Call Messaging System
First Claim
1. A method of handling a call placed by a calling party to a called party, wherein the called party is not answering the call, comprising the steps of;
- maintaining information regarding an endpoint location of the call within a call switching system which is handling the call;
providing a message channel between the called party and the calling party, such that the called party and the calling party are able to communicate without having a call connection established between them; and
establishing a call connection between the calling party and the called party when the called party becomes available to answer the call, even when the call has moved to an endpoint in the call switching system other than an endpoint of the called party.
11 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Call messaging techniques are disclosed that allow a called party and a calling party to communicate without interfering with an on-going call in which the called party is participating, and enable the called party to communicate with the calling party even after the call has left the called party'"'"'s endpoint. For example, a call messaging methodology includes the following steps. Information is maintained regarding an endpoint location of a call within a call switching system handling the call, wherein the call is placed by a calling party to a called party, but wherein the called party is not answering the call. In accordance with the methodology, a message channel is provided between the called party and the calling party, such that the called party and the calling party are able to communicate without having a call connection established between them. Further, a call connection is established between the calling party and the called party when the called party becomes available to answer the call, even when the call has moved to an endpoint in the call switching system other than an endpoint of the called party.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of handling a call placed by a calling party to a called party, wherein the called party is not answering the call, comprising the steps of;
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maintaining information regarding an endpoint location of the call within a call switching system which is handling the call; providing a message channel between the called party and the calling party, such that the called party and the calling party are able to communicate without having a call connection established between them; and establishing a call connection between the calling party and the called party when the called party becomes available to answer the call, even when the call has moved to an endpoint in the call switching system other than an endpoint of the called party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15)
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12. The method 1, wherein the message channel provision step further comprises maintaining a time delay loop to control the amount of time the calling party waits for a response from the called party.
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16. Apparatus for handling a call placed by a calling party to a called party, wherein the called party is not answering the call, comprising:
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a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and operative to;
(i) cause maintenance of information regarding an endpoint location of the call within a call switching system which is handling the call;
(ii) cause provision of a message channel between the called party and the calling party, such that the called party and the calling party are able to communicate without having a call connection established between them; and
(iii) cause establishment of a call connection between the calling party and the called party when the called party becomes available to answer the call, even when the call has moved to an endpoint in the call switching system other than an endpoint of the called party. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A call messaging application for handling a call placed by a calling party to a called party, wherein the called party is not answering the call, comprising:
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program code for causing the maintenance of information regarding an endpoint location of the call within a call switching system which is handling the call; program code for causing the provision of a message channel between the called party and the calling party, such that the called party and the calling party are able to communicate without having a call connection established between them; and program code for causing the establishment of a call connection between the calling party and the called party when the called party becomes available to answer the call, even when the call has moved to an endpoint in the call switching system other than an endpoint of the called party.
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Specification