Providing information relating to a telephone call
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communications system, comprising:
- a user terminal, having a user interface, and having an internet connection and a telephone connection which is under software control;
a gateway device, that runs on a computer system with an internet connection and has at least two PSTN connections which are under software control, and which allows those connections to be bridged;
wherein, in response to a destination number input by the user, the user terminal is adapted to establish an internet connection with the gateway device;
wherein the gateway device is adapted to return information to the user terminal over the internet connection; and
wherein the user terminal is able either to;
establish a telephone connection to dial the destination number directly, or establish a telephone connection to the destination number via the gateway device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A client software application runs on a device, which can itself be used to make phone calls. Based on the phone number of the device, or the phone number of a called party, the client application interacts with a server, which is associated with a telephone gateway. The server sends relevant information to the client application, which can use the information as required, for example by displaying the information to the user. The interaction between the client and the server can take place before or after a call between the device and the called party.
70 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A communications system, comprising:
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a user terminal, having a user interface, and having an internet connection and a telephone connection which is under software control;
a gateway device, that runs on a computer system with an internet connection and has at least two PSTN connections which are under software control, and which allows those connections to be bridged;
wherein, in response to a destination number input by the user, the user terminal is adapted to establish an internet connection with the gateway device;
wherein the gateway device is adapted to return information to the user terminal over the internet connection; and
wherein the user terminal is able either to;
establish a telephone connection to dial the destination number directly, or establish a telephone connection to the destination number via the gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12)
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9. A communications system, comprising:
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a user terminal, having a user interface, and having an internet connection, and being adapted to make Voice over IP telephone calls;
a gateway device, that runs on a computer system with an internet connection and has at least one PSTN connection under software control, and which allows those connections to be bridged, and being adapted to make Voice over IP telephone calls;
wherein, in response to a destination number input by the user, the user terminal is adapted to establish an internet connection with the gateway device;
wherein the gateway device is adapted to return information to the user terminal over the internet connection; and
wherein the user terminal is able either to;
establish a Voice over IP telephone connection to dial the destination number directly, or establish a Voice over IP telephone connection to the destination number via the gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification