Patent ID: 7515699
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A call handling system, comprising: a user terminal; a call handling device adapted to establish connection between a user telephone and a telephone network, said call handling device including a transceiver for allowing two-way communication between the user terminal and the call handling device; a presence signal identifying a status of the user's present ability to answer an incoming call to the user telephone; wherein said call handling device includes a processor and is operative to direct an incoming call intended for placement to the user telephone and to handle the incoming call in response to said presence signal by one of directing the incoming call to the user telephone or sending a first message about the incoming call to the user terminal, the call handling device further operative to send a second message from the user terminal to the caller of the incoming call indicating at least one of how or when the incoming call will be answered by the user; and means for allowing a two-way messaging dialogue between said user device and the caller of the incoming call, the two-way messaging dialogue being different from the two-way communication created by answering the incoming call, whereby the user can request and receive information from the caller regarding the nature of the call before answering the call using the two-way messaging dialogue.