MANAGEMENT OF AN ON-HOLD CALL BASED ON A USER'S PARTICIPATION IN AN ACTIVITY ON THEIR ENDPOINT

1 . A method comprising:

determining that a call has been placed on hold by a system other than a first endpoint on the call, wherein the first endpoint is operated by a user;

receiving on-hold information from the first endpoint, wherein the on-hold information indicates an activity of the user on the first endpoint while waiting on hold; and

managing the call while on-hold based on the activity, wherein managing the call includes determining when the call should be taken off hold based on the activity.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the call has been placed on hold comprises:

receiving a call request from the first endpoint, wherein the call request requests the call with a second endpoint; and

placing the call in a queue.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein managing the call comprises:

receiving progress information from the first endpoint, wherein the progress information indicates a stopping point during the activity; and

when the call is next for connection from the queue, waiting until the stopping point to connect the call to the second endpoint.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein managing the call comprises:

when the call is taken off hold, pausing the activity.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein managing the call comprises:

presenting information to the user via the first endpoint while the call is on hold, wherein the information is selected based on the activity.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the information includes an advertisement.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining an amount of time that the call will remain on hold; and

suggesting activities that conform to the amount of time.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity comprises one or more of the activities including:

listening to music played from the first endpoint;

playing a game on the first endpoint; and

web browsing on the first endpoint.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first endpoint presents a visual indication that the call is on hold during the activity.

10 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

notifying the first endpoint that the call will be taken off hold within a threshold amount of time, wherein the first endpoint presents a warning that the call is about to be taken off hold.

11 . An apparatus comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media;

a processing system operatively coupled with the one or more computer readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media that, when read and executed by the processing system, direct the apparatus to:

determine that a call has been placed on hold by a system other than a first endpoint on the call, wherein the first endpoint is operated by a user;

receive on-hold information from the first endpoint, wherein the on-hold information indicates an activity of the user on the first endpoint while waiting on hold; and

manage the call while on-hold based on the activity, wherein management of the call includes determining when the call should be taken off hold based on the activity.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein to determine that the call has been placed on hold, the program instructions direct the apparatus to:

receive a call request from the first endpoint, wherein the call request requests the call with a second endpoint; and

place the call in a queue.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein to manage the call, the program instructions direct the apparatus to:

receive progress information from the first endpoint, wherein the progress information indicates a stopping point during the activity; and

when the call is next for connection from the queue, wait until the stopping point to connect the call to the second endpoint.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein to manage the call, the program instructions direct the apparatus to:

when the call is taken off hold, pause the activity.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein to manage the call, the program instructions direct the apparatus to:

present information to the user via the first endpoint while the call is on hold, wherein the information is selected based on the activity.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the information includes an advertisement.

17 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions direct the apparatus to:

determine an amount of time that the call will remain on hold; and

suggest activities that conform to the amount of time.

18 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the activity comprises one or more of the activities including:

listening to music played from the first endpoint;

playing a game on the first endpoint; and

web browsing on the first endpoint.

19 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions direct the apparatus to:

notify the first endpoint that the call will be taken off hold within a threshold amount of time, wherein the first endpoint presents a warning that the call is about to be taken off hold.

20 . One or more computer readable storage media having program instructions stored thereon that, when read and executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to:

determine that a call has been placed on hold by a system other than a first endpoint on the call, wherein the first endpoint is operated by a user;

receive on-hold information from the first endpoint, wherein the on-hold information indicates an activity of the user on the first endpoint while waiting on hold; and

manage the call while on-hold based on the activity, wherein management of the call includes determining when the call should be taken off hold based on the activity.