356 results about "Call waiting" patented technology

Selection of a suitable call-center agent (106-108) to handle a call is based on which available suitable agent's handling of the call will tend to optimize call wait times. When a call needing a particular skill becomes available (200), all skills of agents in the agent queue (131-139) corresponding to the particular skill are determined (202, 204). The agent queues corresponding to the determined skills are checked (206) to determine which ones identify only one agent. For each available agent having the particular skill, the number of agent queues which identify this agent as their only agent is computed (208). The available agent having the lowest computed number is selected (210) to handle the call. This minimizes the number of skills that will be left without an available agent to handle subsequent calls, and thus tends to maximize the probability that a next call will also have a suitable agent already available and not have to wait for one to become available, thereby optimizing call wait times.

A 3G-camera phone (9) user may transfer photographic images from 3G-camera phone to an image viewing device (11) associated with a residential telephone (13) accessible on the PSTN telephone network (3). Both the image viewing device (11) and telephone (13) are connected to narrowband PTSN POTS telephone line (25). Through use of a call waiting (6) feature of the networks, data transfer is performed over a single narrowband PTSN POTS line with the voice conversation put on hold. Reciprocal image transmission is also possible. Like data transfers may also be made to telephone users having broadband DSL (45, 47 FIGS. 8 &10) or CATV (54, 57 FIGS. 9 &11) or VoIP (82, FIGS. 10 &11) services. An Internet (7) connected fileserver (15) uses a lookup table (23) to determine the kind of line to which the image viewing device is connected and select the appropriate routing for the image transfer.

A system is provide for extending services to cellular devices. The system includes a wireless gateway having a client side with an intelligent client agent and a server side with an intelligent server agent, a wireless device having a first mode operable in a cellular system and a second mode operable in a wireless local area network and including an intelligent client agent for determining operation mode and for communicating with the intelligent client agent of the wireless gateway and a communications protocol for communication between the wireless gateway intelligent client agent and the wireless device intelligent client agent to effect services. The services include one or more of voice, directory, presence, and media services. The voice service includes at least one of call waiting, call forwarding conferencing, and caller identification. The media service includes at least one of interactive voice response (IVR), text-to-speech, speech recognition, play, record. The directory service includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) directory, a cellular network directory, an Internet directory and a private branch exchange (PBX) directory. The communications protocol includes encapsulation for at least one of directory, mobility and security services and other protocols. The other protocols include at least one of Internet protocol (IP), session initiation protocol (SIP), and lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP).

A multiservice network for delivering enhanced communication services to customer devices attached to either the PSTN, such as telephones and fax machines, or devices attached to the Internet or private data networks, such as PCs or other IP devices, is presented. Enhanced services include IP-based faxing, IP-based telephony, IP-based conferencing, Internet call waiting, messaging services, such as unified messaging, and other advanced services such as find-me-follow-me, and desktop telephony. The multiservice network may be managed by a configuration manager for Internet telephony (COMIT).

An intelligent network service control point, which is connected with a plurality of switching systems in a transport layer network over a common channel signaling network and with an Internet protocol network through a service control gateway, stores information for indicating that a first terminal is being connected to the Internet in a user information management table when the service control point receives a call waiting service request from the first terminal connected with the transport layer network. When one of said switching systems notifies that the first terminal is called from a second terminal, the service control point sends an incoming notification message to the first terminal through the gateway by referring the user information management table.

An audio alerting announcement signals a subscriber 80 during an ongoing call with a distinctive tone to indicate the identity of another party who is trying to call the subscriber. A telephony call-waiting subscriber customizes Call Waiting indicators in order to give immediate recognition of caller or caller classification via audio signaling. The caller or caller classification is based on the calling party's Line Number ID. This capability is not restricted to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) environment, but will function equally well in a voice-over-IP telephony network as well, on a network such as the World Wide Web, or will function in a hybrid system containing elements of both PSTN and voice-over-IP networks.

A holistic, automated, personalized telephone call management system is capable of responding to all incoming calls. The system employs customized software, computer chips, printed circuit board, ANI, where available, and a data input / output module, which are applied in an integrated manner to accomplish a broad array of functions important to modem household communication needs. System accepts operational time factors and telephone numbers as stored data to be matched automatically with the telephone numbers of incoming calls. The telephone rings under certain qualifying criteria, and an incoming call is passed in silent mode to a smart answering machine under other criteria. The smart answering machine is capable of handling emergency call situations, and the integration of call-waiting options. System also has a smart software function to deal with a state of delinquency on any lease / rent contract for the system.

A system for estimating call waiting time for a call in a queue takes into account multiple queues wherein agents are shared between queues, abandoned call history, and virtual and priority queues. The system in a preferred embodiment is a computer-telephony integration (CTI) software application adapted to execute on a CTI processor, which may be coupled to switching equipment at network level in a connection-oriented, switched telephony (COST) network or to a switch at call-center level, or both.

A Closed Caption Telephony Portal (CCTP) computer system that provides real-time online telephony services that include utilizing speech recognition technology to extend telephone communication through closed captioning services to all incoming and outgoing phone calls. Phone calls are call forwarded to the CCTP system using services provided by a telephone carrier. The CCTP system is completely transportable and can be utilized on any computer system, Internet connection, and standard Internet Browser. Employing an HTML / Java based desktop interface, the CCTP system enables users to make and receive telephone calls, receive closed captioning of conversations, provide voice dialing and voice driven telephone functionality. Additional features allow call hold, call waiting, caller id, and conference calling. To use the CCTP system a user logs in with his or her username and password and this process will immediately set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) between the client computer and the server.

Conventional Internet access service and new computer programs are added to a conventional telephone central office. This system is able to alert a subscriber whose telephone line is connected to the Internet of a waiting call via the Internet access connection. Specifically, in response to a call that is waiting for a subscriber, the system establishes a new communication with the subscriber using the Internet access connection and new programs in the subscriber's data terminal. The system then notifies the subscriber of the waiting call via the Internet access connection. The system may then forward the telephone call to the subscriber via the Internet access connection responsive to a subscriber's request to do so without terminating the subscriber's Internet connection, or the subscriber may choose to answer the call in a conventional manner, or may select another option in response to the call notification.

The present invention relates to methods and system for providing telecommunications services, such as call waiting, three-way call, and automatic recall, utilizing a plurality of state machines. Logic specifications define a set of states for each state machine. Each state in turn defines at least one action to be performed in response to a signal received by the state machine. The logic specification for each state machine can be stored, for example, in a textual format in a mark up language, such as HTML, XML, or or other markup language. A compiled representation of the logic specification is generated. Further, a context object tracks a current state of the telecommunication service. The context object accesses the compiled representation in response to an event, e.g., a call progress event, in order to effect a state transition and / or perform an action with respect to the telecommunication service.

The invention discloses a queuing service processing method and system. The queuing service processing method comprises the steps of: acquiring characteristic information and a to-be-transacted business type of a customer queuing up for taking a number; according to the characteristic information of the customer, looking up a historical service information library, obtaining the forecasted spent time for transacting the business by the customer, and adding the forecasted spent time into a wait time array; performing statistical summation on the forecasted spent time of other customers before the customer recorded in the wait time array, and taking total spent time as the forecasted wait time for transacting the current business by the customer; outputting the forecasted spent time and the forecasted wait time for transacting the current business by the customer; and according to the physical service spent time of the customer, correcting the forecasted wait time of other customers after the customer. According to the embodiment provided by the invention, the forecasted wait time can be provided for the customer queuing up for taking the number, and the problem on waste of number calling waiting caused by non timely service acceptance of large quantities of reservation numbers is solved.

A system is provide for extending services to cellular devices. The system includes a wireless gateway having a client side with an intelligent client agent and a server side with an intelligent server agent, a wireless device having a first mode operable in a cellular system and a second mode operable in a wireless local area network and including an intelligent client agent for determining operation mode and for communicating with the intelligent client agent of the wireless gateway and a communications protocol for communication between the wireless gateway intelligent client agent and the wireless device intelligent client agent to effect services. The services include one or more of voice, directory, presence, and media services. The voice service includes at least one of call waiting, call forwarding conferencing, and caller identification. The media service includes at least one of interactive voice response (IVR), text-to-speech, speech recognition, play, record. The directory service includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) directory, a cellular network directory, an Internet directory and a private branch exchange (PBX) directory. The communications protocol includes encapsulation for at least one of directory, mobility and security services and other protocols. The other protocols include at least one of Internet protocol (IP), session initiation protocol (SIP), and lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP).

A method for delivering a priority call waiting alert service to a telephone subscriber. An embodiment of the present invention may be implemented on an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). When a call intended the subscriber is received by a service switching point from a calling party while the telephone line is already engaged in a first communication between the subscriber and a third party, the calling party is solicited to supply a priority code. If the priority code is recognized by a service control point, a call waiting tone or a priority alert signal associated with the priority code is played to alert the subscriber that a priority call has been received.

This invention discloses one calling and lining method, which comprises the following steps: a, the calling system receives the calls from user terminal; b, the call control servo judges whether the said requirements respond to the fixed terminal; c, call servo selects the fixed terminal and the automatic call alignment unit connects the call to the fixed terminal to respond the service requirement; d, the call control servo judges whether the set fixed terminal is at busy status; f, the said call waits in private line; g, the automatic call alignment unit connects the calls to the fixed terminal.

An intelligent voice message status indication device for a single line of a telephone network includes a controller that responds to caller-ID signals to detect whether a mailbox contains a message, responds to a call-waiting signal to break communication with the voicemail system during message retrieval to capture an incoming call, and toggles multiple indicators associated with respective sub-mailboxes on a single line. The message waiting indicators may include respective unique audio, as well as respective unique, visual indication of message presence in one or more mailboxes. The voicemail servers of the network may be correspondingly partitioned to host multiple mailboxes and to provide unique outbound caller IDs to identify a mailbox having a message.

A modem (34, 40) at a customer premises (14, 38) and a switch at an exchange (12, 50) are modified to allow a data session (102, 202) supported on a dedicated wireline communication resource (16) to be optionally terminated (110), but preferably suspended (114, 218), upon detection of a subsequently placed voice call (104, 204) on the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). Before termination of a data session, a user either selects a termination option or is provided with an in-call option to terminate the data session, with the voice call then switched (122) to the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). The data session is therefore cleared down rather than lost through connection corruption. Alternatively, the modem (34, 40) and the exchange (50) interact to silence modem transmissions therebetween, whilst retaining a data connection (20) between the exchange (12, 50) and an end-point data service provider (ISP, 18). Assuming acceptance (128, 228) of the voice call and its subsequent termination, the modem (34, 40) and the exchange (12, 50) again interact (134, 236) to re-establish (136, 238) the data session across the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). Re-training (138, 238) of modems involved in the data session is required, but suspension of a sector in an end-to-end physical link avoids re-dialing and any associated connection costs.

A system for estimating call waiting time for a call in a queue takes into account multiple queues wherein agents are shared between queues, abandoned call history, and virtual and priority queues. The system in a preferred embodiment is a computer-telephony integration (CTI) software application adapted to execute on a CTI processor, which may be coupled to switching equipment at network level in a connection-oriented, switched telephony (COST) network or to a switch at call-center level, or both.

The invention discloses a multiple module terminal call waiting method and a multiple card terminal. When one subscriber identification module (SIM) card (SIM1) of the terminal is in a conversation state and the other SIMs receive a call request from a third party, the terminal transfers the call to the SIM1 and performs call waiting processing to the third party call which is transferred to the SIM1 so that the multiple module terminal can be ensured to know the third party call of the SIM and know the third party call of the other SIMs in conversation time of one module. Therefore, the third part call can be answered or hanged up according to a subscriber selection. And switching between the original call and the third party call can be performed. The subscriber can prevent from missing important calls.

An IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network includes a plurality of network elements that are interconnected for directly or indirectly communicating with one another. One of the network elements houses (or embodies) a consolidated subscriber database. The consolidate subscriber database is the only data storage entity in the IMS network for non-transitory storage of consolidated user data (that is, data relating to multiple user), for purposes of carrying out the core communication functions of the network. The user data is data relating to subscribers (e.g., end users) and subscriber services in the IMS network, such as user profile data and data relating to supplementary user services, e.g., call forwarding, call waiting, and the like. The consolidated database replaces the multiple database typically present in an IMS network, thereby lowering operational expenditures and simplifying data management operations.

An Internet Call Waiting (ICW) service provides single-line subscribers (100) connected to the Internet with incoming call information, call screening and voice messaging capabilities. An incoming call is terminated at an ICW server (154). The caller is prompted to leave a voice message and the voice message is relayed in real-time over the Internet connection (138) to permit the subscriber to monitor the message. The subscriber can choose to answer the call at any time before the caller disconnects. Subscriber profile options specify how calls are treated. Calls may be forwarded to a second directory number, directed to a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) connection, or the Internet connection may be dropped and the call completed to the subscriber's directory number. The subscriber benefits from being able to screen voice messages in real-time, which assists the subscriber in determining how the call should be terminated.

Systems and method for call waiting suppression are disclosed. When a communications device is engaged in an active communication and receives an incoming communication, a call waiting alert is activated to produce a single, initial audible alert, and thereafter the subsequent call waiting alert(s) are silenced according to a call waiting suppression profile. Alteratively, an audible indicator of the call waiting alert may be deactivated for the incoming communication, while other indicators remain active to alert the receiving party of the incoming communication.

A holistic, automated, personalized telephone call management system is capable of responding to all incoming calls. The system employs customized software, computer chips, printed circuit board, ANI, where available, and a data input / output module, which are applied in an integrated manner to accomplish a broad array of functions important to modem household communication needs. System accepts operational time factors and telephone numbers as stored data to be matched automatically with the telephone numbers of incoming calls. The telephone rings under certain qualifying criteria, and an incoming call is passed in silent mode to a smart answering machine under other criteria. The smart answering machine is capable of handling emergency call situations, and the integration of call-waiting options. System also has a smart software function to deal with a state of delinquency on any lease / rent contract for the system.

When a public switched telephone network (PSTN) subscriber (28) is occupying their telephone link to connect a personal computer to a computer network, the method provides automatic redirection of an incoming call to said telephone link to a subscriber proxy (38) connected to the PSTN (30) for producing audio interaction with the caller. The subscriber proxy is also connected to said computer network and is capable of sending and receiving messages over said computer network to the subscriber's computer thereby providing the subscriber with a capability to receive notification on said computer of the PSTN call attempt. Optionally, the subscriber has a further capability to interact with said computer to operate the proxy to control and interact with the incoming voice telephone call while the subscriber continues to occupy their telephone link connecting their computer to the computer network.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for providing Caller Control of Internet Call Waiting (ICW) Services. In an embodiment, a calling party places an incoming call to a called telephone number having an active ICW session and data connection. The calling party may enter an authorized code that authorizes interruption or disabling of ICW and the data connection. The interrupt code entered by the calling party is received in a telecommunications network, such as, for example the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a mobile switching network. The telecommunications network verifies that the interrupt code to enable caller control, and, thereafter, disables or interrupts the ICW session and data connection to connect the incoming call.

A basestation 3G1x network architecture which is used to convert 3G1x control and signaling to IMS / SIP in basestation is disclosed. The system includes a user agent that bi-directionally translates between SIP messaging and CDMA messaging. The system also includes a 1x basestation emulator which may act as an interface for the 3G1x handset. The basestation emulator is also configured to terminate CDMA mobile protocol and interconnect messages and operations with the user agent. The methods include mapping between the CDMA mobile message and the SIP message through the basestation emulator and the SIP user agent. The method may facilitate basestation origination and termination as well as feature services. These feature services may include three way calling, call waiting and call waiting with caller identification.

A call waiting service method and apparatus in a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) backup function can guarantee at least two VoIP or PSTN calls to a user by providing the second telephone with a waiting tone to inform a user of the second telephone of the fact that a new incoming call is received and setting the third telephone to a waiting call when a VoIP incoming call is received from the third telephone to the second telephone while a VoIP call is performed between the first and second telephones, when a PSTN incoming call is received from the third telephone to the second telephone while a VoIP call is performed between the first and second telephones, and when a VoIP incoming call is received from the third telephone to the second telephone while a PSTN call is performed between the first and second telephones. Consequently, the conventional VoIP terminal with the PSTN backup function separately performs the VoIP call waiting service and the PSTN call waiting service, whereas the VoIP terminal with the PSTN backup function of the present invention incorporates the VoIP and PSTN call waiting services, and thus the PSTN incoming call can be guaranteed while the VoIP call is performed, and the VoIP incoming call can be guaranteed while the PSTN call is performed.

Reliable detection of a call-waiting tone is provided by employing a correlation based technique. A modem or other device employing such a technique need not rely on carrier drop detection and is generally insensitive to other energy or noise on the line.