Emergency call forward based on location

• US 8,995,948 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Walker, David Ryan, Pasquero, Jerome, McKenzie, Donald Somerset McCulloch
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US13/599,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20140065997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/466, 455/41.1, 455/423, 455/418, 455/445, 455/456.1, 379/201.6, 370/250
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/006 Call diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A location-based call forwarding method comprises, in response to determining that an intended call recipient is unavailable to receive a call from a caller, identifying an alternate call recipient located within a predetermined proximity of a current location of the intended call recipient, and forwarding the call to the alternate call recipient. The alternate call recipient may be identified by determining a person with whom the intended recipient is meeting or an establishment where the intended recipient is situated. This information may be extracted from various sources such as a calendar, social network site, or device-generated location data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of location-based call forwarding, the method comprising:

in response to determining by a computing device that an intended call recipient is unavailable to receive a call from a caller, identifying an alternate call recipient who is currently located within a predetermined proximity of a current location of the intended call recipient; and

forwarding the call to the alternate call recipient.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

in response to determining that the intended call recipient is unavailable, notifying the caller that the intended call recipient is unavailable;

notifying the caller that the call is being forwarded to an alternate recipient; and

notifying the caller of the identity of the alternate call recipient.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein identifying the alternate call recipient comprises determining a name of a person with whom the intended call recipient is meeting or the name of an establishment where the intended call recipient is located, and then determining a telephone number associated with the person or establishment.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein identifying the alternate call recipient comprises determining a name of the alternate call recipient from a calendar entry of a calendar associated with the intended call recipient indicating that the intended call recipient is meeting with the alternate call recipient, and then determining a telephone number associated with the alternate call recipient.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein identifying the alternate call recipient comprises determining a name of an establishment from a calendar entry of a calendar associated with the intended call recipient indicating that the intended call recipient is at an event at the establishment, and then determining a telephone number associated with the establishment.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein identifying the alternate call recipient comprises determining a current location of the intended recipient from a calendar entry of a calendar associated with the intended recipient, identifying a person or establishment associated with that location, and then looking up a telephone number associated with the person or establishment.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein identifying the alternate call recipient comprises determining a current location of the intended recipient from a social network check-in status published on a social network site as part of an online personal profile associated with the intended recipient, identifying a person or establishment associated with that location, and then looking up a telephone number associated with the person or establishment.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein identifying the alternate call recipient comprises determining a current location from location data shared by a mobile device associated with the intended call recipient, identifying a person or establishment associated with that location, and then looking up a telephone number associated with the person or establishment.

9. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a wireless communications device cause the device to:

in response to determining that an intended call recipient is unavailable to receive a call from a caller, identify an alternate call recipient who is currently located within a predetermined proximity of a current location of the intended call recipient; and

forward the call to the alternate call recipient.

10. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 9 comprising:

in response to determining that the intended call recipient is unavailable, notifying the caller that the intended call recipient is unavailable;

notifying the caller that the call is being forwarded to an alternate recipient; and

notifying the caller of the identity of the alternate call recipient.

11. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 9 wherein identifying the alternate call recipient comprises determining a name of a person with whom the intended call recipient is meeting or the name of an establishment where the intended call recipient is located, and then determining a telephone number associated with the person or establishment.

12. A computing device comprising:

a memory coupled to a processor that is configured to determine that an intended call recipient is unavailable to receive a call from a caller,

wherein the processor is further configured to identify an alternate call recipient who is currently located within a predetermined proximity of a current location of the intended call recipient; and

wherein the processor is further configured to forward the call to the alternate call recipient.

13. The computing device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the processor is configured to:

notify the caller that the intended call recipient is unavailable;

notify the caller that the call is being forwarded to an alternate recipient; and

notify the caller of the identity of the alternate call recipient.

14. The computing device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the processor is configured to determine a name of a person with whom the intended call recipient is meeting or the name of an establishment where the intended call recipient is located, and then determine a telephone number associated with the person or establishment.