Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service

• US 6,477,246 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Inventors: Dolan, Robert A., Hofstatter, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US09/539,375
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88-3-, 379/88-9-, 379/93.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/93.26, 379/207.01, 379/207-4-2, 379/207.14, 379/207.15, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.02, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 379/265.09, 379/265.11, 379/88.11, 379/142.01, 379/372, 379/373.01, 379/376.01, 379/900, 379/908, 370/352-356
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2236 Quality of speech transmission monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• 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

Abstract

System and method for putting control of incoming telephone calls in the hands of subscribers with the aid of computer software and the Internet. In effect, a very efficient multiplexer is provided that does not require a change in the behavior of the called party or the calling party. This system permits the called party to hear a spoken message by the calling party in real time, and the content of the spoken message permits the called party to decide how to handle the call. The system adaptively learns and captures the rules of the called party for handling calls, and learns which callers the called party always wishes to talk to. The system uses special control software on the called party'"'"'s computer which is connected to the Internet. The system employs a central server in which all of the required intelligence is resident. Audio signals are exchanged via non-data channels provided by the telephone companies and by the Internet. Either a very simple Internet busy pick-up is provided, or a very complex messaging system is provided, as desired. A feature is the monitoring and screening of incoming calls before deciding how to handle them. Another feature is the capturing and storage of the decision making profile.

Claims

1. A method for providing expanded telecommunication services on a telecommunication system where a call from a first entity to a second entity is placed when the first entity enters a number for the second entity, comprising the steps of:

receiving the call from the first entity at a PSTN switch;

directing the call and the call information from the switch to a gateway;

directing the call and the call information from the gateway to a server;

determining whether the computer device of the second entity is communicating with the server;

sending a message to the computer device via an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of the call and the identifying number of the first entity and the number of the second entity that was entered; and

directing the call to one of a plurality of telephonic devices according to the number of the second entity that was entered;

wherein the step of directing the call and the call information from the switch to the gateway uses a call directing method selected from the group consisting of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability.

2. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the computer device to the server a command to have the server answer the call;

answering the call through the server;

playing a message;

recording a message from the call; and

storing the message in the server.

3. The method, as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether special instructions are stored in the computer regarding forwarding calls; and

forwarding the call to a number designated by the second entity.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

recording a plurality of different audio greetings;

storing said audio greetings in a memory storage device; and

playing a preselected one of said audio greetings to a caller on demand.

4. A system for providing expanded telecommunication services connected to a telecommunications network, the system comprising:

a PSTN switch connected to the telecommunications network;

a central server associated with the PSTN switch, said central server comprising;

means for storing messages;

means for providing user authentication; and

means for providing call control;

a plurality of telephones;

an Internet Protocol connection for accessing the Internet and other callers via a PSTN;

a computer device including software, said computer device connected to the Internet via said Internet Protocol connection causing the connection to be busy for the incoming call, said computer device comprising;

means for directing the call and the call information from the switch to a gateway;

means for receiving information from the central server via the Internet Protocol connection;

means for receiving information from the central server concerning an incoming call, caller ID, and a number to which a call is directed;

means for displaying caller ID information;

means for directing the call to only one of the plurality of telephones according to the number to which the call is directed;

means to direct the central server to answer the call and record a message; and

means to forward the call to another location;

wherein the means for directing the call and the call information from the switch to the gateway uses a call directing method selected from the group consisting of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability.

6. A method for providing expanded telecommunication services on a telecommunication system where a call from a first entity to a second entity is placed when the first entity enters a number for the second entity, comprising the steps of:

receiving the call from the first entity at a PSTN switch;

directing the call and the call information from the switch to a gateway;

determining whether the computer device of the second entity is communicating with the server;

sending a message to the computer device via an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of the call and identifying the number of the first entity and the number of the second entity that was entered;

holding the call at the server; and

dialing from the second entity to the server to make a call cross-connect between the first entity and the second entity at the server;

wherein the step of directing the call and the call information from the switch to the gateway uses a call directing method selected from the group consisting of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability.

7. A method for providing expanded telecommunication services on a telecommunication system where a call from a first entity to a second entity is placed when the first entity enters a number for the second entity, said telecommunication system including a PSTN switch, a gateway associated with the PSTN switch, and a server associated with the gateway, comprising:

receiving the call from the first entity at the PSTN switch;

directing the call and the call information from the PSTN switch to the gateway;

directing the call and the call information from the gateway to the associated server;

said second entity having a computer device including software, said computer device connected to the Internet over the PSTN via an Internet Protocol connection causing the connection to be busy for an incoming telephone call;

determining whether the computer device of the second entity is communicating with the server;

sending a message to the computer device over the Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of the call and delivering identifying information of the first entity and the identifying information of the incoming call;

receiving input from the second entity onto the computer device; and

directing the call;

wherein the step of directing the call and the call information of the first entity from the PSTN switch to the gateway uses a call directing method selected from the group consisting of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said call is directed based on a criteria selected from the group consisting of computer device input and automatic rules.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said step of directing the call and the call information of the first entity from the switch to a gateway is carried out using a gateway selected from the group of consisting of a local gateway and a central gateway.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said step of identifying the first entity is carried out using an identifier selected from the group consisting of caller ID, called number information from the call information received from the switch, voice prompts from the system and DTMF tone response from the first entity, and capturing an audible signal from the first entity.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said step of determining whether the computer device of the second entity is communicating with the server is carried out using a computer device operating on a platform selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, handheld computing device, wireless telephone, television, web interface appliance, and computer device server using voice, and DTMF tone interaction with a telephonic device.

12. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of sending a message to the computer device over an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of the call and delivering identifying information of the first entity and the identifying information of the call is carried out using an IP connection selected from the group consisting of a single phone line dial up connection, an always on land line home connection, an always on land line office connection, and an always on wireless connection.

13. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

(i) receiving from the computer device to the server a command to have the server answer the call;

(j) answering the call through the server;

(k) playing a message;

(l) recording a message from the caller;

(m) optionally providing audible information about the message to a second entity through a computer device; and

(n) optionally storing the message.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step of optionally storing the message is carried out using a storage platform selected from the group consisting of server and the computer device.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

(o) recording a plurality of different audio greetings;

(p) storing said audio greetings in a memory storage device; and

(q) playing a preselected one of said audio greetings to a caller on demand.

16. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

(i) determining whether special instructions are stored regarding automatic handling of incoming calls; and

(j) directing the call based on said special instructions.

17. A system providing expanded telephone services connected to a telecommunications network, comprising:

(a) a PSTN switch associated with the telecommunications network;

(b) a gateway associated with the switch;

(c) means for directing the call and the call information from the PSTN switch to the gateway;

(d) a central server connected to the gateway, comprising;

(i) means for storing messages,

(ii) means for storing call handling instructions,

(iii) means for providing user authentication, and

(iv) means for providing call control;

(e) a plurality of devices including telephones and Internet Protocol connected terminals;

(f) a computer device including software hosted on or connected to the plurality of devices comprising;

(i) means for connecting the computer device to the central server via the Internet Protocol connection;

(ii) means for receiving call information from the central server concerning an incoming call, caller information and audible signals, and a number to which an incoming call is directed;

(iii) means for displaying call information on the computer device;

(iv) means for receiving input from the user to the computer device;

(v) means for directing the incoming call to a plurality of devices according to the call information and/or user input from the computer device;

(vi) means for directing the central server to record and store a message; and

(vii) means to forward the call to another location;

wherein the means for directing the call and the call information from the PSTN switch to the gateway uses a call directing method selected from the group consisting of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability.

18. A method for providing expanded telecommunication services on a telecommunication system where a call from a first entity to a second entity is placed when the first entity enters a number for the second entity, and where the second entity is communicating with a server, the method comprising:

receiving the call from the first entity at a local exchange switch;

directing the call and the call information from the switch to a gateway;

directing the call information from the gateway to the server;

sending a message to the command center over an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of a call and delivering call information;

receiving input from the second entity onto the command center; and

directing the call;

wherein the step of directing the call and the call information from the switch to the gateway uses a call directing method selected from the group consisting of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability.

19. A method for providing expanded telecommunication services on a telecommunication system where a call from a first entity to a second entity is placed when the first entity enters a number for the second entity, and where the second entity is communicating with a server, the method comprising:

receiving the call from the first entity at a local exchange switch;

directing the call and the call information from the switch to a gateway;

directing the call information from the gateway to the server;

sending a message to the command center over an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of a call and delivering call information;

receiving input from the second entity via the command center; and

directing the call;

wherein the step of receiving input from the second entity via the command center is carried out in response to a call handling instruction selected from a group consisting of no input from the second entity, transfer call over circuit switching network, take call over Internet Protocol network, reoriginate the call over circuit switched or Internet Protocol networks, and have the server interact with the first entity to provide information or record the audible signal.

20. A method for providing expanded telecommunication services on a telecommunication system where a call from a first entity to a second entity is placed when the first entity enters a number for the second entity, comprising the steps of:

receiving the call from the first entity at a PSTN switch;

directing the call and the call information from the switch to a gateway;

directing the call and the call information from the gateway to a server;

determining whether the computer device of the second entity is communicating with the server;

sending a message to the computer device via an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of the call and the identifying number of the first entity and the number of the second entity that was entered;

receiving input from the second entity via a command center; and

directing the call to one of a plurality of telephonic devices according to the number of the second entity that was entered;

wherein the step of receiving input from the second entity via the command center is carried out in response to a call handling instruction selected from a group consisting of no input from the second entity, transfer call over circuit switching network, take call over Internet Protocol network, reoriginate the call over circuit switched or Internet Protocol networks, and have the server interact with the first entity to provide information or record the audible signal.

21. The method, as recited in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the computer device to the server a command to have the server answer the call;

answering the call through the server;

playing a message;

recording a message from the call; and

storing the message in the server.

22. The method, as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

determining whether special instructions are stored in the computer regarding forwarding calls; and

forwarding the call to a number designated by the second entity.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

recording a plurality of different audio greetings;

storing said audio greetings in a memory storage device; and

playing a preselected one of said audio greetings to a caller on demand.

23. A system for providing expanded telecommunication services connected to a telecommunications network, the system comprising:

a PSTN switch connected to the telecommunications network;

a central server associated with the PSTN switch, said central server comprising;

means for storing messages;

means for providing user authentication; and

means for providing call control;

a plurality of telephones;

an Internet Protocol connection for accessing the Internet and other callers via a PSTN;

a computer device including software, said computer device connected to the Internet via said Internet Protocol connection causing the connection to be busy for the incoming call, said computer device comprising;

means for receiving information from the central server via the Internet Protocol connection;

means for receiving information from the central server concerning an incoming call, caller ID, and a number to which a call is directed;

means for displaying caller ID information;

means for directing the call to only one of the plurality of telephones according to the number to which the call is directed;

means to direct the central server to answer the call and record a message;

means for receiving input from a second entity via a command center; and

means to forward the call to another location;

wherein the means for receiving input from the second entity via the command center is carried out in response to a call handling instruction selected from a group consisting of no input from the second entity, transfer call over circuit switching network, take call over Internet Protocol network, reoriginate the call over circuit switched or Internet Protocol networks, and have the server interact with the first entity to provide information or record the audible signal.

25. A method for providing expanded telecommunication services on a telecommunication system where a call from a first entity to a second entity is placed when the first entity enters a number for the second entity, comprising the steps of:

receiving the call from the first entity at a PSTN switch;

directing the call and the call information from the switch to a gateway;

determining whether the computer device of the second entity is communicating with the server;

sending a message to the computer device via an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of the call and identifying the number of the first entity and the number of the second entity that was entered;

holding the call at the server

receiving input from the second entity via a command center; and

dialing from the second entity t6 the server to make a call cross-connect between the first entity and the second entity at the server;

wherein the step of receiving input from the second entity via the command center is carried out in response to a call handling instruction selected from a group consisting of no input from the second entity, transfer call over circuit switching network, take call over Internet Protocol network, reoriginate the call over circuit switched or Internet Protocol networks, and have the server interact with the first entity to provide information or record the audible signal.

26. A method for providing expanded telecommunication services on a telecommunication system where a call from a first entity to a second entity is placed when the first entity enters a number for the second entity, said telecommunication system including a PSTN switch, a gateway associated with the PSTN switch, and a server associated with the gateway, comprising:

receiving the call from the first entity at the PSTN switch;

directing the call and the call information from the PSTN switch to gateway;

directing the call and the call information from the gateway to the associated server;

said second entity having a computer device including software, said computer device connected to the Internet over the PSTN via an Internet Protocol connection causing the connection to be busy for an incoming telephone call;

determining whether the computer device of the second entity is communicating with the server;

sending a message to the computer device over the Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of the call and delivering identifying information of the first entity and the identifying information of the incoming call;

receiving input from the second entity via a command center; and

directing the call;

wherein the step of receiving input from the second entity via the command center is carried out in response to a call handling instruction selected from a group consisting of no input from the second entity, transfer call over circuit switching network, take call over Internet Protocol network, reoriginate the call over circuit switched or Internet Protocol networks, and have the server interact with the first entity to provide information or record the audible signal.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein said call is directed based on a criteria selected from the group consisting of computer device input and automatic rules.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein said step of directing the call and the call information of the first entity from the switch to a gateway is carried out using a gateway selected from the group of consisting of a local gateway and a central gateway.

29. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein said step of identifying the first entity is carried out using an identifier selected from the group consisting of caller ID, called number information from the call information received from the switch, voice prompts from the system and DTMF tone response from the first entity, and capturing an audible signal from the first entity.

30. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein said step of determining whether the computer device of the second entity is communicating with the server is carried out using a computer device operating on a platform selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, handheld computing device, wireless telephone, television, web interface appliance, and computer device server using voice, and DTMF tone interaction with a telephonic device.

31. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the step of sending a message to the computer device over an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of the call and delivering identifying information of the first entity and the identifying information of the call is carried out using an IP connection selected from the group consisting of a single phone line dial up connection, an always on land line home connection, an always on land line office connection, and an always on wireless connection.

32. A method as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

receiving from the computer device to the server a command to have the server answer the call;

answering the call through the server;

playing a message;

recording a message from the caller;

optionally providing audible information about the message to a second entity through a computer device; and

optionally storing the message.

33. A method as recited in claim 32, wherein said step of optionally storing the message is carried out using a storage platform selected from the group consisting of server and the computer device.

34. A method as recited in claim 32, further comprising:

recording a plurality of different audio greetings;

storing said audio greetings in a memory storage device; and

playing a preselected one of said audio greetings to a caller on demand.

35. A method as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

determining whether special instructions are stored regarding automatic

handling of incoming calls; and

directing the call based on said special instructions.

36. A system providing expanded telephone services connected to a telecommunications network, comprising:

(a) a PSTN switch associated with the telecommunications network;

(b) a gateway associated with the switch;

(c) a central server connected to the gateway, comprising;

(i) means for storing messages,

(ii) means for storing call handling instructions,

(iii) means for providing user authentication, and

(iv) means for providing call control;

(d) a plurality of devices including telephones and Internet Protocol connected terminals;

(e) a computer device including software hosted on or connected to the plurality of devices comprising;

(i) means for connecting the computer device to the central server via the Internet Protocol connection;

(ii) means for receiving call information from the central server concerning an incoming call, caller information and audible signals, and a number to which an incoming call is directed;

(iii) means for displaying call information on the computer device;

(iv) means for receiving input from the user to the computer device;

(v) means for directing the incoming call to a plurality of devices according to the call information and/or user input from the computer device;

(vi) means for directing the central server to record and store a message; and

(vii) means to forward the call to another location;

(f) means for receiving input from the computer device;

wherein the means for receiving input from the computer device is carried out in response to a call handling instruction selected from a group consisting of no input from the user, transfer call over circuit switching network, take call over Internet Protocol network, reoriginate the call over circuit switched or Internet Protocol networks, and have the server interact with the first entity to provide information or record the audible signal.