Method and system for providing call waiting features in a SIP-based network

• US 9,191,521 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Robbins, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mian, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US13/751,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1076 Screening of IP real time communications, e.g. spam over Internet telephony [SPIT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• 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 that includes receiving a first call request from a second user to a first user, establishing a first dialog between a network element and the first user, establishing a second dialog between the network element and the second user, establishing a third dialog between the network element and a third user in response to a second call request from a third user, establishing a fourth dialog between the network element and the first user as a result of establishing the third dialog, waiting for a response from the first user in the fourth dialog and receiving one or more indications of actions from the first user to manage the disposition of the second call request.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a session initiation protocol (SIP) based network element, a first call request to establish a call between a first calling party device and a called party device;

establishing, by the SIP based network element, a first dialog between the SIP based network element and the called party device based on receiving the first call request;

establishing, by the SIP based network element, a second dialog between the SIP based network element and the first calling party device based on receiving the first call request;

receiving, by the SIP based network element, a second call request to establish a call between a second calling party device and the called party device;

establishing, by the SIP based network element, a third dialog between the SIP based network element and the second calling party device based on the second call request;

establishing, by the SIP based network element, a fourth dialog between the SIP based network element and the called party device based on the second call request;

alerting, by the SIP based network element, the called party device to the second call request;

waiting, by the SIP based network element, for a response from the called party device to the second call request;

performing a default action if the response is not received within a predetermined period of time; and

determining, by the SIP based network element and based on the response, an action, and managing a disposition of the second call request by performing the action if the response is received within the predetermined period of time,

the response being received as a SIP message formulated based on a mapping between one or more SIP messages and a corresponding one or more analog input signals,

the mapping including;

a first mapping between a first SIP message and a first analog input signal that indicates that the called party device is to answer the second call request if the response indicates to answer the second call request,

a second mapping between a second SIP message and a second analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be forwarded to a destination device if the response indicates to forward the second call request,

a third mapping between a third SIP message and a third analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be dropped if the response indicates to drop the second call request,

a fourth mapping between a fourth SIP message and a fourth analog input signal that indicates that the called party device, the first calling party device, and the second calling party device are to be placed in a conference call if the response indicates to establish the conference call, and

a fifth mapping between a fifth SIP message and a fifth analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be placed on hold if the response indicates to place the second call request on hold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing the first calling party device on hold and establishing an interconnection between the called party device and the second calling party device based on the first mapping.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forwarding the second call request to the destination device based on the second mapping.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination device is a voice mail server that permits the second calling party device to record a voice mail message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination device is an announcement server that plays a recorded announcement to the second calling party device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the third dialog and the fourth dialog based on the third mapping.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing an interconnection between the first dialog, the second dialog, the third dialog, and fourth dialog such that the first calling party device, the called party device, and the second calling party device are placed in the conference call based on the fourth mapping.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

answering, by the SIP based network element, the second call request;

placing the second call request in a hold status based on the fifth mapping; and

maintaining the first dialog and the second dialog between the first calling party device and the called party device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the SIP based network element comprises a SIP based server which acts as a back to back user agent for a SIP device associated with the called party device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more analog input signals comprises one or more dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) tones.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more analog input signals include a hookswitch flash signal.

23. The method of claim 1, where the default action includes at least one of:

answering the second call request,

forwarding the second call request,

dropping the second call request,

placing the first calling party device and the second calling party device in a conference call, or

placing the second call request on hold.

11. A device, comprising:

one or more processors to;

receive a first call request to establish a call between a first calling device and a called device;

establish a first dialog between a session initiation protocol (SIP) based network element and the called device based on receiving the first call request;

establish a second dialog between the SIP based network element and the first calling device based on receiving the first call request;

receive a second call request to establish a call between a second calling device and the called device;

establish a third dialog between the SIP based network element and the second calling device based on the second call request;

establish a fourth dialog between the SIP based network element and the called device based on the second call request;

alert the called device to the second call request via the fourth dialog;

wait for a response from the called device via the fourth dialog based on alerting the called device;

perform a default action if the response is not received within a predetermined period of time; and

identify an indication of an action, included in the response from the called device, and manage a disposition of the second call request by performing the action if the response is received within the predetermined period of time,

the indication of the action being received as a SIP message formulated based on a mapping between a set of SIP messages and a corresponding set of analog input signals,

the mapping including;

a first mapping, between a first SIP message and a first analog input signal that indicates that the called device is to answer the second call request, when the indication of the action indicates to answer the second call request,

a second mapping, between a second SIP message and a second analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be forwarded to a destination device, when the indication of the action indicates to a forward the second call request,

a third mapping, between a third SIP message and a third analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be dropped, when the indication of the action indicates to drop the second call request,

a fourth mapping, between a fourth SIP message and a fourth analog input signal that indicates that the called device, the first calling device, and the second calling device are to be placed in a conference call, when the indication of the action indicates to place the second call request in the conference call, and

a fifth mapping, between a fifth SIP message and a fifth analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be placed on hold, when the indication of the action indicates to place the second call request on hold.

12. The device of claim 11, where the one or more processors are further to:

place the first calling device on hold and establish an interconnection between the called device and the second calling device based on the first mapping.

13. The device of claim 11, where the one or more processors are further to:

forward the second call request to the destination device based on the second mapping.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the destination device comprises a voice mail server.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the destination device comprises an announcement server that plays a recorded announcement.

16. The device of claim 11, where the one or more processors are further to:

terminate the third dialog and the fourth dialog based on the third mapping.

17. The device of claim 11, where the one or more processors are further to:

establish an interconnection between the first dialog, the second dialog, the third dialog, and the fourth dialog such that the first calling device, the called device, and the second calling device are placed in the conference call based on the fourth mapping.

18. The device of claim 11, where the one or more processors are further to:

answer the second call request;

place the second call request in a hold status based on the fifth mapping; and

maintain the first dialog and the second dialog between the first calling device and the called device.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the SIP based network element comprises a SIP based server which acts as a back to back user agent for a SIP device associated with the called device.

21. The device of claim 11, wherein the set of analog input signals comprises a set of dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) tones.

24. The device of claim 11, where the default action indicates to forward the second call request, drop the second call request, or place the second call request on hold.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive a first call request to establish a call between a first calling device and a called device;

establish a first dialog between a session initiation protocol (SIP) based network element and the called device based on receiving the first call request;

establish a second dialog between the SIP based network element and the first calling device based on receiving the first call request;

receive a second call request to establish a call between a second calling device and the called device;

establish a third dialog between the SIP based network element and the second calling device based on the second call request;

establish a fourth dialog between the SIP based network element and the called device based on the second call request;

alert the called device to the second call request via the fourth dialog;

wait for a response from the called device via the fourth dialog based on alerting the called device;

perform a default action if the response is not received within a predetermined period of time; and

determine an action, identified in the response from the called device, and manage a disposition of the second call request by performing the action if the response is received within the predetermined period of time,

the response being received as a SIP message that is identified based on a mapping between least one SIP message and a corresponding at least one analog input signal,

the mapping including;

a first mapping, between a first SIP message and a first analog input signal that indicates that the called device is to answer the second call request, if the action indicates to answer the second call request,

a second mapping, between a second SIP message and a second analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be forwarded to a destination device, if the action indicates to forward the second call request,

a third mapping, between a third SIP message and a third analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be dropped, if the action indicates to drop the second call request,

a fourth mapping, between a fourth SIP message and a fourth analog input signal that indicates that the called device, the first calling device, and the second calling device are to be placed in a conference call, if the action indicates to place the second call request in the conference call, and

a fifth mapping, between a fifth SIP message and a fifth analog input signal that indicates that the second call request is to be placed on hold, if the action indicates to place the second call request on hold.