Method and apparatus for initiating telephone calls using a data network

• US 6,192,123 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1997
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Remote Concepts LLC
• Original Assignee: National Tech Team Inc.
• Inventors: Krebs, Christopher C., Grunsted, David P., Dohrmann, Kevin, Kemp, Daniel L., Botkin, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/833,225
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.17, 379/127, 379/142, 379/201, 379/245, 379/251, 379/350, 379/352, 379/355
• US Class Current: 379/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• 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 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• 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 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention a process for initiating a telephone call, comprises the steps, performed by a processor, of: receiving a network request identifying a telephone number and an account number; retrieving from the database a telephone number associated with the account number; and signaling a telephone switch to place a call connecting instruments corresponding to the telephone number from the request and the telephone number retrieved from the database.

Claims

1. A method for initiating telephone calls on a voice network in response to requests from a data network comprising the steps, performed by a processor, of:

receiving a data network request to initiate a telephone call, including a user telephone number;

identifying a stored telephone number corresponding to the request;

signaling a switch to make a call on the voice network to an instrument identified by the stored telephone number;

monitoring a status of the call; and

providing a user with an indication of a change in the status of the call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling step includes the substep of:

connecting an instrument identified by the user telephone number to the call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes the substeps of:

providing a web page for user input and request selection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step includes the substep of:

accessing a stored database in accordance with the data network request.

5. A system for initiating telephone calls on a voice network in response to requests from a data network comprising:

an input component configured to receive a data network request to initiate a telephone call, including a user telephone number;

a processing component configured to identify a stored telephone number corresponding to the request;

a signaling component configured to signal a switch to make a call on the voice network to an instrument identified by the stored telephone number;

a monitoring component configured to monitor a status of the call; and

a status component configured to provide a user with an indication of a change in the status of the call.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the signaling component includes:

means configured to connect an instrument identified by the user telephone number to the call.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the input component includes:

means configured to provide a web page for user input and request selection.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the processing component includes:

an database accessing component configured to access a stored database in accordance with the data network request.