Method and system for providing enhanced call waiting

• US 6,219,414 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harrington, Claude Lee, Book, Nancy Ann, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Bossemeyer, Jr., Robert Wesley, Maciejewski, James Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/044,574
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 379/215, 379/201, 379/212, 379/67.1
• US Class Current: 379/215.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for providing an enhanced call waiting message to a customer when the customer is busy on a previous call and receives a current call. The call waiting message preferably includes a call waiting indicator and an audible representation of information associated with a current calling party. The call waiting message alerts the customer that a current call is waiting and provides the customer with information that assists the customer in deciding whether or not to take the current call. The call waiting indicator and the information associated with a current calling party are automatically transmitted to the customer without any customer commands.

Claims

1. A system for processing a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station the system comprising:

a switch coupled with the called communication station, the switch being operable to transmit an audible call waiting indicator to the called communication station;

a database storing information associated with the calling communication station; and

a service node coupled with the switch and the database, the service node comprising a text-to-speech module and the service node being operable to obtain the information associated with the calling communication station from the database when the called communication station is busy and being operable to automatically transmit an audible representation of the information associated with the calling communication station to the called communication station after transmission of the audible call waiting indicator.

5. The system of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, further comprising means for determining whether the called communication station is busy on a previous call.

2. A system for processing a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station the system comprising:

a switch coupled with the called communication station, the switch being operable to transmit an audible call waiting indicator to the called communication station;

a database storing information associated with the calling communication station; and

an intelligent peripheral coupled with the switch and the database, the intelligent peripheral comprising a text-to-speech module and the intelligent peripheral being operable to obtain the information associated with the calling communication station from the database when the called communication station is busy and being operable to automatically transmit an audible representation of the information associated with the calling communication station to the called communication station after transmission of the audible call waiting indicator.

3. A system for processing a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station the system comprising:

a database storing information associated with the calling communication station;

a service node coupled with the called communication station and the database, the service node comprising a text-to-speech module and the service node being operable to obtain information associated with the calling communication station from the database when the called communication station is busy, transmit an audible call waiting indicator to the called communication station, and automatically transmit an audible representation of the information associated with the calling communication station to the called communication station after transmission of the audible call waiting indicator.

4. A system for processing a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station the system comprising:

a database storing information associated with the calling communication station;

an intelligent peripheral coupled with the called communication station and the database, the intelligent peripheral comprising a text-to-speech module and the intelligent peripheral being operable to obtain information associated with the calling communication station from the database when the called communication station is busy, transmit an audible call waiting indicator to the called communication station, and automatically transmit an audible representation of the information associated with the calling communication station to the called communication station after transmission of the audible call waiting indicator.