Server based voice call offer while telephone in data session

A method of offering an incoming voice call to a particular display based telephone handset in a telephone communications network while the particular handset is in a data communication mode with an application software, the method comprising:

• A) on receipt of the incoming voice call, saving in memory information corresponding to the particular handset;
• B) offering the incoming voice call to a display on the particular handset;
• C) connecting the voice call to the particular handset in the event that an acceptance signal is sent from the particular handset;
• D) rejecting the voice call in the event that a rejection signal is sent from the particular handset;
• and
• E) restoring the information corresponding to the particular handset to the particular handset after reception of one of the acceptance and rejection signals.

A computer readable storage medium containing control software that when running on a central computing device controls the operation of a central switching controller through a plurality of control steps;

• and
• wherein the plurality of control steps performed while the telephone handset is in a data communication mode with application software and an incoming voice call for the telephone handset is received at the central switching controller comprise:
• A) saving in memory information corresponding to the telephone handset;
• B) offering the incoming voice call to a display on the telephone handset;
• C) connecting the voice call to the telephone handset in the event that an acceptance signal is sent from the telephone handset;
• D) rejecting the voice call in the event that a rejection signal is sent from the telephone handset;
• and
• E) restoring the information corresponding to the telephone handset to the telephone handset after receipt of one of the acceptance and rejection signals.

A computing device arranged to the coupled within a communications network, the computing device, with the use of control software, providing selective access by a telephone handset to an application software;

• and
• wherein, while the telephone handset is in a data communication mode with the application software and an incoming voice call for the telephone handset is received, the control software operates:
• to save in memory information corresponding to the telephone handset;
• to offer the incoming voice call to the telephone handset;
• to connect the voice call to the telephone handset in the event that an acceptance signal is sent from the telephone handset;
• to reject the voice call to the telephone handset in the event that a rejection signal is sent from the telephone handset;
• and
• to restore the information corresponding to the telephone handset to the telephone handset after reception of one of the acceptance and rejection signals.