Call transfer arrangement using network services

• US 5,436,962 A
• Filed: 06/14/1993
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirata, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US08/076,366
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/203, 379/214, 370/58.1, 370/110.1
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party-service or three-way-call computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5027 Dropping a party from a conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals

Abstract

There is provided a method for transferring an incoming telephone call to another station, utilizing the services of a network. The method consists of calling a station of destination by an exchange apparatus; then entering a three-party communication state including the exchange, the station of destination of transfer and the call originating station; and sending a soundless signal from the exchange to the station of destination of transfer and the call originating station, whereby the communication is enabled between these stations, so that the call is apparently transferred to the station of destination.

Claims

1. A call transfer method for transferring a call from a first station via a transfer side of an exchange to a second station while maintaining the call with the transfer side of the exchange, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting the first station at the transfer side of the exchange;

entering a three-party communication state including the first station, the second station and the exchange transfer side; and

sending a predetermined signal from the exchange to the first station and the second station to maintain the call with the exchange transfer side, said predetermined signal not interfering with communication between the first and second stations.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined signal produces a zero output level.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein in said sending step, the predetermined signal is sent from a sound source.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said entering step further comprises:

a first step for transmitting a predetermined command to a network from the first station;

a second step for receiving from the network a response to the predetermined command; and

a third step for transmitting a command from the first station identifying the second station to the network, in accordance with the response.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a request step for requesting from at least one of the first station, the second station and the exchange to a network a disconnection between the network and the first station and between the network and the second station, subsequent to said sending step.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein in said request step, a first command for requesting the disconnection between the network and the first station and a second command for requesting the disconnection between the network and the second station are transmitted to the network.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in said connection step, an incoming call from the first station is responded to by the exchange.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in said entering step, a three-party communication service is requested from said first station to a network.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein in said entering step, a code identifying the second station is transmitted to a network from the exchange.

10. A communication apparatus capable of performing communication through a network with a three-party communication function, comprising:

connection means for connecting a first station to a transfer side of the communication apparatus;

request means for requesting, to the network a three-party communication including the first station, a second station connectable to the network and the transfer side of the communication apparatus, and for transferring a call from the first station via the transfer side of the communication apparatus to the second station, while maintaining the call with the transfer side of the communication apparatus; and

sending means for sending a predetermined signal to the first station and the second station to maintain the call with the transfer side of the communication apparatus, said predetermined signal not interfering with communication between the first and second stations.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined signal produces a zero output level.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sending means sends the predetermined signal from a sound source.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the network includes an ISDN.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said request means transmits a predetermined command to the network, receives a response to the predetermined command from the network and transmits a command identifying the second station to the network in accordance with the response.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said request means further requests to the network a disconnection between the network and the first station and between the network and the second station.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said request means transmits a first command for requesting the disconnection between the network and the first station and a second command for requesting the disconnection between the network and the second station.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said connection means connects the first station in accordance with an incoming call from the first station.

18. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said request means transmits a code identifying the second station to the network.

19. A call transfer method which utilizes services of a network to transfer an incoming call, from a calling station via a network exchange to a transfer destination station, comprising the steps of:

responding, at a transfer side of the network, to the incoming call from the calling station;

requesting, from the network transfer side, to the network a three-party communication state including the calling station, the transfer destination station and the transfer side of the network, utilizing the network services; and

sending a predetermined signal from the network transfer side to the calling station and the transfer destination station to maintain the call with the network exchange, said predetermined signal not interfering with communication between the calling station and the transfer destination station.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined signal produces a soundless output.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein, in said sending step, the predetermined signal is sent from a sound source.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the network services include ISDN services.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein said request step further comprises:

a first step for transmitting a predetermined command to a network;

a second step for receiving from the network a response to the predetermined command; and

a third step for transmitting a command identifying the transfer destination station to the network, in accordance with the response.

24. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

a second request step for requesting to a network from at least one of the calling station and the transfer destination station a disconnection between the network and the calling station and between the network and the transfer destination station, subsequent to said sending step.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein, in said second request step, a first command for requesting the disconnection between the network and the calling station and a second command for requesting the disconnection between the network and the transfer destination station are transmitted to the network.

26. A method according to claim 19, wherein in said request step, a code identifying the transfer destination station is transmitted to the network.

27. A call transfer method for transferring a call from a first station via a transfer side to a second station while maintaining the call with the transfer side, comprising:

a connecting step for connecting the first station at the transfer side of an exchange;

an entering step for entering a three-party communication state including the first station, the second station and the transfer side; and

;

a sending step for sending a predetermined signal from the transfer side to the first station and the second station to maintain the call with the transfer side, the predetermined signal not interfering with a communication between the first and second stations.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined signal produces a zero output level.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein said entering step further comprises:

a first step for transmitting a predetermined command to a network from the first station;

a second step for receiving from the network a response to the predetermined command; and

a third step for transmitting a command from the first station identifying the second station to the network, in accordance with the response.

30. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

a requesting step for requesting from at least one of the first station, the second station and the exchange to a network a disconnection between the network and the first station and between the network and the second station, subsequent to said sending step.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein, in said requesting step, a first command for requesting the disconnection between the network and the first station and a second command for requesting the disconnection between the network and the second station are transmitted to the network.

32. A method according to claim 27, wherein, in said entering step, a three-party communication service is requested from the first station to a network.

33. A method according to claim 27, wherein, in said entering step, a code identifying the second station is transmitted to a network from the exchange.

34. A method according to claim 27, wherein in said sending step, the predetermined signal is sent from a sound source.

35. A method according to claim 27, wherein, in said connecting step, an incoming call from the first station is responded to by the exchange.