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Method and apparatus for managing calls through an entertainment center

  • US 7,184,522 B2
  • Filed: 05/16/2001
  • Issued: 02/27/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of managing calls through an entertainment system, comprising:

  • notifying by an entertainment system call manager, via a data network, a call management server residing in a telephony provider network to monitor calls on the telephony provider network for the entertainment system;

    holding in the telephony-network-resident call management server a call on the telephony provider network for the entertainment system prior to routing the call to the entertainment system, in response to the notifying;

    receiving in the entertainment system call manager a held call signal indicating a held call, during a program play by the entertainment system to a user, via the data network from the telephony-network-resident call management server;

    presenting by the call manager a selectable call handling option chosen from a group comprising one or more of take the call, send the call to voice mail, forward the call to another number, play a message, ignore the call, and reject the call, in response to the held call signal through the entertainment system during the program play;

    handling the held call according to a call handling option selected by the user through the entertainment system and provided via the data network to the telephony-network-resident call management server; and

    taking the held call directly at the entertainment system call manager by answering the held call using a telephone function of the entertainment system call manager, or sending the held call by the entertainment system call manager to a user voice mail at the user'"'"'s premise, or both, according to the held call handling option selected by the user.

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