Method, system and apparatus for handling a call received at a mobile communication device

1. A method for handling a call received at a mobile communication device, in association with an automated number identification (ANI) number, said method implementable at said mobile communication device, said method comprising:

comparing said ANI number with a list of ANI numbers associated with an applications server, said list stored at said mobile communication device;

when said ANI number is not in said list, providing a tone on said call; and,

when a corresponding tone is detected on said call in response to said tone, handling said call as a call associated with said applications server and otherwise handling said call as a mobile communication call from a communication device;

wherein said handling said call as a call associated with said applications server comprises enabling an applications client at said mobile communication device to provide services available via said applications server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said providing said tone is initiated only when said mobile communication device is in a verification mode.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said mobile communication device enters said verification mode when said mobile communication device is roaming outside of a home communication network, and wherein said mobile communication device exits said verification mode when said mobile communication device is next in direct communication with said home communication network.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said mobile communication device enters said verification mode upon receiving a message from said applications server, said message for triggering said mobile communication device to enter said verification mode.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said mobile communication device exits said verification mode upon receiving a message from said applications server, said message for triggering said mobile communication device to exit said verification mode.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said mobile communication device enters said verification mode upon receiving input data from an input device, said input data indicative that said mobile communication device is to be placed in said verification mode.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein said mobile communication device exits said verification mode upon receiving input data from an input device, said input data indicative that said mobile communication device is to exit said verification mode.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said applications server is enabled to: determine that said tone has been provided; and cause said corresponding tone to be provided.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said applications server determines that said tone has been provided by receiving a message from a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) where said tone is detected, and causes said corresponding tone to be provided by transmitting a message to said PBX to trigger said PBX to provide said corresponding tone.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said tone and said corresponding tone comprises a DTMF (Dual-tone multi-frequency) tone.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tone and said corresponding tone are similar.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tone and said corresponding tone are different.

13. A mobile communication device for handling a call received in association with an automated number identification (ANI) number, said mobile communication device comprising:

a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a communication interface, said processing unit enabled to:

compare said ANI number with a list of ANI numbers associated with an applications server, said list stored at said memory device;

when said ANI number is not in said list, provide a tone on said call via said communication interface; and

when a corresponding tone is detected on said call in response to said tone, handle said call as a call associated with said applications server and otherwise handle said call as a mobile communication call from a communication device;

wherein said processing unit is further enabled to handle said call as a call associated with said applications server by enabling an applications client at said mobile communication device to provide services available via said applications server.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein said processing unit is further enabled to initiate providing said tone only when said mobile communication device is in a verification mode.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein said processing unit is further enabled to cause said mobile communication device to enter said verification mode when said processing unit determines that said mobile communication device is roaming outside of a home communication network, and wherein said processing unit is further enabled to cause said mobile communication device to exit said verification mode when said processing unit determines that said mobile communication device is next in communication with said home communication network.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein said processing unit is further enabled to cause said mobile communication device to enter said verification mode upon receiving a message from said applications server via said communication interface, said message for triggering said mobile communication device to enter said verification mode.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein said processing unit is further enabled to cause said mobile communication device to exit said verification mode upon receiving a message from said applications server, said message for triggering said mobile communication device to exit said verification mode.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein said processing unit is further enabled to cause said mobile communication device to enter said verification mode upon receiving input data from an input device, said input data indicative that said mobile communication device is to be placed in said verification mode.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein said processing unit is further enabled to cause said mobile communication device to exit said verification mode upon receiving input data from an input device, said input data indicative that said mobile communication device is to exit said verification mode.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein each of said tone and said corresponding tone comprises a DTMF (Dual-tone multi-frequency) tone.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein said tone and said corresponding tone are similar.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein said tone and said corresponding tone are different.

23. A method for verifying a call to a mobile communication device, said call associated with an automated number identification (ANI) number which is in turn associated with an applications server, said method implementable at said applications server, said method comprising:

determining that a tone has been provided by said mobile communication device on said call, said tone for indicating that said mobile communication device is seeking verification that said call is associated with said applications server; and, in response,

causing a corresponding tone to be provided on said call to trigger said mobile communication device to handle said call as a call associated with said applications server;

wherein to handle said call as a call associated with said applications server comprises enabling an applications client at said mobile communication device to provide services available via said applications server.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said determining that a tone has been provided comprises: receiving a message from a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) where said tone is detected; and wherein causing said corresponding tone to be provided comprises transmitting a message to said PBX to trigger said PBX to provide said corresponding tone.

25. An application server for verifying a call to a mobile communication device, said call associated with an automated number identification (ANI) number which is in turn associated with said applications server, said applications server comprising:

a processing unit interconnected with a communication interface, said processing unit enabled to:

determine that a tone has been provided by said mobile communication device on said call, said tone for indicating that said mobile communication device is seeking verification that said call is associated with said applications server; and, in response,

cause a corresponding tone to be provided on said call to trigger said mobile communication device to handle said call as a call associated with said applications server;

wherein to handle said call as a call associated with said applications server comprises enabling an applications client at said mobile communication device to provide services available via said applications server.

26. The server of claim 25 , wherein said processing unit is further enabled to determine that a tone has been provided by receiving a message from a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) where said tone is detected; and wherein said processing unit is further enabled to cause said corresponding tone to be provided by transmitting a message to said PBX to trigger said PBX to provide said corresponding tone.

27. A system for handling a call associated with an automated number identification (ANI) number, said system comprising:

an applications server enabled to:

provide services to mobile communication devices, said ANI number associated with said applications server;

determine that a tone has been provided by at least one of said mobile communication device on said call, said tone for indicating that said at least one of said mobile communication devices is seeking verification that said call is associated with said applications server; and, in response,

cause a corresponding tone to be provided on said call to trigger said at least one of said mobile communication device to handle said call as a call associated with said applications server; and

at least one mobile communication device in communication with said applications server, said at least one mobile communication device enabled to:

compare said ANI number with a list of ANI numbers associated with said applications server, said list stored at said at least one mobile communication device;

when said ANI number is not in said list, provide said tone on said call; and,

when said corresponding tone is detected on said call in response to said tone, handle said call as a call associated with said applications server and otherwise handle said call as a mobile communication call from communication device;

wherein handle said call as a call associated with said applications server comprises enabling an applications client at said mobile communication device to provide services available via said applications server.

28. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code configured to be executed to implement a method for handling a call received at a mobile communication device, in association with an automated number identification (ANI) number, said method implementable at said mobile communication device, said method comprising:

comparing said ANI number with a list of ANI numbers associated with an applications server, said list stored at said mobile communication device;

when said ANI number is not in said list, providing a tone on said call; and,

when a corresponding tone is detected on said call in response to said tone, handling said call as a call associated with said applications server and otherwise handling said call as a mobile communication call from a communication device;

wherein handling said call as a call associated with said applications server comprises enabling an applications client at said mobile communication device to provide services available via said applications server.

29. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code configured to be executed to implement a method for verifying a call to a mobile communication device, said call associated with an automated number identification (ANI) number which is in turn associated with an applications server, said method implementable at said applications server, said method comprising:

determining that a tone has been provided by said mobile communication device on said call, said tone for indicating that said mobile communication device is seeking verification that said call is associated with said applications server; and, in response,

causing a corresponding tone to be provided on said call to trigger said mobile communication device to handle said call as a call associated with said applications server;

wherein to handle said call as a call associated with said applications server comprises enabling an applications client at said mobile communication device to provide services available via said applications server.