Changing the user interface at a telecommunications terminal

Abstract

A technique is disclosed that changes one or more properties of a user interface at a telecommunications terminal based on an incoming call. When a first caller calls the telephone number of the terminal directly and the terminal answers the call, the terminal presents the direct call to the user through a first user interface. When a second caller calls a telephone number that is associated with a data-processing system and the call is then redirected to the terminal, the terminal presents the redirected call to the user through a second user interface. The telecommunications terminal can be a cell phone that belongs to a user, and the data-processing system can be a private branch exchange that serves an office enterprise network that the user belongs to, wherein the private branch exchange extends the call to the user's cell phone when the user is out of the office.

1 . A method comprising: 
 (a) transmitting a call to a telecommunications terminal; and    (b) transmitting a first indication to said telecommunications terminal that said call was not originally directed to said telecommunications terminal.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising (c) receiving, at said first data-processing system, a second indication that said call has been answered; 
 wherein the transmitting of said first indication is based on receiving said second indication.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting a property value of a user interface to said telecommunications terminal.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said property value determines how said call is presented to the user of said telecommunications terminal.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transmitting of said first indication is via the voice path of said call.  
     
     
         6 . A method comprising: 
 (a) receiving, at a data-processing system, a call directed to a first telephone number; and    (b) extending said call to a telecommunications terminal having a second telephone number and transmitting an indication to said telecommunications terminal that said call was originally directed to said first telephone number.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising (d) transmitting a ringback signal to the caller of said call during at least part of the transmitting of said indication.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said first telephone number is served by said data-processing system; and wherein said second telephone number is coupled with said first telephone number at said first data-processing system.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising transmitting a property value of a user interface to said telecommunications terminal.  
     
     
         10 . A method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a first call and an indication that said call has been extended; and    (b) setting a flag because said first call has been extended.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising (c) notifying a user that said first call has been extended.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising (c) clearing said flag when a second call is received, wherein said indication is absent from said second call.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising (c) clearing said flag when said call has ended.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising (c) changing a user interface based on the value of said flag.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said indication is received via the voice path of said first call.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising muting said voice path during at least part of the receiving of said indication.  
     
     
         17 . A method comprising: 
 (a) receiving a first call at a telecommunications terminal and an indication that said call has been extended; and    (b) changing a user interface because said first call has been extended.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising (c) notifying a user that said first call has been extended.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said call was originated to a first telephone number served by a first data-processing system; and wherein the telephone number of said telecommunications terminal is coupled with said first telephone number at said first data-processing system.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the changing of said user interface affects how one or more calls are presented to the user of said telecommunications terminal.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the changing of said user interface affects the functions assigned to the soft keys of said telecommunications terminal.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising (c) reverting to a previous configuration of said user interface after said first call has ended.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising (c) reverting to a previous configuration of said user interface when a second call is received without said indication.