Caller identification and voice/data synchronization for internet telephony and related applications
First Claim
1. A method for identifying an end user computer connected to a data packet network to a called party connected to a public switched telephone network comprising the steps of:
- establishing a phone call between an end user terminal and a called party, the call being routed through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;
locating an identifier on the end user computer, the identifier being associated with a user of the end user terminal, the identifier being present on the end user terminal prior to the establishing step;
converting the identifier to an analog signal; and
transmitting the analog signal to the called party over the public switched telephone network.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An data packet network telephony system provides identification information of an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to a call center terminal and provides a call center agent with the ability to cause an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to display selected web pages and or to synchronize displays between the agent and end user terminals. In one embodiment, customer identification information is provided in-band. In another embodiment, customer identification information is accomplished out of band, in some cases using an identifier of the PSTN gateway as an index into a table to identify an end user terminal. In another embodiment, an agent may enter DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency tones) to push web pages to an end user terminal. In still other embodiments, a second communications link between the end user terminal and the agent'"'"'s terminal is established, allowing for data sharing/synchronization.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for identifying an end user computer connected to a data packet network to a called party connected to a public switched telephone network comprising the steps of:
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establishing a phone call between an end user terminal and a called party, the call being routed through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;
locating an identifier on the end user computer, the identifier being associated with a user of the end user terminal, the identifier being present on the end user terminal prior to the establishing step;
converting the identifier to an analog signal; and
transmitting the analog signal to the called party over the public switched telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for identifying an end user terminal connected to a data packet network to a called party connected to a public switched telephone network comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a web page to an end user terminal, the web page including a telephone call icon and an identifier associated with the end user terminal;
activating the icon at the end user terminal, the icon causing a telephone call to be established between the end user terminal and the called party through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;
converting the identifier to an analog signal;
transmitting the analog signal to the called party over the public switched telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39)
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20. A method for identifying an end user computer connected to a data packet network to called party equipment connected to a public switched telephone network comprising the steps of:
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collecting, at the end user terminal, customer identification information;
transmitting the customer identification information to a first server;
storing the customer identification information at the first server;
establishing a phone call between an end user terminal and called party equipment, the call being routed through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;
detecting a gateway identifier at the called party equipment;
sending the gateway identifier to the first server;
using the gateway identifier to retrieve the customer identification information at the first server;
sending the customer identification information from the first server to the called party equipment.
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29. A method for controlling a display of an end user terminal comprising the steps of:
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establishing a phone call between an end user terminal connected to a data packet network and other party equipment connected to a public switched telephone network, the phone call being routed through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;
generating a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) command at the other party equipment;
detecting the DTMF command;
forming an address based at least in part on the DTMF command;
receiving display information from the address at the end user terminal.
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36. A method for exchanging information between an end user terminal and a second terminal associated with a called party comprising the steps of:
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assigning a chatroom identifier to the called party;
establishing a phone call between an end user terminal connected to a data packet network and other party equipment connected to a public switched telephone network, the phone call being routed through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;
generating a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) command corresponding to the chatroom identifier at the other party equipment;
detecting the DTMF command;
entering the chatroom at the end user terminal;
entering the chatroom at the second terminal; and
exchanging messages between the end user terminal and the second terminal.
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40. A method for exchanging information between an end user terminal and a second terminal associated with a called party comprising the steps of:
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assigning an address corresponding to the second terminal to the called party, the address comprising a first portion and a second portion;
establishing a phone call between an end user terminal connected to a data packet network and other party equipment connected to a public switched telephone network, the phone call being routed through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;
storing the first portion of the address at the end user terminal;
generating a dual tone mutli-frequency (DTMF) command at the other party equipment, the command comprising the second portion of the address assigned to the called party;
detecting the DTMF command;
forming the address at the end user terminal using the DTMF command and the first portion;
using the address to establish communications between the end user terminal and the second terminal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification