Communications environment having a connection device

• US 20040013258A1
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Combots Product GmbH
• Original Assignee: WEB.DE AG (Cinetic Gesellschaft zur Entwicklung & Vertrieb von Medien)
• Inventors: Cotte, Pierre-Alain
• Application Number:
  US10/200,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20040013258A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1285 Details of finding and selecting a gateway for a particular call

Abstract

A communications environment includes a first end user unit configured for performing network-based communications and a connection device configured for establishing a connection from the first end user unit to a specific entity. A web site corresponding to the specific entity is also provided. The web site is configured for providing, upon an accessing of the web site, private communications between the first end user unit and the specific entity via the connection using the connection device.

Claims

1. A communications environment, comprising:

a first end user unit configured for performing network-based communications;

a connection device configured for establishing a connection from the first end user unit to a specific entity; and

a web site corresponding to the specific entity, the web site being configured for providing, upon an accessing of the web site, private communications between the first end user unit and the specific entity via the connection using the connection device.

2. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the connection device includes at least one of a converter, an adapter, an IP-switch, an ATM-switch, a PSTN switch, a mechanical or electromechanical switching board, a protocol translator, and a gateway.

3. The communications environment as recited in claim 2 wherein the gateway is at least one of a telephone network gateway, a UMTS/G3 network gateway, a computer network gateway, a television network gateway, a cable network gateway and an Internet gateway.

4. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the web site is configured for controlling the connection device so as to establish the connection.

5. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 further comprising a network connected to the first end user unit and configured for performing at least one of the network-based communications and the private communications.

6. The communications environment as recited in claim 5 wherein the network includes at least one of a telephone network, a computer network and the Internet.

7. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the accessing is an accessing by the first end user unit.

8. The communications environment as recited in claim 7 wherein the accessing by the first end user unit is performed via the connection device.

9. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the accessing is an accessing by the specific entity.

10. The communications environment as recited in claim 9 wherein the accessing by the specific entity is performed via the connection device.

11. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 further comprising a second end user unit associated with the specific entity and configured for performing network-based communications, the accessing being performed using the second end user unit.

12. The communications environment as recited in claim 11 further comprising a third end user unit associated with the specific entity and configured for performing network-based communications, the private communications being performed using the third end user unit.

13. The communications environment as recited in claim 11 wherein the second end user unit includes at least one of a telephone, a keyboard, a computer terminal, and a mobile communications device.

14. The communications environment as recited in claim 12 wherein the third end user unit includes at least one of a telephone, a keyboard, a computer terminal, and a mobile communications device.

15. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the first end user unit includes at least one of a telephone, a keyboard, a computer terminal, and a mobile communications device.

16. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the web site includes at least one web page corresponding to the specific entity.

17. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the web site is a site accessible via a web browser.

18. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the web site is a site on the World Wide Web.

19. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the web site is accessible via a unique address corresponding to the specific entity.

20. The communications environment as recited in claim 19 wherein the unique address includes at least one of a telephone number, an IP address, an Internet domain name, and a URL.

21. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the specific entity controls the web site.

22. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the specific entity is capable of accessing and controlling the web site via a browser-based application.

23. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the private communications are bi-directional between the first end user unit and the specific entity.

24. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the private communications include at least one of a telephone conversation, an e-mail exchange, a fax-communication, and a file-exchange.

25. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein connection includes a plurality of different communication links.

26. The communications environment as recited in claim 25 wherein plurality of different communication links include at least one of a PSTN link, an Internet link, an optical fiber link, an ATM-WLL link, and a wireless mobile network link.

27. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 further comprising a gateway configured for interfacing between a first and a second communications link so as to establish a communications path from the connection device to the first end user unit, the first and the second communications links being of different types.

28. The communications environment as recited in claim 27 wherein the first communications link is a link of a PSTN network and the second communications link is a link of at least one of a computer network and the Internet.

29. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 further comprising a gateway configured for interfacing between a first and a second communications link so as to establish a communications path from the connection device to the specific entity, the first and the second communications links being of different types.

30. The communications environment as recited in claim 29 wherein the first communications link is a link of a PSTN network and the second communications link is a link of at least one of a computer network and the Internet.

31. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 further comprising a client associated with the specific entity and configured for providing a user interface to the web site.

32. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the web site is configured for providing private communications among the specific entity, the first end user unit, and at least one additional end user unit.

33. The communications environment as recited in claim 32 wherein the communications among the specific entity, the first end user unit, and the at least one additional end user unit are controllable by the specific entity using a client.

34. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the web site is configured for effecting call functions including at least one of conference calling, call switching, call forwarding, call rejecting, and call parking.

35. The communications environment as recited in claim 34 wherein the call functions are controllable using a client associated with the specific entity.

36. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the connection device is integral with the web site.

37. The communications environment as recited in claim 1 wherein the connection device is associated with a portal.

38. A web site for providing communications, comprising:

at least one web page corresponding to a specific entity;

a connection device configured for establishing a communications link from a first end user unit to the specific entity; and

a processing device configured for providing, upon an accessing of the web site, private communications between the first end user unit and the specific entity via the communications link using the connection device.

39. The web site as recited in claim 38 wherein the connection device includes at least one of a converter, an adapter, an IP-switch, an ATM-switch, a mechanical or electromechanical switching board, a protocol translator, and a gateway.

40. The web site as recited in claim 39 wherein the gateway is at least one of a telephone network gateway, a UMTS/G3 network gateway, a computer network gateway, a television network gateway, a cable network gateway and an Internet gateway.

41. The web site as recited in claim 38 wherein the web site is configured for controlling the connection device so as to provide the communication link.

42. The web site as recited in claim 38 wherein the accessing is an accessing by the specific entity.

43. The web site as recited in claim 38 wherein the private communications are bi-directional between the first end user unit and the specific entity.

44. The web site as recited in claim 38 wherein the processing device is configured for providing the private communications via a second end user unit associated with the specific entity and configured for performing network-based communications.

45. A communications device comprising:

an interface device configured for at least one of a user input and a user output; and

a network interface device configured performing, over a connection, network-based private communications with a specific entity associated with a web site in response to an accessing of the web site;

the connection being established by the web site using a connection device.

46. The communications device as recited in claim 45 wherein the network interface device is configured for performing the accessing.

47. The communications device as recited in claim 45 wherein the connection device includes at least one of a converter, an adapter, an IP-switch, an ATM-switch, a PSTN switch, a mechanical or electromechanical switching board, a protocol translator, and a gateway.

48. The communications device as recited in claim 45 wherein the user interface device includes at least one of a telephone, a keyboard, a computer terminal, and a mobile communications device.

49. The communications device as recited in claim 45 wherein the network interface device includes at least one of a V.42, V.90, V.92 modem, a PCMCIA modem, a DSL modem, an ISDN adapter, a cable modem, a wireless modem, an ethernet card, and an integrated modem of a mobile phone.

50. A method for providing communications, comprising:

providing a web site corresponding to a specific entity and configured for providing private communications;

establishing a communications link using a connection device; and

providing, in response to an accessing of the web site, private communications between a first end user unit and the specific entity via the communications link using the connection device.

51. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the connection device includes at least one of a converter, an adapter, an IP-switch, an ATM-switch, a mechanical or electromechanical switching board, a protocol translator, and a gateway.

52. The method as recited in claim 51 wherein the gateway is at least one of a telephone network gateway, a UMTS/G3 network gateway, a computer network gateway, a television network gateway, a cable network gateway and an Internet gateway.

53. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the web site is configured for controlling the connection device so as to provide the communication link.

54. The method as recited in claim 50 further comprising a network connected to the first end user unit and configured for performing at least one of the network-based communications and the private communications.

55. The method as recited in claim 54 wherein the network includes at least one of a telephone network, a computer network and the Internet.

56. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the accessing is an accessing by the first end user unit.

57. The method as recited in claim 56 wherein the accessing by the first end user unit is performed via the connection device.

58. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the accessing is an accessing by the specific entity.

62. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the web site includes at least one web page corresponding to the specific entity.

63. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the web site is accessible via a unique address corresponding to the specific entity.

64. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the specific entity controls the web site.

65. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the private communications are bi-directional between the first end user unit and the specific entity.

66. The method as recited in claim 50 further comprising providing a user interface to the web site using a client.

67. The method as recited in claim 66 wherein the client is associated with the specific entity and configured for communicating with the web site via a network.

68. The method as recited in claim 50 further comprising providing, in response to the accessing, private communications among the specific entity, the first end user unit, and at least one additional end user unit.

69. The method as recited in claim 68 wherein the specific entity is capable of controlling the communications among the specific entity, the first end user unit, and the at least one additional end user unit.

70. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the web site is configured for effecting call functions including at least one of conference calling, call switching, call forwarding, call rejecting, and call parking.

71. The method as recited in claim 70 wherein the call functions are controllable using a client associated with the specific entity.

72. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the connection device is integral with the web site.

73. The method as recited in claim 50 wherein the connection device is associated with a portal.

59. The method as recited in claim 59 wherein the accessing by the specific entity is performed via the connection device.

60. The method as recited in claim 59 wherein the accessing is performed using a second end user unit associated with the specific entity and configured for performing network-based communications.

61. The method as recited in claim 60 wherein the providing the private communications is performed using a third end user unit associated with the specific entity and configured for performing network-based communications.

74. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable process steps operative to perform a method for providing communications, the method comprising:

providing a web site corresponding to a specific entity and configured for providing private communications;

establishing a communications link using a connection device; and

providing, in response to an accessing of the web site, private communications between a first end user unit and the specific entity via the communications link using the connection device.

75. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 74 wherein the connection device includes at least one of a converter, an adapter, an IP-switch, an ATM-switch, a PSTN switch, a mechanical or electro-mechanical switching board, a protocol translator, and a gateway.

76. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 74 wherein the accessing is an accessing by the specific entity.