Method and apparatus for eliminating nuisance signals in multi-party calls

• US 6,353,662 B1
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kapsales, Peter, Mane, Amir M., Goldman, Shelley B., Goldberg, Randy G., Foladare, Mark Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/953,627
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 379/399, 379/406, 379/407, 379/162, 379/163, 379/165, 379/158, 379/157, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/101.01, 379/93.13
• US Class Current: 379/101.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/18 with means for reducing interference or noise; with means for reducing effects due to line faults with means for protecting lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• 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 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selectively eliminating nuisance signals during communications connections as during conference calling in which the signals are eliminated when a call path is placed on hold by monitoring signals in a reverse traffic channel from a holding party. If the reverse traffic channel contains a predetermined signal, a music on hold circuit is disabled. When the call is first placed on hold, a check for the predetermined signal is made. If the predetermined signal is not detected during a defined period of time, the music on hold circuit is engaged; otherwise the circuit remains disabled. The predetermined signal may be noise signals, speech signals or a sequence of touch tones or speech representing a command to disable the music on hold circuit. Optionally, a disabled music on hold circuit may be enabled by placing a second command signal, such as speech or touch tones, into the reverse traffic channel.

Claims

1. A method of eliminating nuisance signals from a call path that has been placed on hold, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path,

determining whether an energy level of a signal in the reverse traffic channel exceeds a predetermined threshold, and

when the energy level exceeds the threshold, disabling the nuisance signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal contains a speech signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a private branch exchange.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a central office.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring and determining steps are discontinued when the call path is released from the on hold state.

6. In a communication apparatus comprising a switch matrix that routes a reverse traffic channel through a call path to telephone equipment, and a music on hold circuit that generates signals on a forward traffic channel of the call path when the call path is placed on hold, an apparatus that selectively eliminates the signals, comprising a processor in communication with the switch matrix, wherein the processor:

monitors the reverse traffic channel,

determines whether the reverse traffic channel contains a signal,

compares the signal to a predetermined threshold of activity, and

when the reverse traffic channel signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, disables the music on hold circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the signal is a speech signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the communication apparatus is a private branch exchange.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the communication apparatus is a central office.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein processor discontinues the monitoring and determining operation when the call path is released from the on hold state.

11. A method of managing nuisance signals in a call path that has been placed on hold, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path for a predetermined period of time before the nuisance signals are enabled,

determining whether a threshold noise level is met in the reverse traffic channel during the period, and

when the period expires without meeting the threshold noise level in the reverse traffic channel, enabling the nuisance signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold noise level comprises a signal having a predetermined level of activity.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold noise level comprises a touch tone command.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold noise level comprises a sequence of telephone touch tones.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold noise level comprises an utterance of speech.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold noise level comprises a sequence of speech.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a private branch exchange.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a central office.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring and determining step are discontinued when the call path is released from the on hold state.

20. A method of managing nuisance signals in a call path that has been placed on hold, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path for a predetermined period of time before the nuisance signals are enabled,

determining whether a signal level of the reverse traffic channel exceeds a predetermined threshold during the period, and

when the period expires without exceeding the signal threshold in the reverse traffic channel, enabling the nuisance signals,

subsequent to the enabling step;

monitoring the reverse traffic channel,

determining whether the signal threshold is met in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the signal threshold is met in the reverse traffic channel, disabling the nuisance signals.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the signal is a speech signal.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the signal is a touch tone command.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the signal is a sequence of telephone touch tones.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the signal is an utterance of speech.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the signal is a sequence of speech.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a private branch exchange.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a central office.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the monitoring and determining steps are discontinued when the call path is released from the on hold state.

29. A method of managing nuisance signals in a call path that has been placed on hold, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path for a predetermined period of time before the nuisance signals are enabled,

determining whether any signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel during the period,

when the period expires without having the signal appear in the reverse traffic channel, enabling the nuisance signals,

subsequent to the enabling step;

monitoring the reverse traffic channel,

determining whether the signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, disabling the nuisance signals,

subsequent to the disabling step;

monitoring the reverse traffic channel,

determining whether a predetermined signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the predetermined signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, enabling the nuisance signal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the signal is a signal having a predetermined level of activity.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the signal is a speech signal.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the signal is a touch tone command.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the signal is a sequence of telephone touch tones.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the signal is an utterance of speech.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the signal is a sequence of speech.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined signal is a signal having a predetermined level of activity.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined signal is a touch tone command.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined signal is a sequence of telephone touch tones.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined signal is an utterance of speech.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined signal is a sequence of speech.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a private branch exchange.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a central office.

43. The method of claim 29, wherein the monitoring and determining step are discontinued when the call path is released from the on hold state.

44. In a communication apparatus comprising a switch matrix that routes a reverse traffic channel through a call path to telephone equipment, and a music on hold circuit that generates signals on a forward traffic channel of the call path when the telephone equipment places the call path on hold, an apparatus that manages the music on hold circuit, comprising a processor in communication with the switch matrix and the music on hold circuit, wherein the processor:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path for a predetermined period of time before the nuisance signals are enabled,

determines whether any signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel during the period, and

when the period expires without having the signal appear in the reverse traffic channel, enables the music on hold circuit.

45. In a communication apparatus comprising a switch matrix that routes a reverse traffic channel through a call path to telephone equipment, and a music on hold circuit that generates signals on a forward traffic channel of the call path when the telephone equipment places the call path on hold, an apparatus that selectively eliminates the signals, comprising a processor in communication with the switch matrix and the music on hold circuit, wherein the processor:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path for a predetermined period of time before the nuisance signals are enabled,

determines whether any signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel during the period, and

when the period expires without having the signal appear in the reverse traffic channel, enables the music on hold circuit;

wherein, subsequent enabling the music on hold circuit, the processor further;

monitors the reverse traffic channel,

determines whether the signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, disables the music on hold circuit.

46. In a communication apparatus comprising a switch matrix that routes a reverse traffic channel through a call path to telephone equipment, and a music on hold circuit that generates signals on a forward traffic channel of the call path when the telephone equipment places the call path on hold, an apparatus that selectively eliminates the signals, comprising a processor in communication with the switch matrix and the music on hold circuit, wherein the processor:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path for a predetermined period of time before the nuisance signals are enabled;

determines whether any signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel during the period;

when the period expires without having the signal appear in the reverse traffic channel, enables the music on hold circuit;

wherein, subsequent to enabling the music on hold circuit, the processor further;

monitors the reverse traffic channel,

determines whether the signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, disables the music on hold circuit;

wherein, subsequent to disabling the music on hold circuit, the processor further;

monitors the reverse traffic channel,

determines whether a predetermined signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the predetermined signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel, enables the music on hold circuit.

47. A method of eliminating nuisance signals from a call path that has been placed on hold, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path,

detecting a presence of a non-command signal in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the reverse traffic channel contains the non-command signal, disabling the nuisance signals.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the non-command signal has a predetermined level of activity.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the non-command signal is an utterance of speech.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the non-command signal is a sequence of speech.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a private branch exchange.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the reverse traffic channel is input to a central office.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the monitoring and detecting steps are discontinued when the call path is released from the on hold state.

54. In a communication apparatus comprising a switch matrix that routes a reverse traffic channel through a call path to telephone equipment, and a music on hold circuit that generates signals on a forward traffic channel of the call path when the call path is placed on hold, an apparatus that selectively eliminates the signals, comprising a processor in communication with the switch matrix, wherein the processor:

monitors the reverse traffic channel

detects a presence of a non-command signal in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the reverse traffic channel contains the non-command signal, disables the nuisance signals.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the non-command signal has a predetermined level of activity.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the non-command signal is an utterance of speech.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the non-command signal is a sequence of speech.

58. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the communication apparatus is a private branch exchange.

59. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the communication apparatus is a central office.

60. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein processor discontinues the monitoring and detecting operation when the call path is released from the on hold state.

61. A method of managing nuisance signals in a call path that has been placed on hold, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a reverse traffic channel of the call path for a predetermined period of time,

determining whether a non-command signal is contained in the reverse traffic channel during the period,

when the period expires without having the non-command signal in the reverse traffic channel, enabling the nuisance signals,

subsequent to the enabling step;

monitoring the reverse traffic channel,

detecting the presence of speech in the reverse traffic channel, and

when speech is detected in the reverse traffic channel, disabling the nuisance signals,

subsequent to the disabling step;

monitoring the reverse traffic channel,

determining whether a signal meets predetermined level of activity in the reverse traffic channel, and

when the signal falls below a predetermined level of activity in the reverse traffic channel, enabling the nuisance signal.