Method and apparatus for managing a call
View Patent ↗According to embodiments described in the specification, a method and apparatus for managing a call to a user associated with a destination communications device, the call initiated by a caller at an originating communications device, is described. An indication of the call is received, the indication of the call comprising data associated with the user. A state of the user is determined by processing the data associated with the user and consulting a record of the state of the user. The call is parked if the state of the user comprises a delayed answer state, the delayed answer state comprising the user being available to receive the call, but requiring additional time to retrieve the call using the destination communications device, and a notification of the call is triggered at the destination communications device by transmitting a signal to the address of the communications device.
1. A method for managing a call to a user associated with a destination communications device, the call initiated by a caller at an originating communications device, comprising,
receiving an indication of the call at an application server, said indication of the call comprising data associated with the user and a connection with the originating communication device via at least one switching element that is connected with the originating communication device;
determining a state of the user by processing said data associated with the user and consulting a record of the state of the user;
parking the call by the at least one switching element placing the call on hold if said state of the user comprises a delayed answer state, said delayed answer state comprising the user being available to receive the call, but requiring additional time to retrieve the call using the destination communications device; and
triggering a notification of the call to the destination communications device by transmitting a signal to an address of the destination communications device notifying the call has been parked for retrieval.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said parking the call comprises connecting said call with an audible message system for notifying the caller via the originating communications device that the state of user comprises said delayed answer state.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said notifying the caller comprises transmitting an audible message to the caller.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication of the user attempting to retrieve the call in response to said triggering said notification, and triggering the connection of the call between the originating communications device and the destination communications device in response to said indication.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said triggering the connection of the call comprises transmitting a signal to at least one switching device, the at least one switching device for effecting a connection between the originating communications device and the destination communications device.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an address of the destination communications device to effect said triggering said notification, by processing said data associated with the user.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an address of the destination communications device to effect said triggering said notification, by consulting a record of the location of the user.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said record of the state of the user comprises said record of the location of the user.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said notification of the call to the destination communications device comprises at least one of displaying a message on a display unit associated with the destination communications device, playing an audible notifier, and a vibration of the destination communications device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said indication of the call further comprises an identifier of the caller, and further comprising parking the call if said state of the user comprises said delayed answer state, and said identifier of said caller matches a reference identifier.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said identifier of the caller comprises at least one of a caller line ID of the originating communications device, a network address of the originating communications device, and an alias of the caller.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said data associated with the user comprises at least one of a phone number of a communication device for which the call is initially intended, a network address of said communication device for which the call is initially intended, and an alias of the user.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising triggering the connection of the call between the originating communications device and a voicemail system if an indication of the user attempting to retrieve the call in response to said triggering said notification is not received within a defined time period.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising consulting a record of a current location of the user to determine an address of the destination communications device, a current location of the user associated with said address of the destination communications device.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein consulting a record of a current location of the user to determine an address of the destination communications device comprises
transmitting a request for said current location of the user to a presence server, said presence server for storing said record of a current location of the user;
receiving said current location of the user in response to said request; and
consulting a list of destination communication devices associated with the user using said location.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an access code and parking the call if said state of the user comprises said delayed answer state, and said access code matches a reference access code.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an indication of said state of the user from a communications device.