Graphical user-interface for terminals with visual call progress indicator

• US 8,737,271 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2009
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Forsberg, Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PARTHKUMAR
• Application Number:
  US13/322,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20120069775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,821 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/352, 370/394, 709/221, 709/242, 455/412.1, 714/46, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems

Abstract

In one aspect, a user terminal is configured to access an IMS network, and to obtain from the network an indication of a current dial-tone condition of the terminal. The terminal displays a graphical user-interface, GUI, that includes a visual indication of the current dial-tone condition of the terminal. In another aspect Application Server function in an IMS network is configured to provide information to a user terminal regarding a current dial-tone condition such that the user terminal is able to display an indication of the current dial-tone also known as call progress tone. Examples given in the application are dial-tone aka ring-back tone, message waiting tone and tones indicating that the user has activated call forwarding unconditional or call diversion. In another aspect a method of enabling a user of a user terminal accessing an IMS network to be informed of a current dial-tone condition of the user terminal includes: providing the user terminal with information regarding the current dial-tone condition; and, based on the obtained information, displaying the current dial-tone condition on a graphical user-interface on the user terminal.

Claims

1. A user terminal configured to access an IMS network, to obtain from the network an indication of a current dial-tone condition of the terminal, wherein said current dial-tone condition is one of a set of dial-tone conditions that includes a special condition dial-tone indicating an active CDIV, Communication Forward Unconditional, CFU, condition, and to display a graphical user-interface, GUI, that includes a visual indication of the current dial-tone condition of the terminal including, when the current dial-tone condition is the special condition dial-tone indicating the active CDIV CFU condition, a visual indication of the active CDIV CFU condition, wherein the user terminal is configured as a client of an Application Server that interacts with the client by means of an interface that allows the client to manipulate dial-tone service-related data associated with the Application Server, and wherein the user terminal is operable to send a request to the network to obtain the indication of the current dial-tone condition of the terminal.

2. The user terminal of claim 1, wherein the set of dial tone conditions also includes a standard dial-tone, and a message-waiting dial-tone.

3. The user terminal of claim 1, wherein the dial-tone condition displayed is determined from dial-tone information provided in a Public Switched Telephone System, PSTN, Emulation Subsystem, PES format.

4. The user terminal of claim 3, wherein the dial-tone information is provided to the user from an application server, AS.

5. The user terminal of claim 4 configured to obtain the dial-tone information from the AS when the user registers with the IMS or when the user creates, or activates a Communication Diversion, CDIV, Communication Forward Unconditional, CFU rule.

6. An Application Server, AS, function in an IMS network configured to provide information to a user terminal accessing the IMS network regarding a current dial-tone condition of the user in response to user registration with the IMS network, in response to creation or activation of a Communication Diversion, CDIV, Communication Forward Unconditional, CFU rule by the user, and in response to deactivation of a CDIV CFU rule by the user, such that the user terminal is able to display an indication of the current dial-tone including, when the CDIV CFU rule has been created or activated, a visual indication of the created or activated CDIV CFU rule, wherein the Application Server is configured to interact with a user terminal configured as a client, and wherein interactions with the client are by means of an interface that allows the client to manipulate dial-tone service-related data associated with the Application Server, and wherein the Application Server is configured to supply the indication of the current dial-tone condition of the terminal in response to a request.

7. The application server of claim 6 configured to determine the dial-tone condition of the user terminal by use of a Public Switched Telephone System, PSTN, Emulation Subsystem, PES.

8. A method of enabling a user of a user terminal accessing an IMS network to be informed of a current dial-tone condition of the user equipment terminal, the method comprising:

determining the current dial-tone condition for the user from a set of dial-tone conditions that includes a special dial-tone indicating an active Communication Diversion, CDIV, Communication Forward Unconditional, CFU, condition;

providing the user terminal with information regarding the current dial-tone condition;

based on the provided information displaying the current dial-tone condition on a graphical user-interface on the user terminal including, when the current dial-tone condition is the special dial-tone indicating the active CDIV CFU condition, displaying a visual indication of the active CDIV CFU condition, configuring the user terminal as a client of an Application Server that interacts with the client by means of an interface;

the client using the interface to manipulate dial-tone service-related data associated with the Application Server; and

the user terminal sending a request to the network to obtain the indication of the current dial-tone condition of the terminal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the dial-tone condition information is provided in a Public Switched Telephone System, PSTN, Emulation Subsystem, PES, format.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the dial-tone information is provided to the user from an application server, AS.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the current dial-tone condition information is provided to the user terminal in response to user registration with the IMS network, or in response to creation or activation of a Communication Diversion, CDIV, Communication Forward Unconditional, CFU rule by the user.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing an indication that the current dial-tone condition is normal in response to de-activation of a CDIV CFU rule by the user.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the set of dial tone conditions also includes one or more of:

a standard dial-tone, and a message-waiting dial-tone.