Patent ID: 7480260

Claim:
A method, comprising: a first packet-based device subscribing to a line status of a second packet-based device, such that the second packet-based device responsively notifies the first packet-based device of (i) a current line status of the second packet-based device and (ii) any changes to the line status of the second packet-based device; the first packet-based device receiving a first notification from the second packet-based device when the line status of the second packet-based device is in a busy state; after receiving the first notification, the first packet-based device receiving a second notification from the second packet-based device when the line status of the second packet-based device is in an idle state; responsive to receiving the sequence of the first notification followed by the second notification, the first packet-based device prompting a user of the first packet-based device to establish a communication session with the second packet-based device; and after prompting the user, the first packet-based device receiving an accept-call command from the user, and responsively establishing the communication session with the second packet-based device.