Patent Publication Number: US-2022224794-A1

Title: Method for managing the routing of a call intended for a first communication terminal, method for routing said call and corresponding devices.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention is that of call routing management between two communication terminals. More specifically, the invention relates to communication services enabling a user to configure a transfer of calls intended for a first communication terminal to a second communication terminal. 
     PRIOR ART AND ITS DRAWBACKS 
     Some communication services currently make it possible to configure a transfer of a telephone call intended for a communication terminal such as a landline to another communication terminal of landline or mobile terminal type. Such services are commonly referred to as call forwarding services. 
     Such a call forwarding service functions as follows. The user seeking to avail of the service must manually configure the forwarding of calls intended for their landline to the communication terminal of their choice. The configuration operations are performed directly on the landline. These configuration operations are tedious as they require the input of sometimes long and complex codes. There is thus a significant risk of input error. 
     Furthermore, when the user seeks to end call forwarding, they must once again manually configure their landline. 
     There is therefore a need for a call forwarding management technique not involving these drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, there is a need for a technique offering flexibility in the configuration and use of a call forwarding service. There is also a need for a technique that enhances the experience for the terminal user when configuring a call forwarding service. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention meets this need by proposing a method for managing the routing of calls intended for a first communication terminal, the management method being implemented by a second communication terminal and comprising:
         obtaining at least one piece of contextual information relating to said second terminal,   transmitting, to at least one call routing device, a modification command of the routing of calls intended for said first terminal according to at least one activation condition verified by said at least one piece of contextual information.       

     In the proposed solution, the configuration operations are performed at the level of the second communication terminal, such as for example a mobile communication terminal. It is therefore not necessary that the user be physically close to the first communication terminal for which they seek to forward calls. The user can then, for example, manage call forwarding from their landline where and when they wish. 
     In the proposed solution, the call forwarding service is activated based on the verification of activation conditions. The information used to determine the fulfilment of the activation conditions is contextual information collected by the user&#39;s second communication terminal and which does not require particular user interaction with the first communication terminal or the second communication terminal, such as the input of a forwarding code. This can consist of information collected by the second communication terminal. 
     Thus, such a solution offers flexibility, adaptability and ease of use for the user. 
     A call routing modification corresponds equally well to call forwarding activation, call forwarding deactivation or cancellation, call forwarding recipient modification. 
     In the case of an activation of routing of calls intended for the first terminal, the routing modification command indicates the terminal to which the call is to be routed. This terminal can correspond to the second terminal implementing the method or indeed any other terminal. 
     In the case of a modification of the recipient of the routing of calls intended for the first terminal, the routing modification command indicates the new terminal to which the call is to be routed. Thus according to a specific feature of the management method, when the command is a call routing activation command, a call identifier of a communication terminal to which the call intended for the first terminal is routed is determined by means of the piece of contextual information; the same applies when the command is a call routing modification command. According to a further specific feature of the management method, the method comprises, when said at least one activation condition is no longer verified, transmitting, to the routing device, another modification command of the routing of calls intended for the first terminal. 
     Thus, call forwarding is deactivated or cancelled when the call forwarding service activation conditions are no longer fulfilled. 
     In a specific embodiment of the management method, the method comprises a learning phase of said at least one activation condition according to said at least one piece of contextual information. 
     In this embodiment of the management method, the communication terminal implementing the management method has a learning module. Such a learning module learns as the call forwarding service is used by the user the conditions whereby the service is activated or deactivated. Ultimately, this learning makes it possible to further reduce the user&#39;s interactions with the communication terminal the purpose of which is to configure the call forwarding service. 
     In a specific embodiment of the management method, the method comprises a validation of the routing modification prior to the transmission of said modification command of routing intended for the at least one call routing device. 
     In this specific embodiment, any decision taken by the communication terminal as to the activation, deactivation or modification of the call forwarding service is subject to the user&#39;s validation. This is particularly useful when the communication terminal is in the learning phase, as it learns modification conditions which are approved, and therefore desired, by the user of the communication terminal. 
     In a specific embodiment of the management method, said at least one piece of contextual information belongs to the group comprising:
         a current time and date,   a geographic position of the second communication terminal,   at least one identifier of a local communication network detected by the second communication terminal,   at least one piece of availability information in respect of the user of the second communication terminal,   a charge level of a battery of the second communication terminal.       

     The invention also relates to a method for routing calls intended for a first communication terminal, the routing method being implemented by a call routing device and comprising:
         receiving a call to be routed intended for the first terminal,   routing said call to a second communication terminal or a third terminal, based on a piece of call routing information, the piece of call routing information intended for the first terminal having been received previously by the routing device from the second terminal.       

     The invention further relates to a communication terminal capable of managing the routing of a call intended for a first communication terminal, said communication terminal comprising at least one processor configured for:
         obtaining at least one piece of contextual information relating to said communication terminal,   transmitting, to at least one piece of call routing equipment, a modification command of the routing of said call intended for said first communication terminal according to at least one activation condition verified by said at least one piece of contextual information.       

     Such a communication terminal can be a landline or a mobile communication terminal. 
     The invention further relates to a piece of equipment for routing a call intended for a first communication terminal, the routing equipment comprising at least one processor configured for:
         intercepting said call associated with a call identifier of the first communication terminal,
           retrieving, according to the call identifier of the first communication terminal associated with said call, a piece of routing information of said call, the routing information of said call having been previously transmitted to said call routing equipment by a second communication terminal,   routing said call according to the routing information.   
               

     Such a piece of routing equipment can be, for example a residential gateway, a business gateway, or a piece of routing equipment located in a remote communication network. 
     The invention finally relates to computer program products comprising program code instructions for the implementation of the methods as described above, when they are executed by a processor. 
     The invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium whereon computer programs comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the methods according to the invention as described above are recorded. 
     Such a storage medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the programs. For example, the medium can include a storage means, such as a ROM, for example CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic storage means, for example a USB key or a hard drive. Moreover, such a storage medium can be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be routed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means, such that the computer programs contained therein are remotely executable. The programs according to the invention can be in particular downloaded on a network for example the Internet. Alternatively, the storage medium can be an integrated circuit wherein the programs are incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the methods according to the invention cited above. 
    
    
     
       LIST OF FIGURES 
       Further aims, features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  represents an example of architecture wherein the present invention is implemented, 
         FIG. 2  represents the different steps of a call routing management method from a user&#39;s perspective, 
         FIG. 3  represents the different steps of a call routing management method when it is implemented by a communication terminal and a piece of call routing equipment, 
         FIG. 4  represents the communication terminal according to an embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 5  represents the call routing equipment according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  represents an example of architecture wherein the present invention is for example implemented by two communication terminals TC 1  and TC 2 . No limitation is associated with the number of communication terminals implementing the solution described hereinafter. 
     In an implementation example, the communication terminal TC 1  is for example a landline which can be located at a user&#39;s workplace, and the communication terminal TC 2  is a mobile terminal of the user. In a further embodiment, the communication terminal TC 2  can be a residential gateway, also known as a “box”. 
     When a third party seeks to contact the user on their landline, a terminal TCT of the third party sends a request to make a call REQ intended for the user&#39;s terminal TC 1 . 
     This request to make a call REQ is intercepted by a call routing device ER located in a communication network N. The call routing device ER is for example a residential gateway, a business gateway or any communication equipment located in the communication network N capable of managing telephone call routing. 
     The routing device ER comprises a correspondence table TC wherein the information required for routing calls is stored. In this illustrative example, the correspondence table TC comprises a call forwarding rule associated with the communication terminal TC 1 : call forwarding is activated for this terminal TC 1  to the terminal TC 2 . The routing device ER determines based on this call forwarding rule that the request to make a call REQ should not be routed to the communication terminal TC 1  but to the communication terminal TC 2 . This is represented in  FIG. 1  by the dotted line joining the call routing device ER to the communication terminal TC 1 . 
     The call routing device ER then sends the request to make a call REQ to the terminal TC 2 . 
       FIG. 2  represents the different steps of a call routing management method from a user&#39;s perspective. 
     In a step E 1 , a user seeks to implement a call forwarding service for a communication terminal TC 1 , such as their landline. 
     During a step E 2 , in a first specific embodiment, the user activates the execution of a software application installed in the communication terminal TC 2 , such as the user&#39;s mobile terminal. To do this, the user can for example select an icon displayed on a screen of the communication terminal TC 2 . This selection of a defined zone of the screen of the communication terminal TC 2  is interpreted by the latter as a request to execute the software application. This software application can be a telephone call routing management application. 
     In a second specific embodiment, the software application is executed as a background task by the communication terminal TC 2 . In such an embodiment, the user does not need to select an icon displayed on a screen of the communication terminal TC 2  to activate the execution of the software application. In this embodiment, when the user leaves the location where the communication terminal TC 1  is located, the communication terminal TC 2  determines that their geographic position has changed, and notifies the application which then executes a redirection order. This geographic position corresponds to an example of contextual information. The location where the communication TC 1  is located can correspond to a geographic zone, such as for example the location where the user&#39;s business or home is located. The location where the communication terminal TC 1  is located can also correspond to a radio coverage zone such as for example the coverage zone of a Wi-Fi network controlled by an embedded access point in a residential gateway or in a business gateway. 
     Prior to the execution of the application, the latter is configured by the user who provides inter alia a call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1 . A call identifier ID 2  of the communication terminal TC 2  is also provided to the application. Call identifiers associated with other terminals can also be configured by the user. 
     In a step E 3 , the communication terminal TC 2  sends the call routing device ER a modification command of the routing of calls intended for the terminal TC 1  to the terminal TC 2  or a third terminal TC 3 , not shown in  FIG. 1 . This command is sent to the routing device by means of an API (“Application Programming Interface”) for example of http (for example REST), short message or USSD (“Unstructured Supplementary Service Data”) code type or by means of a proprietary interface (also known as “socket”). When the call routing intended for the terminal TC 1  is modified to be routed to the terminal TC 2 , this modification command comprises for example the call identifiers ID 1  and ID 2  of the communication terminals TC 1  and TC 2  as well as a piece of information modifying the routing of calls intended for the communication terminal TC 1  to the communication terminal TC 2 . In the case of the terminal TC 3 , this modification command comprises for example the call identifiers ID 1 , ID 2  and ID 3  of the communication terminals TC 1 , TC 2  and TC 3  as well as a piece of information modifying the routing of calls intended for the communication terminal TC 1  to the communication terminal TC 3 . 
     Such a modification command of the routing of calls intended for the terminal TC 1  can be a call routing activation command, a call routing deactivation or cancellation command or a call routing modification command which consists, for example of routing calls intended for the communication terminal TC 1  no longer to the communication terminal TC 2  but to the third communication terminal TC 3 . 
     In the case of a call routing deactivation or cancellation command, this modification command comprises for example the call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1  as well a piece of cancellation information of routing of calls intended for the communication terminal TC 1 . 
     In the step E 3 , the call routing modification command is considered here to be an activation command. 
     In a step E 4 , the call routing device ER updates the correspondence table TC wherein the information required for routing calls is stored. 
     In a step E 5 , a third-party communication terminal TCT initiates a call to the communication terminal TC 1  by sending a request to make a call REQ. 
     In a step E 6 , this request to make a call REQ is intercepted by a call routing device ER. 
     In a step E 7 , the call routing device ER determines that the call associated with the request to make a call REQ should be routed to the communication terminal TC 2 . 
     In a step E 8 , the call routing device ER sends the request to make a call REQ to the communication terminal TC 2 . 
     In a step E 9 , the user accepts the call with the third party on the communication terminal TC 2 . When the user has returned to the location where the communication terminal TC 1  is located, the communication terminal TC 2  determines that their geographic position has changed and corresponds to that where the terminal TC 1  is located and notifies the software application. 
     In a step E 10 , the communication terminal TC 2  sends the call routing device ER a modification command, here for deactivation or cancellation, of call routing to the terminal TC 1 . This command comprises the call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1  as well as a piece of cancellation information of the routing of calls intended for the communication terminal TC 1 , i.e., the routing of these calls to the communication terminal TC 2 . 
     When the modification command sent by the communication terminal TC 2  is a call routing modification command from the terminal TC 2  to the terminal TC 3 , this modification command comprises the call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1 , a piece of modification information of the routing of calls intended for the communication terminal TC 1  and the call identifier ID 3  of the communication terminal TC 3  to which the call should now be routed. 
     In a step E 11 , the call routing device ER updates the correspondence table TC wherein the information required for routing calls is stored. 
     In a step E 12 , a third-party communication terminal TCT initiates a call to the communication terminal TC 1  by sending a request to make a call REQ. 
     This request to make a call REQ is intercepted by a call routing device ER. 
     In a step E 13 , the call routing device ER determines that no routing rule is stored in the correspondence table TC 1  and that, accordingly, the call associated with the request to make a call REQ should be routed to the communication terminal TC 1 . 
     In a step E 14 , the call routing device ER sends the request to make a call REQ to the communication terminal TC 1 . 
     In a step E 15 , the user accepts the call with the third party on the communication terminal TC 1 .  FIG. 3  represents the different steps of a call routing management method when it is implemented by a communication terminal TC 2  and the call routing device ER. 
     In a step F 1 , the communication terminal TC 2  obtains information enabling the implementation of a call forwarding service. Some information obtained is entered by the user of the communication terminal TC 2  by means of a user interface, such as for example a touch screen. This information entered by the user is for example, the call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1  as well as the call identifiers of other communication terminals (not shown in the figures) such as the identifier ID 3  of the communication terminal TC 3 . Further contextual information is collected by the communication terminal TC 2 . This contextual information is for example:
         a current time and date,   a geographic position of the communication terminal TC 2  provided, for example, by a geolocation module in the communication terminal TC 2 ,   a geographic position of another communication terminal for which the call identifier has been entered by the user,   at least one identifier of a local communication network detected by the communication terminal TC 2  or by another communication terminal for which the call identifier has been entered by the user such that the identifier ID 3  of the communication terminal TC 3 , such as for example a SSID (Service Set identifier) identifier of a Wi-Fi communication network,   at least one piece of availability information in respect of the user of the communication terminal as stored in a calendar of the communication terminal TC 2  or another communication terminal for which the call identifier has been entered by the user,   a charge level of a battery of the communication terminal TC 2 ,   a Bluetooth device detection, etc.       

     This contextual information can correspond to internal events in the communication terminal TC 2  or indeed external events to the communication terminal TC 2 . 
     The step F 1  is implemented periodically in order to update the contextual information obtained. In a step F 2 , the communication terminal TC 2  determines that at least one activation condition of the routing of a call intended for the communication terminal TC 1  is verified. The communication terminal TC 2  also determines the communication terminal for which a call identifier was entered during the step F 1  to which the call should be routed according to at least one activation condition. 
     In a first embodiment, the activation condition is the detection by the communication terminal TC 2  of the selection, via the user interface, of a defined area of the screen of the communication terminal TC 2  displaying for example a call forwarding service activation icon. 
     In a second embodiment, the communication terminal TC 2  comprises a module for learning the fulfilment of at least one modification condition of the call forwarding service, according to the contextual information obtained during the step F 1 . Such a learning module learns as the call forwarding service is used by the user the conditions whereby the service is activated or deactivated or modified. 
     In this second embodiment, an activation condition is, for example, the detection by the communication terminal TC 2  of a change of geographic position. Thus, if the communication terminal TC 2  leaves a specific geographic zone wherein the communication terminal TC 1  is located, for example a circle having a radius of 200 meters centred on the position of the communication terminal TC 1 , then an activation condition is fulfilled. 
     In a further embodiment example, if the geographic position obtained during the step F 1  indicates that the communication terminal TC 2  is located in a foreign country, the activation condition “communication terminal TC 2  is leaving a certain geographic zone wherein the communication terminal TC 1  is located” is fulfilled, for all that the call forwarding service is not activated as it is coupled with another activation condition indicating that when the communication terminal TC 2  is located abroad the call forwarding service should not be activated. 
     In a further example, when the communication terminal TC 2  detects that it is no longer covered by a Wi-Fi communication network for which the SSID is “home” and that the terminal TC 1  is the home landline, then an activation condition is fulfilled. 
     In a final example, when the communication terminal TC 2  detects via the calendar that the user has a dental appointment on the date D at the time T and the current time and date of the communication terminal TC 2  are the time T on the date D, an activation condition is fulfilled. 
     In a first implementation, the communication terminal to which the call should be routed is selected by means of the user interface of the communication terminal TC 2 . 
     In a second implementation, the communication terminal TC 2  determines according to the contextual information collected during the step F 1  the call identifier of the communication terminal to which the call should be routed. 
     Thus, for example, the communication terminal TC 2  collects a piece of information relating to a geographic position of the third communication terminal TC 3 . Such a piece of information is for example the connection of the third communication terminal TC 3  to a Wi-Fi communication network for which the SSID is “home”. When such a piece of information is an activation condition then the communication terminal TC 2  identifies the third communication terminal TC 3  as being a communication terminal to which the communication can be routed. 
     When the activation conditions are fulfilled, the communication terminal TC 2  sends a command MGS 1  to the call routing device ER during a step F 3 . 
     The command MSG 1  comprises a piece of modification information of the routing of initiated calls intended for the communication terminal TC 1 . This command comprises the call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1 . When the modification is a routing activation or a modification of the recipient communication of the routing, the command comprises a call identifier of the communication terminal to which the call should be routed, for example the identifier ID 2  of the terminal TC 2 . 
     Optionally, the communication terminal TC 2  implements a routing modification validation step F 4  by the user prior to sending the command MSG 1 . Thus, any decision taken by the communication terminal TC 2  as to the activation or deactivation or modification of the call forwarding service is subject to the user&#39;s validation. This is particularly useful when the communication terminal TC 2  is in the learning phase, as it learns modification conditions which are approved, and therefore desired, by the user of the communication terminal. 
     In a step F 5 , on receiving the command MSG 1 , the call routing device ER updates the correspondence table TC wherein the information comprised in the command MSG 1  is stored. During a step F 6 , the communication terminal TCT initiates a call to the communication terminal TC 1  by sending a request to make a call REQ. The request to make a call REQ comprises the call identifier ID 1  of the terminal TC 1 . 
     In a step F 7 , the call routing device ER intercepts the request to make a call REQ. 
     During a step F 8 , the call routing device ER retrieves, according to the call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1  associated with a request to make a call REQ, the piece of modification information of the routing of said call to the communication terminal TC 2  and the identifier of the communication terminal TC 2  previously stored in the correspondence table TC. In a step F 9 , the call routing device ER routes the request to make a call REQ to the communication terminal TC 2 . 
     When, for the communication terminal TC 1 , the call routing device ER retrieves in the correspondence table TC the call identifiers ID of several communication terminals, the call routing device ER determines the communication terminal TC to which the call is routed either according to explicit information comprised in the message MGS 1 , for example in the form of the call identifier ID of a given communication terminal; or according to information according to a priority associated with the call identifier ID of each of the communication terminals TC associated with the communication terminal TC 1 . 
     When the activation conditions are no longer fulfilled, the communication terminal TC 2  sends a command MGS 2  to the call routing device ER during a step F 10 . 
     The command MSG 2  comprises a piece of modification information, here deactivation, of the routing of initiated calls intended for the communication terminal TC 1  to the communication terminal TC 2 , the call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1 . 
     Optionally, the communication terminal TC 2  implements a routing service modification validation step F 4  prior to sending the message MSG 2 . 
     In a step F 11 , on receiving the command MSG 2 , the call routing device ER updates a correspondence table TC to deactivate the routing rule. 
     During a step F 12 , the communication terminal TCT initiates a call to the communication terminal TC 1  by sending a request to make a call REQ′. The request to make a call REQ′ comprises the call identifier ID 1  of the mobile terminal TC 1 . 
     In a step F 13 , the call routing device ER intercepts the request to make a call REQ′. 
     During a step F 14 , the call routing device ER checks, according to the call identifier ID 1  of the communication terminal TC 1  associated with a request to make a call REQ′, that no routing rule is stored in the correspondence table TC for the terminal TC 1 . 
     In a step F 15 , the call routing device ER routes the request to make a call REQ′ to the communication terminal TC 1 . 
       FIG. 4  represents the communication terminal TC 2  according to an embodiment. Such a communication terminal TC 2  is capable of implementing the different embodiments of the method described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     A communication terminal TC 2  can comprise at least one hardware processor  401 , a storage unit  402 , an input device  403 , a display device  404 , an interface  405 , and at least one network interface  406  which are connected to each other via a bus  407 . Obviously, the constituent elements of the communication terminal TC 2  can be connected by means of a connection other than a bus. 
     The processor  401  controls the operations of the communication terminal TC 2 . The storage unit  402  stores at least one program for implementing the method according to an embodiment to be executed by the processor  401 , and various data, such as parameters used for calculations made by the processor  401 , intermediate data from calculations made by the processor  401 , etc. The processor  401  can be formed by any known and suitable hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software. For example, the processor  401  can be formed by dedicated hardware such as a processing circuit, or by a programmable processing unit such as a central processing unit which executes a program stored in a memory thereof. 
     The storage unit  402  can be formed by any suitable means capable of storing the program or programs and data in a computer-readable manner. Examples of storage unit  402  comprise computer-readable non-transitory storage media such as semiconductor memory devices, and magnetic, optical or magneto-optical recording media loaded in a read/write unit. 
     The input device  403  can be formed by a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse to be used by a user to enter commands. The display device  404  can also be formed by a display module, such as for example a graphical user interface (GUI). 
     The interface  405  provides an interface between the communication terminal TC 2  and another piece of equipment not shown in the figure. 
     At least one network interface  406  provides a connection between the communication terminal TC 2  and the call routing device ER. 
       FIG. 5  represents the call routing device ER according to an embodiment. Such a call routing device is capable of implementing the different embodiments of the method described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     A call routing device ER can comprise at least one hardware processor  501 , a storage unit  402 , an interface  503 , and at least one network interface  504  which are connected to each other via a bus  505 . Obviously, the constituent elements of the call routing device ER can be connected by means of a connection other than a bus. 
     The processor  501  controls the operations of the call routing device ER. The storage unit  502  stores at least one program for implementing the method according to an embodiment to be executed by the processor  501 , and various data, such as parameters used for calculations made by the processor  501 , intermediate data from calculations made by the processor  501 , etc. The processor  501  can be formed by any known and suitable hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software. For example, the processor  501  can be formed by dedicated hardware such as a processing circuit, or by a programmable processing unit such as a central processing unit which executes a program stored in a memory thereof. 
     The storage unit  502  can be formed by any suitable means capable of storing the program or programs and data in a computer-readable manner. Examples of storage unit  502  comprise computer-readable non-transitory storage media such as semiconductor memory devices, and magnetic, optical or magneto-optical recording media loaded in a read/write unit. 
     The interface  503  provides an interface between the call routing device ER and another piece of equipment not shown in the figure. 
     At least one network interface  504  provides a connection between the call routing device ER and the communication terminal TC 2 .