System and method for enhanced do-not-disturb

• US 9,020,116 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rondeau, David E., Brunton, Jill B., Toner, Victoria M., Fisher, Jenny Lou, Blair, Randall Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): ZENATI, AMAL S
• Application Number:
  US14/314,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20140308928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02, 379/210.02, 455/414.1, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

A system and method for incremental do-not-disturb. User input is received to activate the incremental do-not-disturb on a telephone. The incremental do-not-disturb is activated for a time period in response to receiving the user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb. Incoming calls are diverted during the time period in response to activating the incremental do-not-disturb.

Claims

1. A method for incremental do-not-disturb comprising:

receiving user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb on a telephone, the user input comprising one or more successive taps applied to the telephone;

activating the incremental do-not-disturb for a time period in response to receiving the user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb, the time period being determined at least in part by a number of the one or more successive taps; and

diverting incoming calls during the time period in response to activating the incremental do-not-disturb.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

decrementing the time period in response to receiving a secondary user input to decrease the incremental do-not-disturb.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

creating the time period based on the user input specifying a start time and an end time.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user input specifies days of the week that the time period is to be reocurringly initiated or events that activate the time period.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the incremental do-not-disturb is implemented utilizing user preferences, and wherein the user preferences specify phone numbers that are allowed to communicate with the telephone even during activation of the incremental do-not-disturb.

6. The method according to claim 1 comprising:

receiving a plurality of do-not-disturb activation signals, wherein each of the do-not-disturb activation signals represents a time increment added to the time period to generate a new time period.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user input is received through a secondary device in communication with the telephone.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

remaining in an incremental do-not-disturb state while the time period is active;

playing a message to callers associated with the incoming calls indicating unavailability of a user associated with the telephone and a time remaining in the time period; and

processing the incoming calls normally in response to the time period expiring.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user input is tactile input received through an accelerometer of the telephone.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

adding additional time to the time period in response to receiving additional user input.

11. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:

sending the incoming call to voicemail after playing the message.

12. A server enabling incremental do-not-disturb comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions;

a memory configured to store the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed by the processor to;

receive user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb for a telephone, the user input comprising one or more successive taps applied to the telephone;

activate the incremental do-not-disturb for a time period in response to receiving the user input to activate the do-not-disturb, the time period being determined at least in part by a number of the successive taps; and

divert incoming calls to the telephone during the time period in response to activating the increment do-not-disturb.

13. The server according to claim 12, wherein the set of instructions are executed to:

intercept the incoming calls and prevent the incoming calls from being received by the telephone.

14. The server according to claim 12, wherein the set of instructions are executed to:

play a message to parties associated with the incoming calls indicating unavailability of a user associated with the telephone and the time period remaining.

15. The server according to claim 12, wherein the set of instruction are executed to:

receive additional user input to increase or decrease the time period by a time increment.

16. A telephone implementing incremental do-not-disturb comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions;

a memory configured to store the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed by the processor to;

receive user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb for the telephone, wherein the user input is one or more successive taps applied to the telephone;

activate the incremental do-not-disturb for a time period in response to receiving the user input to activate the do-not-disturb; and

divert incoming calls to the telephone during the time period in response to activating the increment do-not-disturb.

17. The telephone according to claim 16, wherein the set of instructions are executed to:

play a message to parties associated with the incoming calls indicating unavailability of a user associated with the telephone and the time period remaining; and

send the incoming calls to voicemail in response to playing the message.

18. The telephone according to claim 16, wherein the set of instruction are executed to:

receive additional user input to increase or decrease the time period by a time increment.

19. The telephone according to claim 16, wherein the telephone is any of a Voice over Internet Protocol phone, analog phone, digital phone, or wireless phone.