Method of establishing a communications call

• US 20020054671A1
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calvin Jonathan Stein, Carlos Escobar, Victor Wiener
• Original Assignee: Calvin Jonathan Stein, Carlos Escobar, Victor Wiener
• Inventors: Stein, Calvin Jonathan, Escobar, Carlos, Wiener, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

A method system, interface and server for establishing a communications call by selecting a B party (6) using an interactive device (16) connected to a public network (10,12), sending called address data for the B party (6) and calling address data for an A party (4) to a communications platform (18) of the public network (10,12), and establishing a call between the A and B parties (4,6) over the public network (10,12) using the communications platform (18) and the called and calling address data. The called address data can be accessed from the public network, and may reside on a server of a messaging network, such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a communications call, including:

selecting a B party using an interactive device connected to a public network;

sending called address data for said B party and calling address data for an A party to communications means of said public network; and

establishing a call between said A and B parties over said public network using said communications means and said called and calling address data.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, including accessing said called address data from said public network.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said called address data is accessed in response to selecting said B party.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, including searching for said B party using said interactive device and a search module of said public network and a database of said public network including called address data.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said interactive device is a computer device including a visual display.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said interactive device is associated with said A party.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said interactive device is a communications terminal for said call.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 8, wherein said public network includes a messaging network for connecting a plurality of said interactive device and at least one public telecommunications network for connecting said A and B parties.

8. A method of originating a communications call, including:

selecting a B party using an interactive device connected to a public network; and

sending, in response to selection of said B party, selected party data corresponding to said B party to said public network;

whereby said public network provides said called address data for said B party to communications means for establishing a call between an A party and said B party.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, including obtaining said called address data from said public network.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said called address data is obtained in response to a search for said B party using said public network.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said selected party data includes said called address data.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said called address data is accessed on the basis of said selected party data.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said messaging network provides said interactive device with a plurality of B party data.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said messaging network accesses and forwards said called address data to said telecommunications network.

17. An interface as claimed in claim 16, wherein said public network accesses called address data of said B party for said communication means on the basis of said selected party data.

18. An interface as claimed in claim 16, wherein said display means displays called address data for said B party, and said selected party data includes said called address data.

19. An interface as claimed in claim 16, including means for generating a search for said B party using said public network, and means for receiving results of said search and forwarding said results to said display means.

20. An interface as claimed in claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said interface is sent to said interactive device by said public network on request from said interactive device.

21. An interface as claimed in claim 20, wherein said public network includes a messaging network, for connecting a plurality of said interactive device, and at least one public telecommunications network for establishing said call.

22. An interface as claimed in claim 21, wherein said interface includes a HTML page with an applet for establishing said link.

24. An interface as claimed in claim 23, including code for obtaining said B party data from said public network.

25. An interface as claimed in claim 24, wherein said B party data includes called address data and said selected party data includes called address data for the selected B party.

26. An interface as claimed in claim 23, wherein called address data for said B party is accessed on the basis of said selected party data.

27. An interface as claimed in claim 23, wherein said public network includes a TCP/IP messaging network and at least one public switched telephone network for establishing said call.

30. A system as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein said network includes at least one public telecommunications network, such as a PSTN, for receiving said control signals and establishing said call, and a messaging network, such as the Internet, for passing data between the A party, the access module and the network means.

31. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the access module includes rectory data from said directory database for display by said A party.

32. A system as claimed in claim 28 or 29, including a search module accessible by said A party over said network for searching said directory database.

33. A system as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein said call is established between a terminal of the A party which selects said selected B party.

34. A system as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein said call is established between a terminal of the A party which is separate from the terminal selecting said B party.

35. A system as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein the calling address data includes an A party terminal number, account information and security information.

38. A server as claimed in claim 37, including a directory database module for accessing directory data, including communications address data, of parties connected to at least said public network, wherein the communications address data of said connect message for at least said B party is obtained using said directory database module.

39. A server as claimed in claim 36 or 38, comprising a TCP/IP server connected to a TCP/IP network, such as the Internet, and wherein the public network is a telecommunications network, such as the PSTN.

16. An interface of an interactive device for originating a communications call, including:

means for causing display of at least one B party;

means for enabling a B party to be selected on said display; and

a link which on being activated sends selected party data corresponding to said B party to a public network, whereby said public network instructs communications means of said public network to establish a call with said B party.

23. An interface stored on an interactive device connected to a public network, including:

code for generating a display on said device of B party data;

code allowing selection of a B party from said B party data;

code for transmitting to said public network selected party data corresponding to the selected B party; and

code for transmitting to said public network A party data, whereby said public network establishes a call between an A party and a B party corresponding to said A party data and said selected party data.

28. A system for use in establishing a communications call, including:

called address data for parties connected to at least one public network;

an access module for transmitting said called address data for displaying an interactive device, and for receiving selected party data from said interactive device; and

network means for receiving said selected party data, including called address data for the selected party, and calling address data corresponding to an A party and generating, in response thereto, network control signals to cause said network to establish a call between said A party and said B party over said network.

29. A system for use in establishing a communications call, including:

a directory database including called address data for parties connected to at least one public network;

an access module for receiving on said network selected party data corresponding to a B party and accessing called address data on the basis of said selected party data from said directory database; and

network means for receiving said called address data and calling address data corresponding to an A party and generating, in response thereto, network control signals to cause said network to establish a call between said A party and said B party over said network.

36. A directory server for use in establishing a communications call, including:

a directory database module for accessing directory data, including communications address data, of parties connected to at least one public network;

a call connection module for transmission to an interactive device of a user and for accessing, for said interactive device, directory data using said directory database module;

a call completion module for receiving selected party data for a B party of said call from said interactive device and transmitting a connect message to communications means of said public network for establishing said call, said connect message including communications address data for said B party obtained using said directory database module.

37. A server for use in establishing a communications call, including:

a call connection module for transmission to an interactive device of a user and for transmitting a connection message from said interactive device;

a call completion module for receiving said connection message and forwarding a connect message to communications means of a public network for establishing a call between A and B parties;

wherein said connection message includes data identifying at least said B party and said connect message includes communications address data for said A and B parties.