Abstract:
A communication system, comprising at least one telephone appliance having multiple line appearances selectable via associated self-labeling line buttons, and a switch for receiving an incoming call intended for a particular one of the line appearances and in response generating a message containing predetermined information and an indication of an associated one of the line buttons, whereupon the predetermined information is displayed in abbreviated format on the associated self-labeling line button.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from European Patent Application No. 06114731.0, filed on May 30, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to communication systems, and more particularly to the presentation of information on a telephone appliance. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When an incoming call is presented to a telephone appliance, it is known in the art to display call information (e.g. caller name and/or number) on the appliance. For example, a telephone display may be updated to provide Caller Line Identification (CLID) information that, in conjunction with softkeys, may be utilized to handle an incoming call. It is also known in the art to display CLID information based on device class of service (COS), when an incoming call is presented on a line appearance (ringing line). However according to the prior art, the presentation of CLID information on the telephone display is limited via call control to one incoming call regardless of the number of incoming calls to the telephone appliance (i.e. the telephone appliance always shows the most recent call that is still ringing), and is presented at a common display area (e.g. LCD display screen). 
     When more than one call is presented to the telephone appliance, the common display area is updated with the new call information. If the call is to another line appearance on the telephone appliance then, subject to system configuration, the new call information may replace the previous call information. Only call information relating to a single line appearance is presented to a user at a time, regardless of the number of calls being presented (or active) to the user&#39;s telephone. 
     In order to answer a previously presented call whose information has been updated by a more recent call, the user may select the earlier incoming call (or the recalling call, held call, etc.) based on flash rate and/or colour associated with the flashing line button for the previously presented call on the user&#39;s telephone, or by the relative importance of the directory number (DN) associated with the line button (if known by the user), and/or based on the user&#39;s recollection of call information that may have been displayed previously. Alternatively, call control may be configured to allocate priorities to different call types and to display call information based on relative priority. Also, it is known to provide a “ringing line select” feature that allows a user to go off-hook and have call control automatically determine which line to select. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aspect of the present invention to provide call related information for each active line button available to the user rather than limiting the presentation of call information only to the call processing display area of a telephone appliance, as is done in the prior art. It is a further aspect of the invention to present to a user at a telephone appliance, information that is supplemental to the call related information. 
     Therefore, according to an aspect of the invention, a system and method are provided for sending a message from call control to the telephone appliance (in addition to, or as an alternative to, CLID information), that contains additional information. The information is initially displayed in an abbreviated format (e.g. as a label) but may be displayed in full when selected by an application within the telephone appliance (referred to herein as “more info service”). In one embodiment, the abbreviated format information (e.g. label) is presented in association with a line button. 
     These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary communication system forming the environment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show an exemplary telephone appliance in an idle state and when providing a “more info service”, respectively, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing method steps within call control of the communication system of  FIG. 1  for delivering initial call information to the telephone appliance of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing method steps for displaying the initial call information at the telephone appliance of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing method steps for delivering additional information to the telephone appliance of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing method steps for removing/updating call information delivered to the telephone appliance of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary communication system is shown comprising a communication switch such as an IP PBX, otherwise known as an iPBX  1  (e.g. Mitel 3300 ICP or Mitel SX-200 ICP) connected to a local area network (Ethernet LAN  3 ) and to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A plurality of telephone appliances such as IP phones  5  and desktop computers  7  running phone applications, etc., are connected to the LAN  3 , as well as wireless phones  9  and an application server  11 , such as a contact information server. 
     A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the configuration of  FIG. 1  is representative of a typical converged communication network, and that numerous variations in configuration, components, etc. are possible. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , an IP phone  5  is shown in accordance with an aspect of the invention having a plurality of self-labeling line buttons (i.e. the self-labeling line buttons shown within stippled line box  21 ) forming part of a central display  23 . In addition, the phone includes conventional features such as: ring/message indicator  24 ; volume, speaker and mute controls  25 ; several fixed function keys  26  including, for example, a “Superkey” for providing user access to additional menus on display  23 , cancel, redial, hold, transfer/conference, message keys, etc.; a keypad  27 ; hands-free speaker  28 , and handset  29 . 
     In operation, upon receipt of an incoming call from the PSTN to one of the IP phones  5 , it is conventional for call control software within iPBX  1  to send a message containing CLID information for display on the phone. However, as discussed in greater detail below, according to an aspect of the present invention, call control sends a message to the phone containing relevant call information (e.g. in a proprietary application such as a MiNET message, SIP or similar mechanism) for display in an abbreviated format (such as a label “Tanya Tilden 592-7423” on a self-labeling line button  21 ). The information may also displayed in full on the main display  23  of the phone when selected by an application within the phone (the “more info service” discussed in greater detail below), as shown within stippled line box  22  illustrated in  FIG. 2B . 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , in the event of an incoming call (step  31 ) to a particular line appearance on a phone  5  (e.g. a line appearance identified by DN: 4532 on a phone identified by DN: 3410), the phone (or phone proxy) and iPBX  1  exchange one or more messages to determine whether the phone is capable of displaying label information (step  32 ), or whether a phone proxy representing the phone within the network, is available on the iPBX  1  for displaying label information (step  33 ). Alternatively, if call control already knows that the phone is compatible then no message exchange is required. If the phone is not capable of displaying label information, the call proceeds in a conventional manner (step  34 ) where CLID information is presented on the central display  23  of the phone (if the phone is so equipped). 
     If the phone is capable of displaying label information on its line buttons  21  (or a phone proxy is available for doing so), then call control creates one or more further messages (step  35 ) using CLID information (e.g. OLI—Originating Line Identity (Name &amp; Number)) and/or TLI—Terminating Line Identity (Name &amp; Number), button DN (e.g. 4532), telephone DN (e.g. 3410). Moreover, according to an alternative embodiment the phone  5  (or phone proxy) may obtain additional information regarding the OLI and/or TLI via an additional message exchange with the contact information server  11  (e.g. an initial greeting, order status and purchase history), and display such additional information within a graphical window  22  on the main phone display  23  as shown in  FIG. 2B . The phone  5  (or phone proxy) may also use configuration options to determine relative priority of information to display (particularly with respect to the abbreviated data presented on the labels  21  (e.g. OLI first, TLI second, then contact information server data). 
     The call information is then sent as a message from the iPBX  1  to the phone  5  (step  37 ) or relevant proxy (step  36 ). The call information message is, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an Application Interface message (e.g. a message sent in accordance with the Mitel proprietary MiNET messaging protocol), with the format set forth in Table A, as follows: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE A 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Field Name 
                 # of Octets 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 MT Code 
                 1 
                 Application Interface Message . . . 0x90 
               
               
                 TAG 
                 1 
                 CLID data Message . . . 0x02 
               
               
                 Data Length 
                 1 
                 Number of data octets following 
               
               
                 Button Number 
                 1 
                 Line number or key # that the call is coming in on (e.g. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Button 6) 
               
               
                 Call Info Type 
                 1 
                 Indicates type of information included: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1-new, 2-update, 3-obsolete 
               
               
                 CLID Digit size 
                 1 
                 Specifies number of digits in CLID up to a maximum of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 26. 
               
               
                 CLID digit string 
                 Up to 26 
                 This is an ASCII string containing diallable digits “0 . . . 9, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 *, #” (e.g. 5927423) 
               
               
                 CLID Name 
                 1 
                 Specifies number of characters in Name string for the 
               
               
                 length, First 
                   
                 first name (e.g. 5) 
               
               
                 CLID Name 
                 1 
                 Specifies number of characters in Name string for the 
               
               
                 length, Middle 
                   
                 middle name (e.g. 0) 
               
               
                 CLID Name 
                 1 
                 Specifies number of characters in Name string for the 
               
               
                 length, Last 
                   
                 last name (e.g. 6) 
               
               
                 CLID Name 
                 Fixed Limit or 
                 The combined Name string including First, Middle(s) 
               
               
                 string 
                 Variable 
                 and Last names (maximum total of 30) (e.g. Tanya 
               
               
                   
                 Length 
                 Tilden) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Upon receipt of the call information from iPBX  1 , the label of the associated line button  21  at phone  5  is updated to display an abbreviated form of the call information using self-labeling keys such as provided, for example, on Mitel 5330, 5340, 5325 and Web telephones of Mitel Networks Corporation. However, if an information update is indicated in the message (step  39 ), an information update procedure is executed as discussed in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 6 . Call processing then proceeds as usual (step  38 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , upon receipt of the message (step  41 ) at the telephone appliance  5  (or proxy), and if the “Call Info Type” indicates new or updated information (step  43 ), then the content of the initial display is prepared (step  45 ) using one or more of display area available, and user preferences (e.g. preferred button, prioritizing display of caller name, caller number, originally dialed digits, etc.), and the initial call information is then displayed (step  46 ). Otherwise, if the “Call Info Type” indicates ‘obsolete’ information then the steps of  FIG. 6  are executed. 
     Preferably, the information is displayed on a self-labeling button  21 . Optionally, an ellipsis or icon indication may be displayed in addition to, or instead of, the abbreviated call information in order to indicate availability of additional call related information (steps  47  and  48 ). The indication may also be provided in the call processing display area  23  and/or by illuminating the associated button  21  with a different colour (i.e. via an indicator LED). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the “more info Service” process waits for a user key input (step  51 ), such as the user pressing a designated hard key on the telephone  5  and/or feature key for answering the call. If all of the call information is already displayed (step  53 ), then call control assigns normal behaviour to the key (step  54 ), and the “more info service” awaits further user input (step  51 ). Selecting a different line button results in the “more info” service updating the dialog window with information for the selected line button. Pressing the same line button again results in dismissal of the “more info” service (i.e. removes the dialog window and restores the telephone appliance display to normal) and also answers the call. Similarly, pressing any other hardkey/feature key/etc., other than another line button, results in dismissal of the “more info service” and performs the operation associated with the key that has been pressed. 
     The “more info service” presents a dialog window or similar mechanism  22  that uses more of the telephone appliance display than is normally available, as shown in  FIG. 2B . If no additional call information is available (step  55 ) and the key has been allocated by call control to handle “more info service” (step  56 ), then call control awaits further user input (step  51 ). On the other hand, if the key has not been allocated to handle “more info service” then call control assigns normal behaviour to the key (step  57 ), and the “more info service” awaits further user input (step  51 ). 
     Selecting a line button when additional call information is available (step  55 ) causes call control to prepare additional information to display (step  58 ), using information associated with the selected button  21  (i.e. information obtained from contact server  11 , as discussed above) and, optionally, user preferences. Next, the dialog window  22  is updated to present all available call related information (i.e. the initial call related information displayed on the line button  21  as well as additional information such as called number, whether or not the call was attendant handled, important information concerning the topic of the call, a greeting (e.g. “Fine Widget VIP Support. How can we help?), etc. Additional call information that may be included and presented by the “more info service” includes, but is not limited to: call forwarding/redirection history, language of the incoming caller (if available), dialog to use when answering the call (e.g. “Hello, Mr. Johnston, your car is ready”). 
     In the event the Call Into Type indicates ‘obsolete’ information (step  43 ), the portion of the telephone display for the associated self labeling key  21  is restored to its initial condition (step  61  of  FIG. 6 ). If the obsolete info is displayed by the “more info service” then the telephone display is updated to indicate that the information is no longer current (step  65 ) and the process terminates. If the obsolete information is not displayed by the “more info service” then the process terminates. 
     The present invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment. Other embodiments, variations and applications of the invention are possible. For example, as discussed above, the relevant call information can be stored and displayed on behalf of the telephone appliance by a proxy application (within the PBX or by a PC based application) instead of an application within the telephone appliance. A touch screen telephone (e.g. Mitel 5235) may also present a selectable icon (e.g. a question mark in a circle) such that touching the icon initiates the “more info service”. Likewise, the selectable icon may be programmed to support dismissal of the service. A telephone appliance that does not support self labeling keys can use the call processing display area  23  to present call information displayed by the “more info service”. The “more info service” may also be initiated by pressing a ‘Superkey’ button such as found on Mitel telephone appliances, followed by a line button with additional call information. The principles of the present invention may also be applied to the presentation of non-call associated information (e.g. ACD threshold alerts and queue status). 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.