Call queuing service termination

• US 20010007556A1
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Published: 07/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Verbil, John M., Marks, Martin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,145,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/385
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0464 Primary rate access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13205 Primary rate access, PRI
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13546 Intelligent Peripheral
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0037 involving call modelling techniques, e.g. modifications to the basic call state model [BCSM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/64 : Distributing or queueing

Abstract

Call queuing is implemented in a telecommunications advanced intelligent network. A determination is made that the call has been queued for a determined amount of time. The caller is requested to perform an action to remain in a queue. If the caller does not perform the requested action, the call is dequeued.

Claims

1. A method of terminating call queuing implemented in a telecommunications advanced intelligent network, the method comprising:

placing a call in a queue implemented within the telecommunications network;

determining that the call has been queued for a determined amount of time;

requesting that the caller perform an action to remain in queue; and

if the caller does not perform the requested action, dequeuing the call.

2. A method of terminating call queuing as in

claim 1

Wherein dequeuing the call comprises routing the call to a messaging system within the telecommunications network.

3. A method of terminating call queuing as in

claim 1

wherein dequeuing the call comprises terminating the call.

4. A method of terminating call queuing as in

claim 1

wherein the determined amount of time is a preset amount of time.

5. A method of terminating call queuing as in

claim 1

wherein the determined amount of time is based on the number of calls in the queue.

6. A method of terminating call queuing as in

claim 1

wherein the determined amount of time is based on the time of day.

7. A method of terminating call queuing as in

claim 1

wherein the determined amount of time is based on information about the queued call.

8. A method of terminating call queuing as in

claim 1

wherein calls are queued within an intelligent peripheral, the intelligent peripheral in communication with a central office switch servicing a subscriber to the queue, the intelligent peripheral forwarding a call from the queue to a subscriber line in response to a determination that the subscriber line is idle.

9. A system for terminating call queuing implemented in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having at least one central office switch and a service control point in electrical communication with a plurality of subscriber switches via a signaling network, the system comprising an intelligent peripheral in electrical communication with the central office switch and the service control point, the intelligent peripheral equipped with queuing functionality for each subscriber and operative to place a call to the central office switch for receipt by a subscriber having a call placed in queue in response to a determination that a line associated with the subscriber is idle, the intelligent peripheral requesting that the caller perform an action to remain in queue after determining that the call has been queued for a determined amount of time and, if the caller does not perform the requested action, dequeuing the call.

10. A system for terminating call queuing as in

claim 9

wherein dequeuing the call comprises routing the call to a messaging system within the telecommunications network.

11. A system for terminating call queuing as in

claim 9

wherein dequeuing the call comprises terminating the call.

12. A system for terminating call queuing as in

claim 9

wherein the determined amount of time is a preset amount of time.

13. A system for terminating call queuing as in

claim 9

wherein the determined amount of time is based on the number of calls in the queue.

15. A system for terminating call queuing as in

claim 9

wherein the determined amount of time is based on information about the queued call.

14. A system for terminating call queuing as in claim wherein the determined amount of time is based on the time of day.

16. A method for terminating a queued call from a caller to a subscriber line, the call processed by an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having at least one cental office switch and a service control point (SCP) in electrical communication with a plurality of subscriber switches via a signaling network, the method comprising:

providing an intelligent peripheral in electrical communication with the at least one cental office switch and the SCP, the intelligent peripheral equipped with queuing functionality;

determining that the call has been queued within the intelligent peripheral for a determined amount of time;

requesting that the caller perform an action to remain in queue; and

if the caller does not perform the requested action, dequeuing the call.

17. A method for terminating a queued call as in

claim 16

, the method further comprising:

monitoring the subscriber line to notify the SCP when the line is idle;

placing a call at the intelligent peripheral to the subscriber in response to a determination that the subscriber line is idle;

forwarding answer supervision to the intelligent peripheral in response to the call being answered by the subscriber; and

transferring and connecting the subscriber and the caller at the central office switch.

18. A method for terminating a queued call as in

claim 16

, the method further comprising:

monitoring call signaling to detect a terminating attempt trigger;

launching a query at the SCP for receipt by the intelligent peripheral requesting the queue status of the subscriber line in response to the detected terminating attempt trigger;

forwarding the call to the intelligent peripheral to be added to the queue in response to a determination that the queue is active;

delivering the call to the subscriber and setting a next event list trigger to determine the status of a subscriber line in response to a determination that the queue is empty;

connecting the call to the subscriber line in response to a determination that the line is idle; and

forwarding the call to the intelligent peripheral to be placed in queue in response to a determination that the subscriber line is busy.

19. A method for terminating a queued call as in

claim 16

wherein dequeuing the call comprises routing the call to a messaging system.

20. A method for terminating a queued call as in

claim 16

wherein dequeuing the call comprises terminating the call.

21. A method for terminating a queued call as in

claim 16

wherein the determined amount of time is a preset amount of time.

22. A method for terminating a queued call as in

claim 16

wherein the determined amount of time is based on the number of calls in the queue.

23. A method for terminating a queued call as in

claim 16

wherein the determined amount of time is based on the time of day.

24. A method for terminating a queued call as in

claim 16

wherein the determined amount of time is based on information about the queued call.

25. For use in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) equipped with terminating attempt trigger (TAT) capability, the AIN having at least one central office switch and a service control point (SCP) in electrical communication with a plurality of subscriber switches via a signaling network, a method of terminating queuing of a telephone call from a caller to a subscriber telephone line comprising:

providing an intelligent peripheral in electrical communication with the central office switch and the SCP, the intelligent peripheral equipped with queuing functionality for each of the subscribers;

monitoring signaling to detect a TAT trigger;

generating a first electrical signal for receipt by the SCP in response to the detected TAT trigger;

generating a second electrical signal at the SCP for receipt by the intelligent peripheral requesting status of a queue associated with the subscriber line;

generating a third electrical signal at the SCP for receipt by the subscriber switch instructing the subscriber switch to forward the call to the intelligent peripheral to be added to the queue in response to a determination that the queue is active;

determining that the call has been queued in the intelligent peripheral for a determined amount of time;

requesting that the caller perform an action to remain in queue; and

if the caller does not perform the requested action, dequeuing the call.

26. The method of

claim 25

wherein the AIN is further equipped with Next Event List (NEL) functionality, the method further comprising:

generating a fourth electrical signal at the SCP for receipt by the subscriber switch instructing the subscriber switch to deliver the call to the subscriber and to set a NEL to determine the status of the subscriber line in response to a determination that the queue is empty; and

connecting the call to the subscriber line in response to a determination that the subscriber line is idle.

27. The method of

claim 25

further comprising:

generating a fifth electrical signal at the subscriber switch for receipt by the SCP in response to a determination that the subscriber line is busy;

generating a sixth electrical signal at the SCP for receipt by the subscriber switch instructing the subscriber switch to forward the call to the intelligent peripheral to be placed in the queue;

generating a seventh electrical signal at the SCP for receipt by the subscriber switch instructing the subscriber switch to set a monitor on the subscriber line and to notify the SCP when the line is idle;

generating an eighth electrical signal at the subscriber switch for receipt by the SCP in response to a determination that the subscriber line is idle;

generating a ninth electrical signal at the SCP for receipt by the intelligent peripheral instructing the intelligent peripheral to call the subscriber via the central office switch;

generating a tenth electrical signal at the central office switch for receipt by the intelligent peripheral to forward answer supervision to the intelligent peripheral in response to the call being answered by the subscriber; and

generating an eleventh electrical signal at the intelligent peripheral for receipt by the central office switch to transfer and connect the subscriber and the caller at the central office switch.