System for effecting a telephone call over a computer network without alphanumeric keypad operation

• US 20060210036A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vonage Network LLC (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Vonage Network LLC (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Wason, Andrew, Shah, Nilesh, Citron, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/081,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20060210036A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.130
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services

Abstract

A system for effecting a telephone call between telephonic devices is operative to use a computer network, without manual use of the alphanumeric keypads. A third party call control (3PCC) application program interface (API) provides the capability for users to use a web browser or other Internet capable software to place a call, rather than using the telephone keypad. A third party call control application program interface includes a uniform resource locator operable over the Internet to cause a call between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device to be completed. The uniform resource locator includes identification of the first telephonic device and identification of the second telephonic device.

Claims

1. A system for effecting a telephone call comprising:

a first telephonic device;

a second telephonic device; and

uniform resource locator means operable over a computer network for effecting a telephone call between the first telephonic device and the second telephonic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the uniform resource locator means comprises means for identifying the first and second telephonic devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer network comprises the Internet.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising telephonic number identifying means for identifying the respective first and second telephonic devices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of said telephonic devices comprises a telephone.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said the at least one of said telephonic devices comprises an alphanumeric keypad.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said alphanumeric keypad is inoperable in said system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer network comprises a web browser for placing the telephone call from the first telephonic device to the second telephonic device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the uniform resource locator means comprises means to identifying the first telephonic device and means for identifying the second telephonic device.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for initiating a call to the first telephonic device, and means for transferring the initiated call from the first telephonic device to the second telephonic device when the call to first telephonic device is answered.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said first and second telephonic devices each comprise respective user operable manual telephone number identifying means, said system being operable without use of the respective user operable manual telephone number identifying means.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the user operable telephone number identifying means comprises key board means.

13. A method of telephone call completion comprising:

(a) displaying contact information comprising information relating to a call that may be completed;

(b) receiving an indication of a call to be completed; and

(c) generating a uniform resource locator operable over the Internet to cause the call between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device to be completed, the uniform resource locator comprises means for identifying the first telephonic device and the second telephonic device, at least one of the identification of the first telephone device and the identification of the second telephone device based on the contact information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information relating to a call that may be completed comprises a telephone number.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein either the identification of the first telephonic device and the identification of the second telephonic device comprises a telephone number.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the displayed contact information comprises information relating to a plurality of telephone calls.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the received indication of the call to be completed comprises information relating to at least one of the plurality of calls that may be completed, and being selected from the displayed contact information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information relating to the plurality of calls that may be completed comprises a plurality of telephone numbers.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the received indication of the call to be completed comprises at least one telephone number selected from among a plurality of telephone numbers.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the identification of the first telephonic device and the identification of the second telephonic device comprises the at least one telephone number selected from among the plurality of telephone numbers.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the contact information is displayed in one selected from the group consisting of phone book software, address book software, email software, contact manager software, a plug in to phone book software, a plug in address book software, email software, and contact manager software and combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed contact information comprises information relating to a plurality of calls that may be completed.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the received indication of the call to be completed comprises information relating to at least one of the plurality of calls that may be completed, selected from the displayed contact information.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the information relating to a plurality of calls that may be completed comprises a plurality of telephone numbers.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the received indication of the call to be completed comprises at least one telephone number selected from among the plurality of telephone numbers.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one telephone number selected from among the plurality of telephone numbers includes an identification of the first telephonic device or the identification of the second telephonic device.

27. A computer program product for call completion comprising:

(i) a computer readable medium; and

(ii) computer program instructions, said computer program instructions being recorded on the computer readable medium, and being executable by a processor, for performing the steps of;

(a) displaying contact information comprising information relating to a call that may be completed;

(b) receiving an indication of the call to be completed; and

(c) generating a uniform resource locator operable over the Internet to cause a call between a first telephonic device and a second telephonic device to be completed, the uniform resource locator comprises means for identifying the first telephonic device and the second telephonic device, at least one of the identification of the first telephonic device and the identification of the second telephonic device being based on the information relating to the call to be completed.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the information relating to a call that may be completed comprises a telephone number.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein either the identification of the first telephonic device and the identification of the second telephonic device comprises the telephone number.

30. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the displayed contact information comprises information relating to a plurality of calls that may be completed.

31. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the received indication of a call to be completed comprises information relating to at least one of the plurality of calls that may be completed, selected from the displayed contact information.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the information relating to the plurality of calls that may be completed comprises a plurality of telephone numbers.

33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the received indication of the call to be completed comprises at least one telephone number selected from among the plurality of telephone numbers.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein at least one telephone number comprises an identification of at least one of the first and second telephone numbers.

35. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the contact information is displayed in one selected from;

phone book software, address book software, email software, contact manager software, a plug-in to phone book software, plug-in to an address book software, email software, and contact manager software.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the displayed contact information comprises information relating to a plurality of calls that may be completed.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the received indication of a call to be completed comprises information relating to at least one of the plurality of calls that may be completed, selected from the displayed contact information.