Internet telephony callback system and method of operation

• US 6,169,795 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Edith H., Dunn, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/050,008
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 379/209, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/215, 370/352, 370/252, 370/431, 709/201, 709/227, 709/238
• US Class Current: 379/209.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks

Abstract

A system and method to implement callback for unanswered telephone calls in an Internet Telephony Callback system. A calling station and a called station are each connected to the system through a local and remote service provider, respectively, each provider including a voice gateway and callback server. A telephone call originated at the calling station by a calling party is processed by the local service provider and the local callback server generates a control message which accompanies the telephone call. The remote service provider processes and connects the telephone call if answered by the called party and sends a message to delete the control message from the local callback server. If the telephone call is unanswered the remote callback server stores the control message and waits for the called party to initiate a return call. When the return call is initiated, the remote callback server sends a message to the local callback server to extend the return call to the calling party. If the calling party is busy or unavailable, the roles of the local and remote callback servers are reversed. The remote (formerly the local) callback server stores the message and initiates a return reply message when the called (formerly the calling) party generates message.

Claims

1. In an Internet telephony callback system, an apparatus for implementing callback for unanswered telephone calls between system users or between system users and subscribers in a public switched telephone system, comprising:

a) a calling station and a called station;

b) a first Internet service provider in the system for processing telephone calls in analog form originated by a calling party at the calling station;

c) a first voice gateway in the system for transforming the analog telephone calls into digital signals definitive of the telephone calls;

d) a calling station callback server for generating a control message accompanying the digital signals, the control message including a unique call identifier and a calling party profile including user calling party name, internet identification and telephone number;

e) a second Internet service provider;

a second voice gateway and a called station callback server for processing the digital signals into analog form for a called party at the called station when the called party answers the telephone call or saving the control message in the called station callback server when the telephone call is unanswered by the called party; and

f) means for initiating a call return message to the calling station callback server for establishment of a return telephone call between the called party and the calling party in response to the saved control message in the called station callback server.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the calling station is a personal computer and the called station is a personal computer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the calling station is a Plain old Telephone Station and the called station is Plain Old Telephone Station.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the calling station is a Plain old Telephone Station and the called station is a personal computer or vice versa.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating a profile descriptive of an originating calling party for storage in the calling station callback server.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating a profile descriptive a called party for storage in the called station callback server.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating a message from the calling station callback server to the called station callback server to remove the control message when the call is answered by the called party.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating a profile descriptive a calling party for storage in the calling station callback server.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating callback control message to the calling station callback server when the called party desires to return a call to the calling party.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means providing the called party with options for responding to the call when the call is unanswered.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for updating an address in the system for the calling party when the call is unanswered.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for informing the calling party that an unanswered call has been queued in the called station callback server.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating a unique sequence number identifying a call from the calling party to the called party.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating a unique call identifier number for tracking an address in a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol used by the system.

15. In an Internet telephony callback system including a calling station and a called station, the calling and called station coupled to the system through a first service provider and a second service provider, respectively, the first service provider including a first voice gateway and a calling station callback server, the second service provider including a second voice gateway and a called station callback server, a method for implementing callback for an unanswered telephone call between a called party at the called station and a calling party at the calling station, comprising the steps of:

a) initiating a telephone call between the calling party and the called party through the system;

b) generating, storing and sending a control message in the calling station callback server from the calling station to the called station in conjunction with the telephone call;

c) selecting between establishing a telephone connection between the calling party to the called party when the telephone call is answered by the called party and sending a message to delete the control message in the calling station callback server or storing the control message in the called station callback server when the telephone call is unanswered by the called party; and

d) initiating a return call message to the calling party callback server for establishing a return call between the called party and the calling party in response to the stored message.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) generating a profile descriptive of an originating calling party for storage in the calling station callback server.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) generating a profile descriptive the called party for storage in the called station callback server.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) generating a message from the calling station to the called station callback server to remove the control message when the telephone call is answered by the called party.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) generating a profile descriptive the calling party for storage in the calling station callback server.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) generating callback control message to the calling station when the called party desires to return a call to the calling party.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) providing the called party with options for responding to the call when the call is unanswered.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) updating an address in the system for the calling party when the call is unanswered.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) informing the calling party that an unanswered call has been queued in a called party callback server.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) generating a unique sequence number identifying a call from the calling party to a called party.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

e) generating a unique call identifier number for tracking an address in a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol used by the system.

26. In an Internet telephony callback system, apparatus for implementing callback for unanswered telephone calls between system users or between system users and subscribers in a public switched telephone system, comprising:

a) a calling station and a called station;

b) a first service provider in the system for processing telephone calls in analog form originated by a calling party at the calling station;

c) a first voice gateway in the system for transforming the analog telephone calls into digital signals definitive of the telephone calls;

d) means for generating an unique call identifier number for tracking an address in a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol used by the system;

e) a calling station callback server for generating a control message accompanying the digital signals, the control message including a unique call identifier and a calling party profile;

f) a second service provider;

a second voice gateway and a called station callback server for processing the digital signals into analog form for a called party at the called station when the called party answers the telephone call or saving the control message in the called station callback server when the telephone call is unanswered by the called party;

g) means for generating a message from the calling station callback server to the called station callback server to remove the control message when the call is answered by the called party; and

h) means for initiating a call return message to the calling station callback server for establishment of a return telephone call between the called party and the calling party in response to the control message stored in the called station callback server.

27. In an Internet telephony callback system including a calling station and a called station, the calling and called station coupled to the system through a first service provider and a second provider, respectively, the first service provider including a first voice gateway and a calling station callback server, the second service provider including a second voice gateway and a called station callback server, a method for implementing callback for an unanswered telephone call between a called party and a calling party, comprising the steps of:

a) initiating a telephone call between the calling party and the called party through the system;

b) generating a unique call identifier number for tracking an address in a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol used by the system;

c) generating, storing and sending a control message in the calling station callback server from the calling station to the called station in conjunction with the telephone call;

d) selecting between establishing a telephone connection between the calling party and the called party when the telephone call is answered by the called party and sending a message to delete the control message in the calling station callback server or storing the control message in the called station callback server when the telephone call is unanswered by the called party;

e) generating a message from the calling station callback server to the called station callback server to remove the control message when the call is answered by the called party; and

f) initiating a return call message to the calling party callback server for establishing a return call between the called party and the calling party in response to the stored control message in the called station callback server.