Method and system for providing enhanced call waiting

• US 6,829,343 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Harrington, Claude Lee, Book, Nancy Ann, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Bossemeyer, Jr., Robert Wesley, Crockett, Susanne Marie, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Maciejewski, James Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US10/409,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 379/215.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.04, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/213.01, 379/208.01, 379/209.01, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/373.01, 379/373.04, 379/374.01, 379/374.02
• 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 method for processing a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station, the method comprising:

(a) using a service node to obtain information associated with the calling communication station when the called communication station is busy;

(b) transmitting an audible call waiting indicator to the called communication station; and

(c) using a service node to automatically transmit an audible representation of the information associated with the calling communication station to the called communication station, without receiving any input from the called communication station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises obtaining an identity of a caller at the calling communication station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises obtaining an identity of a caller at the calling communication station and a telephone number associated with the calling communication station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a single call waiting tone to the called communication station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a plurality of call waiting tones to the called communication station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting at least one call waiting tone preceding the information associated with the calling communication station and transmitting at least one call waiting tone following the information associated with the calling communication station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting an audible representation of an identity of a caller at the calling communication station to the called communication station.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises transmitting an audible representation of an identity of a caller at the calling communication station and a telephone number associated with the calling communication station to the called communication station.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the called communication station is busy on a previous call prior to (a).

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the called communication station and the calling communication station in response to a signal transmitted from the called communication station.

11. A method for processing a call from a calling communication station to a called communication station, the method comprising:

(a) using an intelligent peripheral to obtain information associated with the calling communication station when the called communication station is busy;

(b) transmitting an audible call waiting indicator to the called communication station; and

(c) using an intelligent peripheral to automatically transmit an audible representation of the information associated with the calling communication station to the called communication station, without receiving any input from the called communication station.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein (a) comprises obtaining an identity of a caller at the calling communication station.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein (a) comprises obtaining an identity of a caller at the calling communication station and a telephone number associated with the calling communication station.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a single call waiting tone to the called communication station.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a plurality of call waiting tones to the called communication station.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein (b) comprises transmitting at least one call waiting tone preceding the information associated with the calling communication station and transmitting at least one call waiting tone following the information associated with the calling communication station.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein (c) comprises transmitting an audible representation of an identity of a caller at the calling communication station to the called communication station.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein (c) comprises transmitting an audible representation of an identity of a caller at the calling communication station and a telephone number associated with the calling communication station to the called communication station.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether the called communication station is busy on a previous call prior to (a).

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the called communication station and the calling communication station in response to a signal transmitted from the called communication station.