Smart Telephony Systems and Methods

Abstract

A telephonic system and method alert a called phone of an importance level of a call. The system includes a caller module including a caller user interface configured to allow a caller to assign an importance level to a call and instructions when executed cause a processor to initiate transmission of a data message to the dialed number phone that, when received by the called phone, advises the called phone of the importance level of the call incoming, and then initiates the call to the called phone. The system includes a called phone module including a called phone user interface and instructions when executed cause a processor to determine the importance level of the call based on the data message and provide a signal to the called phone user interface concerning the importance level of the call. A proximity feature system and a reverse proximity feature system are also described.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A telephonic system for alerting a called phone of an importance level of a call, comprising a caller module comprising a caller user interface configured to be provided on a caller device and to allow a caller to assign an importance level to a call and instructions when executed cause a processor to first initiate transmission of a data message from the caller device to the called phone that, when received by the called phone, advises the called phone of the importance level of the call incoming, and then initiates the call to the called phone; and a called phone module comprising a called phone user interface and instructions when executed cause a processor to determine the importance level of the call based on the data message and provide a signal to the called phone user interface concerning the importance level of the call. 
     
     
         2 . A method for alerting a called phone of an importance level of a call, comprising assigning, by a caller or caller device, an importance level to a call, initiating transmission of a data message from the caller device to the called phone that, when received by the called phone, advises the called phone of the importance level of the call, and then initiating the call from the caller device to the called phone. 
     
     
         3 . A system comprising at least a called phone module comprising a called phone interface and instructions when executed cause a called phone called by a caller phone to transmit a data message for display on the caller phone, that the called phone is in a no secure mode for privacy.