Method and system for providing enhanced call waiting

• US 20050123107A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Book, Nancy Ann, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Bossemeyer, Robert Wesley Jr., Crockett, Susanne Marie, Maciejewski, James Thomas, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Harrington, Claude Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.190
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting
• 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 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for providing an enhanced call waiting message to a customer when the customer is busy on a previous call and receives a current call. The call waiting message preferably includes a call waiting indicator and an audible representation of information associated with a current calling party. The call waiting message alerts the customer that a current call is waiting and provides the customer with information that assists the customer in deciding whether or not to take the current call. The call waiting indicator and the information associated with a current calling party are automatically transmitted to the customer without any customer commands.

Claims

1. A method for providing information about a calling party to a called party, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining information about the calling party, using a service node, when the called party'"'"'s telephone line is busy;

(b) notifying the called party that the calling party is attempting to contact the called party; and

(c) transmitting an audible version the information about the calling party to the called party, using a service node, without receiving an input from the called party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises obtaining an identity of the calling party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises obtaining an identity of the calling party and a telephone number of the calling party.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting an audible call waiting indicator to the called party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a single call waiting tone to the called party.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a plurality of call waiting tones to the called party.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting at least one call waiting tone preceding the information about the calling party and transmitting at least one call waiting tone following the information about the calling party.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting an audible version of an identity of the calling party to the called party.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting an audible version of an identity of the calling party and a telephone number of the calling party to the called party.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the called party'"'"'s telephone line is busy prior to (a).

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the called party and the calling party after the called party has indicated that they would like to be connected to the calling party.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises obtaining an identity of the calling party.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises obtaining an identity of the calling party and a telephone number of the calling party.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting an audible call waiting indicator to the called party.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a single call waiting tone to the called party.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a plurality of call waiting tones to the called party.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting at least one call waiting tone preceding the information about the calling party and transmitting at least one call waiting tone following the information about the calling party.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting an audible version of an identity of the calling party to the called party.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting an audible version of an identity of the calling party and a telephone number of the calling party to the called party.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the called party'"'"'s telephone line is busy prior to (a).

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the called party and the calling party after the called party has indicated that they would like to be connected to the calling party.

12. A method for providing information about a calling party to a called party, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining information about the calling party, using an intelligent peripheral, when the called party'"'"'s telephone line is busy;

(b) notifying the called party that the calling party is attempting to contact the called party; and

(c) transmitting an audible version the information about the calling party to the called party, using an intelligent peripheral, without receiving an input from the called party.