Patent Abstract:
A PBX can receive a call for a mobile device, and can send a message over a data channel to the mobile device indicating such. The mobile device can open a voice channel for the call. The mobile device inspects information about the call, such as calling party information, and using historical information, such as statistics relating to acceptance of calls from that calling party to predict whether a user of the mobile device is likely to answer the call or not. If the mobile device predicts that the user is probably going to answer the call, then the mobile device begins establishing the voice channel before the user answers the call (e.g., by accepting through the user interface). However, if the mobile device predicts that the user is not going to answer the call, then the mobile device waits until the user actually answers the call to begin establishing the voice channel.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    The following relates to mobile telephony, and more particularly to optimization of calls that are terminated or initiated by mobile devices. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Although much emphasis has been placed, of late, on providing data communication capabilities on mobile phones, voice services and voice communications remain an important feature to be made available on mobile devices. 
         [0005]    Mobile devices in many cases continue to be tariffed differently than PSTN-based devices. For example, a mobile device may accrue charges for outgoing calls (e.g., minutes for outgoing calls will be counted against an allocation), while incoming calls do not accrue such charges. Other aspects of a user experience of voice calling on mobile devices include how much delay there is in call establishment. It would be beneficial to continue to improve such user experiences and tailor mobile device voice telephony usage to reduce unnecessary charges. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts an example system view in which aspects described herein can be practiced; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts an example mobile device view in which aspects described herein can be practiced; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts a schematic example of a switching network that can implement voice channels, which can be used for voice calls, according to the description herein; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts an example method; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 5-9  depict example methods which can be used for call acceptance prediction, as depicted in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 10  depicts a method of maintaining information to be used in call acceptance prediction; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 11  depicts an example composition of a mobile device, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The following description provides examples and other disclosure, which teach those of ordinary skill in the art how to practice implementations of inventive aspects described herein. As such, the description is not limiting, but rather is exemplary. 
         [0014]    For convenience, in this description, the terms “mobile phone” and “mobile communications device” generally can be used to refer to any portable or mobile network-enabled device that has capabilities to send and receive voice calls and may also be able to send and receive data, such as data generated by web browsing, e-mail, SMS, instant messaging, and the like. As will become clear, a variety of devices in a variety of form factors can meet such a definition, including, for example, phones, smartphones, laptops configured with appropriate network connections and user input devices, tablet computers, navigation devices embedded in automobiles, and netbooks. 
         [0015]    In one example, aspects of this description relate to optimization of mobile terminated/mobile initiated (MTMI) calls. In one system architecture, a system (e.g., a server) can function as a Private Branch eXchange (PBX) for mobile devices, and provide functions such as call forwarding to mobile devices. In one example, the system can receive a call that is to be forwarded to a mobile device. The system can signal, over a data channel to the mobile device, that the system has a call to be forwarded to the mobile device. The mobile device can respond by beginning to initiate a voice channel before the user of the mobile device has indicated that the call is to be accepted (an early call). Alternatively, the mobile device can begin initiation of the voice channel responsive to the user indicating that the call is to be accepted (a late call). In the former case, a delay perceived by the user will be shorter, or possibly even zero. However, the former case also can incur fees and charges, even if the user ignores or rejects the call. 
         [0016]    Devices may be pre-configured to perform either early or late calls. However, further optimizations may be available. In one example, information about the calling party (i.e., the party that called the PBX, or more generally, any entity that can receive such calls) and prior history of how the user responded to calls from that party is used to predict whether the user will answer the call. If the prediction is that the user will answer the call, then an early call strategy is used. If the prediction is that the user will not answer the call, a late call strategy is used. A variety of example approaches to making such predictions will be described below. 
         [0017]    In the above manner, these aspects can improve user experience, by reducing call setup delay, while avoiding increased costs of early call setup in situations where the user may ultimately not want to have the call established at all. 
         [0018]    In a more-specific example,  FIG. 1  depicts a system architecture  100  in which a data and voice-enabled mobile device  107  can operate. A Radio Access Network (RAN)  105  provides broadband wireless access to device  107 . RAN  105  communicates wirelessly with device  107 , and connects device  107  via a circuit  122  with a voice-quality network channel  103 . Voice-quality network  103  can serve as a bearer channel for voice calls in which mobile device  107  participates, and can comprise portions of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). 
         [0019]    RAN  105  also can connect through an IP link  124  to private network(s)  112  and through an IP link  126  to public network(s)  111 . Usage of IP is exemplary and other addressing systems can be provided. For example, private networks  112  can use X.25 addressing and also can be implemented using Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology to carry data over public networks  111 . 
         [0020]    Mobile device  107  also can have an interface for communication using local area wireless network technologies, such as 802.11 series technologies. When using such technologies for communication, mobile device  107  typically interfaces with a wireless LAN access point  114 , which can communicate over public network(s)  111 , such as through a router (not depicted). Communications on this medium also can be addressed using IP, as depicted by labeling the link IP link  128 . 
         [0021]    Each voice call in which mobile device  107  participates can be terminated at the PBX, or the device  107 . A router  119  can communicate with a firewall  115 . Firewall  115  can directly communicate to and receive communication from public network(s)  111  and private network(s)  112  that originate from PBX  118 , or which otherwise involve signaling concerning voice calls that travels over the data network (such as the data network elements depicted in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  also depicts the existence of other networks  193  and other devices  192 , which can call into PBX  118 . The existence of such other devices  192  is for setting context that PBX  118  may be getting any number of incoming voice calls at a given time. For example, a larger PBX, for a company or company site with several thousand employees would be expected to have a large number of calls incoming to the PBX in any given period of time. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is depicted an example of mobile device  107 . Mobile device  107  comprises a display  212  and the cursor or view positioning device  214 , shown in this implementation as a trackball  214 , which may serve as another input member and is both rotational to provide selection inputs and can also be pressed in a direction generally toward housing to provide another selection input. Trackball  214  permits multi-directional positioning of a selection cursor  218 , such that the selection cursor  218  can be moved in an upward direction, in a downward direction and, if desired and/or permitted, in any diagonal direction. The trackball  214  is in this example situated on a front face (not separately numbered) of a housing, to enable a user to manoeuvre the trackball  214  while holding mobile device  107  in one hand. 
         [0024]    The display  212  may provide that selection cursor  218  depicts generally where the next input or selection will be received. The selection cursor  218  may comprise a box, alteration of an icon or any combination of features that enable the user to identify the currently chosen icon or item. The mobile device  107  in  FIG. 2  also comprises a programmable convenience button  215  to activate a selected application such as, for example, a calendar or calculator. Further, mobile device  107  can include an escape or cancel button  216 , a camera button  217 , a menu or option button  224  and a keyboard  220 . Camera button  217  is able to activate photo-capturing functions when pressed preferably in the direction towards the housing. Menu or option button  224  loads a menu or list of options on display  212  when pressed. In this example, the escape or cancel button  216 , menu option button  224 , and keyboard  220  are disposed on the front face of the mobile device housing, while the convenience button  215  and camera button  217  are disposed at the side of the housing. This button placement enables a user to operate these buttons while holding mobile device  107  in one hand. The keyboard  220  is, in this example, a standard QWERTY keyboard. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts a simplified example of how a voice channel may be setup, over the voice network  103  depicted in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  depicts that voice network  103  may comprise a number of switches (e.g., SS7 switches  192   a - f ), which, based on signaling, can be used to establish a circuit between an ingress point and an egress point from network  103 . As depicted, a selection of the switches, such as SS7 switches  192   b,    192   c  and  192   e  are used in making circuit  122 . The selection of appropriate switches, allocation of resources at those switches, and the establishment of connections among the switches can take time, which can result in a perceived delay to begin using the circuit  122  for voice communication. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  depicts a method in which a predictive setup of such a voice channel is begun for a call incoming to a mobile device, before there has been an actual disposition of the incoming call (e.g., an ignore or answer disposition). In particular,  FIG. 4  depicts that an indication of an available incoming call destined for a mobile device is received ( 402 ). For example, when PBX  118  has received a call (an “incoming call”) to be forwarded to mobile device  107 , PBX  118  can arrange for an indication of such incoming call to be sent to device  107  over a data channel, such as through router  119  and over any of the networks depicted in  FIG. 1  (such as public network  111  or private network  112 ). 
         [0027]    Information about the incoming call is accessed ( 404 ). For example, ANI or caller-ID information, which identifies a calling party placing the incoming call, can be accessed. This data can be presented over a data channel that signaled the availability of the call. 
         [0028]    Information about history of call disposition is then accessed ( 406 ). Such information can include information about a number of calls that have been placed by the calling party to the mobile device, a number of calls from the calling party that have been answered at the mobile device, a number of calls in total that have been placed to the mobile device, and a number of calls in total that have been answered at the mobile device, for example. Based on this stored information and the calling party information, a prediction ( 408 ) whether the user at the mobile device is likely to answer the incoming call is made. Further aspects of such prediction are described with respect to  FIGS. 5-9 ; however, by way of brief example, if a ratio of the calls answered versus the total number of calls incoming from the calling party is low (i.e., the user rarely answers the phone when this calling party calls), then the prediction would be that the user will not answer the phone at this time. 
         [0029]    Based on the prediction, a decision ( 410 ) is made as to whether to begin establishing ( 412 ) a voice channel to be used for the voice call or not. In particular, if the user was predicted to answer, then the voice channel establishment will be started. Otherwise,  FIG. 4  depicts that the method will await a disposition of the call by the user. Such disposition, in this example, can comprise a determination whether the user has answered ( 420 ) the call, and if so, then voice channel establishment can begin ( 423 ). If the user has not yet answered, then a decision can be made as to whether the user selected to ignore/reject ( 421 ) the call. If the user rejected the call, then the method can stop ( 418 ), or take another suitable action. A timeout decision ( 422 ) can be made, which in the occurrence of a timeout, can also cause the method to stop ( 418 ). Otherwise, a loop to again determine whether user has answered ( 420 ) can be provided. 
         [0030]    Returning to the response to predicting that the user will answer ( 408 ,  410 ,  412 ), the method also can check whether the call has been answered ( 414 ), and if so, then the call can proceed ( 416 ). If the call has been rejected/ignored ( 470 ) or there was a timeout ( 472 ), then the voice channel which was begun can be torn down ( 471 ). Otherwise, there can be a loop to again determine whether user has answered ( 414 ). 
         [0031]    The method of  FIG. 4  depicts an example approach to implementing the predictive aspects disclosed herein. A logically equivalent method may be provided by those of ordinary skill in the art that would differ from an order or arrangement of the elements depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0032]    The methods depicted in  FIGS. 5-9  relate to more specific examples of how call disposition predictions can be made. These examples also are by way of explanation, rather than limitation, as those of ordinary skill in the art would be able to provide other call disposition predictive mechanisms based on these disclosures. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  depicts that one approach to call disposition prediction can include accessing ( 502 ), such as from a memory, data representative of a number of times that calls from the calling party were answered, and predicting ( 504 ) whether the user will answer based on such number. For example, if there were prior calls from the calling party, but none were answered, then the prediction can be that the user will not answer this call either. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  depicts that another method can involve accessing a number of times that the calling party has called ( 506 ), accessing a number of times that the user answered when the calling party called ( 508 ), producing a ratio between the answers and the total ( 510 ) and predicting ( 512 ) whether the user will answer the call based on the ratio. For example, if the ratio indicates that more than half of the calls were answered, then this call will be predicted to be answered. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  depicts another prediction method, in which stored information concerning a number of times calls from the calling party were answered can be accessed ( 518 ). Other information that can be accessed ( 520 ) relates to a number of times, in total, that the user answered the phone. A ratio between the number of calls answered from the calling party to the total number of answered calls can be produced ( 522 ), and a prediction is made ( 524 ) based on that ratio. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  depicts another prediction method in which a number of times that calls were answered is accessed ( 514 ); a number of incoming calls in total is accessed ( 516 ), a ratio between such total number of calls answered and number of incoming calls in total is produced ( 525 ), and a prediction made based on that ratio ( 527 ). 
         [0037]    Each of the above ratios, and more generally, the comparisons between the data elements described, can be viewed as a statistic that can be used in predicting whether the user will answer the phone for a given incoming call.  FIG. 9  depicts that multiple such statistics can be used in forming such a prediction. 
         [0038]    In particular,  FIG. 9  depicts that a statistics  1  . . . n can be produced (steps  530 ,  532 , and  534 ) and those statistics can be used in making a prediction ( 536 ) about whether the call will be answered. For example, each of the ratios described with respect to  FIGS. 6-8  can be a statistic used in the method of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 10  depicts that the data that can be used in producing the statistics or otherwise making the predictions described with respect to  FIGS. 4-9  can be gathered and maintained. In particular, a number of incoming calls can be updated ( 554 ), and a number of calls from the calling party can be updated ( 558 ), regardless of disposition of the incoming call. If the call was answered, then a total number of calls answered can be updated ( 552 ), as can a total number of calls answered from the calling party ( 556 ). These updated numbers can then be used for predictive purposes during for future incoming calls. The data can be stored as raw numbers, or some of the ratios described can be precomputed and stored. Still further, the prediction can be made in advance based on the data, and the prediction stored. For example, a flag can be stored with identifying information for a particular calling party that indicates to answer or ignore the next call from this particular calling party. Such data can be stored on the mobile device, in the network, on PBX  118 , or in another suitable location. 
         [0040]      FIG. 11  depicts an example composition of a device which can perform the method aspects described above in processing resources, as well as store, or otherwise have access to a computer readable medium that stores code for configuring processing resources to perform such methods. 
         [0041]    By particular example,  FIG. 11  depicts that device  107  can be provided with components as follows. Device  107  can have a variety of components by which user input can be received, including a camera  825 , a keyboard  827 , a touch screen  829 , and a microphone  831  that can be used for speech recognition, for example (collectively, input sources  816 ). These ways of receiving user input can be processed and ultimately coupled with processing resource  819  that can be comprised of a plurality of components, such as a programmable processor  845 , one or more ASICs  847 , as well as other co-processors  849 . For example, an ASIC or co-processor may be provided for implementing graphics functionality, encryption and decryption, audio filtering, and other such functions that often involve many repetitive, math-intensive steps. Processing resource  819  also may interface with one or more network interfaces  817 , each of which may be comprised of one or more Media Access Controllers (MACs)  851 , which in turn interface with physical layers  853 . 
         [0042]    Processing resource  819  also may interface with a memory resource  818  which may be comprised of a plurality of memories, including a RAM  855 , and a non-volatile memory  857 , which can be implemented with one or more of Flash memory, PROM, EPROM, and so on. Non-volatile memory  857  can be implemented as flash memory, ferromagnetic, phase-change memory, and other non-volatile memory technologies. Non-volatile memory  857  also can store programs, device state, various user information, one or more operating systems, device configuration data, and other data that may need to be accessed persistently. Such memory  818  can be used for storing the call history, statistics, and/or flags, which were described with respect to the method aspects above. 
         [0043]    Processing resource  819  also may interface with user output  820  components, which can include a display  841 , as well as a speaker  843 , which can be used for text to speech or for performing audio, more generally. 
         [0044]    A battery interface  888  interfaces a battery  889  with processing resource  819 . Battery interface  888  can provide battery status updates and manage recharging of the battery, for example. Processing resource  819  also can couple, through an interface  890 , with a SIM/RUIM/USIM  891 , to enable communication over protocols that would use each. 
         [0045]    Aspects described above can be implemented as computer executable code modules that can be stored on computer readable media, read by one or more processors, and executed thereon. Such computer readable media can be read by such processors over a network, which can be implemented using wired and wireless network technologies. In addition, separate boxes or illustrated separation of functional elements of illustrated systems does not necessarily require physical separation of such functions, as communications between such elements can occur by way of messaging, function calls, shared memory space, and so on, without any such physical separation. 
         [0046]    Although certain disclosures were provided with respect to certain portions of the figures and in certain examples, the structures or functions disclosed therein can be used or adapted for use with the structures or functions disclosed with respect to other portions of the disclosures and figures. More generally, a person of ordinary skill would be able to adapt these disclosures to implementations of any of a variety of communication devices. Similarly, a person of ordinary skill would be able to use these disclosures to produce implementations on different physical platforms or form factors without deviating from the scope of the claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7