Method and apparatus for temporarily deactivating a call indicator

• US 6,456,696 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fehl, Richard P., Fargano, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/054,352
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/70, 379/74, 379/82, 379/88.08, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.15, 379/88.19, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/210.01, 379/201.01, 379/201.07, 379/207.03, 379/207.12, 379/208.01, 379/209.01, 379/211.01, 379/212.01, 455/406, 455/410, 455/414, 455/415, 455/564, 455/567, 455/575
• US Class Current: 379/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A call indicator, such as a ringer, is deactivated on a temporary or preset basis while normal call processing continues, so that the subscriber can attain an appropriate level of privacy for answering a phone call. In one embodiment, a handset (10) includes an antenna (12) for receiving an incoming call signal, a processor (16) for processing the call signal, a call indicator (48) for notifying the user of the incoming call, a keypad (38) for providing user inputs, and call indicator control subsystem (32). The control subsystem (32) receives a temporary deactivation input via keypad (38) or a menu and, in response to the temporary deactivation input, deactivates the call indicator (48) for a portion of a answer waiting time period between receipt of the incoming call signal and a call answer input. For example, if the handset (10) “rings” during a business meeting, the subscriber may provide a first input via the keypad (38), menu or other input method to deactivate the call indicator. Once the subscriber has left the meeting room or otherwise attained an appropriate level of privacy, the subscriber may provide a second input via the keypad (38) or a menu to answer the call. Optionally, the handset (10) may be preset (e.g., before entering a meeting) to provide only an abbreviated indication such as a “ping ring” if a call is received. In addition, a voice announcement may be provided, during the time period where the subscriber is seeking privacy, to notify the caller that the call will be answered shortly. Alternatively, the subscriber may allow a call to be forwarded to voice mail if an appropriate level of privacy cannot be attained in a timely manner.

Claims

1. A telephone for use in a telecommunications network, said telephone comprising:

a receiver, for receiving an incoming call signal originated by a calling telephone, said incoming call signal including a call request to establish communication between said calling telephone and said called telephone using said telecommunications network;

answering input means for providing an answering signal in response to an answering input by said user;

call indicator means for providing an indication perceptible by a user, notifying said user of an incoming call signal;

said call indicator means being active in a first mode of operation, during an answering time period between receipt of said incoming call signal and receipt of said answering signal;

an incoming call processor for receiving said incoming call signal and processing said call request during said answering time period; and

a call indicator controller for deactivating said call indicator means during at least a portion of said answering time period and allowing said incoming call processor to process said call request during said portion of said answering time period, said call indicator controller, comprising;

means for receiving a deactivation input entered selectively through a keypad, menu, or voice either during the answering time period or prior to said answering time period, wherein receipt of the deactivation input prior to the answering time period initiates a second mode of operation upon receipt of the incoming call signal, where a minimized call indication is provided during the answering time period; and

means for controlling operation of said call indicator means in response to said deactivation input so as to terminate said first mode of operation of said call indicator means relative to said portion of said answering time period, wherein said incoming call processor is allowed to process said call request during said portion of said answering time period.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises an antenna for receiving an RF signal.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a processing component for receiving a call request transmitted by one of a wireless and wireline network.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said answering input means comprises a keypad.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said answering input means comprises a processing component for receiving a user input indicating that the user desires to respond to said call request.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said call indicator means comprises a ringer.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said incoming call processor comprises means for monitoring user inputs to identify a call answer input.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said call indicator controller comprises means for receiving said deactivation input prior to said answering time period and controlling operation of said call indicator means by implementing a second mode of operation wherein a minimized call indication is provided during the answering time period.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said call indicator controller comprises means for receiving said deactivation input during said answering time period and substantially immediately deactivating said call indicator means.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising messaging means, operatively associated with said call indicator controller, for providing a message during said portion of said answering time period.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said messaging means comprises a memory for storing said message and a processing component for retrieving and transmitting said message.

12. A telephone for use in a telecommunications network, said telephone comprising:

a receiver for receiving an incoming call signal originated by a calling telephone, said incoming call signal including a call request to establish communication between said calling telephone and said called telephone using said telecommunications network;

an answering input means for providing an answering signal in response to an answering input entered selectively through a keypad, menu, or voices by said user, wherein said answering input is providable by said user either prior to receiving the incoming call or during receipt of the incoming call;

an incoming call processor for receiving said incoming call signal and processing said call request during answering time period in accordance with said answering input; and

messaging means, operatively associated with said incoming call processor, for providing a message during said answering time period, said messaging means including;

messaging input means, for receiving a user, messaging input during said answering time period; and

transmitting means for transmitting said message to said calling telephone in response to said user messaging input.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said messaging means further comprises a memory for storing said message and a processing component retrieving said message from memory.

14. A method of operation for a telephone in a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:

receiving an incoming call signal including a call request to establish communication between a calling telephone and a called telephone;

receiving an answering input from a user, wherein said answering input is providable by the user prior to receipt of the incoming call or in response to said call request;

activating a first call indicator during a first portion of a call answering time period between receipt of said incoming call signal and receipt of said answering input when said answering input is received during the incoming call;

activating a second call indicator when the answering input from the user is received prior to receipt of the user input

receiving a deactivation input entered selectively through a keypad, menu, or voice, from said user; and

deactivating the first call indicator, in response to said deactivation input, during a second portion of said answering time period.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said deactivation input is received before said incoming call signal and said method further comprises the step of storing information as response to receipt of said deactivation input.

16. A system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said deactivation input is received during said call answering time period.

17. A system as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the steps of storing a message and transmitting said message to said calling telephone during said second time period.