System and method for providing a reverse camp-on feature in a communications environment

• US 7,769,156 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Labhesh, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohammed; Assad
• Application Number:
  US11/117,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20060245567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 37920901-21802, 37926501-2661
• US Class Current: 379/210.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method for facilitating a data session in a communications environment is provided that includes receiving, at a first endpoint, a call that was initiated by a second endpoint. The first endpoint is already engaged in a previous call. The method further includes invoking a reverse eCamp-On™ feature in response to receiving the call from the second endpoint such that the first endpoint initiates a new call to the second endpoint once the previous call is completed.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a data session in a session initiation protocol environment, comprising:

receiving, at a first endpoint, a call that was initiated by a second endpoint, wherein the first endpoint is already engaged in a previous call;

invoking, by the first endpoint, a reverse camp-on feature in response to receiving the call from the second endpoint; and

automatically initiating, by a terminal of the first endpoint using the reverse camp-on feature, independently of a notification from the second endpoint, a new call to the second endpoint once the previous call is completed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second endpoint receives a notification that the first endpoint has invoked the reverse camp-on feature, the notification identifying the first endpoint.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein upon receiving the notification the second endpoint is given an option to cancel the reverse camp-on feature.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the notification is an audible message, and Instant Message, an e-page notification, an SMS message, or a notification service.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the notification is displayed on a display associated with the second endpoint.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reverse camp-on feature is invoked via a button provided at the first endpoint.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reverse camp-on feature is invoked via a soft button using software that comprises a menu.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint is operable to recognize an identity associated with the second endpoint while the first endpoint is on the previous call.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

parking the second endpoint until the first endpoint completes the previous call.

10. A method for facilitating a data session in a session initiation protocol environment, comprising:

communicating with a first endpoint and a second endpoint, whereby the second endpoint initiates a call intended for the first endpoint, wherein the first endpoint is already engaged in a previous call; and

facilitating execution of a reverse camp-on feature that can be invoked such that the first endpoint automatically initiates, according to the reverse camp-on feature, independently of a notification from the second endpoint, a new call to the second endpoint once the previous call is completed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second endpoint receives a notification that the first endpoint has invoked the reverse camp-on feature, the notification identifying the first endpoint.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein upon receiving the notification the second endpoint is given an option to cancel the reverse camp-on feature.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the notification is an audible message, an Instant Message, an e-page notification, an SMS message, or a notification service.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the reverse camp-on feature is invoked via a soft button using software that comprises a menu.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first endpoint is operable to recognize an identity associated with the second endpoint while the first endpoint is on the previous call.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

parking the second endpoint until the first endpoint completes the previous call.

17. Software for facilitating a data session in a session protocol environment, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

communicate with a first endpoint and a second endpoint, whereby the second endpoint initiates a call intended for the first endpoint, wherein the first endpoint is already engaged in a previous call; and

facilitate execution of a reverse camp-on feature that can be invoked such that the first endpoint automatically initiates, according to the reverse camp-on feature, independently of a notification from the second endpoint, a new call to the second endpoint once the previous call is completed.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the second endpoint receives a notification that the first endpoint has invoked the reverse camp-on feature, the notification identifying the first endpoint.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein upon receiving the notification the second endpoint is given an option to cancel the reverse camp-on feature.

20. The medium of claim 18, wherein the notification is an audible message, an Instant Message, an e-page notification, an SMS message, or a notification service.

21. The medium of claim 18, wherein the reverse camp-on feature is invoked via a soft button using software that comprises a menu.

22. The medium of claim 18, wherein the first endpoint is operable to recognize an identity associated with the second endpoint while the first endpoint is on the previous call.

23. The medium of claim 18, wherein the code is further operable to:

park the second endpoint until the first endpoint completes the previous call.

24. An apparatus for facilitating a data session in a session initiation protocol environment, comprising:

a communications platform that is operable to;

communicate with a first endpoint and a second endpoint, whereby the second endpoint initiates a call intended for the first endpoint, wherein the first endpoint is already engaged in a previous call,

facilitate execution of a reverse camp-on feature that can be invoked such that the first endpoint automatically initiates, according to the reverse camp-on feature, independently of a notification from the second endpoint, a new call to the second endpoint once the previous call is completed.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the second endpoint receives a notification that the first endpoint has invoked the reverse camp-on feature, the notification identifying the first endpoint.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein upon receiving the notification the second endpoint is given an option to cancel the reverse camp-on feature.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the notification is an audible message, an Instant Message, an e-page notification, an SMS message, or a notification service.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the reverse camp-on feature is invoked via a soft button using software that comprises a menu.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first endpoint is operable to recognize an identity associated with the second endpoint while the first endpoint is on the previous call.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the communications platform is a Call Manager element.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the communications platform is operable to park the second endpoint until the first endpoint completes the previous call.

32. A system for facilitating a data session in a session initiation protocol environment, comprising:

means for communicating with a first endpoint and a second endpoint, whereby the second endpoint initiates a call intended for the first endpoint, wherein the first endpoint is already engaged in a previous call; and

means for facilitating execution of a reverse camp-on feature that can be invoked such that the first endpoint automatically initiates, according to the reverse camp-on feature, independently of a notification from the second endpoint, a new call to the second endpoint once the previous call is completed.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the second endpoint receives a notification that the first endpoint has invoked the reverse camp-on feature, the notification identifying the first endpoint.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein upon receiving the notification the second endpoint is given an option to cancel the reverse camp-on feature.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the notification is an audible message, an Instant Message, an e-page notification, an SMS message, or a notification service.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the reverse camp-on feature is invoked via a soft button using software that comprises a menu.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the first endpoint is operable to recognize an identity associated with the second endpoint while the first endpoint is on the previous call.

38. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

means for parking the second endpoint until the first endpoint completes the previous call.