Method and apparatus for monitoring telephone status

• US 9,154,619 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Fincham, Magdalena M., Dickerson, John B., Kessman, Marc D., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Tulley, Stephen C., Alderucci, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/421,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20060203970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,414 Days
• Field of Search: 379/188, 379/201.01, 37920701-20707, 379/265.05, 379/265.06, 379/32.04
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/609 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/08 ISDN systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• 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 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

The monitor is for monitoring the status of a first client telephone, and for sending this status information via a central server to an authorized second client telephone. The central server stores a database of registered client telephones and corresponding client telephones that the client may monitor. A user of a registered client telephone monitors in real time the telephone status of registered friends, family, or co-workers that have agreed to be monitored by the user.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring one of a plurality of statuses of a first mobile device over a wireless network by a second mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the first mobile device through the wireless network from a server, a request for a permission for said status of the first mobile device to be monitored by the second mobile device;

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, a permission for said status of the first mobile device to be monitored by the second mobile device in response to receiving the request;

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, said status of the first mobile device in response to sending the permission;

determining, by the first mobile device, a changed status at least partially associated with a presence of the first mobile device being located at a first location; and

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, responsive to determining the changed status, a status change signal indicating said changed status of the first mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, a request to register the first mobile device with the server, wherein the request includes a digital signature of the request to register and an identifier that identifies the first mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, by the first mobile device through the wireless network from the server, an indication of a successful registration of the first mobile device with the server responsive to the request to register.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting, by the first mobile device, said status of the first mobile device with a public key of the server into an encrypted status of the first mobile device,

wherein sending said status in response to sending the permission comprises sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, the encrypted status of the first mobile device in response to sending the permission.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first mobile device through the wireless network from the server, an indication acknowledging a successful receipt of said status of the first mobile device in response to sending said status.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said changed status comprises:

determining, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is off-hook in response to an off-hook signal of the first mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the changed status comprises:

receiving, by the first mobile device, at least one DTMF code being entered into the first mobile device by a user while a telephone call is not being made.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one DTMF signal is intermittent.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a first mobile device, cause the first mobile device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the first mobile device through the wireless network from a server, a request for a permission for said status of the first mobile device to be monitored by a second mobile device;

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, a permission for said status of the first mobile device to be monitored by the second mobile device in response to receiving the request;

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, said status of the first mobile device in response to sending the permission;

determining, by the first mobile device, a changed status at least partially associated with a presence of the first mobile device being located at a first location; and

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, responsive to determining the changed status, a status change signal indicating the changed status of the first mobile device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations that the instructions cause the first mobile device to perform when executed by the processor further comprise:

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, a request to register the first mobile device with the server, wherein the request includes a digital signature of the request to register and an identifier that identifies the first mobile device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operations that the instructions cause the first mobile device to perform when executed by the processor further comprise:

receiving, by the first mobile device through the wireless network from the server, an indication of a successful registration of the first mobile device with the server responsive to the request to register.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations that the instructions cause the mobile device to perform when executed by the processor further comprise:

encrypting, by the first mobile device, said status of the first mobile device with a public key of the server into an encrypted status of the first mobile device,

wherein sending said status in response to sending the permission comprises sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, the encrypted status of the first mobile device in response to sending the permission.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations that the instructions cause the first mobile device to perform when executed by the processor further comprise:

receiving, by the first mobile device through the wireless network from the server, an indication acknowledging a successful receipt of said status of the first mobile device in response to sending said status.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein determining the changed status comprises:

determining, by the first mobile device, that the first mobile device is off-hook in response to an off-hook signal of the first mobile device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein determining the changed status comprises:

receiving, by the first mobile device, at least one DTMF code being entered into the first mobile device by a user while a telephone call is not being made.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one DTMF signal is intermittent.

17. A system for monitoring one of a plurality number of statuses of a first mobile device over a wireless network by a second moblie device, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of the first mobile device, cause the first mobile device to perform operations comprising;

receiving, by the first mobile device through the telephony network from a server, a request for a permission for said status of the first telephone to be monitored by the second mobile device;

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, a permission for said status of the first mobile device to be monitored by the second mobile device in response to receiving the request;

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, said status of the first mobile device in response to sending the permission;

determining, by the first mobile device, a changed status at least partially associated with a presence of the first mobile device being located at a first location; and

sending, by the first mobile device through the wireless network to the server, responsive to determining the changed status, a status change signal indicating the changed status of the first mobile device.