Computer telephone system

• US 6,424,711 B1
• Filed: 01/20/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspect Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Davox Corporation (Aspect Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Young, Gary C., Black, William B., Mason, Larry P., Stoldt, Mark R., Lloyd, Lora M., Fissel, James E., Young, Garrett C., Withers, Robert W., Bayless, Jeanne A., Mathis, Amy L., Steenbergen, James E., Brannick, Gary L., Lee, Gene W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/234,399
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.03, 379/216.01, 379/218.01, 379/355.01, 379/355.02, 379/355.03, 379/355.04, 379/355.09, 379/355.1
• US Class Current: 379/355.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs

Abstract

A telecommunications system (10) is provided that provides for telephone functions to be accessed through client computer system (14). A server computer system (16) provides telephony services, database services and access to E-mail, voice mail, video conferencing and facsimile systems. A graphical user interface 116 is presented to a user to allow the user to perform a large number of functions and to access databases of information associated with calling and called parties.

Claims

1. A method for automatically placing a telephone call to a first party from a user, comprising:

receiving the input of a first character string from the user, the first string representing the first party;

locating the first string in a database, the first string associated with a plurality of telephone numbers including a primary telephone number previously designated by the user; and

automatically dialing the primary telephone number in response to the locating step.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

suppressing automatic dialing where the user has input a primary number override and prompting the user to select a secondary number.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first string comprises a substring of the first party'"'"'s name.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first string comprises the first party'"'"'s nickname.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first string comprises the first party'"'"'s name.