CA1311545C - Call waiting arrangement - Google Patents
Call waiting arrangementInfo
- Publication number
- CA1311545C CA1311545C CA000585765A CA585765A CA1311545C CA 1311545 C CA1311545 C CA 1311545C CA 000585765 A CA000585765 A CA 000585765A CA 585765 A CA585765 A CA 585765A CA 1311545 C CA1311545 C CA 1311545C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- call
- station
- called
- calling
- caller
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/48—Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/428—Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
Abstract
IMPROVED CALL WAITING ARRANGEMENT
Abstract An improved call waiting arrangement where a caller is free to exercise discretion in interrupting ongoing telephone calls because the caller is prompted, for example via an audible announcement, that the called party is busyon another call but that the caller may request interruption of the call by remaining off-hook. If the caller believes that his call is sufficiently important, he requests call interruption by remaining off-hook. If the caller chooses not to interrupt, he may make subsequent call attempts promptly because he knows that the called party is busy on another call rather than being away from home.
Alternatively, the caller may activate auto-callback such that a call is completed between the two parties as soon as the status of the called station returns to on-hook.
Abstract An improved call waiting arrangement where a caller is free to exercise discretion in interrupting ongoing telephone calls because the caller is prompted, for example via an audible announcement, that the called party is busyon another call but that the caller may request interruption of the call by remaining off-hook. If the caller believes that his call is sufficiently important, he requests call interruption by remaining off-hook. If the caller chooses not to interrupt, he may make subsequent call attempts promptly because he knows that the called party is busy on another call rather than being away from home.
Alternatively, the caller may activate auto-callback such that a call is completed between the two parties as soon as the status of the called station returns to on-hook.
Description
IMPROVED CALL WAITING AR~ANGEMENT
Technical Field . . .
This invention relates to telecommunication call processing.
Back~round and Problem As stored program-controlled switching systems have evolved, a wide 5 variety of useful features have been developed to extend the communication capabilities such systems provide. Call waiting, a feature that uses a beep tone to inform a customer already engaged in an ongoing telephone conversadon that a second call is cotning in, is considered a convenience in many circumstances, allowing, for exarnple, the interruption of an extended but relatively unimportant 10 call to take an emergency, or long-awaited, priority call. However, there areseveral problems with the call waiting feature. Many customers would prefer not to have their telephone conversations interrupted, particularly by frequent roudne or unwanted calls; customers with call waiting tend to interrupt a call to find out who is making a second call. If a customer with call waiting chooses to leave a 15 second call unanswered, the second caller hears ringing and is unaware that the called party is busy on the telephone. The second caller may unnecessarily defera subsequent call attempt based on the mistaken irnpression that the called party is not at home. Further, a call waiting interruption of a computer terminal data communication session is particularly undesirable. A customer may deactivate 20 call waiting for such data sessions, but undesirably loses the benefit of call waiting interrupdon for important incoming calls for the duration of each, typically lengthy, data session.
In view of the foregoing, a recognized problem in the art is the failure of existing call waiting features to inform calling parties of the true call state at 25 the called station so that unnecessary call interruptions and call attempt deferrals are minimized.
Solution The foregoing problem is solved and a technical advance is achieved in accordance with the principles of the invention in an exemplary, improved call 30 waiting arrangement where a caller is free to exercise discretion in interrupting ongoing telephone calls because the caller is prompted, for example via an audible announcement, that the called party is busy on another call but that the caller may request interruption of the call by remaining off-hook. If the caller believes that 13~ 15~5 his call is sufficiendy important, he requests call interruption by remaining off-hook. If dhe caller chooses not to interrupt, he may make subsequent call attempts prompdy, because he knows that the called party is busy on another call rather than being away from home. Alternatively, the caller may activate auto-callback 5 such that a call is completed between the two parties as soon as the status of the called station returns to on-hook.
In accordance widh the invention, a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station is processed by determining whether call waiting is assigned to the called station and dle called station is busy. If it is 10 determined that call waiting is assigned to dhe called station and the called station is busy, signaling is perforrned to inform a caller at the calling station of the busy status of dhe called station.
In an exemplary switching arrangement described herein, the signaling comprises an audible announcement comprising a recording of the voice of a 15 customer expected to answer calls to dhe called station. The announcement prompts dhe caller dlat he may request interruption of an ongoing call by remaining off-hook or he may request auto-callback. The switching arrangement responds to an interrupt request by determining whether dle call is a toll call. I~
the call is a toll call, an interrupt tone is transmitted to the called sta~ion ~at is 20 dishnctive ~rom an interrupt tone for a local call. The switching a~angement responds to an auto-callback request and to a retu~n to an idle status of ~e called sta~on by complehng a call between the called and the calling stahons.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing a call from a calling 25 communication station to a called communication station comprising in response to said call, determining whether call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, in response to a determination that call waiting is assigned to said called station and said 30 called station is busy, signaling to prompt a caller for a request to interrupt an ongoing call at said called station and to prompt a caller for an auto-callback request, in response to receipt of an interrupt request from said calling station, transmitting an interrupt signal to said 35 called station, after said transmitting, establishing a connection between said calling and called stations only in response to receipt of a signal from said called station, - 2a -and in response to receipt of an auto-callback request from said calling station and to a return to an idle status of said called station, initiating a new call between said called and calling stations.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a switching arrangement for processing calls among a plurality of communication stations, said arrange-ment comprising means, responsive to a call from a calling one of said stations to a called one of said stations, for determining whether call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, means responsive to a determination by said determining means that call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, for signaling to prompt a caller for a request to interrupt an ongoing call at said called station and to prompt a caller for an auto-callback request, means, res-ponsive to receipt of an interrupt request from said calling station, for transmitting an interrupt signal to said called station, means for esta~lishing a connection between said calling and called stations only in response to receipt of a signal from said called station after transmission of said interrupt signal by said transmitting means, and means responsive to receipt of an auto-callback request from said ~5 calling station and to a return to an idle status of said called station, for initiating a new call between said called and calling stations.
Drawinq Descri~tion FIG. 1 is a diagram of a switching arrangement implementing an 30 exemplary, improved call waiting feature in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a memory map for memory facilities included in a control portion of the switching aIrangement of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3 and 4 comprise a flow chart for a program used to effect call waiting in the arran"ement of FIG. 1; and FIGS.5, 6 and 7 comprise a flow chart for an alternative call waiting prograIn.
Detailed Description In FIG. 1~ switching arrangement 1000 includes local switches 1100 and 1200, toll switch 1300 and common channel signaling network 1400. An exarnple of local switch 1100 or 1200 is disclosed in U. S. Patent 3,570,008 1~1 1545 issued to R. W. Downing, et al., on ~arch 9, 1971, and The Bell System Technical Journal, Vol. 43, No. 5, Parts 1 and 2 of September, 1964. An example of toll switch 1300 is disclosed in U. S. Patent 3,736,381 issued to G. D. Johnson, et al., on May 29, 1973. Switches 1100, 1200, and 1300 are connected together 5 and to other switches via a common channel signaling network 1400 such as thatdescribed in The Bell System Technical Journal, Vol. 57, No. 2 of February, 1978.
Network 1400 provides high-speed data transmission between the control facilities of switches 1100, 1200 and 1300 to carry all signaling, address, and network control information independently of the inter-switch talking paths. For instance, 10 this information includes the identity of trunks used by customers as well as calling and called party identification.
Local switch 1100 includes a switching network 1110 interconnecting a plurality of analog station sets such as 1101 and 1102 under the control of a control arrangement 1120 including a processor 1122 and associated 15 memory 1125. Memory 1125 (FIG. 2) includes storage for static and dynamic data as well as the call processing prograrns used to control the operation of switch 1100. Also specifically shown is anr.ouncement unit 1130 which is used inaccordance with the present invention to play advisory announcemented to callersat analog stations sets 1101 and 1102, or to callers connected via local 20 switch 1200 or toll switch 1300.
A flow chart for a call processing program s~ored in memory 1125 and executed by processor 1122 to implement an illustrative, improved call waiting arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown in FlGS. 3 and 4.
Execution of the program is initiated either in response to a call origination from a 25 station on switch 1100 or in response to receipt of a message from another switch concerning an incoming inter-switch call. Execution begins with block 301û
where translation data is read from the static data section of memory 1125 to determine the identity of the called station based on the address inforrnation provided by the caller. Once the called station has been determined, execution 30 proceeds to decision block 3020 where the station busy/idle data is read from the dynamic data section of memory 1125 to deterrnine whether the called station is busy. If the check indicates that the called station is not busy, execution proceeds from block 3020 to block 3030 where a connection is completed to the called station. However, if the check made in block 3020 indicates that the called 35 station is busy, execution proceeds from block 3020 to decision block 3040 where 1 3 ~i 1 545 the feature assignment data is read from the stalic data section of memory 1125 to determine whether the irnproved call waiting feature has been assigned to the called station. If the check indicates that the called station has not been assigned the improved call waiting feature, execution proceeds from block 3040 to 5 block 3050 where busy treatment is provided to the caller. However, if the check made in block 3040 indicates that the called station has been assigned the improved call waiting feature, execution proceeds from block 3040 to block 3060 where the prior call waiting data is read from the dynarnic data section of memory 1125 to determine whether a prior call waiting call is in progress at the10 called station. If the check indicates that a prior call waiting call is in progress, execution proceeds from block 3060 to block 3050 where busy treatment is provided to the caller. However, if the check made in block 3060 indicates that there is no prior call waiting call in progress at the called station, executionproceeds from decision block 3060 to block 3070 where the calling station is 15 connected to announcement unit 1130. Announcement unit 1130 transmits an audible announcement to thç ca]ler, for example, a recording of the voice of a customer expected to answer calls to the called station. The announcement informs the caller of the busy status of the called station. The announcement also prompts the caller indicating that the caller may request interruption of an ongoing 20 call at the called station by maintaining an off-hook state of the calling station.
Once the announcement has been completed, execution proceeds from block 3070 to block 3080 and announcement unit 1130 is disconnected from the calling station. Execution then proceeds ~o decision block 3090 where the line connectedto the calling station is monitored to deterrnine whether the caller requests call 25 interruption by remaining off-hook for more than a predetermined time, e.g., 10 seconds. If the caller does not remain off-hook for more than the predetermined time, execution proceeds from block 3090 to block 3100 where the call is disconnected. However, if the caller remains off-hook for more than the predetermined time, execution proceeds from block 3090 to decision block 3110 30 where the call record data stored in the dynamic data seclion of memoly 1125 is read to determine whether the incoming call is a toll call. If the check indicates that the call is a toll call, execution proceeds from block 3110 to block 3130 where an interrupt tone is transmitted to the called station that is distinctive from an interrupt tone for a local call. If the check indicates that the call is not a toll 35 call, execution proceeds from block 3110 to block 3120 where an intelrupt tone - ~ 3 ~ ~ 5 45 for a local call is transmitted to the called station. Execution proceeds from either of the blocks 3120 or 3130 to a decision block 3140 where the line to the calledstation is monitored to determine whether the called party interrupts the ongoing conversation to take the incoming call by the appropriate station signaling 5 procedure for such interruption. If the caller does not interrupt, execution proceeds from block 3140 to block 3160 where the incoming call is thereafter disconnected when the caller goes on-hook. However, if the caller does interrupt, execution proceeds from block 3140 to block 3150 and a connection is completed between the calling and called stations. The parties can now communicate.
A flow chart for a call processing program stored in memory 1125 and executed by processor 1122 to implement an alternative, improved call waiting arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Execution of the program is initiated either in response to a call origination from a station on switch 1100 or in response to receipt of a message15 from another switch concerning an incoming inter-switch call. Execution begins with block 4010 where translation data is read from the static data section of memory 1125 to deterrnine the identity of the called station based on the address information provided by the caller. Once the called station has been determined,execution proceeds to decision block 4020 where the station busy/idle data is read 20 from the dynamic data secdon of memory 1125 to determine whether the called station is busy. If the check indicates that the called stadon is not busy, execution proceeds from block 4020 to block 4030 where a connection is completed to the called stadon. However, if the check made in block 4020 indicates that the called station is busy, execution proceeds from block 4020 to decision block 4040 where25 the feature assignment data is read from the stadc data section of memory 1125 to determine whether the irnproved call waiting feature has been assigned to the called stadon. If the check indicates that the called stadon has not been assigned the improved call waiting feature, execudon proceeds from block 4040 to block 4050 where busy treatment is provided to the caller. However, if the check30 made in block 4040 indicates that the called station has been assigned the improved call waiting feature, execudon proceeds from block 4040 to block 4060 where the prior call waiting data is read from the dynamic data section of memory 1125 to deterrnine whether a prior call waiting call is in progress at the called stadon. If the check indicates that a prior call waiting call is in progress, 35 execution proceeds from block 4060 to block 4050 where busy treatment is 13~ 1545 provided to the caller. However, if ehe check made in block 4060 indicates that there is no prior call waiting call in progress at the called station, executionproceeds from decision block 4060 to block 4070 where the calling station is connected to announcement unit 1130. Announcement unit 1130 transmits an 5 audible announcement to the caller, for example, a recording of the voice of acustomer expected to answer calls to the called station. The announcement informs the caller of the busy status of the called station. The announcement also prompts the caller indicating that the caller may request interrupeion of an ongoing call at the called station by maintaining an off-hook state of the calling station or 10 may activate an auto-call back feature if such such feature is assigned to the calling station. Once the announcement has been completed, execution proceeds from block 4070 to block 4080 and announcement unit 1130 is disconnected from the calling station. Execution then proceeds to branch block 4090 where the lineconnected to the calling station is monitored to determine which of three events15 occurs: 1) ehe caller returns the calling station to an on-hook status within a predetermined time, e.g., 10 seconds, 2) the caller activates auto-call back using the appropriate station set signaling procedure, or 3) the caller requests call interluption by remaining off-hook for more than the predetermined time. If the caller does not remain off-hook for more ~han the predetermined time, execution proceeds from block 4090 to block 4100 where the call is disconnected. If the caller remains off-hook for more than the predetermined time, execution proceedsfrom block 4090 to decision block 4110 (FIG. 7) where the call record data stored in the dynamic data section of memory 1125 is read to deterrnine whether the incorning call is a toll call. If the check indicates that the call is a toll call, 25 execution proceeds f~rom block 4110 to block 4130 where an interrupt tone is transmitted to the called station that is distinctive from an interrupt tone for a local call. If the check indicates that the call is not a toll call, execution proceeds from block 4110 to block 4120 where an interrupt tone for a local call is transmitted to ~he called station. Execution proceeds from either of the 30 blocks 4120 or 4130 to a decision block 4140 where the line to the called station is monitored to determine whether the called party interrupts the ongoing conversation to take the incoming call by the appropriate station signaling procedure for such interruption. If the caller does not interrupt, execution proceeds from block 4140 to block 4160 where the incoming call is thereafter 35 disconnected when the caller goes on-hook. However, if the caller does interrupt, 1J~ 1~4~i execution proceeds from block 4140 to block 4150 and a connection is completed between the calling and called stations. The parties can now communicate.
Returning to branch block 4090 (FIG. 5), if the caller activates auto-callback, execution proceeds instead to block 4210 (FIG. 6) where the line to the 5 called station is checked to determine whether the called station has been returned to an on-hook status. If the check indicates that the called station has not been returned to on-hook status, execution proceeds from block 4210 to decision block 4230 where a check is made to determine whether the caller has subsequently deactivated the auto-callback feature. If the auto-callback feature has 10 been deactivated, processing of the call is completed. However, if the auto-callback feature remains active, execution is returned from block 4230 back to block 4210. Once a check made in block 4210 indicates that the called station has been returned to on-hook status, execution proceeds from block 4210 to block 4220 and a call is completed between the called and calling stations. The 15 two parties can now cornmunicate.
Technical Field . . .
This invention relates to telecommunication call processing.
Back~round and Problem As stored program-controlled switching systems have evolved, a wide 5 variety of useful features have been developed to extend the communication capabilities such systems provide. Call waiting, a feature that uses a beep tone to inform a customer already engaged in an ongoing telephone conversadon that a second call is cotning in, is considered a convenience in many circumstances, allowing, for exarnple, the interruption of an extended but relatively unimportant 10 call to take an emergency, or long-awaited, priority call. However, there areseveral problems with the call waiting feature. Many customers would prefer not to have their telephone conversations interrupted, particularly by frequent roudne or unwanted calls; customers with call waiting tend to interrupt a call to find out who is making a second call. If a customer with call waiting chooses to leave a 15 second call unanswered, the second caller hears ringing and is unaware that the called party is busy on the telephone. The second caller may unnecessarily defera subsequent call attempt based on the mistaken irnpression that the called party is not at home. Further, a call waiting interruption of a computer terminal data communication session is particularly undesirable. A customer may deactivate 20 call waiting for such data sessions, but undesirably loses the benefit of call waiting interrupdon for important incoming calls for the duration of each, typically lengthy, data session.
In view of the foregoing, a recognized problem in the art is the failure of existing call waiting features to inform calling parties of the true call state at 25 the called station so that unnecessary call interruptions and call attempt deferrals are minimized.
Solution The foregoing problem is solved and a technical advance is achieved in accordance with the principles of the invention in an exemplary, improved call 30 waiting arrangement where a caller is free to exercise discretion in interrupting ongoing telephone calls because the caller is prompted, for example via an audible announcement, that the called party is busy on another call but that the caller may request interruption of the call by remaining off-hook. If the caller believes that 13~ 15~5 his call is sufficiendy important, he requests call interruption by remaining off-hook. If dhe caller chooses not to interrupt, he may make subsequent call attempts prompdy, because he knows that the called party is busy on another call rather than being away from home. Alternatively, the caller may activate auto-callback 5 such that a call is completed between the two parties as soon as the status of the called station returns to on-hook.
In accordance widh the invention, a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station is processed by determining whether call waiting is assigned to the called station and dle called station is busy. If it is 10 determined that call waiting is assigned to dhe called station and the called station is busy, signaling is perforrned to inform a caller at the calling station of the busy status of dhe called station.
In an exemplary switching arrangement described herein, the signaling comprises an audible announcement comprising a recording of the voice of a 15 customer expected to answer calls to dhe called station. The announcement prompts dhe caller dlat he may request interruption of an ongoing call by remaining off-hook or he may request auto-callback. The switching arrangement responds to an interrupt request by determining whether dle call is a toll call. I~
the call is a toll call, an interrupt tone is transmitted to the called sta~ion ~at is 20 dishnctive ~rom an interrupt tone for a local call. The switching a~angement responds to an auto-callback request and to a retu~n to an idle status of ~e called sta~on by complehng a call between the called and the calling stahons.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing a call from a calling 25 communication station to a called communication station comprising in response to said call, determining whether call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, in response to a determination that call waiting is assigned to said called station and said 30 called station is busy, signaling to prompt a caller for a request to interrupt an ongoing call at said called station and to prompt a caller for an auto-callback request, in response to receipt of an interrupt request from said calling station, transmitting an interrupt signal to said 35 called station, after said transmitting, establishing a connection between said calling and called stations only in response to receipt of a signal from said called station, - 2a -and in response to receipt of an auto-callback request from said calling station and to a return to an idle status of said called station, initiating a new call between said called and calling stations.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a switching arrangement for processing calls among a plurality of communication stations, said arrange-ment comprising means, responsive to a call from a calling one of said stations to a called one of said stations, for determining whether call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, means responsive to a determination by said determining means that call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, for signaling to prompt a caller for a request to interrupt an ongoing call at said called station and to prompt a caller for an auto-callback request, means, res-ponsive to receipt of an interrupt request from said calling station, for transmitting an interrupt signal to said called station, means for esta~lishing a connection between said calling and called stations only in response to receipt of a signal from said called station after transmission of said interrupt signal by said transmitting means, and means responsive to receipt of an auto-callback request from said ~5 calling station and to a return to an idle status of said called station, for initiating a new call between said called and calling stations.
Drawinq Descri~tion FIG. 1 is a diagram of a switching arrangement implementing an 30 exemplary, improved call waiting feature in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a memory map for memory facilities included in a control portion of the switching aIrangement of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3 and 4 comprise a flow chart for a program used to effect call waiting in the arran"ement of FIG. 1; and FIGS.5, 6 and 7 comprise a flow chart for an alternative call waiting prograIn.
Detailed Description In FIG. 1~ switching arrangement 1000 includes local switches 1100 and 1200, toll switch 1300 and common channel signaling network 1400. An exarnple of local switch 1100 or 1200 is disclosed in U. S. Patent 3,570,008 1~1 1545 issued to R. W. Downing, et al., on ~arch 9, 1971, and The Bell System Technical Journal, Vol. 43, No. 5, Parts 1 and 2 of September, 1964. An example of toll switch 1300 is disclosed in U. S. Patent 3,736,381 issued to G. D. Johnson, et al., on May 29, 1973. Switches 1100, 1200, and 1300 are connected together 5 and to other switches via a common channel signaling network 1400 such as thatdescribed in The Bell System Technical Journal, Vol. 57, No. 2 of February, 1978.
Network 1400 provides high-speed data transmission between the control facilities of switches 1100, 1200 and 1300 to carry all signaling, address, and network control information independently of the inter-switch talking paths. For instance, 10 this information includes the identity of trunks used by customers as well as calling and called party identification.
Local switch 1100 includes a switching network 1110 interconnecting a plurality of analog station sets such as 1101 and 1102 under the control of a control arrangement 1120 including a processor 1122 and associated 15 memory 1125. Memory 1125 (FIG. 2) includes storage for static and dynamic data as well as the call processing prograrns used to control the operation of switch 1100. Also specifically shown is anr.ouncement unit 1130 which is used inaccordance with the present invention to play advisory announcemented to callersat analog stations sets 1101 and 1102, or to callers connected via local 20 switch 1200 or toll switch 1300.
A flow chart for a call processing program s~ored in memory 1125 and executed by processor 1122 to implement an illustrative, improved call waiting arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown in FlGS. 3 and 4.
Execution of the program is initiated either in response to a call origination from a 25 station on switch 1100 or in response to receipt of a message from another switch concerning an incoming inter-switch call. Execution begins with block 301û
where translation data is read from the static data section of memory 1125 to determine the identity of the called station based on the address inforrnation provided by the caller. Once the called station has been determined, execution 30 proceeds to decision block 3020 where the station busy/idle data is read from the dynamic data section of memory 1125 to deterrnine whether the called station is busy. If the check indicates that the called station is not busy, execution proceeds from block 3020 to block 3030 where a connection is completed to the called station. However, if the check made in block 3020 indicates that the called 35 station is busy, execution proceeds from block 3020 to decision block 3040 where 1 3 ~i 1 545 the feature assignment data is read from the stalic data section of memory 1125 to determine whether the irnproved call waiting feature has been assigned to the called station. If the check indicates that the called station has not been assigned the improved call waiting feature, execution proceeds from block 3040 to 5 block 3050 where busy treatment is provided to the caller. However, if the check made in block 3040 indicates that the called station has been assigned the improved call waiting feature, execution proceeds from block 3040 to block 3060 where the prior call waiting data is read from the dynarnic data section of memory 1125 to determine whether a prior call waiting call is in progress at the10 called station. If the check indicates that a prior call waiting call is in progress, execution proceeds from block 3060 to block 3050 where busy treatment is provided to the caller. However, if the check made in block 3060 indicates that there is no prior call waiting call in progress at the called station, executionproceeds from decision block 3060 to block 3070 where the calling station is 15 connected to announcement unit 1130. Announcement unit 1130 transmits an audible announcement to thç ca]ler, for example, a recording of the voice of a customer expected to answer calls to the called station. The announcement informs the caller of the busy status of the called station. The announcement also prompts the caller indicating that the caller may request interruption of an ongoing 20 call at the called station by maintaining an off-hook state of the calling station.
Once the announcement has been completed, execution proceeds from block 3070 to block 3080 and announcement unit 1130 is disconnected from the calling station. Execution then proceeds ~o decision block 3090 where the line connectedto the calling station is monitored to deterrnine whether the caller requests call 25 interruption by remaining off-hook for more than a predetermined time, e.g., 10 seconds. If the caller does not remain off-hook for more than the predetermined time, execution proceeds from block 3090 to block 3100 where the call is disconnected. However, if the caller remains off-hook for more than the predetermined time, execution proceeds from block 3090 to decision block 3110 30 where the call record data stored in the dynamic data seclion of memoly 1125 is read to determine whether the incoming call is a toll call. If the check indicates that the call is a toll call, execution proceeds from block 3110 to block 3130 where an interrupt tone is transmitted to the called station that is distinctive from an interrupt tone for a local call. If the check indicates that the call is not a toll 35 call, execution proceeds from block 3110 to block 3120 where an intelrupt tone - ~ 3 ~ ~ 5 45 for a local call is transmitted to the called station. Execution proceeds from either of the blocks 3120 or 3130 to a decision block 3140 where the line to the calledstation is monitored to determine whether the called party interrupts the ongoing conversation to take the incoming call by the appropriate station signaling 5 procedure for such interruption. If the caller does not interrupt, execution proceeds from block 3140 to block 3160 where the incoming call is thereafter disconnected when the caller goes on-hook. However, if the caller does interrupt, execution proceeds from block 3140 to block 3150 and a connection is completed between the calling and called stations. The parties can now communicate.
A flow chart for a call processing program stored in memory 1125 and executed by processor 1122 to implement an alternative, improved call waiting arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Execution of the program is initiated either in response to a call origination from a station on switch 1100 or in response to receipt of a message15 from another switch concerning an incoming inter-switch call. Execution begins with block 4010 where translation data is read from the static data section of memory 1125 to deterrnine the identity of the called station based on the address information provided by the caller. Once the called station has been determined,execution proceeds to decision block 4020 where the station busy/idle data is read 20 from the dynamic data secdon of memory 1125 to determine whether the called station is busy. If the check indicates that the called stadon is not busy, execution proceeds from block 4020 to block 4030 where a connection is completed to the called stadon. However, if the check made in block 4020 indicates that the called station is busy, execution proceeds from block 4020 to decision block 4040 where25 the feature assignment data is read from the stadc data section of memory 1125 to determine whether the irnproved call waiting feature has been assigned to the called stadon. If the check indicates that the called stadon has not been assigned the improved call waiting feature, execudon proceeds from block 4040 to block 4050 where busy treatment is provided to the caller. However, if the check30 made in block 4040 indicates that the called station has been assigned the improved call waiting feature, execudon proceeds from block 4040 to block 4060 where the prior call waiting data is read from the dynamic data section of memory 1125 to deterrnine whether a prior call waiting call is in progress at the called stadon. If the check indicates that a prior call waiting call is in progress, 35 execution proceeds from block 4060 to block 4050 where busy treatment is 13~ 1545 provided to the caller. However, if ehe check made in block 4060 indicates that there is no prior call waiting call in progress at the called station, executionproceeds from decision block 4060 to block 4070 where the calling station is connected to announcement unit 1130. Announcement unit 1130 transmits an 5 audible announcement to the caller, for example, a recording of the voice of acustomer expected to answer calls to the called station. The announcement informs the caller of the busy status of the called station. The announcement also prompts the caller indicating that the caller may request interrupeion of an ongoing call at the called station by maintaining an off-hook state of the calling station or 10 may activate an auto-call back feature if such such feature is assigned to the calling station. Once the announcement has been completed, execution proceeds from block 4070 to block 4080 and announcement unit 1130 is disconnected from the calling station. Execution then proceeds to branch block 4090 where the lineconnected to the calling station is monitored to determine which of three events15 occurs: 1) ehe caller returns the calling station to an on-hook status within a predetermined time, e.g., 10 seconds, 2) the caller activates auto-call back using the appropriate station set signaling procedure, or 3) the caller requests call interluption by remaining off-hook for more than the predetermined time. If the caller does not remain off-hook for more ~han the predetermined time, execution proceeds from block 4090 to block 4100 where the call is disconnected. If the caller remains off-hook for more than the predetermined time, execution proceedsfrom block 4090 to decision block 4110 (FIG. 7) where the call record data stored in the dynamic data section of memory 1125 is read to deterrnine whether the incorning call is a toll call. If the check indicates that the call is a toll call, 25 execution proceeds f~rom block 4110 to block 4130 where an interrupt tone is transmitted to the called station that is distinctive from an interrupt tone for a local call. If the check indicates that the call is not a toll call, execution proceeds from block 4110 to block 4120 where an interrupt tone for a local call is transmitted to ~he called station. Execution proceeds from either of the 30 blocks 4120 or 4130 to a decision block 4140 where the line to the called station is monitored to determine whether the called party interrupts the ongoing conversation to take the incoming call by the appropriate station signaling procedure for such interruption. If the caller does not interrupt, execution proceeds from block 4140 to block 4160 where the incoming call is thereafter 35 disconnected when the caller goes on-hook. However, if the caller does interrupt, 1J~ 1~4~i execution proceeds from block 4140 to block 4150 and a connection is completed between the calling and called stations. The parties can now communicate.
Returning to branch block 4090 (FIG. 5), if the caller activates auto-callback, execution proceeds instead to block 4210 (FIG. 6) where the line to the 5 called station is checked to determine whether the called station has been returned to an on-hook status. If the check indicates that the called station has not been returned to on-hook status, execution proceeds from block 4210 to decision block 4230 where a check is made to determine whether the caller has subsequently deactivated the auto-callback feature. If the auto-callback feature has 10 been deactivated, processing of the call is completed. However, if the auto-callback feature remains active, execution is returned from block 4230 back to block 4210. Once a check made in block 4210 indicates that the called station has been returned to on-hook status, execution proceeds from block 4210 to block 4220 and a call is completed between the called and calling stations. The 15 two parties can now cornmunicate.
Claims (12)
1. A method of processing a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station comprising in response to said call, determining whether call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, in response to a determination that call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, signaling to prompt a caller for a request to interrupt an ongoing call at said called station and to prompt a caller for an auto-callback request, in response to receipt of an interrupt request from said calling station, transmitting an interrupt signal to said called station, after said transmitting, establishing a connection between said calling and called stations only in response to receipt of a signal from said called station, and in response to receipt of an auto-callback request from said calling station and to a return to an idle status of said called station, initiating a new call between said called and calling stations.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signaling step comprises transmitting a message to said calling station.
3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said message comprises an audible announcement transmitted to said caller.
4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said announcement prompts said caller at said calling station that said caller may request interruption of an ongoing call at said called station by maintaining an off-hook state of said calling station.
5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said announcement comprises a recording of the voice of a customer expected to answer calls to said called station.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising in response to receipt of signaling from said calling station representing an on-hook state of said calling station, discontinuing processing of said first mentioned call.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said interrupt request comprises signaling representing an off-hook state of said calling station.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said interrupt request comprises signaling representing a continued off-hook state of said calling station for more than a predetermined time.
9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said interrupt signal comprises a call waiting tone.
10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising in response to receipt of said interrupt request from said calling station, determining whether said first-mentioned call is a toll call, in response to a determination that said first-mentioned call is a toll call, transmitting an interrupt tone to said called station that is distinctive from an interrupt tone for a local call.
11. A switching arrangement for processing calls among a plurality of communication stations, said arrangement comprising means, responsive to a call from a calling one of said stations to a called one of said stations, for determining whether call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, means, responsive to a determination by said determining means that call waiting is assigned to said called station and said called station is busy, for signaling to prompt a caller for a request to interrupt an ongoing call at said called station and to prompt a caller for an auto-callback request, means, responsive to receipt of an interrupt request from said calling station, for transmitting an interrupt signal to said called station, means for establishing a connection between said calling and called stations only in response to receipt of a signal from said called station after transmission of said interrupt signal by said transmitting means, and means responsive to receipt of an auto-callback request from said calling station and to a return to an idle status of said called station, for initiating a new call between said called and calling stations.
12. A method of processing a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station comprising:
in response to receiving said call, determining whether a call waiting feature is assigned to said called station, and whether said called station is busy, and whether said call is a toll call; and in response to determining that said called station is busy, has a call waiting feature assigned thereto, and that said call is a toll call, signalling to said called station via a special tone, different from a call waiting tone for a local call, that a toll call is waiting.
in response to receiving said call, determining whether a call waiting feature is assigned to said called station, and whether said called station is busy, and whether said call is a toll call; and in response to determining that said called station is busy, has a call waiting feature assigned thereto, and that said call is a toll call, signalling to said called station via a special tone, different from a call waiting tone for a local call, that a toll call is waiting.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/137,040 US4947421A (en) | 1987-12-23 | 1987-12-23 | Call waiting arrangement providing options to both a subsequent calling party and to the called party |
| US137,040 | 1987-12-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1311545C true CA1311545C (en) | 1992-12-15 |
Family
ID=22475557
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000585765A Expired - Fee Related CA1311545C (en) | 1987-12-23 | 1988-12-13 | Call waiting arrangement |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US4947421A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1311545C (en) |
Families Citing this family (50)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5375161A (en) | 1984-09-14 | 1994-12-20 | Accessline Technologies, Inc. | Telephone control system with branch routing |
| US5752191A (en) | 1984-09-14 | 1998-05-12 | Accessline Technologies, Inc. | Telephone control system which connects a caller with a subscriber AT A telephone address |
| US6201950B1 (en) | 1984-09-14 | 2001-03-13 | Aspect Telecommunications Corporation | Computer-controlled paging and telephone communication system and method |
| US5588037A (en) | 1984-09-14 | 1996-12-24 | Accessline Technologies, Inc. | Remote access telephone control system |
| US5825867A (en) * | 1984-09-14 | 1998-10-20 | Aspect Telecommunications Corporation | Enhanced call waiting |
| US5034975A (en) * | 1989-12-21 | 1991-07-23 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Voice announcement device for improving functionality of multi-line telephones |
| US5159626A (en) * | 1990-07-10 | 1992-10-27 | Execudyne Ltd. | Multi-line telephone switching system |
| US5191607A (en) * | 1990-10-09 | 1993-03-02 | Motorola, Inc. | Ring tone muting with disable |
| US5287551A (en) * | 1990-11-13 | 1994-02-15 | Motorola, Inc. | Radio communication apparatus and method for voice channel busy call back |
| DE59209259D1 (en) * | 1991-09-30 | 1998-05-07 | Siemens Ag | Method for operating a program-controlled communication system, in which a connection request is signaled to several communication terminals at the same time |
| US5521965A (en) * | 1992-08-14 | 1996-05-28 | Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. | Apparatus and method for handling busy calls in telephone network |
| JP2908162B2 (en) * | 1993-02-24 | 1999-06-21 | 日本電気通信システム株式会社 | Incoming call display method and Incoming call display method |
| CA2090997A1 (en) * | 1993-03-04 | 1994-09-05 | Debbie Pinard | Call waiting announcement |
| US5668861A (en) * | 1993-12-23 | 1997-09-16 | Gte Laboratories Incorporated | Telecommunications system with notification hold |
| US6026156A (en) | 1994-03-18 | 2000-02-15 | Aspect Telecommunications Corporation | Enhanced call waiting |
| CA2148023C (en) * | 1994-07-01 | 1999-01-19 | Jerry Eisdorfer | Intelligent call waiting |
| CA2159383C (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 1999-01-12 | Bruce Merrill Bales | Automatic call back under control of a telephone terminal |
| US6477248B1 (en) * | 1995-06-02 | 2002-11-05 | Teleport Communications Group Inc. | Multi-line station interface |
| US5903643A (en) * | 1995-06-02 | 1999-05-11 | Teleport Communications Group, Inc. | Multi-line station interface |
| US5805574A (en) * | 1995-07-28 | 1998-09-08 | Motorola, Inc. | Adaptive switch resource allocation in a satellite communication system |
| US5841853A (en) * | 1995-09-07 | 1998-11-24 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Telephone apparatus with interrupt call processing capability |
| US6411682B1 (en) | 1995-09-21 | 2002-06-25 | Aspect Telecommunications Corporation | Computer controlled paging and telephone communication system and method |
| US5809128A (en) * | 1996-11-01 | 1998-09-15 | Interactive Telecom Inc. | Method and apparatus permitting notification and control of blocked incoming calls over a data network |
| KR100222783B1 (en) * | 1996-06-27 | 1999-10-01 | 윤종용 | Line call handling method in a switching system |
| US5974131A (en) * | 1996-07-17 | 1999-10-26 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | Call forwarding on busy or no answer when call waiting is active |
| US5764748A (en) * | 1996-09-30 | 1998-06-09 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Advanced call waiting processing |
| US6104800A (en) * | 1996-11-12 | 2000-08-15 | Mediaone Group, Inc. | Method for providing call waiting notification to a party engaged in a data call |
| KR100241190B1 (en) * | 1996-12-31 | 2000-02-01 | 강병호 | Call holding method in personal communicatoin exchange |
| US6263366B1 (en) | 1996-12-31 | 2001-07-17 | Mci Communications Corporation | System and method therefor of translating a message having a given format for usage in an operations system |
| US6404858B1 (en) | 1997-03-28 | 2002-06-11 | Verizon Services Corp. | Personal dial tone service with personalized call waiting |
| FI971571A (en) * | 1997-04-14 | 1998-10-15 | Nokia Telecommunications Oy | Knocking at call connection |
| US6310946B1 (en) | 1997-04-23 | 2001-10-30 | At&T Corp | Method for interrupting a telephone call after receiving a busy signal |
| AU7387798A (en) * | 1997-05-23 | 1998-12-11 | Mci Communications Corporation | Method and apparatus for enhanced call waiting in a telecommunications network |
| US6154644A (en) * | 1998-09-08 | 2000-11-28 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson | System and method of implementing an interactive callback feature in a radio telecommunications network |
| US6798868B1 (en) | 1998-11-02 | 2004-09-28 | Verizon Services Corp. | Call notification service for use with call waiting |
| US6724877B1 (en) | 1999-06-11 | 2004-04-20 | Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. | User specified hold recall treatment |
| US6539079B1 (en) * | 1999-11-12 | 2003-03-25 | Ameritech Corporation | Method and system for providing enhanced call waiting |
| WO2002045395A1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2002-06-06 | Nokia Corporation | Wait-time service in a telecommunications network |
| US6768792B2 (en) * | 2001-12-17 | 2004-07-27 | International Business Machines Corporation | Identifying call parties to a call to an incoming calling party |
| US7295660B1 (en) | 2003-10-23 | 2007-11-13 | Aol Llc | Telemarketer screening |
| US8094800B1 (en) | 2004-12-21 | 2012-01-10 | Aol Inc. | Call treatment based on user association with one or more user groups |
| KR100747450B1 (en) * | 2005-07-22 | 2007-08-09 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Multimedia contents service providing system for wating call connection and a method thereof |
| JP3856043B1 (en) * | 2005-08-12 | 2006-12-13 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Water heater |
| JP3996611B2 (en) * | 2005-08-29 | 2007-10-24 | Ｎｅｃインフロンティア株式会社 | Voice call system for computer terminals |
| EP2117215B1 (en) * | 2008-05-07 | 2017-10-18 | Alcatel Lucent | Method and equipments for establishing communication to a busy subscriber |
| US20100150323A1 (en) * | 2008-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | Plantronics, Inc. | Method of Addressing Time Wastage During Telephone Call Holds |
| US8340631B2 (en) * | 2009-03-24 | 2012-12-25 | T-Mobile Usa, Inc. | Deferred communication and relationship management |
| US20100246791A1 (en) * | 2009-03-24 | 2010-09-30 | T-Mobile Usa, Inc. | Calendar-based return communication |
| US8311203B2 (en) * | 2009-03-24 | 2012-11-13 | T-Mobile Usa, Inc. | User-initiated return communication |
| US9794301B1 (en) * | 2013-06-07 | 2017-10-17 | Noam Urbach | Telephone session initiation system |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3344235A (en) * | 1967-09-26 | Data line switching system having camf on busy line means | ||
| US3517139A (en) * | 1968-05-27 | 1970-06-23 | Wiley Whitney | Auxiliary telephone line circuit for call-waiting service |
| JPS5513177B2 (en) * | 1973-05-21 | 1980-04-07 | ||
| US3889068A (en) * | 1974-06-27 | 1975-06-10 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Camp-on circuitry |
| US3956595A (en) * | 1974-10-03 | 1976-05-11 | Western Electric Company | Circuitry for providing executive ringback in a PBX system |
| US4582956B1 (en) * | 1983-07-12 | 1994-09-20 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Method and apparatus for displaying at a selected station special service information during a silent interval between ringing |
| JPS6126357A (en) * | 1984-07-17 | 1986-02-05 | Nitsuko Ltd | Telephone system with interrupting function |
| US4661975A (en) * | 1985-03-13 | 1987-04-28 | Bell Communications Research, Inc. | Enhanced call-waiting service |
| JPS6226963A (en) * | 1985-07-26 | 1987-02-04 | Nec Corp | Inter-station call waiting setting system |
| US4809321A (en) * | 1986-09-22 | 1989-02-28 | Dytel Corporation | Busy/no-answer call completion equipment |
| KR910003923B1 (en) * | 1988-06-30 | 1991-06-15 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Method transmitting automatic arrangement and out-in ring to a person who in on the line |
| US4922490A (en) * | 1988-08-08 | 1990-05-01 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company | Telephone station set |
-
1987
- 1987-12-23 US US07/137,040 patent/US4947421A/en not_active Ceased
-
1988
- 1988-12-13 CA CA000585765A patent/CA1311545C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1992
- 1992-06-11 US US07/898,767 patent/USRE34735E/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| USRE34735E (en) | 1994-09-20 |
| US4947421A (en) | 1990-08-07 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1311545C (en) | Call waiting arrangement | |
| US5268957A (en) | Automatic call-back "camp-on" service for communication systems | |
| US5481602A (en) | Method and apparatus for alternate destination routing for switching egress customers | |
| US4723273A (en) | Discretionary call forwarding | |
| EP0439927B1 (en) | Enhanced privacy feature for telephone systems | |
| CA1270315A (en) | Busy/no-answer call completion equipment | |
| CA2106238C (en) | Telecommunications answering feature method and apparatus | |
| US5392345A (en) | Work at home ACD agent network | |
| US5608788A (en) | Information display provided to calling party | |
| US6594357B1 (en) | System and method of registering the identity of a telephone terminal in association with the identity of a computer terminal | |
| JPH10513632A (en) | Call notification function for telephone lines connected to the Internet | |
| US6453023B1 (en) | Voice mail intervention | |
| US5844974A (en) | Emergency telephone communications system | |
| JP2868335B2 (en) | Switching system and disconnection notification method in switching system | |
| US6681006B1 (en) | Service activation upon automatic callback and automatic recall expiration | |
| EP1269769B1 (en) | Computer telephony integration | |
| JP3097114B2 (en) | Service control method in communication system, telephone and facsimile apparatus | |
| JPH082068B2 (en) | Call weighting device with automatic answering function | |
| JPH1168952A (en) | System and method for responding call without reporting call originating number | |
| JPS6340063B2 (en) | ||
| CA2319626A1 (en) | System and method for overflow on demand in a telecommunications network | |
| JPH0198358A (en) | Message call processing system for instantaneous connection exchange in busy state of called party | |
| EP1185067A1 (en) | Toll-saver feature implemented by a switching system | |
| JPS6348038A (en) | Exchange network control system | |
| JPS58134541A (en) | Informing system |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |