Patent Publication Number: US-2007099638-A1

Title: Multi-number wireless communications system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Wireless communication devices, such as telephones, cell phones, portable computers via VoIP (voice over Internet protocol), pagers, etc., are becoming increasingly popular as a means to stay connected with business, family, and friends. However, unless a user of such devices is willing to carry multiple or duplicate devices (e.g., resembling the “utility belt” look), the same device is generally used for a variety of purposes (e.g., business and personal). Thus, a user of the device generally tends to screen calls during particular times (e.g., screen business-related calls on the weekend, screen personal calls during business meetings, etc.) which is oftentimes difficult and/or troublesome. Further, identifying costs associated with use of the device for particular purposes (e.g., business-related costs for reimbursement) is difficult and time-consuming. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-number wireless communication system in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-number wireless communication method in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a multi-number wireless communication method in accordance with the present invention; and  
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating yet another embodiment of a multi-number wireless communication method in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The preferred embodiments of the present invention and the advantages thereof are best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-number wireless communication system  10  in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , system  10  comprises a wireless communication device  12  configured for wireless telephone communications corresponding to and/or otherwise provided by a service provider  14  over a wireless communication network  16 . Wireless communication device  12  may comprise any type of device having a wireless module/transceiver  20  for enabling independent transmission/reception of wireless telephone communications by communication device  12  such as, but not limited to, a cellular phone, pager, notebook or laptop computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant, or other type of portable or non-portable device.  
      In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wireless communication device  12  comprises a call manager  24 , a profile manager  26 , and an interface  28 . Call manager  24  and profile manage  26  may comprise hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Interface  28  may comprise any device for providing information to a user from device  12  and/or receiving information from a user. For example, interface  28  may comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD), microphone, speaker, or keypad.  
      In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wireless communication device  12  is configured having a plurality of different phone numbers  30  assigned thereto such that wireless communication device  12  is configured to initiate and/or receive telephone calls on each of the assigned phone numbers  30 . As used herein, a different telephone number  30  includes a uniquely different number or a different extension of the same or a single number. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , communication device  12  comprises business telephone number(s)  32  and personal telephone number(s)  34  assigned thereto. Business telephone number(s)  32  may represent a user&#39;s business-related telephone number(s) for communication device  12 , and personal telephone number(s)  34  may represent a user&#39;s personal or non-business telephone number(s) for communication device  12 . Thus, for example, embodiments of the present invention enable a user of wireless communication device  12  to initiate, receive and/or otherwise distinguish between telephone calls using at least two different telephone numbers.  
      In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wireless communication device  12  comprises identifier(s)  38  used for distinctly identifying each telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, identifier(s)  38  comprise different electronic serial numbers (ESNs) assigned to wireless communication device  12  that are uniquely associated with each telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . However, it should be understood that other types of information and/or methods may be used to uniquely identify and/or distinguish between different telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 .  
      Profile manager  26  is used to configure various types of settings for each telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wireless communication device  12  comprises profile data  40  having information associated with profile settings configured for each telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , profile data  40  comprises active/standby setting(s)  42 , voice-mail setting(s)  44  and ring setting(s)  46 . Active/standby setting(s)  42  comprise information associated with configuring a particular telephone number  30  to be in active mode (e.g., actively notifying and/or otherwise indicating to a user notice of an incoming telephone call) or standby mode (e.g., automatically forwarding an incoming telephone call to voice-mail, not answering or connecting to the incoming telephone call and/or otherwise not indicating to a user notice of an incoming telephone call). Voice-mail setting(s)  44  comprise information associated with configuring different voice-mail options for each telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . For example, voice-mail setting(s)  44  may be configured having a business-type greeting and/or message for business telephone numbers  32  and a more personal or non-business greeting for personal telephone numbers  34  of wireless communication device  12 . Ring setting(s)  46  comprise information associated with configuring different ring modes for different telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, particular ring modes and/or ring tones or sounds may be uniquely associated with particular telephone numbers  30  assigned to communication device  12  to enable a user of device to audibly distinguish between different types of incoming telephone calls (e.g., business or personal).  
      Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, profile manager  26  is used to configure particular profile settings for each telephone number  30  assigned to communication device  12 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, profile manager  26  is used to configure an active/standby setting  42  for each telephone number  30 . Thus, in this example, a user may desire to be notified of incoming telephone calls for business telephone numbers  32  during normal business hours and have incoming calls received outside of normal business hours to be automatically directed to voice-mail. Thus, embodiments of the present invention enable active/standby settings  42  to be configured for business telephone numbers  32  such that during active mode, (e.g., during normal business hours), the user of device  12  is notified of an incoming telephone call on business telephone numbers  32  (e.g., by ring, display on interface  28  or otherwise).  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  is configured to automatically apply and/or otherwise use profile data  40  to respond to recognized incoming calls and/or callers. For example, in response to automatically identifying a source and/or originator of an incoming call (e.g., via caller identification (callerid) methods or otherwise), call manager  24  automatically applies and/or responds to the recognized incoming call based on profile data  40  (e.g., always ring and/or notify the user of the incoming call, never send to voice-mail, only direct to voice-mail, etc.).  
      Call manager  24  is used to manage outgoing and incoming telephone calls of wireless communication device  12 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  comprises logic for distinguishing and/or otherwise identifying incoming and outgoing telephone calls with particular telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . In some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  formats and/or otherwise encodes outgoing telephone calls using a protocol that uniquely identifies a particular telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12  used to make or initiate the call. In some embodiments of the present invention, identifier  38  (e.g., an ESN or other identifying information uniquely associated with a particular telephone number  30 ) is encoded and/or otherwise contained within one or more wireless communication data packets transmitted by wireless communication device  12  as part of an outgoing telephone call by wireless communication device  12 . The identification information identifying the outgoing telephone call as being associated with a particular telephone number  30  is preferably located in the header of such wireless communication data packets. However, it should be understood that the identification information may be otherwise formatted and/or otherwise encoded in the outbound telephone call communication packets. Further, it should be understood that other types of identification information may be used to uniquely identify a particular outgoing telephone call with a particular telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 .  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  is used to distinguish and/or otherwise identify incoming calls to wireless communication device  12  with a particular telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  is configured to parse wireless communication data packets received by wireless communication device  12  to identify and/or otherwise determine identification information in the wireless communication data packets indicating and/or otherwise associating the incoming call with a particular telephone number  30 . As discussed above, the information contained in the wireless communication data packets may comprise a particular identifier  38  (e.g., an ESN or other type of unique identifier) or other type of identification information associating the incoming call with a particular telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 .  
      In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , service provider  14  comprises a call manager  50  and a billing manager  52 . Call manager  50  and billing manager  52  may comprise hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Billing manager  52  is used to provide billing services based on use of wireless communication device  12  relating to each telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . Call manager  50  is used to provide telephone service to wireless communication device  12  and distinguish between different telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  50  is configured to receive a request for telephone service from wireless communication device  12  and parse a wireless communication data packet received from wireless communication device  12  to identify and/or otherwise determine a particular telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12  for which telephone service is requested. Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  50  is configured to format and/or otherwise encode identification information in wireless communication data packets directed by service provider  14  to wireless communication device  12  for a call directed to wireless communication device  12  to identify the particular telephone number  30  for the call (thereby also enabling wireless communication device  12  to identify the particular telephone number  30  receiving the incoming call).  
      In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , service provider  14  comprises relational mapping data  60  having relational information for correlating telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12  to a particular account and/or for distinguishing between wireless telephone communications for each telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , relational mapping data  60  comprises identifier(s)  62 , telephone number(s)  64 , and account data  68 . Identifier(s)  62  comprise identification information relating to wireless communication device  12  used for distinguishing between and/or otherwise uniquely identifying the different telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, identifier(s)  62  comprise ESNs assigned to wireless communication device  12  and uniquely associated with each respective telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . Telephone number(s)  64  represent the telephone number(s)  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12  such that relational mapping data  60  is used to map and/or otherwise correlate particular identifiers  62  with particular phone numbers  64  corresponding to wireless communication device  12 . Account data  68  comprises information associated with identifying particular telephone numbers  64  assigned to a particular wireless communication device  12  with a particular service account.  
      Thus, in operation, wireless communication device  12  initiates an outgoing call using one of telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . In some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  is configured to display or otherwise indicate to a user of device  12  available phone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12  for initiating an outgoing call. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  is configured to display a listing on interface  28  of business telephone numbers  32  and personal telephone numbers  34  assigned to wireless communication device  12  for selection of one thereof by the user for initiating an outgoing telephone call. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments of the present invention, communication device  12  may be configured to operate in a particular mode (e.g., under a business number  32  mode) such that while in the particular mode, all outgoing calls are made using the particular mode number (e.g., the business number  32 ). In such an embodiment, a button, display icon, switch, or other device may be used to switch from one mode to another (e.g., switch from operating under the business number  32  mode to the personal number  34  mode by depressing a button or icon).  
      In response to receiving a selection of one of telephone numbers  30 , and a telephone number of a recipient of the outgoing telephone call, call manager  24  initiates the outgoing telephone call and formats at least one wireless communication data packet with identifier  38  and/or other information identifying and/or otherwise indicating the selected telephone number  30  for the outgoing call (thereby enabling service provider  14  to identify the selected telephone number  30 , providing caller identification (caller ID) information associated with the outgoing telephone call, etc.). Service provider  14  receives the outgoing call from wireless communication device  12  and parses at least one received wireless communication data packet associated with the telephone call or service request to identify and/or otherwise determine the selected telephone number  30  for the outgoing telephone call. In response to determining and/or otherwise identifying the selected telephone number  30  for the outgoing telephone call by wireless communication device  12 , call manager  50  accesses relational mapping data  60  to correlate identifier  62  and telephone number  64  with a particular account using account data  68 . Billing manager  52  is used to perform any billing services and account management associated with the telephone call.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, in response to service provider  14  receiving a telephone service request directed toward wireless communication device  12  (e.g., another service and/or device attempting to place a telephone call to wireless communication device  12 ), call manager  50  determines and/or otherwise identifies the particular telephone number of wireless communication device  12  to receive the incoming telephone call using relational mapping data  60 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  50  identifies the telephone number for which the call is directed for wireless communication device  12  and accesses relational mapping data  60  to identify an identifier  62  corresponding to the telephone call for wireless communication device  12 . Call manager  50  formats and/or otherwise encodes at least one wireless communication data packet destined for the wireless communication device  12  with identifier  62  information indicating the telephone number  30  of device  12  for receiving the incoming call.  
      In response to receiving an indication of an incoming call at wireless communication device  12 , call manager  24  parses at least one wireless communication data packet associated with the incoming telephone call to determine and/or otherwise identify a particular telephone number  30  corresponding to the incoming telephone call. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  correlates the parsed identification information with identifiers  38  to identify a particular telephone number  30  receiving the incoming call.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  indicates to a user of device  12  the particular telephone number  30  receiving the incoming telephone call. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, call manager  24  is configured to display the particular telephone number  30  on interface  28  to provide a user of device  12  with an indication of the incoming telephone call and the particular telephone number  30  associated therewith. The user of device  12  may choose to connect and/or receive the telephone call, allow the telephone call to roll to voice-mail and/or otherwise perform a desired action for the incoming telephone call (or if the user has already connected to a call on the particular number  30 , the incoming call may automatically be directed to voice-mail or a busy signal returned). In some embodiments of the present invention, profile data  40  associated with the particular telephone number  30  receiving the incoming call is used to respond to the incoming call. For example, ring setting  46  may be used to initiate a particular audible alert of the incoming call, active/standby setting  42  may be used to respond to the incoming call (e.g., no connect, voice-mail response, etc.), or otherwise. In other embodiments of the present invention ring setting  46  may also be used to activate a particular color of light source disposed on device  12  for particular numbers (e.g., illuminating a red light source for business number  32  calls and a green light source for personal number  34  calls, thereby also alleviating a need to display the particular number  30  of the incoming call).  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, wireless communication device  12  is configured to concurrently receive and/or otherwise be connected to at least two different telephone calls on at least two different telephone numbers  30 . For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, while connected to a particular telephone call for a particular telephone number  30  (e.g., one of business telephone numbers  32 ), wireless communication device  12  is configured to also receive an incoming telephone call for another telephone number  30  (e.g., one of personal telephone numbers  34 ). As described above, call manager  24  parses at least one wireless communication data packet associated with the incoming call and, preferably, displays and/or otherwise indicates to a user of device  12  the particular telephone number  30  of the incoming call (e.g., by displaying the particular telephone number  30  associated with the incoming call on interface  28 ). The user of device  12  may handle the incoming telephone call as desired (e.g., placing the first call on hold while connecting to the second call, allowing the second call to roll to voice-mail, or otherwise) and/or profile data  40  may be otherwise used to respond to the incoming call.  
      Call management performed by call manager  24  of communication device  12  is preferably performed on communication device  12 . However, it should be understood that all or a portion of such call management may be performed by service provider  14  (e.g., by call manager  50 ). For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, profile data  40  and/or other call management information may be stored by service provider  14  and applied in response to calls directed to communication device  12  (e.g., incoming calls during particular hours for a particular number  32  or  34  automatically directed to voice-mail, application of active/standby settings  42 , etc.).  
      In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the operating mode of communication device  12  is controlled by service provider  14  (e.g., whether operating under a business number  32  mode or a personal number  34  mode). For example, a business may issue communication device to a user  12  for business purposes but allow the user to use the communication device  12  for personal use during particular times or hours (e.g., during weekends). In this example, call manager  50  of service provider  14  automatically controls the number  32  or  34  mode of operation of the particular communication device  12  for the designated hours (e.g., operating under a business number  32  mode during weekdays and only forwarding business calls to communication device  12  during weekdays while automatically directing calls for personal number(s)  34  to voice-mail or another number during weekdays). Thus, call manager  50  may be configured to control various operational aspects and/or modes of communication device  12  based on profile data  40 , each number assigned to the communication device  12 , or other criteria.  
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a multi-number wireless communication method in accordance with the present invention. The method begins at block  200 , where call manager  24  displays and/or otherwise indicates to a user telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . At block  202 , call manager  24  receives a selection by a user of one of the assigned telephone numbers  30  for initiating a telephone call. At block  204 , call manager  24  receives an indication of the telephone number of which the user desires to call (e.g., by a keypad of interface  28 , selection of a previously stored telephone number, or otherwise). At block  206 , call manager  24  initiates an outgoing telephone call corresponding to the selected assigned telephone number  30 . At block  208 , call manager  24  formats and/or otherwise encodes at least one wireless communication data packet associated with the outgoing telephone call with identifier  38  or other identification information identifying the telephone number  30  selected by the user for the outgoing telephone call.  
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a multi-number wireless communication method in accordance with the present invention. The method begins at block  300 , where wireless communication device  12  receives at least one wireless communication data packet. At block  302 , call manager  24  parses at least one wireless communication data packet received by communication device  12  to identify a particular telephone number  30  assigned to communication device  12  that is receiving the incoming call. At block  304 , call manager  24  identifies the telephone number  30  of device  12  receiving the incoming telephone call by correlating the parsed information with identifiers  38 . At block  306 , call manager  24  connects to the incoming call (e.g., in response to a user of device  12  accepting and/or otherwise connecting to the incoming call). It should be understood that a user may handle the incoming call differently should the user so desire (e.g., viewing a display and/or other indication of the incoming call, the number generating the incoming call (e.g., callerid), etc., automatically letting the incoming call transfer to voice-mail, or otherwise).  
      At block  308 , call manager  24  receives an indication of another incoming telephone call to wireless communication device  12 . At block  310 , call manager parses at least one wireless communication data packet associated with the incoming telephone call of block  308  to identify a telephone number  30  of wireless communication device  12  for receiving the incoming call. At decisional block  312 , a determination is made whether the incoming call of block  308  is for the same telephone number  30  as the telephone call of block  304 . If the incoming call of block  308  is for the same telephone number  30  as the existing connection to the telephone call received at block  300 , the method proceeds to block  314 , where the user may perform a desired action for the incoming telephone call (e.g., initiate call waiting, voice-mail or other options). If it is determined at decisional block  312  that the incoming call of block  308  is for a different telephone number  30 , the method proceeds to block  316 , where call manager  24  identifies and/or otherwise indicates the particular telephone number  30  that is receiving the incoming call (e.g., displaying the particular telephone number  30  on interface  28  or otherwise). The user of device  12  may perform a desired option for the incoming call such as, but not limited to, connecting to the incoming call, allowing the incoming call to roll to voice-mail, or otherwise. Further, it should be understood that profile data  40  may indicate a particular response for the incoming call (e.g., active/standby settings  42 ).  
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a multi-number wireless communication method in accordance with the present invention. At block  400 , profile manager  26  is initiated on wireless communication device  12 . At block  402 , profile manager  26  identifies and/or otherwise displays to a user of wireless communication device  12  the telephone numbers  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . At block  404 , profile manager  26  receives a selection by the user of one of the assigned telephone numbers  30 . At block  406 , profile manager  26  displays profile data  40  indicating various profile settings and/or options for the selected telephone number  30 . For example, profile settings and/or options such as active/standby settings  42 , voice-mail settings  44  and/or ring settings  46  may be configured by the user for the selected telephone number  30 . At block  408 , profile manager  26  receives a selection and/or indication of particular profile settings  40  for the selected telephone number  30 . At decisional block  410 , a determination is made whether the user desires to configure and/or otherwise modify profile settings for another telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 . If the user desires to configure and/or otherwise modify profile settings  40  for another telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 , the method returns to block  404 . If the user does not desire to configure and/or otherwise modify profile settings  40  for another telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 , the method ends.  
      Thus, embodiments of the present invention enable use of different telephone numbers on a single wireless communication device, thereby enabling a user of the wireless communication device  12  to easily distinguish between and/or use different telephone numbers  30  assigned to device  12  for different purposes (e.g., business or personal). Embodiments of the present invention also enable enhanced billing services associated with wireless communication device  12 . For example, by using different telephone numbers  30  for different purposes (e.g., business or personal), billing information associated with wireless communication device  12  processed by service provider  14  may be categorized and/or otherwise formatted based on each telephone number  30  assigned to wireless communication device  12 , thereby enabling a user of device  12  to identify costs and/or other information associated with each telephone number  30 . It should be understood that in the described methods, certain functionality may be omitted, accomplished in a sequence different from that in the depicted methods, or performed simultaneously or in combination. Also, it should be understood that the depicted methods may be altered to encompass any of the other features or aspects of the invention as described elsewhere in the specification.