Call handling for incoming telephone calls

• US 8,498,397 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: Freeman, Karen, MacPhie, David Robert, Sheppard, Nasahn Adam, Short, Jason Edward, Georgiev, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Joseph J
• Application Number:
  US12/344,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20090175430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.16, 379372-37602
• US Class Current: 379/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/18 Comparators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42238 in systems with telephone lines with multiple users

Abstract

Provided is a method for handling telephone calls directed to a telephony connection associated with a plurality of telephone numbers, wherein incoming calls made to the plurality of telephone numbers are announced by different ring tones. The method comprises receiving over the telephony connection a signal carrying ring tone information indicative of an incoming call. The method further comprises processing the ring tone information to differentiate the ring tone currently conveyed in the telephony connection from other possible ring tones that the telephony connection can carry. The method still further comprises handling the incoming call on the basis of the differentiated ring tone. Also provided are a telephone system and a computer readable storage medium holding a program element.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium holding a program element for execution by a processor to implement a system for processing calls directed to a telephony connection, the program element comprising:

a) an input interface to receive a signal over the telephony connection conveying ring tone information indicative of an incoming call; and

b) a processing element coupled to the input interface for;

i. processing the ring tone information to differentiate a ring tone currently conveyed in the signal from other possible ring tones that the signal can convey, wherein to differentiate the ring tone, said processing comprises;

classifying the ring tone information; and

matching, using a comparison algorithm, the classification results against a plurality of stored ring tone patterns to identify a ring tone that most closely resembles the ring tone currently conveyed in the signal; and

ii. handling the incoming call on the basis of the differentiated ring tone, wherein the handling includes identifying a handset among a set of handsets to which the incoming call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.

2. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the processing element is operative for distinguishing an intended recipient of the call from among a plurality of recipients susceptible to receiving a call over the telephony connection.

3. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one handset in the set of handsets is a cordless handset.

4. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the handling includes directing the identified handset to generate an incoming call alert to notify a user of the incoming call.

5. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 4, wherein the incoming call alert includes an audible component.

6. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 5, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound.

7. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 4, wherein the incoming call alert includes a visual component.

8. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 7, wherein the visual component includes text based information.

9. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 4, wherein the incoming call alert provides a distinctive prompt allowing a user to differentiate the identified handset from other handsets in the set of handsets.

10. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound generated at the identified handset.

11. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound generated at the identified handset while the remaining handsets in the set of handsets are precluded from ringing.

12. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10, wherein the incoming call alert includes a first ring sound generated at the identified handset and a second ring sound that is audibly distinct from the first ring sound generated at one or more of the remaining handsets from the set of handsets.

13. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein if the identified handset does not answer the incoming call within a predetermined time, the processing including identifying a handset among the set of handsets other than the identified handset to which the incoming call is to be directed.

14. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the handling includes identifying a voice mail box among a set of voice mail boxes, to which the call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.

15. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14, wherein the handling includes selecting a voice mail prompt among a set of voice mail prompts on the basis of the differentiated ring tone, wherein each voice mail prompt inviting the originator of the call to leave a voice mail message, including playing to the originator of the call the selected voice mail prompt.

16. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the incoming call is a voice call.

17. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the incoming call is a call waiting based call.

18. A telephone system, comprising:

a) a base station having an input for connection to a telephony connection conveying ring tone information indicative of an incoming call;

b) a processing element coupled to the input for;

i. processing the ring tone information to differentiate a ring tone currently conveyed over the telephony connection from other possible ring tones that can be conveyed over the telephony connection, wherein to differentiate the ring

tone, said processing comprises;

classifying the ring tone information; and

matching, using a comparison algorithm, the classification results against a plurality of stored ring tone patterns to identify a ring tone that most closely resembles the ring tone currently conveyed over the telephony connection; and

ii. handling the incoming call on the basis of the differentiated ring tone, wherein the handling includes identifying a handset among a set of handsets to which the incoming call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone; and

c) at least one handset in communication with the base station at which an incoming call can be directed.

19. A telephone system as defined in claim 18, wherein the at least one handset is a cordless handset.

20. A telephone system as defined in claim 18, wherein the processing element is operative for distinguishing an intended recipient of the call from among a plurality of recipients susceptible to receiving a call over the telephony connection.

21. A telephone system as defined in claim 18, wherein the processing element is located in the base station.

22. A telephone system as defined in claim 18, including a set of handsets, the handling including selecting a handset among the set of handsets to which the incoming call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.

23. A telephone system as defined in claim 22, wherein the handling includes directing the selected handset to generate an incoming call alert to notify a user of the incoming call.

24. A telephone system as defined in claim 23, wherein the incoming call alert includes an audible component.

25. A telephone system as defined in claim 24, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound.

26. A telephone system as defined in claim 23, wherein the incoming call alert includes a visual component.

27. A telephone system as defined in claim 26, wherein the visual component includes text based information.

28. A telephone system as defined in claim 23, wherein the incoming call alert provides a distinctive prompt allowing a user to differentiate the selected handset from other handsets in the set of handsets.

29. A telephone system as defined in claim 28, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound generated at the selected handset.

30. A telephone system as defined in claim 29, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound generated at the selected handset while the remaining handsets in the set of handsets are precluded from ringing.

31. A telephone system as defined in claim 29, wherein the incoming call alert includes a first ring sound generated at the selected handset and a second ring sound that is audibly distinct from the first ring sound generated at one or more of the remaining handsets from the set of handsets.

32. A telephone system as defined in claim 22, wherein if the selected handset does not answer the incoming call within a predetermined time, the handling including identifying a handset among the set of handsets other than the selected handset to which the incoming call is to be directed.

33. A telephone system as defined in claim 18, wherein the incoming call is a voice call.

34. A telephone system as defined in claim 18, wherein the incoming call is a call waiting based call.

35. A method for handling telephone calls directed to a telephony connection associated with a plurality of telephone numbers, wherein incoming calls made to the plurality of telephone numbers are announced by different ring tones, the method comprising:

a) providing an input interface for receiving over the telephony connection a signal comprising ring tone information indicative of an incoming call;

b) providing a processing element for processing the ring tone information to differentiate a ring tone currently conveyed over the telephony connection from other possible ring tones that the telephony connection can convey, wherein to differentiate the ring tone, said processing comprises;

classifying the ring tone information; and

matching, using a comparison algorithm, the classification results against a plurality of stored ring tone patterns to identify a ring tone that most closely resembles the ring tone currently conveyed in the signal; and

c) handling the incoming call on the basis of the differentiated ring tone, wherein the handling includes identifying a handset among a set of handsets to which the incoming call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.

36. A method as defined in claim 35, further comprising the step of distinguishing an intended recipient of the call from among a plurality of recipients susceptible to receive a call over the telephony connection.

37. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the handling including identifying a handset among a set of handsets at which the incoming call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.

38. A method as defined in claim 37, wherein the handling includes directing the selected handset to generate an incoming call alert to notify a user of the incoming call.

39. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein the incoming call alert includes an audible component.

40. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound.

41. A method as defined in claim 38 wherein the incoming call alert includes a visual component.

42. A method as defined in claim 41, wherein the visual component includes text based information.

43. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein the incoming call alert provides a distinctive prompt allowing a user to differentiate the selected handset from other handsets in the set of handsets.

44. A method as defined in claim 43, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound generated at the selected handset.

45. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound generated at the selected handset while the remaining handsets in the set of handsets are precluded from ringing.

46. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the incoming call alert includes a first ring sound at the selected handset and a second ring sound that is audibly distinct from the first ring sound generated at one or more of the remaining handsets from the set of handsets.

47. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein if the selected handset does not answer the incoming call within a predetermined time, the handling including identifying a handset among the set of handsets other than the selected handset to which the incoming call is to be directed.

48. A method as defined in claim 35, including selecting a voice mail box among a set of voice mail boxes, to which the call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.

49. A method as defined in claim 48, including selecting a voice mail prompt among a set of voice mail prompts on the basis of the differentiated ring tone, wherein each voice mail prompt inviting the originator of the call to leave a voice mail message, the method including playing to the originator of the call the selected voice mail prompt.

50. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the incoming call is a voice call.

51. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the incoming call is a call waiting based call.

52. A computing apparatus comprising:

a) an input for connection to a telephony connection conveying ring tone information indicative of an incoming call;

b) a processing element coupled to the input for;

i. processing the ring tone information to differentiate a ring tone currently conveyed over the telephony connection from other possible ring tones that can be conveyed over the telephony connection, wherein to differentiate

the ring tone, said processing comprises;

classifying the ring tone information; and

matching, using a comparison algorithm, the classification results against a plurality of stored ring tone patterns to identify a ring tone that most closely resembles the ring tone currently conveyed over the telephony connection; and

ii. handling the incoming call on the basis of the differentiated ring tone, wherein the handling includes identifying a handset among a set of handsets to which the incoming call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.

53. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 52, wherein the processing element is operative for distinguishing an intended recipient of the call from among a plurality of recipients susceptible to receiving a call over the telephony connection.

54. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 52 incorporated within a base station.

55. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 52, wherein the handling including selecting a handset among a set of handsets to which the incoming call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.

56. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 55, wherein the handling includes directing the selected handset to generate an incoming call alert to notify a user of the incoming call.

57. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein the incoming call alert includes an audible component.

58. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 57, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound.

59. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein the incoming call alert includes a visual component.

60. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 59, wherein the visual component includes text based information.

61. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein the incoming call alert provides a distinctive prompt allowing a user to differentiate the selected handset from other handsets in the set of handsets.

62. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 61, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound generated at the selected handset.

63. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 62, wherein the incoming call alert includes a ring sound generated at the selected handset while the remaining handsets in the set of handsets are precluded from ringing.

64. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 63, wherein the incoming call alert includes a first ring sound generated at the selected handset and a second ring sound that is audibly distinct from the first ring sound generated at one or more of the remaining handsets from the set of handsets.

65. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 55, wherein if the selected handset does not answer the incoming call within a predetermined time, the handling including identifying a handset among the set of handsets other than the selected handset to which the incoming call is to be directed.

66. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 52, wherein the incoming call is a voice call.

67. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 52, wherein the incoming call is a call waiting based call.

68. A computing apparatus as defined in claim 52, wherein the handling includes identifying a voice mail box among a set of voice mail boxes, to which the call is to be directed on the basis of the differentiated ring tone.