System and method for automatically establishing a telephone call over a computer network

• US 20020031115A1
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agere Systems Guardian Corp. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Guardian Corp. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petryna, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/940,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20020031115A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A system for, and method of, automatically initiating a telephone call over a computer network and a computer incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) an address interceptor, associated with a station of a circuit-switched telephone network, that receives calling number identification signals from the circuit-switched telephone network and extracts therefrom a destination address and (2) a network call initiator, coupled to the address interceptor and associated with a computer network terminal, that employs the destination address to initiate the telephone call via the computer network terminal.

Claims

1. A system for automatically initiating a telephone call over a computer network, comprising:

an address interceptor, associated with a station of a circuit-switched telephone network, that receives calling number identification signals from said circuit-switched telephone network and extracts therefrom a destination address; and

a network call initiator, coupled to said address interceptor and associated with a computer network terminal, that employs said destination address to initiate said telephone call via said computer network terminal.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said calling number identification signals and said destination address are associated with a single location.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said destination address is selected from the group consisting of:

a telephone number,

an Internet Protocol address,

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway address, and

a VoIP gateway address combined with a telephone number.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said station leaves unanswered a call transmitting said calling number identification signals.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said calling number identification signals are associated with a second station, said second station hanging up after a predetermined number of unanswered rings.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said station and said computer network terminal are embodied in a computer and wherein a single telephone line alternatively couples said station to said circuit-switched telephone network and said computer network terminal to said computer network.

8. A method of automatically initiating a telephone call over a computer network, comprising:

extracting a destination address from calling number identification signals received from a circuit-switched telephone network; and

employing said destination address to initiate said telephone call.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said calling number identification signals and said destination address are associated with a single location.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said destination address is selected from the group consisting of:

a telephone number,

an Internet Protocol address,

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway address, and

a VoIP gateway address combined with a telephone number.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising leaving unanswered a call transmitting said calling number identification signals.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said calling number identification signals are associated with a station, said method further comprising hanging up said station after a predetermined number of unanswered rings.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said method is carried out in a computer and wherein a single telephone line alternatively carries said calling number identification signals and said destination address.

16. The computer as recited in claim 15 wherein said calling number identification signals and said destination address are associated with a single location.

17. The computer as recited in claim 15 wherein said destination address is selected from the group consisting of:

a telephone number,

an Internet Protocol address,

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway address, and

a VoIP gateway address combined with a telephone number.

18. The computer as recited in claim 15 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

19. The computer as recited in claim 15 wherein said circuit-switched telephone network interface leaves said call unanswered.

20. The computer as recited in claim 15 wherein a station placing said call hangs up after a predetermined number of unanswered rings.

21. The computer as recited in claim 15 wherein said circuit-switched telephone network interface and said computer network interface are coupled to a single telephone line.

15. A computer, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

a display coupled to said processor;

at least one input device coupled to said processor;

a circuit-switched telephone network interface, coupled to said processor, for receiving a call from a circuit-switched telephone network couplable thereto, said call including calling number identification signals;

a computer network interface, coupled to said processor, for allowing said computer to communicate over a computer network;

an address interceptor, coupled to said processor and communicable with said circuit-switched telephone network interface, for extracting a destination address from said calling number identification signals; and

a network call initiator, coupled to said processor, for employing said destination address to initiate said telephone call via said computer network interface.