Method and apparatus permitting notification and control of blocked incoming calls over a data network
First Claim
1. In a public switched telephone network providing telephone link blocked call redirection, a method permitting notification and control of redirected calls over a data communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
- using a telephone link to connect a computer to a data communications service (DCS) via said data communications network;
receiving a unique data network address from said DCS;
establishing a data path over said data network to a subscriber proxy; and
using said data path to provide said proxy with a message containing a dial number and said unique data network address.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing automatic redirection of an incoming voice telephone call from a caller to a subscriber proxy when an attempt by the caller to connect to a telephone link of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) is blocked due to the telephone link being occupied by a subscriber using the telephone link to establish communications between the subscriber'"'"'s personal computer and a computer network. The subscriber proxy is connected to both the PSTN and the computer network, and produces audio interaction with the caller. The subscriber proxy also notifies the subscriber of the incoming call via the subscriber'"'"'s computer. The subscriber'"'"'s computer can optionally be used by the subscriber to control and interact with the incoming call by communicating with the computer proxy while the subscriber continues to occupy the telephone link.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. In a public switched telephone network providing telephone link blocked call redirection, a method permitting notification and control of redirected calls over a data communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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using a telephone link to connect a computer to a data communications service (DCS) via said data communications network; receiving a unique data network address from said DCS; establishing a data path over said data network to a subscriber proxy; and using said data path to provide said proxy with a message containing a dial number and said unique data network address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a public switched telephone network (PSTN) providing telephone link blocked call redirection, a method permitting notification and control of redirected calls over a data communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a message over said data communications network containing a subscriber dial number and a unique data network address; storing said subscriber dial number and said unique data network address; receiving a telephone call forwarded by the PSTN; obtaining dialed number information from the PSTN; comparing the dialed number information to stored subscriber dial number information; and for matching number information, providing a call waiting message to said data network addressed to said unique data network address corresponding to the dialed number information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. In a public switched telephone network (PSTN) providing telephone link blocked call redirection, a method permitting notification and control of redirected calls over a data communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating blocked call forwarding for a subscriber telephone link having a subscriber dial number associated therewith; providing a second dial number corresponding to a subscriber proxy for redirection of blocked calls to said subscriber telephone link; using said telephone link to connect a computer to a data communications service (DCS) via said data communications network; receiving a unique data network address from said DCS; and establishing a data path over said data network to said subscriber proxy and providing said proxy with said subscriber dial number and said unique data network address. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. Apparatus including computer readable media having structure storing computer executable instructions comprising:
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means for using a telephone link to connect a computer to a data communications service (DCS) via data communications network; means for receiving a unique data network address from said DCS; means for establishing a data path over said data network to a subscriber proxy; and means for using said data path to provide said proxy with a message containing a dial number and said unique data network address. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. Apparatus including computer readable media having structure storing computer executable instructions comprising:
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means for receiving a message over a data network containing a subscriber dial number and a unique data network address; means for storing said subscriber dial number and said unique data network address; means for receiving a telephone call forwarded by a public switched telephone network (PSTN); means for obtaining dialed number information from the PSTN; means for comparing the dialed number information to stored subscriber dial number information; and means for, for matching number information, providing a call waiting message to said data network addressed to said unique data network address corresponding to the dialed number information. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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49. Apparatus including computer readable media having structure storing computer executable instructions comprising:
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means for activating blocked call forwarding for a subscriber telephone link having a subscriber dial number associated therewith; means for providing a second dial number corresponding to a subscriber proxy for redirection of blocked calls to said subscriber telephone link; means for using said telephone link to connect a computer to a data communications service (DCS) via a data communications network; means for receiving a unique data network address from said DCS; and means for establishing a data path over said data network to said subscriber proxy and providing said proxy with said subscriber dial number and said unique data network address. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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Specification