Abstract:
In a multimedia communications system ( 100 ) that provides for two-way interactive calls, multimedia data is provided to callers when interactive calls are placed on hold. When a user places a call over the network ( 202 ), a determination is made as to whether or not the destination is available. If the destination is not available, the caller is placed on hold ( 204 ). While on hold, the user is invited to accept multimedia data, including, for example, a cartoon, interactive game, information, advertisement or the like ( 206 ). If the user accepts the invitation ( 208 ), bearer channels are set up to send the multimedia data ( 212 ). The user may end the multimedia session if the destination becomes available or may continue the multimedia session during and after the voice call to the destination.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention generally relates to telecommunications networks, and in particular, to the provision of multimedia data for calls placed over the telecommunications network that are placed on hold.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Wireless communication systems are well known. Wireless communication systems allow mobile radiotelephones to communicate with each other and other networks, such as the Internet and the public telephone network. First and second generation wireless telephone systems are generally constrained in the amount of bandwidth available for communication. This limits capacity and also the types of services that are provided. Third generation wireless systems hold the promise of greater bandwidth, thereby increasing capacity and allowing for enhanced services, such as multimedia services. Proposed third generation wireless communications devices include, in addition to a voice communication interface, capability for communication of data and display of data, including video.  
           [0003]    Presently, when voice calls in a telecommunications network are placed on hold due to unavailability of a party, audio may be played to the caller on hold. The caller on hold is not offered a choice of audio. Audio provides only limited entertainment or information for the waiting caller. This often results in the caller dropping from the call or becoming irritated by the audio.  
           [0004]    Therefore, a need exist for improved and enhanced communications for a caller on hold.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A method is provided for supplying multimedia data to callers whose interactive calls (e.g., voice calls, audio/video calls) are placed on hold. A user terminal sends and a telecommunication network receives a request to establish a call with a destination. If the destination is not available to immediately accept the call, the user terminal is placed on hold. While on hold, a multimedia communication is sent to the user terminal. Preferably, an invitation is sent to the user terminal to accept the multimedia communication while on hold. The multimedia communication is, for example, an interactive game, animation, information, an advertisement, or other communication comprising at least one of voice, audio, video or text. Bearer channels are set up to provide the multimedia communication to the user terminal. After the destination becomes available to accept the call, the user terminal is sent an invitation to terminate the multimedia communication or continue the multimedia communication during or after the interactive call with the destination. The user terminal is coupled to the network via a wired or wireless data link. A telecommunications network for implementing the method is provided. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless voice-over-IP network that provides multimedia for calls on hold in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for providing multimedia to calls on hold in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a multimedia communications system  100  in accordance with the present invention. Users interact with multimedia communications system  100  via user equipment or user terminals  102 . Multimedia communications system  100  includes a third generation wireless system, as defined and proposed by the 3 rd  Generation Partnership Program, also known as 3GPP (see 3gpp.org). User terminal  102  is typically a mobile device that includes a user interface and an interface for coupling to communications system  100 . The user interface of user terminal  102  is typically referred to as terminal equipment and generally includes an audio interface, such as a microphone and speakers, a visual interface, such as a display, and a user input interface, such as a keyboard or touch pad. The interface for coupling to communications system  100  is typically referred to as a mobile terminal and generally includes an over-the-air interface for transmitting and receiving data.  
         [0009]    The over-the-air interface of user terminal  102  is used to communicate with base stations  104 . In the preferred embodiment, base stations  104  include an over-the-air interface that is complementary to the over-the-air interface of user terminal  102 . Most preferably, user terminal  102  and base stations  104  communicate over the air using a packet based protocol.  
         [0010]    Multimedia communications system  100  provides users with a variety of options for communication. Users are able to transmit and receive multimedia communications, including audio, voice, video, and all types of data. Multimedia communications system  100  provides access to data networks, such as the Internet, and public telephone networks, including wireless networks.  
         [0011]    In the preferred embodiment, the multimedia communications that are directed to and received from users via base stations  104  are coordinated and transferred using a serving GPRS (GSM Packet Radio System) support node (SGSN)  106 , a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN)  110 , a call session control function (CSCF)  114  and a home subscriber system  118 . SGSN  106  coordinates multimedia transmissions to and from base stations  104 . SGSN  106  is coupled to GGSN  110  via a data link  112 . GGSN  110  interfaces the multimedia communications to and from SGSN  106  to other networks. Call session control function  114  is coupled to GGSN  110  via a data link  116 . Call session control function  114  coordinates and executes a signaling protocol used to establish, maintain and control calls or sessions for communications involving user terminal  102 . A home subscriber system  118  is coupled to call session control function  114  via a data link  120 . Home subscriber system  118  includes subscriber profile information, including information traditionally associated with a home location register for a mobile subscriber.  
         [0012]    To facilitate ancillary and support functions within multimedia communications system  100 , a charging gateway function (CGF)  122  and a media resource function  124  are provided. Charging gateway function  122  is coupled to SGSN  106  and GGSN  110  to account for packets passing through these elements for accounting, billing and other purposes. Media resource function  124  is coupled to call session control function  114  and to GGSN  110 . Media resource function  124  provides resources for conference bridging, tones, announcements and other service functions for communications through GGSN  110 .  
         [0013]    GGSN  110  couples user terminal  102  to other networks. In particular, GGSN  110  is coupled to an Internet protocol (IP) network  146  via a data link  148 . Data link  148  preferably implements a packet-based protocol for transfers to a data network. Data link  148  and IP network  146  provide access to any elements connected to IP network  146 , such as, for example, a computer  154 . GGSN  110  is also coupled to a media gateway  130  via a data link  150 . Media gateway  130  is in turn coupled to a public switched telephone network  142  via a communications link  152 . Media gateway  130  converts data received from GGSN  110  to a data protocol acceptable to the public switched telephone network  142 . Conversely, media gateway  130  converts data received from public switched telephone network  142  to a protocol acceptable to GGSN  110 . Media gateway  130 , data link  150 , and communications link  152  provide an interface for user terminal  102  to the public switched telephone network  142 . By virtue of this connection, user terminal  102  is coupled to elements attached to the public switched telephone network, such as telephone  144 .  
         [0014]    The signaling and control necessary to interface GGSN  110  with public switched telephone network  142  is controlled and provided by call session control function  110 , a media gateway controller  126  and a transport signaling gateway  134 . Media gateway controller  126  is coupled to call session control function  114  via a data link  128 . Media gateway controller  126  is coupled to control media gateway  130  via data ink  132 . Call session control function  114  determines based on a signaling protocol any necessary media gateway resources needed for a particular communication or session. These needs are transmitted to media gateway controller  126 , which in turns configures and establishes the necessary resources in media gateway  130  and also provides the necessary signaling to transport signaling gateway  134 . The resources in media gateway  130  are configured to transfer the actual (bearer) data between the GGSN  110  and the public switched telephone network  142 . Transport signaling gateway  134  converts the signaling protocol from the media gateway controller  136  to a signaling protocol necessary for public switched telephone network  142 .  
         [0015]    Applications and services are preferably coupled to multimedia communication system  100  for use in interaction with user terminal  102 . In particular, call session control function  114  is coupled to an applications and services network  156  via a data link  158 . Also, home subscriber system  118  is preferably coupled to application and services network  156 . A myriad of services and applications may reside in or be coupled to application services network  156 , including database services from a database  160 .  
         [0016]    In the preferred embodiment, SGSN  106 , GGSN  110 , CGF  122 , media resource function  124 , CSCF  114 , media gateway controller  126 , media gateway  130 , and home subscriber system  118  are processor-based apparatus with data link interfaces for coupling together as described above and shown in FIG. 1. These apparatus include one or more processors that execute programs to implement the functionality described herein and generally associated with third generation wireless systems.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method for providing multimedia data to calls on hold in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is described below with reference to the preferred embodiment described above in FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    First a user using user terminal  102  initiates a call to a destination ( 202 ). The destination is any communications device coupled to multimedia communications system  100 . In the preferred embodiment, user terminal  102  sends a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) INVITE message (as defined by Internet Engineering Task Force-IETF-RFC 2543) to setup the call. The SIP INVITE message traverses a base station  104 , SGSN  106 , GGSN  110  and call session control function  114 . In one arrangement, call session control function  114  has information regarding the availability of the destination to receive calls. In this case, call session control function  114  can determine that the call is to be put on hold ( 204 ) due to the unavailability of the destination. In another arrangement, where call session control function  114  does not have information on the availability of the destination, the SIP INVITE message is transmitted to the destination. In this case the destination itself determines whether it can accept the call or whether the call must be put on hold ( 204 ).  
         [0019]    Once the call is put on hold ( 204 ), the user is offered multimedia communications during the period while the call is on hold ( 206 ). In the preferred embodiment, the offering of multimedia services while on hold is accomplished via a session setup including a SIP INVITE message to the user that initiated the original call. The multimedia services offered while on hold may vary. Preferably the multimedia services offered include at least a visual display of an image or text, and are, for example, a video, a cartoon, information, advertising, an interactive game or the like. Most preferably, the user receives options to select from available multimedia services.  
         [0020]    If the user does not accept the offer of multimedia services while waiting for the destination ( 208 ), then no multimedia sessions are setup and provided and the user continues on hold until the destination becomes available ( 210 ). On the other hand, if the user accepts the offer of multimedia services ( 208 ), then a bearer path(s) for the requested multimedia is established ( 212 ). The multimedia services may be provided by any elements connected to multimedia communications system  100 . Preferably, multimedia services and interactive programs are stored and executed by media resource function  124 , and elements connected to IP network  146 , or from application and services network  156 .  
         [0021]    After the appropriate bearer paths are setup ( 212 ), multimedia services are provided over the bearer paths to the user that awaits the destination ( 214 ). The multimedia services continue until the destination becomes available ( 216 ). After the destination becomes available ( 216 ), then the user awaiting the destination has the option to end the multimedia session or maintain the multimedia session ( 217 ). In other words, after the user is alerted that the destination is available, the user may decide to end the multimedia session or the user may decide to maintain the session to continue during the call or to continue after the communications with the destination are complete. If the user decides not to keep the multimedia session, then the multimedia session is terminated and torn down ( 218 ). In any event, bearer paths are established between the user and the destination for the original call after the destination becomes available ( 220 ).  
         [0022]    Although the preferred method above describes a call initiated by a user using user terminal  102 , any user that has a communication device capable of accepting a particular type of multimedia data may receive multimedia data while on hold. Also, the destination need not be multimedia enabled or even directly coupled to multimedia communications system  100 , since the multimedia services may be provided from any element(s) coupled to multimedia communications system  100 .  
         [0023]    In an alternate embodiment of the invention, steps  206  and  208  are modified such that the acceptance of multimedia while on hold is automated. In one case, prior to placing the call the user selects an option to automatically accept all offers of multimedia while on hold. This option is alternatively set in the user terminal or in an element of multimedia communications system  100 . In another case, the multimedia session is transmitted to the user automatically, that is, without user acceptance, after the call is placed on hold.  
         [0024]    As discussed above, communications with a particular destination are enhanced by providing multimedia data to a caller that is unable to immediately reach a destination. The multimedia data provided during a period while a caller is on hold includes audio, video, text and other data that is combined to form services such as interactive games, video clips, audio clips, cartoons, information, advertisements and any other data. The provision of multimedia data while on hold enhances communications and offers the ability to provide alternative services.  
         [0025]    Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.