PROVIDING CONTEXT INFORMATION DURING VOICE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN MOBILE DEVICES, SUCH AS PROVIDING VISUAL MEDIA

• US 20150222747A1
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Small, Andrea, Temple, Sinclair, Carney, Patrick, Collins, Maura, Goulart, Valerie, Ligh, Ming, Gormley, Georgiana, Gough, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 9,531,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2038 Call context notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72

Abstract

A system and method for providing context information along with a voice call is disclosed. In some examples, a calling device receives context information from a user and transmits the context information when establishing a voice call with the user. The context information may include various types of media, such as pictures or videos taken by a calling device. In some examples, a destination mobile device receives a voice call that does have context information and sends a request to a calling mobile device for information related to the voice call.

Claims

1. A method in a mobile device for transmitting context information during establishment of a voice call to a destination device, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user of the mobile device to initiate a voice call to a destination device,

wherein the request is received, in part, via an application on the mobile device that captures video or images, or receives text input;

receiving input associated with a type of context information related to the application that captures video or images, or receives text input;

establishing a session initiated protocol communication session between the mobile device and the destination device;

receiving, from the destination device, a request for context information,

wherein the received request for context information includes a picture taken at the destination device and transmitted from the destination device,

wherein the received request for context information includes a message transmitted from the destination device, and

wherein the picture and context information are transmitted from the destination device prior to the user accepting or declining the voice call;

transmitting context information over the session initiated protocol communication session, wherein the context information is associated with the received input to the destination device; and

initiating a voice call to the destination device over the session initiated protocol communication session a certain time period after transmission of the context information to the destination device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request from the user of the mobile device to initiate the voice call to the destination device includes receiving a request via a list of contacts from a network address book and displayed to the user via an interface of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request from the user of the mobile device to initiate the voice call to the destination device includes receiving a request during a session within a messaging application, and wherein receiving input from the user associated with the type of context information related to the application that captures video or images, or receives text input includes receiving at least a portion of one or more messages sent or received by the user within the messaging session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input from the user associated with the type of context information related to the application that captures video or images, or receives text input automatically causes the mobile device to initiate the voice call and including at least a portion of the received input to the destination device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the initiated voice call is not established, transmitting a message from the mobile device to the destination device that includes at least a portion of the context information.

6. A method at a mobile device for requesting information from a calling mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a destination mobile device, an indication of a voice call placed from a calling mobile device to the destination mobile device;

automatically launching an application at the destination mobile device that presents an interface of user-selectable options, including;

an option to accept the voice call;

an option to decline the voice call; and

an option to request more information from a calling party of the voice call;

receiving a selection of the option to request more information from the calling party of the voice call;

performing an action based on the selection of the option to request more information from the calling party of the voice call,

wherein the action includes automatically sending a request to the calling party for more information,

wherein, prior to accepting or declining the voice call, performing the action comprises;

taking a picture at the destination mobile device,

transmitting the picture to the calling mobile device, and

transmitting a message, to the calling mobile device, requesting context information, and

wherein the message is a predefined message for requesting context information; and

receiving context information from the calling mobile device in response to the transmitted message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the calling mobile device is not in a list of contacts associated with the destination mobile device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein performing an action based on the selection of one of the presented options includes:

generating a message at the destination mobile device, wherein the message includes contents requesting information from the calling mobile device; and

transmitting the message to the calling mobile device.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein the request to the calling party for more information includes a request for a level urgency for the voice call.

9. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium whose contents cause a mobile device to perform a method for requesting information from a calling mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a destination mobile device, an indication of a voice call placed from a calling mobile device to the destination mobile device;

automatically launching an application at the destination mobile device that presents an interface of user-selectable options including an option to request more information from the calling party of the voice call;

receiving a selection of the option to request more information from the calling party of the voice call;

performing an action based on the selection of the option to request more information from the calling party of the voice call,

wherein the action includes automatically sending a request to the calling party for more information,

wherein, prior to accepting or declining the voice call, performing the action comprises;

taking a picture at the destination mobile device,

transmitting the picture to the calling mobile device, and

transmitting a message requesting context information to the calling mobile device, and

wherein the message is a predefined message for requesting context information; and

receiving context information from the calling mobile device in response to the transmitted message.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the calling mobile device is not in a list of contacts associated with the destination mobile device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein performing an action based on the selection of one of the presented options includes:

generating a message at the destination mobile device, wherein the message includes contents requesting information from the calling mobile device; and

transmitting the message to the calling mobile device.

12. A system for transmitting context information during establishment of a voice call from a mobile device to a destination device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request from a user of a mobile device to initiate a voice call to a destination device,

wherein the request is received, in part, via an application on the mobile device that captures video or images, or receives text input;

means for receiving, from the destination device, a request for context information,

wherein the received request for context information includes a picture taken at the destination device and transmitted from the destination device,

wherein the received request for context information includes a message transmitted from the destination device, and

wherein the picture and context information are transmitted from the destination device prior to the user accepting or declining the voice call; and

means for transmitting context information when establishing the voice call between the mobile device and the destination device, including;

means for receiving input associated with a type of context information related to the application that captures video or images, or receives text input; and

means for causing the mobile device to initiate a voice call including context information associated with the received input to the destination device.

13. A system for providing information in connection with voice and/or text-based communications between at least first and second mobile telecommunications devices, wherein the first and second mobile telecommunications devices are associated with users of at least one wireless telecommunications network, the system comprising:

at least one network server computer, coupled to the wireless telecommunications network,

wherein the network server computer is configured to facilitate communications between the first and second telecommunications devices; and

at least one database configured to communicate with the network server computer, wherein the database stores a table of contacts for the users and content,

wherein the table stored in the database includes, for each user;

an identifier associated with the user or a mobile telecommunications device of the user, and,

at least one network address associated with each contact for the user, wherein the network address permits the mobile telecommunications device to place a voice communication to, or enabling text-based communications with, a telecommunications device associated with the user'"'"'s contact, and,

at least a digital photograph, graphic, animation, or video associated with at least some of the contacts for the user,

wherein the content stored in the database includes digital images or information, and geographic coordinates associated with the digital images or information, and,

wherein the network server computer is configured to;

receive a call from the first telecommunication device for the second telecommunications device,

determine a geographic location of the first telecommunication device,

obtain from the table stored in the database a digital photograph, graphic, animation, or video associated with the user of the first telecommunications device,

obtain from the content stored in the database a digital image or information having geographic coordinates near to the determined geographic location, and

route the call to the second telecommunications device with the obtained digital photograph, graphic, animation, or video associated with the user, and with the obtained digital image or information, both for display on the second telecommunications device while the second telecommunications device is ringing to announce the call.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the identifier is a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number, mobile identification (MIN), or International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number, and wherein the network address is a phone number and an instant messaging handle or email address.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the digital images are iconic digital photographs associated with predetermined geographic coordinates, and wherein the network server provides a SIP or IMS communication to the second telecommunications device during the routing of the call.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the network server is configured to establish a voice call between the first and second telecommunication devices during a text-based communication session between the first and second telecommunication devices, wherein the voice call includes a display announcing during ringing of the call a text message obtained from a portion of the text-based communication session between the first and second telecommunication devices.