Internet-intranet greeting service
First Claim
1. A method of providing information to a caller in response to a call placed to a called party, the method comprising the steps of:
- automatically determining, in response to placement of the call, an identifier of greeting data associated with the called party, the call being placed to the called party for the purpose of establishing live voice communication with the called party;
retrieving the greeting data for the called party over a network connection;
displaying a greeting web page including the greeting data to the caller during the call; and
permitting the caller to select an alternate destination for the call and, in response to a caller selection on the displayed web page, automatically redirect the call using the selected alternate destination.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Intemet/intranet-based arrangement for automatically retrieving and presenting a greeting web page in response to a caller placing a call to a called party. This greeting service provides the caller with information relating to the called party and gives the caller various options for contacting the called party, redirecting the call or obtaining additional information. In an illustrative embodiment, a greeting application program running on a caller terminal obtains an identifier, such as a URL, of the greeting web page associated with the called party. This identifier is provided to a web browser application program running on the caller terminal, which uses it to retrieve the greeting web page and display it to the viewer during the call. The invention is applicable to both telephone calls and IP calls. Some of the actions which may be taken by the caller from the displayed greeting web page include selecting an alternate destination for the call, selecting a covering party for the call, paging the called party, leaving a message for the called party, conducting a textual chat with the called party, receiving call progress information, receiving private information intended only for the caller, and retrieving related documents.
121 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing information to a caller in response to a call placed to a called party, the method comprising the steps of:
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automatically determining, in response to placement of the call, an identifier of greeting data associated with the called party, the call being placed to the called party for the purpose of establishing live voice communication with the called party;
retrieving the greeting data for the called party over a network connection;
displaying a greeting web page including the greeting data to the caller during the call; and
permitting the caller to select an alternate destination for the call and, in response to a caller selection on the displayed web page, automatically redirect the call using the selected alternate destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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6. A method of providing information to a caller in response to a call placed to a called party, the method comprising the steps of:
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automatically determining, in response to placement of the call, an identifier of greeting data associated with the called party, the call being placed to the called party for the purpose of establishing live voice communication with the called party;
retrieving the greeting data for the called party over a network connection;
displaying a greeting web page including the greeting data to the caller during the call; and
permitting the caller to page the called party in response to a caller selection on the displayed web page.
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13. An apparatus for providing information to a caller in response to a call placed to a called party, the apparatus comprising:
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a database for storing greeting data associated with the called pa the greeting data being automatically determined in response to placement of the call; and
at least one server for generating a greeting web page including the greeting data associated with the called party, wherein the greeting data is retrieved in response to placement of the call, and the greeting web page is displayed to the caller during the call, the displayed web page permitting the caller to select, based on information in the displayed web page, at least one of;
(i) an alternate destination for the call; and
(ii) a covering party for the call;
wherein the selecting of an alternate destination for the call and the selecting of a covering party for the call are initiated in response to a caller selection on the displayed web page;
wherein the call is placed to the called party for the purpose of establishing live voice communication with the called party. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable medium containing software which, when executed in a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:
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automatically determining, in response to placement of a call to a called party, an identifier of greeting data associated with the called party, the call being placed for the purpose of establishing live voice communication with the called party;
retrieving the greeting data for the called party over a network connection;
displaying a greeting web page including the greeting data to the caller during the call; and
permitting the caller to select an alternate destination for the call and, in response a caller selection on the displayed web page, automatically redirect the call placed to the called party using the selected alternate destination.
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19. An apparatus for providing information to a caller in response to a call placed to a called party, the apparatus comprising:
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a computer operative to implement a web browser application program and a greeting application program, wherein the web browser application program automatically retrieves greeting data associated with the called party in response to information requested by the greeting application program upon initiation of the call, such that the retrieved greeting data is displayed to the caller during the call in the form of a greeting web page, the displayed web page permitting the caller to select, based on information in the displayed web page, at least one of;
(i) an alternate destination for the call;
(ii) a covering party for the call; and
(iii) paging the called party, wherein the section of an alternate destination for the call, a covering party for the call and paging the called party are initiated in response to a caller selection on the displayed web page;
wherein the call is placed to the called party for the purpose of establishing live voice communication with the called party.
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20. An apparatus for providing information to a caller in response to a call placed to a called party, the apparatus comprising:
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a computer operative to implement a web browser application program and greeting application program, wherein the web browser application program automatically retrieves a greeting web page associated with the called party in response to information requested by the greeting application program upon initiation of the call, such that the retrieved greeting web page is displayed to the caller during the call, the displayed web page permitting the caller to select, based on information in the displayed web page, at least one of;
(i) an alternate destination for the call;
(ii) a covering party for the call; and
(iii) paging the called party, wherein the selection of an alternate destination for the call, a covering party for the call and paging the called party are initiated in response to a caller selection on the displayed web page;
wherein the call is placed to the called party for the purpose of establishing live voice communication with the called party.
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Specification