WO2007021536A2

WO2007021536A2 - Method and policy execution engine for regulating an incoming call in a communication system

Info

Publication number: WO2007021536A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/029972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ramki Ramakrishnan; K. Kumar Chintada Suresh; S. Ananth; Subir Saha
Original assignee: Motorola, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-08-16
Filing date: 2006-07-31
Publication date: 2007-02-22
Also published as: GB2443365B; GB0802557D0; KR20080042894A; CN101248422A; WO2007021536A3; GB2443365A

Abstract

A method and policy execution engine (PExE) (305) for regulating an incoming call in a communication system (405) is provided. The method comprises determining (105) a context of the incoming call. The method further comprises invoking (110) one of a personalization policy and at least one group policy of the callee of the incoming call in response to determination of the context of the incoming call. The group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call.

Description

METHOD AND POLICY EXECUTION ENGINE FOR REGULATING AN INCOMING CALL

IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates generally to a communication system. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and system for regulating an incoming call in a communication system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In existing communication systems, an incoming call is regulated based on either a personalization policy or a formal group policy. A personalization policy generally refers to a policy that is specific to a callee and comprises details based on which an incoming call for the callee is regulated. Each callee has a personalization policy. A formal group policy generally refers to a policy that is shared by a plurality of users of a communication system and is known to the caller of the incoming call. The formal group policy is also known to a call server of the communication system. Each user may have at least one formal group policy. For example, a formal group policy is specified for email address support@example.com. The email address is known to the caller and is not anonymous. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0003] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the invention.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for regulating an incoming call in a communication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0005] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for regulating an incoming call in a communication system, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0006] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a Policy Execution Engine (PExE), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0007] FIG. 4 is block diagram of a communication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0008] FIG. 5 shows a communication system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 006/029972

[0009] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to regulating an incoming call in a communication system. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

[0011] In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises ...a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

[0012] It will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention described herein may be comprised of one or more conventional processors and unique stored program instructions that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of a policy execution engine described herein. The non-processor circuits may include, but are not limited to, a radio receiver, a radio transmitter, signal drivers, clock circuits, power source circuits, and user input devices. As such, these functions may be interpreted as steps of a method to perform regulation of an incoming call in a communication system. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. Thus, methods and means for these functions have been described herein. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. 006/029972

[0013] The invention provides a method and system for regulating an incoming call in a communication system. The method comprises determining a context of the incoming call. The method further comprises invoking one of a personalization policy and at least one group policy of the callee of the incoming call in response to determination of the context of the incoming call. The group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call and is anonymous. An incoming call can be, therefore, regulated based on a group policy that is anonymous and unknown to the caller.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for regulating an incoming call in a communication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, the incoming call can be a multimedia call. The multimedia call may be, for example, a voice call or a video call.

[0015] At step 105, a context of the incoming call is determined. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the context is determined based on a Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number or an Internet Protocol (IP) address of an electronic device of the caller or the value of one or more tags in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message or a combination thereof. At step 110, a personalization policy and at least one group policy of a callee is invoked in response to determination of the context of the incoming call.

[0016] A personalization policy generally refers to a policy that is specific to a callee and comprises details based on which an incoming call for the callee can be regulated. Each callee has a personalization policy. The personalization policy of a callee can be specified using languages known in the art such as a Call Processing Language (CPL) or Service Creation Markup Language (SCML).

[0017] A group policy generally refers to a policy that is shared by a plurality of users of the communication system. In various embodiments of the invention, the group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call and is anonymous. Such a group policy is hereinafter referred to as virtual group policy. Each user may have at least one virtual group policy.

[0018] In an example, user A and user B are members of an AB-virtual group policy. The AB-virtual group policy is anonymous and unknown to the caller of an incoming call. If the context of the incoming call relates to the context specified in the AB- virtual group policy, the AB-virtual group policy of the callee (user A) can be invoked and the call is diverted to user B, if user A is busy. A virtual group policy may also be specified, for example, to bar incoming calls from telemarketers. In another example, a virtual group policy may be specified to forward incoming calls from xyz@journalist.com tojohnabc@slt.motcom.com to Information officer based on the context of the incoming calls.

[0019] In various embodiments of the invention, the incoming call can be tagged with an identifier. This is further explained in conjunction with FIG. 2. [0020] FIG. 2 is flow diagram of a method for regulating an incoming call in a communication system, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. At step 205, a context of an incoming call is determined. At step 210, the incoming call is tagged with an identifier in response to determination of the context of the incoming call. The identifier indicates the context of the incoming call. For example, a tag can be added in a SIP to indicate the context of the incoming call. At step 215, a personalization policy and at least one virtual group policy of a callee is invoked based on the identifier.

[0021] In various embodiment of the invention, if the callee of an incoming call is a member of a plurality of virtual group policies, the plurality of virtual group policies are invoked in a predetermined order. In an embodiment of the invention, the predetermined order is specified in the personalization policy of the callee.

[0022] For example, a subscriber A is a member of a first virtual group and a second virtual group. Each virtual group is associated with a virtual group policy. The virtual group policies are invoked in a predetermined order, as specified in the personalization policy of subscriber A. Subscriber A, subscriber B and subscriber C to address an incoming call from user X form the first virtual group. The first virtual group policy states that forward an incoming call from user X to the mobile phone of subscriber A. If subscriber A does not respond to the incoming call, the incoming call is to be forwarded to subscriber B. If subscriber B does not answer the incoming call, forward it to subscriber C. If subscriber C does not answer the incoming call, forward it to subscriber A again. Also, subscriber A and his family members, subscriber D and subscriber E, while on a vacation at a particular location form the second virtual group. The second virtual group policy states that each incoming call (addressed to one of the member of the second virtual group) is to be forwarded to the mobile phone of subscriber A. If subscriber A does not answer, the incoming call is to be forwarded to the mobile phone of subscriber D. If subscriber D does not answer, the incoming call is to be forwarded to subscriber E. If subscriber E does not answer, the incoming call is to be forwarded to the voice mail of subscriber A. The predetermined order in which the virtual group policies are invoked are verified with the personalization policy of subscriber A. For example, the personalization policy of subscriber A may state, if (caller = user X) then invoke the first virtual group policy and if the incoming call returns to subscriber A, then invoke the second virtual group policy.

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a Policy Execution Engine (PExE) 305, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The PExE 305 regulates an incoming call in a communication system. In an embodiment of the invention, the incoming call is a multimedia call. The PExE 305 comprises a context-determining module 310, a tagging module 315 and an invoking module 320 working in conjunction with each other to regulate the incoming call.

[0024] The context-determining module 310 determines a context of the incoming call. The method for determining the context of the incoming call will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the context is determined based on a MSISDN number or an IP address of an electronic device of the caller or one or more tags in a SIP message or a combination thereof. [0025] The tagging module 315 tags the incoming call with an identifier in response to determination of the context of the incoming call. The identifier indicates the context of the incoming call. For example, a tag can be added in a SIP to indicate the context of the incoming call.

[0026] The invoking module 320 invokes one of a personalization policy and at least one virtual group policy of the callee of the incoming call in response to determination of the context of the incoming call. In an embodiment of the invention, the invoicing module 320 invokes one of the personalization policy and the at least one virtual group policy based on the identifier tagged with the incoming call. In various embodiments of the invention, if the callee of an incoming call is a member of a plurality of virtual group policies, the invoking module 320 invokes the plurality of virtual group policies in a predetermined order.

[0027] In an embodiment of the invention, the context-determining module 310 and the invoking module 320 are integrated into a single module. In another embodiment of the invention, the context-determining module 310, the tagging module 315 and the invoicing module 320 are integrated into a single module.

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a communication system 405, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The communication system 405 comprises a personalization policy repository 410, a group policy repository 415, at least one PExE 420 and at least one call server 425. [0029] The personalization policy repository 410 stores a personalization policy of each user of the communication system 405. The group policy repository 415 stores at least one virtual group policy corresponding to a plurality of users of the communication system 405. In an embodiment of the invention, the group policy repository 415 assigns a unique id to each virtual group policy.

[0030] The PExE 420 regulates an incoming call. The PExE comprises a processor 430. The processor 430 is configured to determine a context of the incoming call and invoke one of a personalization policy and at least one virtual group policy in response to determination of the context of the incoming call. In an embodiment of the invention, the processor 430 gives preference to a virtual group policy over the personalization policy of a user of the communication system 405.

[0031] The processor 430 is further configured to tag the incoming call with an identifier in response to determination of the context of the incoming call. The identifier indicates the context of the incoming call. In an embodiment of the invention, the processor 430 is configured to invoice one of a personalization policy and at least one virtual group policy based on the identifier. In an embodiment of the invention, the identifier that is tagged by a first PExE is used by a second PExE to invoke at least one virtual group policy. This is further explained in conjunction with FIG. 5. [0032] In various embodiments of the invention, if the callee of an incoming call is a member of a plurality of virtual group policies, the processor 430 invokes the plurality of virtual group policies in a predetermined order.

[0033] The call server 425 establishes a communication channel between the caller of the incoming call and one of the callee of the incoming call or a user of the communication system 405. The user is a member of the virtual group policy of the callee that is invoked by the PExE 420. In an embodiment of the invention, each call server 425 is connected to at least one PExE 420. Examples of the call server 425 comprise SIP proxy call server, Call Session Control Function (CSCF) call server for a 3GPP IP Multimedia Subsystem (3GPP MS) and the like. In an embodiment of the invention, a virtual group policy of a user is unknown to the call server 425.

[0034] In an embodiment of the invention, access control mechanisms can be established for a virtual group policy. The communication system 405 may also provide a mechanism to subscribe to the virtual group policy. Further, read only access of a virtual group policy may be provided to each member of the virtual group policy and administrative access to selected members of the virtual group policy.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a communication system 500, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Communication system 500 includes personal policy repository 410, group policy repository 415, a PExE engine 505, a PExE engine 510, a call server 515 and a call server 520. [0036] PExE engine 505 and PExE engine 510 are similar to PExE 420. PExE 505 is the PExE for user A and PExE 510 is the PExE for user B. Also, call server 515 and call server 520 are similar to call server 425. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the identifier that is tagged by PExE 505 is used by PExE 510 to invoke at least one virtual group policy. For example, an incoming call (having the context of the AB-virtual group policy) is diverted from call server 515 to call server 520 if user A is busy. In this example, if PExE 505 has tagged the incoming call with an identifier, PExE 510 can invoke the AB-virtual group policy for user B based on the identifier.

[0037] The various embodiments of the invention provide a method and system that can regulate an incoming call based on a virtual group policy of the callee that is anonymous and unknown to the caller, if a context of the incoming call relates to the context specified in the virtual group policy.

[0038] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:

1. A method for regulating an incoming call in a communication system, the method comprising: determining a context of the incoming call; and invoking one of a personalization policy and at least one group policy of the callee of the incoming call in response to determination of the context of the incoming call, wherein the at least one group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprises: tagging the incoming call with an identifier, the identifier indicating the context of the incoming call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one group policy is invoked in a predetermined order, if the personalization policy of the callee is a member of a plurality of group policies.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined order is specified in the personalization policy of the callee.

5. A policy execution apparatus comprising: a context-determining module, the context-determining module determining a context of an incoming call; and an invoking module, the invoking module invoking one of a personalization policy and at least one group policy of the callee of the incoming call in response to determination of the context of the incoming call, wherein the group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call.

6. The policy execution apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a tagging module, the tagging module tagging the incoming call with an identifier, the identifier indicating the context of the incoming call.

7. The policy execution apparatus of claim 5, wherein the context-determining module and the invoking module is integrated into a single module.

8. The policy execution apparatus of claim 5, wherein the incoming call is a multimedia call.

9. The policy execution apparatus of claim 5, wherein the invoking module invokes at least one group policy in a predetermined order, if the personalization policy of the callee is a member of a plurality of group policies.

10. A communication system comprising: a group policy repository, the group policy repository storing at least one group policy corresponding to a plurality of users; a personalization policy repository, the personalization policy repository storing a personalization policy of each user; and at least one policy execution engine, a policy execution engine regulating an incoming call, wherein the policy execution engine comprises a processor, the processor is configured to: determine a context of the incoming call; and invoke one of a personalization policy and at least one group policy of the callee of the incoming call in response to determination of the context of the incoming call, wherein the group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call.