Method and apparatus for monitoring telephone status

• US 8,027,448 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Alderucci, Dean P., Dickerson, John B., Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Kessman, Marc D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US11/316,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20060140350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 379/188, 379/199, 379/210.02, 379/207.12, 455/422, 455/418, 455/422.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 701/36
• US Class Current: 379/210.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/609 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/08 ISDN systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

The monitor is for monitoring the status of a first client telephone, and for sending this status information via a central server to an authorized second client telephone. The central server stores a database of registered client telephones and corresponding client telephones that the client may monitor. A user of a registered client telephone monitors in real time the telephone status of registered friends, family, or co-workers that have agreed to be monitored by the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an indication of a second telephone that is authorized to monitor a first telephone;

receiving a request from the second telephone to monitor the first telephone;

receiving a status, from the first telephone, which indicates whether the first telephone has a text messaging feature;

sending the status to the second telephone;

receiving a signal from the first telephone;

determining a GPS location of the first telephone based on the received signal; and

establishing that (1) while the first telephone is outside of the determined GPS location, calls to the first telephone from the second telephone are not to be blocked and (2) while the first telephone is at the determined GPS location, calls to the first telephone from the second telephone are to be blocked and if the status indicates a presence of the text messaging feature not blocking text messages to the first telephone from the second telephone.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the first telephone is in motion between a first GPS location and a second GPS location, the motion corresponding to vehicular motion; and

blocking text messages to the first telephone from the second telephone in response to determining affirmative vehicular motion.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first or second telephones are cellular telephones.

2. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an indication of a second telephone that is authorized to monitor a first telephone;

receiving a request from the second telephone to monitor the first telephone;

receiving a first signal from the first telephone;

determining a first location of the first telephone based on the first signal;

receiving a second signal from the first telephone, the second signal indicating that the first location is a blocked location between a first time and a second time;

in response to the second signal, establishing that while the first telephone is at the first location and between the first time and the second time, calls to the first telephone from the second telephone are to be blocked;

determining that the first telephone has moved from the first location; and

in response to determining that the first telephone has moved from the first location,

automatically transmitting to the second telephone a status indicating that the first telephone is available to receive calls.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining if the first telephone is in motion between a first GPS location and a second GPS location, the motion corresponding to vehicular motion; and

blocking text messages to the first telephone from the second telephone in response to determining affirmative vehicular motion.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the first or second telephones are cellular telephones.

3. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a signal from a first telephone, the signal indicating that a first location is a blocked location;

based on the signal, establishing that calls to the first telephone are to be blocked while the first telephone is in the first location;

receiving an indication of a second telephone that is authorized to monitor a first telephone;

receiving a request from the second telephone to monitor the first telephone;

sending the status of the first telephone to the second telephone indicating that calls to the first telephone are blocked in response to the first telephone being at the first location;

determining that the first telephone is at a second location;

transmitting to the second telephone an indication that the first telephone is available to receive calls in response to being at the second location.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call to the first telephone while the first telephone is at the first location and outside a predetermined time period; and

connecting the incoming call to the first telephone based on the first location and being outside the predetermined time period.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the first or second telephones are cellular telephones.

4. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a signal from a first telephone while the user is at a first location,

the signal indicating a preference of the user to have the first telephone be unavailable for receiving calls while the first telephone is in motion between a first location and a second location, the motion corresponding to vehicular motion;

establishing, based on the preference of the user, that the first telephone is to be unavailable for receiving calls while the first telephone is in motion between a first location and a second location;

receiving an indication of a second telephone that is authorized to monitor a first telephone;

receiving a request from the second telephone to monitor the first telephone;

sending the status of the first telephone to the second telephone indicating that calls to the first telephone are to be blocked;

determining that the first telephone has stopped motion between the first location and the second location; and

in response to determining that the first telephone has stopped motion between the first location and the second location,

automatically transmitting to the second telephone an indication that the first telephone is available to receive calls.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the first or second telephones are cellular telephones.