Patent Publication Number: US-2007121901-A1

Title: Providing answering message options for answering calls

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention is related to the field of communication networks and, in particular, to the providing answering message options for answering calls. More particularly, when a called party receives a call, the called device provides a plurality of answering message options so that the called party can answer the call using one of the answering message options.  
      2. Statement of the Problem  
      For a typical voice or data call, a calling party places the call using his/her communication device (referred to herein as the calling device). The calling device forwards call signaling for the call to the communication network providing service to the calling party. The call signaling may by SS7 signaling for traditional circuit-based networks, or may be Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages for packet-based networks or IP multimedia subsystems (IMS) networks. A network element in the communication network receives the call signaling, and processes the call signaling to determine the called party for the call. The network element serving the calling device routes the call to the communication device of the called party (referred to herein as the called device), possibly through another network element serving the called device. Responsive to receiving the call, the called device provides call alerting to the called party. Call alerting typically comprises a series of rings, vibration, a customized ring tone, etc.  
      One problem with present communication devices and/or communication networks is that the called party has limited options for answering an incoming call. When the called party detects that a call has been received, the called party may answer the call and begin speaking. Unfortunately, answering a call in this manner may not be possible in some circumstances, such as if the called party is in a meeting, in a movie, etc. The called party may also have the call go to voice mail, such as by not answering the call, by activating a Do Not Disturb function, or by actively pushing a button. Unfortunately, the voice mail message may not convey any information on the present availability of the called party unless the called party continually updates his/her voice mail message.  
      It may be desirable to provide the called party with more options for answering a call.  
     SUMMARY OF THE SOLUTION  
      The invention solves the above and other related problems by providing a plurality of answering message options to a called party responsive to receiving a call in the called device. The answering message options provide the called party with an alternative to traditional call answering.  
      In one embodiment of the invention, when a call is received in the called device, the called device identifies a plurality answering messages predefined by the called party. The called device then provides answering message options to the called party based on the identified answering messages, possibly along with providing traditional call alerting. The called party selects one of the answering message options for answering the call. The called device and/or the communication network transmit an answering message to the calling party responsive to the selection by the called party. The answering message may comprise a text message, a voice message, a video message, a picture message, or any other type of multi-media message. The answering message in essence “answers” the call for the called party. After transmitting the answering message to the calling party, the called device and/or the communication network may release the call or maintain the call.  
      The invention advantageously provides the called party with more options for answering a call. The called party is not limited to answering the call by speaking to the calling party, or routing the call to voice mail as is traditionally done. The called party may select one of a plurality of answering message options that are provided to the called party upon receiving the call. The answering message may indicate the present availability of the called party. As an example, one answering message option may be a text message that informs the calling party of the present availability of the called party, such as “I am in a meeting, will call you back in 10 minutes.” Another answering message option may be a voice message or announcement, such as “I am in a meeting, will call you back in 10 minutes.” Another answering message option may be a voice message or announcement, such as “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, hold on while I excuse myself out of the meeting.” 
      The invention may include other exemplary embodiments described below.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a communication network in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating a method of providing options to a called party for answering a call in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a called device.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary screen displayed by a called device in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a signaling diagram illustrating an example where a network element provides a voice message to a calling party in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a signaling diagram illustrating an example where a called device provides a voice message to a calling party in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a signaling diagram illustrating another example where a network element provides a voice message to a calling party in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates another exemplary screen displayed by a called device in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 9  illustrates another exemplary screen displayed by a called device in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIGS. 1-9  and the following description depict specific exemplary embodiments of the invention to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects of the invention have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a communication network  100  in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Communication network  100  is operable to connect a call between a calling device  120  and a called device  130 . Calling device  120  is being operated by a calling party  121 . Calling device  120  may comprise a wireline device, a wireless device, a SIP-enabled VoIP device, or any other communication device. Called device  130  is being operated by a called party  131 . Called device  130  may comprise a wireline device, a wireless device, a SIP-enabled VoIP device, or any other communication device. Called device  130  comprises an end user device, which comprises the device operated by called party  131 .  
      Communication network  100  may comprise a wireless network, a wireline network, a circuit-based network, a packet-based network, an IMS network, or any other network or combination thereof. Communication network  100  includes a plurality of network elements  101 - 103 . Network elements  101 - 103  may comprise any application, server, switch, etc, that provides a desired function for communication network  100 . As an example, if communication network  100  is a wireless network, then network element  101  may comprise a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) serving calling device  120 , network element  102  may comprise a MSC serving called device  130 , and network element  103  may comprise a text message server or a multi-media server. In another example, if communication network  100  is an IMS network, then network element  101  may comprise a Serving-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) serving calling device  120 , network element  102  may comprise an S-CSCF serving called device  130 , and network element  103  may comprise an application server providing any desired service. Communication network  100  may include more network elements or other systems or devices not shown in  FIG. 1  as need to provide a desired functionality.  
      Called party  131  defines a plurality of answering messages for answering calls. An answering message comprises any message, signal, or information for answering an incoming call for called party  131 . The answering message may comprise a text message, a voice message, a video message, a picture message, or any other type of multi-media message (assuming calling device  120  is properly equipped to receive such messages). As an example, called party  131  may record one or more voice messages for answering a future incoming call. Called party  131  may also generate one or more text messages for answering a future incoming call. The answering messages may be stored locally in a memory of called device  130 , may be stored remotely on one or more of the network elements  101 - 103  of communication network  100 , or both.  
      Once defined, the answering messages are available to called party  130  for answering an incoming call. Assume that calling party  121  subsequently places a call to called party  131  through calling device  120 . Communication network  100  receives the call to called party  131  and routes the call to called device  130 . The following describes a method of providing answering message options to called party  131  for answering the call.  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating a method  200  of providing options to called party  131  for answering an incoming call in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The steps of the flow chart in  FIG. 2  are not all inclusive and may include other steps not shown.  
      In step  202  of method  200 , called device  130  receives the call from calling party  121 . Called device  130  may receive the call by receiving call signaling for the call, such as ISDN User Part (ISUP) signaling, SIP messages, or some other signaling protocol.  
      In step  203 , called device  130  identifies a plurality of answering messages predefined by called party  131  responsive to receiving the call. Called device  130  need not identify the actual content of the answering messages, just any indication of the answering message. For instance, called device  130  may identify a title of the answering messages, a description of the answering messages, etc. Called device  130  may also identify a location for the answering messages, such as a local memory address, or network address in communication network  100 .  
      In step  204 , called device  130  provides answering message options for answering the call to called party  131  based on the identified answering messages. Called device  130  may also provide call alerting responsive to receiving the call. The answering message options are any indications of the predefined answering messages identified by called device  130  to be available to called party  131  for answering the call. For instance, called device  130  may provide the answering message options as a menu indicating the answering messages available to called party  131 . Called device  130  displays the menu of answering messages to called party  131 , and allows for real-time selection of the answering messages by called party  131  that are displayed in the menu. Called device  130  may alternatively provide the answering messages options to called party  131  audibly, and use speech recognition to allow called party  131  to make the selection. Called device  130  may provide the answering message options in any desired format.  
      After called device  130  provides the answering message options, called party  131  may select one of the answering message options. In step  206 , an answering message is transmitted to calling device  120  of calling party  121  responsive to a selection of one of the answering message options by called party  131 . The answering message may indicate the present availability of called party  131  for answering the call, or indicate anything else predefined by called party  131 .  
      The answering message may be transmitted by called device  130  in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the answering message may be transmitted by a network element  101 - 103  of communication network  100 . In this instance, called device  130  transmits an answering message indicator of the selection of one of the answering message options by called party  130  to a network element  101 - 103 . The receiving network element  101 - 103  then transmits the answering message to calling device  120  responsive to receiving the answering message indicator.  
      After transmitting the answering message to calling party  121 , called device  130  and/or communication network  100  may release the call. Alternatively, called device  130  may maintain the call. Maintaining the call allows called party  131  to transmit another answering message to calling party  121  or speak to calling party  121 .  
      The answering message in essence “answers” the call for called party  131 . Called party  131  does not have to actually speak into called device  130  in order to “answer” the call. Called party  131  may later speak to calling party  121  if the call is maintained, but called party  131  advantageously has more options available for answering the call than were previously provided.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of called device  130 . Called device  130  is not limited to this embodiment, and may have other desired configurations. Called device  130  includes a user interface  302 , a processing system  304 , and a call application  306 . User interface  302  comprises any system, devices, or components used to input data from a user and/or output data to a user. Examples of user interface  302  include a display, a keypad, a touch screen, a speaker, a pointing device, etc. Processing system  304  comprises any circuitry, logic, single processing device, or a group of inter-operational processing devices operable to execute code or instructions. Call application  306  may comprise a function, a process, or set of instructions or code stored on storage media. Call application  306  may be retrieved and executed by processing system  304 . Called device  130  may include other systems, components, or devices not shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      Called device  130  may comprise any desired communication device. For instance, called device  130  may comprise a landline phone or a wireless phone. Called device  130  may comprise a circuit-based phone or a packet-based phone, such as a SIP-enabled VoIP phone. Called device  130  may comprise a soft phone, which is a PC or PC-type device executing a call application to emulate a phone.  
      When in operation, assume that called device  130  receives a call from calling device  120  of calling party  121  (see  FIG. 1 ). Responsive to receiving the call, call application  306  when executed by processing system  304  identifies a plurality of answering messages predefined by called party  131 . Call application  306  provides answering message options for answering the call to called party  131 . Call application  306  may provide the answering message options in any desired format as described above for  FIG. 2 . Call application  306  may also provide call alerting to called party  131  in addition to the answering message options.  
      Call application  306  then transmits an answering message to calling device  120  of calling party  121  responsive to a selection of one of the answering message options by called party  131 . The answering message may comprise a text message, a voice message, a video message, a picture message, or any other type of multi-media message (assuming calling device  120  is properly equipped to receive such messages). The answering message may indicate the present availability of called party  131 , or indicate anything else predefined by called party  131 .  
      After transmitting the answering message to calling party  121 , call application  306  may release the call. Alternatively, call application  306  may maintain the call. Maintaining the call allows called party  131  to transmit another answering message to calling party  121  or speak to calling party  121 .  
      If the answering message corresponding with the selected answering message option is store remote from called device  130  in communication network, then call application  306  transmits an answering message indicator of the selected answering message option to a network element  101 - 103  in communication network  100 . The network element  101 - 103  receiving the answering message indicator then transmits the answering message to calling device  120 .  
       FIG. 4  illustrates called device  130  displaying an exemplary screen in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The configuration of called device  130  and the displays generated by called device  130  are just examples and are in no way intended to limit the invention. Assume that user interface  302  includes a display  401  and a keypad  402  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Responsive to receiving a call, call application  306  generates a menu  404  and provides the menu  404  to called party  131  through display  401 . Menu  404  includes a plurality of answering messages identified by call application  306  to be available to called party  131  for answering the call. The answering message options shown in  FIG. 4  are just an example and the invention is not limited to this example.  
      The first answering message option is a text message that states “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, will call you back in a few minutes.” The second answering message option is a voice message or announcement that states “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, please press  1  to leave a voice mail message.” The third answering message option is a voice message or announcement that states “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, hold on while I excuse myself out of the meeting.” 
      Menu  404  is selectable by called party  131 . For instance, to select the first answering message option, called party  131  may press “1” on the keypad  402 . To select the second answering message option, called party  131  may press “2” on the keypad  402 . Any other selection mechanism may be used.  
      If called party  131  selects the first answering message option, then call application  306  (see  FIG. 3 ) initiates the process of transmitting the text message to calling party  121 . As an example, call application  306  may enable a text-based IM session with calling party  121 , and transmit the text message indicated in the first answering message option to calling party  121 .  
      If called party  131  selects the second answering message option, then call application  306  (see  FIG. 3 ) initiates the process of transmitting a voice message to calling party  121  stating “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, please press  1  to leave a voice mail message.” In one embodiment, call application  306  stores the predefined voice message of the second answering message option. Responsive to receiving the call, call application  306  transmits the voice message over the bearer channel established for the call to calling party  121 . Call application  306  then releases the call.  
      In another embodiment, a network element  101 - 103  in the communication network  100  stores the predefined voice message of the second answering message option. Responsive to receiving the call, call application  306  transmits an answering message indicator to the appropriate network element  101 - 103  storing the voice message. Responsive to receiving the answering message indicator, the network element  101 - 103  transmits the voice message to calling party  121 . The call is released by call application  306  or the network element  101 - 103 .  
      If called party  131  selects the third answering message option, then call application  306  (see  FIG. 3 ) initiates the process of transmitting a voice message to calling party  121  stating “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, hold on while I excuse myself out of the meeting.” As in the previous example, call application  306  or a network element  101 - 103  may provide the voice message of the third answering message option. Call application  306  in this example maintains the call after the voice message is transmitted.  
       FIGS. 5-7  are signaling diagrams illustrating an exemplary operation of communication network  100  and devices  120  and  130 . In the examples in  FIGS. 5-7 , communication network  100  comprises an IMS network, and calling device  120  and called device  130  comprise SIP-enabled devices.  
       FIG. 5  is a signaling diagram illustrating an example where a network element  103  provides a voice message to calling party  121  to answer a call for called party  131 . Called party  131  predefines one or more answering messages to answer a call that is stored in network element  103 . Called party  131  may also predefine one or more answering messages that are stored in called device  130  or other network elements. Network element  103  may comprise an application server or feature server in an IMS network.  
      To initiate a call from calling party  121  to called party  131 , calling device  120  transmits a SIP INVITE message to communication network  100 . Communication network  100  forwards the INVITE message to called device  130 . Responsive to receiving the INVITE message, called device  130  identifies a plurality of answering messages predefined by called party  131 . Called device  130  provides the answering message options to called party  131  (see  FIG. 4 ) based on the identified answering messages. Assume for this example that called party  131  selects the second answering message option displayed in  FIG. 4 . Responsive to the selection by called party  131 , called device  130  transmits a SIP  18 X message to communication network  100 . Communication network  100  forwards the  18 X message to calling device  120 . The  18 X message includes a URL to network element  103  having the selected voice message predefined by called party  131 . In other embodiments, the  18 X message may include other indications for connecting calling device  120  to network element  103 . Responsive to receiving the URL in the  18 X message, calling device  120  transmits an INVITE message to network element  103 . Responsive to the INVITE message, network element  103  transmits a SIP  200  OK message to calling device  120 . Network element  103  then transmits the voice message “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, please press  1  to leave a voice mail message” to calling party  121 . The call is then released or redirected to voice mail as appropriate.  
      A call session is not established between calling party  121  and called party  131  to provide the voice message to calling party  121 . Network element  103  provides the voice message to calling party  121  for called party  131 .  
      In other embodiments, responsive to the selection by called party  131 , called device  130  may transmit a SIP redirection message, such as SIP  302  message, which causes the session to be connected to network element  103  where the voice message interaction occurs.  
       FIG. 6  is a signaling diagram illustrating an example where called device  130  provides a voice message to calling party  121  to answer a call for called party  131 . Called party  131  predefines one or more answering messages to answer a call that is stored in called device  130 . Called party  131  may also predefine one or more answering messages that are stored in a network element  101 - 103  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
      To initiate a call from calling party  121  to called party  131 , calling device  120  transmits a SIP INVITE message to communication network  100 . Communication network  100  forwards the INVITE message to called device  130 . Responsive to receiving the INVITE message, called device  130  identifies a plurality of answering messages predefined by called party  131 . Called device  130  provides the answering message options to called party  131  (see  FIG. 4 ) based on the identified answering messages. Assume for this example that called party  131  selects the third answering message option displayed in  FIG. 4 . Responsive to the selection by called party  131 , called device  130  transmits a SIP  200  OK message to calling device  120  over communication network  100 . Calling device  120  receives the  200  OK message, and a call session is established between calling device  120  and called device  130 .  
      With the call session established, called device  130  transmits the voice message “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, hold on while I excuse myself out of the meeting” to calling device  120 . The voice message, as played by called device  130 , answers the call for the called party  131 . Called party  131  did not have to actually speak into called device  130  to answer the call. The call session is maintained after the voice message is played to calling party  121 , and called party  131  can speak to calling party  121  when he/she is out of the meeting.  
       FIG. 7  is a signaling diagram illustrating another example where a network element  103  provides a voice message to calling party  121  to answer a call for called party  131 . Called party  131  predefines one or more answering messages to answer a call that is stored in network element  103 . Called party  131  may also predefine one or more answering messages that are stored in called device  130  or other network elements. Network element  103  may comprise an application server or feature server in an IMS network.  
      To store the predefined answering message, called device  130  transmits a SIP INVITE message to communication network  100 , which forwards the INVITE message to network element  103 . Network element  103  responds to called device  130  with a SIP  200  OK message through communication network  100 . A session is thus established to allow called party  131  to deposit a customized answering message in network element  103 . Called party  131  then records the answering message in network element  103  to say “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, hold on while I excuse myself out of the meeting”. Network element  103  stores the answering message. Called device  130  then transmits a SIP BYE message to network element  103  through communication network  100 . Network element  103  responds to the BYE message with a SIP  200  OK message.  
      Called party  131  may record multiple voice messages, text messages, video messages, or any other type of multi-media messages in network element  103  during the session. Called party  131  may also initiate other sessions as described above to record other answering messages at other times.  
      Calling party  121  then places a call to called party  131 . To initiate the call, calling device  120  transmits a SIP INVITE message to communication network  100 . Communication network  100  forwards the INVITE message to network element  103 . The INVITE message provides network element  103  with the information on calling party  121  and/or calling device  120  in the event that network element  103  needs to provide an answering message for called party  131 .  
      Communication network  100  then forwards the INVITE message to called device  130 . Responsive to receiving the INVITE message, called device  130  identifies a plurality of answering messages predefined by called party  131 . Called device  130  provides the answering message options to called party  131  (see  FIG. 4 ) based on the identified answering messages. Assume for this example that called party  131  selects the third answering message option displayed in  FIG. 4 . Responsive to the selection by called party  131 , called party  130  transmits a SIP  200  OK message to network element  103  through communication network  100 . The  200  OK message includes an answering message indicator that indicates the answering message selected by called party  131 . Responsive to the  200  OK message, network element  103  transmits a  200  OK message to calling device  120  to establish a session with calling device  120 . With the session established, network element  103  transmits the voice message “I&#39;m in a meeting right now, hold on while I excuse myself out of the meeting” to calling party  121 . After network element  103  transmits the voice message to calling party  121 , the session is torn down in a conventional manner (not shown in  FIG. 7 ).  
      The voice message, as played by network element  103 , answers the call for the called party  131 . Called party  131  did not have to actually speak into called device  130  to answer the call. After the voice message is played by network element  103 , a call session is established between calling party  121  and called party  131  in a conventional manner (not shown in  FIG. 7 ). Called party  131  can then speak to calling party  121  when he/she is out of the meeting.  
      By providing the answering message options to called party  131  as described above, called party  131  can answer the call from calling party  121  in a non-traditional manner. Called device  130  may answer the call for called party  131 , or one or more network elements  101 - 103  may answer the call for called party  131 . Called party  131  thus has more flexibility in how to answer calls.  
      Along with providing the answering message options to called party  131 , called device  130  may provide information associated with the call or with calling party  121 . Many current communication devices are enabled to receive and display caller ID information on a calling party. According to aspects and features hereof, called device  130  may additionally provide subject information for the call to called party  131 .  
       FIG. 8  illustrates another exemplary screen displayed by called device  130  in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 8 , called device  130  is displaying subject information of “Kids” to called party  131  along with the answering message options. Called party  131  thus knows that the incoming call has something to do with his/her kids. This may influence the answering message option selected by called party  131 .  
       FIG. 9  illustrates another exemplary screen displayed by called device  130  in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 9 , called device  130  is displaying subject information of “Dinner” to called party  131  along with the answering message options. Called party  131  thus knows that the incoming call has something to do with dinner.  
      Providing subject information to called party  131  may be implemented in many desired manners. For instance, assume that communication network  100  (see  FIG. 1 ) comprises a SIP-based IMS network. SIP provides for a subject header in SIP messages, such as in SIP INVITE messages. When placing a call, calling party  121  may include subject information for the call (e.g., “kids”, “dinner”, “urgent”, etc). Calling device  120  then includes the subject information in the SIP INVITE message transmitted to called device  130 . Responsive to receiving the INVITE message, called device  130  identifies the subject information in the subject header, and displays the subject information to called party  131 . Called party  131  may then view the subject information to decide how to answer the call.  
      Although specific embodiments were described herein, the scope of the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and any equivalents thereof.