Abstract:
A technique is disclosed that provides a conduit for enabling a private branch exchange, or other data-processing system, to initiate the performance of a function on a cellular telephone or other off-premises telecommunications terminal that is affiliated with the exchange. The conduit comprises a client application that resides on the off-premises terminal that observes the calling party identifier of all incoming calls. When the private branch exchange desires to initiate a function on the terminal, the exchange dials the terminal and postpends dialed digits by using dual tone multi-frequency signaling, where the dialed digits identify the particular function call and the arguments of the function. When the client application on the telecommunications terminal determines that the value of the calling party identifier is from the private branch exchange of the illustrative embodiment, the application looks for the postpended dialed digits and, upon finding them, initiates the function that corresponds to them.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application incorporates herein by reference the underlying concepts, but not necessarily the nomenclature, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/122866, filed on 5 May 2005, Attorney Docket 630-118US, entitled “Changing the User Interface at a Telecommunications Terminal.” 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to telecommunications in general, and, more particularly, to signaling a telecommunications terminal through a system that is remote with respect to the signaling system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of a telecommunications system in the prior art. Telecommunications system  100  comprises:
       i. telecommunications network  101 ;   ii. private branch exchange  102 ;   iii. on-premises telecommunications terminals  103 - 1  through  103 -H, wherein H is a positive integer; and   iv. network telecommunications terminals  104  and  105 ,
 
all of which are interconnected as shown.
         
         [0008]    Telecommunications network  101  comprises the Public Switched Telephone Network, which is a complex of telecommunications equipment that is owned and operated by different entities throughout the World. In the United States of America, for example, the Public Switched Telephone Network (or “PSTN”) comprises an address space that is defined by ten digits, and, therefore, comprises 10 billion unique addresses or “telephone numbers.” The public switched telephone networks in other countries are similar. 
         [0009]    Network  101  interconnects the other telecommunications networks, which include the enterprise network supported by private branch exchange  102 . The enterprise network provides telecommunications service to telecommunications terminals  103 - 1  through  103 -H that are “on-premises” within the enterprise area served, such as an office building or campus. 
         [0010]    Additionally, network  101  provides telecommunications service to other telecommunications terminals, such as terminals  104  and  105 . For example, terminal  105  might originate a call that routes through network  101  to private branch exchange  102  or might receive a call that routes through network  101  from exchange  102 . 
         [0011]    Private branch exchange (PBX)  102  is capable of switching incoming calls from telecommunications network  101  via one or more communications paths to one or more of on-premises terminals  103 - 1  through  103 -H. Private branch exchange  102  is also capable of handling outgoing calls from the on-premises terminals to network  101  via one or more communications paths. 
         [0012]    Private branch exchange  102  is also capable of forwarding an incoming call, such as from terminal  102 , to a telephone number of a PBX user&#39;s “off-premises” terminal that is accessible through network  101 . This type of forwarding to a terminal affiliated with exchange  102  is also known as “extending” a call because the connection to the off-premises terminal appears to exchange  102  as an additional PBX line. Exchange  102  extends the call to the off-premises terminal in addition to switching the same incoming call to an on-premises terminal within the enterprise area that exchange  102  serves. For example, for one particular user who subscribes to the enterprise network served by exchange  102 , terminal  103 - 1  is the on-premises terminal, while terminal  104  is the off-premises terminal. Note that in system  100 , there are terminals supported by network  101  that are not considered to be off-premises terminals-for example, terminal  105 -because unlike terminal  104 , they are not affiliated with exchange  102 . 
         [0013]    To accomplish (i) the switching of an incoming, enterprise-related call to an on-premises terminal and (ii) the extending of the call to the correct off-premises terminal, private branch exchange  102  maintains a table that correlates the off-premises telephone number to the on-premises, private branch exchange extension. Table 1 depicts a table that illustrates the correlation. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLEA 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 PBX Extension-to-PSTN Number Database 
               
             
          
           
               
                 On-Premises 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Telecommunications 
                 Private Branch 
                 Telecommunications 
               
               
                 Terminal 
                 Exchange Extension 
                 Network Number 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 103-1 
                 732-555-0102, x11 
                 201-555-1236 
               
               
                 103-2 
                 732-555-0102, x12 
                 908-555-3381 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0014]    As an example, a first caller at terminal  105  who wishes to reach the PBX user of terminal  103 - 1  dials the PBX number (i.e., 732-555-0102). Private branch exchange  102  receives the incoming call and the extension number (i.e., x11) as specified by the caller. By using stored information that is similar to the information in Table 1, private branch exchange  102  determines that the call is also to be extended to off-premises telephone number 201-555-1236. This is the telephone number that is associated with off-premises terminal  104 , which belongs to the PBX user of terminal  103 - 1 . Exchange  102  then extends the call to terminal  104 . The idea behind transmitting the call to both terminals  103 - 1  and  104  (or sometimes to terminal  104  only) is that if the PBX user is not reachable at his office phone (i.e., terminal  103 - 1 ), then possibly he is reachable at a phone that is outside of the office (i.e., terminal  104 ). The extending of the call to an off-premises terminal enhances the caller&#39;s experience by only requiring the caller to use a single telephone number to reach the PBX user, regardless of whether or not the PBX user is in the office. 
         [0015]    The extending of the call in the example to terminal  104 -or to any off-premises terminal, for that matter-requires that the call-control signaling for the extended call be routed through telecommunications network  101 , as well as through any other intermediate network. Favorably, the signaling in routing the extended call is relatively straightforward, in that the extended call appears to be a regular, incoming call to the networks that handle the call and to the called terminal. Any additional signaling from the private branch exchange to the off-premises terminal, however, can be problematic. What is needed is a technique to provide additional signaling from a private branch exchange—or from any other data-processing system, for that matter—to an affiliated, off-premises terminal or other device that a remote system is serving, without some of the disadvantages in the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention provides a conduit that enables a private branch exchange, or other data-processing system, to initiate the performance of a function on a cellular telephone or other off-premises telecommunications terminal that is affiliated with the exchange, without some of the disadvantages in the prior art. In particular, the conduit comprises a client application that resides on the off-premises terminal that observes the calling party identifier of all incoming calls. When the private branch exchange desires to initiate a function on the terminal, the exchange dials the terminal and postpends dialed digits by using dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signaling, where the dialed digits identify the particular function call and, optionally, one or more arguments of the function. When the client application on the telecommunications terminal determines that the value of the calling party identifier is from the private branch exchange of the illustrative embodiment, the application looks for the postpended dialed digits and, upon finding them, initiates the function that corresponds to them. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments of the present invention, when the client application detects the calling party identifier of the private branch exchange, the application disables the alerting mechanism on the telecommunications terminal so that the terminal&#39;s user remains unaware of the transaction going on. Some functions to be performed at the terminal, after all, might not require user interaction or awareness. Certain values of the calling party identifier might correspond to a function call and a disabling of the terminal&#39;s alerting mechanism, while other values of the identifier might correspond to a function call with no disabling of the alerting mechanism, while still other values of the identifier might not correspond to a function call at all. 
         [0018]    The invocation of one or more functions at a telecommunications terminal through the traffic channel is advantageous in that it involves no modifications to any equipment between the private branch exchange and the target telecommunications terminal. Instead, in the example of a cellular network, the serving mobile switching center first receives what appears to be a standard incoming call from the private branch exchange and then directs the call to the target cell phone. When the call is answered by the cell phone, the private branch exchange proceeds to then signal the terminal, via the traffic channel, to perform one or more functions. The signaling is transparent to the mobile switching center because it occurs on the traffic channel, instead of on the cellular network&#39;s control or signaling channels. 
         [0019]    The illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises: receiving an indication that a first telecommunications terminal perform a first function; and transmitting, to the first telecommunications terminal: i) a first calling party identifier, and ii) a first series of dialed digits that identifies the first function. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of telecommunications system  100  in the prior art. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  depicts a schematic diagram of telecommunications system  200 , in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of private branch exchange  202 , which is a part of system  200 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of off-premises telecommunications terminal  206 , which is a part of system  200 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the operation of exchange  202  when handling a function that is intended for a telecommunications terminal to perform, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  depicts flowcharts of the operation of terminal  206 , when handling one or more incoming calls, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  depicts a flowchart of the salient subtasks of task  603 , in which terminal  206  processes a function call from exchange  202 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]      FIG. 2  depicts a schematic diagram of a telecommunications system, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Telecommunications system  200  comprises:
       i. telecommunications network  201 ;   ii. private branch exchange  202 ;   iii. on-premises telecommunications terminals  203 - 1  through  203 -J, wherein J is a positive integer;   iv. mobile switching center  204 ;   v. cellular network  205 ;   vi. cellular telecommunications terminals  206  and  207 ; and   vii. network telecommunications terminal  208 ,   all of which are interconnected as shown.         
         [0036]    Telecommunications network  201  is one of multiple networks that constitute telecommunications system  200 . Telecommunications network  201  comprises the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. Through Public Switched Telephone Network infrastructure, as well as through other switching and transmission infrastructure, network  201  provides telecommunications service to terminals such as network telecommunications terminal  208 . As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, in some alternative embodiments, network  201  can comprise a different group of networks than depicted, such as an Internet Protocol-based network, an Ethernet network, and so forth. 
         [0037]    Network  201  interconnects the other telecommunications networks, which include: (i) the enterprise network supported by private branch exchange  202 , and (ii) cellular network  205  supported by mobile switching center  204 . The enterprise network supported by private branch exchange  202  provides telecommunications service to one or more telecommunications terminals, namely terminals  203 - 1  through  203 -J, within the enterprise area served, such as an office building or campus. Cellular network  205 , which is supported by mobile switching center  204 , provides telecommunications service to one or more cellular telecommunications terminals, including cellular telecommunications terminals  206  and  207 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  also depicts multiple telecommunications terminals of various types. Those terminal types include Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) terminals, as exemplified by terminal  208 ; office desksets, as exemplified by terminals  203 - 1  through  203 -J; cell phones, as exemplified by terminals  206  and  207 ; laptops with wireless network adapters; and so forth. As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, the present invention is also applicable to other combinations of terminals than what  FIG. 2  depicts. 
         [0039]    Private branch exchange  202  is a data-processing system, the salient components of which are described below and with respect to  FIG. 3 . Private branch exchange  202  is capable of switching incoming calls (e.g., from terminal  208 , etc.) from network  201  via one or more communications paths to on-premises terminals  203 - 1  through  203 -J. Exchange  202  is also capable of handling outgoing calls from the on-premises terminals to network  201  via one or more communications paths. 
         [0040]    Private branch exchange  202  is also capable of extending an incoming call (e.g., from terminal  208 , etc.) to a telephone number of an off-premises terminal. An “off-premises” terminal is a terminal that is accessible through network  201  while still being affiliated with exchange  202  as an extension to exchange  202 &#39;s enterprise network. For pedagogical purposes, telecommunications terminals  206  and  207  are the off-premises terminals in telecommunications system  200 . Exchange  202  is capable of extending the incoming call to the intended off-premises terminal in addition to or independently of switching the same incoming call to an on-premises terminal within the enterprise area that exchange  202  serves. 
         [0041]    Private branch exchange  202  is connected to telecommunications systems that are present in network  201  via communications paths that comprise Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) trunks, as are known in the art. As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, other types of communications paths might connect exchange  202  to network  201 . For example, exchange  202  might receive at least some of the incoming calls via the Session Initiation Protocol over an Internet Protocol-based network. 
         [0042]      FIG. 2  depicts on-premises terminals  203 - 1  through  203 -J and off-premises terminals  206  and  207 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, however, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention in which private branch exchange  202  provides telecommunications service to a different number of on-premises terminals and a different number of off-premises terminals than those depicted. 
         [0043]    Private branch exchange  202  is also capable of performing the tasks described below and with respect to  FIG. 5 , in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. For example, exchange  202  can signal to an off-premises terminal to perform a function. Such a function can be to change one or more aspects of the user interface of the off-premises terminal, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/122866 (Attorney Docket No. 630-118us), filed 5 May 2005, the underlying concepts of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0044]    It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use private branch exchange  202 . Moreover, as those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, there can be alternative embodiments of the present invention in which a switch, contact center, or other type of data-processing system than a private branch exchange performs the described tasks. As with exchange  202 , the data processing systems in those alternative embodiments can inter-operate in and with a variety of different networks. In other words, the present invention is equally well suited for implementation in public and private telecommunications systems that are wireline or wireless-based, and in accordance with various protocols. 
         [0045]    Mobile switching center  204  is capable of switching incoming calls from network  201  to registered cellular-capable terminals, such as terminals  206  and  207 . Mobile switching center  204  is also capable of handling outgoing calls from cellular-capable terminals to network  201 . Switching center  204  communicates with terminals  206  and  207  via one or more radio base stations in cellular network  205 , in well-known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use mobile switching center  204 . 
         [0046]    Off-premises telecommunications terminals  206  and  207  are capable of originating and receiving calls in well-known fashion. Some of the originated or received calls are routed through private branch exchange  202 , while some are not. Terminals  206  and  207  are also capable of performing the tasks described below and with respect to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. For example, each off-premises terminal is capable of receiving signaling from exchange  202  to perform a specified function, as well as being capable of performing that function. Terminals  206  and  207  in the illustrative embodiment are cellular phones. As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, other types of terminals (e.g., softphones, ISDN terminals, etc.) can be off-premises terminals in telecommunications system  200 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use off-premises terminals  206  and  207 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of private branch exchange  202  in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Private branch exchange  202  comprises: switching fabric  301 , processor  302 , memory  303 , and network interface  304 , interconnected as shown. As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, in some alternative embodiments, the salient components can be arranged differently than depicted. 
         [0048]    Switching fabric  301  is capable of switching calls between on premises terminals (e.g., terminals  203 - 1  through  203 - 1 , etc.), and terminals that are accessible through network  201 . In addition, switching fabric  301  is capable of performing the tasks described below and with respect to  FIG. 5 , under the direction of processor  302 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use switching fabric  301 . 
         [0049]    Processor  302  is a general-purpose processor that is capable of receiving called-related data from switching fabric  301 , of reading data from and writing data to memory  303 , and of executing the tasks described below and with respect to  FIG. 5 . In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, processor  302  might be a special-purpose processor. In either case, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use processor  302 . 
         [0050]    Memory  303  is a device that stores the instructions and data used by processor  302 . Memory  303  stores the PBX on-premises extension and affiliated off-premises telephone number for each PBX user, which are shown in Table 1. Memory  303  also stores, for each off-premises terminal that is affiliated with exchange  202 , the function-related information and values that are described below and with respect to  FIGS. 5 through 7 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use memory  303 . 
         [0051]    Network interface  304  is capable of routing control-related signals between processor  302  and off-premises terminals  206  and  207 , in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, network interface  304  is separate from switching fabric  301  and handles control signals transmitted on signal paths that are separate from the voice paths. In some alternative embodiments, network interface  304  is integrated with switching fabric  301  and handles control signals that are present in the voice paths. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use network interface  304 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of the salient components of off-premises telecommunications terminal  206 , in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Although cellular terminal  206  is the terminal represented in  FIG. 4 , it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use other off-premises terminals (e.g., terminal  207 , etc.) according to what is described with respect to  FIG. 4 . Telecommunications terminal  206  comprises: transceiver  401 , processor  402 , memory  403 , keypad  404 , microphone  405 , camera  406 , speaker  407 , and video display  408 , interconnected as shown. As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, in some alternative embodiments, the salient components can be arranged differently than depicted or can be a different set of components than depicted. 
         [0053]    Transceiver  401  comprises a receiving part and a transmitting part. The receiving part receives signals from cellular network  205 , and forwards the information encoded in the signals to processor  402 , in well-known fashion. The transmitting part receives information from processor  402 , and outputs signals that encode this information to cellular network  205 , in well-known fashion. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use transceiver  401 . 
         [0054]    Processor  402  is a general-purpose processor that is capable of: receiving information from transceiver  401 , keypad  404 , microphone  405 , and camera  406 ; reading data from and writing data into memory  403 ; executing the tasks described below and with respect to  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; and transmitting information to transceiver  401 , speaker  407 , and video display  408 . In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, processor  402  might be a special-purpose processor. In either case, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use processor  402 . 
         [0055]    Memory  403  is a device that stores the instructions and data used by processor  402 . For example, memory  403  stores the calling party identifier values and function-related values that are described below and with respect to  FIGS. 5 through 7 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use memory  403 . 
         [0056]    Keypad  404  is a character and user-selection input device as is well known in the art that receives input from a user and transmits keypad signals representing that input. Keypad  404  comprises fixed function keys and soft keys, as are known in the art. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use keypad  404 . 
         [0057]    Microphone  405  converts acoustic signals (e.g., from the end user, etc.) into electromagnetic signals, and speaker  407  converts electromagnetic signals into acoustic signals (e.g., intended for the end user, etc.), both in well-known fashion. 
         [0058]    Camera  406  converts visual signals into electromagnetic signals, and video display  408  converts electromagnetic signals into visual signals (e.g., intended for the end user, etc.), both in well-known fashion. 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the operation of private branch exchange  202 , a data-processing system, when handling a function that is intended for a telecommunications terminal to perform, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, in some alternative embodiments, the tasks described with respect to  FIG. 5  can apply to other data-processing systems. Furthermore, it will also be appreciated that private branch exchange  202  can handle calls that are intended for more than one telecommunications terminal simultaneously by concurrently applying the described tasks to each terminal. It will be clear to those skilled in the art which tasks depicted in  FIG. 5  can be performed simultaneously or in a different order than that depicted. 
         [0060]    In the example depicted, off-premises terminal  206  is the intended, telecommunications terminal that is referred to in the described tasks. As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, however, the tasks described with respect to  FIG. 5  can apply to other off-premises telecommunications terminal as well. 
         [0061]    At task  501 , exchange  202  receives an indication that a first telecommunications terminal, in this case terminal  206 , is to perform one or more functions as specified by exchange  202 . Performance of a function by the terminal is intended to affect one or more properties at the terminal; the properties include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
       i. how calls are presented to the user;   ii. the treatment that a user can apply to calls;   iii. the call-dependent features available to the user;   iv. the call-independent features available to the user;   v. how a user invokes the features;   vi. the number of accessible call appearances;   vii. the functions that are assigned to the terminal&#39;s soft keys;   viii. the menus available to the user;   ix. how the user accesses the menus;   x. the speed dialing list that is in effect; and   xi. the operation of one or more of keypad  404 , microphone  405 , camera  406 , speaker  407 , and video display  408 .       
 
         [0073]    At task  502 , exchange  202  transmits a calling party identifier to terminal  206 , wherein the calling party identifier serves to identify exchange  202  or some aspect of exchange  202  that is related to sending a function call to the terminal. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, exchange  202  transmits the calling party identifier as part of what appears to be—that is, to mobile switching center  204 - a  call to terminal  206 . Exchange  202  can transmit the calling party identifier, for example, via the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) procedure, which is well-known in the art. In addition to indicating that a function call is to follow, in some embodiments, the value of the calling party identifier is intended to disable an alerting function at terminal  206  so that its user remains unaware of the function transaction that is taking place. 
         [0074]    At task  503 , exchange  202  receives, in well-known fashion, an answer indication that the call has been answered by terminal  206 . In other words, terminal  206  has received the function call from exchange  202  and has accepted it. 
         [0075]    At task  504 , exchange  202  proceeds to transmit, to terminal  206 , a first series of dialed digits in well-known fashion. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, exchange  202  transmits the dialed digits via one or more dual tone multi-frequency signals, as are known in the art. In some alternative embodiments, exchange  202  transmits the dialed digits as part of an encoded message. 
         [0076]    In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the first series of dialed digits comprises:
       i. a first portion that identifies the first function, and   ii. a second portion that identifies the arguments of the first function.       
 
         [0079]      FIGS. 6 and 7  depict flowcharts of the operation of telecommunications terminal  206 , when handling one or more incoming calls, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. As those who are skilled in the art will appreciate, the tasks described with respect to  FIGS. 6 and 7  can apply to other off-premises telecommunications terminals such as terminal  207 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art which tasks depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7  can be performed simultaneously or in a different order than that depicted. 
         [0080]    At task  601 , terminal  206  receives a calling party identifier, in well-known fashion, as part of an incoming call. 
         [0081]    At task  602 , in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, terminal  206  checks if the received calling party identifier matches with a value that is stored in memory  303 . If there is a match, signifying that a function call is to follow, task execution proceeds to task  603 . If there is no match, signifying that a conventional telephone call is being received, task execution proceeds to task  605 . 
         [0082]    At task  603 , terminal  206  disables an alerting function. For example, if terminal  206  is currently programmed to play a particular ringtone to alert its user of an incoming call, then the ringtone is disabled. Likewise, if the terminal is programmed to vibrate to alert of an incoming call, then the vibration is disabled. Terminal  206  disables the alerting function because the incoming “call” is not really a call in the end-user sense, but a mechanism with which to signal the terminal that a function call is to follow. 
         [0083]    In some alternative embodiments, terminal  206  does not disable the alerting function or disables the alerting function for only some of the calling party identifier values associated with function calls. 
         [0084]    At task  604 , terminal  206  processes the call from the originating data-processing system—in this case, private branch exchange  202 —in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The details of task  604  are described below and with respect to  FIG. 7 . Task execution then returns to task  601 . 
         [0085]    At task  605 , in response to receiving a non-matching calling party identifier, terminal  206  re-enables the alerting function that had been disabled at task  603 . 
         [0086]    At task  606 , terminal  206  processes the telephone call from the originating caller in well-known fashion. Task execution then returns to task  601 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 7  depicts a flowchart of the salient subtasks of task  604 , in which terminal  206  processes the call from the originating data-processing system. 
         [0088]    At task  701 , terminal  206  answers the call in well-known fashion. This comprises sending an answer indication to mobile switching center  204 , which then sends the answer indication to exchange  202 . 
         [0089]    At task  702 , terminal  206  receives a first series of dialed digits from exchange  202 . In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, terminal  206  receives the dialed digits via one or more dual tone multi-frequency signals, as are known in the art. In some alternative embodiments, terminal  206  receives the dialed digits as part of an encoded message. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the first series of dialed digits comprises: 
         [0090]    i. a first portion that identifies a first function, and
       ii. a second portion that identifies the arguments of the first function.       
 
         [0092]    Terminal  206  knows that the dialed digits identify at least a function because of the value of the calling party identifier received at task  601 . Terminal  206  decodes the dialed digits to determine the specific function that needs to be performed and, if present, the specific arguments to the function that need to be considered. 
         [0093]    At task  703 , terminal  206  performs the identified first function, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment. Examples of functions and their intended effects are listed above and with respect to task  501 . A function might have the effect of changing an aspect of the user interface, of manipulating or storing one or more values in memory, and so forth. Changing the user interface might include affecting one or more of devices such as keypad  404 , microphone  405 , camera  406 , speaker  407 , and video display  408 , as well as affecting the part of the database that is related to call information and how calls are to be handled. Values that are changed or stored in memory might include the specific calling party identifier values that correspond to the function-invoking, data-processing systems of the illustrative embodiment. Those values might also constitute the computer programs that correspond to the functions themselves, as well as information on how to handle the execution of the functions with their arguments. Task execution then proceeds to task  601 . 
         [0094]    It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in this Specification, numerous specific details are provided in order to provide a thorough description and understanding of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of those details, or with other methods, materials, components, etc. 
         [0095]    Furthermore, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the illustrative embodiments. It is understood that the various embodiments shown in the Figures are illustrative, and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment(s) is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, but not necessarily all embodiments. Consequently, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout the Specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It is therefore intended that such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.