Point-to-point-to-point calling

• US 6,424,707 B1
• Filed: 04/20/1998
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Ranjan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/062,764
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 379/199, 379/201, 379/200, 379/202, 379/209, 379/210, 379/265, 379/216, 379/355, 379/356, 379/157, 379/158, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/202.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.03, 379/207.11, 379/209.01, 379/211.01, 379/212.01, 379/216.01, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 379/355.01, 379/355.02, 379/355.03, 379/356.01, 379/900, 455/426
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13331 Abbreviated dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/58 : Arrangements providing connection between main exchange and sub-exchange or satellite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 : Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing a point-to-point-to-point telephone connection between a remote telephone and a desired called telephone. The method and apparatus use a two-line base telephone unit, e.g., a home or office telephone, as an intermediary point in the telephone call to reduce long distance rates and/or to utilize features and/or information stored in the base telephone unit when the user is away from the home or office. In a first embodiment, the remote telephone makes a local call to the base telephone unit and instructs the base telephone unit to establish a telephone call with, and interconnect the remote telephone to, a called third party. In a second embodiment, the remote telephone makes a quick call to the base telephone unit instructing the base telephone unit to establish and interconnect both a telephone call back to the remote telephone and a second telephone call to the desired called telephone. In a third embodiment, the instructions from the remote telephone to the base telephone unit are transmitted through an external communication link such as a paging system or the Internet.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a point-to-point-to-point telephone connection with a caller'"'"'s two-line telephone base unit, said method comprising:

receiving in said base unit a point-to-point-to-point telephone call request over at least one of a paging system and an Internet;

in response to said point-to-point-to-point request from said caller, establishing in said base unit a telephone connection with a desired called telephone on a second telephone line of said base unit; and

establishing in said base unit a communication path between a first telephone line and said second telephone line to establish said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection between a remote telephone and said called telephone with said two-line base telephone unit as an intermediary.

2. The method of establishing said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving in said base unit a personal identification number from said remote telephone; and

comparing in said base unit said received personal identification number to a pre-stored personal identification number, and performing said step of interconnecting if a match is determined between said received personal identification number and said pre-stored personal identification number.

3. The method of establishing said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection according to claim 1, further comprising:

in response to said request, establishing in said base unit a callback telephone connection with said remote telephone.

4. A method of establishing a point-to-point-to-point telephone connection through a caller'"'"'s base telephone, comprising:

establishing in said base telephone a telephone connection with said caller'"'"'s base telephone from a remote telephone having a different telephone number from that of said base telephone;

receiving in said base telephone a point-to-point-to-point telephone call request from said caller on said remote telephone;

terminating said telephone connection with said remote telephone;

re-establishing in said base telephone on a first telephone line of said base telephone a connection with said remote telephone;

establishing in said base telephone a telephone connection with a desired called telephone on a second telephone line of said base telephone; and

interconnecting in said base telephone said first telephone line with said second telephone line to establish said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection between said remote telephone and said called telephone.

5. The method of establishing said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection according to claim 4, further comprising:

receiving in said base telephone a personal identification number from said remote telephone; and

comparing in said base telephone said received personal identification number to a pre-stored personal identification number, and performing said step of interconnecting if a match is determined between said received personal identification number and said pre-stored personal identification number.

6. A method of establishing a point-to-point-to-point telephone connection with a caller'"'"'s two-line telephone base unit, said method comprising:

receiving in said base unit a point-to-point-to-point telephone call request over at least one of a paging system and an Internet;

establishing in said base unit a first telephone connection with said remote telephone on a first telephone line of said base unit;

establishing in said base unit a second telephone connection with a desired called telephone on a second telephone line of said base unit; and

establishing in said base unit a communication path between said first telephone line and said second telephone line to establish said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection between said remote telephone and said called telephone with said two-line telephone base unit as an intermediary.

7. Apparatus for establishing a point-to-point-to-point telephone connection with a caller'"'"'s two-line telephone base unit, comprising:

a first telephone line interface of said base unit;

a module in said base unit to receive a point-to-point-to-point telephone call request over at least one of a paging system and an Internet;

a second telephone line interface of said base unit;

an automatic dialer in said base unit adapted to automatically establish a telephone connection with a called telephone through said second telephone line interface, said called telephone being based on information contained in said call request; and

a switchable communication path between said first telephone line interface and said second telephone line interface.

8. The apparatus for establishing said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection according to claim 7, further comprising:

a module in said base unit adapted to receive a personal identification number from said remote telephone; and

a processor in said base unit adapted to compare said received personal identification number to a pre-stored personal identification number, said switchable communication path being established only if a match is determined between said received personal identification number and said pre-stored personal identification number.

9. The apparatus for establishing said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection according to claim 7, wherein:

said automatic dialer is further adapted to automatically call back said remote telephone based on said point-to-point-to-point telephone call request.

10. Apparatus for establishing a point-to-point-to-point telephone connection through a caller'"'"'s base telephone, comprising:

a first telephone line interface of said base telephone adapted to establish a telephone connection with a remote telephone having a different telephone number from that of said base unit;

a module in said base telephone adapted to receive a point-to-point-to-point telephone call request from said caller on said remote telephone, said module terminating said telephone connection with said remote telephone after receiving said point-to-point-to-point telephone call request;

an automatic dialer in said base telephone adapted to re-establish a connection with said remote telephone on said first telephone line interface;

a second telephone line interface of said base telephone adapted to establish a telephone connection with a desired called telephone on a second telephone line; and

a communication path in said base telephone between said first telephone line interface and said second telephone line interface to establish said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection.

11. The apparatus for establishing said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection according to claim 10, further comprising:

a module in said base telephone adapted to receive an authorizing code from said remote telephone; and

a processor in said base telephone adapted to compare said received personal identification number to a pre-stored personal identification number, said communication path being established only if a match is determined between said received personal identification number and said pre-stored personal identification number.

12. Apparatus for establishing a point-to-point-to-point telephone connection with a caller'"'"'s two-line telephone base unit, comprising:

means in said base unit for establishing a first telephone connection with said remote telephone on a first telephone line of said base unit;

means in said base unit for receiving a point-to-point-to-point telephone call request over at least one of a paging system and an Internet;

means in said base unit for establishing a second telephone connection with a desired called telephone on a second telephone line of said base unit; and

means in said base unit for establishing a communication path between said first telephone line and said second telephone line to establish said point-to-point-to-point telephone connection between said remote telephone and said called telephone with said two-line telephone unit as an intermediary.