Call Holding Management

Abstract

A system or a method detects an electronic communication between a first communication device and a second communication device. An audible communication holding routine associated with the second communication device is determined and the electronic communication is monitored to automatically determine whether the electronic communication is put on hold by the second communication device based, at least in part, on detecting that the audible communication holding routine is included in the electronic communication. When it is determined that the electronic communication is put on hold, presentation of one or more communication holding options to the first communication device is caused.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a non-transitory memory; and   one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory memory and configured to read instructions from the non-transitory memory to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 detecting an electronic communication between a first communication device and a second communication device; 
 determining an audible communication holding routine associated with the second communication device; 
 monitoring the electronic communication to automatically determine whether the electronic communication is put on hold by the second communication device based, at least in part, on detecting that the audible communication holding routine is included in the electronic communication; and 
 when it is determined that the electronic communication is put on hold, causing presentation of one or more communication holding options to the first communication device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising when it is determined that the electronic communication is no longer on hold, using a notification to enable a user to ascertain that the electronic communication is no longer on hold. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising prior to using said notification, enabling a user to select a notification to be used when the electronic communication is no longer on hold. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said using a notification comprises using a notification by way of a device other than the first communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said notification comprises at least one of an audio sound, a visual signal, or a textual message. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a type of notification or a type of delivery of the notification is dependent on one or more factors including device location, background noise, or time of day. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the causing presentation of one or more communication holding options comprises one or more of: causing display of call statistical information; causing display of advertisements; causing display of news; or setting up notification options to provide a notification to a user of the first communication device when the hold on the communication ends. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said causing presentation of one or more communication holding options comprises selecting one or more communication holding options based on a user's preferences or interests. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said preferences or interests are ascertained from at least one of the user's: browsing history, purchase history, music playlist, or video playlist. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic communication is a telephone communication. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic communication is a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 detecting an electronic communication between a first communication device and a second communication device;   determining an audible communication holding routine associated with the second communication device;   monitoring the electronic communication to automatically determine whether the electronic communication is put on hold by the second communication device based, at least in part, on detecting that the audible communication holding routine is included in the electronic communication; and   when it is determined that the electronic communication is put on hold, causing presentation of one or more communication holding options to the first communication device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising when it is determined that the electronic communication is no longer on hold, using a notification to enable a user to ascertain that the electronic communication is no longer on hold. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising prior to using said notification, enabling a user to select a notification to be used when the electronic communication is no longer on hold, wherein said notification comprises at least one of an audio sound, a visual signal, or a textual message. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising prior to using said notification, enabling a user to select a notification to be used when the electronic communication is no longer on hold, at least one notification selection being a notification by way of a device other than the first communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said causing presentation of one or more communication holding options comprises selecting one or more communication holding options based on a user's preferences or interests. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic communication is a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoding computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method, comprising:
 detecting an electronic communication between a first communication device and a second communication device;   determining an audible communication holding routine associated with the second communication device;   monitoring the electronic communication to automatically determine whether the electronic communication is put on hold by the second communication device based, at least in part, on detecting that the audible communication holding routine is included in the electronic communication; and   when it is determined that the electronic communication is put on hold, causing presentation of one or more communication holding options to the first communication device.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein said causing presentation of one or more communication holding options comprises selecting one or more communication holding options based on a user's preferences or interests. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the electronic communication is a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication.