Telephone status notification system
First Claim
1. A telephone line status notification system comprising:
- at least one telephone line having a status;
a communications network;
at least one communications terminal which is connectable to said communications network and which is employable by a seeking user to communicate via said communications network a status request concerning said status of said at least one telephone line belonging to at least one sought user for which status is required, wherein the request contains the telephone numbers of the sought users for which status is required;
apparatus for processing said status request wherein said apparatus for processing is connectable to said communications network for receiving said status request from said seeking user therethrough and communicating said request; and
apparatus for acquiring said status of said at least one telephone line, wherein said apparatus for acquiring is in communication with said apparatus for processing for receiving said status request therefrom, and wherein said apparatus for acquiring is connectable to said communications network for communicating said status via said communications network.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telephone line status notification system including at least one telephone line having a status, a communications network, at least one communications terminal which is connectable to the communications network and which is employable by a seeking user to communicate via the communications network a status request concerning the status of the at least one telephone line, apparatus for processing the status request the apparatus for processing is connectable to the communications network for receiving the status request from the seeking user therethrough and communicating the request, and apparatus for acquiring the status of the at least one telephone line, the apparatus for acquiring is in communication with the apparatus for processing for receiving the status request therefrom, and the apparatus for acquiring is connectable to the communications network for communicating the status via the communications network.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A telephone line status notification system comprising:
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at least one telephone line having a status;
a communications network;
at least one communications terminal which is connectable to said communications network and which is employable by a seeking user to communicate via said communications network a status request concerning said status of said at least one telephone line belonging to at least one sought user for which status is required, wherein the request contains the telephone numbers of the sought users for which status is required;
apparatus for processing said status request wherein said apparatus for processing is connectable to said communications network for receiving said status request from said seeking user therethrough and communicating said request; and
apparatus for acquiring said status of said at least one telephone line, wherein said apparatus for acquiring is in communication with said apparatus for processing for receiving said status request therefrom, and wherein said apparatus for acquiring is connectable to said communications network for communicating said status via said communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for providing telephone line status, the method comprising:
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providing at least one telephone line having a status;
providing a communications network;
communicating via said communications network a status request from a seeking user, said status request concerning said status of said at least one telephone line belonging to at least one sought user for which status is required wherein the request contains the telephone numbers of the sought users for which status is required;
acquiring said status of said at least one telephone line; and
communicating said status via said communications network, thereby providing said telephone line status. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
receiving a call-back request from said seeking user at a sought user; and
initiating a call-back to said seeking user from said sought user via said telephone fine.
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35. A method according to claim 30 and further comprising the steps of:
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receiving a conferencing request from said seeking user; and
initiating a conference call between said seeking user and at least one sought user.
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36. A method according to claim 34 wherein said initiating step comprises initiating once either of said seeking user'"'"'s telephone line status and said sought user'"'"'s telephone line status has been determined.
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37. A method according to any of claim 30 wherein said acquiring step comprises checking said status request from said seeking user for an authorization.
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38. A method according to any of claim 30 wherein said communicating said status step comprises communicating said status to either of said seeking user and a recipient indicated in said status request.
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39. A telephone line status notification system for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the system comprising:
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client software operable by a seeking user for receiving a list of telephone numbers provided by the user;
a request server operative to receive said list of telephone numbers from said client software together with a request to determine the status thereof; and
a telephone status acquirer coupled to said telephone network and containing information regarding status of said multiplicity of telephone lines, said request server being operative to;
transmit said list of telephone numbers and said request to determine the status thereof to said telephone status acquirer;
receive from said telephone status acquirer, information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list; and
transmit said information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list to said client software, all without calling said telephone numbers in said list.
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40. A telephone line status notification method for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the method comprising:
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providing a list of telephone numbers by a seeking user to client software;
transmitting by said client software said list of telephone numbers together with a request to determine the status thereof to a telephone status acquirer;
receiving from said telephone status acquirer, information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list; and
transmitting said information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list to said client software, all without calling said telephone numbers in said list.
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41. A telephone line status notification system for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the system comprising:
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client software resident in a cellular telephone and being operable by a seeking user for receiving a list of telephone numbers provided by the user;
a telephone status acquirer coupled to said telephone network, said telephone status acquirer including information regarding status of said multiplicity of telephone lines;
said client software and said telephone status acquirer being operative to communicate and to;
transmit said list of telephone numbers and a request for the status thereof to said telephone status acquirer;
receive from said telephone status acquirer, information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list; and
transmit said information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list to said client software, all without calling said telephone numbers in said list.
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42. A telephone line status notification method for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the method comprising:
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providing a list of telephone numbers by a seeking user to client software resident in a cellular telephone;
transmitting by said client software said list of telephone numbers together with a request to determine the status thereof to a telephone status acquirer;
receiving from said telephone status acquirer, information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list;
transmitting said information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list to said client software, all without calling said telephone numbers in said list; and
presenting said status information to a user by means of said cellular telephone.
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43. A telephone line status notification system for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the system comprising:
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client software for receiving a list of telephone numbers from a user;
a request server receiving said list of telephone numbers from said client software together with a request to determine the status of said telephone numbers;
a telephone status acquirer communicatively coupled to said telephone network for providing status information regarding said multiplicity of telephone lines; and
wherein status of telephone numbers in the list is determined without calling said telephone numbers.
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44. A telephone line status notification method for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the method comprising:
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receiving a list of telephone numbers from a user;
receiving said list of telephone numbers from said client software together with a request to determine the status of said telephone numbers;
communicatively coupling a telephone status acquirer to said telephone network for providing status information regarding said multiplicity of telephone lines; and
determining status of telephone numbers in the list without calling said telephone numbers.
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45. A telephone line status notification system for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a list of telephone numbers from a user;
means for receiving said list of telephone numbers from said client software together with a request to determine the status of said telephone numbers;
means for communicatively coupling a telephone status acquirer to said telephone network for providing status information regarding said multiplicity of telephone lines; and
means for determining status of telephone numbers in the list without calling said telephone numbers.
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Specification