System and Method for Monitoring and Handling Telecommunication Activity Via A Computer Network
First Claim
1. A method for handling calls placed to a subscriber line that is associated with a plurality of directory numbers, comprising:
- retrieving a network address that is associated with the subscriber line;
detecting a telephone call to at least one of the plurality of directory numbers;
in response to detecting the telephone call, sending an event descriptor to the network address;
receiving an instruction indicating a call-handling option selected by the user; and
handling the telephone call according to the call-handling option;
wherein the network address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A configurable PSTN call-handling (CPC) service enables monitoring and custom responses to calls received over multiple subscriber lines. A CPC Client Program runs on a computer and presents a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the user to associate call-handling options with call characteristics. The GUI also allows the user to customize the notification signals provided and to provide custom responses to certain callers, by associating call characteristics with various GUI appearances, sound files, or images. The CPC relieves the communications network of performing certain call-handling functions, such as call forwarding, by moving decision-making processes to the user'"'"'s PC. The user can remotely monitor any subscriber line associated with the user from any browser, because the communications network sends notifications directly to an IP address specified by the user. The IP address associated with a computer connected to the subscriber line need not be the IP address specified by the user.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for handling calls placed to a subscriber line that is associated with a plurality of directory numbers, comprising:
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retrieving a network address that is associated with the subscriber line;
detecting a telephone call to at least one of the plurality of directory numbers;
in response to detecting the telephone call, sending an event descriptor to the network address;
receiving an instruction indicating a call-handling option selected by the user; and
handling the telephone call according to the call-handling option;
wherein the network address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable medium having executable instruction for:
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providing a user of a subscriber line with a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of call-handling options;
allowing the user to pre-select at least one of the plurality of call-handling options to be transmitted upon receiving notification of an incoming call having a particular characteristic;
allowing the user to input a plurality of directory numbers;
sending a network address associated with the subscriber line;
receiving from a telephone network at the network address notification of an incoming call; and
transmitting to the telephone network the call-handling option that corresponds to the pre-selection by the user;
wherein the network address comprises an IP address. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for handling calls placed to a subscriber line that is associated with a plurality of directory numbers, comprising:
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means for retrieving a network address that is associated with the subscriber line;
means for detecting a telephone call to at least one of the plurality of directory numbers;
means for sending an event descriptor to the network address in response to detecting the telephone call;
means for receiving an instruction indicating a call-handling option selected by the user; and
means for handling the telephone call according to the call-handling option;
wherein the network address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification