OUTWARD CALLING METHOD FOR PUBLIC TELEPHONE NETWORKS

• US 20140211930A1
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: nVideon, Inc.
• Original Assignee: nVideon, Inc.
• Inventors: HODGES, CHRISTOPHER J.M., HODGES, SUSAN R.W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,473,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/216.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424

Abstract

A call management device is connected between a standard push button telephone, rotary dial telephone, or other communication device and a public telephone network, and it operates to place (dial) calls on the public telephone network. The call management device maintains a telephone book that can be used to look up a phone number by name. A caller, using their telephone'"'"'s keypad or rotary dial, can either dial a phone number in the normal fashion or they can dial-by-name from the telephone book.

Claims

1. A method for placing a telephone call, comprising:

compiling and storing a plurality of contact information files and a set of one or more dialing rules in a non-volatile memory associated with a communication device operative to place the telephone call on a public telephone network, each one of the plurality of the contact information files comprising name information and at least one phone numbers;

receiving a dialing string comprised of a plurality of dialed keys entered into the communication device until the dialing string forms a complete phone number or includes a delimiter;

if the dialing string forms a complete phone number, processing the dialing string as a dial-by-number entry by placing the telephone call on the public telephone network using the dialing string; and

if the dialing string includes a delimiter, processing the dialing string as a dial-by-name entry by;

identifying a corresponding contact information file having contact information corresponding to the dialing string, and

placing the telephone call on the public telephone network using the phone number stored as part of the corresponding contact information file.

2. The method of claim 1, when the dialing string includes a delimiter, and wherein the delimiter is a first delimiter, further comprising:

receiving a first name abbreviation in the dialing string up to the first delimiter;

receiving a second name abbreviation in the dialing string up to a second delimiter;

identifying the corresponding contact information file by comparing the first name abbreviation to a first name stored as part of the corresponding contact information file, and comparing the second name abbreviation to a second name stored as part of the corresponding contact information file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delimiter is associated with the ‘

*’

key or the ‘

#’

key on a 12 button telephone keypad of the communication device or flashing of a switch hook.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial-by-number entry consists of dialed digits that correspond to a complete phone number as described in a set of dialing rules stored in the non-volatile memory.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial-by-number entry consists of eleven dialed digits and a first dialed digit that is a one, or ten dialed digits and a first dialed digit that is not a one.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the delimiter is a first delimiter, and the dial-by-name entry comprises first name information followed by the first delimiter and second name information followed by a second delimiter.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding contact information file further comprises a plurality of phone numbers, each associated with a telephone number type, and the dial-by-name entry comprises an indicator of a selected telephone number type.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the delimiter is a first delimiter, and the dial-by-name entry comprises first name information followed by the first delimiter, second name information followed by a second delimiter, and the indicator of the selected telephone number type.

4. (canceled)

5. A method for placing a telephone call, comprising:

compiling and storing a plurality of contact information files and a set of one or more dialing rules in a non-volatile memory associated with a communication device operative to place the telephone call on a public telephone network, each one of the plurality of the contact information files comprising name information and at least one phone number;

receiving a dialing string comprised of a plurality of dialed keys entered into the communication device until the dialing string forms a complete phone number or includes a delimiter;

if the dialing string forms a complete phone number, processing the dialing string as a dial-by-number entry by placing the telephone call on the public telephone network using the dialing string; and

if the dialing string includes a delimiter, processing the dialing string as a dial-by-name entry by;

identifying a plurality of contact information files having contact information corresponding to the dialing string,

announcing one or more names stored as parts of the identified contact information files along with one or more selection prompts;

receiving an indication of a selected contact information file, and

placing the telephone call on the public telephone network using the phone number stored as part of the selected contact information file.

6. The method in claim 5, wherein the indication of the selected contact information file comprises a user entry received through a keypad or microphone of the communication device.

8. The method of claim 5, when the dialing string includes a delimiter, and wherein the delimiter is a first delimiter, further comprising:

receiving a first name abbreviation in the dialing string up to the first delimiter;

receiving a second name abbreviation in the dialing string up to a second delimiter;

identifying a corresponding contact information file by comparing the first name abbreviation to a first name stored as part of the corresponding contact information file, and comparing the second name abbreviation to a second name stored as part of the corresponding contact information file.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the delimiter is associated with the ‘

*’

key or the ‘

#’

key on a 12 button telephone keypad of the communication device or flashing of a switch hook.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the dial-by-number entry consists of dialed digits that correspond to a complete phone number as described in a set of dialing rules stored in the non-volatile memory.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the dial-by-number entry consists of eleven dialed digits and a first dialed digit that is a one, or ten dialed digits and a first dialed digit that is not a one.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein the delimiter is a first delimiter, and the dial-by-name entry comprises first name information followed by the first delimiter and second name information followed by a second delimiter.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein the selected contact information file further comprises a plurality of phone numbers, each associated with a telephone number type, and the dial-by-name entry comprises an indicator of a selected telephone number type.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the delimiter is a first delimiter, and the dial-by-name entry comprises first name information followed by the first delimiter, second name information followed by a second delimiter, and the indicator of the selected telephone number type.

7. (canceled)