METHOD FOR INITIATING INTERNET TELEPHONE SERVICE FROM A WEB PAGE
First Claim
1. A method for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
- accessing the web page using a browser;
downloading a web page document associated with the web page;
parsing the web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number;
determining if the character string is a hypertext link;
if the character string is not a hypertext link, then;
modifying the character string in the web page document into a link to the internet telephone service,providing the web page document including the modified character string to the browser; and
displaying the web page on the browser including the modified character string, wherein the act of parsing the web page for detecting a character string indicative of a telephone number comprises;
determining if the character string includes alphanumeric characters matching one or more predetermined telephone number formats; and
if the character string matches a first one of the predetermined telephone number format, designating the character string as a telephone number; and
if the character string is a hypertext link, refraining from designating the character string as a telephone number even if the character string matches a first one of the predetermined telephone number format.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A direct telephone dialing scheme for initiating internet telephone service from a web page is provided. The scheme allows a caller, using an internet telephone service, to place telephone call to a telephone number appearing on any web page directly from that web page. In one embodiment, a caller navigates to a desired web page on the internet and the caller dials a telephone number on that web page directly to initiate a two-way audio communication with the destination telephone number using an internet telephone service. The direct telephone dialing scheme of the present invention improves the accessibility and ease of use of internet telephone services. Furthermore, the direct telephone dialing scheme can be used with video, data, and fax communications which are supported by the VoIP data communication standard.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
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accessing the web page using a browser; downloading a web page document associated with the web page; parsing the web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number; determining if the character string is a hypertext link; if the character string is not a hypertext link, then; modifying the character string in the web page document into a link to the internet telephone service, providing the web page document including the modified character string to the browser; and displaying the web page on the browser including the modified character string, wherein the act of parsing the web page for detecting a character string indicative of a telephone number comprises; determining if the character string includes alphanumeric characters matching one or more predetermined telephone number formats; and if the character string matches a first one of the predetermined telephone number format, designating the character string as a telephone number; and if the character string is a hypertext link, refraining from designating the character string as a telephone number even if the character string matches a first one of the predetermined telephone number format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
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a browser for use in downloading a web page document associated with the web page; and a processor for executing instructions that perform actions including; parsing the web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number; determining if the character string is a hypertext link; if the character string is not a hypertext link, then; modifying the character string in the web page document into a link to the internet telephone service; providing the web page document including the modified character string to the browser; and providing the web page for display on the browser including the modified character string, wherein the act of parsing the web page for detecting a character string indicative of a telephone number comprises; determining if the character string includes alphanumeric characters matching one or more predetermined telephone number formats; and if the character string matches a first one of the predetermined telephone number format, designating the character string as a telephone number; and if the character string is a hypertext link, refraining from modifying the character string. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A client device for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
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a browser that is used to download a web page document associated with the web page; and a processor that executes instructions that perform actions including; parsing the web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number; selectively performing the following actions, while avoiding writing over an existing hypertext link within the web page when the character string is determined to be a hypertext link; modifying the character string in the web page document into a link to the internet telephone service; providing the web page document including the modified character string to the browser; and providing the web page for display on the browser including the modified character string, wherein the act of parsing the web page for detecting a character string indicative of a telephone number by determining if the character string includes alphanumeric characters matching one or more predetermined telephone number formats, and if the character string matches a first one of the predetermined telephone number format, designating the character string as a telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification