Methods and systems for touch-free call handling

摘要

A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for handling incoming calls destined for a called party. The method comprises detecting arrival of an incoming call destined for the called party and attempting to reach the called party by causing a communication device associated with the called party to emit a voice message soliciting a spoken call handling command from the called party. This allows the called party not only to recognize the calling party, but also to decide whether to accept, reject or forward the incoming call without having to physically manipulate the communication device. The network-based example of implementation is compatible with many existing communication devices and has the ability to query the calling party for identification information, whereas the communication device-based example of implementation is compatible with many existing network architectures, and does not require the called party to subscribe to any particular network service.

主权项

1. A method of handling incoming calls destined for a called party, the called party being associated with a communication device, said method being implemented by a network entity connected to the communication device via a communications network, said method comprising:
detecting arrival of an incoming call destined for the called party; attempting to reach the called party by sending a signal to the communication device over the communications network to cause the communication device to emit a voice message soliciting a spoken call handling command from the called party; receiving a signal from the communication device; and at the network entity, determining, based on the signal received from the communication device, whether a spoken call handling command has been uttered at the communication device before the call being answered by the called party.