Detecting a voice mail system answering a call

• US 20060251222A1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Milton, Stephen M., Abramson, Sandra R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,680,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2027 Live party detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/545 with loop avoiding arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed that enable a private branch exchange to determine that a voice mail system has answered a call, without some of the disadvantages in the prior art. The private branch exchange—or, generally-speaking, a data-processing system—infers that the voice mail system has answered a call by timing key events or by noting some of indications that are received from another system, or both. Subsequently, the private branch exchange drops the voice mail system from the call, thereby minimizing the non-enterprise voice mail system'"'"'s handling of calls that are originated to an on-premises terminal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, from a first data-processing system, a call to a second data-processing system;

receiving, at said first data-processing system, an indication from said second data processing system that said call has been answered; and

ending, at said first data-processing system, said call to said second data processing system based on the time interval between;

(i) when said call is transmitted to said second data processing system, and

(ii) when said indication is received by said first data processing system that said call has been answered.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forwarding said call to a voice mail system that is associated with said first data-processing system, wherein the forwarding of said call is based on the time interval between;

(i) when said call is transmitted to said second data processing system, and

(ii) when said indication is received by said first data processing system that said call has been answered.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the ending of said call to said second data processing system is based on the time interval being no greater than a threshold.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said threshold is based on said second data-processing system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data-processing system is a private branch exchange and said second data-processing system is a mobile switching center.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving at said first data-processing system said call prior to the transmitting of said first signal.

7. A method comprising:

transmitting, from a first data-processing system, a call to a second data-processing system in accordance with a first signaling protocol;

receiving, at said first data-processing system, an indication from said second data processing system that a third data processing system has answered said call in accordance with a second signaling protocol; and

ending, at said first data-processing system, said call to said second data processing system when said second signaling protocol is different than said first signaling protocol.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

forwarding said call to a voice mail system that is associated with said first data-processing system, when said second signaling protocol is different than said first signaling protocol.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said first signaling protocol is based on the Integrated Services Digital Network set of protocols.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said first data-processing system is a private branch exchange and said second data-processing system is a mobile switching center.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said second data-processing system is based on the Global System for Mobile Communications.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said third data-processing system is a voice mail system that is associated with said second data-processing system.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving at said first data-processing system said call prior to the transmitting of said call to said second data-processing system.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the ending of said call to said second data-processing system is also based on the time interval between:

(i) when said call is transmitted to said second data processing system, and

(ii) when said indication is received by said first data processing system that said call has been answered.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting, from a first data-processing system, a call to a second data-processing system that is serving a telecommunications terminal for which said call is intended;

receiving, at said first data-processing system, an indication from said second data processing system that said call has been answered;

selecting, based on said telecommunications terminal, a decision-making criterion; and

ending, at said first data-processing system, said call to said second data processing system based on said criterion.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said criterion is related to at least one of:

(i) comparing the signaling protocol that is used to answer said call with the signaling protocol that is used to transmit said call; and

(ii) the time interval between (a) when said call is transmitted to said second data processing system, and (a) when said indication is received by said first data processing system that said call has been answered.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the signaling protocol that is used to transmit said call is based on the Integrated Services Digital Network set of protocols.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

forwarding said call to a voice mail system that is associated with said first data-processing system, wherein the forwarding of said call is based on said criterion.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said first data-processing system is a private branch exchange and said second data-processing system is a mobile switching center.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said second data-processing system is based on the Global System for Mobile Communications.