Telephone directory information system with call placement capability

• US 6,249,576 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Sassin, Michael, King, Neal J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/047,305
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.23, 379/201, 379/216, 379/242, 379/900, 379/93.17, 379/355, 379/356, 370/352, 370/401, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356
• US Class Current: 379/218.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A system and method for providing directory information with a call completion feature includes a data network server located on a data network for establishing a connection between a first communication device and a second communication device. The network server is configured to transmit a search command signal in response to a search command request and to transmit an establish-connection command signal in response to an establish-connection request, the establish-connection command signal being necessary to establish the connection between the first and second communication devices. A database is connected to the network server and is configured to transmit a first telephone number to the server in response to the search command signal. In a preferred embodiment, the establish-connection command signal is transmitted to a computer connected to the server, causing the computer to dial the first telephone number, thereby establishing the connection between the first and second communication devices. In another preferred embodiment, the establish-connection command signal is transmitted from the server to a telephone switch, causing the telephone switch to establish the connection between the first and second communication devices. In alternative embodiments, the system may be implemented over an internet protocol (IP) telephony connection or via any known network.

Claims

1. A telephone directory information system with call completion capability comprising:

a data network server located on a data network, said server being configured to cooperate in establishing a telephonic connection between a first communication device and a second communication device, said server having at least two modes of operation including a search mode and an establish-connection mode, said server being configured to transmit a search command signal in response to a search request received from a requesting source over said data network during said search mode, said server being configured to transmit an establish-connection command signal to said requesting source during said establish-connection mode in response to an establish-connection request received from said requesting source over said data network, said establish-connection command signal being specific to establishing said connection between said first communication device and said second communication device; and

memory connected to said server, said memory having stored telephone directory information including a first telephone number assigned to said first communication device, said memory being responsive to said search command signal transmitted from said server, said search command signal triggering transmission of data indicative of said first telephone number to said server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said server is connected to a computer via said data network, said computer being said requesting source, said connection being configured to relay said search request and said establish-connection request from said computer to said server, said connection further being configured to relay said establish-connection command signal from said server to said computer, said establish-connection command signal including instructions compatible with operation of said computer to dial said first telephone number to establish said telephonic connection between said first communication device and said second communication device, said first communication device being a first telephone remotely located from said computer, said second communication device being a second telephone connected to said computer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first telephone number stored in said memory comprises a network address assigned to said first communication device, said network address being included in said establish-connection command signal, said establish-connection command signal being transmitted to said second communication device, said second communication device being integrated with said requesting source and being an IP telephony-enabled computer, said IP telephony-enabled computer being configured to include said network address in voice information packets transmitted by said IP telephony-enabled computer subsequent to receipt of said network address from said server, said first communication device, said IP telephony-enabled computer, and said server all being connected to said data network.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said server is connected to a computer via said data network, said computer being said requesting source, said connection being configured to relay said search request and said establish-connection request from said computer to said server, and further wherein said establish-connection command signal transmitted from said server includes said first telephone number assigned to said first communication device and instructions directing said computer to establish said connection between said first communication device and said second communication device based upon said first telephone number, said first communication device being a first telephone remotely located from said computer and said second communication device being a second telephone connected to said computer.

5. A method for providing telephone directory information comprising the steps of:

receiving a data transmission from a computer via a data network, including receiving a search request for a first telephone number assigned to a first communication device;

accessing said telephone number from a generally accessed telephone directory database;

transmitting data related to said telephone number accessed from said database to said computer via said data network;

transmitting a command to said computer via said data network to establish a telephonic connection that includes said first communication device, said first communication device being remotely located from said computer, said command being specific to said telephone number; and

establishing said telephonic connection involving said first communication device as a response to said command to establish said connection, including utilizing said computer in initiating said telephonic connection.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of establishing said connection includes transmitting said telephone number to said computer connected to a second communication device together with instructions directing said computer to dial said telephone number to set up a telephone call from said second communication device to said first communication device.

7. A telephone directory information system with a call completion capability comprising:

a data network server connected to a data network, said server being responsive to a telephone number search request, receipt of said search request from a requesting source triggering transmission of a search command signal from said server, said server including a control program enabling said server to transmit an establish-connection command signal to establish a connection between a first communication device and a second communication device, said server being configured to transmit partial search results to said requesting source while disabling detection of telephone numbers at said requesting source;

a database having memory storing generally accessible telephone directory information, including a first telephone number assigned to said first communication device, said memory being responsive to said search command signal transmitted by said server, receipt of said search command signal triggering transfer of said first telephone number to said server; and

a network interface having an input connected to said server and an output connected to a telephone switch, said input being configured to receive said establish-connection command signal, said establish-connection command signal having a format incompatible for processing by said telephone switch, said output being configured to transmit a reformatted establish-connection command signal having a format compatible for processing by said telephone switch.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said establish-connection command signal transmitted by said server to said telephone switch includes an instruction to set up a connection between said first communication device and said server, said control program enabling said server to forward said call to said second communication device via said data network, said second communication device being said requesting source and being a computer enabled for IP telephony.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said establish-connection command signal transmitted by said server to said telephone switch includes an instruction to establish said telephonic connection between said first communication device and said second communication device, said second communication device being a second telephone.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said establish-connection command signal further includes an instruction directing said telephone switch to determine a line status of a line connected to said first communication device and to transmit a busy signal to said server if said line is busy, said control program enabling said server to relay said busy signal via said data network to said requesting source, said requesting source being a computer connected to said second communication device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said server is responsive to a monitor request signal transmitted by said computer in response to said busy signal, said monitor request signal triggering transmission of a monitor command signal from said server, said monitor command signal including an instruction directing said telephone switch to activate a ringer on said second telephone upon said line becoming available.