Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service

DC CAFC

US 7,397,910 B2
Filed: 02/18/2005
Issued: 07/08/2008
Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
Status: Expired due to Fees

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1. A method of providing a called entity the ability to selectively accept phone calls, the method comprising:

receiving over a PSTN, at a call processing apparatus, a call from a first entity directed to a second entity'"'"'s virtual telephone number;

opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the second entity;

recording speech from the first entity and transmitting the speech over the Internet communication channel to the networked computer to be played by the networked computer to the second entity; and

receiving an instruction, over the Internet communication channel from the second entity via the networked computer, and at least partly in response to the received instruction, causing the first entity call to be selectively connected to one of a plurality of potential second entity terminal destinations.

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Abstract

System and method for putting control of incoming telephone calls in the hands of subscribers with the aid of computer software and the Internet. In effect, a very efficient multiplexer is provided that does not require a change in the behavior of the called party or the calling party. This system permits the called party to hear a spoken message by the calling party in real time, and the content of the spoken message permits the called party to decide how to handle the call. The system adaptively learns and captures the rules of the called party for handling calls, and learns which callers the called party always wishes to talk to. The system uses special control software on the called party'"'"'s computer which is connected to the Internet. The system employs a central server in which all of the required intelligence is resident. Audio signals are exchanged via non-data channels provided by the telephone companies and by the Internet. Either a very simple Internet busy pick-up is provided, or a very complex messaging system is provided, as desired. A feature is the monitoring and screening of incoming calls before deciding how to handle them. Another feature is the capturing and storage of the decision making profile.

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46 Claims

1. A method of providing a called entity the ability to selectively accept phone calls, the method comprising:
- receiving over a PSTN, at a call processing apparatus, a call from a first entity directed to a second entity'"'"'s virtual telephone number;
  
  opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the second entity;
  
  recording speech from the first entity and transmitting the speech over the Internet communication channel to the networked computer to be played by the networked computer to the second entity; and
  
  receiving an instruction, over the Internet communication channel from the second entity via the networked computer, and at least partly in response to the received instruction, causing the first entity call to be selectively connected to one of a plurality of potential second entity terminal destinations.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- - 2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first entity is connected to the PSTN via a local switch.
  - 3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call processing apparatus is connected to the PSTN via a local switch.
  - 4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second entity is connected to the Internet via a dial-up connection.
  - 5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second entity is connected to the Internet via an always on connection.
  - 6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second entity is connected to the Internet via a wireless connection.

7. A method of using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to provide a called party the ability to audibly screen calls via a networked computer, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling patty intended forte called party, wherein signaling information associated with the call includes the calling party'"'"'s phone number;
  
  playing a greeting to the calling party;
  
  opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the called party;
  
  transmitting in substantially real time at least a portion of the signaling information for display to the called party on the networked computer; and
  
  transmitting in substantially real time a VoIP voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the networked computer so that the called party can audibly listen to the voice communication in substantially real time and screen the calling part'"'"'s call.
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- - 8. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising providing a user interface to the called party, wherein the user interface is configured to be displayed on only a portion of a display associated with the networked computer, and the display includes a control which ambles the called party to indicate that the called patty wants to take the call.
  - 9. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising providing a user interface to the called party, wherein the user interface is configured to be displayed on a display associated with the networked computer, and wherein the user interface includes,a first control which enables the called party to indicate that the called party wants to take the call using the Internet Protocol, anda second control which enables the called party to indicate that the called party wants to transfer the call over a circuit switching network.
  - 10. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the networked computer is connected to the called party'"'"'s telephone line.
  - 11. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising determining, via an application hosted on the networked computer, that the networked computer is connected to the called party'"'"'s telephone line prior to transmitting the VoIP voice communication to the networked computer.
  - 12. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the call is received at the first system via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
  - 13. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the call was forwarded to the first system by a call directing method selected from the group including busy call forward and no answer call forward.
  - 14. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the call is received at the first system via a PSTN gateway.
  - 15. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the networked computer shares a PSTN dial-up line with a POTs telephone.

16. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls using a wireless phone via an audible message from the calling party, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party intended for the called party;
  
  playing a greeting via the first system to the calling party;
  
  opening a communication channel with a wireless phone associated with the called party; and
  
  transmitting in substantially real time via the first system an audible voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the wireless phone so that the called party can listen to and screen the audible voice communication in substantially real time.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- - 17. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the wireless phone is configured to provide a first control enabling the acceptance of the call at the wireless phone.
  - 18. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the wireless phone hosts a command center application configured to provide a first control enabling the transfer of the cell.
  - 19. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the call was forwarded to the first system by a call directing method selected from the group including busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability.
  - 20. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising sending a message to a user interface over an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of a call.
  - 21. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising receiving via a called party user interface a call handling instruction selected from a group including:
    - transfer call over a circuit switching network, andtake call over an Internet Protocol network.
  - 22. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising recording the voice communication as the tint system for later retrieval by the called party.
  - 23. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the wireless phone is a cellular phone.

24. A method of enabling a called party to audibly screen calls via a device having a call management user interface displayed on a screen, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party intended for the called party;
  
  playing a greeting to the calling party;
  
  opening a communication channel to a communication device having a display, wherein the display displays a user interface including,a first control that, when selected by the called party, causes the first system to enable the called party to talk to the caller;
  
  a second control that, when selected by the called party, causes the first system to transfer the call to another communication device;
  
  transmitting in substantially real time an audible voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the commumication device so that the called party can listen to the audible voice communication in substantially real time and screen the calling party'"'"'s call; and
  
  receiving an indication at the first system that the called party selected the first control or the second control while the voice communication from the calling party is being transmitted in substantially real time.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- - 25. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the communication device is a wireless telephone.
  - 26. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time using a voice over Internet protocol.
  - 27. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein selection of the second control causes the call to be transfered over the Internet to another communication device.
  - 28. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein selection of the second control causes the call to be transferred over public switched telephone network to another communication device.
  - 29. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the call was forwarded to the first system by a call directing method selected from a group including busy call forward and no answer call forward.
  - 30. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the user interface providing the first control and the second control is no greater than two square inches in size.

31. A method of locating a called party and providing the called party the ability to audibly screen calls, the method comprising;
- receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party intended for the called party;
  
  playing a greeting to the culling party;
  
  retrieving from computer readable memory associated with the first system stored information corresponding to a plurality of terminals associated with the called party;
  
  determining at which of the plurality of terminals the called party is currently located;
  
  opening a communication channel with the terminal the called party is currently located at; and
  
  transmitting in substantially real time a voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the terminal at which the called party is currently located so that the called party can listen to the voice communication in substantially real time and screen the calling party'"'"'s call.
- View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- - 32. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the information corresponding to a plurality of terminals includes a home number, a business number, and a cell phone number.
  - 33. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the called party is not aware of the process of determining at which of the plurality of terminals the called party is currently located and opening a communication channel with the terminal the called party is currently located at.
  - 34. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the called party is not aware of the phone number associated with the terminal the called party is currently located at.
  - 35. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the terminal the called party is currently located at is a cell phone.
  - 36. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time using VoIP.
  - 37. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time over a wireless network.
  - 38. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time over the public switched telephone network.
  - 39. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein a user interface is displayed on the terminal the called party is currently located at, the user interface providing a control via which the user can indicate that the call is to be forwarded to another terminal.
  - 40. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein a user interface no greater than two inches square is displayed on the terminal the called party is currently located at, the user interface providing a control via which the user can indicate that the call is to be forwarded to another terminal.

41. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls that are forwarded to a call processing system, the method comprising:
- receiving at a call processing system a call from a first entity intended for a second entity that was forwarded via a PSTN, wherein the call was forwarded by a call directing method selected from the group including busy call forward and no answer call forward;
  
  playing a greeting to the first entity;
  
  opening a communication channel with a first communication device associated with the second entity; and
  
  transmitting in substantially real time via the first system a voice communication from the first entity over the communication channel to the communication device so that the second entity can listen to and screen the voice communication in substantially real time.
- View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
- - 42. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein the voice communication is transmitted in substantially real time using Voice over Internet protocol.
  - 43. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein the first communicating on device is a wireless phone.
  - 44. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein the system includes a database that stores contact information for a plurality of telecommunication devices associated with the called party.
  - 45. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein a user intertface is displayed on the communication device the called party is currently located at the user interface providing a control via which the user can indicate that the call is to be forwarded to another communication device.
  - 46. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein a user interface no greater than two inches square is displayed on the communication device the second entity is currently located at, the user interface providing a control via which the user can indicate that the call is to be forwarded to another communication device.

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Current Assignee
CallWave Communications, LLC
Original Assignee
FuzeBox, Inc.
Inventors
Dolan, Robert A., Hofstatter, David F.
Primary Examiner(s)
Gauthier, Gerald

Application Number

US11/062,182
Publication Number

US 20050141490A1
Time in Patent Office

1,236 Days
Field of Search

379/88.17, 379/88.25, 379/93.33, 379/211.02, 370/356
US Class Current

379/211.02
CPC Class Codes

H04M 1/57   Arrangements for indicating...

H04M 3/2236   Quality of speech transmiss...

H04M 3/428   Arrangements for placing in...

H04M 3/4281   when the called subscriber ...

H04M 3/436   Arrangements for screening ...

H04M 3/54   Arrangements for diverting ...

H04M 7/006   Networks other than PSTN/IS...

H04M 7/12   for working between exchang...

Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service

First Claim

7 Assignments

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Abstract

121 Citations

46 Claims

Specification

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Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service

First Claim

7 Assignments

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Litigations

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

121 Citations

46 Claims

Specification

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