Importance

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Abstract

A method of and system for enhanced call waiting in a telecommunications network in which the handling of an incoming call is based on a set of user preferences. When a request for completing an incoming telephone call to a destination number is received, the system determines whether the destination number is busy. If the destination number is not busy, the system completes the telephone call to the destination number. If, however, the destination number is busy, the system determines whether the incoming telephone call corresponds to several parameters contained in one or more sets of user preferences. These parameters may include: whether the set is activated; the source of the incoming call; and the date and time of the incoming call. If the incoming telephone call does not correspond to any of these parameters, the incoming telephone call is handled with call waiting. If, however, the incoming telephone call corresponds to any of these parameters, the set of user preferences that best corresponds to the incoming telephone call is selected. The system then determines whether the incoming telephone call, based on one or more instructions in the selected set of user preferences, is to be handled with call waiting or is to be transferred. The instructions may include: how to handle the incoming call, such as priority, proximity or transfer; whether a specified tone is to be used when the incoming call is handled with call waiting; and whether a message is to be played to the incoming caller before the incoming call is transferred to a message center. Based on these instructions the incoming call will be handled with call waiting or transferred to a message center.

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First Claim