Call forwarding methods and systems

• US 9,078,078 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fine, Lawrence Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US13/233,582
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412- 423, 455/415, 455417-421, 455/432.3, 455/435.1, 455/455, 4554561-4563, 4554565-4566, 455/459, 455461-462, 455507-508, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/561, 455/567, 4555691-5692, 455/575.1, 455/575.9, 455/432.1, 455433-434, 455/445, 455/517, 455/555, 455557-558, 455/575.2, 37920106-20108, 379/207.02, 379/207.11, 37921101-21102, 379/212.01, 379/428.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A call-forwarding method that is implemented using a computer includes storing a profile that is associated with a mobile communications device and at least one additional forwarding destination using the computer; receiving a status indicator; receiving a call that is directed to an identifier that is associated with the profile; and selectively routing the call to the mobile communications device or the additional forwarding destination, based on the status indicator and the profile.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, by a computer, a profile that is associated with a mobile communications device;

receiving, by the computer, a location indicator;

receiving, by the computer, a status indicator indicating a movement of the mobile communications device detected by an accelerometer of the mobile communications device;

receiving a call that is directed to an identifier associated with the profile;

determining if the mobile communications device is within a predetermined range of at least one additional forwarding destination that is specified by the profile based on the location indicator;

if the mobile communications device is not within the predetermined range of any of the at least one additional forwarding destination, routing, by the computer, the call to the mobile communications device; and

if the mobile communications device is within the predetermined range of the at least one additional forwarding destination, selectively routing, by the computer and based on the status indicator, the call to the mobile communications device or to the at least one additional forwarding destination, wherein selectively routing the call to the mobile communications device or to the at least one additional forwarding destination comprises;

if the status indicator indicates that the mobile communications device is moving, routing the call to the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location indicator includes latitude and longitude information for the mobile communications device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively routing the call to the mobile communications device or to the at least one additional forwarding destination comprises:

if the status indicator indicates that the mobile communications device is not moving, routing the call to one or more of the at least one additional forwarding destination.

5. A method comprising:

storing, by a computer, a profile that is associated with a mobile communications device and at least one additional forwarding destination using the computer;

receiving, by the computer, a location indicator;

receiving, by the computer, a status indicator, wherein the status indicator indicates whether a communications signal between the mobile communications device and an external device is active or inactive;

receiving a call that is directed to an identifier that is associated with the profile;

determining, by the computer, if the mobile communications device is within a predetermined range of the at least one additional forwarding destination based on the location indicator;

if the mobile communications device is not within the predetermined range of the at least one additional forwarding destination, routing, by the computer, the call to the mobile communications device; and

if the mobile communications device is within the predetermined range of the at least one additional forwarding destination, selectively routing, by the computer and based on the status indicator, the call to the mobile communications device or to the at least one additional forwarding destination.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selectively routing, by the computer and based on the status indicator, the call to the mobile communications device or to the at least one additional forwarding destination comprises routing the call to the mobile communications device if the status indicator indicates that the communications signal between the mobile communications device and the external device is active.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the external device is a communications headset.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the external device is a vehicle-based hands free communications system.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the external device is a wireless network device.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein selectively routing, by the computer and based on the status indicator, the call to the mobile communications device or to the at least one additional forwarding destination comprises routing the call to the mobile communications device if the status indicator indicates that the communications signal between the mobile communications device and the external device is inactive.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the external device is a personal computer.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the external device is a wireless network router.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifier is a telephone number.

14. A method comprising:

storing, by a computer, a profile that is associated with a mobile communications device and at least one additional forwarding destination using the computer;

receiving, by the computer, a location indicator from the mobile communications device;

receiving, by the computer, a status indicator from the mobile communications device, wherein the status indicator indicates whether a communications signal between the mobile communications device and an external device is active or inactive;

requesting, by the computer, an updated location indicator in response to a change of the status indicator;

receiving a call that is directed to an identifier that is associated with the profile;

determining, by the computer and based on the updated location indicator, if the mobile communications device is within a predetermined range of the at least one additional forwarding destination; and

if the mobile communications device is not within the predetermined range of the at least one additional forwarding destination, routing, by the computer, the call to the mobile communications device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier is a telephone number.