Patent Abstract:
An Internet protocol (IP) phone which can remotely configure call forwarding in a distant IP phone requires the IP phone detecting a phone number of the distant IP phone and transmitting a first signal to the distant IP phone to request the distant IP phone to enable call forwarding mode. Upon the distant IP phone responding, the IP phone transmits a second signal including password to the distant IP phone to confirm that the distant IP phone has capabilities and has successfully enabled call forwarding mode. When the distant IP phone, responding to a correct password, makes a response the IP phone transmits a third signal to the distant IP phone to complete the call forwarding process.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to communications, and more particularly to Internet communications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    When a local IP phone can not pick up a incoming call, or a user of the local IP phone does not want to pick up the incoming call, a function of call forwarding can forward the incoming call to a remote IP phone. Currently, call forwarding is based on inputting a phone number corresponding to the remote IP phone, then informing the call manager (CM) to forward the call to the remote IP phone. However, the function of call forwarding must be configured on the local IP phone, and the number of the remote IP phone must be known. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of an application environment of an IP phone for configuring call forwarding. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of another example embodiment of an application environment of an IP phone for configuring call forwarding. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of an example embodiment of function modules of the IP phone. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a detailed transport diagram of the transmitting of the first signal. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a detailed transport diagram of the transmitting of the second signal. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a detailed transport diagram of the transmitting of the third signal. 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of an example embodiment of a method for configuring call forwarding remotely. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references numerals indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references can mean “at least one.” 
         [0011]    In general, the word “module” as used hereinafter refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware such as in an erasable-programmable read-only memory (EPROM). It will be appreciated that the modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an application environment of an IP phone  10  for configuring call forwarding. In the present embodiment, the IP phone  10 , an IP phone  20  and an IP phone  30  are connected with each other through a call managing (CM) device  40 . In the present embodiment, the IP phone  10 , the IP phone  20 , and the IP phone  30  have the same functions. In the present embodiment, the IP phone  10 , the IP phone  20 , and the IP phone  30  are in different locations. When the IP phone  30  calls the IP phone  20 , and a user of the IP phone  20  is absent but close to the IP phone  10 , the user of the IP phone  20  can configure the IP phone  20  for call forwarding utilizing the IP phone  10  so that the incoming call can be forwarded to the IP phone  10 . In the embodiment, the incoming calls are made to the IP phone  30  and the IP phone  20 . 
         [0013]    In the present embodiment, the IP phone  10 , the IP phone  20 , and the IP phone  30  all have a function of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and a function of call forwarding. The CM  40  is a server which can manage the communication between the IP phones. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of an application environment of a IP phone  10  for configuring call forwarding. In the present embodiment, a difference between the application environment of  FIG. 1  and the application environment of  FIG. 2  is that the application environment of  FIG. 2  has a CM  40  and a CM  50 , connected with each other via an Internet  60 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of function modules of the IP phone  10 . In the embodiment, the IP phone  10  comprises an inputting interface module  101 , a mode setting module  102 , a determining module  104 , a forwarding module  106 , a storage system  108 , and a processor  110 . 
         [0016]    The modules  101 - 106  can comprise one or more software programs in the form of computerized codes stored in the storage system  108 . The computerized codes include instructions executed by the processor  110  to provide functions for the modules  101 - 106 . 
         [0017]    The inputting interface module  101  detects a phone number dialed by a user of the IP phone  10 . In the present embodiment, dialing the phone number of the IP phone  20  can be by physical keys or by a touch screen on the IP phone  10 . 
         [0018]    The mode setting module  102  transmits a first signal to the IP phone  20  according to the phone number of the IP phone  20 , to request the IP phone  20  to enable call forwarding mode. The mode setting module  102  receives a first response when the IP phone  20  has been configured into the mode of call forwarding. 
         [0019]    When the first response has been received, the determining module  104  transmits a second signal to request confirmation that the IP phone  20  has capabilities and has successfully enabled call forwarding mode. When the IP phone  20  has capabilities and has successfully enabled call forwarding mode, the IP phone  20  will transmit a second response to IP phone  10 . 
         [0020]    The forwarding module  106  transmits a third signal comprising a phone number of the IP phone  10  to the IP phone  20 , to forward calls made to the IP phone  20  to the IP phone  10  on condition that the IP phone  20  has capabilities and has successfully enabled call forwarding mode. In the present embodiment, once the IP phone  20  receives the third signal and becomes aware of a number phone of the IP phone  10 , then the IP phone  20  can complete the call forwarding configuration from the IP phone  20  to the IP phone  10 . 
         [0021]    In the present embodiment, the first signal is a series of call and cancel demands during a certain time period which is defined by users, such as 4 seconds, and the call and cancel demands can configure the IP phone  20  into the mode of call forwarding.  FIG. 4  shows the transmitting of the first signal. The IP phone  10  transmits four call and cancel demands to the CM  40  in four seconds, and the CM  40  transfers the call and cancel demands to the IP phone  20 . When the IP phone  20  transitions into the mode of call forwarding, the IP phone  20  will return a first response to the IP phone  10 , in the embodiment, the first response is a packet of data stating “OK.” The four call and cancel demands can be other quantity in other embodiment. 
         [0022]    In the present embodiment, the second signal is multi-frequency tone which carries a security key, and the security key is used to determine whether or not the IP phone  20  permits call forwarding being set by the IP phone  10 . In the present embodiment, the 
         [0023]    IP phone  20  will set a secret key, if the security key which is carried by the second signal matches the secret key, the IP phone  20  will permit call forwarding being set by the IP phone  10 , otherwise the IP phone  20  will not permit such call forwarding. In the present embodiment, the security key carried in the second signal matches the secret key.  FIG. 5  shows the transmitting of the second signal. In the present embodiment, the security key is 1111. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the IP phone  10  transmits the second signal to the CM  40 , the CM  40  transfers the second signal to the IP phone  20 , the IP phone  20  will then determine whether or not the IP phone  20  permits call forwarding being set by the IP phone  10  based on the secret key being matched by the security key in the second signal. In other embodiments, the user can set any preferred security key. 
         [0024]    In the present embodiment, the third signal is also multi-frequency tone which carries the phone number of the IP phone  10 . In the embodiment, if the IP phone  20  is otherwise able to forward the incoming call to the IP phone  10 , the IP phone  20  must be aware of the phone number of the IP phone  10 .  FIG. 6  shows the transmitting of the third signal. The third signal carrying the phone number of the IP phone  10  is sent to the CM  40 , and the CM  40  transfers the third signal to the IP phone  20 , thus the IP phone  20  will receive the phone number of the IP phone  10  so that the IP phone  20  can carry out call forwarding from the IP phone  20  to the IP phone  10 . In the embodiment, the phone number of the IP phone  10  is 7777. 
         [0025]    In the present embodiment, the IP phone  10  and the IP phone  20  have same functions and can exchange roles in the application environment of  FIG. 1 . Thus an IP phone  10  taking the place of the IP phone  20 , in the IP phone  20  location, can also receive the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal from an IP phone  20  and a call forwarding configuration of the IP phone  10  by the IP phone  20  can be carried out. 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of configuring call forwarding remotely. In the embodiment, the method is implemented in the application environment shown in  FIG. 1 , in the following manner and as executed by the IP phone  10 . 
         [0027]    In block S 700 , the inputting interface module  101  detects a phone number dialed by a user of the IP phone  10 . In the present embodiment, dialing the phone number of the IP phone  20  can be by physical keys or by a touch screen on the IP phone  10 . 
         [0028]    In block S 702 , the mode setting module  102  transmits the first signal to the IP phone  20  on condition that the phone number of the IP phone  20  has been received by the inputting interface module  101 . The first signal request the IP phone  20  to enable call forwarding mode. The mode setting module  102  receives a first response when the IP phone  20  has been configured into the mode of call forwarding. 
         [0029]    In the present embodiment, the first signal is a series of call and cancel demands during a certain time period which is defined by users, such as 4 seconds, and the call and cancel demands can configure the IP phone  20  into the mode of call forwarding.  FIG. 4  shows the transmitting of the first signal. The IP phone  10  transmits four call and cancel demands to the CM  40  in four seconds, and the CM  40  transfers the call and cancel demands to the IP phone  20 . When the IP phone  20  transitions into the mode of call forwarding, the IP phone  20  will return a first response to the IP phone  10 , in the embodiment, the first response is a packet of data stating “OK.” The four call and cancel demands can be other quantity in other embodiment. 
         [0030]    In block S 704 , when the first response has been received, the determining module  104  transmits a second signal to the IP phone  20  to confirmation that the IP phone  20  has capabilities and has successfully enabled call forwarding mode. The determining module  104  will receive a second response which is sent by the IP phone  20  when the IP phone  20  has capabilities and has successfully enabled call forwarding mode. In the embodiment, the second response from the IP phone  20  is also data packet indicating “OK.” 
         [0031]    In the present embodiment, the second signal is multi-frequency tone which carries a security key, and the security key is used to determine whether or not the IP phone  20  permits call forwarding being set by the IP phone  10 . In the present embodiment, the IP phone  20  will set a secret key, if the security key which is carried by the second signal matches the secret key, the IP phone  20  will permit call forwarding being set by the IP phone  10 , otherwise the IP phone  20  will not permit such call forwarding. In the present embodiment, the security key carried in the second signal matches the secret key.  FIG. 5  shows the transmitting of the second signal. In the present embodiment, the security key is 1111. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the IP phone  10  transmits the second signal to the CM  40 , the CM  40  transfers the second signal to the IP phone  20 , the IP phone  20  will then determine whether or not the IP phone  20  permits call forwarding being set by the IP phone  10  based on the secret key being matched by the security key in the second signal. In other embodiment, the user can set any preferred security key. 
         [0032]    In block S 706 , after the IP phone  20  has sent the second “OK” response to IP phone  10  indicating that IP phone  20  permits call forwarding to be set remotely, then the IP phone  10  will call the IP phone  20  again and transmit a third signal to IP phone  20  so that the IP phone  20  completes the call forwarding configuration. 
         [0033]    In the present embodiment, the third signal is also multi-frequency tone which carries the phone number of the IP phone  10 . In the embodiment, if the IP phone  20  is otherwise able to forward the incoming call to the IP phone  10 , the IP phone  20  must be aware of the phone number of the IP phone  10 .  FIG. 6  shows the transmitting of the third signal. The third signal carrying the phone number of the IP phone  10  is sent to the CM  40 , and the CM  40  transfers the third signal to the IP phone  20 , thus the IP phone  20  will receive the phone number of the IP phone  10  so that the IP phone  20  can actually carry out call forwarding from the IP phone  20  to the IP phone  10 . In the embodiment, the phone number of the IP phone  10  is 7777. 
         [0034]    While various embodiments and methods have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by the above-described embodiments, and should be at least commensurate with the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7