MOBILITY CALL MANAGEMENT

• US 20100029270A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aegis Mobility Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aegis Mobility Incorporated
• Inventors: Kiddie, David John, Chan, Mandy, Geyer, John Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,045,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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

Abstract

A mobility call management service is disclosed that provides enhanced call management functionality for a wireless mobile terminal (MT). Incoming and/or outgoing calls are managed based on an assessment of the degree of motion of the MT, or other available data pertinent to the MT'"'"'s physical situation, such as but not limited to it'"'"'s location, movement, or rate of movement. The degree of motion or other assessment may be used to determine whether a communication can safely terminate on, originate from, or continue safely on the MT, so as to reduce or remove driver distraction.

Claims

1. A method of processing a call from a remote terminal to mobile terminal, comprising:

assessing a degree of motion of the mobile terminal; and

based at least in part on the degree of motion of the mobile terminal, determining how to route the call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises routing the call to a feature server if the degree of motion assessment reveals that the degree of motion exceeds a selected threshold, said feature server providing functionality for keeping the call on hold until the degree of motion of the mobile terminal is reduced to an acceptable level.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising subsequently connecting the call to the mobile terminal in response to detecting that the degree of motion has reached said acceptable level.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a determination that the call should not be connected to mobile terminal, outputting an audible message to the caller indicating that the callee is in motion.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a determination that the call should not be connected to mobile terminal, causing the mobile terminal to output an audible signal other than a ring signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining how to route the call further comprises assessing whether the mobile terminal is in an unsafe location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining whether the mobile terminal is in an unsafe location comprises using map data to assess whether the mobile terminal is moving along a road or road segment that is deemed unsafe.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a determination that the call should not be connected to mobile terminal, recording a voice message from the caller, and subsequently causing the mobile terminal to automatically play the voice message.

9. A computer system programmed and configured to perform the method of claim 1.

10. A software system represented in computer storage, said software system comprising instructions that, when executed, are capable of causing a computer system to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A method of processing an ongoing call between a remote terminal and a mobile terminal, comprising:

assessing a degree of motion of the mobile terminal during the call; and

in response to detecting that the degree of motion has reached an unsafe level, causing the mobile terminal to output an alert message, and to prompt a user of the mobile unit to acknowledge the alert message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein prompting the user to acknowledge the alert message comprises presenting the user an option to continue the call.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising logging, on a server, the user'"'"'s selection of an option to continue the call after receiving the alert message.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an authorized entity restricted, network-based access to the logged selection of the user.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising disconnecting the call if the user does not perform a predefined action in response to the alert message.

16. A computer system programmed and configured to perform the method of claim 11.

17. A software system represented in computer storage, said software system comprising instructions that, when executed, are capable of causing a computer system to perform the method of claim 11.

18. A method of processing a call from a mobile terminal, comprising:

assessing a current state of the mobile terminal, said current state being based, at least in part, on a degree of motion of the mobile terminal; and

in response to detecting that the mobile terminal is in an unsafe state, routing the call to a system that outputs an audible warning message to a user of the mobile terminal, said warning message providing a plurality of options for processing the call.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of options includes an option for the user to authorize the call despite the warning message, and the method further comprises logging user selection of the option to authorize the call.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing an authorized entity restricted, network-based access to logged event data reflective of said user selection.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of options includes an option for the user to request that placement of the call be delayed until the mobile terminal reaches a safe state.

22. A computer system configured to perform the method of claim 18.

23. A software system represented in computer storage, said software system comprising instructions that, when executed, are capable of causing a computer system to perform the method of claim 18.