WEB BASED TELEPHONE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20080298567A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Leonard Guile
• Original Assignee: Michael Leonard Guile
• Inventors: Guile, Michael Leonard
• Application Number:
  US12/023,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20080298567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/112.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges

Abstract

Technology that implements an integrated and automated process for delivery of low cost web based telephone management services, as an outsourced solution in the arena of voice management. The services are provided via the internet, from a web site, after installation in the customer premises the service can be rendered in all respects remotely and is automated to a high degree. This economises on costs and allows a high grade service previously only available to the upper end of the market to be available to essentially all segments.

Claims

1. A communication process between a host site and a remote site for information in electronic format from various sources to be collected from the remote site and transported reliably and securely via electronic means to the host site, using intelligent applications at both the remote site and host site, in which the remote site receives data from a suitable port by accessing a file from a shared directory and or querying a database, listening on a serial port or an information processing Internet Protocol (IP) port, then storing the data at the remote site and periodically transporting the data to the host site via a connection from the remote site to one selected from the internet, a dial-up telephone link to an internet service provider and direct to modems at the host site, using a receipt confirmation protocol, the host site on receipt of the data opens the message, checks the data and processes same.

2. A communication process as claimed in claim 1, in which the remote site receives data from one selected from a serial port and an IP port, and where data is sent by outgoing mail from the remote site using protocols selected from Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Internet Access Access Protocol (IMAP), Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and other standard mail protocols and incoming mail to the remote site uses a protocol selected from Post Office Protocol #3 (POP3), IMAP, HTTP and other standard mail protocols.

3. A communication process as claimed in claim 1, in which the email or message is given a unique serial number consisting of a unique remote site identifier and a sequence number of the email or message, once the data has been sent it is stored in a confirmation folder until it receives a confirmation notification from the host that the email or message has been received and the data is intact, whereupon the email or message and data are deleted from the confirmation folder, the remote site re-sending emails until the confirmation folder is empty.

4. A communication process as claimed in claim 3, in which the host site upon receipt of an email opens the email, checks that the data is intact, loads the unique sequence number of the email in a table and stores the data for processing, or if the number is already loaded deletes the email and data and does not process the data.

5. A communication process as claimed in claim 1, which is applied to an integrated and automatic delivery of low cost web based telephone management services and in which certain modules are integrated to form a holistic enterprise resource planning system, all data primarily kept in a managed database environment.

6. A communication process as claimed in claim 5, in which the process integrates one or more modules selected from manufacturing, supply chain, financial information, customer relationship, web store, human resources and warehouse management.

7. A communication process as claimed in claim 5, in which access to data by a third party distributor or dealer is incorporated by use of a log in user name and activation personal identification number which is a unique license number to allocate appropriate sites to the distributor, to enable the distributor to view information from the appropriate sites.

8. A communication process as claimed in claim 7, in which a user at the remote site accesses the dealer'"'"'s web site, activates an option whereby he is diverted to a web site with a name in which all pages are branded with the dealer'"'"'s colours, logos, trade marks and other identifying indicia essentially branding the service for the dealer.

9. A communication process as claimed in claim 1, in which an automated marketing campaign enables individual system features for a limited period of time and sends promotional emails to an end user at a remote site, encouraging an update to a higher package.

10. A communication process as claimed in claim 1, in which the host site has a web interface that allows the dealer to self configure and later edit the technical requirements of the process.

11. A communication process as claimed in claim 1, in which automated invoicing is incorporated in billing periods in which an invoicing engine sends queries for one or more items selected from chargeable service items, number of extensions, package level, and the web store for any purchases made, then automatically generates an invoice and emails it to one selected from an end user at the remote site, a dealer for referral to the end user, an end user directly on the dealer'"'"'s behalf and the Dealer only, for payment of services rendered to its customer base.

12. A communication process as claimed in claim 1, in which a user at the remote site is able to schedule any report from the web browser customer interface and the report may be a chargeable or not chargeable item, in which the user at the remote site setting the automatic scheduled report informs a report engine, an invoice engine and a Customer Relationship Module (CRM) and actions are executed appropriately.

13. A telephony system to which is applied a communication process as claimed in claim 1.

14. A method of installation of apparatus for integrated and automated delivery of low cost web based Application Service Provider (ASP) telephone management services, as an outsourced solution provided via the internet, which comprises the steps of installing in a client secure environment, a data store, data links from the store connected to a telephone system, means which ports the data via electronic means, installing a management services secure environment mail server, or data collection environment call processor, data centre and web server on a web site, the mail server adapted to collect, forwards it to the call processor, which processes the data, loads the processed data as valuable information onto the data base, which via the web server makes it available to the client, distributor or dealer.

15. A method of installation of apparatus for integrated and automated delivery of low cost web based telephone management services as claimed in claim 14, in which the data store includes a data concentrator and the concentrated data is encrypted and transmitted.

16. Apparatus for integrated and automated delivery of low cost web based telephone management services, as an outsourced solution provided via the internet, which comprises in a client environment one or more computers or intelligent devices connected to a telephone system, data acquisition links from the computer(s) to a data store which encrypts the data and sends it, by email or other electronic means to one selected from a web site in the internet, a management services secure environment mail server and data collection server, that collects the data, forwards it to a call processor, which processes the data, loads the processed data as valuable information onto a data base, which via a web serve makes it available to one selected from the client, the distributor and the dealer.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which the client environment is secure environment and the data is concentrated in the data store.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, which includes a cable installation kit having one or more selected from an envelope containing an activation pin, a pre-configured adapter for a selected private branch exchange, a pre-configured adaptor for a selected data collection means and a pre-configured cable to connect the adapters in a plug and play manner.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, which includes means to collect call records from a private automatic branch exchange selected from one of a serial port, IP data port and a file.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, which also provides dealer assistance by means of analysis tools which are exclusively available to a dealer which empowers the dealer to optimize the service provided by the telephone system and services at the mote premises, providing the dealer access through the tools to information about the usage made by the end user, showing shortcomings and optimization opportunities as well as economizing possibilities.