WO2018042434A1 - Phone call diversion system and method - Google Patents

Phone call diversion system and method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018042434A1
WO2018042434A1 PCT/IL2017/050972 IL2017050972W WO2018042434A1 WO 2018042434 A1 WO2018042434 A1 WO 2018042434A1 IL 2017050972 W IL2017050972 W IL 2017050972W WO 2018042434 A1 WO2018042434 A1 WO 2018042434A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
server
phone call
caller
services
callee
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL2017/050972
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Nimrod Peled
Original Assignee
Pele Park Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pele Park Ltd filed Critical Pele Park Ltd
Publication of WO2018042434A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018042434A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/57—Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set
    • H04M1/575—Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/54—Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of telecommunication systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for diverting a phone call to a third party server for enabling to provide a plurality of services to a user, such as obtaining information regarding the caller and providing said information to a destination cellular phone user.
  • various data may be obtained by a user being destination.
  • Said data can be provided by the destination's cellular service provider, such as the caller's phone number.
  • Other data can be obtained by an application installed on the destination's cellular device, such as a phonebook or contacts application that can display the name of the caller.
  • the present invention relates to a method for providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call, comprising: a) providing a communications server adapted for providing one or more services related to a forwarded phone call; b) enabling a destination device of a callee to forward an incoming phone call from a caller to said server; and c) upon receiving the forwarded incoming phone call at said server, enabling said destination device to use the one or more services provided by said server, by utilizing an application installed in advance on said destination device.
  • one of the services enables the destination device to initiate an outgoing phone call with said server in order to connect the outgoing phone call with the forwarded incoming phone call via said server, thereby establishing a phone communication between the callee and the caller.
  • the one or more services comprises: a) retrieving information regarding the identity of a phone caller; and b) providing the destination device with said retrieved information.
  • the method further comprises enabling the server to record the established phone communication between the callee and the caller.
  • the communication between the server and the destination device is performed over a telecom network.
  • the services are provided by the server to the destination device over a data network, in particular the Internet.
  • the present invention relates to a system for providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call, comprising: a) a communications server adapted for providing one or more services related to a forwarded phone call; and b) a cellular device adapted to forward an incoming phone call from a caller to said server, such that upon receiving the forwarded incoming phone call at said server, said cellular device is able to use the one or more services provided by said server irrespective of the Operating System of said cellular device.
  • the invention relates to a system, which comprises:
  • a memory comprising computer-readable instructions which when executed by the at least one processor causes the processor to execute a communication server, wherein the communication server:
  • the one or more services include the ability of the server to connect an outgoing phone call from the cellular device of the callee with the diverted incoming phone call, as to establish a phone communication between the callee and the caller of the incoming call via said server.
  • the invention in another aspect relates to a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions which when executed by at least one processor causes the processor to perform the method of providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call.
  • Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a cellular communications system
  • Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the implementation of an apparatus for diverting a phone call to a server and establishing communication between a caller and a destination, via said server, according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a flowchart of the process of diverting a phone call to a server and establishing communication between a caller and a callee, via said server, according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a flowchart of the process of diverting a phone call to a server and establishing communication between a caller and a callee, via said server, according to another embodiment of the present invention
  • the present invention describes a system for enabling to enrich the services that can be provided to the one who receives a phone call (i.e., the callee) from a caller, in particular without being depended on the type of cellular device and its operating system.
  • the cellular device can be a cell phone manufactured by Samsung that runs an Android OS or an iPhone by Apple Inc. that runs the iOS.
  • the system of the present invention enables to provide both cellular devices the same services, e.g., by retrieving data regarding the caller and enabling other functions related to the phone call, such as phone call recording which is usually restricted under iOS.
  • the system can provide services to almost any cellular device irrespective of its OS and the type of the cellular device that is used.
  • an application is installed in advance on a cellular phone.
  • the application provides services of the system described herein.
  • a user is required to request the cellular service provider to divert phone calls to a predefined destination, i.e. a server providing services as described herein, in order to allow future call diverting according to the invention.
  • a user may choose to have all incoming phone calls automatically diverted to the server. In such an embodiment a callee can automatically be provided with services as described herein, without the need of manually forwarding the phone call.
  • a user may individually choose for each incoming phone call whether to divert the call to the server or not.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the interaction between a caller, a destination (i.e., callee), and the cellular service providers of the same according to common communications methods.
  • the caller's device 11 communicates 15 with the caller's cellular service provider 13, who then contacts and communicates 16 with the cellular service provider 14 of the destination 12 (i.e., callee).
  • the cellular service provider of the destination then contacts and communicates 17 with the destination 12 and initiates the cellular communication between the caller and destination.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates an interaction between a caller, a destination, cellular service providers of the same, and a communications server, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a caller 11 and a destination 12 i.e., callee
  • said communication 17 may be forwarded 22 to a communications server 21.
  • said server 21 analyzes several features of said communication and transmits 23 said features to said destination 12.
  • Callee 12 may now choose to initiate communication 24 with said server 21 in order to accept said communication request from said caller, hence in order to answer the phone.
  • the server 21 then connects the caller communication 22 to callee's communication 24 in order to enable cellular communication between the caller 11 and the callee 12, while continuously processing data from the communication by server 21.
  • PBX Private Branch Exchange
  • Fig. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a call diversion process, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the destination user i.e. the callee
  • the callee decides in step 31 if the call shall be diverted to a remote server for utilizing one or more services that can be provided by that server, such as obtaining information regarding the identity of the caller. If callee decides not to allow the diversion, communication with the caller continues as usual, and in step 36 a decision is made whether to answer the phone and after some time to hang up, as in steps 37-38, or not to answer the phone and to hang up, as in step 39.
  • the call is diverted in step 32 to a server.
  • the server may notify the callee (e.g., via internet network either directly or indirectly via additional equipment/service) that the diversion has succeeded and in addition, as indicated in step 33, it may obtain caller information, and in step 34, the server sends the information to the callee.
  • the callee may decide whether or not to accept the call. If the user decides to accept the call, in the next step 35a the callee initiates a phone call communication with the server, and in the next step 35b the server connects caller communication to the callee, and callee is provided in step 38 with the option to hang up.
  • said server is capable of providing a variety of services to a user. These services may include recording a phone call, detecting whether a communication is part of a conference call, providing information about the caller, etc.
  • the application installed in advance allows receipt of the services.
  • Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of another embodiment of the invention, in which a caller may use the service and application described herein.
  • a user initiates a phone call to a callee who also uses the service and application described herein.
  • communication is initialized with a server, instead of the caller's phone-service-provider, i.e. the caller calls the server.
  • the server detects the callee which the caller wishes to reach.
  • the server notifies the callee that the caller is calling.
  • the callee decides whether or not to divert the call.
  • step 46 the communication continues according to the process described hereinabove with respect to Fig. 3 starting at step 32. If the callee decides not to divert the phone call, in step 46 the communication continues according to the process described hereinabove with respect to Fig. 3 starting at step 36.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call, comprising: a) providing a communications server adapted for providing one or more services related to a forwarded phone call; b) enabling a destination device of a callee to forward an incoming phone call from a caller to said server; and c) upon receiving the forwarded incoming phone call at said server, enabling said destination device to use the one or more services provided by said server, by utilizing an application installed in advance on said destination device.

Description

PHONE CALL DIVERSION SYSTEM AND METHOD
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunication systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for diverting a phone call to a third party server for enabling to provide a plurality of services to a user, such as obtaining information regarding the caller and providing said information to a destination cellular phone user.
Background of the invention
When receiving a phone call from a caller, various data may be obtained by a user being destination. Said data can be provided by the destination's cellular service provider, such as the caller's phone number. Other data can be obtained by an application installed on the destination's cellular device, such as a phonebook or contacts application that can display the name of the caller.
Although some existing systems may use number lookup service applications that provide caller's information beyond the phonebook application, and may even identify unknown incoming calls, and block unwanted calls such as Truecaller™, which is a phone application capable of automatically identifying the contact name of a caller, irrespective of whether the user have the number of the caller in the contact application or not. However, the information which is provided about said caller is limited to specific cellular devices that can run an Android based Operating System (OS). But, there are many cellular devices that run other OS (such as iOS by Apple Inc.), which may not be able to properly use such number lookup application due to the various OS restrictions (e.g., as placed by Apple Inc.). Moreover, due to such OS restrictions, in some systems, such as a system using iOS operating system, it is impossible to record and save a phone conversation. The ability to detect whether a call is part of a conference call is another example of the limited capability of a destination device. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for diverting an incoming phone call to a remote server, and obtaining data from said phone call irrespective of the OS and the cellular device that is used.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.
Summary of the invention
The present invention relates to a method for providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call, comprising: a) providing a communications server adapted for providing one or more services related to a forwarded phone call; b) enabling a destination device of a callee to forward an incoming phone call from a caller to said server; and c) upon receiving the forwarded incoming phone call at said server, enabling said destination device to use the one or more services provided by said server, by utilizing an application installed in advance on said destination device.
According to an embodiment of the invention, one of the services enables the destination device to initiate an outgoing phone call with said server in order to connect the outgoing phone call with the forwarded incoming phone call via said server, thereby establishing a phone communication between the callee and the caller.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the one or more services comprises: a) retrieving information regarding the identity of a phone caller; and b) providing the destination device with said retrieved information.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises enabling the server to record the established phone communication between the callee and the caller.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the communication between the server and the destination device is performed over a telecom network.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the services are provided by the server to the destination device over a data network, in particular the Internet. ln another aspect, the present invention relates to a system for providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call, comprising: a) a communications server adapted for providing one or more services related to a forwarded phone call; and b) a cellular device adapted to forward an incoming phone call from a caller to said server, such that upon receiving the forwarded incoming phone call at said server, said cellular device is able to use the one or more services provided by said server irrespective of the Operating System of said cellular device.
In another aspect the invention relates to a system, which comprises:
a) at least one processor; and
b) a memory comprising computer-readable instructions which when executed by the at least one processor causes the processor to execute a communication server, wherein the communication server:
receives an incoming phone call diverted from a callee cellular device to said server; and
sends a message to the cellular device of said callee, either directly or indirectly, through which one or more services that are related to the incoming phone call can be activated at said server.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the one or more services include the ability of the server to connect an outgoing phone call from the cellular device of the callee with the diverted incoming phone call, as to establish a phone communication between the callee and the caller of the incoming call via said server.
In another aspect the invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions which when executed by at least one processor causes the processor to perform the method of providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call.
Brief description of the drawings
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 (prior art) schematically illustrates a cellular communications system; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the implementation of an apparatus for diverting a phone call to a server and establishing communication between a caller and a destination, via said server, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a flowchart of the process of diverting a phone call to a server and establishing communication between a caller and a callee, via said server, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a flowchart of the process of diverting a phone call to a server and establishing communication between a caller and a callee, via said server, according to another embodiment of the present invention
Detailed description of the invention
The present invention describes a system for enabling to enrich the services that can be provided to the one who receives a phone call (i.e., the callee) from a caller, in particular without being depended on the type of cellular device and its operating system. For example, the cellular device can be a cell phone manufactured by Samsung that runs an Android OS or an iPhone by Apple Inc. that runs the iOS. In both cases, although different device are used (and each device may run a different type of OS), the system of the present invention enables to provide both cellular devices the same services, e.g., by retrieving data regarding the caller and enabling other functions related to the phone call, such as phone call recording which is usually restricted under iOS. In other words, the system can provide services to almost any cellular device irrespective of its OS and the type of the cellular device that is used.
According to the present invention, an application is installed in advance on a cellular phone. The application provides services of the system described herein. Besides the installation of the application, a user is required to request the cellular service provider to divert phone calls to a predefined destination, i.e. a server providing services as described herein, in order to allow future call diverting according to the invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user may choose to have all incoming phone calls automatically diverted to the server. In such an embodiment a callee can automatically be provided with services as described herein, without the need of manually forwarding the phone call.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a user may individually choose for each incoming phone call whether to divert the call to the server or not.
Fig. 1 illustrates the interaction between a caller, a destination (i.e., callee), and the cellular service providers of the same according to common communications methods. The caller's device 11 communicates 15 with the caller's cellular service provider 13, who then contacts and communicates 16 with the cellular service provider 14 of the destination 12 (i.e., callee). The cellular service provider of the destination then contacts and communicates 17 with the destination 12 and initiates the cellular communication between the caller and destination.
Fig. 2 illustrates an interaction between a caller, a destination, cellular service providers of the same, and a communications server, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Once contact and communication have been initiated between a caller 11 and a destination 12 (i.e., callee), using the common method of Fig. 1, said communication 17 may be forwarded 22 to a communications server 21. If a communication is forwarded, said server 21 analyzes several features of said communication and transmits 23 said features to said destination 12. Callee 12 may now choose to initiate communication 24 with said server 21 in order to accept said communication request from said caller, hence in order to answer the phone. The server 21 then connects the caller communication 22 to callee's communication 24 in order to enable cellular communication between the caller 11 and the callee 12, while continuously processing data from the communication by server 21.
All of the communications described above and illustrated in Fig. 2 utilize common communication methods. Forwarding 22 a phone call from the destination's cellular service provider to a server can be accomplished by call diverting, which is a feature commonly enabled by cellular service providers. In order to initiate communication 24 between a callee and the server, an outgoing phone call from the destination device can be used. Connecting two communications, i.e. 22 and 24 of Fig. 2, can be accomplished by using a Private Branch Exchange (PBX).
Fig. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a call diversion process, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the first step, 30, when a caller initially calls a destination, the destination user, i.e. the callee, decides in step 31 if the call shall be diverted to a remote server for utilizing one or more services that can be provided by that server, such as obtaining information regarding the identity of the caller. If callee decides not to allow the diversion, communication with the caller continues as usual, and in step 36 a decision is made whether to answer the phone and after some time to hang up, as in steps 37-38, or not to answer the phone and to hang up, as in step 39.
If the callee decides to allow the diversion in step 31, the call is diverted in step 32 to a server. In this stage, the server may notify the callee (e.g., via internet network either directly or indirectly via additional equipment/service) that the diversion has succeeded and in addition, as indicated in step 33, it may obtain caller information, and in step 34, the server sends the information to the callee. For example, according to said information, in step 35 the callee may decide whether or not to accept the call. If the user decides to accept the call, in the next step 35a the callee initiates a phone call communication with the server, and in the next step 35b the server connects caller communication to the callee, and callee is provided in step 38 with the option to hang up.
In an embodiment of the present invention, said server is capable of providing a variety of services to a user. These services may include recording a phone call, detecting whether a communication is part of a conference call, providing information about the caller, etc. The application installed in advance allows receipt of the services.
Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of another embodiment of the invention, in which a caller may use the service and application described herein. In such a case, in step 41 a user initiates a phone call to a callee who also uses the service and application described herein. In the next step 42, communication is initialized with a server, instead of the caller's phone-service-provider, i.e. the caller calls the server. In the next step 43, the server detects the callee which the caller wishes to reach. In the next step 44, the server notifies the callee that the caller is calling. In the next step 45, if calls received by the callee are not automatically diverted, the callee decides whether or not to divert the call. If the callee decides to divert the phone call, in step 46 the communication continues according to the process described hereinabove with respect to Fig. 3 starting at step 32. If the callee decides not to divert the phone call, in step 46 the communication continues according to the process described hereinabove with respect to Fig. 3 starting at step 36.
As various embodiments have been described and illustrated, it should be understood that variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the principles herein. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments described and illustrated in the drawings.

Claims

Claims
1. A method for providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call, comprising:
a. providing a communications server adapted for providing one or more services related to a forwarded phone call;
b. enabling a destination device of a callee to forward an incoming phone call from a caller to said server; and
c. upon receiving the forwarded incoming phone call at said server, enabling said destination device to use the one or more services provided by said server, by utilizing an application installed in advance on said destination device.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which one of the services enables the destination device to initiate an outgoing phone call with said server in order to connect the outgoing phone call with the forwarded incoming phone call via said server, thereby establishing a phone communication between the callee and the caller.
3. The method of claim 1, in which the one or more services includes:
a. retrieving information regarding the identity of a phone caller; and b. providing the destination device with said retrieved information.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising enabling the server to record the established phone communication between the callee and the caller.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication between the server and the destination device is performed over a telecom network.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the services are provided by the server to the destination device over a data network, in particular the Internet. A system for providing phone call related services by diverting an incoming phone call, comprising:
a. a communications server adapted for providing one or more services related to a forwarded phone call; and
b. a cellular device adapted to forward an incoming phone call from a caller to said server, such that upon receiving the forwarded incoming phone call at said server, said cellular device is able to use the one or more services provided by said server irrespective of the Operating System of said cellular device.
PCT/IL2017/050972 2016-08-31 2017-08-31 Phone call diversion system and method WO2018042434A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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IL247573 2016-08-31
IL247573A IL247573A0 (en) 2016-08-31 2016-08-31 Phone call diversion system and method

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110250870A1 (en) * 2009-09-29 2011-10-13 Christopher Anthony Silva Method for recording mobile phone calls
US9277049B1 (en) * 2013-03-07 2016-03-01 Serdar Artun Danis Systems and methods for caller ID and call destination authentication

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110250870A1 (en) * 2009-09-29 2011-10-13 Christopher Anthony Silva Method for recording mobile phone calls
US9277049B1 (en) * 2013-03-07 2016-03-01 Serdar Artun Danis Systems and methods for caller ID and call destination authentication

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