Call Forwarding Patents (Class 379/211.02)
  • Patent number: 9350767
    Abstract: A system and method for providing packet-switched telephony service. The system provides call control, signaling, and/or delivery of voice, video, and other media in substantially real time. One embodiment of the system includes a call client application on a user device, and a call server located at a packet-switched telephony service provider. The call server is preferably operable to communicate with the call client in a non-native protocol and with the gateway in a native protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Skype Limited
    Inventors: John A. Nix, Jeffrey S. Mumma
  • Patent number: 9350845
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for enabling integration between various internet- or non-internet based communication services (e.g., as provided by different communications platforms and service providers) using a universal platform are described. In some implementations, a service manager is provided that can integrate call management capabilities with multiple communications platforms using the universal platform to enable seamless communication between the various platforms. For example, interactions between individual users on one or more platforms can be tracked in a single conversation history as a threaded interface. The universal platform can integrate with various platforms and third party protocols and services to provide call features that include, for example, call forwarding, call handling, multiple greeting prompts, call screening rules, ring-out rules, international calling, caller ID rules, after hours, and announcement prompts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventors: Vlad Vendrow, Vi Chau, Praful Shah, Vladimir Shmunis
  • Patent number: 9325720
    Abstract: The invention is a system and method of controlling an access of a subscriber to a network. The method includes sending an identification of the subscriber and a level of access to be provided to the subscriber from a visited network of a plurality of networks (12, 14, 16) connected to a home network (10); in response to the identification of the subscriber and a level of access to be provided to the subscriber, storing a subscriber profile of the authorized of access to be provided to the subscriber; and controlling access of the subscriber to any network dependent upon a comparison of access to be provided to the subscriber and the stored subscriber profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Stefano Faccin, Rene Purnadi, Tony Hulkkonen, Jaakko Rajaniemi, Markku Tuohino, Mohan Sivanandan
  • Patent number: 9270707
    Abstract: A method and system for enforcing the user of a proxy server within an enterprise communication system. The system includes an enterprise voice application server configured to act as a SIP proxy to client devices, and a private branch exchange configured to act as a SIP registrar. The client devices are configured to evaluate incoming SIP requests to determine whether they were received via the enterprise voice application server and, if not, to respond with a SIP 305 Use Proxy message referencing the enterprise voice application server in a Contact field. The 305 Use Proxy message forces the PBX or other intermediate SIP server to reroute the SIP request and any subsequent SIP requests in the dialog through the enterprise voice application server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Dalsu Lee, Alexander Shatsky
  • Patent number: 9253327
    Abstract: Call processing can include receiving a call directed to a first destination device associated with a called party, determining, using a processor, an attribute of the call, and determining a location of the called party. A call processing rule can be selected that matches the attribute of the call and the location of the called party. The call can be redirected to a second and different destination device according to the matched call processing rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin J. C. Presler-Marshall, Hunter K. Presnall
  • Patent number: 9241253
    Abstract: Disclosed are a network-based device, method and computer-readable medium for operating an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to provide registration review. The method embodiment includes tracking and storing all current registrations for each user in an IMS system, receiving a request from a user for a status of the user's current registrations and presenting, in response to the request, the current status of current registrations for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven A. Siegel, Siroos K. Afshar, Leopold Strahs
  • Patent number: 9215565
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing location based services are provided. Embodiments may include storing locations for a plurality of users of a telecommunication environment and contact lists of associated users for the plurality of users. Embodiments may also include providing the locations of the associated users for a first user based on a request from the first user. The request may further include providing locations for associated users who are located within an area of interest. The area of interest may be defined by a particular distance from the first user or by a point of interest of the first user. The locations of the users may be determined based on the locations of communication devices of the users including an identified receiving communication device for each user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianxiu Hao, Guillermo Ortiz, Fenglin Yin, Zhiying Jin
  • Patent number: 9210254
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling the telephone number as a platform for the association of IP-enabled services with legacy telephone service. A unified services enabler platform may be utilized to associate a customer and their telephone number with a variety of services and applications from multiple different ecosystems. The customer can continue to use their existing telephone service and in addition can utilize new IP-enabled features that are associated with their telephone number as the common ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SHANGO CORP, LLC
    Inventor: Evin Hunt
  • Patent number: 9148388
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing enhanced service routing are disclosed. One method includes receiving, at a Diameter application executing on a message processor associated with a DSR, a Diameter message that requires a service. The method also includes determining, using service routing data, at least one service provider for performing the service associated with the Diameter message, wherein the service routing data is based on service capability information provided by a plurality of service providers and sending the Diameter message or a portion of the Diameter message to the at least one service provider for performing the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: TEKELEC, INC.
    Inventors: David Michael Sprague, Seetharaman Khadri, Komal G. Khungar, Jeffrey Alan Craig, Srikanth Nanjund Rao
  • Patent number: 9143919
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer program, and system is provided to redirect an internet protocol mobility session establishment request. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the request message is redirected from an original local mobility anchor (“LMA”) to an alternative LMA. According to certain embodiments of the invention, this redirection provides load balancing between the LMAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
    Inventors: Jouni Korhonen, Basavaraj Patil
  • Patent number: 9143617
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and a method for providing a call forward indicator to enable a called party to identify a forwarded call. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving calling information for placing a telephone call. The method determines from the calling information whether the telephone call is a forwarded call. The method modifies a caller identification of a calling party associated with the telephone call to include a call forward indicator in response to determining that the telephone call is a forwarded call. The method transmits the caller identification having the call forward indicator to a forwarded communication device associated with the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Herndon, Johnny Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9124500
    Abstract: A method of optimizing management of presence information over a mobile network includes determining, by a host server, the presence information of a user of a mobile application on a mobile device based on heartbeat messages, while a first connection between the mobile device and the host server is closed, wherein the user is determined to be online when heartbeat messages are received from the mobile device in regular intervals of time. The user is determined to be offline when heartbeat messages are not received from the mobile device. The method may further include maintaining or closing a second connection between the host server and a content server based on the presence information of the user. Maintaining the second connection allows the content server to determine that the user is online, and closing the second connection allows the content server to determine that the user is offline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Seven Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Ari Backholm
  • Patent number: 9118778
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for advertising where the advertisement performance is determined via tracking the deals made as a result of communication leads generated from the advertisements. One embodiment includes: providing an advertisement containing a communication reference to a customer on behalf of a party; providing a connection via the reference for real time communications between the customer and the party; and charging an advertisement fee in response to an action of a predetermined type being performed by the customer (or an agreement between the customer and the party being reached) as a result of the real time communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: YELLOWPAGES.COM LLC
    Inventors: Ebbe Altberg, Scott Faber, Ron Hirson, Sean Van Der Linden, Ben Harris Lyon, Paul G. Manca
  • Patent number: 9094519
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems enable a server to route a communication from a calling party to a third-party device when a called party is unreachable by obtaining current status data from a plurality of devices registered with the server, and generating a list of potential third-party devices based at least on the obtained current status data. A call request notification may be transmitted to a third-party device selected from the list. In response to receiving a call acceptance message, the server may transmit an authentication challenge for the called party. The server may determine whether an authentication response message includes a correct response to the authentication challenge, and if so, administer the communication between a calling party device and the selected third-party device. The server may calculate charges to the calling party or called party and credits for the third-party whose device accepts the communication for the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mohammed Ataur Rahman Shuman, Amit Goel, Sandeep Sharma
  • Patent number: 9054909
    Abstract: A system controls forwarding of an incoming call. The system receives the incoming call directed to an original recipient. Forwarding settings are processed for routing the incoming call. In some embodiments, the forwarding settings may include a listing of at least one group having more than one member and at least one forwarding instruction based on the at least one group. In these embodiments, the incoming call is forwarded according to the at least one forwarding instruction to at least one first member and at least one second member of the at least one group. The forwarding settings may be based on a user's presence settings, subject to categorization rules, and/or utilize protocol extensions. In some embodiments, the system can map communication routing scenarios to a markup document, such as an XML document, that the system can use to implement team or forwarding call rules. In some embodiments, client devices can set preamble routing independent from the communication server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Eran Shtiegman, Frank Fitzlaff, Jochen R. Kunert, Justin M. Maguire, III, Nikhil P. Bobde, Paul Tidwell, Rajesh Ramanathan, Robert J. Osborne
  • Patent number: 9042371
    Abstract: The present invention provides an effective technique for routing calls to one or more telephony terminals through a traditional telephony line as well as via a packet network. A terminal adapter is provided at a customer premise and supports multiple telephony terminals, which may be associated with the same or different directory numbers. For incoming calls, the telephony switch will determine whether to route the call over the traditional telephony line or through the packet network to the terminal adapter, which will facilitate the connection with one or more of the telephony terminals. The incoming calls can be routed to a specific telephony terminal based on incoming call indicia. The terminal adapter can initiate outgoing calls from the supported telephony terminals over the traditional telephony line or via the packet network to the telephony switch. Whether incoming or outgoing calls are routed through the telephony line or the packet network depends on system configuration and existing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC
    Inventor: Dany Sylvain
  • Patent number: 9036803
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method of determining a particular communications device to signal in order to contact a user. The method includes storing a plurality of device locations in memory. The method includes determining a current location of a user or user device in response to receiving a communication request, comparing the received current location and one or more of the device locations, and selecting a particular communications device to route the communication request. A distinctive call forwarded ring signal may be sent to the particular communications device in order to indicate to the user that the call is intended for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Victoria M. Toner, Johnny Hawkins, Rich Schermerhorn, Shekhar Gupta, Mike A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9036804
    Abstract: Architecture for enabling identification of a call party's representative during calls on behalf of the call party. The call representative is delegated to initiate or answer an IP call on behalf of the call party. An IP-telephony component initiates or answers the IP call by the call representative on behalf of the call party. The IP-telephony component can be an IP telephone, or any other suitable IP calling interface. An identification component presents a representation notification identifying the call representative to a connected call party. The representation notification can be displayed on a caller ID display on an IP phone, or can be displayed on a user interface of the personal computing device, for example. The calls can be point-to-point IP calls with a single participant, or can be conference calls with multiple participants, and can be performed with one or more suitable protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Pradipta Kumar Basu, Brandon V. Taylor, Rajesh Ramanathan
  • Publication number: 20150124951
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products provide remote notification of calls. When a call is received, a contact list is consulted for a contact. An electronic message is sent to an address of the contact. The electronic message notifies the contact of the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Larry Kent, JR., William Todd Daniell
  • Patent number: 9025753
    Abstract: An approach is provided for offering communication services supported by a data network and a telephony network. A primary identifier is assigned to a user for access to the communication services, wherein the primary identifier is used by a party seeking to communicate with the user via one of the communication services. The primary identifier is mapped to one of a plurality of secondary identifiers corresponding to the respective communication services. The one secondary identifier is used by at least one of the data network and the telephony network to establish a communication session between the party and the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Moore, Guna D. Gunasekar, Phillip E. Lawson-Shanks, Darryl W. Shaw
  • Patent number: 9020478
    Abstract: Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a forwarding termination service. The forwarding termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The forwarding termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Vonage Network, LLC
    Inventor: Guy Fighel
  • Patent number: 9020124
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for implementing do-not-disturb feature during media content. For example, in one embodiment, a determination is made on whether to implement the do-not-disturb feature is implemented on at least one of a plurality of devices associated with a user during the playback of the media content based on user preferences, wherein the user preferences specify a type of media content that triggers the do-not-disturb feature. In response to the do-not-disturb feature being implemented, notification of an incoming communication is suspended during playback of the media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Shekhar Gupta, Curtis Tucker, Robert J. Morrill
  • Patent number: 9014359
    Abstract: An analyzer resource receives call information about outbound phone calls from multiple phone numbers to target phone numbers in a phone network. The analyzer resource analyzes the call information to detect likely unwanted call activity. Based on the analyzing, the analyzer resource produces a list of phone numbers from which one or more entities originate unwanted calls to the subscribers in the phone network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Howard Leigh Pfeffer, Matthew John Cannon, Jeffrey James Lindsay
  • Patent number: 9008683
    Abstract: Described are a system and method of managing a real-time communication initiated to a mobile communications device. A communication from an originating communications device is sensed as being directed to a first destination address corresponding to a mobile communications device. Location information of the mobile communications device is determined. The communication is directed to a second destination address based on the determined location of the mobile communications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Erb, Peter Hillier
  • Patent number: 9002336
    Abstract: Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a forwarding termination service. The forwarding termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The forwarding termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Guy Fighel
  • Patent number: 8995640
    Abstract: A method and system creates on a portable electronic device a real-time graphical view of an in-store product display that pinpoints the location of one or more target products on the product display. The graphical view is generated by capturing image data, such as a video feed of the in-store product display, and processing the data to initiate the one or more target products based on predefined product recognition criteria uniquely associated with the respective target products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Scott Zises
  • Patent number: 8989364
    Abstract: A telecommunication system includes a first node, a second node and a network. The first node is configured with a set of predefined functions and a group of addresses of the telecommunication network such that a session setup request targeted to any address in the group of addresses is routed to the first node, and each address in the group of addresses is associated with at least one of the predefined functions. The second node is configured to send a session setup request to a target address that corresponds to an address in the group of addresses. The first node is configured to determine the function to be performed on the basis of the target address in the session setup request. Information delivery from the second node to the first node is implemented quickly. In the second node the power consumption may be significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Navigil Oy
    Inventor: Matti Raty
  • Patent number: 8989363
    Abstract: An incoming call relaying status identifying unit determines whether or not a call receiving request from an incoming call forwarding system is delivered through a preset forward source terminal apparatus based on incoming call relaying status identifying information included in the call receiving request. Next, when a determination based on the incoming call relaying status identifying information brings about a positive result, a display unit displays information for a call-back including forward source terminal information representing the forward source terminal apparatus utilized for relaying the incoming call based on the incoming call relaying status identifying unit. This makes it possible for a user of a forward destination to recognize from which forward source the incoming call is forwarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Obata, Kensuke Ohno
  • Patent number: 8983050
    Abstract: This invention presents a service of barring the forwarded calls. According to the invention, a subscriber may define in his subscriber information that all calls forwarded to him are to be rejected. In response to receiving a request for establishing a call to a subscriber, his subscriber information is checked to find out if he has defined that calls forwarded to him are to be rejected. If the subscriber information shows that the subscriber wishes to reject the forwarded incoming calls, the call establishment signaling is studied to find out if the call has been forwarded. If the call is determined to have been forwarded, the call is rejected. In a preferred embodiment the subscriber may define a set of allowed numbers from which even the forwarded calls are to be accepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Mikko Kanerva, Pekka Hämäläinen, Seppo Huotari, Erkki Yli-Juuti
  • Patent number: 8983041
    Abstract: Conserving call logic during handoff may be provided. First, a call may be received at a first server. Next, the first server may determine that it cannot handle the call. Then the call may be transferred by the first server to a second server with enough information so that the second server can take up the call where the first server left off. Transferring the call to the second server with enough information so that the second server can take the call up where the first server left off may comprise placing the information in a REFERRED-BY header and sending the REFERRED-BY header to the second server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Amit Kumar Dutta
  • Patent number: 8983051
    Abstract: An automated intelligent component (the Personal Virtual Assistant or PVA) is located between a caller and a callee. A caller calls the PVA and directs the PVA to make one or more calls to one or more call recipients. Based on the information obtained from a voice or text dialog with the caller and a combination of other available informational sources, the disposition of an outgoing call is determined and acted upon by PVA. During the call the PVA remains available to take further actions at the request of the call participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: William F. Barton, Francisco M. Galanes, Anand Ramakrishna, Vishwa Ranjan, Tal Saraf
  • Patent number: 8976952
    Abstract: Systems and methods for intelligent presence management in a communication routing system are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an inbound communication may be received for a user. The user's presence status is determined and a profile associated with the user is reviewed. Based on rules contained within the profile, appropriate instructions may be generated for routing the inbound communication in accordance with some embodiments. In other embodiments, instructions may be generated to log the user in or out with the communication routing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fonality, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher M. Lyman
  • Publication number: 20150063554
    Abstract: A number of telephone devices relating to one user establish a communication connection with a server and receive rules for answering and usage information from the server. The server sequence the plurality of other telephone devices for call forwarding according to the rules for answering and usage information, and transfers an incoming call to one then another telephone device according to a sequencing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: JU-CHUN HSIAO, CHENG-CHIEH YANG
  • Patent number: 8971505
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a customer premise based feature. For example, the method receives a call directed to a customer, wherein the call is associated with a customer premise based feature. The method then forwards the call to a customer premise based communication system located at a location of the customer, wherein the customer premise based feature is implemented locally by the customer premise based communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Armstrong Soo, Bernard Ku
  • Patent number: 8971866
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for automatically connecting a calling device to a best available calling device based on resource strength. A computer system receives from a first calling device a request for a call to a second calling device and evaluates resource strength of the second calling device. The computer system determines one or more third calling devices, in response to determining that the resource strength of the second calling device is low. The computer system compares resource strength of the one or more third calling devices with that of the second calling device and determines a best available one of the one or more third calling devices. The computer system connects the call by connecting the first calling device and the best available one of the one or more third calling devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Robert R. Peterson, Asima Silva
  • Patent number: 8964957
    Abstract: There is provided a telephone that is capable of accessing a memory for storing subscription information that includes a phone number. The telephone comprises, among other things: a searching unit that searches the memory for second subscription information that is different from the first subscription information selected by the selecting unit; an obtaining unit that obtains a first phone number included in the first subscription information and transfer source information that enables a call transfer server of a network operator associated with the second subscription information to identify a second phone number included in the second subscription information; and a sending unit that sends, to the call transfer server, a call transfer request for requesting the network operator to transfer a call addressed to a phone number, which is identified by the call transfer server based on the transfer source information, to the first phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Shingo Murakami, Toshikane Oda, Shinta Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8958539
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring calls between multiple devices. A call is communicated through a network device to a first phone utilizing a first communications service. The call is transferred from the first phone to a second phone. The call being transferred in response to a user selection associated with the second phone. The call is transferred from the second phone to a third phone. The second phone or the third phone utilizes a second communications service. The call being transferred in response to a user selection associated with the third phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: David E. Emerson
  • Patent number: 8953762
    Abstract: A telephone system for enhanced privacy management includes a telephone switch, a rejected call handler, a user preference database, and an internet app privacy manager, whereby an incoming call can be assigned to a calling class, and routed according to a calling rule associated with the calling class. Using an interactive voice response menu or an application portal, the user can assign callers to calling classes and specify call handling rules and schedules. A rejected call handler includes a voice interface, a switch control, a voicemail, interactive voice response, call progress simulator, in-message options, in-call options, post-call options, and other components. Further disclosed is a method for determining a calling rule, including determining the caller id status, querying a calling rules table, and determining a calling rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Theodore J. Guarriello
  • Patent number: 8953758
    Abstract: An incoming call is communicated to a first endpoint and a second endpoint. A call redirection message comprising a redirection number is received from the first endpoint, and it is determined whether the first endpoint should be disconnected from the call according to the redirection number. The call is disconnected from the first endpoint if the redirection number indicates that the call should be disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Pradeep Kumar K.A.
  • Patent number: 8953768
    Abstract: Call-handling rules may be provided. A user interface may access a plurality of information associated with a user and provide functionality for creating a plurality of rules based on the information. An incoming call intended for the user may be received and processed according to the created rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chun Yong Chua, Feroze B. Daud, Michael Anthony Faoro, Nankang Ma
  • Patent number: 8948359
    Abstract: A telephony system is presented that enables one user to monitor another user's extension and perform functions on calls destined for the other user's extension. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, association module, presentation module, park module, monitoring device interface module, and storage interface module. A server sends information to a monitoring device regarding the status of a monitored extension and calls offering on that extension. A server also enables a user to navigate through multiple calls offering and park a selected call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. W. Tovino, Richard A. Winslow
  • Patent number: 8948360
    Abstract: A method and system for providing computer-network related information about a second party. First, the second party receives a telephone number of a first party. The second party's customer premises equipment (CPE) or elements in a telephone network then use the telephone number to index a database, which contains combinations of telephone numbers and computer-network addresses. Once the first party's computer-network address is retrieved, first-party-customized information present at the computer-network location specified by the computer-network address can be sent to and displayed on the second party's CPE. Also, the first party's telephone number can be sent to an application in the computer network, causing the first-party-customized information to be automatically displayed on the second party's CPE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold M. Lund
  • Patent number: 8948365
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for the management and routing of telecommunications information on data and telephone lines. In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a flexible system whereby business information is correlated to a user's telephone number is provided. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an on-line answering service in which the identification information of the called party can be maintained during call forwarding and/or diversion. In another exemplary embodiment, the identification information of the user called can be detected by the answering system. In addition, in another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides answering services access to information about the called party as well as the calling party in order to facilitate the answering services' responses on behalf of their users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Francesco Ricci
  • Patent number: 8948366
    Abstract: One or more aspects of the disclosure relate to various functions and processes related to routing of calls originating from other service providers. For example, a method includes receiving a request to route a call or a call session, such as a session initiation request, from a second service provider and proceeding to route the requested call or session through a call routing facility of the first service provider to a requested destination of the call. Routing the call through the call routing facility may include determining a service provider type and/or an origination number type for the call, determining routing information for the call using the type information, and causing routing of the call to a destination of the call based on the routing information. Further aspects of the disclosure relate to various functions and processes related to accessing routing data and/or information from a routing database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Arvind Kaushal, Jon Boone, Sohel Khan, Louis Rubin, Brett Sherman, Jaime Jimenez
  • Patent number: 8942688
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for routing call in a wireless network environment. In one embodiment, a phone address is assigned to a subscriber and/or a subscriber's mobile telecommunications device. A call directed to the phone address is routed to a call processing system. An outbound call from the call processing system is placed to a wireless communication service provider so as to cause, at least in part, the wireless communication service provider to route the outbound call to the subscriber's mobile telecommunications device, wherein the call processing system configures call signaling parameters associated with the outbound call so that the outbound call appears to be to a phone number ported to the wireless communication service provider, and wherein the phone number has not been ported to the wireless communication service provider. The outbound call is bridged with the inbound call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Leland W. Kirchhoff, David S. Trandal
  • Patent number: 8942367
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing a call based on electronic calendar entries in a communications network is described. In one embodiment, a call request to establish a connection with a subscriber of network services is received. An electronic calendar associated with the subscriber is subsequently accessed. Afterwards, the call request is routed to a phone number associated to a present agenda activity detailed in the electronic calendar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Marian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
  • Patent number: 8942687
    Abstract: Communication networks and methods are disclosed for selectively applying call forwarding between a mobile device and a fixed line device based on the location of the mobile device. A communication network includes a call control function that receives a call attempt to a mobile directory number. Responsive to the call attempt, the call control function identifies a location of the mobile device, and determines whether to apply call forwarding based on the location of the mobile device. If call forwarding is applied, then the call control function forwards the call attempt to the fixed line device instead of the mobile device. A similar process is performed for a call attempt to the fixed line device for forwarding the call to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Yigang Cai, Xiangyang Li
  • Patent number: 8942681
    Abstract: A multiparty call processing method and mobile terminal implemented with the multiparty call processing method is provided. A multiparty call processing method for a mobile terminal detects a call request to a first network, determines whether the mobile terminal is in a full state of the first network, and sends a call request message to a second network when the mobile terminal is in the full state of the first network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwang Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8942368
    Abstract: Communication systems and methods are described that include call notification with rich caller identification. Components of the communication systems are configured to receive a call for a user via an enterprise voice channel. A call request is automatically generated in response to event data of the received call. The call request includes caller data from enterprise databases or directories. The caller data provides identifying information of the caller to the user via the call request. The call request can include response options by which the user can participate in the call. The call request is routed to a target device of the user via a data channel of the host enterprise. The target device provides the user with multiple action or response options via the call request. The response options include for example accepting the call, delaying the call, forwarding the call, ignoring the call, and ignoring the caller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saurav Chatterjee, Josh Perfetto, Hemendra Rana, Paul Fullarton, Ankur Shah
  • Publication number: 20150023488
    Abstract: An operation method and apparatus of a terminal for call move are provided. The method includes, if receiving a call move request signal including registration information of a first device that is in voice communication with a second device from the first device, transmitting, by the terminal, a call state request signal for the first device using the registration information to a server, if determining that a call state for the first device is not a call through the server by using a call state response signal received from the server, establishing, by the terminal, a wireless connection with the first device, and, performing, by the terminal, voice communication with the second device through the established wireless connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Joo-Hong Lee, Chul-Hoon Hwang