Systems and methods for managing incoming calls

Abstract

A system is provided that provides for the prioritization of incoming calls to a communications device based on respective caller profiles. Each profile may include a caller priority value. The system may prioritize an incoming call based on the priority value. The priority value may be updated manually or automatically in accordance with a variety of factors. While the communications device receive an incoming call while an existing call is active, the communications device may request a call management command at the communications device or provide a notification that an incoming call has been received and is pending in accordance with the respective caller profile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, performed by one of a communications device and a computer server, the communications device associated with a user and in communication with the computer server over a communications network, the method comprising:
 receiving an incoming call for the communications device when the communication device is maintaining an active call;   determining a correspondence between caller identity information for the incoming call and a respective caller profile;   determining a call priority value based on the respective caller profile; and   when the call priority value meets an interrupt criterion, interrupting the active call.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a threshold priority level. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when a difference between the call priority value and a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a difference threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  comprising preventing interruption of the active call when a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a threshold level. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein interrupting the active call comprises: placing the active call on hold or initiating a conference call with the communication device, a second communication device on the active call, and a third communication device on the incoming call. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein interrupting the active call comprises: playing a predetermined message or sending a notification to at least one of: the communication device and a second communication device on the active call, the predetermined message or the notification providing an indication that the active call will be interrupted. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising updating the call priority value associated with the respective caller profile based on a frequency of communication with the user that are associated with the respective caller profile. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium or media tangibly embodying code that, when executed by at least one processor of at least one of a communications device and a computer server, the communications device associated with a user and in communication with the computer server over a communications network, configures the at least one processor for:
 receiving an incoming call for the communications device when the communication device is maintaining an active call;   determining a correspondence between caller identity information for the incoming call and a respective caller profile;   determining a call priority value based on the respective caller profile; and   when the call priority value meets an interrupt criterion, interrupting the active call.   
     
     
         10 . The medium or media of  claim 9  wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a threshold priority level. 
     
     
         11 . The medium or media of  claim 9  wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call. 
     
     
         12 . The medium or media of  claim 9  wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when a difference between the call priority value and a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a difference threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The medium or media of  claim 9  wherein the code configures the at least one processor for preventing interruption of the active call when a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a threshold level. 
     
     
         14 . The medium or media of  claim 9  wherein interrupting the active call comprises: placing the active call on hold or initiating a conference call with the communication device, a second communication device on the active call, and a third communication device on the incoming call. 
     
     
         15 . The medium or media of  claim 9  wherein interrupting the active call comprises: playing a predetermined message or sending a notification to at least one of: the communication device and a second communication device on the active call, the predetermined message or the notification providing an indication that the active call will be interrupted. 
     
     
         16 . The medium or media of  claim 9  wherein the code configures the at least one processor for updating the call priority value associated with the respective caller profile based on a frequency of communication with the user that are associated with the respective caller profile. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising a communications device and a computer server, the communications device associated with a user and in communication with the computer server over a communications network, at least one of the communications device and the computer server being configured for:
 receiving an incoming call for the communications device when the communication device is maintaining an active call;   determining a correspondence between caller identity information for the incoming call and a respective caller profile;   determining a call priority value based on the respective caller profile; and   when the call priority value meets an interrupt criterion, interrupting the active call.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the call priority value meets the interrupt criterion when the call priority value has a greater priority than a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the communications device and the computer server is configured for: preventing interruption of the active call when a second call priority value based on a caller profile associated with the active call is greater than a threshold level. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein interrupting the active call comprises: playing a predetermined message or sending a notification to at least one of: the communication device and a second communication device on the active call, the predetermined message or the notification providing an indication that the active call will be interrupted.