AU736341B3

AU736341B3 - Mobile phone call filtering

Info

Publication number: AU736341B3
Application number: AU65440/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raphael Aron
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-10
Filing date: 2000-10-10
Publication date: 2001-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2002-07-26
Also published as: WO2002032095A1

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: MOBILE PHONE CALL FILTERING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 W :OHN\IRN628095.doc 2 MOBILE PHONE CALL FILTERING Field of the invention The invention relates to a method of filtering incoming calls to a phone user's mobile telephone. It relates particularly but not exclusively to a method whereby an incoming call number is identified and compared with a selection of preferred numbers, so that the mobile phone is caused to ring only if the incoming call is from one of the preferred numbers.

Background to the invention Current mobile telephone systems provide a Caller Identification facility which presents the number of the incoming call on the mobile telephone display for the user to see. This enables the user of the mobile phone to identify the caller before they answer the phone. If it is undesirable to speak with a particular caller, the user may choose to let the mobile phone "ring out" or divert to an alternative number or answering service. This is one method of call screening; however the mobile telephone user will always have either to answer or to ignore the call, and then endure the inconvenience of the mobile phone ringing or vibrating each time there is an incoming call. There is also a possibility that the caller knows that their call is not being answered because their number has been displayed on the mobile telephone screen; it may be more prudent for the user to switch the mobile phone off or divert all calls to an answering service or alternative number. However, diverting all calls to an answering service or alternative number may defeat the purpose of using the mobile phone in the first place, since emergency calls will also be diverted. The caller may also have their number blocked from appearing on the screen of the mobile phone that they are calling, in which case the current caller identification facility is of no use as a call screening device.

Although not widely known or used, it is possible in some telephone systems for the telephone exchange to provide call-barring services, whereby a telephone user may stipulate numbers from which they do not wish to receive an incoming call. When a call is made from a barred number to a mobile phone, the phone will not ring and the barred caller will either hear a busy tone or be diverted to a pre-recorded message or answering service. This type of call-barring service effectively stops known undesirable callers from connecting a call with a telephone but that telephone is still accessible to anyone else who wishes to call it.

This type of call barring facility has several limitations when applied to mobile phones. In the business environment an individual may be in a meeting where he would like to switch his mobile telephone off or divert incoming calls because it would be inappropriate for the telephone continually to ring whilst the meeting is being conducted. However, he is expecting one particular call that he must answer, even if it occurs during the meeting. Present call-barring services do not accommodate this requirement. Similarly, a physician may be doing home visits and does not want to answer personal calls while he is working but wishes to receive calls from his surgery. Simply diverting all calls or switching his mobile telephone off is not appropriate in this situation, but neither is receiving social calls. There are also situations where people may wish to receive interstate or international calls but not local calls, but currently they are limited to receive all calls or none at all.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a method of filtering incoming calls to a phone user's mobile telephone including the following steps: the phone user designates a plurality of preferred incoming callers' numbers; when an incoming call is received, the incoming caller's number is identified; the incoming caller's number is compared with the designated preferred incoming callers' numbers; if the incoming caller's number matches one of the designated numbers, the phone user's mobile phone rings and the phone user can answer the incoming call; if the incoming caller's number does not match one of the designated numbers, the phone user's mobile phone does not ring.

If the user of the mobile telephone wishes to receive all calls from all incoming numbers, it is not necessary for the call filtering facility to be active. There are several ways in which the mobile phone user may elect to activate or deactivate the call filtering facility which include but are not limited to: entering a code into the mobile phone; or pressing a switch on the mobile phone; or selecting a call filtering option from a plurality of options in a menu on the phone user's mobile phone.

The numbers of preferred incoming callers may be designated in any suitable manner. They may be designated by registering them with a telephone company or local telephone exchange. However, it is preferred that they be designated on the phone user's mobile phone, so that the filtering process can occur entirely on the phone user's mobile phone, rather than at a telephone exchange.

To enter the numbers of preferred callers into the mobile telephone, the phone user preferably selects a programming mode and enters the preferred callers' numbers using the keypad. The preferred numbers may be entered in their entirety, or they may be selected from a list of numbers which are already programmed into the mobile phone. As a further option, whenever the phone user receives a call or makes a call, the phone user may have an option to designate the number called from or to as a preferred number. At any time, the user may edit, delete or add to the selection of preferred numbers that has been programmed into the mobile phone.

When the call filtering facility is activated and an incoming call is registered by the mobile telephone, the incoming caller's number is compared with the list of preferred callers' numbers. If the incoming call is being made from a preferred number, the mobile telephone will ring and if the incoming number is not a preferred number, the mobile telephone will not ring. There are various possible variations of this arrangement. For example, the mobile phone may ring when a call is received and the phone is not in call-filtering mode. When in call-filtering mode, the phone may vibrate when a call is received from a preferred number, and it may do nothing when a call is received from a non-preferred number. As another example, when the phone is in call-filtering mode the phone user's phone may light up but not ring when a call is received from a non-preferred number, and the phone user may have (say) five seconds to answer the call, whereafter the call is diverted to an answering service. Similarly, when in callfiltering mode the phone may ring when a call is received from a preferred number and vibrate when a call is received from a non-preferred number. Any different filtering modes and mobile phone functions may be combined to enhance the operation of the call filtering facility.

For those incoming calls which are not made from a preferred number, the user may be given an option stipulate that the call be dealt with in any suitable manner. Suitable ways of dealing with a non-preferred call include that the call: be forwarded to another number; or be forwarded to a voice mail system; or be forwarded to an answering machine; or be connected to a recorded message; or receives an engaged signal; or be disconnected.

The user may also wish to program groups of preferred numbers into the mobile telephone. This would enable them receive calls made by different groups of callers such as work callers, social callers, interstate or overseas callers or any combination thereof. By programming the call filter to operate using groups of callers, the mobile phone user can optimise the usage of their mobile phone for incoming calls.

It is also possible to incorporate an override facility into the invention, whereby certain preferred numbers can override calls made from numbers that are not preferred. The call filter method may also be used in reverse, whereby numbers from which the user does not wish to receive calls can be nominated. This may include numbers for individuals known for making harassing, prank or repetitive calls.

In a preferred form, the current invention enables users of mobile telephones to receive calls made from preferred numbers and filter out all other calls. This means that the mobile phone user is not harassed or interrupted by nuisance calls and their phone will not ring unless the caller's number has been predesignated as preferred.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described in greater detail by reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that the particularity of the drawings does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

Figure 1 is an illustration of a mobile telephone for use in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a selection of call forwarding options; -Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an incoming call processing procedure.

Detailed Description The mobile telephone illustrated in Figure 1 includes a handset 1 which rings or vibrates when an incoming call is received, a display 2 which displays the number of the incoming call for the user to see prior to answering the call and a keypad 3.

In the inventive method, incoming calls to the phone user's mobile telephone 1 are filtered. Firstly, the phone user designates a plurality of preferred incoming callers' numbers. Next, when an incoming call is received, the incoming caller's number is identified. The incoming caller's number is compared with the designated preferred incoming callers' numbers. If the incoming caller's number matches one of the designated numbers, the phone user's mobile phone 1 rings and the phone user can answer the incoming call. If the incoming caller's number does not match one of the designated numbers, the phone user's mobile phone does not ring.

In a preferred embodiment as illustrated in Figure 2, when the mobile phone 1 is switched on, the user accesses the call filtering service by scrolling, using the keys on keypad 3, through a plurality of options available to the mobile phone user until the call filter option 4 is presented. On selecting this option, the user is presented with a list of options that include entering a programming mode 5, call forwarding options 6 and activating or deactivating the call filter 7.

In an alternative embodiment, the call filter may be activated by way of a physical switch provided especially for the purpose on the phone user's mobile phone. In this case, it is particularly easy for the phone user to switch between filtering and non-filtering modes; however, it is necessary for the mobile phone to have a hardware design which incorporates a switch, whereas for softwareonly embodiments of the invention many existing mobile phones may be upgraded by means of a software upgrade to incorporate the method of the present invention.

Other suitable means of activating the call filtering feature include entering a code into the mobile phone (which may potentially be quicker than finding the filtering feature in a menu), or voice activation.

When the programming mode 5 is selected as illustrated in Figure 2, the user is presented with several options which include enter a new preferred number, edit an existing preferred number, delete an existing preferred number, delete all preferred numbers, add a new group or preferred numbers and delete a group of preferred numbers. If the phone user selects the first option, they will enter the new preferred number which will then be stored with any previously entered numbers in the mobile phone's memory. If the second option is selected, the number may be edited in a manner similar to the way in which a speed dial number is entered into the mobile phone. Similarly, if the third, fourth or fifth options are selected, a preferred number may be deleted from the selection, or a new group of preferred numbers can be added or deleted.

When the call forwarding option 6 is selected from the call filter options, the user is presented with a call forwarding menu 9 which may include such options as: 8 forwarding the call to another number, forwarding the call to a voicemail system, forwarding the call to an answering service, connecting the call to a prerecorded message, presenting an engaged signal, and disconnecting the call.

The user selects one of these options for the management of unwanted incoming calls.

It is to be understood that various additions alterations and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of filtering incoming calls to a phone user's mobile telephone including the following steps: the phone user designates a plurality of preferred incoming callers' numbers; when an incoming call is received, the incoming caller's number is identified; the incoming caller's number is compared with the designated preferred incoming callers' numbers; if the incoming caller's number matches one of the designated numbers, the phone user's mobile phone rings and the phone user can answer the incoming call; if the incoming caller's number does not match one of the designated numbers, the phone user's mobile phone does not ring.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the filtering method may be activated or deactivated by the phone user: entering a code into the mobile phone; or pressing a switch on the mobile phone; or selecting a call filtering option from a plurality of options in a menu on the phone user's mobile phone.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein an incoming call that is not made from a designated number: is forwarded to another number; or is forwarded to a voice mail system; or is forwarded to an answering machine; or is connected to a recorded message; or receives an engaged signal; or is disconnected. Dated: 10 October 2000 Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick Patent Attorneys for RAPHAEL ARON