US-20260129407-A1 - SPACE RESERVATION

Abstract

A method, an apparatus and a computer program for providing a space to speak on a call, wherein an indication of an incoming call is received at a mobile device, and in response to receiving the indication of the incoming call at the mobile device, it is indicated to a user whether an available space exists for the user to speak on the call.

Inventors

• Annika VÄNSKÄ
• Ulla OKSANEN
• Ari MONONEN

Assignees

• FRAMERY OY

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20230922

Priority Date

20221013

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method for providing a space to speak on a call, the method comprising: receiving an indication of an incoming call at a mobile device; and in response to said receiving an indication of the incoming call at the mobile device, indicating to a user whether an available space exists for the call.
2. 2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: enabling for the user to book the available space.
3. 3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: in response to receiving the indication of the incoming call at the mobile device, activating an application at the mobile device for indicating whether an available space exists for the call.
4. 4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: showing to the user available spaces nearby.
5. 5 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising: booking an available space without user interaction in response to receiving the indication of the call.
6. 6 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising: pre-selecting an available space in accordance with a stored user preference.
7. 7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: showing to the user locations of available space(s).
8. 8 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising: making the booked space available for others after the user has left the booked space after the call.
9. 9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the space is a confined space or an office booth.
10. 10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in response to said receiving an indication of an incoming call, the method further comprises simultaneously displaying user interfaces for at least two applications on a display of the mobile device, wherein the first user interface is a user interface for a phone application, and wherein the second user interface is a user interface for indicating the available spaces.
11. 11 . An apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory including computer program code; the memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive an indication of an incoming call at a mobile device; and in response to said receiving an indication of the incoming call at the mobile device, indicate to a user whether an available space exists for the call.
12. 12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to enable for the user to book the available space.
13. 13 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising computer program code configured to cause the apparatus in response to said receiving the indication of the incoming call at the mobile device, to activate an application at the mobile device for indicating whether an available space exists for the call.
14. 14 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to show to the user available spaces nearby.
15. 15 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to book an available space without user interaction in response to receiving the indication of the call.
16. 16 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to pre-select an available space in accordance with a stored user preference.
17. 17 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to show to the user locations of available space(s).
18. 18 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to make the booked space available for others after the user has left the booked space after the call.
19. 19 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the space is a confined space or an office booth.
20. 20 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising computer program code configured to cause the apparatus—in response to said receiving an indication of an incoming call—to simultaneously display user interfaces for at least two applications on a display of the mobile device, wherein the first user interface is a user interface for a phone application, and wherein the second user interface is a user interface for indicating the available spaces.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to reservation of space. BACKGROUND This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein representative of the state of the art. When a person receives a call, for instance in an office, and wishes to talk privately it may be difficult to find a vacant space. The call may be for instance a call on a mobile device, such as a mobile phone. Presently, the person would typically look for a vacant space by walking to different spaces to see whether they are vacant or in use. This may be difficult and time consuming. There are reservation systems, in which one may book a vacant space in advance for a meeting. However, these systems are of little use in the event one does not know exact timings of received phone calls in advance. SUMMARY The appended claims define the scope of protection. Any examples and technical descriptions of apparatuses, products and/or methods in the description and/or drawings not covered by the claims are presented not as embodiments of the invention but as background art or examples useful for understanding the invention. According to a first example aspect there is provided a method for providing a space to speak on a call, the method comprising: receiving an indication of an incoming call at a mobile device; andin response to receiving said indication of the incoming call at the mobile device, indicating to a user whether an available space exists for the call. Accordingly, said indicating regarding the available space to the user may e.g. comprise the mobile device showing identification information of an available office pod (where the user can privately take the call) to the person using the mobile device. In certain embodiments, there are two types of spaces. Spaces of a first type can be booked, and spaces of a second type cannot be booked. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, when indicating (by the mobile device, e.g., on the screen of the mobile device) whether an available space exists, the mobile device also indicates whether the space can be booked. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises enabling for the user to book the available space (such as an office pod). In certain embodiments, the indicating regarding the available space to the user and/or the enabling for the user to book the available space comprises using an application. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the method comprises in response to receiving the indication of the incoming call at the mobile device, activating (e.g., opening/initiating) an application at the mobile device for indicating whether an available space exists for the call. In certain embodiments, the said application is an application at the mobile device. In certain embodiments, the said application is a space-booking application (or a space reservation application). In other embodiments, the mobile device directly connects with spaces without using a separate application at the mobile device end. In such embodiments, the spaces themselves may contain an appropriate application or applications that control reservation of the spaces (and optionally monitor presence information of the spaces). One or more of the preceding applications may form part of a space reservation system administering the available spaces. In further embodiments, the mobile device directly connects with a space reservation system (or systems) without using a separate application. In certain embodiments, the mobile device gathers information on available spaces e.g. by using the preceding application(s)/system(s). In certain embodiments, the indication of an incoming call is received from a network, such as a mobile telephony or communications network. In certain embodiments, the indication causes an action at the mobile device, such as generating a ringing tone. In certain embodiments, the indication enables for the mobile device (and its user) to know that a call is incoming. In certain embodiments, the received indication of an incoming call functions in the mobile device as a trigger for indicating an available space (or its existence) for the user (with the aid of the mobile device). In certain embodiments, the received indication of an incoming call functions in the mobile device as a trigger enabling booking a space for the user (with the aid of the mobile device). In certain embodiments, the received indication triggers a space-booking action within the mobile device. In certain embodiments, the mobile device is a (mobile) phone. In certain embodiments, the mobile device is a tablet. In certain embodiments, the mobile device is a laptop computer. In certain embodiments, the method comprises showing or identifying to the user vacant spaces nearby. In certain embodiments, the method comprises showing or identifying to the user a plurality of vacant spaces nearby. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises enabling for the user to cho