WO2009060404A2

WO2009060404A2 - Method of transferring a call from a phone to a personal computer

Info

Publication number: WO2009060404A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/054636
Authority: WO
Inventors: Denis M.R. Augeray
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2007-11-09
Filing date: 2008-11-06
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: WO2009060404A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication system comprising: a phone (1, 2) comprising a phone audio device, a personal computer (4) able to be connected to an Internet protocol network (6) and provided with a computer audio device (12, 13), said personal computer being connected to said phone, wherein an ongoing call is pending between a remote terminal and one of the phone or the personal computer, and wherein the personal computer comprises an application (8, 9, 10, 14) configured to: initiate a call transfer between the one of the phone or the personal computer which is initially on-line and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call is to be transferred, put the ongoing call on hold, select the computer audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the personal computer or the phone audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the phone, and resume the ongoing call between the remote terminal and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call has been transferred.

Description

Method of communicating between a remote terminal, a phone and a personal computer

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of communicating between a remote terminal, a phone and a personal computer, said personal computer being connected to an Internet protocol network and being connected to said phone. The invention also relates to a communication system comprising a phone and a personal computer connected to an Internet protocol network and connected to the phone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Voice Over Internet Protocol VOIP emerging technology gives to end-users the advantage to perform phone calls at very low rate. Conventional phones implementing VOIP technology are usually software applications running on a personal computer PC, which applications use peripheral capabilities of the PC such as a sound card and/or a broadband modem. These software applications are called softphones.

It is usually possible to connect a cordless phone to the PC, for example via a Universal Serial Bus USB wired connection. Such a cordless phone comprises a base station and a handset for wireless communication with the base station. The base station is connected to the PC via the USB wired connection and may also be connected to the Public Switched

Telephony Network PSTN.

A phone call can be received or transmitted using the phone and its own audio capabilities or using directly the integrated audio peripheral capabilities of the personal computer. But, once a phone call is in progress from the computer, a user cannot transfer the phone call to the cordless phone. Similarly, once a phone call is in progress from the phone, a user cannot switch the phone call to the personal computer.

In others words, a user who has started a phone call with his phone and who wants to continue the phone call with his personal computer has no solution other than to stop the phone call and to start a new phone call from his personal computer. The problem is exactly the same when a user has started a phone call from his personal computer and, during the phone call wants to continue the phone call with his cordless phone. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to propose a method of communicating between a remote terminal, a phone and a personal computer, said personal computer being connected to an Internet protocol network and being connected to said phone, which is more convenient to the end-user than the one of the prior art.

To this end, there is provided a method of communicating between a remote terminal, a phone and a personal computer, said phone comprising a phone audio device, said personal computer being connected to an Internet protocol network, comprising a computer audio device and being connected to said phone, wherein an ongoing call is pending between the remote terminal and one of the phone or the personal computer, said method comprising the steps of: initiating a call transfer between the one of the phone or the personal computer which is initially on-line and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call is to be transferred, - putting the ongoing call on hold, selecting the computer audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the personal computer or the phone audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the phone, and resuming the ongoing call between the remote terminal and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call has been transferred.

As a consequence, the method in accordance with the invention makes it possible either to transfer an ongoing call from the computer to the phone that is connected to the personal computer, or to transfer the ongoing call from said phone to the personal computer.

The invention also relates to a communication system comprising a phone comprising a phone audio device, a personal computer able to be connected to an Internet protocol network and provided with a computer audio device, said personal computer being connected to said phone, wherein an ongoing call is pending between a remote terminal and one of the phone or the personal computer, and wherein the personal computer comprises an application configured to initiate a call transfer between the one of the phone or the personal computer which is initially on-line and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call is to be transferred, to put the ongoing call on hold, to select the computer audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the personal computer or the phone audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the phone, and to resume the ongoing call between the remote terminal and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call has been transferred.

The invention also extends to a computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when loaded in the memory of a computer, makes the computer execute all the steps of the method in accordance with the invention.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows the communication system in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the method of transferring an ongoing call from a phone to a personal computer; and - Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the method of transferring an ongoing call from a personal computer to a phone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a communication system comprising a cordless phone and a personal computer. Said cordless phone comprises a cordless base station and a cordless handset. Said cordless phone is, in the following example, a dual phone which can be connected to Public Switched Telephony Network PSTN, such a phone operating for example in this case according to the DECT (for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone) standard or a similar standard, and which can also be connected to the Internet Protocol IP network, such a phone operating in this case according to the Voice Over Internet Protocol VOIP technology. In the latter case, the user can receive an incoming IP call or transmit an outgoing IP call either from the handset or from the computer.

The phone is connected to the PC via a USB port. The link between the base station and the computer can be wired or wireless. The phone may include a wireless handset or a wired handset connected to the base station. The base station can be connected to the PSTN network. It should be noted that the invention is applicable even if the phone is intended to operate on the IP network only (no PSTN connection mandatory). A communication system in accordance with the invention is depicted in Fig. 1. Such a communication system comprises: a cordless handset 1 for wireless communication with a base station 2; the base station 2 able to be connected to a PSTN network 11; - a personal computer PC 4 comprising a sound card speaker 13 and a microphone

12, and able to be connected to an IP network 6 using a broadband modem 5; a USB wired connection 3 between the computer 4 and the base station 2. It shall be noted the USB wired connection can be replaced by a wireless connection using a wireless USB dongle, which is seen as a cordless handset from the base station. In this case the communication links between handset and base station and between base station and USB dongle are achieved by using the well-known intercom mode; a collection of software applications running on the computer 4, such software applications including: a PC application software 8, which includes an audio mixer 14; - a softphone Application Programming Interface API 9 which is a communication interface between the PC application software 8 and a softphone 10; and the softphone 10 such as Skype or Voipbuster software.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the method of transferring an ongoing call from a phone to a personal computer.

In a step 110, all units are powered on including the PC and its own audio peripheral capabilities. A phone call is ongoing on the handset.

In a step 120, the end-user initiates a call transfer from the handset to the personal computer which is connected to the handset. This call transfer is initiated either by making a long press on a predetermined key of the phone keyboard, or by opening a dedicated menu and by selecting a 'call transfer' function. The handset receives, in a step 130, a transfer command and displays on a screen of the handset a 'transfer' indication (e.g. text message or light signal).

In a step 140, the handset sends to the PC application a transfer notification through the base station or USB dongle using a USB command.

The PC application receives, in a step 150, the transfer notification according to which a call transfer is asked. Upon reception of the transfer notification, the PC application sends to the softphone API a dedicated command in order to hold the ongoing call. In a step 160, the PC application displays a confirmation window pop-up asking the end-user to accept or to reject the call transfer, and starts to play a ringing melody on the PC.

A first test is then performed in a step 170 in order to know whether the ongoing call is resumed from the phone. If the "talk" key of the handset is pressed (yl), it means that the call is resumed and the method jumps to step 240.

Otherwise (nl), a second test is performed in a step 180 in order to know whether the end-user accepts or rejects the call transfer from the PC. If the end-user rejects the call transfer from the PC (n2), then the method jumps to step 230.

If the end-user accepts the transfer (y2), the audio devices of the softphone are changed in a step 190 from the phone audio devices to the computer audio devices thanks to softphone API commands. More specifically, this change is achieved via the dedicated softphone API functions such as SET AUDIO IN and SET AUDIO OUT for the Skype softphone. The AUDIO IN function is such that the SET command assigns a new audio input device for the Skype softphone. The syntax is SET AUDIO IN <device_name> where device name is the identifier of the computer in the present case. The AUDIO OUT function is such that the SET command assigns a new audio output device for the Skype softphone. The syntax is SET AUDIO OUT <device_name>.

In a step 200, the PC application sends to the softphone API a dedicated release command in order to resume the call. The PC application also sends to the phone a notification signal indicating that the ongoing call has been successfully transferred.

The handset receives the successful transfer notification in a step 210, and, upon reception of this notification, stops displaying the indication according to which a call transfer is pending. Finally, the call transfer process is terminated in a step 220.

If the call transfer has been aborted from the PC (following step 180), a notification signal is sent, in a step 230, by the PC application to the handset in order to indicate that the call transfer has been abandoned.

If the end-user resumes the call from the handset (following step 170 by pressing a key) or rejects the transfer from the PC (following step 230), then the PC application sends to the softphone API a dedicated command to resume the call and the handset stops displaying the call transfer indication in a step 240.

In a step 250, the PC application sends to the softphone API a dedicated release command in order to resume the call. Finally, the call transfer is aborted and the call transfer process is terminated in a step 260. Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the method of transferring an ongoing call from a personal computer to a phone.

In a step 310, all units are powered on including the PC and its own audio peripheral capabilities. A phone call is ongoing on the PC. During the ongoing call, the end-user starts, in a step 320, a call transfer from the PC to the phone by opening a PC application contextual menu and by selecting a 'call transfer' function.

In a step 330, the PC application sends to the softphone API a dedicated command in order to hold the ongoing call. The PC application sends to the handset a 'call transfer' notification. The PC application also displays a cancellation window pop-up asking the end- user if he wants to stop the transfer from the PC.

The handset receives, in a step 340, the 'call transfer' notification according to which a call transfer is asked. The handset starts ringing and displays a 'call transfer' indication.

A first test is then performed in a step 350 in order to know whether the ongoing call is rejected from the phone. If the "end" key of the handset keyboard is pressed (yl), it means that the call is rejected from the phone, and the method jumps to step 430.

Otherwise (nl), a second test is performed in a step 360 in order to know whether the end-user accepts or rejects the call transfer from the PC. If the end-user rejects the call transfer from the PC (n2), then the method jumps to step 410. If the end-user accepts the transfer from the handset (y2), for example by pressing the

"talk" key, the handset sends to the PC application a notification signal indicating that the ongoing call has been successfully transferred in a step 370. The handset stops displaying the call transfer indication.

Then, the PC application receives the successful transfer notification in a step 380, and, upon reception of this notification, changes the audio devices (AUDIO IN & AUDIO

OUT) of the softphone from the computer audio devices to the phone audio devices thanks to the appropriate softphone API commands, as described above (device name is now the identifier of the phone).

In a step 390, the PC application sends to the softphone API a dedicated release command in order to resume the call. Finally, the call transfer process is terminated in a step 400.

If the call transfer has been aborted from the PC (following step 360), a notification signal is sent, in a step 410, by the PC application to the handset in order to indicate that the call transfer has been abandoned. The handset receives this notification signal and, upon reception of the notification signal, the handset stops displaying the call transfer indication in a step 420.

If the call transfer has been aborted from the handset (following step 350), a notification signal is sent, in a step 430, by the handset to the PC application in order to indicate that the call transfer has been abandoned. The handset stops displaying the call transfer indication.

If the end-user resumes the call from the PC (following step 420) or rejects the transfer from the phone (following step 430), the PC application sends to the softphone API a dedicated release command in order to resume the call in a step 440. Finally, the call transfer is aborted and the call transfer process is terminated in a step 450.

Concerning the management of audio data that flow through the USB link as described in Fig 2 and Fig. 3, the call notification and management commands use for example the "Human Interface Machine" of the USB specifications, and the voice data use the "audio mode " of the USB specifications.

It will also be apparent to a skilled person that PSTN calls can be received or transmitted directly via the handset. This is the conventional method already available and outside the scope of the invention.

The invention may be implemented by means of dedicated software. A set of instructions corresponding to this software and which is loaded into a program memory causes an integrated circuit of a computer to carry out the method in accordance with the software. The set of instructions may be stored on a data carrier such as, for example, a disk. The set of instructions can be read from the data carrier so as to load it into the program memory of the integrated circuit, which will then fulfils its role. For example, the software is copied on a CD-ROM, said CD ROM being sold together with the phone. Alternatively, the software can also be made available through the Internet.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" and "comprises", and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice- versa.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a remote terminal, a phone and a personal computer, said phone comprising a phone audio device, said personal computer being connected to an Internet protocol network, comprising a computer audio device and being connected to said phone, wherein an ongoing call is pending between the remote terminal and one of the phone or the personal computer, said method comprising the steps of: initiating a call transfer between the one of the phone or the personal computer which is initially on-line and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call is to be transferred, putting the ongoing call on hold, selecting the computer audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the personal computer or the phone audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the phone, and - resuming the ongoing call between the remote terminal and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call has been transferred.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the audio device is achieved via dedicated Application Programming Interface functions.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call transfer is initiated by making a long press on a predetermined key of the phone keyboard.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call transfer is initiated by opening a menu on the phone and by selecting a dedicated menu item.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the call transfer is initiated by opening a menu on the personal computer and by selecting a dedicated menu item.

6. A communication system comprising: a phone comprising a phone audio device, a personal computer able to be connected to an Internet protocol network and provided with a computer audio device, said personal computer being connected to said phone, wherein an ongoing call is pending between a remote terminal and one of the phone or the personal computer, and wherein the personal computer comprises an application configured to: initiate a call transfer between the one of the phone or the personal computer which is initially on-line and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call is to be transferred, put the ongoing call on hold, select the computer audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the personal computer or the phone audio device if the ongoing call has to be transferred to the phone, and resume the ongoing call between the remote terminal and the other of the phone or the personal computer to which the ongoing call has been transferred.

7. A computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when loaded in the memory of a computer, makes the computer execute all the steps of the method as claimed in claim 1.