Telecommunications system with notification hold

• US 5,668,861 A
• Filed: 12/23/1993
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTE Laboratories Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GTE Laboratories Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Watts, Ronald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRESSON, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/173,385
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/208, 379/209
• US Class Current: 379/215.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13546 Intelligent Peripheral

Abstract

Apparatus and a method of implementing a notification and hold service in a telephone network is disclosed. A calling telecommunications device is placed on hold by the called telecommunications device, and signals an auxiliary computer system through a network switch that the calling telecommunications device is to be disconnected from the called telecommunications device. The calling telecommunications device is notified at a later time that the called telecommunications device is no longer on hold. In another embodiment of the invention, the calling telecommunications device is connected to customer premise equipment which notifies that calling telecommunications device that the called telecommunications device is no longer on hold.

Claims

1. A method of notifying a calling telecommunications device, connected to a network switch, that a called telecommunications device, connected to a network switch, is requesting connection to the calling telecommunications device which has been placed on hold, the method comprising the steps of:

accepting a call by the network switch of said calling telecommunications device;

connecting said call to the network switch of said called telecommunications device and automatically storing at said network switch of said called telecommunications device a calling phone number;

placing on hold by said network switch of said called telecommunications device said call and notifying said calling telecommunications device of the hold;

receiving from said calling telecommunications device a signal to monitor the availability of said called telecommunications device;

disconnecting said calling telecommunications device from said network switch of the calling telecommunications device;

notifying said called telecommunications device that a connection was requested by said calling telecommunications device identified by said automatically stored calling phone number;

receiving at any time from said calling telecommunications device a discontinuation code to discontinue the notifying of the called telecommunications device of said call placed on hold;

reattaching said call after being discontinued by receiving from said calling telecommunications device a reattach code to resume the notifying of said called telecommunications device that a connection was requested by said calling telecommunications device;

receiving from said called telecommunications device a signal to request a connection between said calling and called telecommunications device;

notifying said calling telecommunications device that said called telecommunications device has given a signal to request connection between said calling and called telecommunications device; and

said network switch recognizing said codes within a telecommunications system.

2. A telecommunications system for communication on a telecommunications network, said system comprising:

at least one calling telecommunications means for initiating said communication;

at least one called telecommunications means for receiving said communication;

a network switching means, operably connected between said calling telecommunications means and said called telecommunications means, for;

accepting a call from said calling telecommunications means, storing a telephone number from said calling telecommunications means, monitoring said called telecommunications means and if said called telecommunications means is unavailable placing said call on hold, notifying said called telecommunications means that a connection was requested by said calling telecommunications device and notifying said calling telecommunications means of said call being placed on hold, disconnecting said calling telecommunications means, and receiving at any time from said calling telecommunications means a discontinuation code to discontinue said notification to said called telecommunications means of said request for connection;

said network switching means comprises means for receiving from said calling telecommunications means a reattach code to resume said notification to said called telecommunications means of said call on hold, receiving from said called telecommunications means a signal to request connection between said called and said calling telecommunications means, and notifying said calling telecommunications means that said called telecommunications means has given said signal to request said connection; and

said network switching means recognizing said codes within said telecommunications system.

3. A telecommunications system as defined in claim 2 wherein said network switching means comprises a network switch and a computer means.

4. A telecommunications system as defined in claim 2 wherein said network switching means comprises a plurality of network switches and a computer means.