Access to extended telephone services via the internet

• US 6,028,917 A
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Creamer, Thomas Edward, Mandalia, Baiju Dhirajlal, Lozinski, Zygmunt Anthony Boleslaw Gerard, Mansey, Pradeep Parsram
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMAKRISHNAIAH, MELUR
• Application Number:
  US08/835,147
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 379/196, 379/197, 379/198, 379/199, 379/100.01, 379/200, 379/201, 379/207, 379/211, 379/212, 379/229, 379/230, 455/428
• US Class Current: 379/100.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

The present invention affords a predefined class of authorized users of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) access to extended telephone services through public communication networks external to the PSTN, the latter networks including the web and Internet. Authorized users in the predefined class can receive the extended services at residences, offices, and locations remote from both residences and offices. Authorized users can activate respective extended services through the external networks, and can do so without having to communicate with telephone company representatives. Resource management intelligence of the PSTN is adapted to link to the external networks for communicating with and delivering extended telephone services to the authorized users. Extended telephone services include variations of presently standard telephone services such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding facsimile image transmittal, voice mail, etc. Presently contemplated adaptations of PSTN intelligence include adaptations allowing for the interception of analog telephone signals and the redirection of the intercepted signals in digital form through external data communication networks such as the web. A web user who is also in the class of authorized PSTN users can activate and receive delivery of extended telephone services at a computer linked to the PSTN intelligence through the web, regardless of how and where the connection to the web is made. Thus, the web user can receive the extended services through a telephone line associated with a base telephone account (e.g. a line in a respective residence or office), as well as through a line (telephone or other) separate from and/or remote from the associated telephone line.

Claims

1. A system for adapting resource management intelligence of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to deliver extended telephone services applicable to a predetermined telephone line in said PSTN, in response to requests originated by a subscriber to said services who is also an authorized user of said predetermined line;

wherein said resource management intelligence conforms to AIN (Advanced Intelligent Network) architecture specifications of said PSTN and said extended telephone services include ringing and redirection services applicable to telephone calls directed to said predetermined line, and applied under direct control of said subscriber as each call is received and while said subscriber linked to said management intelligence through a connection path that does not contain said predetermined line;

said connection path through external network external to said PSTN;

said ringing services being applicable to and capable of distinguishing between both voice and facsimile type telephone calls directed to said predetermined line;

said system comprising;

a server administered by said resource management intelligence of said PSTN, said server operating in conformance with real time call management requirements of said AIN architecture while connecting said resource management intelligence to said authorized subscriber and said external network;

said external network including the Internet and being subject to access by equipment other than conventional telephones, said other equipment including digital computers;

said server being adapted to communicate with said authorized subscriber through said external network, and including means for verifying the authorization of said subscriber to use extended telephone services applicable to said predetermined line which involve transferral of information to said subscriber through said external network; and

an applicational adapter, operating as a data processing component of said AIN resource management intelligence and cooperating with said server, upon verification of said subscriber'"'"'s authorization to use said extended services relative to said predetermined line, to instantly intercept telephone calls directed to said predetermined line before said calls can be applied to said line, and instantly communicate information about each said call to said subscriber.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, for adapting said resource management intelligence of the PSTN to provide said extended telephone services in real time coordination with commands and requests issued by said authorized subscriber while said Predetermined line is in an idle state at the time such commands and requests are being issued;

wherein said extended services include enabling said authorized subscriber, while a call is directed to said idle line, to instantly and selectively control application of ringing tones to said idle line and forwarding of said directed call to a destination other than said idle line.

3. An adapting system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said extended telephone services include an extended fax transfer service performed in accordance with said AIN specifications, said extended fax transfer service being applied by said resource management intelligence in direct response to a signal originated by said authorized subscriber, and serving to intercept facsimile telephone calls directed to said predetermined line and to reroute respective intercepted calls via said external network to said authorized subscriber.

4. An adapting system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said external network includes the Internet, and facsimile signals communicated via said extended fax transfer service are deliverable in conformance with said AIN specifications to a computer connected to said Internet.

5. An adapting system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said facsimile signals consist of digital signals representing a facsimile image in an HTML format.

6. An adapting system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said predetermined telephone line is attached directly to standard telephone devices, and wherein said extended telephone services include application of a number of ringing signals to said predetermined line while a call is being directed to said line and said line is in said idle state;

and wherein said predetermined number of ringing signals is instantly specifiable by said subscriber while said directed call is being initially processed by the PSTN.

7. An adapting system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said extended telephone services include an extended call transfer service performed in accordance with said AIN specifications, said extended call transfer service being applied by said resource management intelligence in direct response to a signal originated by said authorized subscriber, while said predetermined line is in said idle state, and serving to intercept a telephone call directed to said predetermined telephone line and to reroute the intercepted call to said authorized subscriber via said external network.

8. An adapting system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said external network includes the Internet;

and wherein said extended call transfer service is useful, while operating in accordance with said AIN specifications, to intercept analog voice telephone calls directed to said predetermined line, while said line is in said idle state, and, in response to signals originated by said authorized subscriber, to redirect respective voice telephone calls in digital form to said authorized subscriber.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said server and applicational adapter operate in conformance with real-time requirements of said AIN specifications to manage delivery of said extended services to said authorized subscriber, through circuits of said PSTN, said external network and equipment physically connected to said predetermined telephone line in response to requests and commands issued by said subscriber while a call directed to said predetermined line is being initially processed within the PSTN.

10. An adapting system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said predetermined telephone line is directly connected to a building structure normally occupied and by said authorized subscriber;

and wherein said server and applicational adapter are operated within said PSTN to control delivery of said extended services, in response to commands and requests issued by equipment operated by said authorized subscriber, through said external network and said PSTN, to equipment directly attached to said predetermined line.