Distinctive call waiting based on a redirecting number

• US 7,742,589 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pearson, Larry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Al Aubaidi; Rasha S
• Application Number:
  US10/705,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20050100152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,416 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.02
• US Class Current: 379/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a method of providing a distinctive call waiting tone based on a redirecting number. The method includes receiving a call from an originating device at a redirecting device; forwarding the call from the redirecting device to a destination device; and applying a distinctive type of call waiting tone to the destination device based upon determining that a data message includes a redirecting number. The forwarded call has an associated data message that includes a calling number of the origination device, a called number of the destination device, and a redirecting number of the redirecting device.

Claims

1. A method of providing a distinctive call waiting tone based on a redirecting number, the method comprising:

receiving a call from an originating device at a redirecting device;

forwarding the call from the redirecting device to a destination device, the forwarded call having an associated data message that includes a calling number of the originating device, a called number of the destination device, and a redirecting number of the redirecting device;

comparing, at a controller communicatively coupled to the destination device, the redirecting number to an authorized set of numbers;

when the authorized set of numbers includes the redirecting number and the destination device is in use, applying a call waiting tone of a plurality of distinctive call waiting tones to the destination device, wherein the call waiting tone is based on the redirecting number; and

when the authorized set of numbers includes the redirecting number and the destination device is not in use, applying a ring tone of a plurality of distinctive ring tones to the destination device, wherein the ring tone is determined based on the redirecting number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second call at the destination device, wherein the second call is not forwarded; and

applying a normal call waiting tone to the destination device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated data message is compatible with a Signaling System 7 (SS7) compatible network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) type system using a soft switch.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in a PBX type system.

6. A method of processing an intelligent network communication, the method comprising:

receiving a query message including inbound call data at a controller communicatively coupled to a destination device;

determining that the inbound call data includes a redirecting number;

determining a usage status of the destination device;

comparing, at the controller, the redirecting number to an authorized set of numbers;

when the authorized set of numbers includes the redirecting number and the destination device is in use, formulating a response message to the query message, wherein the response message identifies a call waiting tone of a plurality of call waiting tones to use on a subscriber line and wherein the call waiting tone is determined based on the redirecting number;

when the authorized set of numbers includes the redirecting number and the destination device is not in use, formulating the response message to the query message, wherein the response message identifies a ring tone of a plurality of ring tones to use on a subscriber line and wherein the ring tone is determined based on the redirecting number; and

sending the response message as a reply to the query message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controller is Signaling System 7 (SS7) compatible.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the controller is a switch control point.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising applying at least one of the call waiting tone and the ring tone to the destination device in response to the response message.

10. A method of processing a communication, the method comprising:

receiving a call request message including inbound call data;

sending the call request message to a controller communicatively coupled to a destination device;

receiving a response message from the controller, wherein the response message indicates that the call request message includes a redirecting number that is in an authorized set of numbers;

when the destination device is in use, setting a call waiting tone of a plurality of distinctive call waiting tones on a subscriber line, wherein the call waiting tone is determined based on the redirecting number; and

when the destination device is not in use, setting a ring tone of a plurality of distinctive ring tones on the subscriber line, wherein the ring tone is determined based on the redirecting number.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a second call request message including second inbound call data; and

setting a normal call waiting tone on the subscriber line when the second inbound call data does not include a second redirecting number.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is implemented on a Signaling System 7 (SS7) compatible network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is implemented in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) type system using a soft switch.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is implemented in a PBX type system.

15. An intelligent network system comprising:

a switching control point; and

a service switching point coupled to the switching control point;

wherein the service switching point is configured to send a request message to the switching control point, the request message including a subscriber telephone number, a redirecting number, and a destination number;

wherein the switching control point is configured to send a response message to the service switching point;

wherein when a destination device associated with the destination number is in use, the response message identifies a call waiting tone of a plurality of distinctive call waiting tones to apply to the destination device associated with the destination number, wherein the call waiting tone is determined based on the redirecting number; and

wherein when the destination device is not in use, the response message identifies a ring tone of a plurality of ring tones to apply the destination device associated with the destination number, wherein the ring tone is determined based on the redirecting number.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the service switching point is coupled to the destination device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the service switching point applies one of the call waiting tone and the ring tone to the destination device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the service switching point receives a call prior to sending the request message to the switching control point.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the service switching point and the switching control point are Signaling System 7 (SS7) compatible.

20. A system comprising:

a call facilitating module; and

a call logic module coupled to the call facilitating module;

wherein the call facilitating module is configured to send a request message to the call logic module, the request message including a subscriber telephone number, a redirecting number, and a destination number;

wherein the call logic module is configured to send a response message to the call facilitating module;

wherein when a destination device associated with the destination number is in use, the response message identifies a call waiting tone of a plurality of distinctive call waiting tones to apply to the destination device associated with the destination number, wherein the call waiting tone is determined based on the redirecting number; and

wherein when the destination device is not in use, the response message identifies a ring tone of a plurality of ring tones to apply to the destination device associated with the destination number, wherein the ring tone is determined based on the redirecting number.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the call facilitating module is configured to communicate with the destination device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the call facilitating module applies one of the call waiting tone and the ring tone to the destination device.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the call facilitating module receives a call message prior to sending the request message to the call logic module.