WO2001039474A2

WO2001039474A2 - Call waiting status indication apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: WO2001039474A2
Application number: PCT/SE2000/002212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joaquin Galvan Ramirez
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 1999-11-29
Filing date: 2000-11-10
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Also published as: WO2001039474A3; AU1906601A

Abstract

A device (20) and method which make use of an indicator (90) adapted to display the connection status of a call-waiting feature subscriber are disclosed. The indicator (90) indicates a first connection status (120) when the subscriber is actively connected to a first calling party, and inactively connected to a second calling party (i.e., the second caller is waiting for an active connection, or has been placed on hold). The second connection status (100) is indicated when the subscriber is actively connected to the second calling party and inactively connected for the first calling party (i.e., the first call is on hold). The indicator (90) may be visual or aural. The indicator (90) may also take the form of a display (110), using various characters (112, 114) or caller identification information (170, 180). The indicator (90) is typically activated by a software/hardware module (95) within a telecommunications network which sends indicator signals to the subscriber Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) (20), such as a telephone or caller identification device. The indicator may also be activated by monitoring the flash (92) or switch hook (91) activity of the CPE (20).

Description

CALL WAITING STATUS INDICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

This Invention relates generally to telephone subscriber services and apparatus, and more particularly, to call-waiting and caller identification services that are used simultaneously by multiple telephone subscribers.

History of Related Art

Call-waiting services are commercially available in many parts of the world. The call -waiting service provides an audible tone signal to a subscriber while a telephone is in use, letting him know that a second party is trying to reach him while he is engaged in conversation with a first party. The service enables the subscriber to switch alternately between the first party and the second party, simply by depressing his hook switch or "flash" button momentarily.

When using the call-waiting service, or any of its variants (e.g., call waiting deluxe, call identity on call-waiting, call waiting originating, etc.), if the subscriber is actively engaged in conversation with a first party, and a second party call in (i.e., is waiting to be connected), then the subscriber can place the first party on hold and establish an active connection to the second party by depressing the switch hook or flash button. If the subscriber again depresses the switch hook or flash button, the subscriber will be re-connected to the first party, and the second party will be placed on hold. This swapping action can be repeated as many times as necessary during a call -waiting scenario. The party to which the subscriber is actively connected is able to engage in direct conversation with the subscriber. The party to which the subscriber is inactively connected is placed on hold. If the party actively connected to the subscriber disconnects or hangs up, the inactive party is in turn connected to the subscriber.

After several party swaps, the subscriber may be confused as to which party (i.e., the first party or the second party) , is currently on the active connection. After several exchanges between the parties, the subscriber may forget which is the first party and which is the second party. Alternatively, the subscriber may depress the switch hook or flash button and not be sure that the connection has actually changed from one party to the other. This situation may have disastrous consequences if communications are made to the second party that were intended for the first party alone, or vice versa.

Therefore, what is needed, is an indicator to enhance the subscriber's participation and understanding of the call -waiting process. Such an indicator might be visual, or aural. The indicator might be installed on the subscriber's telephone, or any other commonly used Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) , such as a separate caller identification device. Such an indicator should be inexpensive to implement, and readily understood by any subscriber operating the telephone or CPE.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention may be implemented in several different ways. For example, the invention may include a method of operating a telecommunications switching network which includes a hardware or software call -waiting module. The module may send an indicator signal from the network to CPE operated by a subscriber to indicate a first connection status of being actively connected to a first calling party and inactively connected to a second calling party (i.e., wating for a connection, or on hold) . Upon receiving a signal to change or swap the connection status, the module may send an indicator signal to the CPE to indicate a second connection status of the subscriber being actively connected to the second call, and inactively connected to the first call.

The CPE typically includes a visual indicator which responds to the indicator signal. The visual indicator may change colors according to the connection status, or turn on/off. The CPE may also include a display which responds to the indicator signal by presenting a preselected character on the display, or an identification of the actively- connected calling party. The CPE may include more than one visual indicator, such as a first and second call indicator. Each of the call indicators may respond to the indicator signal to indicate the connection status by changing color, or by on/off operation.

An aural indicator may also be used to indicate connection status. A tone may be broadcast by the indicator to indicate changing the connection status. Different tones may be used to differentiate the first connection status from the second connection status. Announcement messages may also be used to indicate the connection status of the subscriber's CPE. The invention may also include CPE adapted to indicate the connection status of the operating subscriber. The CPE typically includes a connection status indicator responsive to receiving a first indicator signal by indicating a first connection status, and responsive to a second indicator signal by indicating a second connection status. If the indicator is visual, the connection status may be indicated by color, or whether the indicator is on/off, or, if a display is included in the CPE, the connections status may be indicated by the presence of a preselected character on the display, or an identification of the calling party to which the subscriber is connected. If the indicator is aural, the connection status may be indicated by broadcasting a tone or voice message from the indicator to the subscriber.

The operational state indicator may be designed to respond to a signal which originates within the network, according to the connection status of the subscriber, as described above. In the alternative, the indicator may also respond directly to the subscriber depressing the switch hook or flash button on the CPE ..

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the structure and operation of the present invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1A-1C are block diagrams illustrating the telecommunications device of the present invention;

Figs. 2A-2C are block diagrams illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 3A-3C are block diagrams illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 4A-4C are block diagrams illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 5A-5B are block diagrams illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a flow chart diagram illustrating the method of the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a flow chart diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the method of the present invention, as used with a mobile station subscriber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to Fig. 1, the CPE device of the present invention can be seen. In Fig. 1A, a telecommunications system 10 includes a CPE device, such as a subscriber telephone 20, a first party telephone 30, and a second party telephone 40. The telephones 20, 30, and 40 may be mobile cellular telephones, desktop telephones, PBX exchange telephones, or other CPE devices. The connections 25, 35, and 45 represent wireline, fiber-optic, radio frequency, or the like, telecommunications network call connections.

As illustrated in Fig. 1A, the subscriber telephone 20 is connected by a subscriber connection 25 to a telecommunications switching network 15. Similarly, the first party telephone 30 is connected by a first connection 35 to the switching network 15, and a second party telephone 40 is connected by a second connection 45 to the switching network 15. In Fig. 1A, the subscriber telephone 20 includes an indicator 90 adapted to indicate a first connection status and a second connection status. The indicator is operated (e.g., turned on) to indicate the first connection status of the subscriber telephone 20 call connection 25 being actively connected to the first party telephone 30 call connection 35, as characterized by the active connection 50. The first connection status also includes the inactive connection 60 to the second party telephone 40 call connection 45, which essentially means the second party is on hold, or waiting to establish an active connection (see Fig. IC) .

In Fig. IB, the second connection status is illustrated. In this case, the indicator 90 is operated (e.g., turned off) to indicate the second connection status of the subscriber telephone 20 call connection 25 as being actively connected to the second party telephone 40 call connection 45, and inactively connected to the first party telephone 30 call connection 35. The indicator 90 may, for example, be a visual indicator, wherein the first connection status is indicated when the indicator is first preselected color (e.g. green) and the second connection status is indicated when the indicator is a second preselected color (e.g. red). To actually make the transition from green to red, and back again (or from on, to off, to on) , an indicator signal 100, 120 will typically be sent from a software program or hardware circuit call-waiting module 95 included within the switching network 15. For example, the indicator signal for the second connection status 100 may be sent from the module 95 to the CPE 20 and, after reception, the indicator 90 may respond by turning a red color. As shown in Fig. IC, after reception of an indicator signal for the first connection status 120 at the CPE 20, the indicator 90 may respond by turning a green color. The default condition of the CPE indicator 90 is typically set to indicate the first connection status (i.e., an active connection to a first calling party) .

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1A, IB, and IC, there may also be a pair of call indicators 90, 130 which operate in tandem to indicate the connection status of the parties. For example, the default condition of the CPE device 20 indicators 90, 130 might be operated to indicate the first connection status (i.e., an active connection to a first party) such that the indicator 130 is a green color, and the indicator 90 is a red color. When the indicator signal for the second connection status 100 is sent from the module 95 to the CPE 20, then the indicator 130 may respond by changing to a red color, and the indicator 90 may respond by changing to be a green color. As shown in Fig. IC, after reception of an indicator signal for the first connection status 120 at the CPE 20, the indicator 90 may respond by changing back to be a red color, and the indicator 130 may respond by changing back to be a green color.

Turning now to Fig. 2, an alternative embodiment of an invention can be seen. In this instance, the indicator 90' is an aural indicator, such as a speaker in the CPE 20. When the subscriber presses the switch hook or flash button (shown in Fig. 5A, as switch hook 91 and flash button 92, respectively) momentarily, so as to change from the first connection status (shown in Fig. 2C) to the second connection status (shown in Fig. 2B) , an indicator signal 70 for the second connection status (i.e., when the second party telephone 40 call connection 45 is actively connected to the subscriber telephone 20 call connection 25) , is sent to the subscriber telephone 20 from the module 95. The signal 70 may contain a second preselected tone having a second tonal quality which indicates the second connection status. For example, the signal 70 may include a preselected tone value of 1,000 Hz, and a tone quality which varies the base frequency from 1,000 Hz to 2,000 Hz over a time period of about 0.5 seconds. Of course, many variations can be devised, including subscriber selection of amplitude and frequency modulation of the signal 70, as well as discontinuous signal 70 operation, where the tonal quality includes on/off timing variability. As can be seen in Fig. 2C, the first connection status is in effect (i.e., wherein the subscriber telephone 20 call connection 25 is actively connected to the first party telephone 30 call connection 35) . Receiving the indicator signal 80 for the first connection status at the CPE results in broadcasting a first preselected tone having a first preselected tonal quality (which may be the same as, or different from, the second tone and tonal quality) to indicate the first connection status.

Other alternatives to the embodiments presented may be used to implement the invention. For example, turning now to Fig. 3A, it can be seen how a visual display, or an aural indicator, may be used, separately, or together, so as to indicate the connection status of the subscriber. In Fig. 3C, the CPE 20 is shown as including a display as the indicator 110, wherein a first preselected character 112 (e.g., an "*") is presented. This shows that the CPE 20 indicator 110 indicates a connection status wherein the subscriber is actively connected to the first call and inactively connected to the second call (i.e., the first connection status).

In Fig. 3B, a second preselected character 114 is presented on the indicator 110 to indicate the second connection status (i.e., when the subscriber telephone 20 call connection 25 is actively connected to the second party telephone 40 call connection 45, and inactively connected to the first party telephone 30 call connection 35) . The second preselected character in this case is a "#". Alternatively, instead of using a different second preselected character from the first preselected character, the first and second preselected characters 110 and 116 may be the same, (e.g., the first and second preselected characters 112 and 116 are an "*"), however, each character 112, 116 may be located at a different position on the display 110.

An aural indication of the connection status may be achieved by sending an indicator signal 140 for the second connection status from the module 95 within the switching network 15 to the CPE 20; the signal 140 may include a preselected message, such as a second preselected message having a second vocal quality to indicate a second operational status (i.e., the subscriber is actively connected to the second party, and inactively connected to the first party) . Similarly, referring now to Fig. 3C, an indicator signal 150 for the first connection status containing a first preselected message having a first vocal quality 150 may be used to indicate the first connection status (i.e., the subscriber is actively connected with the first party, and inactively connected with the second party) . If indicator signals 140, 150 are used to operate the indicator 155, then the messages will typically be supplied by an announcement machine 94 operating within the switching network 15. In the alternative, the messages may be pre-recorded and played back to the subscriber from within the CPE 20, responsive to operation of the switch hook 91 or flash button 92 on the CPE 20. In the case of presenting characters on a display (i.e., a visual indicator), or using an aural indicator, or both, to indicate connection status, receipt of the signals 140, 150 results in a change in the character present on the display 110, and/or the message played through the indicator or speaker 155. The message comprises the content of the signal 140, 150 information (i.e., a command to change the indicator from red to green, or from "<" to "#"), while the vocal quality may comprise the tone, volume, timing and translated language of the message (i.e., the mode of communicating the message content) when the signals 140, 150 are sent from an announcement machine 94 operating within the network 15.

Turning now to Fig. 4A, the CPE device of the present invention, embodied as a caller identification device 160, can be seen. In this case, the first and second connection status are indicated by an indicator in the form of a display 110, which is part of the CPE 160. For example, the first connection status may be indicated by presenting a preselected character on the display 110, as described above, or by displaying a first identification of the first calling party 170 (see Fig. 4C) . The second connection status may be indicated by displaying a second identification of the second calling party 180 on the display 110 of the CPE 160. The indicator signal for the second connection status 190 may be sent from a module 95 within the switching network 15 to the CPE 160, which responds by displaying the second party caller identification on the display 110. In this case, the indicator signal 190 includes Calling Number Information (CNI) for the second calling party 180 (see Fig. 4B) . Similarly, the indicator signal for the first connection status 200 may be sent from the module 95 to the CPE 160 for use with the display 110 to indicate that the subscriber is directly connected to the first party (see Fig. 4C) . In this case, the indicator signal 200 includes the CNI for the first calling party 170.

Turning now to Figs. 5A and 5B, an alternative embodiment of the present invention can be seen. In Fig. 5A, the indicator 90 is turned on to indicate the first connection status. In response to the switch hook 91 or flash button 92 being operated by the subscriber to swap the call connections 50, 60, Fig. 5B shows the indicator 90 responding by turning off to indicate the second connection status. A signal 93 is sent from the CPE 20 to the switching network 15 each time the switch hook 91 or flash button 92 are operated.

Fig. 6 illustrates the method of the present invention, which begins with the active connection of the subscriber CPE and a first calling party at step 600. The method continues with step 610, wherein an indicator signal is sent from the network to the CPE (so that the indicator may respond to the indicator signal). At step 620, the indicator responds by providing an indication of the first connection status .

In step 630 the method continues by verifying if the subscriber has terminated the call connection with the first party. If so, then the method ends at step 640. If the call connection is not terminated, then the method continues at step 650 by verifying that the second calling party has attempted to make a call connection with the subscriber. If not, then the method continues with step 630. If so, then the method continues with step 660 by verifying that a signal to swap the call connections has been received (the signal may be received by the CPE from the network, or can be provided by operation of the switch hook or flash button) . If not, then the method continues with step 630. If so, then the method continues with step 670, wherein it is verified that the indicator indicates the first connection status. If not, then the method continues at step 610. If so, then the method continues at step 680, wherein an indicator signal is sent from the network to the CPE (so that the indicator may respond to the indicator signal) . At step 690, the indicator responds by indicating the second connection status. The method continues with step 630, until the call is terminated at step 640. Fig. 7 illustrates a particular implementation of the method of the present invention, as it would be used in conjunction with a mobile station subscriber. In this embodiment, a telecommunications system 10 comprising a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 220, a Home Location Register (HLR) 230, a Visitor Location Register/Mobile Switching Center (VLR/MSC) 240, and a mobile station subscriber 250 is used to illustrate the method. The method begins with step 260, where a first party originates a call to the GMSC 220, which results in a location request (LOCREQ) message containing CNI for the first party to be sent to the HLR 230. A routing request (ROUTREQ) message containing the CNI is then sent from the HLR 230 to the VLR/MSC 240 in step 280. If the subscriber 250 has call-waiting activated, then the CNI for the first party will be stored in the VLR/MSC 240 at step 290.

The subscriber is paged at step 300, and responds to the page at step 310. Responses to the ROUTREQ and LOCREQ messages are returned at steps 320 and 330, respectively. This results in the call being set up between the GMSC 220 and the VLR/MSC 240 at step 340.

An alert, including the CNI for the first party, is sent to the subscriber 250 at step 350, and the call connection between the first party and the subscriber is considered complete (i.e., active) in step 360.

The method continues at step 370 with origination of a second party call to the subscriber 250. Once again, LOCREQ and ROUTREQ messages containing the CNI for the second party are sent to the HLR 230 and VLR/MSC 240, respectively, in steps 380 and 390. Again, if the mobile station subscriber 250 has call-waiting activated, then the CNI for the second party will be stored in the VLR/MSC 240 at step 400. Once again, responses to the ROUTREQ and LOCREQ messages are returned to the HLR 230 and GMSC 220, respectively, in steps 410 and 420. The call is then set up at step 430, and a call waiting alert message is sent from the VLR/MSC 240 to the mobile station subscriber 250 at step 440. The CNI for the second party is sent along with the alert message.

The invention, as embodied in a method of interacting with a mobile station in electronic communication with a call-waiting service so as to provide an indication of connection status to the subscriber 250 using a telecommunications device, such as a cellular telephone, is detailed in the bracketed steps 510. This method, in essence, operates to swap the CNI of the first and second party as they are transmitted to the subscriber

(i.e., the called party). If the subscriber mobile station 250 elects to take the second call at step 450, the CNI for the second party is sent to the mobile station subscriber 250 at step 460 as an indicator signal including a second connection status, wherein the indicator indicates the connection status of the subscriber being actively connected to the second call and inactively connected to the first call. The CNI for the second party may be present as an identification of the second party on the display 110, or, in the alternative, as a preselected character presented on the display 110. As another alternative, an indicator 90 may be used to indicate the second connection status in response to receiving the indicator signal 460. At this point, the second party call is actively connected to the first party at step 470, and the first party call connection is on hold. If the subscriber elects to switch back to the first party, enabling an active connection with the first party and an inactive connection (i.e., on hold) with the second party, as shown in step 480, then the CNI for the first party is sent to the mobile subscriber 250 as an indicator signal for the first connection status to indicate the connection status of the subscriber being actively connected to the first call and inactively connected to the second call in step 490. At this point, the first party is actively connected to the subscriber, and the second party is inactively connected (i.e., on hold) at step 500.

Thus, the method of interacting with a Mobile Station (MS) having a call waiting feature including a call waiting status in electronic communication with a call-waiting service so as to provide an indication of connection status within a telecommunication network including a Serving Mobile Switching Center (SMSC) in electronic communication with a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Gateway MSC (GMSC) , wherein the MS is connected to a first calling party and a second calling party, may comprise the steps of receiving a first calling number identification (CNI) from the GMSC; verifying that the call waiting feature is active for the MS; storing the first CNI in the SMSC; sending a first indicator signal including a first connection status and the first CNI to the MS; receiving a second CNI the GMSC; verifying that the MS is connected to the first calling party; storing the second CNI in the SMSC; sending a swapping signal to the SMSC from the MS; and sending a second indicator signal including a second connection status and the second CNI to the MS.

The step of receiving the first CNI from the GMSC may include the steps of sending a LocationRequest message including the first CNI from the GMSC to the HLR; sending a RoutingRequest message including the first CNI from the HLR to the SMSC; sending a routingrequest response from the SMSC to the HLR; and sending a locationrequest response from the HLR to the GMSC. The steps of verifying that the call waiting feature is active for the MS and storing the first CNI in the SMSC may include the steps of verifying that the call waiting status included within the call waiting feature is active; and storing the first CNI in the GMSC when the call waiting status is active. The step of sending the first CNI to the MS includes the step of sending a call waiting alert message to the MS from the SMSC. The step of receiving the second CNI from the GMSC may include the steps of sending a LocationRequest message including the second CNI from the GMSC to the HLR; sending a RoutingRequest message including the second CNI from the HLR to the SMSC; sending a routingrequest response from the SMSC to the HLR; and sending a locationrequest response from the HLR to the GMSC. The step of sending the second CNI to the MS may include the step of sending a call waiting alert message to the MS from the SMSC. Finally the step of sending a swapping signal to the SMSC from the MS may include the step of pressing the flash button on the MS.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. The various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention, or their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a telecommunications network including a call-waiting module, comprising the steps of : sending a first indicator signal to a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) from the call-waiting module, wherein the CPE is in electronic communication with the call waiting module, and wherein the CPE includes a connection status indicator; responding to receipt of the first indicator signal by operating the connection status indicator to indicate a first connection status, wherein a subscriber is actively connected to a first calling party and inactively connected to a second calling party; sending a second indicator signal to the CPE from the call-waiting module; and responding to receipt of the second indicator signal by operating the connection status indicator to indicate a second connection status, wherein the subscriber is actively connected to the second calling party and inactively connected to the first calling party.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator is a visual indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by turning the visual indicator on, and wherein the second connection status is indicated by turning the visual indicator off.

3. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator is a visual indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by turning the visual indicator off, and wherein the second connection status is indicated by turning the visual indicator on.

4. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator is a display, and wherein the first connection status is indicated when at least one preselected character is present on the display.

5. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator is a display, and wherein the second connection status is indicated when at least one preselected character is present on the display.

6. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator is a display, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by displaying a first identification of the first calling party and the second connection status is indicated by displaying a second identification of the second calling party.

7. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator is an aural indicator, wherein the first connection status is indicating by broadcasting a first preselected tone from the aural indicator, and wherein the second connection status is indicated by broadcasting a second preselected tone from the aural indicator.

8. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator is an aural indicator, wherein the first connection status is indicated by a broadcasting a first preselected message from the aural indicator, and wherein the second connection status is indicated by broadcasting a second preselected message from the aural indicator.

9. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator comprises a first call indicator and a second call indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated when the first call indicator is a first preselected color and the second connection status is indicated when the second indicator is a second preselected color.

10. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator comprises a first call indicator and a second call indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by turning the first call indicator on and the second connection status is indicated by turning the second call indicator on.

11. The method of Claim 1, wherein the connection status indicator comprises a first call indicator and a second call indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by turning the first call indicator on and the second call indicator off.

12. A Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device operated by a subscriber, comprising: a connection status indicator responsive to receiving a first indicator signal by indicating a first connection status wherein a subscriber is actively connected to a first calling party and inactively connected to a second calling party, and responsive to receiving a second indicator signal by indicating a second connection status, wherein the subscriber is actively connected to the second calling party and inactively connected to the first calling party.

13. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator is a visual indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by turning the visual indicator on, and wherein the second connection status is indicated by turning the visual indicator off.

14. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator is a visual indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by turning the visual indicator off, and wherein the second connection status is indicated by turning the visual indicator on.

15. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator is a display, and wherein the first connection status is indicated when a first preselected character is present on the display.

16. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator is a display, and wherein the second connection status is indicated when a second preselected character is present on the display.

17. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator is a display, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by displaying a first identification of the first calling party and the second connection status is indicated by displaying a second identification of the second calling party.

18. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator is an aural indicator, wherein the first connection status is indicating by broadcasting a first preselected tone from the aural indicator, and wherein the second connection status is indicated by broadcasting a second preselected tone from the aural indicator.

19. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator is an aural indicator, wherein the first connection status is indicated by a broadcasting a first preselected message from the aural indicator, and wherein the second connection status is indicated by broadcasting a second preselected message from the aural indicator.

20. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator comprises a first call indicator and a second call indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated when the first call indicator is a first preselected color and the second connection status is indicated when the second indicator is a second preselected color.

21. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator comprises a first call indicator and a second call indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by turning the first call indicator on and the second connection status is indicated by turning the second call indicator on.

22. The device of Claim 12, wherein the connection status indicator comprises a first call indicator and a second call indicator, and wherein the first connection status is indicated by turning the first call indicator on and the second call indicator off.

23. A method of interacting with a Mobile Station (MS) having a call waiting feature including a call waiting status in electronic communication with a call -waiting service so as to provide an indication of connection status within a telecommunication network including a Serving Mobile Switching Center (SMSC) in electronic communication with a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Gateway MSC (GMSC) , wherein the MS is connected to a first calling party and a second calling party, comprising the steps of : receiving a first calling number identification (CNI) from the GMSC; verifying that the call waiting feature is active for the MS; storing the first CNI in the SMSC; sending a first indicator signal including a first connection status and the first CNI to the MS; receiving a second CNI the GMSC; verifying that the MS is connected to the first calling party; storing the second CNI in the SMSC; sending a swapping signal to the SMSC from the MS ; and sending a second indicator signal including a second connection status and the second CNI to the MS.

24. The method of Claim 23, wherein the step of receiving the first CNI from the GMSC includes the steps of : sending a LocationRequest message including the first CNI from the GMSC to the HLR; sending a RoutingRequest message including the first CNI from the HLR to the SMSC; sending a routingrequest response from the SMSC to the HLR; and sending a locationrequest response from the HLR to the GMSC.

25. The method of Claim 23, wherein the steps of verifying that the call waiting feature is active for the MS and storing the first CNI in the SMSC include the steps of : verifying that the call waiting status included within the call waiting feature is active; and storing the first CNI in the GMSC when the call waiting status is active.

26. The method of Claim 23, wherein the step of sending the first CNI to the MS includes the step of sending a call waiting alert message to the MS from the SMSC.

27. The method of Claim 23, wherein the step of receiving the second CNI from the GMSC includes the steps of : sending a LocationRequest message including the second CNI from the GMSC to the HLR; sending a RoutingRequest message including the second CNI from the HLR to the SMSC; sending a routingrequest response from the SMSC to the HLR; and sending a locationrequest response from the HLR to the GMSC.

28. The method of Claim 23, wherein the step of sending the second CNI to the MS includes the step of sending a call waiting alert message to the MS from the SMSC.

29. The method of Claim 23, wherein the step of sending a swapping signal to the SMSC from the MS includes the step of pressing the flash button on the MS .