IP Library Patent Application 13966814
Patent Application
App. No. 13/966,814

URGENT CALL-BACK FEATURE THAT LOCKS-OUT NON-URGENT CALLS

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/966,814
Abstract

A method includes receiving input from a user of a first communication device, the input identifying a second communication device and initiating a call to the second communication device. Further input is received from the user of the first communication device indicating that an incoming call from the identified second communication device is an urgent call. In response to receiving the further input from the user of the first communication device, any incoming call that is not identified as an urgent call is blocked.

Claims (21)

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving input from a user of a first communication device identifying a second communication device and initiating a call to the second communication device;

receiving further input from the user of the first communication device indicating that an incoming call from the identified second communication device is an urgent call; and

in response to receiving the further input from the user of the first communication device, blocking any incoming call that is not identified as an urgent call.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

maintaining a log of incoming calls that have been blocked.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

preventing the first communication device from generating a ring tone for incoming calls that have been blocked.

4 . The computer program product of claim 1 , further comprising:

computer readable program code for automatically indicating that an incoming call from any communication device having an identification correlated with the identification of the identified second communication device is an urgent call.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to receiving the further input from the first user, automatically assigning an urgent ring tone to be used in the event of the first communication device receiving an incoming call identified as an urgent call, wherein the urgent ring tone is different than other ring tones used by the first communication device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the second communication device not answering the call, prompting the user of the first communication device for input indicating whether an incoming call from the identified second communication device should be identified as urgent or not urgent.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the first user using the first communication device to leave a message for the second communication device, prompting the user for input indicating whether an incoming call from the identified second communication device should be identified as urgent or not urgent.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing an identification of the second communication device in an urgent call list.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after expiration of a timeout period since the first communication device received the further input, automatically indicating that an incoming call from the second communication device is not urgent.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the further input is an alert code input into a keypad of the first communication device after initiating the call to the second communication device and prior to the first communication device initiating a subsequent call to another communication device.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0353 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2013
From: MORRIS, JOHN C
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031096/0735 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2013
From: MORRIS, JOHN C.; QUINN, MARGARET M.; SUFFERN, EDWARD S.; WEAVER, LAURA A.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031009/0545 →