Communication mechanism for calls in which speaking is not possible

Abstract

In situations in which one or both parties of a call cannot speak on a telephone, a voice call establishment request ( 5 - 0 ) from an calling terminal (A) to a called terminal (B) is processed as follows. The called terminal (B) is alerted and a two-way connection ( 5 - 14; 5 - 24 . . . 5 - 28 ) is established between the calling terminal (A) and the called terminal (B). In response to determining ( 3 - 10; 3 - 14; 5 - 8 ) that a two-way voice call between the calling terminal (A) and the called terminal (B) is not allowed; a mode server (MS, MS′) receives silent messages ( 5 - 14; 5 - 24 ) via a user interface (UI) of the called terminal (B) and conveys ( 5 - 14; 5 - 26 . . . 5 - 28 ) information based on said silent messages to the calling terminal (A).

1 . A method for processing a voice call establishment request from an calling terminal to a called terminal, the method comprising: 
 detecting the call establishment request;    in response to said detecting, alerting the called terminal; and    setting up a two-way connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal;    wherein the method further comprises:    determining that a two-way voice call between the calling terminal and the called terminal is not allowed; and    receiving silent messages via a user interface of said called terminal and/or calling terminal and conveying information based on said silent messages to the calling terminal and/or called terminal, respectively.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said determining is based on detecting a predetermined input via the user interface of the called terminal after said alerting.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said determining is based on detecting a predetermined profile associated with the called terminal, the profile being set prior to said alerting.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the two-way connection is or comprises a chat connection.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said conveying comprises converting said silent messages to speech.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said converting comprises text-to-speech synthesis.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said converting comprises receiving an indication of one of a plurality of predetermined voice messages.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of predetermined voice messages is dimensioned such that any predetermined voice message is selectable without moving fingers on the user interface.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining step is carried out by a network element.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the converting step is carried out by a network element.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for processing a voice call establishment request from an calling terminal to a called terminal, the called terminal comprising alerting means for alerting a user and means for setting up a two-way connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal; 
 the apparatus comprising means for detecting the call establishment requests;    wherein the apparatus further comprises:    means for determining that a two-way voice call between the calling terminal and the called terminal is not allowed;    means for receiving silent messages via the called terminal's user interfaces; and    means for conveying information based on said silent messages to the calling terminal.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is located in a network element.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is located in the called terminal.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for processing a voice call establishment request from an calling terminal to a called terminal, the called terminal comprising alerting means for alerting a user and means for setting up a two-way connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal, the apparatus being configured to detect the call establishment request; 
 wherein the apparatus is further configured to:    determine that a two-way voice call between the calling terminal and the called terminal is not allowed;    receive silent messages via the called terminal's user interface; and    convey information based on said silent messages to the calling terminal.    
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is located in a network element.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is located in the called terminal.