Methods and systems for remote call establishment

• US 20050053217A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telesector Resources Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Brennan, Stephen, Reformato, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• 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: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 : Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for remote establishment of a call from a first device to a second device. In said methods and systems the information is retrieved from the first device regarding the second device along with information associating the user with a device associated with the user. The call is then transferred to a switch associated with the user'"'"'s device. The switch then forwards the call to the second device.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a call from a first device to a second device comprising:

receiving a call placed by a user from the first device;

receiving from the first device information regarding the second device;

receiving from the first device information useful for associating the user with a third device;

transferring the call to a first switch associated with the third device;

forwarding the call from the first switch to a second switch using the information received from the first device, the second switch being associated with the second device; and

completing the call from the second switch to the second device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving from the first device information regarding the second device comprises:

sending a prompt to the first device such that the first device provides the user with audible instructions; and

receiving speech information from the user regarding the second device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving from the first device information regarding the second device comprises:

receiving information from the user via speech regarding a contact stored in a user'"'"'s address book; and

retrieving from the address book information specifying the second device using the contact information;

wherein transferring the call from the first switch to the second switch includes using the record device information retrieved from the address book.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving from the first device information regarding the second device comprises:

receiving from the user a command to search an address book for a contact;

receiving search criteria from the user;

retrieving contact information from the address book using the search criteria;

sending to the first device the retrieved contact information;

receiving from the first device selection information specifying at least one contact; and

wherein transferring the call from the first switch to the second switch, includes using information retrieved from the address book regarding the at least one specified contact.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving search criteria comprises receiving speech information from the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a call placed by a user of the first device comprises:

receiving the call at a third switch;

transferring signaling information regarding the call from the third switch to a first processor;

transferring information regarding the call from the first processor to a second processor; and

transferring the call from the third switch to the second processor, wherein the second processor receives from the first device the information regarding the second and third devices;

redirecting by the third switch the call from the second set of processors to the first switch in response to an instruction from the first set of processors.

7. A system for establishing a call from a first device to a second device via a communication network, comprising a first switch for receiving a call placed by a user from a first device;

a processor for receiving from the first device information regarding the second device and information useful for associating the user with a third device;

a second switch associated with the second device for receiving the call and completing the call to the second device; and

a third switch for receiving the call from the first switch and forwarding the call to the second switch using the information received from the first device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the processor is for sending a prompt to the first device to provide the user with audible instructions, and for receiving speech information from the user regarding the second device.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a storage device storing an address book for the user;

and

a set of one or more processors for accessing the address book;

wherein the set of processors for receiving information from the first device is capable of receiving speech information from the user regarding a contact stored in the user'"'"'s address book and sending a query to the set of processors for accessing the address book regarding the received information; and

wherein the set of processors for accessing the address book, in response to the query, are capable of retrieving from the address book information specifying the second device; and

wherein the third switch transfers the call to the second switch using the second device information.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a storage device storing an address book for the user; and

one or more processors for accessing the address book;

wherein the set of processors for receiving information from the first device are capable of receiving from the first device a command to search the address book for a contact, receiving search criteria from the first device, and sending a query to the one or more processors regarding the search criteria, receiving, in response to the query, from the one or more processors for accessing the address book contact information using the search criteria, sending to the first device the received contact information, and receiving selection information from the first device specifying at least one contact; and

wherein the set of processors for accessing the address book, in response to the query, are capable of retrieving information from the address book regarding one or more contacts using the search criteria and sending the contact information to the one or more processors for receiving the information from the first device;

wherein the third switch transfers the call to the second switch using information retrieved from the address book regarding the at least one selected contact.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the received search criteria from the first device comprises speech information from a user of the first device.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a set of one or more processors capable of receiving signaling information regarding the call from the first switch, transferring information regarding the call to the set of processors for receiving information from the first device, sending an instruction to the first switch to transfer the call to the set of processors for receiving information from the first device, and sending an instruction to the first switch to redirect the call from the set of processors for receiving information from the first device to the third switch.

13. A system for establishing a call from a first device to a second device comprising:

means for receiving a call placed by a user from the first device;

means for receiving from the first device information regarding the second device;

means for receiving from the first device information associating the user with a third device;

means for transferring the call to a first switch associated with the third device;

means for forwarding the call from the first switch to a second switch using the information received from the first device, the second switch being associated with the second device; and

means for completing the call from the second switch to the second device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for receiving from the first device information regarding the second device comprises:

means for sending prompt information to the first device such that the first device provides the user with audible instructions; and

means for receiving speech information from the user regarding the second device.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for receiving from the first device information regarding the second device comprises:

means for receiving information from the user via speech regarding a contact stored in a user'"'"'s address book; and

means for retrieving from the address book information specifying the second device using the contact information;

wherein the means for transferring the call from the first switch to the second switch includes means for using the second device information retrieved from the address book.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for receiving from the first device information regarding the second device comprises:

means for receiving from the user a command to search an address book for a contact;

means for receiving search criteria from the user;

means for retrieving contact information from the address book using the search criteria;

means for forwarding to the first device the information retrieved from the address book;

means for receiving from the first device selection information specifying at least one contact; and

wherein the means for transferring the call from the first switch to the second switch, includes means for using information retrieved from the address book regarding the at least one specified contact.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the received search criteria from the first device comprises speech information.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving a call placed by a user of the first device comprises:

means for receiving signaling information regarding the call from the first switch, transferring information regarding the call to the means for receiving information from the first device, sending an instruction to the first switch to transfer the call to the means for receiving information from the first device, and sending an instruction to the first switch to redirect the call from the means for receiving information from the first device to the third switch.