System and method for hold and re-ring

• US 8,718,259 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Emerson, David, Rondeau, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US13/850,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 379/311.02, 379/211.04, 379/212.01, 379/221.01, 379/211.03, 379/209.01, 379/207.09, 379/207.11, 379/207.04, 379/207.08, 379/201.01, 455/415, 455/519, 370/352, 370/259, 370/389
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• 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

A system and method for transferring calls. A voice communication is received. The voice communication is placed on hold in response to receiving user input. Multiple phones are rung simultaneously in response to receiving the user input. The voice communication is connected to one of the multiple phones in response to a user answering the voice communication on one of the multiple phones.

Claims

1. A method for transferring calls, the method comprising:

receiving one or more access lists;

receiving one or more command codes, wherein one command code is associated with each access list;

receiving a voice communication;

placing the voice communication on hold in response to user input of a selected command code; and

ringing a plurality of phones associated with the access list, associated with the selected command code.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more command codes comprise distinct key sequences.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of phones comprise phone numbers associated with voice communication devices or voice communication services.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more of access lists are pre-set by the user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voice communication is placed on hold with a VoIP device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of phones is a VoIP telephone.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ringing further comprises delaying a time period before ringing the plurality of phones, wherein the timer period is established by the user.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ringing further comprises:

ringing the plurality of phones a number of times;

canceling the ringing once the phones ring the number of times to prevent an answering service from connecting to the voice communication; and

re-ringing the plurality of phones in response to canceling the ringing.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically sending a message to one or more recipients in response to the holding.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising playing a pre-programmed message to a calling party in response to the holding.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the message indicates to the one or more recipients whether to answer or not answer at least one of the plurality of phones.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the message is an email or text message, and wherein the message indicates the voice communication is being transferred to at least one of the plurality of phones.

13. A communication system, the system comprising:

a switch configured to receive a voice communication, wherein the switch further includes;

a transfer unit configured to;

receive one or more access lists and one or more command codes wherein one command code is associated with each access list;

receive a voice communication;

place the voice communication on hold in response to user input of a selected command code; and

ring a plurality of phones associated with the access list associated with the selected command code.

14. The communication system according to claim 13, further comprising a user interface for receiving the access lists and command codes from the user.

15. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein the transfer unit rings the plurality of phones a number of times, cancels the ringing once the phones ring the number of times for preventing a answering service from connecting to the voice communication, and re-rings the plurality of phones in response to canceling the ringing.

16. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein the voice communication is placed on hold in response to user input of a selected command code with a VoIP device.

17. A call transfer system comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are configured to receive one or more access lists and one or more command codes wherein one command code is associated with each access list;

receive a voice communication,

place the voice communication on hold in response to user input of a selected command code; and

ring a plurality of phones associated with the access list associated with the selected command code.

18. The call transfer system according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of phones are rang one at a time for a specified number of rings in an order specified by the user to prevent an answering system from connection to the voice communication.

19. The call transfer system according to claim 17, wherein the set of instructions ring the plurality of phones a number of times, cancels the ringing once the phones ring the number of times for preventing an answering service from connecting to the voice communication, and re-rings the plurality of phones in response to the canceling the ringing.

20. The call transfer system according to claim 17, wherein the user input to place the voice communication on hold is provided with a VoIP device.