SYSTEM FOR DEFERRED CALL ANSWERING IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

摘要

The called party can temporarily defer answering a call simply by pressing a button on the station set. When the button is pressed, the called party's statio n set sends a data message to the system's voice response unit directing the voice res ponse to play a "please wait" message to the calling party rather than sending the cal ling party to the called party's voice mail. The voice response unit plays the "pleas e wait" message to the calling party and sends a call park message to the switching syst em hosting the station set. The call park message to the switching system directs the switching system to park the call at a specific location as is known in the art and a corresponding call park message to the station set transmits the location of the parked call to the station set. When the called party desires to answer the call, a mes sage is sent from the station set to the switching system requesting that the call parke d at the identified location be connected to the station set. The call can then be connec ted without the existing call being interrupted and the third party knowing of its e xistence.