`
`US006639973Bl
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Wheeler et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,639,973 Bl
`Oct. 28, 2003
`
`(54) MOBILE ORIGINATOR CALL CONTROL
`
`(56)
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Jill C. Wheeler, Gilbert, AZ (US);
`Peter J. Armbruster, Chandler, AZ
`(US); Bradley R. Schaefer, Chandler,
`AZ (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/133,870
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 26, 2002
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.7 .......................... H04M 1/64; H04M 3/42;
`G06F 13/38
`(52) U.S. Cl. ..................... 379/88.18; 379/67.1; 379/79;
`379/88.13; 379/88.17; 379/88.18; 379/207.07;
`379/207.08; 379/209.01; 379/210.02
`(58) Field of Search ........................... 379/67.1, 68, 79,
`379/88.04, 88.13, 88.17, 88.18, 88.22, 88.25,
`900, 901, 908, 142.02, 207.07, 207.08,
`209.01, 210.02; 709/227, 228, 204, 205,
`217, 218, 235
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,972,461 A * 11/1990 Brown et al. ................. 379/67
`5,497,414 A * 3/1996 Bartholomew .............. 379/142
`6,446,118 Bl * 9/2002 Gottlieb ...................... 709/217
`2001/0003202 Al * 6/2001 Mache et al. ............... 713/153
`2001/0025280 Al * 9/2001 Mandato et al. ............... 707/3
`2001/0049745 Al * 12/2001 Schoeffler ................... 709/238
`2002/0120697 Al * 8/2002 Generous et al. ........... 709/206
`2002/0160757 Al * 10/2002 Shavit et al.
`............... 455/414
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Allan Hoosain
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank L. Rogacz
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`
`An originating party (10) places a call through an originating
`party called control (30), through a network ( 40), through a
`terminating party call control ( 50) to a terminating sub(cid:173)
`scriber (22). For an inability to complete the connection
`from the originating subscriber to the terminating subscriber,
`control is returned from the terminating party call control
`through network (40) to the call control logic (31) of the
`originating party call control (30) or directly to the origi(cid:173)
`nating subscriber (10).
`
`8 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`JO).
`
`/
`
`ORIGINATING PARTY
`r
`I
`CALL CONTROL
`I JI
`33
`32
`II
`CALL
`TRECAATLMLENT
`COCNATLRLOL
`TREATMENT
`I
`RULE SET
`LOGIC
`LOGIC
`1 r - - - ' - - - - - - - - - - I I ~ - - - - - - - I
`I
`TRANSPORT
`TRANSPORT
`I I
`I
`35
`45
`L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ JL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ J
`
`• CALL BLOCK
`• ETC.
`
`r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ c!!_7
`I
`I
`42 NETWORK CALL CONTROL
`43
`7 I NETWORK CALL
`I
`SUPPLEMENTARY
`I I CONTROL LOGIC
`I
`SERVICES
`I I
`I
`I I • MAINTENANCE
`I
`I I • BILLING
`I
`
`: ~:m~rn~~ : mt ~~~~ARDING
`
`50
`r TERMOO TfNGP ARTY 7
`CALL CONTROL 1 - - - -__ J
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`DOO
`DOD
`
`DOD =
`
`I ~--'---~. I
`I~ '--"
`:
`TRANSPORT
`I ~
`I
`55
`L _____ J
`
`10
`
`24
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1048, Page 1 of 8
`
`
`
`I
`I
`I
`I ~~---. I
`
`55
`TRANSPORT
`
`L _____ _J
`I
`I
`
`c~~~~~L
`CALL
`
`52
`
`CALL CONTROL 1-------'
`
`:-'"
`0
`
`I")
`
`0
`
`1 1
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`rTERMINATfNGPARTY7
`
`I
`I
`
`• ETC.
`• CALL BLOCK
`• CALL HOLD
`• CALL FORWARDING
`
`SUPPLEMENTARY
`
`SERVICES
`
`• BILLING
`
`50
`
`43
`
`42 NETWORK CALL CONTROL
`
`,-40
`
`24
`
`F IC. 1
`
`10
`
`L __________ _J L ___________ _J
`I
`
`I I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I .---..___------~ I I .---------------._ I
`
`I
`I
`I I
`
`35
`TRANSPORT
`
`45
`TRANSPORT
`
`1 1
`I I • MAINTENANCE
`• TERMINATION
`• ORIGINATION
`I I CONTROL LOGIC
`I NETWORK CALL
`7
`I
`I
`r--------...L.--7
`
`/
`
`I
`
`33 I
`
`TRRUEL1™lENi
`
`TRt~~~~NT
`
`CALL
`
`CALL
`
`ORIGINATING PARTY
`
`CALL CONTROL
`
`32
`
`c~~~~~L
`CALL
`
`I:
`I 31
`I
`r
`
`30~
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1048, Page 2 of 8
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 28, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 6,639,973 Bl
`
`RECEIVE
`SERVICE REQUEST
`
`60
`
`DETERMINE TERMINATING PARTY STATUS
`
`62
`
`F JG. 2
`
`TERMINATOR
`
`66
`TERMINATING CALL TREATMENT
`
`68
`SEND STATUS TO ORIGINATING PARTY
`CALL CONTROL
`
`ORIGINATING CALL TREATMENT
`
`END
`
`F JG. 3
`
`INITIATE
`SERVICE REQUEST
`
`BO
`
`RECEIVE TERMINATING PARTY ST A TUS
`
`8 2
`
`NO
`
`86
`
`CONTINUE CALL SETUP
`WITHOUT RULE SET
`
`BB
`
`EXECUTE RULE SET
`
`ORIGINATING CALL TREATMENT
`USING RULE SET
`
`90
`
`END
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1048, Page 3 of 8
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 28, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 6,639,973 Bl
`
`ZERO
`ATTEMPT COUNTER
`
`100
`
`YES
`
`END
`
`YES
`
`106
`
`BLOCKED LOGIC:
`USING UNBLOCKED CALL ID
`
`YES
`
`110
`
`114
`
`BUSY LOGIC:
`• SEND PAGE,
`• SEND SMS,
`• TRY AL TENA TE NUMBER,
`
`YES
`
`NO ANSWER LOGIC:
`• TRY AL TERNA TE NUMBER,
`
`END
`
`116
`INCREMENT ATTEMPT COUNTER
`
`F JG. 4
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1048, Page 4 of 8
`
`
`
`,i;;..
`
`0 ....,
`~ ....
`=-~
`
`'JJ.
`
`,i;;..
`
`8
`0
`N
`~CIO
`N
`:-'"
`I")
`0
`
`=
`......
`~ ......
`~
`•
`r:JJ.
`d •
`
`~
`
`148
`
`146
`
`144
`
`142
`
`140
`
`F JG. 5
`
`MESSAGE IS SENT TO JOE'S
`
`MOBILE AND DISPLAYED
`
`CHOOSE DEFAULT MESSAGE:
`
`URGENT I PLEASE CALL.
`
`SUBSCRIBER CHOOSES INSTANT
`
`MESSAGE FROM WEB MENU
`
`JOE'S LINE IS BUSY
`
`~
`
`----
`
`132_)
`GET YOUR MESSAGE
`STILL AT WORK
`RUNNING ERRANDS
`URGENT PLEASE CALL
`INSTANT MESSAGE OPTIONS
`PREPROGRAMMED
`,,
`
`PERIODIC REDIAL
`VOICEMAIL MULTIPLE
`VOICEMAIL
`INST ANT MESSAGE
`SERVICE OPTIONS
`
`'
`
`,130
`
`i-124
`
`v-126
`
`SUBSCRIBER ATTEMPTS CONNECTION
`
`WITH JOE SMITH VIA MOBILE
`
`---------------
`
`IPv6
`E. 164
`E. 164
`IPv6
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`E. 164
`E. 164
`ADDRESS
`
`MOBILE
`WORK PHONE
`HOME PHONE
`MOBILE
`WORK PHONE
`HOME PHONE
`CONTACT
`"
`122--
`
`JAIN DOE
`
`JOE SMITH
`NAME
`
`128)
`
`GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE EVENT
`SUBSCRIBER PRE-CONFIGURES OPTIONS
`
`THAT THEY ARE NOT REACHABLE
`FOR PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS AS
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1048, Page 5 of 8
`
`
`
`US 6,639,973 Bl
`
`1
`MOBILE ORIGINATOR CALL CONTROL
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention pertains to communication system,
`services and more particularly to control of a call by an
`originating party.
`Communication networks, whether wireless or wireline,
`typically provide the terminating party of a call with special
`call handling features. These special service features include
`call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, and anonymous call
`rejection, for example. These services are controlled and
`applied by the terminating party of a call.
`The terminating party can arrange to have his calls
`forwarded to a voicemail for example. The terminating party
`may play a prerecorded message. However, each of the
`services provided by the terminating party are controlled
`exclusively by the terminating party. All the present features
`for call control are provided to the selection of the termi(cid:173)
`nating party.
`Most calls are originated by a mobile originating party in
`a mobile network. Therefore, providing the terminating
`party with call control in mobile networks seems counter
`productive of providing the best service. Accordingly, in a
`mobile network it would be highly desirable to provide
`service logic execution which may be triggered by an
`originating party for various supplementary services such as
`under conditions in which the terminating party is not
`reachable.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an arrangement for origi(cid:173)
`nating party call control in accordance with the present
`invention.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart of call processing network operation
`in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart for call control by the originating
`party in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example for a rule set
`implementation for a call control by the originating party in
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of originating
`party call control for a call forwarding example.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`5
`
`2
`party subscriber control logic 50 controls what happens to
`the attempted connection.
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
`originating party 10 may set service logic preferences within
`the call treatment rule set 33 of the originating party sub(cid:173)
`scriber control logic. These settings of call treatment rule
`sets would include what action to take should a particular
`terminating party 20-24 be unavailable. In an alternate
`embodiment, the call treatment rule set may also be stored
`10 within the subscriber calling equipment 10.
`When the originating call control logic 31 of the origi(cid:173)
`nating party call control 30, detects a lack of connection to
`a terminating party 20---24, call control logic 31 transfers to
`call treatment logic 32. Transport 35 connects originating
`15 party 10 through the transport 45 of network 40, through the
`transport 55 of terminating party subscriber control logic 50
`to attempt to connect to computer 20, for example. Trans(cid:173)
`ports 35, 45 and 55 provide the necessary radio link protocol
`for wireless networks or the appropriate physical ports for
`20 wire line LANs (local area networks). Originating party call
`control 30 and call control logic 31 have transmitted an
`indication to call control logic 42 and supplementary ser(cid:173)
`vices 43 of network 40 that should the terminating party,
`computer 20, be unavailable, control is to be returned to call
`25 control logic 31 instead of typically being processed by call
`control logic 52 or computer 20, for example.
`When the targeted terminating party, computer 20 for
`example, cannot be reached, terminating call control logic
`52 returns control through transports 55, 45 and 35 to
`30 originating call control logic 31. Call control logic 31 then
`passes control to call treatment logic 32 and subsequently
`the originating party 10 treatment rule set 33 is activated.
`A key to this call processing is to give the originating
`party 10 control when the attempt to connect to the termi(cid:173)
`nating party fails. That is, the terminating party's subscriber
`services such as call forwarding or voicemail, etc., will be
`preempted and control returned to the originating party to
`determine the action to take for failure of connection.
`For example, in a situation where the terminating party,
`computer 20, is not available, the originating party 10
`through call treatment rule set 33 may establish a set of
`preferences such as:
`
`35
`
`40
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of the network 50
`configuration for providing an embodiment of the present
`invention is shown. Originating party 10 is shown as being
`coupled by an RF link 11 to the originating party call control
`30. Terminating parties include computer 20, wireline sub(cid:173)
`scriber 22 and mobile subscriber 24. Terminating parties 55
`20-24 are possible connections which may be sought by
`originating party 10. Terminating parties 20-24 are all
`connected to the terminating party subscriber control logic
`50. Originating and terminating party call control 30 and 50
`are coupled via network 40.
`Typically call control is exercised by the network or the
`terminating party. Examples of network call control are call
`forward, call hold, voicemail. Examples of terminator call
`control are distinctive ring based on calling party number
`Typically when an originating party connects or attempts
`to connect to a terminating party and the terminating party
`is unavailable, network call control 42 or the terminating
`
`45
`
`TABLE 1
`
`1)
`
`2)
`
`3)
`
`4)
`
`initiate autodialing from a prestored list
`of phone numbers or IP addresses;
`send a prestored message to a prestored
`address (phone number, IP address, alpha(cid:173)
`numeric pager, etc.);
`send a voicemail message or instant
`message to one or more of the terminating
`parties 20 contact addresses; and
`periodically redial the phone number or
`reinitiate the IP address from a prestored
`list of numbers or addresses.
`
`As can be seen from the above explanation, this invention
`places control of the call processing into the hands of the
`originating party instead of typically leaving it in the hands
`60 of the terminating party of the call. This provides the
`advantage of the originating party being able to take non(cid:173)
`standard actions or alternatives based upon the originating
`party's circumstances.
`Referring to FIG. 2, a flow chart of the call processing in
`65 accordance with the present invention is shown. The method
`shown in FIG. 2 is performed by network 40 for calls put
`through the network. First, the network receives a service
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1048, Page 6 of 8
`
`
`
`US 6,639,973 Bl
`
`3
`request, block 60. This is a request for a call origination or
`termination from an originating party 10 through originating
`party call control 30 into the network 40. Next the network
`determines the terminating party status, block 62. That is,
`the network determines whether the terminating party or 5
`called party has its line busy; is blocked or is attempting to
`place the incoming call on hold; etc.
`Next the network determines the call treatment priority
`associated with this call attempt, block 64. If the terminating
`party has the call treatment priority block 64 transfers
`control to block 66 via the terminator path. Block 66 will
`provide the terminating call treatment indication to origi(cid:173)
`nating party call control 30. For example, a busy tone will
`be returned to the originating party 10, since the terminating
`party's line was busy. As another example, the originating 15
`party's call may be call forwarded or placed on hold if the
`terminating party subscriber equipment indicated these ser(cid:173)
`vice features were functional.
`If the call treatment indicates that the originating party is
`to control for terminating party statuses like busy, blocked, 20
`hold, etc., block 64 transfers control to block 68 via the
`originator path. Block 68 sends the terminating party's 20
`status to the originating party or to the originating party call
`control 30 depending on the preferred embodiment of the
`invention. That is, if the originating party call control 30 is 25
`performing the call treatment logic 32 then the request is
`sent to the originating party call control 30. In distinction, if
`the originating party 10 is performing the call treatment and
`rule set functions then the status such as busy, blocked, hold,
`etc. is sent back to the originating party 10. Lastly, block 70 30
`indicates that either the originating party call control 30 or
`the originating party 10 handles the origination call treat(cid:173)
`ment as will be demonstrated infra. The process is then
`ended.
`FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart of the call processing by the
`originating party call control 30 or by the originating party
`10. Block 80 initiates a service request to the network 40 for
`call completion through terminating party subscriber control
`logic 50 to a terminating party, computer 20. If FIG. 2 has
`processed block 70, origination call treatment is entered.
`Block 82 is the beginning of the originating call treatment.
`Block 82 receives the terminating party status. The termi(cid:173)
`nating party status indicates whether the terminating party
`was busy, blocked, on hold, etc.
`Next, block 84 determines whether the originating call
`treatment is needed. If the treatment is not needed, block 84
`transfers control to block 86. Block 86 continues the call
`without reference to the call treatment rule set which may
`have been stored in the originating party 10 or in the 50
`originating party call control 30. Block 86 then ends the
`process.
`If the originating call treatment is required, block 84
`transfers control to block 88 via the yes path. Block 88
`invokes the prestored call treatment rule set. Block 88 will
`select a particular rule set to be followed for the specified
`return condition of the terminating party. For example, block
`88 may choose to invoke Rule 1) of Table 1 above. That is,
`the originating party call control 30 may select phone
`numbers from a prestored list and begin autodialing from 60
`that list of numbers. Lastly, block 90 will perform the
`required originating call treatment. That is, it will actually
`autodial the appropriate phone number from the list which
`was prestored. See Table 1 above. Then the process is ended.
`FIG. 4 depicts an example of a call treatment rule set for 65
`the originating party call control 30 or the originating party
`10. First, an attempt counter is zeroed or cleared, block 100.
`
`4
`Block 102 determines whether a maximum number of
`attempts has been exceeded. If the maximum amount of
`allowable attempts has been exceeded, block 102 ends the
`process via the yes path. If the maximum number of attempts
`has not been exceeded, block 102 transfers control to block
`104.
`Block 104 determines whether the terminating party was
`blocked for network communication. If the terminating
`party was blocked, block 104 transfers control to block 106.
`10 Block 106 executes the blocked logic which may include
`redialing the number using an unblocked call identification.
`Block 106 then transfers control to block 116 which incre(cid:173)
`ments the attempt counter and transfers control to block 102.
`If the terminating party is not blocked, block 104 transfers
`control via the NO path to block 108. Block 108 determines
`whether the terminating party was busy. If the terminating
`party is busy, block 108 transfers control to block 110. Block
`110 is the busy logic. For example, the busy logic may send
`a page to a particular number; send an SMS message; or try
`an alternate number, for example. When the busy logic 110
`has performed the appropriate function, it transfers control
`to block 116. Again, block 116 increments the attempt
`counter and transfers control to block 102 to iterate the
`process.
`If the terminating party was not busy, block 108 transfers
`control to block 112 via the NO path. Block 112 determines
`whether the terminating party answered. If the terminating
`party answered, block 112 terminates the process via the NO
`path. If the terminating party did not answer, block 112
`transfers control to block 114, the no answer logic. Block
`114 may try an alternate number or send a page, etc. When
`block 114 has finished the no answer logic, it transfers
`control to block 116. Block 116 increments the attempt
`counter and transfers control to block 102 to iterate the
`process.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting the execution of the
`call treatment rule set for a call forwarding example. The
`originating party must pre-configure options in the tables
`(128, 130, 132) of the call treatment rule set 33 within the
`call treatment rule set 33 for particular individuals or groups
`in the event that certain terminating parties are not
`reachable, block 120. The originating party attempts a
`connection with Joe Smith via a mobile phone, 140. Joe
`45 Smith's line is busy, block 142. The originating subscriber
`then has pre-selected an instant message from a web menu,
`block 144.
`Call treatment rule set 33 selects Joe's mobile and the
`appropriate corresponding address, 122. The originating
`party has pre-selected for this situation a default message of
`"urgent, please call", block 146. Path 124 is selected and
`points to the service options 130. The service options 130
`includes the instant message option and points to the list of
`instant messages, 132. The selected message is obtained
`55 from data storage. That is, the "urgent, please call" message
`is copied from the instant message options 132. Lastly, the
`message "urgent, please call" is sent to Joe's mobile phone
`via the IPv6 address and displayed on Joe's mobile phone,
`block 148.
`As can be seen from the above examples, the present
`invention provides the originating party with a large number
`of option to invoke when the terminating party may not be
`reached. The originating party 10 or the originating party
`call control 30 may provide for storing and effecting these
`options. These options include if a line is busy, for example,
`sending an instant message to a pager or another mobile
`phone, etc. Also included is selecting voicemail or multiple
`
`35
`
`40
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1048, Page 7 of 8
`
`
`
`US 6,639,973 Bl
`
`10
`
`20
`
`5
`voicemails. The service options also include sending an
`email which may be prestored or selectively input. Another
`service option includes periodic redialing of the terminating
`party until communication is achieved. The present inven(cid:173)
`tion provides many ways for the originating party to control 5
`selection of alternates should the terminating subscriber be
`unavailable or unreachable by the selected communication
`mode. In this way communications between the originating
`party and terminating party may be affected under the
`control of the originating party.
`Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has
`been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be
`readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various
`modifications may be made therein without departing from
`the spirit of the present invention or from the scope of the 15
`appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An arrangement for retaining call control of a call by an
`originator comprising;
`a terminating party;
`an originating party for initiating the call including sub(cid:173)
`scriber calling equipment;
`a network for processing the call to the terminating party;
`means for call treatment included in the subscriber calling 25
`equipment being operated by the originator in response
`to an unsuccessful connection of the originating party
`to the terminating party to subsequently control the
`call;
`there is further included an originating party call control 30
`coupled between the originating party and the network,
`the originating party call control including call control
`logic which transmits an indication to the network that
`control is to be returned to the originating party call
`control for an unsuccessful connection between the 35
`originating party and the terminating party;
`the call control logic initiates the means for call treatment;
`said means for call treatment including within the sub(cid:173)
`scriber calling equipment a call treatment logic and a 40
`call treatment rule set;
`said call treatment logic executes at least one set of calling
`preferences;
`the call treatment rule set stores at least one set of calling
`preferences for the originating party;
`the at least one set of calling preferences includes at least
`one of the group of:
`an instant message;
`a voicemail;
`multiple voicemails;
`an email; and
`a periodic retry of the call;
`the instant message further includes:
`a list including a plurality of instant messages; and
`means for selecting at least one of the plurality of 55
`instant messages.
`2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
`means for call treatment is included in an originating party
`call control.
`3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 60
`means for call treatment is included in the originating party.
`4. A method for call control of a call by an originator
`comprising the steps of:
`initiating the call by the originator to a terminating party;
`
`6
`determining by subscriber calling equipment a call treat(cid:173)
`ment for the call;
`receiving by the originator a status of the terminating
`party from a network;
`the subscriber calling equipment performs a step of send(cid:173)
`ing the status of the terminating party to the originator,
`if the call treatment is for originator control;
`there is further included the step of determining by the
`originator whether call treatment by the originator is
`required from the status;
`there is further included the steps of:
`selecting from a call treatment rule set an appropriate
`rule for execution by the originator; and
`executing by the originator the call treatment rule set;
`there are further included the steps of:
`clearing an attempt counter; and
`determining from the attempt counter whether a
`maximum number of attempts has been achieved;
`if the maximum number of attempts has not been
`achieved, there are further included the steps of:
`said step of executing by the originator including
`the step of determining whether the terminat(cid:173)
`ing party has been blocked; and
`if the terminating party has been blocked, redi(cid:173)
`aling using an unblocked call identification.
`5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein if the
`terminating party is not blocked, there are further included
`the steps of:
`said step of executing further includes the step of deter(cid:173)
`mining whether the terminating party is busy; and
`performing at least one of:
`sending a pre-stored message to a pre-stored phone
`number; sending a pre-stored message to a pre-stored
`internet protocol address; and sending a pre-stored
`message for paging.
`6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein if the
`terminating party is not busy, there are further included the
`steps of:
`determining whether the terminating party has not a
`answered; and
`if the terminating party has not answered, selecting an
`alternate phone number.
`7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein there is
`45 further included a step of incrementing the attempt counter.
`8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein there is
`further included a step of iterating the steps of determining
`whether the terminating party has been blocked;
`if the terminating party has been blocked, redialing using
`an unblocked call identification;
`determining whether the terminating party is busy;
`performing at least one of:
`sending a pre-stored message to a pre-stored phone
`number;
`sending a pre-stored message to a pre-stored internet
`protocol address; and
`sending a pre-stored message for paging;
`determining whether the terminating party has not
`answered;
`if the terminating party has not answered, selecting an
`alternate phone number; and
`incrementing the attempt counter.
`
`50
`
`* * * * *
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1048, Page 8 of 8
`
`