Methods and systems of call management

• US 8,615,220 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gaikwad, Umesh P., Patil, Sandeep R., Ramanathan, Sri, Trevathan, Matthew B., Jain, Bhushan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US13/102,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20120282890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 455436-444, 4555521-5531, 4554561-457, 4554141-4144, 455418-420, 455/445, 705 718- 724
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method implemented in a computer infrastructure includes: determining a current location of a mobile communication device; determining a route of a user associated with the mobile communication device; and determining mobile call rates for the user at locations along the route.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a computer infrastructure, comprising:

determining a current location of a mobile communication device;

determining a route of a user associated with the mobile communication device;

determining mobile call rates for the user at locations along the route;

providing information regarding the mobile call rates to the user;

storing cost saving information associated with the mobile call rates; and

generating a report based on the stored cost savings information,

wherein the information regarding the mobile call rates includes;

an option to the user to subscribe to a mobile calling plan; and

predefined distance information associated with one or more of the mobile call rates based on a current location of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the route comprises a first location, a second location, and travel path between the first and second locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the route comprises obtaining or receiving data defining the route from the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the mobile call rates comprises accessing at least one of coverage maps, rate maps, and rate tables of one or more mobile communications service providers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining the mobile call rates comprises comparing the at least one of coverage maps, rate maps, and rate tables to the route.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one zone along the route having a lower call rate than other locations along the route.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting data defining the at least one zone to the mobile communication device for display on a map of the route.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining an estimated time the user will arrive at the at least one zone; and

transmitting data defining the at least one zone and the estimated time to the mobile communication device for display on the map of the route.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one zone comprises a plurality of zones, and further comprising:

determining estimated times the user will arrive at respective ones of the plurality of zones; and

transmitting data defining the plurality of zones and the estimated times to the mobile communication device for display on the map of the route.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting data defining the at least one zone and the lower call rate to the mobile communication device for display as one of a table and lines of text.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the user is approaching a rate transition boundary along the route.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting data to the mobile communication device to alert the user that the user is approaching the rate transition boundary.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining the user is approaching the rate transition boundary is based on a current location of the user, an actual or estimated speed of the user, and one of a predetermined distance and a predetermined estimated travel time to the rate transition boundary.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the determined mobile call rates to a calendar associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising changing the calendar by rescheduling a call defined in the calendar to coincide with an estimated time the user will arrive at a location along the route having a lower call rate than other locations along the route.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the rescheduling is performed automatically without input from the user.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising suggesting the rescheduling to the user, receiving authorization for the rescheduling from the user, and performing the rescheduling after the receiving authorization.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein a service provider at least one of creates, maintains, deploys and supports the computer infrastructure.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein steps of claim 1 are provided by the service provider on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis.

20. A system implemented in hardware, comprising:

a processor executing a call manager that operates to;

determine master data associated with a user and a mobile communication device;

determine mobile call rates for the user at locations along a route based on the master data;

provide information regarding the mobile call rates to the user;

store cost saving information associated with the mobile call rates; and

generate a report based on the stored cost savings information,

wherein the information regarding the mobile call rates includes;

an option to the user to subscribe to a mobile calling plan; and

predefined distance information associated with one or more of the mobile call rates based on a current location of the user.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the master data comprises:

user current location data, data defining the route, user subscription information, and at least one of coverage maps, rate maps and rate tables of available service providers along the route.

22. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable storage medium having readable program code embodied in the storage device, the computer program product includes at least one component that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:

obtain master data associated with a user and a mobile communication device;

determine mobile call rates for the user at locations along a route based on the master data;

transmit data to the mobile communication device notifying the user of at least one of the determined mobile call rates;

provide information regarding the mobile call rates to the user;

store cost savings information associated with the mobile call rates; and

generate a report based on the stored costs savings information,

wherein the information regarding the mobile call rates includes;

an option to the user to subscribe to a mobile calling plan; and

predefined distance information associated with one or more of the mobile call rates based on a current location of the user.

23. The computer program product 22, wherein the at least one component is operable to:

compare the determined mobile call rates to a calendar associated with the user; and

change the calendar by rescheduling a call defined in the calendar to coincide with an estimated time the user will arrive at a location along the route having a lower call rate than other locations along the route.

24. A computer system for call management integrated with global positioning and a user calendar, the system comprising:

a CPU, a computer readable memory and a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to obtain master data associated with a user and a mobile communication device;

second program instructions to determine mobile call rates for the user at locations along a route based on the master data;

third program instructions to provide information regarding the mobile call rates;

fourth program instructions to transmit data to the mobile communication device notifying the user of at least one of the determined mobile call rates;

fifth program instructions to compare the determined mobile call rates to a calendar associated with the user;

sixth program instructions to change the calendar by rescheduling a call defined in the calendar to coincide with an estimated time the user will arrive at a location along the route having a lower call rate than other locations along the route;

seventh program instructions to store cost saving information associated with the mobile call rates; and

eighth program instructions to generate a report based on the stored costs savings information,

wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory;

the master data comprises;

user current location data, data defining the route, user subscription information, and at least one of coverage maps, rate maps and rate tables of available service providers along the route; and

the information regarding the mobile call rates includes;

an option to the user to subscribe to a mobile calling plan; and

predefined distance information associated with one or more of the mobile call rates based on a current location of the user.

25. A method of deploying a system for call management integrated with global positioning and a user calendar, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure operable to;

obtain master data associated with a user and a mobile communication device;

determine mobile call rates for the user at locations along a route based on the master data;

provide information regarding the mobile call rates to the user;

transmit data to the mobile communication device notifying the user of at least one of the determined mobile call rates;

compare the determined mobile call rates to a calendar associated with the user; and

change the calendar by rescheduling a call defined in the calendar to coincide with an estimated time the user will arrive at a location along the route having a lower call rate than other locations along the route;

store cost saving information associated with the mobile call rates; and

generate a report based on the stored costs savings information,

wherein the master data comprises;

user current location data, data defining the route, user subscription information, and at least one of coverage maps, rate maps and rate tables of available service providers along the route, and

wherein the information regarding the mobile call rates includes;

an option to the user to subscribe to a mobile calling plan; and

predefined distance information associated with one or more of the mobile call rates based on a current location of the user.