Method and system for providing enhanced call waiting

• US 20030210775A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hardzinski, Mary Louis, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Pelletier, Karen Jeanne, Carrion, Roberto, Henry, Tricia Ehlers, Crockett, Susanne Marie
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/215.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for providing an enhanced call waiting announcement to a called party that is busy on a first call and receives a second call. Information provided by a second calling party is recorded and played back to the called party after the first call is over. The called party is not interrupted during the duration of the first call.

Claims

1. A method for processing a second call from a calling party to a called communication station that is engaged in a first call, the method comprising:

(a) determining that the called communication station is engaged in the first call;

(b) recording information provided by the calling party; and

(c) automatically transmitting the information provided by the calling party to the called communication station after the first call is over.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises recording audible information provided by the calling party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises recording information provided by the calling party.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting audible information provided by the calling party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting the name of the calling party.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting the name of the calling party and a telephone number.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an announcement to the calling party requesting that they provide information prior to (b).

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a connection with the called communication station before (c).

9. A method for processing a second call from a calling party to a called communication station, the method comprising:

(a) receiving the second call at a called party'"'"'s switch;

(b) determining that the called communication station is engaged in a first call;

(c) transmitting an announcement to the calling party requesting information;

(d) recording the information provided by the calling party; and

(e) automatically transmitting the information to the called communication station after the first call is over.

10. A system for processing a second call from a calling party to a called communication station that is engaged in a first call, the system comprising:

means for determining that the called communication station is engaged in the first call;

means for recording information provided by the calling party; and

means for automatically transmitting the information to the called communication station after the first call is over.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for determining that the called communication station is engaged in the first call comprises a switch.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for recording information provided by the calling party comprises a service node.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for recording information provided by the calling party comprises an intelligent peripheral.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for automatically transmitting the information to the called communication station comprises a hub switch.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for transmitting an announcement to the calling party requesting information from the calling party.

16. A system for processing a second call from a calling party to a called communication station that is engaged in a first call, the system comprising:

a service node coupled with the calling party, the service node being operable to record information provided by the calling party; and

a switch coupled with the called communication station, the switch being operable to automatically transmit the information to the called communication station after the first call is over.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the switch comprises a hub switch.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the switch comprises a service switching point.

19. A system for processing a second call from a calling party to a called communication station that is engaged in a first call, the system comprising:

a called party'"'"'s switch coupled with the called communication station;

a hub switch coupled with the called party'"'"'s switch;

a service node coupled with the hub switch, the service node being operable to transmit an announcement to the calling party, record information provided by the calling party, and transmit the information to the called communication station.

20. A computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for processing a second call from a calling party to a called communication station that is engaged in a first call comprising:

computer readable program code for causing a computer to record information provided by the calling party; and

computer readable program code for causing a computer to automatically transmit the information to the called communication station after the first call is over.