Telephonic communications – Special services – Call waiting
Utility Patent
1998-03-09
2001-01-02
Smith, Creighton (Department: 2742)
Telephonic communications
Special services
Call waiting
C379S212010, C370S352000
Utility Patent
active
06169796
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention is directed to a call rerouter for calls directed to a terminal engaged in a data call. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system and method that determines if a called party is involved in a data call and, if so, allows the call to be redirected through a data network to the called party.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, when one party calls another party who is off-hook, the calling party receives a busy signal. The busy signal is an indication to the caller that the called party's telephone station is unable to accept their telephone call at that time. Thus, the telephone call cannot be completed.
A call waiting service is effective when the called party is engaged in an analog voice connection but is not effective when the called party is involved in a data call, such as being logged onto the Internet through a modem connection. Typically, the call waiting service is disabled (e.g. by entering *70) when the data call is initiated. However, if call waiting is not disabled, the data call may be disconnected when another call attempts to be connected and loss of data may occur. Thus, there is a need for a new technology to handle calls to a party engaged in a data call.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A call rerouter reroutes a call through a data link when a called party is engaged in a data call. The call rerouter evokes a “T” connection in a switch that is in the connection path of the called party's call and determines whether the called party is engaged in a data call or a non-data call. If engaged in a data call as detected by the invention, the rerouter retrieves called party information to determine if the called party is a subscriber to a data network such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). If so, the call rerouter informs the called party through the data network that a call is waiting to be connected. If the called party desires, the call rerouter routes the call through the data network to be connected with the called party.
If the called party is not a subscriber to an ISP (or data network) or not engaged in a data call, the call rerouter returns a message to the calling party that the called party is unavailable or returns the traditional busy signal.
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Bauer Thomas Michael
Bowker Duane Oliver
Gilboy Christopher P.
AT & T Corp.
Smith Creighton
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