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

• US 6,775,370 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• 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:
  US10/037,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 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, the caller may be informed and the call is forwarded to another number or sent to messaging according to the subscriber'"'"'s preset instructions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a communication attempt directed to a receiving station from an initiating station; and

determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the receiving station, the receiving 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-communications or not-available-for-incoming-communications.

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

3. A method, comprising:

linking a data terminal at a receiving station to a server by a data connection, the receiving 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-communications or not-available-for-incoming-communications.

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

5. A method comprising:

receiving a communication attempt directed to a receiving station from an initiating station;

determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the receiving station, the receiving 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-communications or not-available-for-incoming-communications;

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

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

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the user activates the on-line state.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

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

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the processing of the incoming communications in accordance with the not-available-for-incoming-communications state is selected from the group comprising sending the incoming communications to message storage, forwarding the incoming communications to a second address and not answering the incoming communications.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second address is a telephone number.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the not-available-for-incoming-communications state allows the user to work on-line without being disturbed while incoming communications are processed in accordance with preset instructions.

11. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

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

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the processing of the incoming communications in accordance with the available-for-incoming-communications state is selected from the group comprising answering the incoming communications, sending the incoming communications to message storage, forwarding the incoming communications to a second address and not answering the incoming communications.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second address is a telephone number.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a communication attempt directed to a receiving station from an initiating station;

determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the receiving station, the receiving 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-communications or not-available-for-incoming-communications; and

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

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the user activates the on-line state.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

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

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the processing of the incoming communications in accordance with the not-available-for-incoming-communications state is selected from the group comprising sending the incoming communications to message storage, forwarding the incoming communications to a second address and not answering the incoming communications.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second address is a telephone number.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the not-available-for-incoming-communications state allows the user to work on-line without being disturbed while incoming communications are processed in accordance with preset instructions.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

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

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the processing of the incoming communications in accordance with the available-for-incoming-communications state is selected from the group comprising answering the incoming communications, sending the incoming communications to message storage, forwarding the incoming communications to a second address and not answering the incoming communications.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the second address is a telephone number.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

if the on-line state is available-for-incoming-communications, sending an alert message to the data terminal to alert a user at the data terminal of the incoming communications.

24. 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; and

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

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

26. The method of claim 24 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.

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

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the second number is a telephone number.

29. The method of claim 24 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.

30. The method of claim 24 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.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the processing of the incoming calls in accordance with the available-for-incoming-calls state is selected from the group comprising 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.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the second number is a telephone number.

33. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

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.