RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Applications 62/443,716 filed on January 08, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] Embodiments of the disclosure relate to telephone communication.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Cellular telephone use continues to increase, with cellular telephones replacing landlines and becoming a person's primary telephone. As the cellular telephone is the primary telephone, it is essential to know the status and history of calls, so that they can be returned, and followed up on. In conventional cellular telephones, for both outbound (placed) calls and inbound (received) calls, the screen displays: an indication of the call (outbound or inbound), the caller identification, telephone number and time of the call. The same holds true for missed calls. A party initiating a phone call may be referred to as a "caller", and a party being called may be referred to as a "recipient". The phone initiating the call may be referred to as a "caller phone" or a "calling phone" and the phone receiving the call may be referred to as a "recipient phone".

SUMMARY

[0004] An aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure relates to providing methods and systems which, after a recipient misses and fails to answer a phone call from a caller, the caller is notified when the recipient phone registers an action (which may be referred to herein as a "recipient awareness action") by the recipient that indicates awareness of the missed phone call.

[0005] A method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure comprises: alerting a caller if a recipient phone registers an action by a recipient that indicates awareness of a previously missed phone call from the caller to the recipient. [0006] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the alerting of the caller is performed by the caller phone or a device operatively connected to the caller phone.

[0007] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the recipient action is an action registered by a sensor comprised in or operatively connected to the recipient phone that is coincident with and/or responsive to a presentation by the recipient phone of a notification of the missed call. The sensor optionally comprises one or more than one of: a touch screen, a mouse or trackpad, a camera, a microphone and a keyboard. Optionally, the recipient awareness action comprises manipulating the recipient phone responsive to or coincident with a notification of the missed call generated by the recipient phone, optionally on a display of the recipient phone. Additionally or alternatively, the recipient awareness action comprises opening a call log of the recipient phone such that an entry of the call log corresponding to the missed call is displayed. Additionally or alternatively, the recipient awareness action comprises manipulating the entry of the call log corresponding to the missed call.

[0008] In an embodiment of the disclosure, alerting the caller comprises displaying a first indicator responsive to the recipient phone registering the recipient awareness action. Optionally, the first indicator is a visual indicator optionally selected from an illumination of an indicator light comprised in the recipient phone, and/or an appearance or modification of an icon shown on a display screen of the recipient phone. Additionally or alternatively, the first indicator comprises producing a sound responsive to the recipient phone registering the recipient action.

[0009] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the method comprises alerting the caller if the missed phone call successfully reached the recipient phone. Optionally, alerting the caller comprises displaying a second indicator responsive to the recipient phone registering a successful receipt of the missed phone call. Optionally, the second indicator is a visual indicator optionally selected from an illumination of an indicator light comprised in the recipient phone, and/or an appearance or a modification of an icon shown on a display screen of the recipient phone. Additionally or alternatively, alerting the caller comprises producing a sound responsive to the recipient phone registering successful receipt of the missed phone call. The successful receipt of the missed phone call optionally comprises entry of the missed call into the recipient phone's call log and/or a generation of a missed call notification by the recipient phone. [0010] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the recipient and/or caller phone may be a phone application on a computer device, which may optionally be a mobile phone, smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer or a desktop computer.

[0011] In the discussion, unless otherwise stated, adjectives such as "substantially" and "about" modifying a condition or relationship characteristic of a feature or features of an embodiment of the disclosure, are understood to mean that the condition or characteristic is defined to within tolerances that are acceptable for operation of the embodiment for an application for which it is intended. Unless otherwise indicated, the word "or" in the description and claims is considered to be the inclusive "or" rather than the exclusive or, and indicates at least one of, or any combination of items it conjoins.

[0012] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0013] Non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to figures attached hereto that are listed following this paragraph. Identical features that appear in more than one figure are generally labeled with a same label in all the figures in which they appear. A label labeling an icon representing a given feature of an embodiment of the disclosure in a figure may be used to reference the given feature. Dimensions of features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale.

[0014] FIG.l is a diagram of an exemplary environment on which embodiments of the disclosure are operable;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a server used in performing embodiments of the disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3A is a flow diagram of a process in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, as performed by the disclosed system; [0017] FIG. 3B is a flow diagram of a process in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, as performed by the caller phone; and

[0018] FIGs. 4A-4D are diagrams of phone display screens in accordance with the flow diagram of FIGs. 3 A and 3B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary environment in which embodiments of the present invention may be operable. There is a network 100, to which servers 102, 122 are linked. Network 100 is, by way of example, a communications network, and is, optionally, a combination of networks 100a-100n ("n" representing the last element in a series) and/or multiple networks including, for example, cellular networks, and wide area networks, including public networks such as the Internet. "Linked" as used herein includes both wired or wireless links, either direct or indirect, and placing the computers, including, servers, machines, computer components and the like, in electronic and/or data communications with each other.

[0020] Server 102 is associated with the cellular carrier of the cell phone 110 which is, via cellular tower 112, initiating the call (making the outbound call) to a recipient cell phone 120a. "Cellular telephone", "cell phone", "mobile phone", and "smart phone" are used interchangeably herein, and include mobile devices such as mobile computers and mobile computing devices, which link to networks, which are commonly used as telephones, as well as tablets, laptop and desktop computers. Recipient cell phone 120a is, for example, affiliated with another carrier (different from the carrier of server 102), represented by server 122. Server 122 provides call receiving and routing functions, for the carrier with which it is affiliated. Both servers 102, 122 are shown as single servers for representative purposes only, as they can be a plurality of servers, computers, machines, computer components and the like.

[0021] Cell phone 120a of Alex Reed is associated with a cellular tower 131, linked to network 100. Cell phone 120b of Blake Bordel is associated with a cellular tower 132, linked to network 100. Cell phone 120c of Carson Palm is associated with a cellular tower 133, linked to network 100. Cell phone 120d of Dak Garrett is associated with a cellular tower 134, linked to network 100. Cell phone 120e of Earl Shula is associated with a cellular tower 135, linked to network 100. As the servers of the carriers associated with cell phones 120b-120e function similarly to those of server 122, these servers are not shown.

[0022] Attention is now directed to FIG. 2, which shows the architecture of a system 102' of server 102. This architecture of system 102', a central processing unit (CPU) 202 formed of one or more processors, electronically connected, including in electronic and/or data communication with storage/memory 204, RAM (Random Access Memory)/storage media 206, a communications module 208, a call receiving module 210, a call routing module 212, a network monitoring-call at recipient phone detecting module 214, a network monitoring-notification displayed detected module 216. RAM 206 and modules 208-218, render server 102 and its system 102' as a special purpose computer.

[0023] Central Processing Unit (CPU) 202 is formed of one or more processors, including microprocessors, for performing server 102 and system 102' functions and operations detailed herein, including controlling RAM 206 and other modules 208-218, along with the processes and subprocesses shown in FIGs. 3A-3B and 4A-4D, as detailed below. The processors are, for example, conventional processors, such as those used in servers, computers, and other computerized devices. For example, the processors may include x86 Processors from AMD® and Intel®, Xenon® and Pentium® processors from Intel, as well as any combinations thereof.

[0024] Storage/memory 204 comprises any conventional storage media. Storage/memory 204 stores machine executable instructions for execution by CPU 202, to perform the processes of the invention. Storage/memory 204 also, by way of example, stores rules and policies for system 102' and server 102. The processors of CPU 202 and storage/memory 204, although shown as a single component for representative purposes, may be multiple components, and may be outside of server 102 and/or system 102', and linked to network(s) 100.

[0025] The RAM 206 stores data, metadata and the like, associated with the processes performed by system 102'.

[0026] The communications module 208 handles messaging and indications to and from calling phone 110, as well as other calling phones associated with the carrier of server 102. [0027] Call receiving module 210 functions to handle all calls received from cell phones (e.g., outbound calls), which are affiliated with a carrier of server 102, such as cell phone 110 of the caller (CA). Module 210 also receives calls routed to cell phones for this carrier, to which server 102 is affiliated.

[0028] Call routing module 212 routes the all received calls, both outbound and inbound, to their intended destinations. For example, if the caller (CA) at cell phone 110 calls Alex Reid, at cell phone 120a, the call is routed from the server 102 to server 122, the server affiliated with cell phone's 120a (Alex Reid) carrier. Similarly, if Alex Reid at cell phone 120a calls cell phone 110 of the caller, for example, caller CA (FIG. 1), call routing module 212 routes the call to the caller's (CA) cell phone 110.

[0029] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the network monitoring-call at recipient phone detecting module 214 monitors the network to determine whether the outbound call, for example, call placed by the caller (CA) at cell phone 110, has reached its destination, the recipient cell phone. If, yes, module 214 signals communications module 208, which signals calling cell phone 110, and the receipt of the call by recipient cell phone is indicated on the screen display of the caller's (CA) cell phone 110, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, by the darkened first (left) circle.

[0030] Network monitoring-notification displayed detecting module 216 monitors the network to determine whether, when the outbound call, for example, a call placed by the caller (CA) at cell phone 110, was missed and not answered by the recipient, the recipient phone registered an action (a "recipient awareness action") by a recipient that indicates awareness of the missed phone call. If, yes, module 216 signals communications module 208, which signals calling cell phone 110, that the recipient phone registered a recipient awareness action. Responsive to the signal received from communications module 208, registration by the recipient phone of the recipient awareness action is indicated on a display screen of the caller's (CA) cell phone 110, for example, as shown in FIG. 4C, by the darkened second circle (to the right of the first circle).

[0031] Attention is now directed to FIGs. 3A, 3B and 4A-4D. FIGs. 3A and 3B show flow diagrams detailing a computer-implemented process 300 (performed by the system 102'), 350 (performed by the phone, e.g., phone 110 of caller CA, which made the call) in accordance with embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Reference is also made to elements shown in FIGs. 1 and 2. The process and subprocesses of FIGs. 3 A and 3B are computerized processes performed by the system 102' and calling phone, respectively, and are also performable in conjunction with applications, deployed on the user cell phones 110 and 120a-120e. The aforementioned processes and sub-processes can be, for example, performed manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, and, for example, in real time. While the processes and sub-processes appear in an order, this order is exemplary only and can be changed. Reference is also made to the diagrams of phone display screens of FIGs. 4A-4D, which appear on the display screen (e.g., touch screen) l lOx of cell phone 110 associated with the caller, for example, caller CA., when describing the processes of FIGs. 3 A and 3B, as detailed below.

[0032] In FIG. 3A, process 300 begins at a START block 302. At this START block 302, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, at 8:43 am on the caller's (CA) cell phone 110, on screen display 1 lOx thereof, the caller (CA), via cell phone 110 is about to place an outbound call to cell phone 120a of Alex Reid. Prior to this call being placed, screen display l lOx shows cell phone's 110 call log 110c, which lists the calls made and received by cell phone 110 in reverse chronological order, each of the calls made or received on cell phone 110 are represented by boxes 402 (a received inbound call, for example, received by CA), and boxes 403, 404, 405 (a placed or outbound call, for example, made by the caller CA). Within each box 402-405 is an arrow - a downward pointing arrow indicating a received call, and an upward pointing arrow indicating an outbound call. As shown, for example, in box 403, the upward arrow 407 indicates that an outbound call has been made (placed) by the caller via his cell phone 110. A first dot 408a indicates a status of whether the outbound call reached the recipient phone. By the term "reached", as used herein, the call (outbound call) caused the recipient phone to generate a notification of the call, for example, one or more of: the recipient phone playing a ringtone and/or vibrating; a status bar update; and creating of a new entry in the call log of the recipient's phone. A second dot 408b, right of the first dot 408a, indicates whether the recipient phone registered a recipient awareness action, for example, by manipulating buttons or displays of his phone 120 responsive to or coincident with the recipient phone's generation of a call notification. For dots 408a and 408b, an open or empty dot indicates a negative status, and a closed or filled dot indicates a positive status.

[0033] The call log 110c shows that the caller (CA): 1) received a call (inbound call-indicated by the downward pointing arrow 409) from Blake Bordel of cell phone 120b, represented by box 402; 2) called Carson Palm, represented by cell phone 120c (as indicated by the upward pointed arrow 407), with this call reaching Carson Palm's phone 120c and entered into the call log of this cell phone 120c (as indicated by filled first dot 408a), but phone 120c has not yet registered a recipient awareness action by Carson Palm that indicates awareness of the call from the caller (CA) (indicated by the open second dot 408b), at box 403; 3) called Dak Garrett, represented by cell phone 120d (as indicated by the upward pointed arrow), with this call reaching Garrett's cell phone 120d (as indicated by the filled first dot), and phone 120c has registered a recipient awareness action indicating Garett's awareness of the call (indicated by the filled second dot), at box 404; and 4) called Earl Shula, represented by cell phone 120e (as indicated by the upward pointed arrow), with this call not reaching Shula's cell phone 120e (as indicated by the open first dot), and it follows accordingly, that phone 120e has not yet registered a recipient awareness action by Shula that indicates awareness of the call from the caller (CA) (indicated by the open second dot), at box 405.

[0034] The process moves to block 304, where the caller (CA), via his cell phone 110 makes an outbound call, at 8:43 am to Alex Reid at 816-444-1111. The server 102 and its system 102' receives this call (in the call receiving module 210) and the communications module 208 sends a signal back to the caller's (CA) cell phone, that the call has been made. This is indicated by the upward facing arrow in box 410, representing the call, and its status at 8:44 am, as shown in FIG. 4B. The call is routed to its destination (Alex Reid's cell phone 120a), by the call routing module 212.

[0035] The process moves to block 306, where the network(s) 100 are monitored (by module 214), to determine whether the call has reached its destination, the cell phone 120a of Alex Reid. Optionally, module 214 monitoring the network(s) 100 comprises monitoring for a signal (which may be referred to herein as a "call reception signal") that is transmitted from cell phone 120a to server 102, responsive to cell phone 120a receiving the phone call. If no, the process returns to block 306, from where it resumes. If yes, the process moves to block 308, where the communications module 208 sends a signal back to the caller's (CA) cell phone notifying that the call has been received at the recipient's phone. This is indicated, by way of example, by the filled first (leftmost) dot in box 410, as shown in FIG. 4C, a screen diagram of caller's (CA) cell phone at 8:45 am. [0036] The process moves to block 310, where the network(s) 100 are monitored (by module 216), to determine whether cell phone 120a of Alex Reid registered a recipient awareness action that indicates Alex Reid's awareness of the call. Optionally, module 216 monitoring the network(s) 100 comprises monitoring for a signal (which may be referred to herein as a "recipient awareness signal") that is transmitted from cell phone 120a to server 102, responsive to cell phone 120a registering a recipient awareness action. If no, the process returns to block 310, from where it resumes. If yes, the process moves to block 312, where the communications module 208 sends a signal back to the caller's (CA) cell phone, that cell phone 120a registered a recipient awareness action indicating awareness of the call. This notification is indicated by the filled second (rightmost) dot in box 410, as shown in FIG. 4D, a screen diagram of caller's (CA) cell phone at 10:00 am.

[0037] Optionally, the system 102' can be such that only an indication that the recipient phone registered a recipient awareness action indicating the recipient' s awareness of the call is necessary. As such, only one dot, corresponding to dot 408b, is needed in the call boxes, 402, 404, 405, 410 of the call log 110c on the phone 110, and in the flow diagram of FIG. 3 A, the processes of blocks 306 and 308 are not needed. Accordingly, the process 300 would move directly from block 304, to block 310, as shown by arrow 309.

[0038] Turning to FIG. 3B, a process 350 which is performed in the calling phone, for example the phone 110 of caller CA, is shown. This process 350 is complementary to the above described process 300, as performed by the system 102'.

[0039] At the START block 352, the calling phone, for example, phone 110 of caller CA sends an outbound call to an intended recipient phone, for example, the phone 120a of Alex Reid. The process moves to block 354, where it is determined whether the calling phone has received a signal that the call was sent successfully to the recipient phone. Should the call not have been sent successfully, the process moves to block 356, where it ends. The caller must make the call again, and the process begins again from block 352.

[0040] Should the call have been placed successfully, the process moves to block 358, where an indicator is activated, on the caller phone, such as the arrow 407, presenting (displayed by illuminating) on the screen display of the calling phone. [0041] The process moves to block 360, where it is determined whether phone 110 of caller CA received a signal notifying that the call has been received at the recipient phone. If the call was not received at the recipient phone, the process returns to block 360, from where it resumes. Should the call have been received at the recipient phone, the process moves to block 362. At block 362, an indicator is activated, on the calling phone, such as the first dot 408a, presenting (displayed by illuminating) on the screen display of the calling phone.

[0042] From block 362, the process moves to block 364. At block 364, it is determined whether phone 110 of caller CA received a signal notifying that the recipient phone registered a recipient awareness action indicating the recipient's awareness of the missed call. If the aforementioned recipient awareness action was not registered by the recipient phone, the process returns to block 364, from where it resumes. If the aforementioned recipient awareness action was registered by the recipient phone, the process moves to block 366. At block 366, an indicator is activated, on the caller phone, such as the second dot 408b, presenting (illuminating) on the screen display of the calling phone.

[0043] Optionally, the calling phone can be programmed, to only display an indication that a recipient awareness action was registered by the recipient phone. As such, only one dot, corresponding to dot 408b, is displayed in the call boxes of the screen display 1 lOx of the calling phone 110. In this case, the flow diagram of FIG. 3B, would be such that after block 354, the process 350 moves directly to block 364, as shown by arrow 357. The process 350 would then proceed as detailed above.

[0044] In alternative embodiments, one or more of the indications of inbound/outbound calls being received at a phone (e.g., the downward and upward indicating arrows), the indications of the outbound call having successfully reached the recipient phone, and the indications of a recipient awareness action having been registered by the recipient phone, may also be, other graphic indications, such as letters, words, phrases, lights, sounds, vibrations and other tactile indications, and the like, on the caller phone.

[0045] In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, "comprise" "include" and "have", and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb. 6] Descriptions of embodiments of the disclosure in the present application are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments of the disclosure. Some embodiments utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of the disclosure that are described, and embodiments of the disclosure comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments, will occur to persons of the art. The scope of the disclosure is limited only by the claims.