Originator disposition options for communications session termination

• US 6,324,265 B1
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Utas, Greg R., Christie, Samuel H. IV, McKinnon, Steve J., Ress, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/100,886
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/88.25, 379/67.1, 379/201, 379/209, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/308, 379/309, 379/258, 379/265, 379/266, 379/214.01, 379/211.02, 379/88.13, 379/88.15, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a calling party with options for call termination treatments. The apparatus allows the called party to provide options which are presented to the calling party for a treatment when an attempted communications session is not successfully completed, and it provides the calling party with the selected treatment. Various types of treatments include receiving a recorded message, transferring to a voice mail system, transferring to a pager, or initiating another communications session.

Claims

1. A system for a calling party'"'"'s communications device to receive from a called party'"'"'s communications device a response including a plurality of treatment options to an attempted communications session, comprising:

a calling party'"'"'s communications device;

a called party'"'"'s communications device;

a network for interfacing the calling party'"'"'s communications device with the called party'"'"'s communications device; and

an apparatus interfaced with the calling party'"'"'s communications device, the apparatus including;

means for attempting to initiate a communications session from the calling party'"'"'s communications device to the called party'"'"'s communications device;

receiving means for receiving at the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments if the attempted communications session was not completed;

means for interpreting at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the plurality of options for treatments;

means for receiving an indication of a selected one of the treatments; and

means for providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the selected treatment.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiving means includes

means for receiving options for treatments of

receiving a recorded message,

transferring to a voice mail system,

transferring to a pager,

transferring to an e-mail system, or

initiating another communications session.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the providing means includes

means for providing a preselected treatment based upon information related to the calling party.

4. A system for a called party'"'"'s communications device to provide to a calling party'"'"'s communications device a response including a plurality of treatment options to an attempted communications session, comprising:

a calling party'"'"'s communications device;

a called party'"'"'s communications device;

a network for interfacing the calling party'"'"'s communications device, the apparatus including;

means for receiving an attempt to initiate a communications session from the calling party'"'"'s communications device to the called party'"'"'s communications device; and

providing means for providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments for the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments for the calling party'"'"'s communications device to interpret if the attempted communications session was not completed.

5. The system of claim 4, further including:

means for receiving an indication of a selected one of the treatments; and

means for providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the selected treatment.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the providing means includes

means for providing options for treatments of

providing a recorded message,

transferring to a voice mail system,

transferring to a pager,

transferring to an e-mail system, or

initiating another communications session.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the providing means includes

means for providing a preselected treatment based upon information related to the calling and called parties.

8. A system for receiving at a calling party'"'"'s communications device a response including a plurality of treatment options from a called party'"'"'s communication device to an attempted communications session, comprising:

means for attempting to initiate a communications session from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to a called party'"'"'s communications device;

receiving means for receiving at the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments if the attempted communications session was not completed;

means for interpreting at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the plurality of options for treatments;

means for receiving an indication of a selected one of the treatments; and

means for providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the selected treatment.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the receiving means includes

means for receiving options for treatments of

receiving a recorded message,

transferring to a voice mail system,

transferring to a pager, or

initiating another communications session.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the providing means includes

means for providing a preselected treatment based upon information related to the calling party.

11. A system for a called party'"'"'s communications device to provide to a calling party'"'"'s communications device a response including a plurality of treatment options to an attempted communications session, comprising:

means for receiving an attempt to initiate a communications session from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to a called party'"'"'s communications device; and

providing means for providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments for the calling party'"'"'s communications device to interpret if the attempted communications session was not completed.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including:

means for receiving an indication of a selected one of the treatments; and

means for providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the selected treatment.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the providing means includes

means for providing options for treatments of

providing a recorded message,

transferring to a voice mail system,

transferring to a pager,

transferring to an e-mail system, or

initiating another communications session.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the providing means includes

means for providing a preselected treatment based upon information related to the calling and called parties.

15. A method for a calling party'"'"'s communications device to receive from a called party'"'"'s communications device a response including a plurality of treatment options to an attempted communications session, comprising the steps of:

attempting to initiate a communications session from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to a called party'"'"'s communications device;

receiving at the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments if the attempted communications session was not completed;

interpreting at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the plurality of options for treatments;

receiving an indications of a selected one of the treatments; and

providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the selected treatment.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first receiving step includes the step of

receiving options for treatments of

receiving a recorded message,

transferring to a voice mail system,

transferring to a pager,

transferring to an e-mail system, or

initiating another communications session.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the providing step includes the step of

providing a preselected treatment based upon information related to the calling party.

18. A method for a called party'"'"'s communications device to provide to a calling party'"'"'s communications device a response including a plurality of treatment options to an attempted communications session, comprising the steps of:

receiving an attempt to initiate a communications session from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to a called party'"'"'s communications device; and

providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments for the calling party'"'"'s communications device to interpret if the attempted communications session was not completed.

19. The method of claim 18, further including:

receiving an indication of a selected one of the treatments; and

providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the selected treatment.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first providing step includes the step of

providing options for treatments of

providing a recorded message,

transferring to a voice mail system,

transferring to a pager,

transferring to an e-mail system, or

initiating another communications session.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the providing step includes the step of

providing a preselected treatment based upon information related to the calling and called parties.

22. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method including;

attempting to initiate a communications session from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to a called party'"'"'s communications device;

receiving at the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments from the called party'"'"'s communications device if the attempted communications session was not completed;

interpreting at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the plurality of options for treatments;

receiving an indication of a selected one of the treatments; and

providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the selected treatment.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the first receiving step includes the step of

receiving options for treatments of

receiving a recorded message,

transferring to a voice mail system,

transferring to a pager,

transferring to an e-mail system, or

initiating another communications session.

24. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the providing step includes the step of

providing a preselected treatment based upon information related to the calling party.

25. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method including;

receiving an attempt to initiate a communications session from a calling party'"'"'s communications device to a called party'"'"'s communications device; and

providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device a plurality of options for treatments from the called party'"'"'s communications device for the calling party'"'"'s communications device to interpret if the attempted communications session was not completed.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further including:

receiving an indication of a selected one of the treatments; and

providing at the calling party'"'"'s communications device the selected treatment.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the first providing step includes the step of

providing options for treatments of

providing a recorded message,

transferring to a voice mail system,

transferring to a pager,

transferring to an e-mail system, or

initiating another communications session.

28. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the providing step includes the step of

providing a preselected treatment based upon information related to the calling and called parties.