METHOD FOR NETWORK CALL HOLD AND PICK-UP

Abstract: A method for picking up a call by a second communication device after the call has been placed on hold by a first communication device regardless of the communication device type or whether it is within a closed network is achieved by detecting, by a server associated with the first communication device, that a call has been placed on hold by the first communication device and subsequently suspending the call. Next, the server associated with the first communication device waits for a directive call pick-up message, which may be provided by the first communication device or from a second communication device directly or via a server associated with the second communication device. When the server associated with the first communication device receives the directive pick-up message, it communicates with the server associated with the second communication device. Such a communication establishes a communication link between the servers such that the call may be picked up by the second communication device.

Description: METHOD FOR NETWORK CALL HOLD AND PICK-UP Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to placing an on-going communication on hold and in particular to continuing the on-going communication based on a directive call pick-up message. Background of the Invention The basic operation of telephonic communication is known to begin when a calling party places his/her communication device in an "off hook" condition and dials a telephone number of a called party. The telephone number of the called party is routed to a local server associated with the calling party for processing. Such processing includes determining whether the requested call can be serviced locally by the server, i.e., the called party is associated with the same server as the calling party, or whether the call needs to be routed to a switching network. If the call can be processed locally, the server allocates a line to the calling party and to the called party such that the communication may occur. If the requested communication cannot be serviced locally, the server typically routes the request to an inter-exchange carrier (IEC) which, in turn, routes the request to either another IEC or the local server of the called party and reserves a trunk for the communication. Once the request is routed to the local server of the called party, the local server allocates a line to the called party such that the communication may occur. The above described telephonic communication setup was typical for a voice communication between two wireline telephones occurring twenty years ago, wherein the local servers are local exchange carriers (LEC). Today, the telephonic communication may be for voice, data, video, and/or multi-media and may be occurring between a wireline telephone, a computer, a facsimile machine, a wireless telephone, or a personal agent. In today's telephonic environment, the local servers mentioned above may be LECs, mobile switch centers (MSC), or private branch exchanges (PBX). Not only have the last twenty years produced multiple communication devices and various communication subject matters, it has yielded many user oriented services. Such services include call forwarding, call transferring, multiple party conference calling, call waiting, caller identification, and call hold and pick-up. While these services have greatly enhanced the usefulness of telephonic communications, some may not be useable in a cross platform manner, i.e., by different types of communication devices. In particular, call hold and pick-up only works for wireline communication devices that are associated with the same switch, closed network, or server, and share a line group. Thus, when a first telephone places a call on hold, a second telephone may pick-up the call only if it shares the line group. Alternatively, the first telephone may place a call on hold and transfer it to the second telephone by initiating a call transfer (usually by pressing a transfer button on the phone or entering a code) and then entering the telephone number of the second telephone. In this manner, a call may be placed on hold by one telephone and continued by another. While the above works for a call hold and pick up for telephones commonly coupled to a telephone line, and for call hold and transfer for telephones in a closed network (eg. a network owned or leased by a large, multi-site corporation using a PBX or multiple PBXs), it does not work for different types of communication devices or ones that are outside of the closed network. For example, assume that a person has begun a telephone conversation using his/her wireless telephone (mobile or cellular) in a cellular network and, once the person reaches his/her office or home, would like to transfer the call to a wireline telephone. But, because the wireless telephone is serviced by a server outside the closed network of the office telephone and is different than the home telephone, the person's desire to hold the wireless call and pick-up it up as a wireline call cannot be fulfilled. Currently, the only way the person could fulfill this desire is to end the wireless telephone call and initiate a new wireline telephone call. With the ever increasing use of wireless communication devices, the above scenario is becoming common and some what frustrating to users. Therefore, a need exists for a method that allows for network wide call hold and directive call pick-up regardless of the type of communication devices involved in the communication. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a telecommunication environment in which the present invention may be practiced; Figure 2 illustrates a logic diagram that may be used to implement the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates a logic diagram that may be used by a switch to implement the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates an alternate logic diagram that may be used by a switch to implement the present invention; and Figure 5 illustrates an alternate logic diagram that may be used to implement the present invention. Detailed Description of the Drawings Generally, the present invention provides a method for picking up a call by a second communication device after the call has been placed on hold by a first communication device regardless of the communication device type or whether it is within a closed network. Such a method may be achieved by detecting, by a server associated with the first communication device, that a call has been placed on hold by the first communication device and subsequently placing the call in a suspended state. Next, the server associated with the first communication device waits for a directive pick-up message, which may be provided by the first communication device or from a second communication device directly or via a server associated with the second communication device. Note that if the directive pick-up message is from the first communication device, it will include a code indicative of the call hold and subsequent pick-up by the second communication device and the identity of the second communication device (eg. the telephone number of the second communication device or a portion thereof). Alternatively note that if the directive pick-up message is from the second communication device it will include a code indicative of the call placed on hold by the first communication device and the identity of the first communication device (eg. the telephone number of the first communication device or a portion thereof). When the server associated with the first communication device receives the directive pick-up message, it communicates with the server associated with the second communication device. Such a communication is to establish a communication link between the servers so that the call may be picked up by the second communication device. With such a method, any type of communication may be placed on hold by any type of communication device and continued by any other type of communication device thus providing telecommunication users greater flexibility and enhanced services. The present invention can be more fully described with reference to Figures 1 - 5. Figure 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a telecommunication environment 10 that includes wireless communication devices 34 48 and wireline communication devices. The wireless communication device 34 48 may be mobile telephones, cellular telephones, personal agents, wireless modems, a satellite linked cellular telephone, a combination thereof, or any other type of device that transmits and/or receives digitized, packetized, or modulated information via a wireless link. The wireline communication devices may be wireline telephones 22 23 25 27, computers 20 31, facsimile machines 18 29, a combination thereof, or any device that transmits and/or receives digitized, packetized, or modulated information via a wireline link. As shown, the wireless communication devices 3448 are coupled to a base station 32 46 via a wireless link. The base transceiver stations (BTS) 32 44 46, which are coupled to at least one base station controller (BSC), support multiple wireless links (i.e., channels). Of the channels support by a base station, one is typically reserved as a control channel while the remaining channels are allocated upon request to communication devices to support communications. The base station controllers 26 28 30 38 40 42 control allocation of the base station channels as well as performing other local area system functions. Each of the base station controllers 26 28 30 38 40 42 is coupled to a mobile switch center (MSC) 24 36, which, in turn, is coupled to a local exchange carrier (LEC) 12 16. The mobile switch center 24 36 functions as a server for communication devices associated with it. Communication devices are associated with a server, MSC, as either home devices or visiting devices. Information regarding a home communication device (eg. phone number, device identification code, subscribed to services) are stored in a home location register (HLR) while information regarding a visiting communication device is stored in a visitor location register (VLR). HLRs, VLRs, BTSs, BSCs, and MCSs are generally understood in the art, thus no further discussion will be presented except to further illustrate the principles of the present invention. As also shown, the wireline telephone 22, the computer 20 and the facsimile machine 18 are coupled to a local exchange carrier (LEC) 12, which is coupled to an inter-exchange carrier (IEC) 14. The wireline telephone 23 is coupled to LEC 16, which is directly or indirectly coupled to IEC 14. The wireline telephones 25 27, the facsimile machine 29 and the computer 31 are coupled to private branch exchange (PBX) 21 which is coupled to LEC 12. The general operation of a wireline telephone, computer, facsimile, and telephone infrastructure is generally understood in the art, thus no further discussion will be presented except to further illustrate the present invention. In the telecommunication environment 10, any one of the communication devices, whether wireless or wireline, may communication with any other communication device. For example, if wireless communication device 34 is a cellular phone, it may participate in a communication with any of the wireline telephones 22 23 25 27 or the computers 20 31, if equipped with telephonic software. Such establishment of a call is generally understood in the art. While any communication device can communicate with any other communication device, most cannot place a call on hold and have it transferred to another communication device and none can have a call placed on hold and picked up by another communication device unless they share the same telephone line. The only communication devices that can place a call on hold and transfer to another communication device are those coupled to the PBX 21, or similar switch. In such a configuration, the PBX 21 can facilitate a call hold and transfer between only those communication devices that are directly coupled to it. For example, telephone 25 may place a call on hold, press a transfer button or transfer code, enter the telephone number or extension of telephone 27, and provide this information to the PBX 21. The PBX 21 interprets this information and subsequently transfers the call to telephone 27. Note that the PBX 21 may be coupled to other PBXs via LECs and IECs to form a network of PBXs which, for the purposes of this invention, functions as a single PBX. To facilitate a telecommunication environment 10 wide call hold and pick up, the servers within the environment 10 may be programmed to perform the process shown in the logic diagram of Figure 2. The MCSs 24 36, the PBX 21, the LECs 12 16, and the IEC 14 function as servers for the purposes of this invention. But as one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, a dedicate server may be added to the environment, multiple servers may be added, or one of the existing servers may act as a server for the environment or a portion thereof. The process of Figure 2 begins at step 60 where a server associated with a first communication device detects that the first communication device has placed an on-going communication on hold. As previously mentioned, a communication may be a voice communication, a data communication, a video communication, a multi-media communication, or a combination thereof and the first communication device would be one capable of supporting such a communication. Note that the first communication device may place the on-going communication on hold by pressing a hold button or entering a predetermined hold code. Regardless of how the call was placed on hold, once the server associated with the first communication device detects the hold command, it suspends the communication and waits for information as to where the call is to be directed for a call pick up. This is done at step 62 and the holding of the call may be done in accordance with the IS-41 standard. The process then proceeds to step 64 where the server associated with a second communication device receives a request to continue the on-going communication. As one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the server associated with the first communication device may also be the server associated with the second communication device or they may be two separate servers. The request received by the server associated with the second communication device may be a code entered by the second communication device followed by the identity of the first communication device (eg. the telephone number or a portion thereof of the first communication device). Having received the request, the server associated with the second communication device interprets the request to identify the server associated with the first communication device. Having done this, the servers communicate to allow the second communication device to continue the on-going communication. This is done at step 66. The servers, at step 66, communicate to exchange call routing information and to establish a bridge between the servers. The establishment of the bridge keeps the server associated with the first communication device in the call routing path. Once the bridge is established, the process proceeds to step 68 where the second communication device continues the on-going communication. With a method as described in Figure 2, a user of a wireless communication device may place an on-going communication on hold and pick-up, or continue, the communication on a wireline communication device. For example, if the user is using a cellular phone and arrives at his/her office or home and desires to continue a call, the user can place the call on hold, enter a code on his/her wireline phone and the identity of the cellular phone, and continue the call. The same may be done for facsimile transmissions, data transmissions, multi-media transmissions, and video transmissions. Figure 3 illustrates a logic diagram that may be used by a server associated with a communication device that is placing a call on hold for a subsequent pick-up by another communication device. The process begins at step 70 where the server receives a call hold code from a first communication device and, in response, placing the call on hold. As previously mentioned, this may be done in accordance with the IS-41 standard. The process then proceeds to step 72 where the server receives a communication from a server associated with a second communication device. The received communication includes a request for the second communication device to continue the on-going communication. The process then proceeds to step 74 where the server establishes a bridge with the server associated with the second communication device. With the bridge in place, the second communication device may continue to the on-going communication. Figure 4 illustrates a logic diagram that may be used by a server associated with a communication device that is attempting to pick-up a call placed on hold by another communication device. The process begins at step 80 where the server receives a request to pick-up an on-going communication from a second communication device. The request includes a pick-up code and at least the identity of the communication device placing the on-going communication on hold. For example the pick-up code may be *75 followed by the last four digits of the communication device's telephone number. The process then proceeds to step 82 where, after interpreting and validating the request, the server associated with the second communication device communicates with the server associated with the first communication device (i.e., the device that placed the call on hold). Such communication would include: providing the identity of the server associated with the second communication device; providing the identity of the first communication device; providing an indication-that the call is to be picked up by the second communication device; and, may also include, a validation by the server associated with the first communication device that the call pick-up is valid. Once the communication has been deemed to be successful, the process proceeds to step 84 where a telecommunication bridge is established between the servers. The establishment of bridge between servers is generally understood in the art, thus no further discussion will be presented except to illustrate the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates an alternate logic diagram for implementing the present invention wherein a directive pick-up message may be initiated by either the first communication device or the second communication device. The process begins at step 90 where a server determines whether it has received a call hold message. If not, the process proceeds to step 92 where the server determines whether it has received a directive call pick-up message. If not, the process remains in a loop waiting for either a call hold message or a directive pick-up message. When a call hold message is received, the process proceeds to step 94 where the server suspends an on-going communication identified by the call hold message. The process then proceeds to step 96 where the server waits to receive a directive pick-up message. The directive pick-up message may be provided by the server associated with a second communication device (i.e., the device picking up the call) and will include an indication of the call pick up and the identity of the first communication device (i.e., the device placing the call on hold). If a directive call pick up message is not received within a time out period, step 98, the process returns to step 90. When the directive pick up message is received from the second communication device, the process proceeds to step 100 where the server associated with the first communication device communicates with the server associated with the second communication device to establish a bridge between the two servers. With the bridge in place, the process proceeds to step 102 where the on-going communication is continued by the second communication unit. As one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the directive pick-up message may also come from the first communication device. When this occurs, the on-going communication would not be suspended until after the call hold message and the directive pick-up message are received. In this scenario, the server associated with the first communication device would identify the server associated with the second communication device and initiate the communication to establish the bridge between the two servers. When a directive pick-up message is received prior to a call hold message, which may occur when the user initiates the call pick-up before initiating the call hold, the process proceeds to step 104. At this step, the server stores the directive pick-up message then proceeds to step 106 to await the receipt of a call hold message. If a time out period expires, step 108, prior to receiving a call hold message, the process returns to step 90. If, however, the call hold message is received prior to the time out period, the process proceeds to step 100. As the preceding discussion has demonstrated, the present invention provides a method for continuing a communication regardless of the types of communication devices being used. Thus, as an example, the present invention provides the user of a wireless communication device the ability to place an on-going communication on hold and continuing the communication using a wireline communication device. This is achievable whether the communication is voice, data, facsimile, video, multi-media or any other type of digitized, packetized, or modulated information.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A method for network call hold and pick-up, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a call hold message from a first communication device for an on-going communication; b) suspending the on-going communication by a server associated with the first communication device; c) receiving a directive pick-up message to continue the on-going communication, wherein the directive pick-up message includes identity of at least one of the first communication device and a second communication device; and d) communicating between the server associated with the first communication device and a server associated with the second communication device to route the on-going communication to the server associated with the second communication device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by the server associated with the second communication device, the directive pick-up message from the second communication device, wherein the directive pick-up message identifies the first communication device. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (d) further comprises communicating, by the server associated with the second communication device, the directive pick-up message to the server associated with the first communication device. 4. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by the server associated with the first communication device, the directive pick-up message from the first communication device, wherein the directive pick-up message identifies the second communication device. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (d) further comprises initiating, by the server associated with the first communication device, the communicating with the server associated with the second communication device. 6. A method for network call hold and pick-up, the method comprising the steps of: a) detecting an on-going communication being placed on hold by a first communication device; b) suspending the on-going communication by a server associated with the first communication device; c) receiving, by a server associated with a second communication device, a request to continue the on-going communication; d) communicating between the server associated with the first communication device and the server associated with the second communication device to route the on-going communication to the server associated with the second communication device; and e) continuing the on-going communication by the second communication device via the server associated with the second communication device. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (a) further comprises initiating a predetermined coding sequence on a wireless communication device to place the on- going communication on hold, wherein the wireless communication device functions as the first communication device. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) further comprises receiving the predetermined coding sequence by a wireless communication server, wherein the wireless communication server functions as the server associated with the first communication device. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving a pick-up call code from a wireline communication device, wherein the wireline communication device functions as the second communication device. 10. The method of claim 5, wherein step (d) further comprises communicating call routing information from the wireless communication server to a wireline communication server, wherein the wireline communication server functions as the server associated with the second communication device. 11. The method of claim 6, wherein step (a) further comprises communicating at least one of voice, data, or multi-media as subject matter of the on-going communication. 12. The method of claim 6, wherein step (a) further comprises initiating a predetermined coding sequence on a satellite-linked communication device to place the on-going communication on hold, wherein the satellite-linked communication device functions as the first communication device. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving a pick-up call code from a wireline communication device or a wireless communication device, wherein the wireline communication device or the wireless communication device functions as the second communication device. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein steps (b) and (c) further comprise: suspending the on-going communication by a first server, wherein the first server functions as the server associated with the first communication device; and receiving, by the first server, the request to continue the on-going communication, wherein the first server functions as the server associated with the second communication device. 15. The method of claim 6, wherein step (d) further comprises establishing a communication bridge between the server associated with the first communication device and the server associated with the second communication device. 16. A method for facilitating a call hold and pick-up, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a call hold code from a first communication device indicating that an on-going communication involving the first communication device is to be placed on hold; b) subsequently receiving a communication from a server associated with a second communication device, wherein the communication includes a request for continuing the on-going communication by the second communication device; and c) establishing a communication bridge to the server associated with the second communication device, thereby allowing the second communication device to pick up the on-going communication. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving, as part of the call hold code, identity of the first communication device. 18. The method of claim 16 further comprises, subsequent to step (a), suspending the on-going communication until the communication bridge is established. 19. A method for facilitating a call hold and pick-up, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a request to pick-up an on-going communication by a second communication device, wherein the on-going communication was placed on hold by a first communication device; b) communicating with a server associated with the first communication device; and c) establishing a communication bridge to the server associated with the first communication device, such that the second communication device may pick-up the on- going communication. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving identity of the first communication device as part of the request to pick-up. 21. The method of claim 19 further comprises, prior to step (b), identifying the server associated with the first communication device based on the identity of the first communication device.

Inventors: BRODY GEORGE, BRODY, GEORGE
Applicants: BRODY GEORGE, NORTHERN TELECOM LTD, BRODY, GEORGE, NORTHERN TELECOM LIMITED
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H04M3
IPC codes: H04M3, H04M7