Abstract:
A communication method between a communication initiating device and a communication response system using preconditions, comprising the steps of initiating a call from the communication initiating device to the communication response system, before answering the call, requesting information in accordance with the preconditions and performing one or more predefined action in response to the obtaining of the requested information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/944,004 filed on Feb. 24, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) communication method and system using preconditions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) is an architectural framework for delivering IP multimedia services originally designed by the wireless standards body 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), as a part of the vision for evolving mobile networks beyond Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). 
         [0004]    However, there is a need for an (IMS) communication method and system for customizing and/or handling received calls more efficiently. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    There is provided a communication method between a communication initiating device and a communication response system using preconditions, comprising the steps of: 
         [0006]    a. initiating a call from the communication initiating device to the communication response system; 
         [0007]    b. before answering the call, requesting information in accordance with the preconditions; and 
         [0008]    c. performing one or more predefined action in response to the obtaining of the requested information. 
         [0009]    There is also provided communication method as above, wherein the communication initiating device is an IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) device and the communication response system is an IP Private Branch Exchange (IP-PBX) system. 
         [0010]    There is further provided a communication method as above, wherein step b. of requesting information is performed through a push back procedure using a pop-up message. 
         [0011]    There is further still provided a communication method as above, wherein the communication initiating device can be set to provide the requested information to the communication response system automatically, for selected communication response systems, for accredited communication response systems or for selected types of requested information. 
         [0012]    There is also provided a communication method as above, wherein the requested information is assigned a sensitivity level and wherein the one or more predefined action is selected based on the sensitivity level of the requested information. 
         [0013]    There is further provided a communication method as above, wherein the one or more predefined action is to place the call in a calling queue of a service center. 
         [0014]    There is further still provided a communication method as above, further comprising the step of: 
         [0015]    d. retrieving further information based on the obtained requested information. 
         [0016]    There is also provided a communication system between a communication initiating device and a communication response system using preconditions, the system implementing the above methods. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0017]    Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of an example of an IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) communication system using preconditions in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of the IMS communication process in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Similar references used in different Figures denote similar components. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Generally stated, the non-limitative illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure provide an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem or IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) communication method and system using preconditions. IMS is an architectural framework for delivering IP multimedia services originally designed by the wireless standards body  3 rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), as a part of the vision for evolving mobile networks beyond Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an example of an IMS communication using preconditions  10  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, a user uses an IMS device  20 , for example a smart phone using GSM as described in Permanent Reference Document (PRD) IR.92 or even IR.58, to communicate with a recipient having an IP Private Branch Exchange (IP-PBX) system  30 , for example a service provider, a multimedia provider, a professional&#39;s office or other types of businesses providing client services. 
         [0023]    The IMS device  20  contains various types of information such as VCard, Global Positioning System (GPS) info, IP Multimedia Private Identity (IMPI), IP Multimedia Public Identity (IMPU), or other information. The IMPI is a unique permanently allocated global identity assigned by the home network operator, and is used, for example, for Registration, Authorization, Administration, and Accounting purposes. The IMPU is used by the user to request communication with other users (e.g. this might be included on a business card). There can be multiple IMPU per IMPI. The IMPU can also be shared with another IMS device  20 , so that both can be reached with the same identity. 
         [0024]    The IP-PBX system  30  can provide, for example, audio, video, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and instant messaging communication through the TCP/IP protocol stack for its internal network and interconnects its internal network with the public switched telephone network (PSTN) for telephony communication. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a flow diagram of an illustrative example of the IMS process  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Steps of the process  100  are indicated by blocks  102  to  112 . 
         [0026]    The process  100  starts at block  102  where a user initiates a call  11 , using the IMS device  20 , to the IP-PBX system  30 . 
         [0027]    At block  104 , the IP-PBX system  30  requests information from the IMS device  20  through a push back procedure  12  using, for example, a pop-up message, in accordance with its preconditions application  32 . It is to be understood that preconditions such as determining if the IMS device  20  has High Definition (HD) video capability, or other such preconditions, may be handled automatically and seamlessly. 
         [0028]    Then, at block  106 , the IMS device  20  responds  13  by accepting or refusing to provide the information requested by the IP-PBX system  30 . The accepting or refusing to provide the information is effectuated by the user of the IMS device  20 . However, in an alternative embodiment, the IMS device  20  may be set to automatically provide information to approved IP-PBX systems  30 , either explicitly identified or through some accreditation. In a further alternative embodiment, the IMS device  20  may be set to automatically provide certain predefined types of information while other types of information require the input or acceptance of the user. It is to be understood that requested information may be assigned different levels of sensitivity. 
         [0029]    At block  108 , the IP-PBX system  30  verifies if the user has provided the requested information (either by the user accepting to provide the requested information or the IMS device  20  being set to automatically provide the information). If not, the process  100  proceeds to block  110  where the call  11  proceeds as per a normal call, if so, it proceeds to block  112 . 
         [0030]    Finally, at block  112 , using the requested information provided by the IMS device  20 , the preconditions application  32  instructs the IP-PBX system  30  to execute one or more predefined action  14 . In an alternative embodiment, there may be a selection of predefined actions  14  by the preconditions application  32  depending on the level of sensitivity of the provided information  13 . The predefined action  14  may be, for example but not limited to, placing the call in a special calling queue (for example a queue with a quicker response time) of a service center  40 , which makes available the provided information  13  to a service representative through a client service application  42 , which may pull further information associated with the provided information  13  from a database  44 . The predefined action  14  may also be, for example, the sending of coupons or other documents/offers to the user, providing audio, video, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) or instant messaging communications. 
         [0031]    It is to be understood that process  100  may be applied to communications between other types of initiating devices and response systems. It is to be further understood that the initiating devices and response systems include processors and associated memories for executing and storing the IMS communication process, precondition application and other various related information. 
         [0032]    Although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity and by way of an illustrative embodiment and examples thereof, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the disclosure as hereinafter claimed.