Selective call waiting

• US 20020146107A1
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kall, Darren A., Baals, Kimberly A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,813,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/215.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password

Abstract

A method and system of processing a call from a calling party to a called party are provided to enable selective call waiting which involves determining whether the called party is busy on another call; receiving a password from the calling party; and providing a call waiting signal to the called party only if the password corresponds to at least one predefined password associated with the called party.

Claims

1. A method of processing a call from a calling party to a called party, comprising:

determining whether a called party is busy on another call;

receiving a password from the calling party; and

enabling provision of a call waiting signal to the called party if the password corresponds to at least one predefined password associated with the called party.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the password from the calling party corresponds to at least one predefined password associated with the called party.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the called party and calling party are connected across at least one network selected from the group consisting of a public switched network, a local switched network, internet protocol network, converged voice and data network

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining, the receiving and the enabling are performed at a location selected from the group consisting of a call station of the called party, a intra-switch associated with the called party, a inter-switch, a central office and a private branch exchange.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined password is stored at a intra-switch associated with the called party.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising enabling the called party to define at least one password.

7. An apparatus for processing a call from a calling party to a called party, comprising:

means for determining whether a called party is busy on another call;

means for receiving a password from the calling party; and

means for enabling provision of a call waiting signal to the called party if the password corresponds to at least one predefined password associated with the called party.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for determining whether the password from the calling party corresponds to at least one predefined password associated with the called party.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the called party and calling party are connected across at least one network selected from the group consisting of a public switched network, a local switched network, internet protocol network, converged voice and data network

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means for determining, means for receiving and the means for enabling are performed at a location selected from the group consisting of a call station of the called party, a intra-switch associated with the called party, a inter-switch, a central office and a private branch exchange.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predefined password is stored at a intra-switch associated with the called party.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for enabling the called party to define the at least one password.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processor determines whether the password from the calling party corresponds to at least one predefined password associated with the called party.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the called party and calling party are connected across at least one network selected from the group consisting of a public switched network, a local switched network, internet protocol network, converged voice and data network

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the predefined password is stored at a intra-switch associated with the called party.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for enabling the called party to define the at least one password.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting a busy signal to the calling party responsive to detection of the incoming call prior to receiving the password from the calling party.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

receiving an instruction from the called party to transmit a busy signal in the event any incoming call is detected.

13. An apparatus for processing a call from a calling party to a called party, comprising:

processor for determining whether a called party is busy on another call, receiving a password from the calling party, and enabling provision of a call waiting signal to the called party if the password corresponds to at least one predefined password associated with the called party.

18. A method of notifying a called party of an incoming call comprising:

receiving a password from a calling party associated with an incoming call directed to a called party;

notifying the called party of the incoming call only if the password corresponds to a predefined password associated with the called party.

21. A method of notifying a called party of an incoming call from a calling party, comprising:

inhibiting notification of the incoming call to the called party;

transmitting to the calling party a signal simulating that the called party is busy on another call;

receiving a password from the calling party; and

notifying the called party of the incoming call if the password corresponds to at least one predefined password associated with the called party.