Detecting a voice mail system answering a call
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- transmitting, from a first data-processing system, a call to a second data-processing system;
receiving, at the first data-processing system, an indication from the second data processing system that the call has been answered;
ending, at the first data-processing system, the call to the second data processing system based on the time interval between;
(i) when the call is transmitted to the second data processing system, and(ii) when the indication is received by the first data processing system that the call has been answered; and
forwarding the call to a voice mail system that is associated with the first data-processing system, wherein the forwarding of the call is based on the time interval between;
(i) when the call is transmitted to the second data processing system, and(ii) when the indication is received by the first data processing system that the call has been answered.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed that enable a private branch exchange to determine that a voice mail system has answered a call, without some of the disadvantages in the prior art. The private branch exchange—or, generally-speaking, a data-processing system—infers that the voice mail system has answered a call by timing key events or by noting some of indications that are received from another system, or both. Subsequently, the private branch exchange drops the voice mail system from the call, thereby minimizing the non-enterprise voice mail system'"'"'s handling of calls that are originated to an on-premises terminal.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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transmitting, from a first data-processing system, a call to a second data-processing system; receiving, at the first data-processing system, an indication from the second data processing system that the call has been answered; ending, at the first data-processing system, the call to the second data processing system based on the time interval between; (i) when the call is transmitted to the second data processing system, and (ii) when the indication is received by the first data processing system that the call has been answered; and forwarding the call to a voice mail system that is associated with the first data-processing system, wherein the forwarding of the call is based on the time interval between; (i) when the call is transmitted to the second data processing system, and (ii) when the indication is received by the first data processing system that the call has been answered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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transmitting, from a first data-processing system, a call to a second data-processing system in accordance with a first signaling protocol; receiving, at the first data-processing system, an indication from the second data processing system that a third data processing system has answered the call in accordance with a second signaling protocol; ending, at the first data-processing system, the call to the second data processing system when the second signaling protocol is different than the first signaling protocol; and forwarding the call to a voice mail system that is associated with the first data-processing system, when the second signaling protocol is different than the first signaling protocol. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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transmitting, from a first data-processing system, a call to a second data-processing system that is serving a telecommunications terminal for which the call is intended; receiving, at the first data-processing system, an indication from the second data processing system that the call has been answered; ending, at the first data-processing system, the call to the second data processing system, based on i) receiving the indication and ii) a criterion that is based on a predetermined characteristic of the telecommunications terminal; and forwarding the call to a voice mail system that is associated with the first data-processing system, wherein the forwarding of the call is based on the criterion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification