Abstract:
A method, computer program product and system for estimating a wait time for a termination of a conversation includes referencing one of historical logs and other information for determining and providing the estimation to caller. Typically, a call may be initiated when the estimated wait time is reached as the conversation will have or nearly have terminated.

Description:
TRADEMARKS 
       [0001]    IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to estimation of a waiting time for reaching a party when placing calls with a mobile station. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Often, when a user places a call using a mobile station (e.g., a cellular telephone, or a cell phone) a busy signal is received. When this occurs, the user terminates the call, and calls again later at some time when the receiving party is likely to have completed their conversation. However, this is typically bothersome for users of mobile stations, as the user is likely calling for a matter of some importance while attempting to maintain a busy schedule. 
         [0006]    It is known in the prior art to provide users of certain communication systems with wait times. Reference may be had to Cuhls et al. (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0198107 A1). Cuhls et al. discloses a mechanism for providing patrons waiting in a service provider&#39;s queue with information as to their status in the queue. While a patron is in the queue, at time intervals specified which may be user selectable, an estimate of the time remaining is calculated based on the patron&#39;s current position in the queue. Unfortunately, the teachings therein apply to the service provider&#39;s queue and do not attempt to address the issues associated with calls placed from a mobile station to another telephone. 
         [0007]    What are needed are techniques users of mobile stations to obtain an estimate of a wait time before a call recipient will be available. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Disclosed herein is a method for providing a caller with an estimated wait time for calling a party engaged in a conversation with at least another party following a termination of the conversation, the method including: identifying at least one party to the conversation; using the identity of the at least one party, determining the estimated wait time for the caller; and providing the estimated wait time to the caller. 
         [0009]    A system for providing a caller using a cellular telephone with an estimated wait time for calling a party engaged in a conversation with at least another party following a termination of the conversation, the system including: a wireless communications network for communicating with a plurality of mobile stations, wherein the network includes at least one computer having machine readable media and a computer program product stored thereon for implementing machine readable instructions, the instructions for: identifying at least one party to the conversation; using the identity of the at least one party, determining the estimated wait time for the caller by referencing a log to obtain historical call information and characterizing the conversation according to at least one of time of day, a location where the conversation originated, a location of at least one party, use of stationary equipment and use of a mobile station; and providing the estimated wait time to the caller by displaying the wait time to the caller, initiating a count down timer for progressively adjusting the wait time and initiating a call to the party at the end of the wait time; wherein the conversation includes one of a two-way call, a three-way call and a conference call. 
       TECHNICAL EFFECTS 
       [0010]    As a result of the summarized invention, technically we have achieved a solution which a computer program product stored on machine readable media and including machine readable instructions for providing a caller with an estimated wait time for successfully calling a party engaged in a conversation with at least another party following a termination of the conversation, is provided, the instructions for: identifying at least one party to the conversation; using the identity of the at least one party, determining the estimated wait time for the caller; and providing the estimated wait time to the caller. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]    The method of estimating the wait time for a cell phone user and the method of initiating a subsequent call when the wait time elapses, as disclosed in this invention, 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of a wireless communication system in which the present invention may be implemented. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates exemplary aspects of relationships within the wireless communication system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  provides a flowchart illustrating a process for identifying at least one of the parties to a telephone conversation and estimating a wait time; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates examples of information included in historical logs. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there are shown aspects of a wireless communications network  320 . The wireless communications network  320 , or network  320 , includes a variety of components for providing service to a plurality of mobile stations  310 . In one example, the network  320  is managed by a system operator  300 . The system operator  300  and the mobile station  310  exchange information by transmission and receipt of wireless signals  315 . Typically, the wireless communications network  320  is a cellular network, however, other networks may be used equally well with the teachings herein. Another exemplary system includes a radio or “walkie-talkie” style network, while yet another system includes a satellite-based system. Therefore, although the mobile station  310  may be generally referred to herein as a “cell phone,” this is merely illustrative and non-limiting of the teachings herein. 
         [0019]    Typically, network  320  includes a variety of resources, including, for example, an network infrastructure  305  having components such as power supplies, antennae, computers, computer networks, databases, maintenance providers, and other such resources as are known in the art for supporting operation of the network  320 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  depicts exemplary relationships between a person placing a call (i.e., a caller  10 ) and a person designated to receive a call (i.e., a callee  15 ).  FIG. 2  shows that when the caller  10  tries to reach the callee  15 , the callee  15  may be already engaged in a conversation with a third party user  20 . One skilled in the art will understand that a “conversation” is not limited to verbal discourse, but may include data transmission and reception as well as other discourse. 
         [0021]    In accordance with a typical embodiment, when the callee  15  is engaged in a conversation with the third party user  20 , the system operator  300  estimates the amount of time the callee  15  will be unavailable and provides the estimated time to the caller  10 . In typical embodiments, the estimated time is derived from knowledge of prior conversations. The knowledge is typically stored in historical logs  30  that provide information regarding various aspects of the prior calls. 
         [0022]    As an example, the system operator  300  refers to the historical logs  30  to determine an average length of time for conversations between the callee  15  and the third party user  20 . Using the determination, the system operator  300  provides an estimated length of time to the caller  10 . Further aspects are depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , if the callee  15  is on the phone with the third party user  20  when the caller  10  initiates a call  200 , the system operator  300  may identify the parties to the conversation by identifying the two phone numbers being currently used or by other techniques  210 . 
         [0024]    If the parties to the conversation are identified  212 , an approximate time the callee  15  will be on the phone will be estimated  222  based on the historical logs  30 . In some embodiments, if only one of the talking parties is identified  214 , all known phone numbers, including work, cell, and alternative numbers in the historical logs  30  can be used to estimate the calling time  214 . 
         [0025]    The parties to the conversation may be identified by the current phone numbers being used or by other techniques  210  without relying on the phone numbers being used. 
         [0026]    One skilled in the art will also recognize that although the conversations discussed make reference to two way calling, the teachings herein may be applied to other calling types. For example, three-way calling and conference calling may make use of the teachings disclosed herein. 
         [0027]    Typically, the system operator  300  estimates the approximate wait time by talking advantage of the information available in the historical logs  30  once the parties to the conversation have been identified. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , exemplary historical logs  30  include, and are not limited to, information on the average length of previous phone calls between the callee  15  and the third party user  20 , whether the present conversation with the third party user  20  is being completed using stationary equipment or another mobile station, time of day, the location of where the conversation originated, and the location of at least one of the callee  15  and the third party user  20 . 
         [0029]    Whether a conversation involves use of stationary equipment or another mobile station may be taken into consideration. For example, it may be recognized that calls tend to be shorter when one is traveling than when one is stationary. This may be used to weight an estimation for wait time appropriately. In short, a variety of statistical analyses may be used to characterize the conversation to determine an accurate estimation of wait time. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, when the average length of previous phone calls has been estimated based on information provided in the historical logs  30 , the amount of time the callee  15  has already been on the phone would be deducted from the average length of phone calls between the callee  15  and the third party user  20 . In some further embodiments, a count down timer is included to progressively adjust the estimated wait time. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the system operator  300  provides the estimated wait time in a display register of the mobile station  310 . In some additional embodiments, the system operator  300  initiates a call on behalf of the caller  10  when the estimated wait time has passed. The initiated call may further attract the caller  10  by ringing the mobile station of the caller  310 . 
         [0032]    The system operator  300  is not limited to operation of the wireless communications network  320 . That is, the teachings herein may be applied to other systems such as those using traditional hard-wired equipment as well. More specifically, and as an example, the system operator  300  might operate hard-wired equipment from which the caller  10  attempts to originate the conversation with one of other hard-wired equipment and another mobile station  310 . 
         [0033]    The capabilities of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof. As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately. Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided. 
         [0034]    The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
         [0035]    While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.