Call waiting feature for a telephone line connected to the internet

• US 6,842,448 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norris, John H., Russell, Thomas Leonard Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US09/523,604
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/400, 370/401, 370/389, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/156 On-line status dependent routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• 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 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• 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: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Conventional Internet access service and new computer programs are added to a conventional telephone central office. This system is able to alert a subscriber whose telephone line is connected to the Internet of a waiting call via the Internet access connection. Specifically, in response to a call that is waiting for a subscriber, the system establishes a new communication with the subscriber using the Internet access connection and new programs in the subscriber'"'"'s data terminal. The system then notifies the subscriber of the waiting call via the Internet access connection. The system may then forward the telephone call to the subscriber via the Internet access connection responsive to a subscriber'"'"'s request to do so without terminating the subscriber'"'"'s Internet connection, or the subscriber may choose to answer the call in a conventional manner, or may select another option in response to the call notification.

Claims

1. A method of processing a telephone call from a calling party intended for a called party whose telephone line is in use by a data terminal, said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line, comprising the steps of:

receiving said call intended for said called party;

sending a message to said data terminal via said telephone line to alert the called party to said call; and

receiving a message from said data terminal via said telephone line, the received message including a call disposition election made by said called party for said call.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of in response to said call disposition election, routing said call to said data terminal via said telephone line so that said calling party may communicate with said called party.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of packetizing telephone voice signals received from said calling party for transmission to said data terminal.

4. The method of claims 2 further comprising the step of generating telephone voice signals based on packetized speech signals received from said data terminal.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of, in response to said call disposition election, routing said call to a voice mail system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to said call disposition election, said call is not routed to said data terminal.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said call is terminated.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a message to a telephone network element used to route calls to said telephone line, said message sent to activate a call forwarding feature for calls intended for said telephone line.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said message is sent in response to said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein a call intended for said telephone line is forwarded to another line in response to said telephone line being in use.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a message to said data terminal indicating that an Internet call waiting feature is invoked.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a message to said data terminal indicating that an Internet call waiting feature is not invoked.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises a telephone number of the calling party.

14. The method of claim 1 where in said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises call disposition options for said call.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said call disposition options include one or more of (i) terminate said call, (ii) connect said call to said data terminal, and (iii) route said call to a voice mail system.

16. A method of processing a telephone call from a calling party intended for a called party whose telephone line is in use by a data terminal, said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line, comprising the steps of:

receiving said call intended for said called party;

sending a message to said data terminal via said telephone line to alert the called party to said call;

receiving a message from said data terminal via said telephone line, the received message including a call disposition election made by said called party for said call; and

in response to said call disposition election, routing said call to said data terminal via said telephone line so that said calling party may communicate with said called party.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of packetizing telephone voice signals received from said calling party for transmission to said data terminal.

18. The method of claims 16 further comprising the step of generating telephone voice signals based on packetized speech signals received from said data terminal.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of sending a message to a telephone network element used to route calls to said telephone line, said message sent to activate a call forwarding feature for calls intended for said telephone line.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said message is sent in response to said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein a call intended for said telephone line is forwarded to another line in response to said telephone line being in use.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of sending a message to said data terminal indicating that an Internet call waiting feature is invoked.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises a telephone number of the calling party.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises call disposition options for said call.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said call disposition options include one or more of (i) terminate said call, (ii) connect said call to said data terminal, and (iii) route said call to a voice mail system.

26. A method of processing a telephone call from a calling party intended for a called party whose telephone line is in use by a data terminal, said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line, comprising the steps of:

receiving said call intended for said called party;

sending a message to said data terminal via said telephone line to alert the called party to said call;

receiving a message from said data terminal via said telephone line, the received message including a call disposition election made by said called party for said call; and

in response to said call disposition election, routing said call to a voice mail system.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of sending a message to a telephone network element used to route calls to said telephone line, said message sent to activate a call forwarding feature for calls intended for said telephone line.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said message is sent in response to said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein a call intended for said telephone line is forwarded to another line in response to said telephone line being in use.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of sending a message to said data terminal indicating that an Internet call waiting feature is invoked.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises a telephone number of the calling party.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises call disposition options for said call.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said call disposition options include one or more of (i) terminate said call, (ii) connect said call to said data terminal, and (iii) route said call to a voice mail system.

34. A method of processing a telephone call from a calling party intended for a called party whose telephone line is in use by a data terminal, said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line, comprising the steps of:

receiving said call intended for said called party;

sending a message to said data terminal via said telephone line to alert the called party to said call;

receiving a message from said data terminal via said telephone line, the received message including a call disposition election made by said called party for said call; and

in response to said call disposition election, initiating the termination of said call.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of sending a message to a telephone network element used to route calls to said telephone line, said message sent to activate a call forwarding feature for calls intended for said telephone line.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said message is sent in response to said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein a call intended for said telephone line is forwarded to another line in response to said telephone line being in use.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of sending a message to said data terminal indicating that an Internet call waiting feature is invoked.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises a telephone number of the calling party.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises call disposition options for said call.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said call disposition options include one or more of (i) terminate said call, (ii) connect said call to said data terminal, and (iii) route said call to a voice mail system.

42. A method of processing a telephone call from a calling party intended for a called party whose telephone line is in use by a data terminal, said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line, comprising the steps of:

in response to the placement of a call intended for said called party, sending a message to said data terminal via said telephone line to alert the called party to said call; and

receiving a message from said data terminal via said telephone line, the received message including a call disposition election made by said called party for said call.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of in response to said call disposition election, routing said call to said data terminal via said telephone line so that said calling party may communicate with said called party.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the step of packetizing telephone voice signals received from said calling party for transmission to said data terminal.

45. The method of claims 43 further comprising the step of generating telephone voice signals based on packetized speech signals received from said data terminal.

46. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of, in response to said call disposition election, routing said call to a voice mail system.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein in response to said call disposition election, said call is not routed to said data terminal.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said call is terminated.

49. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of sending a message to a telephone network element used to route calls to said telephone line, said message sent to activate a call forwarding feature for calls intended for said telephone line.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said message is sent in response to said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein a call intended for said telephone line is forwarded to another line in response to said telephone line being in use.

52. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of sending a message to said data terminal indicating that an Internet call waiting feature is invoked.

53. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of sending a message to said data terminal indicating that an Internet call waiting feature is not invoked.

54. The method of claim 42 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises a telephone number of the calling party.

55. The method of claim 42 wherein said message sent to said data terminal via said telephone line comprises call disposition options for said call.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said call disposition options include one or more of (i) terminate said call, (ii) connect said call to said data terminal, and (iii) route said call to a voice mail system.

57. A method of processing a telephone call from a calling party intended for a called party whose telephone line is in use by a data terminal, said data terminal having an established connection to the Internet via said telephone line, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a message to said data terminal via said telephone line to alert the called party to said call; and

receiving a message from said data terminal via said telephone line, the received message including a call disposition election made by said called party for said call.