Patent ID: 6160877
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: H04M,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of screening and prioritizing an incoming call directed to a subscriber while said subscriber is off-hook on a first call, comprising the steps of:a) detecting whether said incoming call is directed to said subscriber;b) determining whether said incoming call is from a calling party known to said subscriber;c) if said calling party is known to said subscriber, determining whether a priority level has been assigned to calls from said calling party;d) if a priority level has been assigned, comparing the priority level of said incoming call with the priority level of said first call;e) forwarding a call waiting announcement to said calling party to present the calling party with call termination options based on the result of step (d); andf) if the calling party selects an option to interrupt the call, notifying the subscriber without interrupting the first call.