Telephone switching system and method for alerting for priority calls

• US 20050243988A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Benco, David S., Mahajan, Sanjeev, Ruggerio, Raymond Leroy, McRoberts, Thomas Lee, Barclay, Deborah Lewandowski
• Application Number:
  US10/837,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20050243988A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.130
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/06 Lines and connections with preferential service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for providing a priority alert at a communication device for certain designated callers on a per call basis. Either a priority call is requested at call origination (302, 304, 306) or after a normal call is not answered (406). Where a priority call request is made at call origination, the caller must supply a valid identification designation that is verified before a priority alert is sent (312). A telephone switch (106, 110) that terminates services to the communication device determines whether the priority call is permitted and initiates the priority alerting at the communication device (316). Where a normal (non-priority) call is not answered (406), a terminating switch or voicemail system coupled to the terminating switch prompts the caller to make a priority request and enter a valid priority identification designation (410, 512). Where a priority call is requested (412, 514), the terminating switch or voicemail system then provides a priority alert to a communication device (418, 520), if the priority identification designation is valid and authorized. The priority alert is, alternatively, distinctive ringing, a visual display, a distinctive call waiting alert, a data message, or the like.

Claims

1. A method for alerting a communication device associated with a user to a priority call, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call request in a terminating switch coupled to the communication device, the call request including a priority call request and a priority identification designation;

determining that the priority call request is a request to alert the user of the priority call;

determining whether the priority identification designation is a valid priority identification designation; and

if the priority identification designation is a valid priority identification designation, then providing a priority alert to the communication device associated with the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the priority alert is distinguished from a non-priority alert and comprises at least one of:

a predetermined ring tone, a visual display, a predetermined call waiting treatment, and a data message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether the priority identification is a valid priority identification further comprises the step of:

determining whether the priority identification matches a valid priority identification designation stored in a database accessible by the terminating switch.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the valid priority identification designation is stored in one of:

a home location register, a visitor location register, and a subscriber record.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the valid priority identification designation is predetermined by the user.

6. A method for alerting a communication device associated with a user to a priority call, the method comprising the steps of:

A) receiving a call request in a terminating switch coupled to the communication device;

B) the terminating switch alerting the communication device of the call request;

C) the terminating switch determining the call is not being answered by the user of the communication device;

D) after determining the call is not being answered, prompting an originator of the call to enter a priority call request and a priority identification designation;

E) after receiving a priority call request and a priority identification designation, determining whether the priority identification designation matches a valid priority identification designation; and

F) if the priority identification designation matches a valid priority identification designation, then alerting the communication device to new call by providing a priority alert to the communication device associated with the user.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein steps D through E are performed by one of:

the terminating switch and a voice mail system coupled to the terminating switch.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein steps D through E are performed by the voice mail system and the priority alert is a data message indicating that the communication device will receive a priority call.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the data message is a short message service message.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the priority alert is distinguished from a non-priority alert and comprises one of:

a predetermined ring tone, a visual display, a predetermined call waiting treatment, and a data message.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining whether the priority identification designation matches a valid priority identification designation further comprises the step of:

determining whether the priority identification designation matches a valid priority identification designation stored in a database accessible by the terminating switch.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the valid priority identification designation is stored in one of:

a home location register, a visitor location register, and a subscriber record.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the valid priority identification designation is predetermined by the user.

14. An apparatus for altering a user to a priority call, the apparatus comprising:

a switching system coupled to a telephone network;

a communication device coupled to the switching system;

wherein the switching systems is coupled to a processor that;

determines whether an incoming call for the communication device is a priority call;

and if the incoming call is a priority call, determines whether the incoming call includes a priority identification designation that matches a valid priority identification designation stored in the processor;

and if the priority identification designation matches the valid priority designation stored in the processor, then the processor provides the communication device with a priority alert.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the processor is integrated into one of:

the switching system and a voicemail system coupled to the switching system.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the priority alert is distinguished from a non-priority alert and comprises one of:

a predetermined ring tone, a visual display, a predetermined call waiting treatment, and a data message.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor determines whether an incoming call for the communication device is a priority call by determining whether the incoming call has a priority call request and a priority identification designation.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor determines whether an incoming call for the communication device is a priority call by prompting an originator of the call for a priority call request and a priority identification designation.