Media on hold features in a VoIP system
A method for providing file-based media on hold (MOH) services in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system includes selecting an MOH file and streaming digital content of the MOH file to a communication device while a call is on hold. If the call is removed from hold and placed back on hold a second time, the digital content of the MOH file is streamed to the communication device while the call is on hold the second time. The digital content is streamed from substantially a beginning of the MOH file to a first stopping point while the call is on hold the first time, and from substantially the first stopping point to a second stopping point while the call is on hold the second time.
1. A method for providing file-based media on hold services in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system, the method comprising:
establishing a call between a first communication device and a second communication device, where the first communication device is part of the VoIP system;
at the first communication device, placing the call on hold;
at a device within the VoIP system, selecting a media on hold file, where digital content of the media on hold file can be streamed to the second communication device while the call is on hold;
streaming the digital content of the media on hold file to the second communication device so that the digital content is played for a user while the call is on hold;
removing the call from hold; thereafter
placing the call back on hold; and thereafter
streaming the digital content of the media on hold file to the second communication device so that the digital content can be played for the user while the call is back on hold, where the digital content is streamed from a first starting point in the media on hold file to a first stopping point in the media on hold file while the call is on hold, and the digital content is streamed from substantially the first stopping point in the media on hold file to a second stopping point in the media on hold file while the call is back on hold, the first stopping point determined using a first timestamp indicating when the call is placed on hold and a second timestamp indicating when the call is removed from hold.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication device is a VoIP phone.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communication device is an analog phone that is external to the VoIP system.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communication device is a VoIP phone that is part of the VoIP system.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the call originates at the first communication device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the call originates at the second communication device.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a server in the VoIP system.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a telephone switch in the VoIP system.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the media on hold file is selected from a plurality of media on hold files.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the call is established using an inbound telephone number that is determined using a dialed number identification service (DNIS), and the media on hold file is selected based on the inbound telephone number.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication device is one of a first group of communication devices in the VoIP system, and the media on hold file is selected based on an association with the first group of communication devices.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the media on hold file is a default file.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising a teardown step between streaming the digital content while the call is on hold and streaming the digital content while the call is back on hold, so that streaming is terminated after the call is removed from hold and re-established after the call is placed back on hold.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein streaming the digital content of the media on hold file loops such that the second stopping point is located before the first stopping point in a file sequence of the digital content.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first stopping point is computed using a time duration that the call is on hold.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
removing the call from back on hold; thereafter
placing the call on hold another time; and thereafter
streaming the digital content of the media on hold file to the second communication device so that the digital content can be played for the user while the call is on hold another time, where the digital content is streamed from substantially the second stopping point to a third stopping point while the call is on hold another time, the second stopping point determined using the first timestamp indicating when the call is placed on hold and the second timestamp indicating when the call is removed from hold, and a third timestamp indicating when the call is placed back on hold and a fourth timestamp indicating when the call is removed from back on hold.
17. A device for providing file-based media on hold services in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system, the device configured to:
select a media on hold file after a call is put on hold, where the call is established between a first communication device and a second communication device, and the first communication device is part of the VoIP system;
stream digital content of the media on hold file to the second communication device so that the digital content can be played for a user while the call is on hold;
select the media on hold file after the call is put back on hold;
stream digital content of the media on hold file to the second communication device so that the digital content can be played for the user while the call is back on hold, where the digital content is streamed from a first starting point in the media on hold file to a first stopping point in the media on hold file while the call is on hold, and the digital content is streamed from substantially the first stopping point in the media on hold file to a second stopping point in the media on hold file while the call is back on hold, the first stopping point determined using a first timestamp indicating when the call is placed on hold and a second timestamp indicating when the call is removed from hold.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein the device is a server in the VoIP system.
19. The device of claim 17 wherein the device is a telephone switch in the VoIP system.