FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to call-forwarding and, more particularly, to allow caller directed call forwarding in smart devices.
BACKGROUND
Call forwarding, or Call diversion, is a feature of mobile communication services which redirects a telephone call to another destination, which may be, for example, a mobile telephone, voicemailbox or another telephone number. Call forwarding can be activated in cases where line is busy, there is no answer, phone is not reachable or for calls only from selected numbers.
In case of an emergency, a caller who is trying to reacha person who is not answering the call for any reason has very few options to reach the person being called (callee). Unless the caller has a telephone number of another person who might be with the callee, the caller has to wait for the callee to check his or her telephone to see that the caller has been trying to reach the callee. In an emergency or other important situation, any delay in contacting someone may be too long.
In the current scenario, the called party (callee) programs the settings for call forwarding and accordingly call forwarding occurs. Say User A is receiving a call from User B. User A has programmed that whenever User A is receiving a call from user B and User A is not reachable or not answering the call, the call-may be forwarded or redirected to userC. In this case, User

the problem of someone not answering his or her telephone in an emergency or other important situation, the present invention provides a solution that provides multiple options to the caller to reach the callee.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the invention disclose a system and method for routing a call from
a caller to a person specified by a callee. According to an exemplary embodiment,.the.disclosed
method and system receives a request from a caller to establish a call connection to a callee.
The disclosed system, and method identifies the call being unanswered by the callee and
provides.a .plurality of call forwarding options to the caller wherein the plurality of call
forwarding options-being pre-programmed by the callee. Further, the disclosed method and
system-receives input from the caller on the plurality of call forwarding options; and
automatically forwards the call based on the received input to establish the call connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:
Figure I illustrates a system for routing a call, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a process for call routing, according to an exemplary

. Figure:.3-illustrates a block diagram of a process/for call routing based on call routing
preferences previously specified by caller, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention. .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The.following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist . in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes
various specific details-to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely
exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art.will recognize that various changes v and modifications.of the embodiments described herein can be made without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition,.descriptions of well-known functions and
constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. .
According to embodiments of the invention, a system and method for routing a call is disclosed. The various embodiments of the invention enable a caller to specify how to forward calls to one or more target phone devices or users.
Figure I illustrates an exemplary system 100 for routing a call, according to an embodiment of the invention. According to an embodiment, the system 100 may include a caller 102, a call management module 106,acallee 116 and a target user 118. For sake of simplicity, one caller, one callee and one target user is shown in Figure I. There may be n number of target users depending on the settings made by the callee 116 corresponding to a particular caller 102. There may be n number of probable callers for a single callee module. According to an

callers and registered with the call management module 106. The call management module, the caller device, the callee device and the target user device may include one or more processors 108, one or more memories 110 and a communication module 112.
The call management module 106 may further include a repository 114. The repository 114 may include details pertaining to various callees who have configured call forwarding options for probable callers. The repository may contain details pertaining to each callee in the system such as, but not limited to, call'routing options and target users. The details of repository shown in Figure I are purely for illustrative purpose and to provide clarity to the invention and should not be construed.as limitingor restricting the scope of the invention. In some embodiments of the invention, the terms.call routing and call forwarding may have.been used interchangeably. According to an exemplary.embodiment, as shown in Figure I, the call management database 114 includes details for callee B, callee G and so on. For illustration purpose, there may be two probable callers r- caller J and caller M for callee B. According to an exemplary embodiment, the callee B-has programmed his/her mobile phone such that when caller J is calling callee B and the call is not answered by the callee B then four call routing options may be provided to the caller J. According to an embodiment, the call routing option may be provided through interactive voice recognition (IVR). According to an exemplary embodiment, IVR option 1 may correspond to a friend, IVR option 2 may correspond to a colleague, IVRoption 3 may correspond to a wife and IVR option 4 may correspond to a parent. According to another exemplary embodiment, the IVR options may specify name of friend, colleague, wife or parent. According to another exemplary embodiment, callee B has configured settings for caller M such that when caller M is calling callee B and the call is not answered by the callee B then only two call routing options may be provided to the caller M.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the caller device, the callee device and the target user device may be a mobile phone, computer, tablet and the like.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the caller A 102 may initiate a call by dialing the
number of the callee B 116. The call may be processed by a call management module 106.
The call management module 106 may reside on any communication network through which
voice may be communicated. According to.an exemplary embodiment, thenetwork may be a.
mobile telecommunication network, internet or any other network through which voice may be
communicated. The caller 102 may establish a call connection with, the callee.116 using the
communication network. . -.
The call management module 106 may receive a request from the caller 102 to establish a call connection to the callee 116. According to an embodiment, the call may be unanswered by the callee. According to an exemplary embodiment, the circumstances in which-call may be unanswered may be such as, but not limited to, callee may have put phone on silent, call ringing in a very low volume, callee may be in a meeting, callee phone kept in purse, call may not be established between the caller and callee, callee phone may not be reachable, callee phone may be switched off etc.
The call management module -106 may identify the call being unanswered by the callee. In response to identifying the call being unanswered bythe callee, the call management module 106 may provide a plurality of call forwarding options to the caller. According to an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of call forwarding options to the caller is by IVR. According to an

116. According to another embodiment, the plurality of call forwarding options may be pre-programmed by the callee 116 based on the caller 102. According to an embodiment, the plurality of call forwarding options may be pre-programmed by the callee 116 for each contact, in the contacts list of the callee. According to another embodiment, the plurality of call forwarding options may be pre-programmed by the callee 116 for specific contacts in the contacts list of the callee. According to yet another embodiment, the plurality of call forwarding options may be pre-programmed by the callee for unknown numbers that are not . saved in the callee phone. According to a further embodiment, the plurality of call forwarding options may be pre-programmed by the callee in categories such as family, office, friends etc. Once the caller.chooses a particular category, further options in sub categoriesmay be provided in IVR such.as.names of family members, office colleagues, friends names etc.
According to an,exemplary embodiment, callee 116 may program that no call forwarding option may be provided to caller K, only one option to caller P and multiple call forwarding options to caller N. According to an embodiment, the plurality of call forwarding options may be pre-programmed by the callee 116 based on the number of call attempts made by the caller. According to another embodiment, call forwarding options may be pre-programmed by the callee 116 for each contact in a contact list of the callee mobile device based on the predetermined number of call attempts made by each of the contacts in the contact list. According to yet another embodiment, call forwarding options may be pre-programmed by the callee 116 based on the predetermined number of call attempts from numbers that are not saved in the contact listof the callee. According to an exemplary embodiment," callee 116 may program that if caller C has attempted calling at least 2 times, then caller C may be provided with call forwarding options whereas if caller F has attempted calling at least 5 times, then

caller F may be provided with call forwarding options. The callee may program the call
forwarding options in numerous ways. .
The call management module receives input 104 from the caller 102 on the plurality of call
forwarding options. According to an embodiment, the input from the caller may be received
through a keypad. According to an embodiment, the input may specify the first target user to
-whom call is to be forwarded. According to another embodiment, the plurality of call
forwarding options may. be. repeated to the caller if the first target user does not: pick up the.
call. According to another embodiment, the input may specify the order for applying the
plurality of call forwarding options. According to .yet another embodiment, the input may
specify the order for applying.the plurality of call forwarding options if the call is unattended .
by a first target user (say 118 in Figure I) receiving routedcall. According to yet another
embodiment, caller may/provide input that may specify the order for applying the plurality of
call forwarding options if the call is unattended by the first target user receiving routed call.
According to-an exemplary embodiment,.in Figure I, say caller J chooses option 1 that is, to
reach out to callee B's friend. If callee B.doesn't answer the redirected call for any reason,
. then the caller J is now provided with options 2, 3 and 4 through IVR and the caller J may
choose any option of his choice. Say caller J chooses option 3, then an attempt may be made
by the call management module to establish connection with target user 'Wife'. The IVR
options may be continuously provided till a call connection is established between caller and
target user. According to an embodiment, the input received from the caller may be stored for
future use. According to another embodiment, the stored input may be used to determine future
preference of the caller.

After receiving:input from'the caller, the call management module may.access the repository to map the received input*from the caller 102 to the target user specified by thecallee. The call management module may initiate to establish the call connection between the caller 102 and a first target user 118 based on the received input i.e. first call forwarding option (e.g., first forwarding phone number).. In response to a failure to connect to the first target user via the first call forwarding option, the call management module may be configured to establish the call connection with a.second target user based on a secondcall forwarding option (e.g., via a second, phone number);and so on. According to an embodiment, the ca I lee may program the number of times to attempt the'first call forwarding option before proceeding with second call forwarding option. Similarly, the callee may program the number of times to attempt the . second call forwarding option before proceeding with third call forwarding option and so on.. According.to another embodiment, the callee may specify time duration to attempt calling first call forwarding option before proceeding with second call forwarding.option. Similarly,.the callee may.specify time duration to attempt calling second call forwarding option before proceeding.with third call forwarding option and so on.
In case.the caller makes a call from an unknown number for which callee has not programmed any call forwarding options, then the call management module may attempt to establish call with callee without applying any call forwarding options.
Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of the process 200 for routing a call, according to an embodiment of the invention.

At step/202, a-call management system may receive a call connection request from the caller to establish the call connection with the callee. In response to receivingthe request, the call management system initiates a call to establish the connection with the callee-
At step 204, the call management system may determine the call being unanswered by the
callee. According to an embodiment, the call may be unanswered in situations such as, but not
limited to,calleehas kept device on silent, call.ringing in a low volume; callee in a meeting,
callee device kept inpurse,call is not established between the callerand callee,. callee device
is not reachable and callee device is switched off.
'At step-206, on determining call being unanswered by the callee,the calfmanagement system ..'may provide multiple call forwarding options to the calleiv According to an embodiment, the multiple ^call, forwarding options to the caller maybe provided based on a predetermined number of call attempts by the caller.
At step 208, the call-management system may receive input from the caller. According to an .embodiment, the input specifies the first target user to whom call is to be forwarded. -According to another embodiment, the input may specify the order for applying the plurality of call forwarding options. According to yet another embodiment, the input may specify the order for applying the plurality of call forwarding options if the call is unattended by the first target user receiving routed call.
At step 210, the call management system may automatically forward the call based on the received input. According to an embodiment, the call management module may initiate to

input i.e.. first call forwarding option (e.g., first forwarding phone.number). In response to a failure to reach the first target user via the first call forwarding option; the call management
. module may be configured to establish the call connection between the caller and the second target user based on a second call forwarding option (e.g., via a second phone number), and so on.
Figure 3 illustrates a process 300 for routing the call from caller to target user.
- At step 302,- the call management system may receive a call connection request from the caller.
-• Atstep-304; the.call. management system may determine the call being unanswered by the
..callee.. .
At step306, the call management system may provide multiple call forwarding options to-the . caller on identifying.that call is unanswered by the callee. The call management module may receive input from the caller.
At step 308, the call management system may map the received input with caller and store the received input with caller id in a repository.
At step 310, for all future calls to the callee, the call management system may automatically forward the call to a target user based on previously stored input. The call management module may infer caller preferences from the stored information in the repository and establishes connection with the preferred target user of the caller.

Un-.^the drawings and specification there has been.set forth: preferred embodiments of the
invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive
. sense, only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts,
as well as in the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or
render.expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
• Throughout the.various contexts described in this disclosure, the embodiments of the invention further encompass computer apparatus, computing systems and machine-readable media configured to'carry out the foregoing systems and methods. In addition to an embodiment
consisting of.specifically designed integrated circuits or other electronics, the present invention . may be.conveniently implemented using a conventional general purpose or.a specialized digital
.computer or microprocessor programmed according to the teachings of the present disclosure,
as will be apparent to those skilled in the computer art.
• Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared-by skilled programmers based on the teachings.of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the software art. The invention may also be implemented by the preparation of application1 specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional component circuits, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

We Claim:
A call management system, the system comprising:.
one or more processors operatively coupled to one or more memories and configured to:
receive a request from a caller to establish a call connection to a callee; identify the call being unanswered by the callee; provide a plurality of call forwarding options to the caller, wherein the plurality
of callforwarding options being pre-programmed by the callee;
' receive input from the caller on the plurality of call forwarding options; and
automatically forward the call basedon the.received input to establish the call
connection The system, as claimed.in claim 1, wherein the providing a plurality of call forwarding options to the caller is by 1VR.
3.- The systenvas-claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of call forwarding options is pre-programmed by the callee based on the predetermined number of call attempts by the caller. 4.- The system as claimed in claim I, wherein the call being unanswered by the.caller includes scenarios where callee has kept device on silent, call ringing in a low volume, callee in a meeting, callee device kept in purse, call is not established between the caller and callee, callee device is not reachable and callee device is switched off.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving input from the caller further comprising the caller specifying the order for applying the plurality of call forwarding options if the call is unattended by a first user receiving routed call.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving input from the caller further comprising storing the received input for future use.
7. A method for routing a call, the method comprising:
receiving call connection request from a caller and routing the call from the caller to a callee;
determining call being unanswered by the callee;
providing a plurality of call forwarding options to the caller wherein the plurality of call forwarding options being pre-programmed by.the callee;
receiving input from the caller on the plurality of call forwarding options; and
automatically forwarding the calf based on the received input to establish the call connection.
8. The.method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the providing a plurality of call forwarding
options to the caller is by IVR.
9. The.method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of call, forwarding options is
pre-programmed by the callee based on the caller. ....
10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of call forwarding options provided is based on a predetermined number of call attempts by the caller.