System and method for hold and re-ring

• US 20090161855A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Emerson, David, Rondeau, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,428,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/212.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

A system and method for transferring calls. A voice communication is received. The voice communication is placed on hold in response to receiving user input. Multiple phones are rung simultaneously in response to receiving the user input. The voice communication is connected to one of the multiple phones in response to a user answering the voice communication on one of the multiple phones.

Claims

1. A method for transferring calls, said method comprising:

receiving a voice communication;

placing the voice communication on hold in response to receiving user input;

ringing a plurality of phones simultaneously in response to receiving the user input; and

connecting the voice communication to one of the plurality of phones in response to a user answering the voice communication on the one of the plurality of phones.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user input is a single key sequence.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of phones are voice communication devices.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of phones are included in a list.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the list is pre-set by a user.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the user input is a call transfer command, and wherein the list and a call transfer command is specified by the user utilizing a graphical user interface.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user input does not specify one or more phones to ring.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ringing further comprises:

delaying a time period before ringing the plurality of phones simultaneously, wherein the timer period is established by the user.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ringing further comprises:

ringing the plurality of phones simultaneously a number of times;

canceling the ringing once the phones ring the number of times for preventing a answering service from connecting to the voice communication;

re-ringing the plurality of phones simultaneously in response to the canceling the ringing.

10. The method according to claim 9, repeating the ringing, canceling, and re-ringing until the user answers one of the plurality of phones.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message to one or more recipients in response to the holding.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the message is an email or text message, and wherein the message indicates the voice communication is being transferred from a phone to the plurality of phones.

13. A communication system, said system comprising:

a switch configured to receive a voice communication, wherein the switch further includes;

a transfer unit configured to place the voice communication on hold in response to receiving a transfer command, ring a plurality of phones simultaneously in response to receiving the transfer command, and connect the voice communication to one of the plurality of phones in response to a user answering the voice communication on the one of the plurality of phones.

14. The communication system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a user interface for receiving an access list and notification preferences from a user, wherein the access list indicates identifiers associated with the plurality of phones, and wherein the notification preferences specify a delay before the plurality of phones is rung.

15. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein the transfer unit rings the plurality of phones simultaneously a number of times, cancels the ringing once the phones ring the number of times for preventing a answering service from connecting to the voice communication, and re-rings the plurality of phones simultaneously in response to the canceling the ringing.

16. The communication system according to claim 14, wherein the notification preferences specify an order for ringing the plurality of phones and a message that is sent to one or more recipients in response to placing the voice communication on hold.

17. A call transfer system comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to receive a voice communication, place the voice communication on hold in response to receiving a transfer command, ring a plurality of phones simultaneously in response to receiving the transfer command, and connect the voice communication to one of the plurality of phones in response to a user answering the voice communication on the one of the plurality of phones.

18. The call transfer system according to claim 17, wherein the set of instructions delay ringing the plurality of phones for a time period specified by the user.

19. The call transfer system according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of phones are rang one at a time for a specified number of rings in an order specified by the user.

20. The call transfer system according to claim 17, wherein the set of instructions rings the plurality of phones simultaneously a number of times, cancels the ringing once the phones ring the number of times for preventing a answering service from connecting to the voice communication, and re-rings the plurality of phones simultaneously in response to the canceling the ringing.