Method and system for processing a telephone call while on-line

• US 6,438,222 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burg, Frederick Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/219,222
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142, 379/215, 379/127, 379/93.01, 379/93.09, 379/900, 379/211, 379/207.15, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/215.01
• 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 3/436 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 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and system for processing a telephone call to an on-line subscriber, when the subscriber telephone line is busy as a result of the on-line connection. The subscriber sets an on-line state, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls. Once the subscriber sets the on-line state, telephone calls to the subscriber telephone number while the subscriber is on-line are processed according to the on-line state. As examples, if the state is available-for-incoming-calls, the subscriber is notified of the incoming call and the call is processed according to the subscriber'"'"'s instructions. If the state is not-available-for-incoming-calls, messaging according to the subscriber'"'"'s preset instructions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station; and

determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising processing the telephone call according to the on-line state.

3. A method, comprising:

connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection; and

setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising informing the server of the on-line state.

5. A system comprising:

a server; and

a data connection for connecting the server to a data terminal at a called station, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection, the server processing a call from a calling station to the called station according to an on-line state of the data terminal, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

6. A system comprising:

a data terminal at a called station, the data terminal having an on-line state, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls; and

a data connection, for connecting the data terminal to a server, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection, a call from a calling station to the called station being processed according to the on-line state.

7. A system comprising:

means for receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station; and

means for determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

8. A system according to claim 7, further comprising means for processing the telephone call according to the on-line state.

9. A system comprising:

means for connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection; and

means for setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for informing the server of the on-line state.

11. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for processing a telephone call, the code comprising:

code for receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station; and

code for determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

12. Computer executable software code according to claim 11, further comprising code for processing the telephone call according to the on-line state.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for processing a telephone call, the code comprising:

code for receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station; and

code for determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

14. A computer-readable medium according to claim 13, further comprising code for processing the telephone call according to the on-line state.

15. A programmed computer for processing a telephone call, comprising:

a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;

wherein the program code includes code for receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station; and

code for determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

16. A programmed computer according to claim 15, further comprising code for processing the telephone call according to the on-line state.

17. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for processing a telephone call, the code comprising:

code for connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection; and

code for setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

18. Computer executable software code according to claim 17, further comprising code for informing the server of the on-line state.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for processing a telephone call, the code comprising:

code for connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection; and

code for setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

20. A computer-readable medium according to claim 19, further comprising code for informing the server of the on-line state.

21. A programmed computer for processing a telephone call, comprising:

a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code; and

processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;

wherein the program code includes code for connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection; and

code for setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.

22. A programmed computer according to claim 21, further comprising code for informing the server of the on-line state.

23. A method comprising:

receiving a call directed to a called station from a calling station;

determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls;

if the on-line state is available-for-incoming-calls, sending an alert message to the data terminal to alert a user at the data terminal of the incoming call; and

if the on-line state is not-available for incoming calls, processing the incoming call without alerting the user of the incoming call.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the user activates the on-line state.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

if the on-line state is not-available-for-incoming-calls, processing the incoming call in accordance with the not-available-for-incoming-calls state.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the processing of the incoming call in accordance with the not-available-for-incoming-calls state is selected from the group consisting of sending the incoming call to voice mail, forwarding the incoming call to a second number and not answering the incoming call.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the not-available-for-incoming-calls state allows the user to work on-line without being disturbed while incoming calls are processed in accordance with preset instructions.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

if the on-line state is available-for-incoming-calls, processing the incoming call in accordance with the available-for-incoming-calls state.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the processing of the incoming call in accordance with the available-for-incoming-call state is selected from the group consisting of answering the incoming call, sending the incoming call to voice mail, forwarding the incoming call to a second number and not answering the incoming call.