Calling party control for an integrated service hub
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for notifying a user device coupled to an integrated services hub (ISH) that a remote device has terminated communication with the user device. A network interface within the ISH receives a disconnect message from the remote device and routes the disconnect message to a CPU. The CPU determines which user device had been in communication with the remote device and sends a call termination notification signal to a user device interface coupled to the appropriate user device. The termination notification signal comprises temporarily placing the user device interface in a disabled state for a predetermined amount of time. After sending the call termination notification signal, the CPU detects whether the user device is still in an off-hook status. If the user device is off hook, the CPU sends another call termination notification signal by again temporarily placing the user device interface in a disabled state.
1. A method for notifying a user device coupled to an integrated services hub that communication has been terminated with a remote device comprising:
receiving a disconnect signal from the remote device into the integrated services hub;
determining the status of the user device; and
when the user device is off-hook, relaying a call termination notification signal to the user device from the integrated services hub via a user device interface coupled to the user device;
wherein the call termination notification signal comprises temporarily placing the user device interface in a disabled state;
wherein the disconnect signal is received from the remote device by a network interface within the integrated services hub;
wherein the network interface sends the disconnect signal to a CPU within the integrated services hub.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the network interface is a WAN interface.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the CPU determines the user device to which the disconnect signal pertains.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the call termination notification signal is sent from the CPU to the user device interface coupled to the user device.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the user device interface is a SLIC.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the call termination notification signal sent to the SLIC indicates to the user device that the user device should enter an on-hook status.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the CPU places the SLIC in a standby state upon the user device entering an on-hook status.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
detecting the status of the user device by the CPU after sending the call termination notification signal to the SLIC; and
when the user device is in an off-hook status, sending another call termination notification signal to the SLIC.
9. An apparatus for notifying a user device coupled thereto that communication has been terminated with a remote device comprising:
a network interface configured for receiving a disconnect signal from the remote device into the apparatus;
a CPU coupled to the network interface and configured for determining the status of the user device; and
a user device interface coupled to the user device and the CPU and configured for relaying a call termination notification signal from the CPU to the user device when the user device is off-hook;
wherein the call termination notification signal comprises temporarily placing the user device interface in a disabled state.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus is an integrated services hub.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the network interface is a WAN interface.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the user device interface is a SLIC.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a SLAC coupled to the SLIC and the CPU, the SLAC having an internal register for indicating the state of the SLIC, the internal register being accessible by the CPU.