System and method for implementing call waiting functions over a network

• US 6,144,644 A
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC), Joseph Giordano
• Original Assignee: Telcordia Technologies Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Ghoghari, Nilay, Bajzath, James A., Smyk, Darek A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/082,243
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/271, 370/352, 370/353-356
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

System and method for implementing call waiting functions over a network architecture which includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the Internet. The call waiting system allows a user to receive incoming call information from a third party without interrupting an active connection with a second party, such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). When the user attempts to connect to the ISP, a call waiting service is activated at a service control point connected to the PSTN and the user is notified about any incoming call attempts made after the user establishes a successful connection with the second party. The call waiting system indicates the number of, and provides information about incoming call attempts to the user. Meanwhile, the third party caller has the option of leaving a voice mail message for the user. If the user is actively connected to the Internet, a call waiting Internet server can be used to provide the incoming call information to the user'"'"'s computer terminal. The call waiting system further allows the user to answer incoming calls in real-time when connected to the Internet and return unsuccessful incoming call attempts at a later time. Thus, Internet users can enjoy an uninterrupted Internet session without missing incoming calls. The call waiting system is configurable for non-Internet applications for allowing receipt of incoming call information without interrupting an active telephone connection.

Claims

1. A method of implementing call waiting functions over a telephone network for a user connected to a data network, comprising the steps of:

in response to a connection from a user to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), activating a call waiting service at a service control point (SCP) for the user'"'"'s telephone number;

said activating step further comprising the steps of;

in response to the connection from the user to the ISP, determining at the SCP the call waiting subscription status of the user;

if the user is subscribed to the call waiting service, activating a trigger in a switch in the telephone network to alert the SCP of subsequent call attempts to the user; and

routing the call to the ISP for creation of a data connection between the user and ISP;

in response to a subsequent call attempt to the user, determining at the SCP call notification instructions for the user;

if the user requests notification over the data connection, sending call information from the SCP via a call waiting Internet server to the user;

in response to receiving the call information, sending a message from the user via the call waiting Internet server to the SCP containing call handling preferences; and

in response to termination of the connection to the data network, deactivating the call waiting service at the SCP;

said deactivating step further comprising the steps of;

in response to termination of the user'"'"'s call to the ISP, determining at the SCP the call waiting deactivation instructions;

if call waiting is active for the user, deactivating the trigger in the switch in the telephone network; and

terminating call processing in the SCP and the telephone network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein if the user requests notification via voice mail:

activating a message waiting indicator for the user'"'"'s line at the switch in the telephone network; and

routing the subsequent call attempt to a voice mail system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of registering the user'"'"'s Internet connection status with a call waiting Internet server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein if the call handling preferences contain a request by the user to answer the call, routing the call from the switch in the telephone network via the ISP to the user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein if the call handling preferences contain a request by the user to not answer the call, sending a message from the SCP to the switch in telephone network to block the call.