Prioritized call sessions

• US 10,178,446 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Connelly, Michael, Lewis, Jeffrey, Maharana, Bhagabati, Rubin, Louis, Vetter, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J
• Application Number:
  US15/622,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 379 37, 3792201, 37920101, 370352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/70 Identification of class of calling subscriber

Abstract

A local network call handling device is configured to establish multiple concurrent call sessions between local network end devices and an external network. When a prioritized end device attempts to establish a call session, the call handling device may initially determine if a first call session identifier is available. If so, the call session can be established using that first identifier. If the first identifier is in use for a call session of another end device, the call handling device may either use a different call session identifier for the prioritized end device session or may drop a pre-existing call session to free an identifier for use in connection with the prioritized end device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device and from a prioritized device, a request to access a call connection;

determining that a higher prioritized device is not currently using the call connection;

determining that the call connection is in use by a standard device having a lower priority than the prioritized device;

disconnecting the standard device from the call connection; and

connecting the prioritized device to the call connection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the higher prioritized device has requested to use the call connection; and

disconnecting the prioritized device from the call connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritized device comprises a telephone, and the higher prioritized device comprises an alarm system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritized device and the higher prioritized device are in communication with a line seizure device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the line seizure device is configured to disconnect the prioritized device from the call connection after receiving a signal from the higher prioritized device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the call connection corresponds to a telephone number associated with an alarm system.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, from a prioritized device, a request to access a call connection;

determining that the call connection is in use by a lower prioritized device;

disconnecting the lower prioritized device from the call connection;

connecting the prioritized device to the call connection; and

denying a request for the call connection from a standard device having a lower priority than the lower prioritized device,

wherein the prioritized device is an alarm system, the lower prioritized device is a first telephone, and the standard device is a second telephone.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising seizing, from the lower prioritized device, the call connection.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the prioritized device and the lower prioritized device are in communication with a first interface, and wherein the standard device is in communication with a second interface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first interface corresponds to a higher priority than the second interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first interface comprises an analog interface and the second interface comprises an interface for packet-based communications.

12. A system comprising:

a first device comprising;

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first device to;

receive, from a prioritized device, a request to access a call connection;

determine that a higher prioritized device is not currently using the call connection;

determine that the call connection is in use by a standard device having a lower priority than the prioritized device;

disconnect the standard device from the call connection; and

connect the prioritized device to the call connection; and

the prioritized device comprising;

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the prioritized device to transmit a signal indicating the request to access the call connection.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the prioritized device is an alarm system configured to initiate a telephone call.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the call connection corresponds to a telephone number associated with the alarm system.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first device comprises a standard interface and a prioritized interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the prioritized interface is in communication with a line seizure device.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a line seizure device, wherein the line seizure device is in communication with the prioritized device and the higher prioritized device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the line seizure device comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the line seizure device to disconnect the prioritized device after receiving a signal from the higher prioritized device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the line seizure device is configured to prevent the prioritized device from connecting to the call connection when the higher prioritized device is connected to the call connection.