Intelligent handling of message refusal

• US 7,706,516 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Seligmann, Doree Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah; Olisa
• Application Number:
  US10/262,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,764 Days
• Field of Search: 379/57, 379/88.18, 379/88.21, 379/215, 379/88.15, 379/88.13, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/214.01, 379/201.06, 379/201.07, 379/207.08, 379/209.01, 379/210.01, 379/211.01, 379/88.12, 379/84, 379/70, 455/401, 455/404.2, 455/567, 455/557, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/417, 455/466, 709/228, 709/201, 709/225, 370/409
• US Class Current: 379/201.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• 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 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

An apparatus for intelligently responding when a user refuses an incoming message at a telecommunications terminal is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiments, the apparatus comprises a processor that prompts the user to optionally specify (i) one or more acceptable alternative message delivery mechanisms (e.g., email, text chat, etc.), and/or (ii) one or more alternative devices (e.g., pager, PDA, etc.) when a user refuses an incoming message. For example, a user in a noisy environment who refuses a voice telephone call might specify the following as alternative delivery mechanisms and devices: short message service (SMS) on the user'"'"'s pager, text chat on the same device as the first message, and email on the user'"'"'s personal digital assistant (PDA).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving a first signal associated with a first message sent via a first message type addressed to a telecommunications terminal; and

a processor for prompting the sender of said first signal to send a second message via a second message type when said first signal is refused at said telecommunications terminal;

wherein said processor automatically selects said second message type from a plurality of message types based on an ambient environmental property at said telecommunications terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a private branch exchange.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a central office switch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications terminal comprises said apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selection of said second message type is also based on a physiological property of the user of said telecommunications terminal.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving a first signal associated with a first message sent via a first message type addressed to a first telecommunications terminal; and

a processor for prompting the sender of said first signal to send a second message to a second telecommunications terminal when said first signal is refused at said first telecommunications terminal;

wherein said processor automatically selects said second telecommunications terminal from a plurality of telecommunications terminals based on an ambient environmental property at said first telecommunications terminal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the selection of said second telecommunications terminal is also based on a physiological property of the user of said first telecommunications terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus is a private branch exchange.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus is a central office switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said telecommunications terminal comprises said apparatus.