Application Independent Call Initiation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of application independent telephone call initiation, the method comprising:
- providing a computer having a display, an input device, an application program and a telephone call module, the application program comprising an integrated body of computer software comprised of one or more files, modules or parts that calls operating system services and performs work for a user, and the telephone call module comprising software distinct from the application program and operating apart from the application program;
the application program causing a telephone number to be displayed on the display;
the telephone call module recognizing user activation of the displayed telephone number with the input device; and
the telephone call module, in response to recognizing user activation of the displayed telephone number, causing a signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between the displayed telephone number and a predefined telephone number associated with a telephone adjacent to the computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There are disclosed methods and apparatus for telephone call initiation. An application program causes a telephone number to be displayed. A user activates the displayed telephone number. A telephone call module recognizes the activation of the displayed telephone number and causes a signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between a predefined telephone number and the displayed telephone number.
113 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method of application independent telephone call initiation, the method comprising:
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providing a computer having a display, an input device, an application program and a telephone call module, the application program comprising an integrated body of computer software comprised of one or more files, modules or parts that calls operating system services and performs work for a user, and the telephone call module comprising software distinct from the application program and operating apart from the application program;
the application program causing a telephone number to be displayed on the display;
the telephone call module recognizing user activation of the displayed telephone number with the input device; and
the telephone call module, in response to recognizing user activation of the displayed telephone number, causing a signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between the displayed telephone number and a predefined telephone number associated with a telephone adjacent to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product stored on a machine readable medium comprising computer software distinct from an application program and operating apart from the application program, the computer software having instructions for causing a processor to:
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recognize activation by a user of a telephone number displayed by an application program; and
in response to recognizing the activation of the displayed telephone number, cause a signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between the displayed telephone number and a predefined telephone number associated with a telephone adjacent to a computer in which the processor is installed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A client computer for application independent telephone call initiation, the client computer comprising:
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a user input device;
a display device;
a processor; and
a memory;
wherein the processor and the memory comprise circuits and software for;
recognizing activation by a user of a telephone number displayed by an application program, and in response to recognizing the activation of the displayed telephone number, causing a signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between the displayed telephone number and a predefined telephone number associated with a telephone adjacent to the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of server-based telephone call initiation, the method comprising:
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providing a server having a network application program and a telephone call module;
the application program sending a message to a client computer for causing a first telephone number to be displayed by the client computer;
the application program receiving a message from the client computer that the displayed telephone number has been activated; and
the telephone call module, in response to receiving the message, causing a signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between the first telephone number and a second, predefined telephone number associated with a telephone adjacent to the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A computer program product stored on a machine readable medium comprising computer software having instructions for causing a processor to:
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send a message to a client computer for causing a first telephone number to be displayed by the client computer;
receive a message from the client computer that the displayed telephone number has been activated; and
in response to receiving the message, cause a signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between the first telephone number and a second, predefined telephone number associated with a telephone adjacent to the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification