Apparatus and method for easily restoring a connection to a telephone

• US 20060128388A1
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mason, Andrew, Staemmer, Zeno
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/424 Arrangements for automatic redialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27

Abstract

A method, system, and article of manufacture for restoring a telephone connection between a first communication device and at least one other communication device. In some embodiments, the method includes establishing a first telephone call between a first communication device associated with a telecommunication system and at least one other communication device, initiating a call to the telecommunication system from the first communication device using a predetermined number, and automatically initiating, in response to the call to the predetermined number, a reconnect call by the telecommunication system to establish a second call between the first communication device and the at least one other communication device. In some embodiments, the first call and the second call may be between a first communication device and at least two other communication devices.

Claims

1. A method of reconnecting a telephone call, the method comprising:

establishing a first telephone call between a first communication device associated with a telecommunication system and at least one other communication device;

initiating a call to the telecommunication system from the first communication device using a predetermined number; and

automatically initiating, in response to the call to the predetermined number, a reconnect call by the telecommunication system to establish a second call between the first communication device and the at least one other communication device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one other communication device is at least two other communication devices.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the telecommunication system being aware that the first communication device was previously connected to the at least two communication devices during the first telephone call.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first call and the reconnect call are conference calls.

5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the telecommunication system determining whether the at least two other communication devices are still engaged in the first call prior to initiating the reconnect call.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first telephone call between the first communication device and the at least one other communication device is terminated prior to the initiating of the call to the telecommunication system using the predetermined number.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising extracting ANI (Automatic Number Identification) information of the first communication device that initiated the call to the telecommunication system using the predetermined number.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising identifying a user associated with the first communication device based on the extracted ANI information.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the identifying comprises referencing a data store of users of the telecommunication system and ANIs associated with the users.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the call initiated by the first communication device to the telephone system using the predetermined number is terminated prior to a charge being incurred for the call.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first communication device is a cellular telephone.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the telecommunication system being aware that the first communication device was previously connected to the at least one other communication device during the first telephone call.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first telephone call was a most recent telephone call participated in by the first communication device, prior to the initiation of the call to the telecommunication system from the first communication device using the predetermined number.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number is retrieved from a memory connected to the first communication device.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunication system comprises a telecommunication server application.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising invoking, in response to the call to the predetermined number, at least one telephony function other than the reconnect call.

17. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions to cause the processor to;

establish a first telephone call between a first communication device associated with a telecommunication system and at least one other communication device;

initiating a call to the telecommunication system from the first communication device using a predetermined number; and

automatically initiating, in response to the call to the predetermined number, a reconnect call by the telecommunication system to establish a second call between the first communication device and the at least one other communication device.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the processor and the memory comprises a telecommunication server.

19. A system according to claim 17, further comprising storing instructions to cause the processor to extract ANI (Automatic Number Identification) information of the communication device that initiated the call to the telecommunication system using the predetermined number.

20. A system according to claim 19, further comprising storing instructions to cause the processor to identify a user associated with the communication device based on the extracted ANI information.

21. A system according to claim 20, further comprising a data store of users of the telecommunication system and ANIs associated with the users.

22. A system according to claim 17, further comprising a user interface that facilitates a user associated with the telecommunication system an option of at least one of the following:

designating, at least, an association between a communication device and the telephone system; and

providing, at least, a user preference regarding establishing the reconnect call by the telecommunication system.

23. A system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one other communication device is at least two other communication devices.

24. A system according to claim 17, further comprising invoking, in response to the call to the predetermined number, at least one telephony function other than the reconnect call.

25. An article of manufacture comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following;

establishing a first telephone call between a first communication device associated with a telecommunication system and at least one other communication device;

initiating a call to the telecommunication system from the first communication device using a predetermined number; and

automatically initiating, in response to the call to the predetermined number, a reconnect call by the telecommunication system to establish a second call between the first communication device and the at least one other communication device