System and method for improved call handling

1. A method in a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a server, a call notification, the call notification including a call identifier for a call;

providing a call alert to a user of the computing device;

sending, to the server, a message including a registration request and the call identifier;

receiving, from the server, handling parameters for handling the call, wherein the handling parameters comprise a status identifier indicating cancellation of the call; and

handling the call according to the handling parameters, by providing a cancellation alert to the user of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the call alert comprises one or more of: ringing the computing device and providing a visual notification at a display of the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handling parameters comprise a call invitation including connection parameters; and wherein handling the call comprises establishing the call according to the connection parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein handling the call further comprises terminating the call alert.

5. A method in a call service server, the method comprising:

receiving a call destined for a target account, the call having a call identifier;

recording the call identifier in a call tracking repository;

sending a call notification to a computing device associated with the target account, the call notification including the call identifier;

receiving, from the computing device, a message including a registration request and the call identifier;

in response to the registration request, determining handling parameters for the call identifier according to the call tracking repository; and

sending, to the computing device, the handling parameters to the computing device.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising storing a status associated with the call identifier in the call tracking repository.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

receiving a call cancellation for the call; and

updating the call tracking repository to reflect the call cancellation.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein updating the call tracking repository comprises: removing the call identifier from the call tracking repository; or updating a status associated with the call identifier in the call tracking repository.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the handling parameters comprises:

determining whether the call is pending based on the call tracking repository;

when the call is pending, defining the handling parameters to include connection parameters to allow the device to establish the call; and

when the call is not pending, defining handling parameters to include a notification of an updated status of the call.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, after a predefined rollover period, clearing the call identifier from the call tracking repository.

11. A computing device comprising:

a memory, an output device, and a communications interface;

a processor interconnected with the memory, the output device, and the communications interface, the processor configured to:

receive, via the communications interface from a server, a call notification including a call identifier for a call;

provide a call alert at the output device;

send, to the server, a message including a registration request and the call identifier;

receive, from the server, handling parameters for handling the call, wherein the handling parameters comprise a status identifier indicating cancellation of the call; and

handle the call according to the handling parameters, by providing a cancellation alert at the output device.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein to provide the call alert, the processor is configured to: ring a ringer of the computing device and provide a visual notification at a display of the computing device.

13. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the handling parameters comprise a call invitation including connection parameters; and wherein to handle the call, the processor is configured to establish the call according to the connection parameters.

14. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to terminate the call alert.

15. A call service server comprising:

a memory and a communications interface; and

a processor interconnected with the memory and the communications interface, the processor configured to:

receive a call destined for a target account, the call having a call identifier;

record the call identifier in a call tracking repository;

send a call notification to a computing device associated with the target account, the call notification including the call identifier;

receive, from the computing device, a message including a registration request and the call identifier;

in response to the registration request, determine handling parameters for the call identifier according to the call tracking repository; and

send, to the computing device, the handling parameters to the computing device.

16. The server of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to store a status associated with the call identifier in the call tracking repository.

17. The server of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a call cancellation for the call; and

update the call tracking repository to reflect the call cancellation.

18. The server of claim 17 , wherein, to update the call tracking repository, the processor is configured to: remove the call identifier from the call tracking repository; or update a status associated with the call identifier in the call tracking repository.

19. The server of claim 15 , wherein to determine the handling parameters, the processor is configured to:

determine whether the call is pending based on the call tracking repository;

when the call is pending, define the handling parameters to include connection parameters to allow the device to establish the call; and

when the call is not pending, define handling parameters to include a notification of an updated status of the call.

20. The server of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to, after a predefined rollover period, clear the call identifier from the call tracking repository.