Patent ID: 7082193

Claim:
A call waiting method for use in a telecommunications network in which a first caller is engaged in a current call with a second caller, and for processing an incoming call from a third caller to the first caller, the method comprising the steps of: providing identification of a plurality of callers in a predefined caller group; detecting an incoming call from a third caller to a first caller, the first caller presently being engaged in a current call with a second caller; checking if the third caller is a member of the predefined caller group; if the third caller is a member of the predefined caller group: signaling the third caller to leave a message to be sent to the first caller with a call waiting indication; recording a message from the third caller; providing to the first caller a call waiting indication along with the recorder message from the third caller; and if the third caller is not a member of the predefined caller group: providing to the first caller only a call waiting indication.