Method for controlling a telephone call between two items of terminating equipment
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsPaul D'Arcy, Michael Brosnan, Trevor Fahey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention allows a calling party who fails to get through to a called number and is diverted to a mailbox to set-up automatic re-dialling of the number. This entails the calling party's phone ringing the called number periodically for a pre-determined period of time, as defined by a user or within a PBX. The call is allowed to ring for a time less than the time at which the call would normally be diverted to the mailbox for the called number. Thus, the call rings for as long as possible without entering the mailbox. The invention thus enables a person to establish a call easily without cluttering the mailbox for the called number.
Claims19
A telephony exchange for establishing a telephone call been a calling item and a called item of terminating equipment, said called item of terminating equipment being associated with a mailbox to which calls to said called item of terminating equipment are diverted after ringing for a predetermined time, said exchange comprising:
- a first detector, responsive to a sign from a calling item of terminating equipment, for determining that a party employing said calling item wishes to employ automatic dialling of a called item;
- a second detector arranged to determine a value indicative of said predetermined time which, if met, causes a call to said called item to be diverted to a mailbox;
- and
- an automatic dialling component, responsive to said first detector determining that said party employing said calling item wishes to employ automatic dialling, and responsive to said value being communicated by said second detector, arranged to attempt to establish a call to said called item where said called item rings for a time less than that indicated by said value.
A method for controlling a telephone call between a calling item and a called item of terminating equipment, said called item of terminating equipment being associated with a mailbox to which calls to said called item of terminating equipment are diverted after ringing for a predetermined time, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a signal from the calling item indicating that a user of the calling item wishes to employ automatic dialling of a called item;
- determining a value indicative of said predetermined time which, if met, causes a call to said called item to be diverted to a mailbox;
- and
- automatically attempting to establish a call to said called item where said called item rings for a time less than that indicated by said value.
A computer product for controlling a telephone call between a calling item and a called item of terminating equipment, said called item of terminating equipment being associated with a mailbox to which calls to said called item of terminating equipment are diverted after ringing for a predetermined time, said computer program product being arranged to:
- receive a signal from the calling item of terminating equipment indicating that a party employing said calling item wishes to employ automatic dialling of a called item;
- determine a value indicative of said predetermined time which, if met, causes a call to said called item to be diverted to a mailbox;
- and
- automatically attempt to establish a call to said item where said called item ring for a time less than that indicated by said value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.