Method and system for providing a camp-on service

• US 7,853,001 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Labhesh, Sarkar, Shantanu, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asanbayev; Oleg
• Application Number:
  US11/101,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 379/209.01, 379/210.01, 379/266.01, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/209.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service

Abstract

A method for providing a camp-on service includes receiving from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method and notifying the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method. The method includes receiving from the caller a request to camp-on to the called party and an indication that the caller can be reached via a second communication method. The method also includes determining that the first call involving the called party has terminated.

Claims

1. A method for providing a camp-on service, comprising:

receiving from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method;

notifying the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method;

receiving from the caller;

a request to camp-on to the called party; and

an indication outside of a voicemail message that the caller can be reached via a second communication method;

determining that the first call involving the called party has terminated; and

notifying the called party by using non-voice message that;

the caller has attempted to call the called party; and

the caller may be reached via the second communication method.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the caller via the second communication method that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

receiving from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

connecting the caller to the called party.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calling the caller via the first communication method to connect the caller to the called party; and

if the caller does not answer;

notifying the caller via the second communication method that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

receiving from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

connecting the caller to the called party;

if the caller answers, connecting the caller to the called party.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication method comprises voice communication and the second communication method comprises instant messaging communication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication method comprises voice communication and the second communication method comprises e-mail communication.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication method comprises voice communication and the second communication method comprises short message service communication.

3. A method for providing a camp-on service, comprising:

receiving from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method;

notifying the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method;

receiving from the caller;

a request to camp-on to the called party; and

an indication outside of a voicemail message that the caller can be reached via a second communication method;

determining that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

notifying the called party by using non-voice message that the caller has attempted to call the called party;

placing the called party on hold;

notifying the caller via the second communication method that the called party is available;

receiving from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

connecting the caller to the called party.

4. The method of claim 3:

further comprising providing the caller with a number to reach the called party; and

wherein receiving from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method comprises receiving from the caller through the number a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method.

5. The method of claim 4:

further comprising providing the caller with an ID to reach the called party; and

wherein receiving from the caller through the number a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method comprises receiving from the caller through the number and the ID a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method.

10. A system for providing a camp-on service, comprising:

an interface operable to receive from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method;

a processor coupled to the interface, the processor operable to notify the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method;

the interface operable to receive from the caller;

a request to camp-on to the called party; and

an indication outside of a voicemail message that the caller can be reached via a second communication method;

the processor operable to determine that the first call involving the called party has terminated; and

wherein the processor is further operable to notify the called party by using non-voice message that;

the caller has attempted to call the called party; and

the caller may be reached via the second communication method.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the processor is further operable to notify the caller via the second communication method that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

the interface is further operable to receive from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

the processor is further operable to connect the caller to the called party.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to:

call the caller via the first communication method to connect the caller to the called party; and

if the caller does not answer;

notify the caller via the second communication method that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

receive from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

connect the caller to the called party,

if the caller answers, connect the caller to the called party.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the first communication method comprises voice communication and the second communication method comprises instant messaging communication.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the first communication method comprises voice communication and the second communication method comprises e-mail communication.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the first communication method comprises voice communication and the second communication method comprises short message service communication.

12. A system for providing a camp-on service, comprising:

an interface operable to receive from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method;

a processor coupled to the interface, the processor operable to notify the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method;

the interface operable to receive from the caller;

a request to camp-on to the called party; and

an indication outside of a voicemail message that the caller can be reached via a second communication method;

the processor operable to determine that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

the processor is further operable to;

notify the called party by using non-voice message that the caller has attempted to call the called party;

place the called party on hold; and

notify the caller via the second communication method that the called party is available;

the interface is further operable to receive from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

the processor is further operable to connect the caller to the called party.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is further operable to provide the caller with a number to reach the called party; and

the processor operable to receive from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method comprises the processor operable to receive from the caller through the number a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further operable to provide the caller with an ID to reach the called party; and

the processor operable to receive from the caller through the number a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method comprises the processor operable to receive from the caller through the number and the ID a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method.

19. A system for providing a camp-on service, comprising:

means for receiving from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method;

means for notifying the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method;

means for receiving from the caller;

a request to camp-on to the called party;

an indication outside of a voicemail message that the caller can be reached via a second communication method; and

means for determining that the first call involving the called party has terminated; and

means for notifying the called party by using non-voice message that;

the caller has attempted to call the called party; and

the caller may be reached via the second communication method.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for notifying the caller via the second communication method that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

means for receiving from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

means for connecting the caller to the called party.

21. A system for providing a camp-on service, comprising:

means for receiving from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method;

means for notifying the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method;

means for receiving from the caller;

a request to camp-on to the called party;

an indication outside of a voicemail message that the caller can be reached via a second communication method;

means for determining that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

means for notifying the called party by using non-voice message that the caller has attempted to call the called party;

means for placing the called party on hold;

means for notifying the caller via the second communication method that the called party is available;

means for receiving from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

means for connecting the caller to the called party.

22. Computer readable medium comprising computer readable code that, when executed by a processor, is operable to:

receive from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method;

notify the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method;

receive from the caller;

a request to camp-on to the called party; and

an indication outside of a voicemail message that the caller can be reached via a second communication method;

determine that the first call involving the called party has terminated; and

wherein the code is further operable to notify the called party by using non-voice message that;

the caller has attempted to call the called party; and

the caller may be reached via the second communication method.

23. The medium of claim 22, wherein the code is further operable to:

notify the caller via the second communication method that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

receive from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

connect the caller to the called party.

25. The medium of claim 22, wherein the code is further operable to:

call the caller via the first communication method to connect the caller to the called party; and

if the caller does not answer;

notify the caller via the second communication method that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

receive from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

connect the caller to the called party;

if the caller answers, connect the caller to the called party.

24. Computer readable medium comprising computer readable code that, when executed by a processor, is operable to:

receive from a caller a request to communicate with a called party via a first communication method;

notify the caller that the called party is currently communicating on a first call via the first communication method;

receive from the caller;

a request to camp-on to the called party; and

an indication outside of a voicemail message that the caller can be reached via a second communication method;

determine that the first call involving the called party has terminated;

notify the called party by using non-voice message that the caller has attempted to call the called party;

place the called party on hold;

notify the caller via the second communication method that the called party is available;

receive from the caller a second request to communicate with the called party via the first communication method; and

connect the caller to the called party.