Video on hold for voip system

Abstract

A system for placing a telephone call on hold and presenting video to the user that has been placed on hold comprises video on hold arbiter that either is a part of the server or the switch of an IP telephony system. The video on hold arbiter comprises a hold monitoring module, a switch interface module and a media source interface module. The video on hold arbiter monitors calls between parties for the selection of a hold signal indicating that a first caller is placing a second caller on hold. The video on hold arbiter then determines the capabilities of the first caller and the second caller, a source video signal and switches the call to a video-on-hold status. In the video-on-hold status, the video on hold arbiter provides a video signal to the caller on hold from the determined source video and matching the capabilities of the party on hold. Video on hold arbiter and monitors for an off hold signal. Once the off hold signal is detected, the video on hold arbiter reestablishes the video and audio connections between the parties. The present invention also includes a variety of methods including a method for initializing and configuring a video on hold system and a method for providing video content when a call is placed on hold.