Prioritized call sessions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10178446-B2
Application number	US-201715622466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Aug 20, 2009
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A local network call handling device is configured to establish multiple concurrent call sessions between local network end devices and an external network. When a prioritized end device attempts to establish a call session, the call handling device may initially determine if a first call session identifier is available. If so, the call session can be established using that first identifier. If the first identifier is in use for a call session of another end device, the call handling device may either use a different call session identifier for the prioritized end device session or may drop a pre-existing call session to free an identifier for use in connection with the prioritized end device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a computing device and from a prioritized device, a request to access a call connection;
determining that a higher prioritized device is not currently using the call connection;
determining that the call connection is in use by a standard device having a lower priority than the prioritized device;
disconnecting the standard device from the call connection; and
connecting the prioritized device to the call connection.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication that the higher prioritized device has requested to use the call connection; and
disconnecting the prioritized device from the call connection.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prioritized device comprises a telephone, and the higher prioritized device comprises an alarm system.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prioritized device and the higher prioritized device are in communication with a line seizure device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the line seizure device is configured to disconnect the prioritized device from the call connection after receiving a signal from the higher prioritized device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the call connection corresponds to a telephone number associated with an alarm system.

7. A method comprising:
receiving, from a prioritized device, a request to access a call connection;
determining that the call connection is in use by a lower prioritized device;
disconnecting the lower prioritized device from the call connection;
connecting the prioritized device to the call connection; and
denying a request for the call connection from a standard device having a lower priority than the lower prioritized device,
wherein the prioritized device is an alarm system, the lower prioritized device is a first telephone, and the standard device is a second telephone.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising seizing, from the lower prioritized device, the call connection.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the prioritized device and the lower prioritized device are in communication with a first interface, and wherein the standard device is in communication with a second interface.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first interface corresponds to a higher priority than the second interface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first interface comprises an analog interface and the second interface comprises an interface for packet-based communications.

12. A system comprising:
a first device comprising:
at least one processor; and
memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first device to:
receive, from a prioritized device, a request to access a call connection;
determine that a higher prioritized device is not currently using the call connection;
determine that the call connection is in use by a standard device having a lower priority than the prioritized device;
disconnect the standard device from the call connection; and

connect the prioritized device to the call connection; and
the prioritized device comprising:
at least one processor; and
memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the prioritized device to transmit a signal indicating the request to access the call connection.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the prioritized device is an alarm system configured to initiate a telephone call.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the call connection corresponds to a telephone number associated with the alarm system.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first device comprises a standard interface and a prioritized interface.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the prioritized interface is in communication with a line seizure device.

17. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a line seizure device, wherein the line seizure device is in communication with the prioritized device and the higher prioritized device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the line seizure device comprising:
at least one processor; and
memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the line seizure device to disconnect the prioritized device after receiving a signal from the higher prioritized device.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the line seizure device is configured to prevent the prioritized device from connecting to the call connection when the higher prioritized device is connected to the call connection.

Assignees

• Comcast Cable Comm Llc

Inventors

• Connelly Michael
• Lewis Jeffrey
• Maharana Bhagabati
• Rubin Louis
• Vetter Richard

Classifications

• H04M3/20

  with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations · CPC title

• H04M3/42314

  in private branch exchanges · CPC title

• H04M2242/04

  for emergency applications · CPC title

• H04Q3/70 Primary

  Identification of class of calling subscriber · CPC title

• H04M11/04

  with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems · CPC title