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) receiving, at a data-processing system, a call directed to a first telephone number;    (b) transmitting said call from said data-processing system to a telecommunications terminal having a second telephone number, wherein said second telephone number is coupled with said first telephone number at said data-processing system;    (c) receiving an answer indication that said call has been answered; and    (d) transmitting, from said data-processing system to said telecommunications terminal, a first indication that said call was not originally directed to said telecommunications terminal;    wherein the transmitting of said first indication is based on the receiving of said answer indication; and    wherein said first indication is readable by said telecommunications terminal.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting a property value of a user interface to said telecommunications terminal.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said property value determines how said call is presented to the user of said telecommunications terminal.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transmitting of said first indication is via the voice path of said call.  
     
     
         5 . A method comprising: 
 (a) receiving, at a data-processing system, a call directed to a first telephone number;    (b) extending said call from said data-processing system to a telecommunications terminal having a second telephone number; and    (c) transmitting, from said data-processing system, an indication to said telecommunications terminal that said call was originally directed to said first telephone number;    wherein the transmission of said indication is via the voice path of said call after said call has been answered; and    wherein said indication is readable by said telecommunications terminal.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising (d) transmitting a ringback signal to the caller of said call during at least part of the transmitting of said indication.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  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 data-processing system.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising transmitting a property value of a user interface to said telecommunications terminal.