Telephone functions for computers

• US 20100316203A1
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Stanford, Ronald Scott Langham
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Stanford, Ronald Scott Langham
• Inventors: Stanford, Michael D., Langham, Ronald Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,270,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/58 Arrangements for transferring received calls from one subscriber to another; Arrangements affording interim conversations between either the calling or the called party and a third party substation line holding circuits H04M1/80

Abstract

An enhanced telephone emulation computer system including a minidialer program for controlling a computer to add telephony functions which can be invoked from whatever active program is currently controlling the computer. The minidialer program controls the computer to alter its processing depending upon the context existing at the time when a mouse click or hot key combination event is detected indicating the user wishes to invoke a telephony function. The minidialer program determines whether the user has highlighted any text or numbers in the active window of the application currently controlling the computer and whether the highlighted material is a name or a phone number, and if a name, whether the name is stored with a phone number in a phone book or file maintained on the computer. Processing and telephony menu options displayed as available also depend upon whether the user is or is not on the phone at the time the mouse click or hot key event occurs. In some embodiments, if the user has highlighted a URL, a browser will be launched and the web page corresponding to the URL will be opened.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method comprising:

highlighting a telephone number displayed in a window of an application program that is active on a system, the application program lacking telephony functions;

selecting the highlighted telephone number;

upon detecting the selection of the highlighted telephone number, displaying at least one telephony function to be performed using the highlighted telephone number; and

upon selection of the telephony function, performing the telephony function by another application program having telephony functions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the telephony function is dial.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the another application program dials the telephone number.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein displaying at least one telephony function to be performed includes displaying an option to dial the telephone number.

23. An article comprising a storage having instructions that if executed cause a computer to:

highlight a telephone number displayed in a window of an application program that is active on a system, the application program lacking telephony functions;

select the highlighted telephone number;

upon detecting the selection of the highlighted telephone number, display at least one telephony function to be performed using the highlighted telephone number; and

upon selection of the telephony function, perform the telephony function by another application program having telephony functions.

24. The article of claim 23, wherein the telephony function is dial.

25. The article of claim 24, wherein the another application program dials the telephone number.

26. The article of claim 23, wherein displaying at least one telephony function to be performed includes displaying an option to dial the telephone number.

27. A system comprising:

a display; and

logic coupled to the display, the logic to;

highlight a telephone number displayed in a window of an application program that is active on a system, the application program lacking telephony functions;

select the highlighted telephone number;

upon detecting the selection of the highlighted telephone number, display at least one telephony function to be performed using the highlighted telephone number; and

upon selection of the telephony function, selecting another application program having telephony functions to perform the telephony function.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the telephony function is dial.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the another application program dials the telephone number.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein display at least one telephony function to be performed includes displaying an option to dial the telephone number.