I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 IIII IIII
`US008229409B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Bluvband et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,229,409 B2
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TELEPHONE
`COMMUNICATION
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Zigmund Bluvband, Rishon LeZion
`(IL); Max Bluvband, Rishon LeZion
`(IL)
`
`(73) Assignee: Silent Communication Ltd., Tel Aviv
`(IL)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 218 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`12/527,763
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`Feb.24,2008
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT/IL2008/000236
`
`§ 371 (c)(l),
`(2), ( 4) Date: Aug.19,2009
`
`(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO2008/102365
`PCT Pub. Date: Aug. 28, 2008
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2010/0093330 Al
`
`Apr. 15, 2010
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/902,523, filed on Feb.
`22, 2007.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 3/42
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................... 455/417; 455/422.1; 455/414.1
`(58) Field of Classification Search ........................ None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,027,384 A
`6/ 1991 Morganstein
`6,128,485 A *
`10/2000 Mori et al.
`................. 455/422.1
`6,377,795 Bl
`4/2002 Bach et al.
`2003/0095647 Al *
`5/2003 Cromer et al. ........... 379/102.04
`2004/0002329 Al*
`1/2004 Bhatia et al. ............... 455/422.1
`2004/0235509 Al*
`11/2004 Burritt et al. .................. 455/519
`3/2005 Awasthi et al.
`2005/0070286 Al
`2005/0111646 Al*
`5/2005 Bishop et al. ............ 379/207.02
`2005/0287994 Al*
`12/2005 Serafat et al. .............. 455/414.1
`
`DE
`EP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`103 09 579 Al
`9/2004
`1 267 557 Al
`12/2002
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Supplementary European Search Report Issued in Corresponding
`European Application EP 08 71 0236, Dec. 6, 2011.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner - Erika Gary
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Vladimir Sherman;
`Professional Patent Solutions
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`The system and method of the present invention may allow a
`calling party to make a called party to be aware of its intention
`to establish a call session with it in one or more ways. Accord(cid:173)
`ing to the present invention a calling party may be automati(cid:173)
`cally offered alternatives to voice session or may be allowed
`to change the silent mode of the called party to a non-silent
`mode or may be allowed to address a query to a third party via
`the called party or may be automatically offered to re-estab(cid:173)
`lish a connection with a called party if it was disconnected by
`the called party in error.
`
`1 Claim, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`402--
`
`CALLING PARTY ESTABLISHES
`VOICE CALL WITH
`CALLED PARTY
`
`CALLED PARTY TERMINATES
`THE VOICE CALL SESSION
`ERRONEOUSLY
`
`404--
`
`406--
`
`VOICE-ACTIVATED
`APPLICATION IS ACTIVATED
`
`NO
`
`408--
`
`VOICE-ACTIVATED
`APPLICATION ACTIVATES
`MENU OFFERING CALLING
`PARTY OPTIONS TO CONNECT
`CALLED PARTY
`
`410 - - . - - - - - ' ' - - - - - - ,
`CONNECTION EST AB LI SHED
`
`412--
`
`END OF SESSION
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 1 of 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 8,229,409 B2
`
`12
`
`CALLING
`PARTY
`
`14
`
`NETWORK
`
`16
`
`CALLED
`PARTY
`
`t
`
`10
`
`Fig. lA
`
`28
`
`THIRD
`PARTY
`
`22
`
`CALLING
`PARTY
`
`24
`
`NETWORK
`
`26
`
`CALLED
`PARTY
`
`t
`
`20
`
`Fig. lB
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 2 of 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 8,229,409 B2
`
`102 ----
`
`CALLING PARTY CALLS
`CALLED PARTY
`
`104----
`
`VOICE CALL FAILS TO BE
`ESTABLISHED
`
`106 ----
`
`CALLING PARTY IS OFFERED
`ALTERNATIVE
`COMMUNICATION OPTIONS TO
`CONTACT CALLED PARTY
`BASED ON PREDEFINED LIST
`
`Fig. 2
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 3 of 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 8,229,409 B2
`
`202---
`
`CALLING PARTY CALLS
`CALLED PARTY
`
`204---
`
`I
`CALLING PARTY RECEIVES
`INDICATION THAT CALLED
`PARTY IS IN ONE OF MODES:
`SWITCHED OFF, SILENT MODE,
`MEETING MODE
`__________ I_ ________ _
`
`206
`
`CALLING PARTY REQUESTS
`:
`- - - 1 PERMISSION TO CHANGE MODE
`OF CALLED PARTY
`1
`----------i----------
`
`I
`
`208---
`
`AUTHORIZATION TO CALLING
`PARTY IS GIVEN BASED ON
`AUTHORIZATION TABLE
`
`210---
`
`212---
`
`I
`CALLING PARTY, IF
`AUTHORIZED,
`CALLS MEMBERS OF 'INNER
`CIRCLE' OR
`CHANGES DIRECTLY MODE OF
`OPERATION OF CALLED PARTY
`I
`CALLED PARTY IS MADE AW ARE
`OF INCOMING CALL FROM
`CALLING PARTY
`
`Fig. 3
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 4 of 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 8,229,409 B2
`
`302 ----
`
`CALLING PARTY SENDS A
`QUERY FOR THIRD PARTY
`EQUIPMENT VIA CALLED PARTY
`
`I
`CALLED PARTY TRANSFERS THE
`304 ---- QUERY TO THIRD PARTY BASED
`ON PREDEFINED LIST OF
`SERVICE PARTIES
`
`I
`CALLED PARTY TRANSFERS THE
`306---- QUERY TO THIRD PARTY BASED
`ON PREDEFINED LIST OF
`SERVICED PARTIES
`I
`THIRD PARTY RETURNS
`RESPONSE TO CALLED PARTY
`
`308 ----
`
`310----
`
`I
`CALLED PARTY TRANSFERS THE
`RESPONSE FROM THIRD PARTY
`TO CALLING PARTY
`
`Fig. 4
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 5 of 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 8,229,409 B2
`
`402----
`
`CALLING PARTY ESTABLISHES
`VOICE CALL WITH
`CALLED PARTY
`
`CALLED PARTY TERMINATES
`THE VOICE CALL SESSION
`ERRONEOUSLY
`
`404----
`
`406----
`
`VOICE-ACTIVATED
`APPLICATION IS ACTIVATED
`
`ICE SENS
`ADEFIN
`PERIOD?
`
`NO
`
`408--
`
`410--
`
`412--
`
`YES
`
`VOICE-ACTIVATED
`APPLICATION ACTIVATES
`MENU OFFERING CALLING
`PARTY OPTIONS TO CONNECT
`CALLED PARTY
`
`CONNECTION ESTABLISHED
`
`END OF SESSION
`
`Fig. 5
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 6 of 9
`
`

`

`US 8,229,409 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TELEPHONE
`COMMUNICATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a National Phase Application of PCT
`International Application No. PCT/IL2008/000236, Interna(cid:173)
`tional Filing Date Feb. 24, 2008, entitled "System and
`Method for Telephone Communication" published on Aug. 10
`28, 2008 as International Publication Number WO 2008/
`102365 claiming priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Applica(cid:173)
`tion No. 60/902,523, filed Feb. 22, 2007, all of which are
`incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`FIGS. lA and lB are schematic block diagrams illustrating
`two embodiments of systems according to the present inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating embodi-
`5 ments of the present invention available upon failure to estab(cid:173)
`lish voice call;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention allowing a calling party to
`change the mode of a called party;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention allowing a calling party to
`query a distant third party via a called party; and
`FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the present invention allowing a calling party to
`15 re-establish a call with called party upon an erroneous dis(cid:173)
`connection by the called party.
`It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
`illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessar(cid:173)
`ily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some
`20 of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements
`for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference
`numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate cor(cid:173)
`responding or analogous elements.
`
`In today's cellular communication networks a large por(cid:173)
`tion of the main revenue stream of the cellular operators is the
`voice call usage. Nevertheless, more than 40% of the voice
`calls are not completed. Some of the main reasons for not
`completing voice calls are "busy tone", network coverage
`problem, dead battery at the called party, calls waiting, dis(cid:173)
`connection of the call on Voice Mail message, etc. In these 25
`cases, the cellular user, that intended to establish and carry out
`a voice call conversation with the distant party, is disap(cid:173)
`pointed for not reaching the called party he wishes to reach.
`Moreover, the calling party is usually not using other options
`he could use to try and contact the called party he tried to 30
`converse with. For these cases, where the calling party at one
`end tries to reach someone at another end and encounters
`different problems, there should be a solution that will iden-
`tify for the calling party at least one other optional method to
`communicate with the called ( or distant) party, depending on 35
`the features of the devices at both ends and on the features
`supported by the communication network. Some methods are
`known today to enable alternatives for a call that was not
`established yet, none of them teach the ability automated
`decision making for the enabling of dynamic continuation of 40
`the communication from the caller side according to given
`scenarios. The prior art's approaches are also limited in their
`ability to apply triggering from the called party/incoming
`calls only, without routing a control to the calling party.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT
`INVENTION
`
`In the following detailed description, numerous specific
`details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understand(cid:173)
`ing of the invention. However, it will be understood by those
`skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced
`without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
`methods, procedures, and components have not been
`described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
`The present invention discloses method and system for
`enabling a calling party to better control the situation when a
`conversation session failed to be established (for example
`when the calling party is responded with waiting call signal,
`a no-answer signal, a redirection of the call to answering
`machine, a busy tone, a 'wrong number' announcement, a
`'network difficulty' armouncement, etc. For example, in case
`a calling party calls a called (distant) party phone, such as a
`mobile (or cellular) phone, and is responded by a 'no answer'
`signal, and may be even the out going message of the voice
`45 mail service has been activated and then the calling party
`decides not to leave a message. In such a case the system may
`automatically offer the calling party to use an alternative
`service for connecting the called party, as will be described in
`details below. Other case may be when a calling party calls a
`50 mobile phone of a called party, and in case the called party is
`unavailable, such as it is within another communication ses(cid:173)
`sion and the calling party receives a 'call waiting' signal, once
`the calling party terminates the intended session, it may be
`given an option to start an alternative communication link
`55 with the called party, as will be described in details below.
`Attention is made to FIGS. lA and lB are schematic block
`diagrams illustrating two embodiments of systems 10 and 20,
`respectively, according to the present invention. System 10
`may comprise a calling party 12 having an active connection
`60 to at least called party 16 via communication network 14.
`Calling party 12, 22 may be a cellular phone, a mobile phone,
`etc. Called party 16, 26 may be also a cellular phone, a mobile
`phone, etc. Network 14, 24 may be a cellular network (or
`more than one cellular network, as the case may be), a mixed
`65 network comprising two or more of cellular network, Internet
`Protocol (IP) based network, landline network, etc. in this
`application the term network may also comprise a network
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The system and method of the present invention may allow
`a calling party to make a called party to be aware of its
`intention to establish a call session with it in one or more
`ways. According to the present invention a calling party may
`be automatically offered alternatives to voice session or may
`be allowed to change the silent mode of the called party to a
`non-silent mode or may be allowed to address a query to a
`third party via the called party or may be automatically
`offered to re-establish a connection with a called party if it
`was disconnected by the called party in error.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly
`pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion
`of the specification. The invention, however, both as to orga(cid:173)
`nization and method of operation, together with objects, fea(cid:173)
`tures, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by
`reference to the following detailed description when read
`with the accompanying drawings in which:
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 7 of 9
`
`

`

`US 8,229,409 B2
`
`3
`service provider and options offered by the network and the
`network service provider, such as signaling, etc. A third party
`equipment 28 may be any distant equipment being able to
`connect with called party 26, such as a remote global posi(cid:173)
`tioning system (GPS) device, remote equipment that may be 5
`activated from remote distance, etc.
`Attention is made now to FIG. 2, which is a schematic flow
`diagram illustrating embodiments of the present invention
`available to a calling party upon failure to establish voice call
`with a called party. Calling party 12, 22 may try to establish a 10
`voice call session with called party 16, 26 (block 102). Call-
`ing party 12, 22 may be equipped with a predefined list of
`alternative communication options with called party 16, 26,
`such as a short messaging service (SMS), a media messaging
`service (MMS) and the like. When calling party 12, 22 fails to 15
`establish an intended voice call session (block 104), such as
`when a 'busy tone' is signaled, or a 'call waiting' is signaled;
`or when called party 16, 26 is disconnected or out of service,
`etc., the system and method of the present invention may offer
`calling party 12, 22 alternative communication options to 20
`contact called party 16, 26 based on a predefined list (block
`106). The signals which are received from called party 16, 26
`may symbolize the failure of establishment of a voice call and
`may activate in calling party 12, 22 a local service which
`automatically may invoke a menu, or any other manner of 25
`presenting options to the called party, which may list some or
`all of the alternative options for calling party 12, 22 to estab(cid:173)
`lish other communication channel with called party 16, 26,
`such as sending a SMS message, sending a MMS message,
`calling an alternative phone number ( either an associated 30
`other cellular number, a landline number, etc.) and the like.
`This may ease on calling party 12, 22 to establish an alterna(cid:173)
`tive communication link with called party 16, 26 when called
`party 16, 26 is unavailable. The alternative communication
`links may be saved in a table-like arrangement at calling party 35
`12, 22 or may alternatively be readily saved at one or more of
`service providers of network 14, 24 or, additionally or alter(cid:173)
`natively, be saved in a dedicated server connected to and
`available from network 14, 24.
`The contacting details of the alternative communication 40
`links may be stored in a 'contacts library' that may be dis(cid:173)
`played or otherwise suggested to calling party 12, 22, for
`example using menu driven options that may be invoked
`automatically when the unavailability of called party 16, 26
`has been identified. The contacts library may be constructed 45
`with appropriate pointers and indicators between contacts
`arranged in such a way to allow recommending and/or priori(cid:173)
`tizing entries in the list in order to start text/voice session
`called party 16, 26, using the pair-wise comparison method,
`Saati matrices, voting techniques, historical tracking statis- 50
`tics, etc. As an alternative a fast, real time search in a network
`such as the Internet or other media may be started, in order to
`look for and load if found such a list of additional communi(cid:173)
`cation channels leading to called party 16, 26 such as phone
`numbers, 'pointers', 'contacting addresses', etc., that calling
`party 12, 22 may be interested to use for establishing alterna(cid:173)
`tive communication with.
`For example, calling party 12, 22 calls called party 16, 26.
`A voice session is not established and a Voice mail outgoing
`message is played by called party 16, 26 (or on behalf of
`called party 16, 26) is sent in response with one of Call
`waiting/No answer/Busy tone, etc. Calling party 12, 22 is
`given an opportunity, within a predefined period of time, to
`select an alternative communication link through a menu(cid:173)
`driven offering to start, for example, a text messaging session
`with called party 16, 26 using, for example, SMS or any other
`messaging platform. The text session may be established to
`
`4
`the same phone number, or to a number associated with called
`party 16, 26 as listed in the predefined list of alternative
`communication options described above, or any other num-
`ber/numbers that may be associated with called party 16, 26.
`In similar or other situations, one of the common causes for
`a non-responsive called party is when the called party's phone
`device has been put in the silent mode (also called 'meeting
`mode') of operation, when the called party does not hear the
`ring tone or does not feel the vibration, if the phone device
`was set in the silent-and-vibrate mode, or if the called party
`person forgot to enable the light alarm for incoming call when
`in silent mode, or even when the called party unintentionally
`turned-off the phone device. Called party 16, 26 may have the
`feature( s) that may allow a remote party, such as calling party
`12, 22, to access called party 16, 26 mode of operation and
`change it remotely. This feature may require advance permis-
`sion from called party 16, 26. if called party 16, 26 has given
`calling party 12, 22 advance permission this may be regis(cid:173)
`tered in a table which may be saved with calling party 12, 22
`or with called party 16, 26 or with a service provider (not
`shown) in network 14; 24. Attention is made now to FIG. 3,
`which is a schematic flow diagram illustrating embodiments
`of the present invention allowing calling party 12, 22 to
`change the mode of operation called party 16, 26. Calling
`party may call called party (block 202) trying to establish a
`voice session. Calling party 12, 22 may receive: indication
`from called party 16, 26 that it is in one of the modes
`switched-off, in silent mode, in vibrate-only mode, in light
`indication ofincoming call, etc. (block 204). Calling party 12,
`22 may (optionally) invoke a request from called party 16, 26
`to be authorized to change its mode of operation (block 206).
`The request may be responded with authorization and option(cid:173)
`ally additional with data, such as a dual tone multi frequency
`(DTMF) code for activation of the change of mode. The
`authorization may be based on a table of allowable calling
`parties which may be saved with called party 16, 26 and/or
`with a service provider associated with network 14, 24 (block
`208). If calling party 12, 22 is authorized it may call one or
`more of members of relative third party contacts referred to as
`'inner circle' with respect to called party 16, 26 which are
`pre-authorized by called party 16,26 to change its mode of
`operation. Alternatively or additionally, calling party 12, 22
`may be authorized to directly call called party 16, 26 in order
`to change its mode of operation (block 210) to a more noti(cid:173)
`fyable mode of operation so as to make called party 16, 26
`aware of an incoming call (block 212). According to yet
`another embodiment some calling parties may be authorized
`to remotely turn ON the phone apparatus of the called party.
`Typically such calling party are of special, high priority rela(cid:173)
`tion with the called party.
`In yet additional embodiments a calling party 12, 22 may
`connect a third party 28 via a called party 16, 26, in order to
`change its mode of operation and/or to inquire it for status
`information or for other type of information. Attention is
`55 made to FIG. 4, which is a schematic flow diagram illustrating
`embodiments of the present invention, allowing a calling
`party 12, 22 to query a distant third party 28 via a called party
`16, 26. A call from calling party 12, 22 may be intended to
`change the status of third party equipment 28 via called party
`60 16, 26. For example, third party 28 may be a GPS device
`which may not be accessible directly from calling party 12, 22
`but may be accessible via called party 16, 26. a call from
`calling party 12, 22 may be adapted to make called party 16,
`26 aware of the incoming call but remains in a silent mode
`65 (i.e. no ring tone is heard at called party 16, 26). Additionally,
`called party may be adapted to interpret the call received from
`calling party 12, 22 so that it is considered as a signal to be
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 8 of 9
`
`

`

`US 8,229,409 B2
`
`6
`5
`transferred to third party equipment 28 via a local link, such
`the like. A connection may then be re-established (block 410)
`and the session may end when calling party and/or called
`as a Bluetooth® link or similar local link. The transferred
`party finds it suitable (block 412). If, however, voice was not
`signal may be interpreted by third party equipment 28 so as to
`respond to the query from calling party 12, 22 with status
`sensed within the predefined period of time by voice activated
`response representing the status of operation of third party 28 5 application at calling party 12, 22 then voice activated appli(cid:173)
`cation at calling party 12, 22 terminates without any addi(cid:173)
`or with information, such as location information, or the like.
`tional effect (block 412).
`The sending of inquiry to third party equipment 28 and the
`While certain features of the invention have been illus(cid:173)
`receiving of response from it may be based on the level of
`authorization for calling party 12, 22. According to yet addi(cid:173)
`trated and described herein, many modifications, substitu(cid:173)
`tions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of
`tional aspects of the present invention it may be possible to 10
`change a mode of operation of an unfound cellular phone
`ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that
`device which was lost when in OFF mode, or in a silent mode,
`the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifica(cid:173)
`tions and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
`so as to turn it ON and/or to change its mode of operation to
`a non-silent mode.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method comprising:
`According to yet another embodiment the menu driven 15
`identifying an erroneous disconnection of a voice session
`alternative communication options may be activated when a
`session was terminated but the calling party has not yet fin(cid:173)
`by a first device of a called party;
`ished the session. Attention is made to FIG. 5, which is a
`activating a voice activated application at a second device
`schematic flow diagram illustrating embodiments of the
`of a calling party, which voice activated application
`present invention allowing a calling party 12, 22 to re-estab- 20
`senses voice at said second device after the disconnec(cid:173)
`lish a call with called party 16, 26 upon an erroneous discon(cid:173)
`tion;
`nection by the called party. When calling party 12, 22 estab(cid:173)
`activating a function at said second device offering said
`lishes a call with called party 16, 26 (block 402) and called
`calling party an option to re-establish connection with
`party 16, 26 erroneously disconnects the session prematurely
`said first device if a voice was detected by said applica(cid:173)
`(block 404) a voice-activated application at calling party may 25
`tion at said second device within a defined period of time
`be activated (block 406) allowing automatic sensing of an
`after the disconnection;
`intention to continue the session at calling party 12, 22 end
`re-establishing a session with said first device according to
`within a specified period of time (block 408). If this intention
`selection of said calling party; and
`ending said re-established session by said calling party or
`is identified then the voice activated application may offer
`calling party 12, 22 alternative options to re-connect called 30
`by said called party.
`party 16, 26 (block 408) using any alternative available link
`options, such as dialing for a voice call, sending a SMS and
`
`* * * * *
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1052, Page 9 of 9
`
`