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`
`IIIIIIUIII IUIIIIIII UI 11111111011110 I IUlll 111111111111
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`2 May 2008 (02.05.2008)
`
`PCT
`
`(51) International Patent Cla~lfication:
`1104M 112745 (2006.01)
`l/04M 11247 (2006.01)
`H04M 11725 (2006.0 1)
`H04M 1156 (2006.01)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`PCT /IL2007/00 1273
`
`(22) International Filing Date: 24 October 2007 (24. 10.2007)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`English
`
`English
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`60/853,770
`
`24 October 2006 (24.10.2006) US
`
`(71) Applicant and
`(72) Inventor: ROU.JINSKY, .John [lUlL); 26 Za.lman Shazar
`Street, 42493 Netanya (Il,).
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 2008/050325 Al
`AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH,
`CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG,
`ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL,
`IN, IS, .W, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK,
`LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, l.vIK, MN, MW,
`MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, Ni, NO, NZ, OM, PG, PH, PL,
`PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, SV, SY,
`TJ, Thf, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA,
`ZM, ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (unless othenvise indicated, for eve,y
`kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
`GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,
`ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),
`European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI,
`FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IS, lT, LT, LU, LV, MC, MT, NL, PL,
`PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM,
`GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`(74) Agent: REINHOLD COHN AND PARTNERS; P.o.b.
`~
`!!!!!!!!
`4060, 61040 Tel-Aviv (fL).
`
`(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for eve,y
`kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`
`Published:
`wirh inlernational search repon
`be.fore the expiration of the time limit for amending the
`claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of
`amendments
`
`(54) Title: METHOD AND SYST EM FOR AUTOMATIC CALL COMPLETION OF UNANSWERED CALLS MADE TO OR
`FROM A TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`Registering uncompleted call when handset
`provides listener mechanism for call log
`
`--~ -~
`
`!!!!!!!!
`
`I ca11ec• ':4,;el can I
`
`I caner's Handset I
`I Bsdoleol's Hao4ti8t I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`1 Attempts • call
`I
`I
`I
`Adels new rec~rd lo the call log
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`JI
`
`Notifies a boot changes in Ille 'can log
`I
`I
`
`I Cgil ComgfeH90 Sollwa(ll I
`
`on Caller) han~et
`
`g---·
`
`Analyzes record parameters
`Registers uncompleted can
`Performs user-defined action
`
`I
`I
`
`Ir) Jog (22) stored in a memory (26) of the device (11, 20), compiling a list of unanswered outgoing calls over the first communication
`
`~ (57) Abstract: A calling subscriber device (l l, 20) capable of operating over independent first (24) and second (25) communication
`
`"'
`= channels registers unanswered outgoing telephone calls made over the first communication channel (24) by periodica.1.ly reading a cal.I
`= channel (24), and processing the list of unanswered calls to trigger automatically an action for enabling communication to be initiated
`00 over the first communication channel at a later time. Such action may include alerting the ca.lied subscriber device (12) that the ca.I.ling
`= subscriber had tried to initiate a call that was unanswered over the first communication channel (24). This allows call completion
`= without the need for a voicemai.l server and is particularly beneficial for PTT telephones that receive an indication that a target PTT
`M device (12) is unavailable where conventionally the target device (12) has no way of knowing that the call was originated.
`0
`~
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 1 of 36
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`
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`WO 2008/050325
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`PCT/IL2007/001273
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`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC CALL COMPLETION OF UNANSWERED CALLS MADE TO OR
`FROM A TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to the registration of unanswered calls in a
`
`cellular or mobile telephone system.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`A well-known feature of cellular telephone systems is the registration of
`
`unanswered calls. For the purpose of this application, an 'unanswered' call is a call
`
`where there was no communication available between the calling party ('caller") and
`
`the called party ('callee') for any of the following reasons:
`
`10
`
`a. Out of coverage
`
`b. Phone turned off
`
`c. Network problems
`
`d. Callee's device is busy
`
`Thus, within the context of the following description and the appended claims,
`
`the term 'unanswered' refers both to missed calls, which were received but were not
`
`15 answered owing, for example, to the called party's inability to respond; as well as to
`
`calls that were not received owing, for example, to a communication failure. An
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`unanswered call can be also a waiting call that has not been picked up. It is therefore to
`
`be understood that within the context of the invention and claims the term 'unanswered'
`
`can refer to any call that was not answered for any of the above reasons.
`
`20
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`If a call cannot be established for one of the above reasons a-d, it is known to
`
`provide the callee with some audio/visual feedback and to add an appropriate record to
`
`the call log of the caller. Such feedback is commonly provided in cellular telephones,
`
`for example. If the caller then wi~hes, he may manually retry the call at the push of a
`
`button or he may choose to communicate via different media, for example, via SMS.
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 2 of 36
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`WO 2008/050325
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`PCT/IL2007/001273
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`- 2 -
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`Likewise, if the callee does not reply to a call, his cellular telephone can log the
`
`number of the caller and display it on a screen of his cellular telephone. If the callee of
`
`the non-answered telephone call wishes, he can dial the number displayed at the push of
`
`a button and initiate a call at his leisure to the person who tried unsuccessfully to call
`
`5 him; or he too may choose to communicate via different media, such as SMS.
`
`In order to complete unsuccessful communication between caller and callee
`
`various call completion systems have been proposed. Thus Voice Mail Systems (VMS)
`
`are well-known for mobile and landline telephone systems, whereby a calling party can
`
`leave a message in the event that the called party is unavailable for any reason. Voice
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`10 mail is a service that is offered by the cellular (or other) telephone provider and usually
`
`costs the subscriber an extra service fee. In addition to the service fee, it also requires
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`that the calling party call · his voice mail server and this, too, costs money. Voice mail
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`systems usually provide a convenient way to initiate call back to the caller thus
`
`completing the initial communication.
`
`15
`
`By way of example, US Pat. No. 6,754,316 assigned to Varicom Communica-
`
`tions Ltd. Tel-Aviv, Israel discloses a method and apparatus for registering unanswered
`
`telephone calls. The method includes directing the unanswered call to an external
`
`server, recording details of the calling telephone, including the telephone number of the
`
`calling telephone ( caller ID), the time and the date of the call, and notifying the called
`
`20
`
`telephone of the details of the unanswered telephone call. Another known call
`
`completion system allows the sending of an SMS message to a recipient via an external
`
`server indicating that the caller has attempted an unanswered call. Upon receiving the
`
`SMS message, the recipient can initiate a call back to the caller with the push of a
`
`button thus completing the initial communication. An example of such a system is the
`
`25 "Who Called?" service provided by Comverse Ltd. of Tel Aviv, Israel which conveys
`to a cellular telephone information relating to an unanswered • call, including the
`telephone number of the calling party and the date and time of the missed call. Also
`
`. known are Push-to-Talk (PTT) systems allowing subscribers to effect wireless
`
`communication using a portable device having a push-to-talk actuator and a display that
`
`30
`
`lists the names of registered subscribers. Voice communication proceeds in a half(cid:173)
`
`duplex mode in which only one subscriber talks, i.e. transmits, at one time while
`
`holding down a PTT actuator. The recipient of the voice communication is determined
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 3 of 36
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`WO 2008/050325
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`PCT/IL2007/001273
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`- 3 -
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`by the calling party selecting the recipient from among a list of registered subscribers. It
`
`is also possible for the calling party to transmit the voice communication simul(cid:173)
`
`taneously to a plurality of other subscribers by selecting a group icon that defines a
`
`plurality of individual subscribers to receive the communication.
`Unanswered PTT calls are of particular significance to iDEN systems. iDEN is
`
`5
`
`an acronym for Integrated Digital Enhanced Network developed by Motorola. iDEN
`
`allows PTT calls to be made over a first cellular network while permitting regular
`
`cellular telephone calls over a second cellular network that is in effect completely
`separate and independent of tp.e first network. When a PTT call is initiated in iDEN
`1 o over the first network and the callee is busy with a phone call over the second network
`or is not available ( either owing to inadequate coverage, or because the device is turned
`off), the caller gets the same reply from the system "user is not available" ·over the first
`
`network. Hence he is not able to determine the actual reason for call failure. The caller
`
`might erroneously assume that the recipient is out of coverage, that the phone is
`
`15
`
`switched off, or that there is a network problem. This is a big concern of iDEN
`
`operators since any apparent loss of communication reduces customer satisfaction.
`
`Also, since no voicemail system or waiting call feature currently exists for PTT calls in
`
`iDEN, the recipient has no indication that a call was attempted.
`
`Call completion systems commonly register unanswered calls via equipment
`
`20 centrally connected to the network or via telephony switches. This requires the use of
`
`expensive equipment as well as processing of a large amount of signaling events, thus
`
`raising scalability and high availability issues and leading to further expenses.
`
`It has also been proposed to use the "SIM Application Toolkit" on the cellular
`
`handset of the caller to allow for call completion of busy subscriber (CCBS). The SIM
`
`· 25 Application Toolkit resides in the SIM card of the cellular handset and defines how the
`
`card should interact with the outside world and extends the communication protocol
`
`between the card and the handset.
`
`Disadvantages of this approach include:
`
`1. Only certain SIM cards support SIM applications;
`
`30
`
`2. Operator needs SIM vendor cooperation in order to insert the application
`
`into the SIM;
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 4 of 36
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`WO 2008/050325
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`PCT/IL2007/001273
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`-4-
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`3. Operators have to provide subscribers with appropriate SIM cards including
`
`the application. This introduces costs and creates logistical problems where
`
`an existing subscriber has to replace SIM card;
`
`4. Size and feature set of such applications are very limited owing to memory
`
`5
`
`limitation of SIMs (usually 64-128Kb ). This limitation is particularly acute
`
`in the case where more than one SIM Toolkit application is needed.
`
`US 2005/164682 discloses a push-to-talk (PTT) communication system wherein
`
`an initial voice message associated with the initial PTT incoming call to the called party
`
`is temporarily stored at a communication application server and is not transmitted to the
`
`10 called party's mobile terminal. The called party is informed of an incoming call by an
`
`alert message from the communication application server causing the called party's
`
`mobile terminal to provide an alert. The called party may elect one of several options
`
`upon being alerted of an incoming call including .transmitting a signal requesting the
`
`voice message be played.
`
`15
`
`US 2003/228006 discloses a method and apparatus for registering unanswered
`
`telephone calls. The unanswered call is directed to an external server, which records
`
`details of the calling telephone, including the telephone number of the calling telephone
`
`(caller ID), the time and the date of the call, and notifies the called telephone of the
`
`details of the unanswered telephone call.
`
`20
`
`US Patent No. 6,259,672 discloses a method of providing call completion by
`
`way of delayed communications within a communication system by detecting selection
`
`of simultaneous transmission of a message on a communication resource and recording
`
`at least a part of the message, yielding a recorded message. A busied resource may be
`
`monitored for a free status, thus allowing call completion by transmitting the stored
`
`25 message when a previously busied resource becomes free. The transmitting may begin
`
`before the completion of the transmission on the first busied resource.
`
`Likewise, reference is made to my previous WO2007 /020627
`
`published
`
`February 22, 2007 describing a method and system for obtaining feedback from at least
`
`one recipient via a telecommunication network. A communication device has a
`
`30 messaging client in bi-directional communication with a messaging server for receiving
`
`one or more events relating to a recipient receiving or responding to a media message
`
`sent by a communication device. A Group Management Server stores definitions and
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`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 5 of 36
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`properties of registered users and user groups of the system, and a templates server
`
`stores message templates for access by communication devices connected thereto.
`
`The routing of telephone calls via alternative paths is also known. For example,
`
`WO06/129296 (Merlin) discloses a method and device for enabling alternative tele-
`
`5 phony connections, wherein a connection controller coupled to a PSTN device is
`
`adapted to receive information corresponding to a called number to which a PSTN
`
`device is intending to connect. Upon receiving the information, the connection
`
`controller is adapted to automatically search a database for an alternative VOIP
`
`destination associated with the called number, to check if the alternative route is
`
`10 available and, if so, to re-route the call. Such re-routing typically serves to convey calls
`
`via the less expensive VoIP channel while allowing the PSTN number to be originated
`and to this end mitigates against the sending of the call over the originating channel.
`-
`All of the above mentioned references are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`When a call is made from a source device to an available target device via PTT,
`
`15
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`the call bursts in by way of sounding an audible buzzer which alerts the target
`
`subscriber to the new call. The very act of sounding the buzzer in effect completes the
`
`call, and provides the target subscriber with the identity of the source subscriber so that
`
`he can call back later if he is not immediately able to take the call for any reason. •
`
`But in iDEN if the target device is out of coverage or if the target device is busy
`
`20 on the telephony channel, no signal will reach the target device to provide the ·audible
`
`alert. In either case, the PTT source device merely receives an indication that the target
`
`device is unavailable but has no way of knowing the cause. Specifically, if the target
`
`device is busy on the telephony channel owing to the independence between the PTT
`
`and the telephony channels in iDEN, no mechanism exists at the target device to inform
`
`25
`
`the PTT channel that the telephony channel is in use. And if the PTT channel is out of
`
`coverage, the PTT call simply will not arrive. In either case, the target device has no
`
`way of knowing that the source device attempted to contact it or of informing the source
`
`device as to the reason for the failed call. Even when the target is busy with a PTT call
`
`or Packet Data communication, although the caller does know the reason for the call
`
`30
`
`failure, the target still does not know that a call attempt has occurred.
`It would clearly be desirable to provide a method, improved handset and
`software module facilitating call completion in a communication system based on
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 6 of 36
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`WO 2008/050325
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`PCT/IL2007/001273
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`registration of an unanswered call on the calling device without requiring a SIM card
`
`for its implementation. Preferably, this should provide sufficient capacity for improved
`
`feature set and ~low operation on a variety of phone models. Such a facility would be
`
`of particular benefit for iDEN network, which provides its users the benefits of a
`
`5
`
`trunked radio and a cellular telephone.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the invention to provide a system and method facilitating call
`
`completion in a mobile communication system.
`
`This object is realized in accordance with a first aspect of the invention by a
`
`10 method for automatically registering unanswered telephone calls made over a first
`
`communication channel from a calling subscriber device capable of operating over
`
`independent first and second communication channels, the method comprising:
`
`periodically reading a call log stored in a memory of said device;
`
`compiling from said call log a list of unanswered outgoing calls over the first
`
`15 communication channel; and
`
`processing the list of unanswered calls to trigger automatically a predetermined
`
`action so as to enable communication between a calling subscriber device and a called
`
`subscriber device to be initiated at a later time.
`
`According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a telephone
`
`20 subscriber device adapted to automatically register unanswered telephone calls made
`
`from said handset over a first communication channel, the handset comprising:
`
`a first communications interface for facilitating calls over the first communica(cid:173)
`
`tion channel;
`
`a second communications interface for facilitating calls over a second communi-
`
`25 cation channel;
`a memory storing a call log of all calls initiated by said handset over the first
`
`communication channel; and
`
`a processor coupled to. the memory for periodically reading the call log,
`
`compiling from said call log a list of unanswered outgoing calls over the first
`
`30 communication channel; and triggering automatically a predetermined action so as to
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 7 of 36
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`WO 2008/050325
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`enable communication between a calling subscriber device and a called subscriber
`
`device to be initiated at a later time.
`
`In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the predetermined
`
`action may be user-defined.
`
`5
`
`In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the predetermined
`
`action may include conveying a notification to the respective called subscriber device
`
`over the second communication channel together with details of the calling subscriber
`
`device for alerting the called subscriber device that the calling subscriber had tried to
`
`initiate a call that was unanswered over the first communication channel. A particular
`
`10 non-limiting example of such an application is for facilitating call completion in a Push(cid:173)
`
`to-Talk (PTT) communication system. iDEN is an example of a PTT network for which
`
`such a call completion is applicable. However, iDEN is mentioned by way of example
`
`only owing to its current popularity, it being understood that the invention is not limited
`
`to any specific PTT protocol and is thus equally suitable for use with other protocols
`
`15
`
`such as GSM's more recent push-to-talk standard and Qualcomm's Q-chat, for CDMA
`
`(IS-95).Thus, the invention allows call completion without the need for a voicemail
`
`server and is paiiicularly beneficial for PTT telephones that receive an indication that a
`
`target PTT device is unavailable where conventionally the target device has no way of
`
`knowing that the call was originated.
`
`20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in
`
`practice, various embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example
`
`only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
`Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of a communication system that allows call
`
`25 completion between a caller device and one or more recipient devices according to a
`
`non-limiting embodiment;
`
`Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing functionally a PTT telephone allowing call
`
`completion according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention;
`Fig. 3 is a sequence diagrain showing how an uncompleted call is registered in a
`
`30 caller device so as to facilitate subsequent completion according to one embodiment of
`
`the invention;
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 8 of 36
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`Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram showing how an uncompleted call is registered in a
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`caller device so as to facilitate subsequent completion according to another embodiment
`
`of the invention;
`Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing how a sending device may notify a
`
`5
`
`recipient device of an unanswered call in accordance with one embodiment of the
`
`invention; and
`Figs. 6 to 11 are sequence diagrams showing how a sending device may notify a
`
`recipient device of an unanswered call in accordance with alternative embodiments of
`
`the invention.
`
`10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`
`Fig. 1 shows pictorially a system 10 for facilitating call completion in a mobile
`
`communication system between a source telephone 11 and a target telephone 12 inter(cid:173)
`
`connected via a wireless network 13 according to an illustrative embodiment. The
`
`wireless network 13 may be a cellular telephone network or any other network that
`
`15 permits full-duplex or half-duplex PTT communication. If desired, PTT can be
`
`implemented on the cellular handset using the PoC Standard of the Open Mobile
`
`Alliance™ as described in their draft Standard OMA-RD PoC-Vl 0-20031204-D
`
`available from their website and incorporated herein by reference. Many of the features
`
`supported by this standard are amenable to implementation by one skilled in the art
`
`20 based on the information in this standard. Alternatively, the Integrated Digital Enhanced
`
`Network developed by Motorola may be used to achieve PPT communication. The
`
`system 10 may also include a server 14 that can be called by a handset to direct suitable
`
`messages to a callee device.
`
`It is to be understood that the system 10 is shown schematically so as not to
`
`25 obscure the essential features of the present invention, which reside not in the telephone
`
`infrastructure but in the telephone handsets. Therefore, it will be appreciated that other
`
`telephony systems may also be used such as VoIP, smart PSTN telephones and other
`
`wireless telephones. Likewise, it is envisaged that the invention will find application
`
`with hybrid telephone networks that include telephones of different types that inter-
`
`30 communicate, for example via gateways as is well known in the art. Similarly, although
`
`the invention is described as being particularly beneficial for use with PTT handsets
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 9 of 36
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`(particularly those operating under iDEN), this is not intended to be limiting and the
`
`invention may also be used with non PTT hat1dsets and well as PTT handsets that
`
`operate under different cellular or other wireless networks. More specifically, the only
`
`essential requirement of the invention is that in order for a telephone handset to operate
`
`5 according to the invention it must have a memory that stores a log of outgoing or
`
`incoming calls and the ability to discriminate between successful and failed calls.
`
`Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functionality of a telephone handset 20
`
`according to a non-limiting embodiment. In this depicted example, the handset 20 is
`
`assumed to be a cellular telephone since most of the functionality shown therein (apart
`
`10
`
`from the call completion software, which is the core feature of the invention) is already
`
`provided as standard in cellular telephones. But, as noted above, it may be any other
`
`suitably modified telephone. Likewise, according to a particularly preferred and
`
`advantageous .embodiment, it may be a cellular or other wireless telephone having PTT
`
`ability and may operate under iDEN. However, although many of the advantages of the
`
`15
`
`invention are particularly applicable in the case of PTT handsets, the invention may also
`
`be applied to non-PTT devices. The handset 20 has a processor 21, which is coupled to
`
`a call log 22, an address book 23, a first communications interface 24 for facilitating
`
`PTT calls, a second communications interface 25 for facilitating telephone calls, a
`
`memory 26, display 27 and a user interface 28. As noted above, in mobile telephones
`
`20 designed to operate over the iDEN network, the first and second communications
`
`interfaces facilitate PTT and cellular telephone calls, respectively, over independent
`
`cellular channels. All of these are standard features in many available cellular and other
`
`telephone handsets and so are not described in further detail. Within the context of the
`
`present invention and the appended claims, the term "independent" when applied to the
`
`25
`
`two different communication channels to which the subscriber device is coupled is not
`
`intended to preclude the possibility of shared data between the two channels, such as
`
`control or signaling data, for example. Rather what is meant is that the two channels are
`
`used to convey messages in an independent manner such that messages may be
`
`transmitted using different protocols along each channel without a communication
`
`30
`
`failure in one channel nec.essarily being capabie of being monitored by the other
`
`channel.
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 10 of 36
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`The user interface 28 includes a numeric keypad, scroll keys and command keys
`
`as are well-known in telephone handsets. Optionally, these keys may operate under
`
`control of software stored in the handset for controlling the manner in which
`
`unanswered calls are processed. Thus, in accordance with one basic approach, the
`
`5 handset may be pre-programmed to convey a notification to the called subscriber device
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`over the second communication channel as described above.
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`However, the user interface 28 may allow for the calling subscriber to select
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`different default options. For example, on receiving notification that a PTT call made
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`over the first communication channel was unanswered, he may prefer to call the target
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`Io subscriber over the second communication channel. He may select that this be done
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`automatically or in response to a suitable prompt. Alternatively, he may prefer to be
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`prompted tc;> call again after a time interval that may itself be either pre-programmed or
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`selected by the calling subscriber using the user interface 28. When so prompted, he
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`may then call the target subscriber manually over either the first or the second
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`15 communication channel using the user interface 28. Alternatively, the channel over
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`which delayed communication is to be attempted may itself be pre-selected by the user
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`under control of the user interface.
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`The user interface 28 also allows for the calling subscriber to select or define
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`different forms and/or formats for the notification that is sent to the target device. Thus,
`
`20
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`in accordance with some embodiments he can select the protocol under which the notifi(cid:173)
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`cation is sent, for example, SMS or as packet data. In accordance with some embodi(cid:173)
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`ments he can select the wording of the notification based on the telephone/PTT number
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`of the called subscriber. For example, he might send a junior member of staff a curt
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`message: 'please phone me'; while to a client he might send a more polite message of
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`25
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`the form: 'I tried to get hold of you; let's touch base when you're available'. Likewise,
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`he might pre-select a language of the notification based on the assumed or known
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`preference of the called subscriber; and so on.
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`The uniqueness of the invention resides in novel call completion software that is
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`stored in the memory 26 of an initiating device and which is operated under control of
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`30
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`the processor 21 to read and process the call log 22 so as to compile a list of
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`unanswered calls and to process the list of unanswered calls and trigger automatically a
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`user-defined action so as to enable communication between a calling handset and a
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`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 11 of 36
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`
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`WO 2008/050325
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`PCT/IL2007/001273
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`- 11 -
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`called handset to be initiated at a later time. For example, a user of a PTT device who
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`initiated an unanswered call may be prompted to complete the unanswered call at a later
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`time. Such prompting may be achieved without requiring manual user initiation.
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`Alternatively, the call completion software may attempt to re-dial in a manner that is
`
`5
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`transparent to the user and requires no interaction thereby. This functionality is achieved
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`in the handset itself without any requirement for an external server such as a voice mail
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`server, as has been proposed previously. Nor does it require the use of a SIM card or
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`any other proprietary add-on; nor does it require substitution of existing components of
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`the handset since the software may be downloaded to the memory 25 of an existing
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`10 handset in known manner.
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`Having briefly described the infrastructure and functionality of the various
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`components in a system according to the invention, there will now be described with
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`reference to Fig. 3 to 11 various scenarios according to the invention where call
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`completion may be delayed following an unanswered call. As will be seen, in different
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`15 embodiments such call completion is typically initiated by the calling party, whose
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`subscriber device is provided with custom software (to be described) for logging
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`unanswered calls and data identifying the respective called subscriber device. However,
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`_in some embodiments, the calling subscriber device n;iay send via an alternative channel
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`data to the called subscriber device for enabling the called subscriber to detect that the
`
`20 calling subscriber tried unsuccessfully to make contact. The called subscriber may then
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`initiate call completion by calling the original calling· subscriber device. What all
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`embodiments have in common, however, is the ability for a communication device to
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`periodically read a call log stored in a memory thereof, to compile from the log a list of
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`unanswered outgoing calls over a first communication channel, and to convey a
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`25 notification to the called subscriber device over a second different communication
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`channel together with details of the calling subscriber device for alerting the called
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`subscriber device that the calling subscriber had tried to initiate a call that was
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`unanswered over the first communication channel. Moreover, this is done utilizing
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`existing assets of the handset and does not require either modification of the handset
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`30 software or special integration with it, thus enabling deployment of this solution on
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`legacy handsets.
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`Petitioner Exhibit 1012, Page 12 of 36
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`
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`WO 2008/050325
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`PCT/IL2007/001273
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`- 12 -
`
`As will be seen, call completion itself may be manually initiated by the original
`
`calling subscriber or by the original called subscriber; or it may be initiated auto(cid:173)
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`matically by either device. The trigger can be a message, such as an SMS message that
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`is sent by the calling device to the called device, and which by virtue of its being
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`5 conveyed via a different medium and routed via an SMS server, may reach its target
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`even in cases where voice communication is not possible. 'SMS' is an acronym for
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`Short Message Service, which is well known and details of which are _therefore not
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`provided.
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`Thus, the following scenar10s will describe some non-limiting examples of
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`10 applications of the invention, usage scenarios and implementations following which
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`particular benefits of the invention for the iDEN network and more general benefits will
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`be presented.
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`1. Applicat