Call management method responsive to network presence

• US 20030179743A1
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garg, Amit, Bosik, Barry S., Patil, Rajeev B., Tuttle, Jeffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US10/026,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20030179743A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• 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: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• 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: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A call management method that provides for handling, according to subscriber-designated preferences, an incoming voice call to the subscriber while logged on a network. When the subscriber occupies a line, the method includes activating an Internet presence server that determines online status by checking IP activity at the subscriber'"'"'s IP address. If the subscriber is online and has indicated a preference to accept calls, a pop-up screen is activated at the subscriber'"'"'s terminal to display menu options to handle the call, such as answering via VoIP, text-to-speech synthesis, forwarding the call to a specific number, or sending the call to voicemail. A voicemail message may also be sent to an e-mail account as an audio file or as a pager alert with short message text. Certain management features may be disabled dynamically in response to the on-line status of the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method of managing an incoming call of a subscriber comprising:

ascertaining an online network status of the subscriber;

indicating an incoming call to the subscriber during an online operation; and

according to subscriber preferences, performing one of the step of (a) forwarding the incoming call to voicemail, (b) forwarding the incoming call to a forwarding number, and (c) activating an options selection menu to provide the subscriber with options to handle the incoming call, said options including at least one of forwarding the call to a specific number, handling the call via a VoIP service, and sending the call to voicemail.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises one of an IP network, an Ethernet, a LAN, and a WAN.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the ascertaining, indication, and performing steps occurs at one of a local exchange carrier, at a private branch exchange, or at equipment situated on the subscriber'"'"'s premises.

4. The method of claim 1, further including storing the subscriber preferences in a memory where said preferences include at least one of a call forwarding number, a voicemail directive, and an Internet call waiting directive.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of dynamically enabling at least one of said indicating, forwarding, and activating in accordance with an on-line status of the subscriber.

6. A method of handling an incoming call on a telephone line occupied by a data terminal of a subscriber during an on-line network session of the subscriber, the method comprising:

recording a subscriber preference that indicates how an incoming call is to be handled,

ascertaining an online status of the subscriber;

notifying the subscriber of an incoming call via the subscriber'"'"'s data terminal; and

according to the subscriber preference, performing one of the steps of (a) forwarding the incoming call to voicemail, (b) forwarding the incoming call to a forwarding number, and (c) activating an options selection menu to provide the subscriber with options to handle the incoming call, said options including at least one of forwarding the call to a specific number, handling the call via a VoIP service, and sending the call to voicemail.

7. A method of handling an incoming call on a line occupied by a data terminal of a subscriber during an on-line session of a network, the method comprising:

recording in a memory a subscriber preference defining how an incoming call is to be handled,

accessing the network to determine an online status of the subscriber;

notifying the subscriber of an incoming call via a display monitor associated with the data terminal; and

according to the subscriber preference, performing one of the steps of (a) forwarding the incoming call to voicemail according to the subscriber preference, (b) forwarding the incoming call to a forwarding number stored in the subscriber preference, and (c) activating an options selection menu to provide the subscriber with options to handle the incoming call, said options including at least one of forwarding the call to a specific number, handling the call via a VoIP service, and sending the call to voicemail.