System and method for connecting pending and preset telephone calls to facilitate transitioning to a phone call

• US 20040141599A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Begole, James M. A., Mordecai, Nicole Y., Tang, John C., Raymor, Brian K., Bilezikjian, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• 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 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2749 Automatic dialling or redialling systems, e.g. on off-hook or redial on busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• 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 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• 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 7/0015 First party call control architectures

Abstract

A system and method for connecting pending and preset telephone calls to facilitate transitioning to a phone call. Embodiments of the present invention include a method for anticipating and connecting a telephone call comprising identifying a trigger action associated with an anticipated outgoing telephone call, retrieving a phone number associated with said trigger action, and automatically setting a programmable speed dial button wherein by selecting the speed dial button, said phone number associated with said trigger action is dialed. Embodiments of the present invention also include a system for anticipating and connecting outgoing telephone calls comprising a computer system comprising a processor coupled to a bus, a database coupled to said bus, a call engine coupled to said bus wherein said call engine identifies trigger actions associated with outgoing telephone calls and retrieves phone numbers associated with said trigger actions, and a telephone coupled to said computer system wherein said telephone is coupled to a telephone network.

Claims

14. ) A system for facilitating connection of outgoing telephone calls comprising:

a computer system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a database coupled to said bus;

a call engine coupled to said bus wherein said call engine identifies a trigger action associated with a telephone call and retrieves a phone number associated with said trigger action; and

a telephone coupled to said computer system and comprising a speed dial button programmed with said phone number for automatically dialing said phone number over a telephone network.

15. ) The system as described in claim 14 wherein said computer system is coupled to the Internet.

16. ) The system as described in claim 14 wherein said computer system is coupled wirelessly to said telephone network.

17. ) The system as described in claim 14 wherein said call engine retrieves said phone number from a remote server.

18. ) The system as described in claim 14 wherein said trigger action is receiving an electronic message.

19. ) The system as described in claim 14 wherein said trigger action is requesting a URL.

20. ) The system as described in claim 14 wherein selecting text triggers an outgoing telephone call.

21. ) A computer system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory coupled to said bus and comprising instructions that when executed implement a method of facilitating telephone calls based on associated trigger actions comprising:

identifying a trigger action associated with an anticipated outgoing telephone call;

retrieving a phone number associated with said trigger action; and

automatically setting a programmable speed dial button wherein by selecting said speed dial button, said phone number associated with said trigger action is dialed.

22. ) The computer system as described in claim 21 wherein said trigger action is identified by a call engine, wherein said call engine examines call history and associated actions and based therein anticipates outgoing calls.

23. ) The computer system as described in claim 21 wherein said trigger action is receiving an electronic mail message.

24. ) The computer system as described in claim 21 wherein voiceover IP protocol is used to connect a call.

25. ) The computer system as described in claim 21 wherein said speed dial button is part of a telephone device which dials said phone number responsive to activation of said speed dial button.

26. ) The system as described in claim 21 wherein said speed dial button is a soft button displayed on a graphical user interface.

27. ) A computer implemented method of facilitating a communication over a telephone line comprising:

a) automatically identifying a trigger event associated with a user;

b) in response to said identifying, automatically determining a telephone number associated with said trigger event; and

c) automatically programming a speed dial button with said telephone number to facilitate a telephone communication involving said user.

1. ) A method for facilitating a telephone call comprising:

identifying a trigger action associated with an outgoing telephone call;

accessing a phone number associated with said trigger action; and

automatically setting a programmable speed dial button with said phone number wherein by selecting said speed dial button, said phone number associated with said trigger action is automatically dialed by a telephone device.

2. ) The method as described in claim 1 wherein said trigger action is receiving an electronic mail message from a particular sender.

3. ) The method as described in claim 2 wherein said phone number is accessed from a header portion of said electronic mail message.

4. ) The method as described in claim 1 wherein said phone number is accessed from a remote server.

5. ) The method as described in claim 1 wherein said trigger action is identified by a call engine and wherein said call engine examines call history and associated actions and based thereon anticipates outgoing calls.

6. ) The method as described in claim 1 wherein said trigger action is receiving an instant electronic message and wherein said phone number is of a sender of said instant electronic message.

7. ) The method as described in claim 1 wherein said trigger action is requesting a URL.

8. ) The method as described in claim 1 wherein said trigger action is selecting text from a document wherein said text is associated with a telephone number.

9. ) The method as described in claim 1 wherein said programmable speed dial button connects multiple parties for a conference call.

10. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said trigger action is a query into an electronic phone book database application and wherein said phone number is associated with a located record of said database.

11. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said trigger action is identifying a date and time associated with a scheduled meeting as recorded in an electronic calendar application database and wherein said phone number is associated with a member of said meeting.

12. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said trigger action is a user arriving at a predetermined location and wherein said phone number is associated with a phone located at said location.

13. ) The method as described in claim 1 wherein said telephone call comprises a video element.

28. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said trigger event is said user receiving an electronic mail message and wherein said telephone number is a telephone number associated with a sender of said electronic mail message and wherein said telephone communication is between said user and said sender.

29. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said trigger event is said user receiving an instant message and wherein said telephone number is a telephone number associated with a sender of said instant message and wherein said telephone communication is between said user and said sender.

30. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said trigger event is said user locating a record in an electronic database corresponding to a particular person and wherein said telephone number is a telephone number associated with said particular person and wherein said telephone communication is between said user and said particular person.

31. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said trigger event is the occurrence of a date and time corresponding to a scheduled meeting as recorded in an electronic calendar database and wherein said telephone number is a telephone number associated with a person involved in said meeting and wherein said telephone communication is between said user and said person.

32. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said trigger event is said user accessing a web page over the Internet and wherein said telephone number is a telephone number associated with said web page.

33. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said telephone communication is a preset telephone call wherein multiple parties are connected.

35. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said a)-c) are performed by a computer system and wherein said speed dial button is a mechanical button integrated on a telephone device coupled to said computer system.

36. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said step b) comprises accessing a remote database with information obtained from said trigger event to obtain said telephone number.

37. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said step b) comprises accessing information from said trigger event to obtain said telephone number.

38. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said trigger event is said user reaching a predetermined location and wherein said telephone number facilitates transfer of a telephone communication from one telephone device to another telephone device located at said predetermined location.

35-1. ) A method as described in claim 27 wherein said speed dial button is a graphical user interface element of a display screen of a computer system and further comprising d) automatically establishing said telephone communication in response to a user activating said speed dial button.

39. ) A method for facilitating a telephone call comprising:

identifying a trigger action associated with an outgoing telephone call;

accessing a phone number associated with said trigger action; and

automatically setting up a pending phone call, wherein a user associated with said pending call picks up a receiver to connect to a phone conversation.

40. ) The method as described in claim 39 wherein said trigger action is receiving an electronic mail message from a particular sender.

41. ) The method as described in claim 40 wherein said phone number is accessed from a header portion of said electronic mail message.

42. ) The method as described in claim 39 wherein said phone number is accessed from a remote server.

43. ) The method as described in claim 39 wherein said trigger action is identified by a call engine and wherein said call engine examines call history and associated actions and based thereon anticipates outgoing calls.

44. ) The method as described in claim 39 wherein said trigger action is receiving an instant electronic message and wherein said phone number is of a sender of said instant electronic message.

45. ) The method as described in claim 39 wherein said trigger action is requesting a URL.

46. ) The method as described in claim 39 wherein said trigger action is selecting text from a document wherein said text is associated with a telephone number.

47. ) The method as described in claim 39 wherein said pending phone call connects multiple parties for a conference call.

48. ) The method of claim 39 wherein said trigger action is a query into an electronic phone book database application and wherein said phone number is associated with a located record of said database.

49. ) The method of claim 39 wherein said trigger action is identifying a date and time associated with a scheduled meeting as recorded in an electronic calendar application database and wherein said phone number is associated with a member of said meeting.

50. ) The method of claim 39 wherein said trigger action is a user arriving at a predetermined location and wherein said phone number is associated with a phone located at said location.

51. ) The method of claim 39 wherein said telephone call comprises a video element.