Method and system for processing a telephone call while on-line
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorFrederick Murray Burg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention discloses a method and system for processing a telephone call to an on-line subscriber, when the subscriber telephone line is busy as a result of the on-line connection. The subscriber sets an on-line state, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls. Once the subscriber sets the on-line state, telephone calls to the subscriber telephone number while the subscriber is on-line are processed according to the on-line state. As examples, if the state is available-for-incoming-calls, the subscriber is notified of the incoming call and the call is processed according to the subscriber's instructions. If the state is not-available-for-incoming-calls, messaging according to the subscriber's preset instructions.
Claims29
A method comprising:
- receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station;
- and
- determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A method, comprising:
- connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection;
- and
- setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A system comprising:
- a server;
- and
- a data connection for connecting the server to a data terminal at a called station, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection, the server processing a call from a calling station to the called station according to an on-line state of the data terminal, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A system comprising:
- a data terminal at a called station, the data terminal having an on-line state, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls;
- and
- a data connection, for connecting the data terminal to a server, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection, a call from a calling station to the called station being processed according to the on-line state.
A system comprising:
- means for receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station;
- and
- means for determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A system comprising:
- means for connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection;
- and
- means for setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for processing a telephone call, the code comprising:
- code for receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station;
- and
- code for determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A computer-readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for processing a telephone call, the code comprising:
- code for receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station;
- and
- code for determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A programmed computer for processing a telephone call, comprising:
- a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code;
- and
- a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;
- wherein the program code includes code for receiving a telephone call directed to a called station from a calling station;
- and
- code for determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for processing a telephone call, the code comprising:
- code for connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection;
- and
- code for setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A computer-readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for processing a telephone call, the code comprising:
- code for connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection;
- and
- code for setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A programmed computer for processing a telephone call, comprising:
- a memory having at least one region for storing computer executable program code;
- and
- processor for executing the program code stored in the memory;
- wherein the program code includes code for connecting a data terminal at a called station to a server by a data connection, the called station being busy as a result of the data connection;
- and
- code for setting an on-line state for the data terminal, the state being available-for-incoming-calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls.
A method comprising:
- receiving a call directed to a called station from a calling station;
- determining an on-line state of a data terminal at the called station, the called station being busy as a result of a data connection between the data terminal and a server, the on-line state being available-for-incoming calls or not-available-for-incoming-calls;
- if the on-line state is available-for-incoming-calls, sending an alert message to the data terminal to alert a user at the data terminal of the incoming call;
- and
- if the on-line state is not-available for incoming calls, processing the incoming call without alerting the user of the incoming call.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.