APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR PROVIDING SUPPORT-CALL DATA PURSUANT TO A WIRELESS DEVICE SUPPORT CALL
An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates communication of mobile-station data to a support center so that a support issue related to the mobile station can best be addressed by the support-center personnel. A user of the mobile station initiates a call to the support center, and a voice connection is formed between the mobile station and the support center. A support-call data signal generator generates a data signal containing support-call data. The data signal is sent, in-band on a voice channel defined by the voice connection and delivered to the support center. The data is used at the support center to respond to the support issue or inquiry.
1 . An apparatus for facilitating communication of support-call data by a wireless device pursuant to a support call, said apparatus comprising:
a support-call data signal generator configured to generate a data signal containing the support-call data; and
a data signal sender configured to send the data signal generated by said data signal sender during the support call.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an initiator configured to initiate the communication of the support-call data.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said initiator comprises a user actuator.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said user actuator comprises an user-interactive menu display.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support-call data signal generator is configured to generate audio tones.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal support-call data signal generator is configured to generate inaudible digital-formatted signal values.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support-call data signal generator is configured to generate an in-band data signal.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data signal sender is configured to send the data signal-in-band with a voice connection formed pursuant to the support call.
9 . An apparatus for facilitating wireless-device support pursuant to a support call placed to a support center, said apparatus comprising:
a data signal receiver configured to receive a wireless-device-sent data signal that contains support-call data, the wireless-device-sent data signal sent during the support call; and
a data converter configured to convert the support-call data contained in the wireless-device-sent data signal received by said data signal receiver, into a form usable by the support center during the support call.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a data displayer configured to display the support-call data once converted by said data converter.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a display populator configured to populate a screen display provided by said data displayer with the support-call data.
12 . The method of claim 9 wherein the wireless-device-sent data signal received by said data signal receiver comprises a wireless-device-initiated data signal.
13 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless-device-sent data signal comprises audio tones.
14 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless-device-sent data signal comprises digital-formatted signal values.
15 . A method for facilitating communication of support-call data by a wireless device pursuant to a support call, said method comprising:
generating a data signal containing the support-call data; and
sending the data signal, generated during said generating the data signal, during the support call.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the data signal generated during said generating comprises a wireless-device-initiated data signal.
17 . The method of claim 15 wherein said sending comprises sending the data signal in-band with a voice connection during the support call.
18 . A method for facilitating wireless-device support pursuant to a support call placed to a support center, said method comprising:
receiving a wireless-device-sent data signal that contains support-call data, the wireless-device-sent data signal sent data signal sent during the support call; and
converting the support-call data contained in the wireless-device-sent data signal received during said receiving into a form usable by the support center during the support call.
19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising displaying the support-call data at the support center.
20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising populating a screen display with the support-call data.