-specified priority for the call based on a caller input provided contemporaneously with the dialed number, wherein the priority is independent of a call recipient;

generating the priority in response to at least a spoken input sound recognized by voice recognition logic;

generating a priority indicator based on the priority; and

transmitting the call setup request and priority indicator.