Call hold signaling

• US 6,925,161 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burg, Frederick Murray, Foladare, Mark Jeffrey, Hsiao, Tung-Hai
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/078,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/207.02, 379/215.01, 379/393, 379/900
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• 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 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service
• 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 7/1255 where the switching fabric and the switching logic are decomposed such as in Media Gateway Control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

One or more elements in a telecommunications network (10, 10′ and 10″) receive a call hold-initiating message when a first party places a second party to the call on hold, and in doing so, triggers a call hold event in the network. In response to the call hold-initiating message, the network element may take one or more actions, including releasing one or more network resources and/or providing a service to the second party during the period the call remains on hold. Upon resumption of the call, the network will re-acquire the resources that had been previously released.

Claims

1. A method for propagating signaling information in a communications network to alert at least one element of a call hold event when a first party to a telephone call with at least a second party places the call (and the second party) on hold, comprising the steps of:

receiving in the network a call hold event in response to the first party placing the call on hold;

generating a call hold-Initiating signal in response to receipt of the call hold event and propagating that signal to at least one network element.

2. The method according to claim 1 including the step taking an action while the call remains on hold.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the action taken includes releasing at least one network resource associated with the call while the call remains on hold.

4. The method according to claim 3 further including the step of re-acquiring the at least one network resource associated with the call once the first party returns to the call.

5. The method according to claim 4 including the step affording priority treatment for re-acquisition of resources for a resumed call.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein the action taken Includes providing a service to second party while the second party remains on hold.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the step of providing a service includes the step of providing the second party a menu of service choices.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein the service choices include at least one of:

(a) receiving news from a source of such news,(a) receiving a stock quote, (c) receiving an advertising or consumer survey; and

(d) receiving video information.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the second party receives a benefit for listening to the advertising or responding to the consumer survey.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the benefit received by the second party includes a lower charge for the call.

11. The method according to claim 6 wherein the second party receives the service over a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) link.

12. The method according to claim 6 wherein the second party receives the service on an Internet Protocol device over an Internet Protocol link.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein call hold event is received in the network from an IP device in connection with a VOIP call originated from the first party.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein call hold initiating signal is an SS7 signal generated in accordance with the call hold event received from the IP device.

15. A method for propagating signaling information in a communications network to alert at least one element of a call hold event when a first party to a telephone call with at least a second party places the call (and the second party) on hold, comprising the steps of:

receiving in the network a call hold event in response to the first party placing the call on hold;

generating a call hold-initiating signal in response to receipt of the call hold event and propagating that signal to at least one network element;

responsive to receipt of the call hold-initiating signal, taking a first action while the call remains on hold;

receiving a call resumption-event in response to a first party taking the call off hold;

generating a call resumption-Initiating signal in response to receipt of the call resumption event and propagating that signal to at least one network element; and

responsive to receipt of the call hold-initiating signal, taking a second action once the call is taken off hold.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the first action taken includes releasing at least one network resource associated with the call while the call remains on hold.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the second action taken includes the step of re-acquiring the at least one network resource associated with the call once the first party has taken the call off hold.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein the first action taken includes providing a service to the second party while the second party remains on hold.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of providing a service includes the step of providing the second party a menu of service choices.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the service choices Include at least one of:

(a) receiving news from a source of such news, (a) receiving a stock quote, (c) receiving an advertising or consumer survey; and

(d) receiving video information.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the second party receives a benefit for listening to the advertising or responding to the consumer survey.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the benefit received by the second party includes a lower charge for the call.

23. The method according to claim 18 wherein the second party receives the service over a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) link.

24. The method according to claim 18 wherein the second party receives the service on an Internet Protocol device over an Internet Protocol link.

25. The method according to claim 15 wherein call hold event is received in the network from an IP device in connection with a VOIP call originated from the first party.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein call hold initiating signal is an SS7 signal generated in accordance with the call hold event received from the IP device.