Call waiting suppression

• US 7,352,854 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silver, Edward Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr.; William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/673,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.16, 379/215.01, 379/88.21, 379/88.26, 379/142.08, 379/210.01, 379/211.02, 379/214.01
• US Class Current: 379/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting

Abstract

Systems and method for call waiting suppression are disclosed. When a communications device is engaged in an active communication and receives an incoming communication, a call waiting alert is activated to produce a single, initial audible alert, and thereafter the subsequent call waiting alert(s) are silenced according to a call waiting suppression profile. Alteratively, an audible indicator of the call waiting alert may be deactivated for the incoming communication, while other indicators remain active to alert the receiving party of the incoming communication.

Claims

1. A system providing call waiting suppression, comprising:

means for processing an incoming communication to a receiving party'"'"'s communications device, the receiving party'"'"'s communication device already engaged in an ongoing communication;

means for processing an incoming communications signal, the incoming communications signal from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

means for associating a call waiting suppression profile with the receiving party, the call waiting suppression profile comprising a timing parameter for suppressing alerts of the incoming communications signal to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

means for causing an initial alert to the receiving party to alert of the incoming communication; and

thereafter, means for suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication according to the timing parameter, such that after the initial alert is caused, the subsequent alerts are deactivated.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for causing an initial audible alert to the receiving party.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for sending caller identification information to the receiving party, the caller identification information alerting the receiving party to the incoming communication.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for silencing a second, subsequent audible alert of the incoming communication.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for silencing subsequent audible alerts according to a time period defined by the timing parameter.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for causing an initial audible alert to the receiving party;

means for silencing all subsequent audible alerts of the incoming communication; and

means for sending caller identification information to the receiving party, the caller identification information alerting the receiving party to the incoming communication.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein when the incoming communication is from an unknown party, then further comprising means for suppressing the initial alert.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving caller identification information associated with the calling party; and

means for retrieving the timing parameter associated with the caller identification information.

9. A call waiting suppression system, comprising:

means for receiving an incoming communications signal at a receiving party'"'"'s communications device, the receiving party'"'"'s communication device already engaged in an ongoing communication, the incoming communications signal identifying an incoming communication from a calling party'"'"'s communications device;

means for associating a call waiting suppression profile with the receiving party, the call waiting suppression profile comprising a timing parameter for suppressing alerts of the incoming communications signal to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

means for causing an initial alert to the receiving party to alert of the incoming communication; and

thereafter, means for suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication according to the timing parameter, such that after the initial alert is caused, the subsequent alerts are deactivated.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for causing an initial alert comprises means for causing an initial audible alert.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for receiving caller identification information that alerts the receiving party to the incoming communication.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for silencing a second, subsequent audible alert of the incoming communication.

13. A method of call waiting suppression, compromising:

receiving an incoming communications signal at a receiving party'"'"'s communications device, the receiving party'"'"'s communication device already engaged in an ongoing communication, the incoming communications signal identifying an incoming communication from a calling party'"'"'s communications device;

associating a call waiting suppression profile with the receiving party, the call waiting suppression profile comprising a timing parameter for suppressing alerts of the incoming communications signal to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

causing an initial alert to the receiving party to alert of the incoming communication; and

thereafter, suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication according to the timing parameter, such that after the initial alert is caused, the subsequent alerts are deactivated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein causing the initial alert comprises causing an initial audible alert.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving caller identification information that alerts the receiving party to the incoming communication.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising silencing a second, subsequent audible alert of the incoming communication.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein when the incoming communication is from an unknown party, then further comprising suppressing the initial alert.

18. A method for call waiting suppression, comprising:

processing an incoming communication to a receiving party'"'"'s communications device, the receiving party'"'"'s communication device already engaged in an ongoing communication;

processing an incoming communications signal, the incoming communications signal from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

associating a call waiting suppression profile with the receiving party, the call waiting suppression profile comprising a timing parameter for suppressing alerts of the incoming communications signal to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

causing an initial alert to the receiving party to alert of the incoming communication; and

thereafter, suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication according to the timing parameter, such that after the initial alert is caused, the subsequent alerts are deactivated.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein causing the initial alert comprises causing an initial audible alert to the receiving party.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein causing the initial alert comprises sending caller identification information to the receiving party, the caller identification information alerting the receiving party to the incoming communication.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein suppressing the subsequent alerts comprises silencing a second, subsequent audible alert of the incoming communication.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein suppressing the subsequent alerts comprises silencing subsequent audible alerts according to a time period defined by the timing parameter.

23. A computer program product comprising processor executable instructions for performing a method of call waiting suppression, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming communications signal at a receiving party'"'"'s communications device, the receiving party'"'"'s communication device already engaged in an ongoing communication, the incoming communications signal identifying an incoming communication from a calling party'"'"'s communications device;

associating a call waiting suppression profile with the receiving party, the call waiting suppression profile comprising a timing parameter for suppressing alerts of the incoming communications signal to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

causing an initial alert to the receiving party to alert of the incoming communication; and

thereafter, suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication according to the timing parameter, such that after the initial alert is caused, the subsequent alerts are deactivated.

24. A computer program product comprising processor executable instructions for performing a method of call waiting suppression, the method comprising:

processing an incoming communication to a receiving party'"'"'s communications device, the receiving party'"'"'s communication device already engaged in an ongoing communication;

processing an incoming communications signal, the incoming communications signal from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

associating a call waiting suppression profile with the receiving party, the call waiting suppression profile comprising a timing parameter for suppressing alerts of the incoming communications signal to the receiving party'"'"'s communications device;

causing an initial alert to the receiving party to alert of the incoming communication; and

thereafter, suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication according to the timing parameter, such that after the initial alert is caused, the subsequent alerts are deactivated.