Managing wireless transmissions upon unintentional disconnection of service

• US 8,131,268 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: O'Connell, Brian M., Hadinata, Martinianus B., Lingafelt, Charles S., Moore, John E., Walker, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US12/186,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20100035583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 455/413, 455418-420, 455517-519, 455/412.1, 455/417, 455/424, 455/445, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 379/88.12, 379/88.18, 379 8822- 8823, 379 8825- 8827
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

Disclosed are a method, system and computer program product for managing unintentional disconnection of a communication device. A system detects a first device to a transmission has been unintentionally disconnected from an ongoing communication with a second communication device. The connected second device is signaled regarding the disconnection. Recording of a disconnection voicemail message for the disconnected first communication device is enabled before disconnecting the second communication device. The second device may set an expiration time on the disconnection voicemail message. Upon resumption of service, the disconnected first device is informed of a new voicemail message left by the second device during the disconnection. A disconnection-specific voicemail greeting may be recorded by a user of the disconnected first device'"'"'s system for use when a disconnection occurs. The disconnection-specific voicemail greeting is played to the connected second device when disconnection occurs.

Claims

1. A system for managing unintentional disconnection of a communication device from a communication, the system comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable tangible storage device;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to detect that a first communication device has been unintentionally disconnected from an ongoing communication with a second communication device;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to inform the second communication device that the first communication device has been unintentionally disconnected from the ongoing communication;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to enable recording of a voicemail message for a voicemail mailbox of the disconnected first communication device by a party using the second communication device before disconnecting the second communication device from the ongoing communication;

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to enable recording of a disconnection-specific voicemail greeting that is different from a standard voicemail greeting by the first communication device for use in response to a disconnection of the first communication device from a communication; and

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to insert a preamble to the voicemail message, wherein the preamble indicates that the voicemail message is the result of the first communication device unintentionally disconnecting from the ongoing communication and includes one or more of;

a name of the party using the second communication device;

a phone number of the party using the second communication device; and

a duration of the ongoing communication before the party using the second communication device was transferred to the voicemail mailbox of the disconnected first communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to enable play back to the second communication device of the disconnection-specific voicemail greeting before disconnecting the second communication device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to enable the second communication device to set an expiration time for the voicemail message; and

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to delete the voicemail message in response to the expiration time occurring.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor to, in response to resumption of service, inform the disconnected first communication device of the voicemail message; and

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to enable retrieval of the voicemail message.

5. The system of claim 1, said utility further comprising:

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to display indicia indicative of the voicemail message; and

program instructions, stored on the storage device for execution by the processor, to prioritize processing the voicemail message.

6. A method of managing unintentional disconnection of a communication device from a communication, the method comprising:

a computer detecting that a first communication device has been unintentionally disconnected from an ongoing communication with a second communication device;

the computer informing the second communication device that the first communication device has been unintentionally disconnected from the ongoing communication;

the computer enabling recording of a voicemail message for a voicemail mailbox of the disconnected first communication device by a party using the second communication device before disconnecting the second communication device from the ongoing communication;

the computer enabling recording of a disconnection-specific voicemail greeting that is different than a standard voicemail greeting by the first communication device for use in response to a disconnection of the first communication device from a communication; and

the computer inserting a preamble to the voicemail message, wherein the preamble indicates that the voicemail message is the result of the first communication device unintentionally disconnecting from the ongoing communication and includes one or more of;

a name of the party using the second communication device,

a phone number of the party using the second communication device, and

a duration of the ongoing communication before the party using the second communication device was transferred to the voicemail box of the disconnected first communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the computer enabling play back to the second communication device of the disconnection-specific voicemail greeting before disconnecting the second communication device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

the computer enabling the second communication device to set an expiration time for the voicemail message; and

the computer deleting the voicemail message in response to the expiration time occurring.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in response to resumption of service, the computer informing the disconnected first communication device of the voicemail message; and

the computer enabling retrieval of the voicemail message.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

the computer displaying indicia indicative of the voicemail message; and

the computer prioritizing processing of the voicemail message based on indicia.

11. A computer program product having code recorded on a tangible computer readable medium for managing unintentional disconnection of a communication device from a communication, said program product comprising code for:

detecting that a first communication device has been unintentionally disconnected from an ongoing communication with a second communication device;

informing the second communication device that the first communication device has been unintentionally disconnected from the ongoing communication;

enabling recording of a voicemail message for a voicemail box of the disconnected first communication device by a party using the second communication device before disconnecting the second communication device from the ongoing communication;

enabling recording of a disconnection-specific voicemail greeting that is different than a standard voicemail greeting by the first communication device for use in response to a disconnection of the first communication device from a communication; and

inserting a preamble to the voicemail message, wherein the preamble indicates that the voicemail message is the result of the first communication device unintentionally disconnecting from the ongoing communication and includes one or more of;

a name of the party using the second communication device;

a phone number of the party using the second communication device, and a duration of the ongoing communication before the party using the second communication device was transferred to the voicemail mailbox of the disconnected first communication device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising code for:

enabling play back to the second communication device of the disconnection-specific voicemail greeting before disconnecting the second communication device.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising code for:

enabling the second communication device to set an expiration time for the voicemail message; and

deleting the voicemail message in response to the expiration time occurring.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising code for:

in response to resumption of service, informing the disconnected first communication device of the voicemail message; and

enabling retrieval of the new voicemail message.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising code for:

displaying indicia indicative of the voicemail message; and

prioritizing processing of the voicemail message.