Delivering calls using calendar information

• US 20030007617A1
• Filed: 07/05/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: McAlinden, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,751,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/909 Alternatives

Abstract

A call routing function may receive information from a user profile about how to handle a telephone call. In addition, the call routing function may also receive information about what the user is currently involved in doing. This information may be derived from the user'"'"'s software-based calendar. Using both sources of information, a call may automatically be appropriately routed by the call routing function.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining information from calendar software about a user activity;

obtaining information about the user'"'"'s call handling profile; and

using said activity and profile information to handle a telephone call.

2. The method of claim 1 including obtaining information about the identity of a caller and using that information together with the activity and profile information to handle a telephone call.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining information from calendar software includes obtaining information from an enterprise calendar server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining information from calendar software includes obtaining information from personal information management software.

5. The method of claim 1 including routing an incoming call differently depending on the user'"'"'s activity as determined from the calendar software.

6. The method of claim 1 including querying the calendar software upon the occurrence of an incoming call.

7. The method of claim 1 including periodically querying the calendar software.

8. The method of claim 7 including storing the information from the periodic querying of the calendar software.

9. The method of claim 1 including using said activity and profile information on a telephone to handle a call.

10. The method of claim 9 including using said activity and profile information on a cellular telephone to handle an incoming call.

11. An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to:

obtain information from calendar software about a user activity;

obtain information about the user'"'"'s call handling profile; and

use the activity and profile information to handle a telephone call.

12. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to obtain information about the identity of a caller and use that information together with the activity and profile information to handle a call.

13. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to obtain information from an enterprise calendar server.

14. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to obtain information from personal information management software.

15. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to route an incoming call differently depending on the user'"'"'s current activity as determined from the calendar software.

16. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to query the calendar software upon the occurrence of an incoming call.

17. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to periodically query the calendar software.

18. The article of claim 17 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to store information from the periodically querying of the calendar software.

19. The article of claim 11 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to use the activity and profile information on a telephone to handle a telephone call.

20. The article of claim 19 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to use the activity and profile information on a cellular telephone to handle an incoming call.

21. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage coupled to said processor storing instructions that enable the processor to obtain information from calendar software about a user'"'"'s activity, obtain information from the user'"'"'s call handling profile, and use the activity and profile information to handle a telephone call.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said system is a telephone.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said system is a cellular telephone.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said system is part of an enterprise telephone call handling system.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein said storage stores instructions that obtain information about the identity of a caller and use that information together with activity and profile information to handle a telephone call.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein said system queries the calendar software upon the occurrence of an incoming call.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein said system periodically queries the calendar software.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said storage stores information from the periodic querying of the calendar software.