Method for simplified telephone dialing
First Claim
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1. A communications method, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first call over a first communication channel, from a calling party from a first terminal;
receiving data over a second communication channel, from the calling party from a portable communication device different than said first terminal, said data including a called party identifier selected by the called party from a called party identifier directory; and
connecting the calling party with a called party by establishing a second call received at a second terminal and by linking the first terminal with the second terminal, wherein said second call is established based on said data received over the second communication channel.
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Abstract
An easy to use (easy-reach) dialing system that connects a calling party with a called party based on data received over a first communication channel and a second communication channel. A calling party calls an easy-reach device and sends data to the easy-reach device over a second communication channel. The easy-reach device calls the called party based on data received over the second communication channel and connects the calling party with the called party.
27 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A communications method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first call over a first communication channel, from a calling party from a first terminal;
receiving data over a second communication channel, from the calling party from a portable communication device different than said first terminal, said data including a called party identifier selected by the called party from a called party identifier directory; and
connecting the calling party with a called party by establishing a second call received at a second terminal and by linking the first terminal with the second terminal, wherein said second call is established based on said data received over the second communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
waiting to receive the data from the second communication channel;
after receiving the data, determining the called party telephone number from the data; and
connecting the called party based on the called party telephone number determined from the data.
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3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is received before the call, the connecting step comprises:
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storing the data in a database;
waiting to receive the call;
retrieving the data from the database after receiving the call;
calling the called party based on the data retrieved from the database; and
connecting the called party with the calling party.
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4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the calling party based on information received over the first communication channel.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein the called party identifier comprises a called party telephone number.
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6. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving information from a database entry associated with the calling party after receiving the call.
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7. The method of claim 6, further comprising identifying the called party based on the data received from the calling party over the second communication channel.
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8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
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retrieving information from a database entry associated with the calling party after receiving the call; and
identifying the called party based on the retrieved information.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein the call is received over the first communication channel before the data is received over the second communication channel.
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10. The method of claim 1, wherein the call is received over the first communication channel after the data is received over the second communication channel.
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11. The method of claim 1, wherein the data are transmitted over the second communication channel by a portable personal communication device that transmits the data in a radio wave transmission through air.
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12. The method of claim 1, wherein a telephone network comprises the first communication channel.
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13. The method of claim 1, wherein a paging network comprises the second communication channel.
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14. The method of claim 1, wherein a telephone network comprises the first communication channel and a paging network comprises the second communication channel.
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15. A method for making a telephone call, comprising:
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establishing a first telephone call connection between a first telephone terminal and an easy-reach device over a first communication channel;
transmitting data from a portable communications device to the easy-reach device over a second communication channel, the data including a selection of a called arty identifier from a called party identifier directory;
establishing a second telephone call connection between the easy-reach device and a second telephone terminal based on the data received over the second communication channel; and
linking the first terminal with the second terminal by bridging the first and second telephone call connections. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
obtaining data identifying a calling party from the first telephone call connection; and
storing the data identifying the calling party in a database.
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19. The method for making a telephone call of claim 15, wherein a paging network comprises the second communication channel.
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20. A communications method, comprising:
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receiving a call from a first terminal over a first communication channel;
receiving data from a portable communications device over a second communication channel, the data including a selection of a called party identifier from a called party identifier directory;
using the data received over the second communication channel to make a second telephone call to a second telephone terminal; and
linking the first terminal with the second terminal by bridging the first and second telephone calls. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
obtaining data identifying a calling party from the first telephone call; and
storing the data identifying the calling party in a database.
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24. The communications method of claim 20, wherein a telephone network comprises the first communication channel.
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25. The communications method of claim 20, wherein a paging network comprises the second communication channel.
Specification