Enhanced call-waiting with caller identification method and apparatus using notch filters
First Claim
1. A method for providing to a first party already engaged in a telephone conversation with a second party via a telephone local switching office identifying information related to a calling third party wishing to converse with the first party in a manner that minimizes the time period of a mute condition for a first party, comprising the steps of:
- (a) the local switching office sending a call waiting signal to the first party;
(b) the first party apparatus responding to the call waiting signal by transmitting to the local switching office an acknowledgment signal indicating that it is ready to receive calling party identifying information;
(c) concurrently with the transmission of said acknowledgement signal to said local switching office, utilizing at least one notch filter to render said acknowledgment signal substantially inaudible;
(d) the local switching office then transmitting data corresponding to said identifying information related to the third party;
(e) the first party apparatus responding to the detection of the presence of said data transmission by muting its'"'"' own handset;
(f) the first party apparatus then receiving, storing, and displaying to the first party said identifying information related to the third party as received in said data transmission, thereby allowing the first party to know the identity of the third party; and
(g) the first party apparatus responding to the detection of the end of said data received by terminating the muting of its'"'"' own handset, thereby allowing the first and second party to resume conversation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced telephony call waiting feature and apparatus is provided wherein identifying information related to a third party wishing to converse with a first party already communicating with a second party is provided to the first party during a mute condition in a manner that minimizes the time period of the mute condition. The method is fully compatible with existing services while allowing for new services. The method comprises the steps of the local switching office sending a call waiting tone having predetermined characteristics to the first party and its apparatus responding thereto by generating an acknowledgment signal. The apparatus then initiates a mute condition simultaneous with the ACK signal generation, or in response to detection of a carrier signal, or at some other time after exchange of the call waiting tone and/or the acknowledgment signal has occurred. Various methods are disclosed which initiate and terminate the mute condition in the apparatus of the first and second party to allow for the receipt, storage, and display of caller identifying data while minimizing the period of time the first and second party are muted from communicating. The first party may either accept or reject the waiting call in the conventional manner as based on the third party identifying information. Notch filters may be utilized to eliminate frequency components associated with an acknowledgement signal to maximize time available for conversation.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method for providing to a first party already engaged in a telephone conversation with a second party via a telephone local switching office identifying information related to a calling third party wishing to converse with the first party in a manner that minimizes the time period of a mute condition for a first party, comprising the steps of:
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(a) the local switching office sending a call waiting signal to the first party;
(b) the first party apparatus responding to the call waiting signal by transmitting to the local switching office an acknowledgment signal indicating that it is ready to receive calling party identifying information;
(c) concurrently with the transmission of said acknowledgement signal to said local switching office, utilizing at least one notch filter to render said acknowledgment signal substantially inaudible;
(d) the local switching office then transmitting data corresponding to said identifying information related to the third party;
(e) the first party apparatus responding to the detection of the presence of said data transmission by muting its'"'"' own handset;
(f) the first party apparatus then receiving, storing, and displaying to the first party said identifying information related to the third party as received in said data transmission, thereby allowing the first party to know the identity of the third party; and
(g) the first party apparatus responding to the detection of the end of said data received by terminating the muting of its'"'"' own handset, thereby allowing the first and second party to resume conversation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for providing to a first party already engaged in a telephone conversation with a second party via a telephone switching office identifying information related to a calling third party wishing to converse with the first party in a manner that minimizes the time period of a mute condition for a first party, comprising the steps of:
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(a) the local switching office sending a call waiting signal to the first party;
(b) the first party apparatus responding to the call waiting signal by transmitting to the switching office an acknowledgment signal indicating that it is ready to receive calling party identifying information;
(c) utilizing at least one notch filter to render said acknowledgment signal substantially inaudible;
(d) the switching office then transmitting data corresponding to said identifying information related to the third party;
(e) the first party apparatus responding to the detection of the presence of said data transmission by muting its'"'"' own handset;
(f) the first party apparatus then receiving and storing said identifying information related to the third party as received in said data transmission;
(g) the first party apparatus terminating the muting of its'"'"' own handset in response to a predetermined condition, thereby allowing the first and second party to resume conversation; and
(h) the first party apparatus converting said stored data into audible speech which can be heard by said first party. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A telephone apparatus for receiving third party caller identification information while a first party is in communication with a second party via a local switching office, which is adapted to minimize the time a mute condition must occur, comprising:
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(a) a call waiting detector for detecting a call waiting signal in the presence of communication signals on the telephone line between a first and a second party;
(b) control circuit responsive to the detection of said call waiting signal for generating an acknowledgment signal on the telephone line to indicate to the local switching office that said telephone apparatus is authorized and ready to receive data corresponding to said third party caller identification information;
(c) a notch filter subsystem for rendering said acknowledgement signal substantially inaudible. (d) a data detector for detecting the presence of data transmitted from the local switching office, which includes said third party caller identification data, after said call waiting and acknowledgement signals have been exchanged between the local switching office and the telephone apparatus;
(e) a mute initiator for initiating a mute condition of the handset of the telephone apparatus in response to the detection of the presence of data transmitted from the local switching office;
(f) a display member for receiving, displaying and storing identification data related to a third party;
(g) an end detector for detecting the end of said data transmitted from the local switching office;
(h) a termination member for terminating said mute condition in response to the detection of the end of said data transmitted from the local switching office after said identification data has been received. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification