User experiences during call handovers on a hybrid telecommunications network
First Claim
1. A method performed on a mobile device for managing mitigations to an audio disruption occurring during a call handover between different connections to a hybrid telecommunications network, the method comprising:
- determining a type of the audio disruption, the type being based on a time duration of the audio disruption, the type being one of negligible, short, long, or irrecoverable, each type of audio disruption having a successively relatively longer associated time duration when the types are in an order of negligible, short, long, irrecoverable;
responsively to the determined type of audio disruption, performing one of i) implementing no mitigation on the mobile device, ii) implementing a passive mitigation to the audio disruption including playing background white noise or comfort sounds on the mobile device, or iii) implementing an active mitigation to the audio disruption including playing one or more audio tones on the mobile device; and
discontinuing any passive mitigation or active mitigation being implemented on the mobile device when the handover is completed and audio is restored.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device capable of connecting to a hybrid telecommunications network using different connection types is configured to implement various mitigations to audio disruptions that may occur during the performance of a call handover between connections. Negligible audio disruptions that do not impact the conversation between parties to the call are not mitigated at all, while relatively short audio disruptions are mitigated in a passive manner by playing background white noise or comfort sounds on the mobile device. Relatively longer duration disruptions are dealt with using more active mitigations in which audio tones are played and the mobile device'"'"'s graphical user interface (GUI) is configured to indicate to the user that a handover is in progress. Audio disruptions which are irrecoverable are handled by disconnecting the call and providing options through the GUI to either call the other party back, send a message, or set a callback reminder.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method performed on a mobile device for managing mitigations to an audio disruption occurring during a call handover between different connections to a hybrid telecommunications network, the method comprising:
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determining a type of the audio disruption, the type being based on a time duration of the audio disruption, the type being one of negligible, short, long, or irrecoverable, each type of audio disruption having a successively relatively longer associated time duration when the types are in an order of negligible, short, long, irrecoverable; responsively to the determined type of audio disruption, performing one of i) implementing no mitigation on the mobile device, ii) implementing a passive mitigation to the audio disruption including playing background white noise or comfort sounds on the mobile device, or iii) implementing an active mitigation to the audio disruption including playing one or more audio tones on the mobile device; and discontinuing any passive mitigation or active mitigation being implemented on the mobile device when the handover is completed and audio is restored. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A mobile device having connectivity to a hybrid telecommunications network using different types of connections, comprising:
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one or more processors; a display that supports a graphical user interface (GUI) for conveying information to a user of the mobile device; and a memory device storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile device to; monitor for audio disruptions occurring in a call carried on the hybrid telecommunications network, determine a type of the audio disruption, the type being based on a time duration of the audio disruption, the type being one of negligible, short, long, or irrecoverable, each type of audio disruption having a successively relatively longer associated time duration when the types are in an order of negligible, short, long, irrecoverable, play an audio tone on an audio endpoint of the mobile device when the time duration exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the audio tone providing an audio indication to the user that a handover between different connections to the hybrid telecommunications network is in progress, and display a message on the GUI of the mobile device when the time duration exceeds a second predetermined threshold, the message providing a visual indication to the user that the handover between different connections to the hybrid telecommunications network is in progress. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a hybrid network comprising loosely coupled network portions including at least a mobile operator network portion and a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) network portion, the method comprising:
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monitoring a call on the hybrid network for audio disruptions that occur during a call handover from an original connection to the hybrid network to a new connection to the hybrid network, the call handover involving a mobile device used by a local party to the call; and implementing a mitigation to the audio disruption for a conventional telephony equipment used by a remote party to the call, the mitigation including providing an audio announcement for playing on the conventional telephony equipment used by the remote party, wherein the mitigation is responsive to a type of the audio disruption, the type based on a time duration of the audio disruption and being one of negligible, short, long, or irrecoverable, each type of audio disruption having a successively relatively longer associated time duration when the types are in an order of negligible, short, long, irrecoverable. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification