Methods, systems, and products for ring suppression

• US 8,619,954 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silver, Edward Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US12/259,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 379/106.09, 379/90.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.07, 379/93.35, 379/215.01, 379/142.08, 379/88.19, 379/196, 379/199
• US Class Current: 379/106.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/558 Databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods for second call during ring suppression are disclosed. After a communications device receives a first incoming call, the ringer is activated to produce an initial audible alert and thereafter, the ringer of the communications device is suppressed for subsequent audible alerts according to a timed ring suppression profile. Thereafter, a secondary incoming call is routed to the communications device and the ringer is activated to provide notification of the secondary incoming call while the first call is suppressed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first communication at a communications device;

producing, by the communications device, an initial alert of the first communication;

suppressing subsequent alerts of the first communication for a period of time of suppression;

receiving, at the communications device, a second communication during the period of time of suppression; and

producing, by the communications device, a different initial alert to alert of the second communication while the subsequent alerts of the first communication are suppressed.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising associating the first communication to a profile.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving a timing parameter that specifies the period of time of suppression for suppressing the subsequent alerts of the first communication.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising enabling the subsequent alerts after the period of time of suppression has elapsed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein suppressing the subsequent alerts comprises silencing subsequent rings during an on-hook state.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving an override to produce the subsequent alerts.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving an override to continuously produce the subsequent alerts.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving caller identification information associated with the first communication.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving caller identification information associated with the second communication.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising associating caller identification information to a profile.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a manual input that causes the suppression of the subsequent alerts.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a call waiting indication during the first communication.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reactivating the subsequent alerts for the first communication.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising suppressing the subsequent alerts of the second communication.

15. The method according to claim 4, further comprising reactivating the subsequent alerts of the second communication.

16. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing software that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a first communication;

producing an initial alert of the first communication for a period of time;

suppressing subsequent alerts of the first communication for a period of time of suppression;

receiving a second communication during the period of time of suppression; and

producing a different initial alert to alert of the second communication while the subsequent alerts of the first communication are suppressed during the period of time of suppression.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the software further causes the processor to associate the first communication to a profile stored in the memory.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the software further causes the processor to retrieve a timing parameter from the memory that specifies the period of time of suppression for suppressing the subsequent alerts of the first communication.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein software further causes the processor to enable the subsequent alerts after the period of time of suppression has elapsed.

20. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

processing a first communication to produce an initial alert of the first communication;

suppressing subsequent alerts of the first communication for a period of time of suppression;

receiving a second communication during the period of time of suppression; and

producing a different initial alert to alert of the second communication while the subsequent alerts of the first communication are suppressed.