ENHANCED CALL WAITING

摘要

A method of and apparatus for providing telecommunication services to a user (10) is disclosed. When the user (10) is engaged in a first telephone call via a telephone switch (20) with a first caller (11), and a second caller (12) attempts to place a second telephone call to the user (10) via the telephone switch (20), the method and apparatus advise the second caller (12) that the user (10) is engaged in a telephone conversation and allow the second caller (12) to determine whether to interrupt the user (10) or choose another alternative. The user (10) can then decide whether to accept the second telephone call from the second caller (12), putting the first caller (11) on hold, or to refuse the second telephone call. An alternative embodiment is disclosed where the user (10) is advised of the identity of the second caller (12), and then the user (10) can decide whether to accept or deny the second telephone call from the second caller (12). If the second telephone call from the second caller (12) is denied, the second caller (12) is transferred to a message center. Another alternative embodiment enables the user (10) to previously authorize certain callers to interrupt a current call with a new call.