Process, service computer, switching centre, terminals and program modules for handling incoming telephone calls during and online data-network session blocking a subscriber line

• US 6,947,538 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Glasner-Schapeler, Ingrid, Piepkorn, Peter, Orlamünder, Harald, Kaiser, Bernhard, Shen, Yuzhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quynh H.
• Application Number:
  US09/755,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 379/93.09, 379/93.05, 379/93.35, 379/215.01
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process and also to a service computer, a switching center, terminals, program modules and memory means with program modules for handling incoming telephone calls for a subscriber line (VA1) of a telecommunications network (PSTN) during an online data-network session blocking the subscriber line (VA1). In this process a terminal (TERA) sets up a connection (VA11, VA1, VPOP1) to an online data-network access device (POP) via the subscriber line (VA1). Thereupon the online data-network access device (POP) sends current access data to the terminal (TERA), which the terminal (TERA) signals to a service computer (SCP) of the telecommunications network. If a switching center (SW1) of the telecommunications network then detects an incoming call destined for the subscriber line (VA1), the switching center (SW1) then signals the fact that this call is waiting to the service computer (SCP) which supplies at least one predetermined service for the purpose of processing the incoming call. The service may, for example, consist in a message being sent to the terminal (TERA), in which attention is drawn to the incoming call, or in the incoming call being forwarded to an alternative destination (TELA2).

Claims

1. A process for handling incoming telephone calls subscriber line of a telecommunications network while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network sessions, wherein a terminal of a subscriber sets up a connection to an access device of an online data network via the subscriber line, and the access device sends current access data to the terminals the process comprising the steps of:

the terminal signaling the current access data to a service computer of the telecommunications network,

a switching center of the telecommunications network signaling to the service computer the fact that an incoming call destined for the subscriber line is waiting at the switching center, and

the service computer supplying at least one predetermined service for the purpose of processing the incoming call.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein by way of a predetermined service the service computer sends a message to the terminal in which attention is drawn to the incoming call.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein by way of a predetermined service the service computer forwards the incoming call to an alternative destination.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein by way of a predetermined service the service computer forwards the incoming call to the terminal via the online data network.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein by way of a predetermined service the service computer instructs one of the switching center and the terminal to break off or to interrupt the online data-network session occupying the subscriber line and in that the switching center signals the incoming call on the subscriber line.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

by way of a predetermined service the service computer sends a selection menu to the terminal, by means of which a selection of possible follow-up services for the purpose of processing the incoming call is offered,

the terminal ascertains a selection that has been made by an operator in the selection menu,

the terminal sends the selection to the service computer, and

the service computer supplies the follow-up service defined in the selection.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the service computer sends an instruction to the switching center to signal to the service computer the fact that an incoming call destined for the subscriber line is waiting if the terminal has set up the connection to the access device of the online data network via the subscriber line.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the switching center signals to the service computer a clear-down of the connection occupying the subscriber line.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein when a call comes in that is directed to a special call number which has been set up in the switching center, the switching center signals to the service computer the fact that an incoming call destined for the subscriber line is waiting.

18. A process according to claim 1, wherein the switching center signaling to the service computer the fact that an incoming call destined for the subscriber line is waiting is performed without forwarding the incoming call to the service computer.

10. A service computer of a telecommunications network for handling incoming telephone calls for a subscriber line of the telecommunications network while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network session of a terminal of a subscriber, the service computer comprising:

a receiver configured in such a way that the service computer of the telecommunications network can receive access data sent from the terminal of the subscriber which the terminal has received from an access device of an online data network in the course of the setting-up of a connection to the online data network via the subscriber line, and further configured such that the service computer can receive a message from a switching center of the telecommunication network in which the switching center signals to the service computer the fact that an incoming call destined for the subscriber line is waiting at the switching center;

a memory configured in such a way that the service computer can store the access data; and

a service supply configured in such a way that the service computer can supply at least one predetermined service for the purpose of processing the incoming call with the aid of the access data.

19. A service computer according to claim 10, wherein the switching center signals to the service computer the fact that the incoming call destined for the subscriber line is waiting without forwarding the incoming call to the service computer.

11. A switching center for handling incoming telephone calls for a subscriber line of a telecommunications network while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network session of a terminal of a subscriber said switching center comprising:

a receiver configured in such a way that the switching center can receive and hold an incoming call destined for the subscriber line while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network session of the terminal of the subscriber;

a recognition apparatus configured in such a way that the switching center can recognize that the terminal has set up a connection occupying the subscriber line; and

a transmitter configured in such a way that the switching center can send a message to a service computer of the telecommunications network if an incoming call destined for the subscriber line is waiting while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network session of the terminal,

wherein the terminal signals access data to the service computer of the telecommunications network to aid in providing services for handling incoming calls for the occupied subscriber line, said access data being sent from an access device to the terminal.

20. A switching center according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter is configured in such a way that the switching center can send the message to the service computer if the incoming call destined for the subscriber line is waiting while the subscriber line is occupied by an online data-network session of the terminal without forwarding the incoming call to the service computer.

12. A terminal of a subscriber for handling incoming telephone calls for a subscriber line of a telecommunications network while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network session of the terminal, the terminal comprising:

a receiver configured in such a way that the terminal can receive current access data from an access device of an online data network which the access device sends to the terminal of the subscriber in the course of the setting-up of a connection to the online data network via the subscriber line, and

a transmitter configured in such a way that the terminal can send the current access data to a service computer of the telecommunications network, which with the aid of the access data can supply at least one predetermined service for the purpose of processing an incoming call waiting at a switching center due to the online data-network session of the terminal occupying the subscriber line.

21. A terminal according to claim 12, wherein the incoming call waiting at the switching center is not forwarded to the service computer.

13. A terminal of a subscriber for handling incoming telephone calls for a subscriber line of a telecommunications network while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network session of the terminal, the terminal comprising:

a receiver configured in such a way that the terminal of the subscriber can receive instructions from a service computer of the telecommunications network which, with a view to supplying at least one predetermined service for the purpose of processing the incoming call waiting at a switching center due to the online data-network session of the terminal occupying the subscriber line, the service computer sends off to the terminal with the aid of access data which the service computer has obtained from the terminal after a connection from the terminal to the online data network has been set up via the subscriber line, and

execution apparatus configured in such a way that the terminal can execute the instructions.

22. A terminal according to claim 13, wherein the incoming call waiting at the switching center is not forwarded to the service computer.

14. An access-data-sending program module for a terminal of a subscriber for handling incoming telephone calls for a subscriber line of a telecommunications network while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network session of the terminal, said program module containing program code which can be executed by a processor in the terminal, the program module comprising:

receiving code for receiving from an access device of an online data network current access data which the access device sends to the terminal of the subscriber in the course of the setting-up of a connection to the online data network via the subscriber line, and

sending code for sending the current access data to a service computer of the telecommunications network, which with the aid of the access data can supply at least one predetermined service for the purpose of processing an incoming call waiting at a switching center due to the online data-network session of the terminal occupying the subscriber line.

16. A memory storing an access-data-sending program module according to claim 14.

23. An access-data-sending program module according to claim 14, wherein the incoming call waiting at the switching center is not forwarded to the service computer.

15. A program module for a terminal of a subscriber for handling incoming telephone calls for a subscriber line of a telecommunications network while the subscriber line is busy during an online data-network session of the terminal, said program module containing program code which can be executed by a processor in the terminal, the program module comprising:

receiving code for receiving instructions from a service computer of the telecommunications network which the service computer sends off to the terminal of the subscriber with a view to supplying at least one predetermined service for the purpose of processing the incoming call, which is waiting at a switching center due to the online data-network session of the terminal occupying the subscriber line, with the aid of access data which the service computer has received from the terminal after a connection from the terminal to the online data network has been set up via the subscriber line, and

execution code for executing the instructions.

17. A memory storing a program module according to claim 15.

24. A program module according to claim 15, wherein the incoming call waiting at the switching center is not forwarded to the service computer.