System and method for virtual call hold

• US 9,503,488 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentley, Jon L., Krishnakumar, Anjur S., Krishnan, Parameshwaran, Singh, Navjot, Yajnik, Shalini
• Primary Examiner(s): Zenati, Amal
• Application Number:
  US13/232,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 348/14.08
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• 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 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/256 comprising a service specific user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/258 Service state indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for accomplishing a virtual call on hold. A client communication device, such as a telephone, smartphone, or computer, receives a notification of a communication session to which the user is invited, and establishes a relationship with the communication session. Alternatively, a server associated with the communication session can establish the relationship with the client communication device. Then, the communication device can present an indication of the relationship with the communication session for a duration of the communication session, such that the user can join the communication session at will via a communication channel, and such that the communication channel is not occupied by the communication session unless or until the user joins the communication session. The communication session can be a conference call, video conference, a multi-modal chat wherein multiple users communicate via different modalities.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a server, at a device having a telephone line and microprocessor, a notification of a first live communication session, the telephone line not being used when the notification is received from the server, wherein the first live communication session comprises a voice or video communication session with a plurality of participants communicating with each other;

presenting, at the device, an indication of a relationship between the device and the first live communication session, the telephone line not being used when the indication is being presented;

presenting, at the device, an update describing content of the first live communication session while the device participates in a second live communication session via the telephone line; and

after the second live communication session is terminated and upon receiving a user input to join the first live communication session that does not use the telephone line, joining the device to the first live communication session via the telephone line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first live communication session is one of a conference call or a video conference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is a blinking light.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing the relationship between the device and the first live communication session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a press of a button associated with the indication.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein establishing the relationship comprises communicating with the server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an incoming request to initiate the second live communication session.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the relationship comprises an agenda of the first live communication session.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the agenda comprises an agenda item that triggers a request to be displayed to a user to join the first live communication session.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the relationship comprises an light that changes colors if the plurality of participants are requesting a user of the device to join the first live communication session.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device receives a user input to request a list of participants in the first live communication session.

12. A system comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a server, at a device having a telephone line, a notification of a first live communication session, the telephone line not being used when the notification is received from the server, wherein the first live communication session comprises a voice or video communication session with a plurality of participants communicating with each other;

presenting, at the device, an indication of a relationship between the device and the first live communication session, the telephone line not being used when the indication is being presented;

presenting, at the device, an update describing content of the first live communication session while the device participates in a second live communication session via the telephone line; and

after the second live communication session is terminated and upon receiving a user input to join the first live communication session that does not use the telephone line, joining the device to the first live communication session via the telephone line.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the micro processor to perform a further operation comprising providing information about the first live communication session to a user upon a user request.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the information is configured to trigger, at the device, at least one of text, speech, a blinking light, or a light color.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to perform further operations comprising:

establishing the relationship between the device and the first live communication session.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the relationship comprises metadata.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a conference agenda, user identity, conference call-in number, another attendee, or duration.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to perform a further operation comprising sending a signal to the device to adjust the indication.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to perform further operations comprising:

upon detecting an end of the first live communication session, terminating the relationship.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores additional instructions which, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to perform further operations comprising:

receiving availability data of a user from the device; and

transmitting the availability data to other communication session participants of the first communication session.