Methods, systems, and products for Internet Call Waiting messaging

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for providing Internet Call Waiting (ICW) Messaging Services. In an embodiment, a calling party places an incoming call to a called telephone number having an active ICW session and data connection. A telecommunications system allows a calling party to communicate an ICW message to a computer system engaged in the ICW session and data connection. The telecommunications system may also allow a called party (e.g., the user of the computer system) to communicate a response to the ICW message and, thus, allow interactive ICW messaging.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 177,181, filed Jun. 21, 2002 and entitled “Internet Call Waiting Messaging” (Attorney Docket 02099), now issued as U.S. Pat. No. ______, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application also relates to applicants' co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 158,539, filed Jun. 22, 2005 (Attorney Docket 02112 CON), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 176,572, filed Jun. 21, 2002 and entitled “Caller Control of Internet Call Waiting” (Attorney Docket 02112), now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,117, with both applications incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"This patent describes a solution for allowing a calling party to communicate a message to a called telephone number that is engaged in an ICW session. The solution involves a telecommunications network that detects the incoming message and activates the ICW messaging service associated with the called telephone number. The network can also prompt the called party to activate the messaging service or allow the user to customize the presentation and features of the message. The solution integrates telephony events with data network events and allows different levels of access and authority for interrupting the ICW session to send the message. Additionally, the solution includes an apparatus that can generate or transform the message into an audible and / or visual announcement for the called party."

Problems solved by technology

Consequently, the calling party cannot communicate with the user, such as to provide that user with a short message that the user may use to make an informed decision about how to handle the call.

As a result, the parent is unable to communicate with his / her child.

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