Intelligent call forwarding
First Claim
1. A method of providing an alternate communication path for telephone calls, the method comprising:
- automatically detecting a physical relationship between a telephone and a second electronic communication device;
comparing the detected physical relationship with a predetermined condition; and
causing a telephone call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device when the condition is met;
wherein automatically detecting a physical relationship between the telephone and the second electronic communication device comprises automatically detecting whether at least one of the telephone and the second electronic communication device is in motion, and wherein the predetermined condition includes consideration of whether or not at least one of the telephone and the second electronic communication device is in motion.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing alternate communication paths for telephone calls. Calls directed to a telephone are relayed to a second electronic communication device, which may be a second telephone, based on the physical relationship of the telephone and the second device. According to one aspect, the physical relationship is automatically detected and compared with one or more conditions. When one of the conditions is met, an incoming call directed to the telephone is relayed to the second electronic communication device. Detection of the physical relationship may include detecting whether the telephone and the second device are in close proximity, whether one or both of the telephone and the second device is moving, or other aspects of the relationship. Relaying a call to the second device may be accomplished by call forwarding, a ring-no-answer treatment, three-way calling, or other methods.
16 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of providing an alternate communication path for telephone calls, the method comprising:
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automatically detecting a physical relationship between a telephone and a second electronic communication device; comparing the detected physical relationship with a predetermined condition; and causing a telephone call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device when the condition is met; wherein automatically detecting a physical relationship between the telephone and the second electronic communication device comprises automatically detecting whether at least one of the telephone and the second electronic communication device is in motion, and wherein the predetermined condition includes consideration of whether or not at least one of the telephone and the second electronic communication device is in motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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14. A method of providing an alternate communication path for telephone calls, the method comprising:
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automatically detecting a physical relationship between a telephone and a second electronic communication device; comparing the detected physical relationship with a predetermined condition, wherein the predetermined condition includes consideration of one or more criteria selected from the group consisting of a.) whether or not at least one of the telephone and the second electronic communication device is in motion, b.) whether or not the telephone can detect the second electronic communication device through the local wireless connection directly between the telephone and the second electronic communication device and, c.) whether or not the telephone and the second electronic communication device are widely separated; and causing a telephone call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device when the condition is met; wherein the second electronic communication device does not include voice capability, and wherein causing a telephone call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device further comprises; causing at least some audio content of the telephone call to be converted to textual information; and causing the textual information to be sent to the second electronic communication device.
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16. A telephone, comprising:
- a transceiver for communicating with a telephone switching network;
a user interface; a processor; and a memory;
wherein the memory holds instructions that when executed by the processor cause the first telephone to;obtain from an external source an indication that, based on the physical relationship of the first telephone and a second electronic communication device as determined by the external source, incoming calls directed to the first telephone should be relayed to a second electronic communication device, wherein the indication that incoming calls should be relayed is based on one or more criteria selected from the group consisting of a.) whether or not at least one of the telephone and the second electronic communication device is in motion and b.) whether or not the telephone and the second electronic communication device are widely separated; and based at least in part on the obtained indication, cause an incoming call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a transceiver for communicating with a telephone switching network;
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23. A telephone, comprising:
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a transceiver for communicating with a telephone switching network; a user interface; a processor; and a memory;
wherein the memory holds instructions that when executed by the processor cause the first telephone to;obtain information about the physical relationship of the telephone and a second electronic communication device, wherein at least some information about the physical relationship is derived from the status of a local wireless connection directly between the telephone and the second electronic communication device; and based at least in part on a determination from the obtained information that the telephone cannot detect the presence of the second electronic communication device through the local wireless connection, cause an incoming call directed to the telephone to be relayed to the second electronic communication device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification