Internet controlled telephone system
DCFirst Claim
1. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber which comprises, in combination, the steps of:
- connecting a web browser accessible to said subscriber to the Internet, connecting a web server to the Internet at a location remote from said web browser, employing said web browser to submit preference data to said web server via the Internet, said preference data defining the manner in which said subscriber desires to have telephone calls processed, storing said preference data as submitted in a database, employing call processing apparatus coupled to said database and to the public switched telephone network for receiving incoming telephone calls directed to said subscriber from said public switched telephone network, employing said call processing apparatus to forward said incoming telephone calls to one or more telephone numbers designated by said preference data via said public switched telephone network, and selectively recording voice mail messages from persons originating said incoming telephone calls in a manner specified by said preference data.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Internet controlled telephony system employing a host services processor connected to a subscriber via the Internet and further connected to the public switched telephone system (PSTN). The subscriber employs a web interface to populate a database with preference data which is used by the host services processor to handle incoming calls and establish outgoing telephone connections in accordance with the preference data provided by the subscriber. Incoming calls to a telephone number assigned to the subscriber may be automatically forwarded to any telephone number specified by the preference data. The subscriber may also use the web interface to specify whether call waiting is to be activated, to screen or reroute calls from designated numbers, for recording voice mail messages in designated voice mailboxes, for selectively playing back voice mail messages via the web interface or for forwarding voice mail as an email attachment, for handling incoming fax transmissions using character recognition and email attachment functions, and for automatically paging the subscriber when incoming voice mail, fax or email messages are received, all in accordance with the preference data supplied by the subscriber using the web interface. Outgoing connections and conference calls may be initiated using the web interface, and the subscriber may block the operation of caller identification functions. Call progress information may be visually displayed to the subscriber during calls by transmitting web pages from the host services computer to the subscriber'"'"'s web browser.
589 Citations
13 Claims
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1. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber which comprises, in combination, the steps of:
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connecting a web browser accessible to said subscriber to the Internet, connecting a web server to the Internet at a location remote from said web browser, employing said web browser to submit preference data to said web server via the Internet, said preference data defining the manner in which said subscriber desires to have telephone calls processed, storing said preference data as submitted in a database, employing call processing apparatus coupled to said database and to the public switched telephone network for receiving incoming telephone calls directed to said subscriber from said public switched telephone network, employing said call processing apparatus to forward said incoming telephone calls to one or more telephone numbers designated by said preference data via said public switched telephone network, and selectively recording voice mail messages from persons originating said incoming telephone calls in a manner specified by said preference data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification