System and method for on-hold call back

• US 6,885,741 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Puckett, Christopher Alan, Scott, David A., Lapierre, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAHEE, MD S
• Application Number:
  US09/717,701
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 379/209.01, 379/67.1, 379/224, 379/142, 379/88.19, 379/88.25, 379/210.01, 709/202
• US Class Current: 379/210.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4286 Notifying a held subscriber when his held call is removed from hold

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for automated call back of a first telephone station that has been placed on hold by a second telephone station in an advanced intelligent network. The system comprises a service switching point connected to the first telephone station, a service node adapted to connect the second telephone station with the first telephone station when the second telephone station becomes available, and a service control point containing a database identifying the service node as adapted to connect the second and first telephone stations. The method includes the following steps: at the service switching point forwarding a request to the service control point to identify one of the plurality of service nodes to handle an automated call back from the second station to the first station; searching the database at the service control point for one of the plurality of service nodes to handle the automated call back to the first station from the second station; identifying to the service switching point, one of the plurality of service nodes to handle the automated call back from the second station to the first station; forwarding to the service node a request for automated call back from the second station to the first station; and upon receiving a signal from the second station at the service node, connecting the second station and the first station.

Claims

1. A system for call back of a first telephone station when placed on hold by a second telephone station, comprising:

a service switching point in communication with the first telephone station;

said service switching point adapted to receive requests to perform on-hold call back;

a service node communicating with the service switching point, said service node adapted to connect the second telephone station with the first telephone station when the second telephone station becomes available; and

a service control point communicating with said service switching point, and containing a database identifying said service node as adapted to connect the second telephone station with the first telephone station;

wherein said service switching point upon receipt of a request from the first telephone station to implement call back from the second telephone station, queries said service control point to identify said service node as adapted to connect the second telephone station with the first telephone station, and communicates to said service node to execute a call back from said second telephone station to said first telephone station, and

wherein said service node, upon receipt of a request from said service switching point, communicates a message to hang up to the first telephone station, communicates a message to said second telephone station that the first telephone station wishes to be contacted, receives a signal indicating the second telephone station is available, communicates to the first telephone station that the second telephone station is available, and connects the second telephone station and first telephone station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said service control point, upon receipt of a request from said service switching point, queries said database and communicates to said service switching point that said service node is adapted to connect the second telephone station with the first telephone station when the second telephone station becomes available.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said service switching point, in response to a request from the first telephone station to implement a call back from the second telephone station to the first telephone station, transmits a request to the service control point, said request to the service control point including information identifying at least the first telephone station and the second telephone station.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said request from the first telephone station includes information identifying at least the first telephone station and the second telephone station.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said service switching point launches a trigger application in response to the request from the first telephone station, said trigger application generating the request to the service control point.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the request to the service control point from the service switching point comprises information identifying the second telephone station.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said service control point, in response to the request from the service switching point, searches said database for information identifying said service node as adapted to connect the second telephone station with the first telephone station.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said service control point launches a query application in response to the request from the service switching point, said query application searching said database for information identifying said service node as adapted to connect the second telephone station with the first telephone station.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein said service control point, in response to said request from the service switching point, communicates information identifying said service node to said service switching point, said service switching point communicating to said service node a request for implementing a call back from said second telephone station to said first telephone station.

10. In an advanced intelligent network comprising a service switching point connected to a first telephone station, a plurality of service nodes each having interactive data systems, a service control point containing a database, and a second telephone station, a method of automated call back from the second telephone station to the first telephone station, comprising:

at the service switching point, forwarding a request to the service control point to identify one of the plurality of service nodes to handle the automated call back from the second telephone station to the first telephone station;

searching the database at the service control point for one of the plurality of service nodes to handle the automated call back to the second telephone station;

identifying to the service switching point, one of the plurality of service nodes to handle automated call back from the second telephone station to the subscriber;

forwarding to the service node a request for automated call back from the second telephone station to the first telephone station;

at the service node, transmitting a signal instructing the operator of the first telephone station to hang up;

at the service node, transmitting a signal instructing an operator of the second telephone station to identify that they are available to communicate with the operator of the first telephone station;

at the service node, detecting a signal indicating that the operator of the second telephone station is available to communicate with the operator of the first telephone station; and

upon receiving a signal from the second telephone station at the service node, connecting the first telephone station and the second telephone station.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the act of receiving at the service switching point a request from the first telephone station for automated call back from the second telephone station to the first telephone station.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the request from the first telephone station for automated call back from the second telephone station to the first telephone station comprises a flash switch hook signal.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to the request from the first telephone station, the act of launching a trigger at the service switching point.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the request to the service control point to identify one of the plurality of service nodes comprises information identifying the second telephone station.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the request to the service control point to identify one of the plurality of service nodes comprises a customized dialing plan query.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the database at the service control point comprises information identifying for the first telephone station a corresponding one of the plurality of service nodes.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the act of identifying to the service switching point the one of the plurality of service nodes, comprises transmitting the directory number corresponding to the one of the plurality of service nodes.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of forwarding to the service node a request for automated call back comprises calling the directory number.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising repeating transmitting a signal instructing an operator of the second telephone station to identify that they are available to communicate with the operator of the first telephone station until a predetermined time limit is reached or until receiving a signal from the first telephone station canceling the automated call back from the second telephone station.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising at the service node transmitting a signal to the first telephone station indicating that the operator of the second telephone station is available.

21. The method of claim 10, further comprising at the service node detecting a signal from the first telephone station indicating that the operator of the first telephone station is available.

22. A method of on-hold call back in a telephone network, comprising:

receiving a request for on-hold call back, said request identifying a second telephone station and a first telephone station;

at a service node, calling the first telephone station and indicating to a first telephone station operator that the on-hold call back has been initiated and directing the first telephone station operator to hang up;

at a service node, broadcasting a message to the second telephone station indicating to an operator of the second telephone station that the first telephone station has requested a call back;

at the service node, upon receipt of a signal from the second telephone station indicating that the operator of the second telephone station is available, calling the first telephone station to notify the first telephone station operator that the operator of the second telephone station is available; and

if the first telephone station operator is available, connecting the first telephone station and the second telephone station.