Apparatus and method for scheduling urgent communication sessions
First Claim
1. A terminal for use in a communication system, said communication system capable of supporting communication session scheduling, said terminal comprising:
- means for receiving and transmitting communication signals between a first party and a second party via said communication system;
an interface operative to receive an urgency portion of a scheduling signal initiated at the time a call is originated; and
a circuit operative in response to said received urgency portion of a scheduling signal to modify selectively a first data set and a second data set, said first data set representative of the availability of said first party to respond to a received communication signal and said second data set representative of the urgency associated with a particular communication signal transmitted from said first party to said second party.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Communication systems, terminals and methods are provided which are capable of supporting, and/or being used in conjunction with, communication session scheduling. The communication systems include a plurality of terminals, ones of which are operative to receive and transmit communication signals among a plurality of parties. At least one terminal includes both an interface operative to receive a scheduling signal and a circuit. The circuit is operative in response to the received scheduling signal to modify selectively one of either a first data set or a second data set. The first data set represents the availability of a first party to respond to a received communication signal. The second data set represents the priority associated with a particular communication signal transmitted from the first party to at least a second party.
66 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A terminal for use in a communication system, said communication system capable of supporting communication session scheduling, said terminal comprising:
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means for receiving and transmitting communication signals between a first party and a second party via said communication system; an interface operative to receive an urgency portion of a scheduling signal initiated at the time a call is originated; and a circuit operative in response to said received urgency portion of a scheduling signal to modify selectively a first data set and a second data set, said first data set representative of the availability of said first party to respond to a received communication signal and said second data set representative of the urgency associated with a particular communication signal transmitted from said first party to said second party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a terminal of a communication system capable of supporting communication session scheduling, said terminal operative to receive and transmit communication signals between a first party and a second party via said communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an urgency portion of a scheduling signal initiated at call initialization through an interface of said terminal; and selectively modifying, in response to receiving said urgency portion of a scheduling signal, a first data set and a second data set, said first data set representative of the availability of a first party to respond to a received communication signal, and said second data set representative of the urgency associated with a particular communication signal transmitted from said first party to said second party. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A circuit for use in a terminal of a communication system capable of supporting communication session scheduling, said circuit comprising:
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an input port operative to receive an urgency portion of a scheduling signal initiated at a calling station at initialization of a call, a memory operative to store a plurality of data sets; and circuitry operative in response to receiving said urgency portion of a scheduling signal to modify selectively at least one of a first data set and a second data set stored within said memory, said first data set representative of the availability of said terminal for use in responding to a received communication signal from said communication system, and said second data set representative of the urgency associated with a communication signal transmitted from said terminal over said communication system.
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17. A system for selectively providing data links between ones of a plurality of terminals, each one of said terminals operative to transmit and receive one or more signals via said one or more selectively provided data links, said system comprising:
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an input port operative to receive a first signal transmitted from a first terminal to a second terminal, a portion of said first signal created in conjunction with a call origination representing the urgency associated with said first signal; a memory operative to store a data set representative of the availability of said second terminal to respond to said first signal; and circuitry operative to compare said data set and said portion of said first signal and, in response thereto, to one of; provide a data link between said first terminal and said second terminal, and transmit, as a function of said data set and said portion of said first signal, a second signal from said second terminal to said first terminal, at least a portion of said second signal representing the urgency associated with said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for selectively scheduling communication sessions between ones of a plurality of terminals of a communication system, each one of said terminals operative to transmit and receive one or more signals via said communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first signal at call origination from a first terminal to a second terminal, a portion of said first signal created at call origination and representing the urgency of a communication session between said first terminal and said second terminal; determining the availability of said second terminal to respond to said first signal using at least said portion of said first signal; and establishing said communication session upon a determination that said second terminal is available, otherwise deferring, as a function of said portion of said first signal, establishment of said communication session until said second terminal is available. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification