Communication on hold notifier

• US 6,690,776 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Raasch, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/644,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.09, 379/93.14, 379/93.25, 379/93.28, 379/93.34, 379/93.35, 379/187, 379/215.01, 379/93-5-, 379/93.31, 375/222, 375/387.01, 375/393
• US Class Current: 379/93.35
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1438 Negotiation of transmission parameters prior to communication modified according to link quality H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

A communication system includes a controller, a data pump under the control of the controller and a data access arrangement under the control of the controller. The controller establishes a data communication session with a remote communication system using the data pump and the data access arrangement. The controller then places the communication session in an on-hold state for a period of time and generates an indication relating to a status of the on-hold state. The controller may generate a sound as an indication or may transmit data relating to the status. The sound may be generated by toggling a relay in the data access arrangement, by transmitting a tone or by transmitting an audio sample. The audio sample may be generated by a codec controlled by the controller. The indication is generated to provide a progress notification relating to the period of time, a warning notification relating to the period of time or an expiration notification of the period of time.

Claims

1. A communication method for use by a first modem during a communication session with a second modem, said first modem having a user, said communication method comprising the steps of:

detecting an interruption n said communication session;

requesting said second modem to place said communication session in an on-hold state in response to said interruption;

receiving a hold response from said second modem in response to said requesting step, said hold response including a hold time;

placing said communication session in said on late in response to said step of receiving said hold response; and

generating a plurality of indications based on said hold time to provide a status of said on-hold state to said user of said fist modem during said on-hold state;

wherein said communication session is terminated by said second modem upon expiration of said hold time unless, prior to said expiration of said hold time and in response to said plurality of indications, said user requests said first modem to terminate said on-hold state or terminate said communication session.

2. The communication method of claim 1 further comprising a step of terminating said on-hold state in response to said status.

3. The communication method of claim 2 further comprising a step of re-establishing said communication session.

4. The communication method of claim 3, wherein said re-establishing step uses a modem quick connect process.

5. The communication method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of indications are data including said status, and wherein said method further comprises a step of displaying said status on a display device in communication with said first modem.

6. The communication method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of indications use a sound.

7. The communication method of claims 6, wherein said first modem generates said sound to provide a notification of a remaining time of said hold time.

8. The communication method of claim 6, wherein said first modem generates said sound to notify a start of said on-hold state.

9. The communication method of claim 6, wherein said first modem generates said sound to notify a progress of said on-hold state.

10. The communication method of claim 9, wherein said sound is generated more than once at a pre-determined time interval.

11. The communication method of claims 6, wherein said first modem generates said sound to provide a warning of nearing an expiration time of said hold time.

12. The communication method of claim 6, wherein said first modem generates said sound to notify an expiration time of said hold time.

13. The communication method of claim 9,further comprising a step of terminating said communication session.

14. The communication method of claim 6, wherein said sound is a tone.

15. The communication method of claim 6, wherein said sound is an audio sound.

16. The communication method of claim 15, wherein said audio sound is generated by a codec in said first modem.

17. The communication method of claim 6, wherein said sound is a digitized sound rendered through a DAC in said first modem.

18. The communication method of claim 6, wherein said sound is a synthesized sound rendered through a DAC in said first modem.

19. The communication method of claim 6, wherein said sound is generated by toggling a relay in said first modem.

20. A modem comprising:

a controller;

a data pump controlled by said controller; and

a data access arrangement controlled by said controller;

wherein said controller establishes a communication,session with a remote modem using said data pump and said data access arrangement,

wherein said controller transmit a request to said remote modem to place said communication session in an on-hold state in response to an interruption in said communication session,

wherein said controller receives a hold response from said remote modem in response to said request, said hold-response including a hold time,

wherein said controller places said communication session in said on-hold state in response to said hold response, and said controller generates a plurality of indications based on said hold time to provide a status of said on-hold state to a user of said modem during said on-hold state, and

wherein said communication session is terminated by said remote modem upon expiration of said hold time unless, prior to said expiration of said hold time and in response to said plurality of indications, said,user requests said modem to terminate said on-hold-state or terminate said communication session.

21. The modem of claim 20, wherein said plurality of indications uses a sound.

22. The modem of claim 21, wherein said controller generates said sound by toggling a relay in said data access arrangement.

23. The modem of claim 21, wherein said controller generates said sound by transmitting a tone.

24. The modem of claim 23, wherein said controller uses said data pump to generate said tone.

25. The modem of claim 21, further comprises a codec, wherein said controller uses said codec to generate said sound.

26. The modem of claim 21, wherein said sound is generated to provide a progress notification relating to said hold time.

27. The modem of claim 21, wherein said sound is generated to provide a warning notification relating to said hold time.

28. The modem of claim 21, wherein said tone is generated to provide an expiration notification of said hold time.

29. The modem of claim 20, wherein said plurality of indications are data including said status for display on a display device.

30. The modem of claim 29, wherein said status is an expiration time, and wherein said display device displays a countdown of said expiration time.

31. A computer program product for use by a first modem during a communication session with a second modem, said first modem having a user, said computer program product comprising:

code for detecting an interruption in said communication session;

code for requesting said second modem to place said communication session in an on-hold state in response to said interruption;

code for receiving a hold response from said second modem in response to said requesting, said hold response including a hold time;

code for placing said communication session in said on-hold state in response to said receiving said hold response; and

code for generating a plurality of indications based on said hold time to provide a status of said on-hold state to said user of said first modem during said on-hold state;

wherein said communication session is terminated by said second modem upon expiration of said hold time unless, prior to said expiration of said hold time and in response to said plurality of indications, said user requests said first modem to terminate said on-hold state or terminate said communication session.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, further comprising code for terminating said on-hold state in response to said status.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, further comprising code for re-establishing said communication session.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein said re-establishing step uses a modem quick:

connect process.

35. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein said plurality of indications are data including said status, and wherein said computer program product further comprises code for displaying said status on a display device in communication with said first modem.

36. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein said plurality of indications use a sound.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said first modem generates said sound to provide a notification of a remaining time of said hold timed.

38. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said first modem generates said sound to notify a start of said on-hold state.

39. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said first modem generates said sound to notify a progress of said on-hold state.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein said sound is generated more than once at a pre-determined time interval.

41. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said first modem generates said sound to provide a warning of nearing an expiration time of said hold time.

42. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said first modem generates said sound to notify an expiration time of said hold time.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, further comprising code for terminating said communication session.

44. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said sound is a tone.

45. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said sound is an audio sound.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein said audio sound is generated by a codec in said first modem.

47. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said sound is a digitized sound rendered through a DAC in said first modem.

48. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said sound is a synthesized sound rendered through a DAC in said first modem.

49. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said sound is generated by toggling relay in said first modem.