Universal internet based telephony system that provides ubiquitous access for subscribers from any terminal device

• US 6,791,974 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle OTC Subsidiary LLC (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Estara Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Greenberg, Jeffrey Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHULTZ, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US09/637,805
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/400, 370/401, 370/466, 370/402
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services

Abstract

The universal Internet based telephony system is implemented as a process that is accessible via an Internet WEB page and executes on the WEB server that hosts the WEB page and/or a back-end Internet telephony server which is accessed and controlled by the WEB server. The customer accesses the universal Internet based telephony system via any existing Java Enabled Internet Browser software resident on the customer'"'"'s personal computer, either as an adjunct process thereon, or as a dedicated Internet telephony process. When a customer accesses the Internet WEB page and clicks on the universal Internet based telephony system icon, the WEB server on which the WEB page resides executes the resident universal Internet based telephony system hyperlink script and transfers a newly opened browser session to the universal Internet based telephony system WEB site. Once connected to the customer'"'"'s personal computer, the universal Internet based telephony system WEB site presents the customer with the data entry fields for his/her account number the telephone number of the desired destination (called party). The WEB server uploads an applet to the customer'"'"'s personal computer to run on the client machine without disturbing the customer'"'"'s existing WEB page access, by opening up a separate window on the customer'"'"'s personal computer for the Universal Internet based telephony system, to be seen and operated by the user. The universal Internet based telephony system WEB site then implements the Internet telephony communication connection between the customer'"'"'s personal computer and the designated destination.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a customer it initiate an Internet telephone call from any customer terminal device, comprising:

means for displaying data, indicative of the presence of an Internet telephony service, on said customer terminal device;

means, responsive to a customer selecting said Internet telephony service by responding to said data, for executing an Internet telephony service process for said customer terminal device; and

means for assigning a customer served by said customer terminal device with a virtual telephone number, usable at any terminal device to participate in Internet telephone calls via said Internet telephone service.

2. The Internet telephone service system of claim 1 wherein said means for executing comprises:

means, downloaded to said customer terminal device, for processing an Internet telephony script independent of an identity of said customer terminal device.

3. The Internet telephone service system of claim 1 wherein said means for executing comprises:

means, responsive to data received from said customer terminal device pursuant to executing said Internet telephony service process and indicative of an identity of a destination communication device, for extending a communication connection from said customer terminal device to an Internet telephony server process corresponding to said data received from said customer terminal device.

4. The Internet telephone service system of claim 3 wherein said means for extending comprises:

means, responsive to said destination communication device being served by said Internet telephony server process, for establishing said communication connection through said Internet telephony server process from said customer terminal device to said destination communication device.

5. The Internet telephone service system of claim 3 wherein said means for extending comprises:

means, responsive to said destination communication device being served by a local exchange carrier of a Public Switched Telephone Network, for establishing said communication connection from said customer terminal device to said destination communication device through said Internet telephony server process and a Public Switched Telephone Network gateway system.

6. The Internet telephone service system of claim 3 wherein said means for extending comprises:

means, responsive to said customer terminal device being connected via the Internet to a destination server and said destination communication device being served by a local exchange carrier of a Public Switched Telephone Network, for establishing a communication connection from said customer terminal device to said destination communication device through said Internet telephony server process and a Public Switched Telephone Network gateway system concurrent with said customer terminal device being connected via the Internet to a destination server.

8. The Internet telephone service system of claim 3 wherein said means for executing further comprises:

means, responsive to said Internet telephony server extending said communication connection to said destination communication device, for monitoring a duration of said communication connection for billing purposes.

9. The Internet telephone service system of claim 1 wherein said means for executing comprises:

means, responsive to a communication connection between said customer terminal device and said Internet telephony server process for transmitting an Internet telephony applet to said customer terminal device; and

means for concurrently executing said Internet telephony applet with said web page on said customer terminal device.

10. The Internet telephone service system of claim 1 wherein said means for executing comprises:

call management means for managing call routing, signaling, setup, tear down.

11. The Internet telephone service system of claim 10 wherein said means for executing further comprises:

IP address mapping database means, responsive to said customer terminal device transmitting data indicative of an address for said selected destination terminal device, for determining a present location of a called party served by said selected destination terminal device; and

call routing means for interconnecting said customer terminal device with said present location.

7. A system for enabling a customer to initiate an Internet telephone call from any customer terminal device, comprising:

means for displaying first data, indicative of the presence of an Internet telephony service, on said customer terminal device; and

means for executing an Internet telephony service process for said customer terminal device, said means for executing being responsive to a customer selecting said Internet telephony service by responding to said first data;

wherein said means for executing comprises means for extending a communication connection from said customer terminal device to an Internet telephony server process corresponding to said second data received from said customer terminal device, said means for executing being responsive to second data received from said customer terminal device pursuant to executing said Internet telephony service process and indicative of an identity of a destination communication device; and

wherein said means for extending comprises means, responsive to said customer terminal device being a mobile subscriber station served by a wireless communication system, for establishing a communication connection from said customer terminal device to said destination communication device through said wireless communication system, said Internet telephony server process and a Public Switched Telephone Network gateway system.

12. A method of providing an Internet telephone service to initiate an Internet telephone call from any customer terminal device, comprising the steps of:

displaying data, indicative of the presence of an Internet telephony service, on said customer terminal device;

executing, in response to a customer selecting said Internet telephony service by responding to said data, an Internet telephony service process for said customer terminal device; and

assigning a customer served by said customer terminal device with a virtual telephone number, usable at any terminal device to participate in Internet telephone calls via said Internet telephone service.

13. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 12 wherein said step of executing comprises:

processing an Internet telephony script, that is downloaded to said customer terminal device, independent of an identity of said customer terminal device.

14. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 12 wherein said step of executing comprises:

extending, in response to data received from said customer terminal device pursuant to executing said Internet telephony service process and indicative of an identity of a destination communication device, a communication connection from said customer terminal device to an Internet telephony server process corresponding to said data received from said customer terminal device.

15. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 14 wherein said step of extending comprises:

establishing, in response to said destination communication device being served by said Internet telephony server process, said communication connection through said Internet telephony server process from said customer terminal device to said destination communication device.

16. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 14 wherein said step of extending comprises:

establishing, responsive to said destination communication device being served by a local exchange carrier of a Public Switched Telephone Network, said communication connection from said customer terminal device to said destination communication device through said Internet telephony server process and a Public Switched Telephone Network gateway system.

17. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 14 wherein said step of extending comprises:

establishing, in response to said customer terminal device being connected via the Internet to a destination server and said destination communication device being served by a local exchange carrier of a Public Switched Telephone Network, a communication connection from said customer terminal device to said destination communication device through said Internet telephony server process and a Public Switched Telephone Network gateway system concurrent with said customer terminal device being connected via the Internet to a destination server.

19. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 14 wherein said step of executing further comprises:

monitoring, in response to said Internet telephony server extending said communication connection to said destination communication device, a duration of said communication connection for billing purposes.

20. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 12 wherein said step of executing comprises:

transmitting, in response to a communication connection between said customer terminal device sand said Internet telephony server process, an Internet telephony applet to said customer terminal device; and

concurrently executing said Internet telephony applet with said web page on said customer terminal device.

21. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 12 wherein said means for executing comprises:

call management means for managing call routing, signaling, set up, tear down.

22. The method of providing an Internet telephone service of claim 12 wherein said means for executing further comprises:

IP address mapping database means, responsive to said customer terminal device transmitting data indicative of an address for said selected destination terminal device, for determining a present location of a called party served by said selected destination terminal device; and

call routing means for interconnecting said customer terminal device with said present location.

18. A method of providing an Internet telephone service to initiate an Internet telephone call from any customer terminal device, comprising the steps of:

displaying first data, indicative of the presence of an Internet telephony service, on said customer terminal device;

executing, in response to a customer selecting said Internet telephony service by responding to said first data, an Internet telephony service process for said customer terminal device;

wherein the executing step includes extending, in response to second data received from said customer terminal device and indicative of an identity of a destination communication device, a communication connection from said customer terminal device to an Internet telephony server process corresponding to said data received from said customer terminal device; and

wherein the extending step includes establishing, in response to said customer terminal device being a mobile subscriber station served by a wireless communication system, a communication connection from said customer terminal device to said destination communication device through said wireless communication system, said Internet telephony server process and a Public Switched Telephone Network gateway system.

23. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

establishing a telephone call from an end user computer connected to a packet network to a telephone connected to a public switched telephone network, the telephone call being routed through a gateway connected to the packet network and the public switched telephone network, the gateway being operable to convert digital voice data packets received from the end user computer on the packet network to analog form for transmission over the public switched telephone network and to convert analog signals received from the telephone to digital voice data packets for transmission to the end user computer;

generating a dual tone multi-frequency signal at the telephone;

receiving the signal at the gateway;

transmitting a command message from the gateway to the end user computer; and

changing a media setting at the end user computer in response to the command message, wherein the media setting is a microphone volume.

24. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

establishing a telephone call from an end user computer connected to a packet network to a telephone connected to a public switched telephone network, the telephone call being routed through a gateway connected to the packet network and the public switched telephone network, the gateway being operable to convert digital voice data packets received from the end user computer on the packet network to analog form for transmission over the public switched telephone network and to convert analog signals received from the telephone to digital voice data packets for transmission to the end user computer;

generating a dual tone multi-frequency signal at the telephone;

receiving the signal at the gateway;

transmitting a command message from the gateway to the end user computer; and

changing a media setting at the end user computer in response to the command message, wherein the media setting is a speaker volume.

25. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

establishing a telephone call from an end user computer connected to a packet network to a telephone connected to a public switched telephone network, the telephone call being routed through a gateway connected to the packet network and the public switched telephone network, the gateway being operable to convert digital voice data packets received from the end user computer on the packet network to analog form for transmission over the public switched telephone network and to convert analog signals received from the telephone to digital voice data packets for transmission to the end user computer;

generating a dual tone multi-frequency signal at the telephone;

receiving the signal at the gateway;

transmitting a command message from the gateway to the end user computer; and

changing a media setting at the end user computer in response to the command message, wherein the media setting is echo suppression.

26. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

establishing a telephone call from an end user computer connected to a packet network to a telephone connected to a public switched telephone network, the telephone call being routed through a gateway connected to the packet network and the public switched telephone network, the gateway being operable to convert digital voice data packets received from the end user computer on the packet network to analog form for transmission over the public switched telephone network and to convert analog signals received from the telephone to digital voice data packets for transmission to the end user computer;

generating a dual tone multi-frequency signal at the telephone;

receiving the signal at the gateway;

transmitting a command message from the gateway to the end user computer; and

changing a media setting at the end user computer in response to the command message, wherein thee media setting is echo cancellation.

27. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

establishing a telephone call from an end user computer connected to a packet network to a telephone connected to a public switched telephone network, the telephone call being routed through a gateway connected to the packet network and the public switched telephone network the gateway being operable to convert digital voice data packets received from the end user computer on the packet network to analog form for transmission over the public switched telephone network and to convert analog signals received from the telephone to digital voice data packets for transmission to the end user computer;

generating a dual tone multi-frequency signal at the telephone;

receiving the signal at the gateway;

transmitting a command message from the gateway to the end user computer; and

changing a media setting at the end user computer in response to the command message, wherein command message includes a new value for the media setting and the media setting is changed according to the new value in the changing step.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

downloading a web page to the end user computer, the web page including an icon that, when activated, causes a program to be downloaded to the end user computer, the program being operable to establish an internet telephone call to be established between the end user computer and a predetermined telephone number corresponding to the telephone without the necessity of having internet telephony software installed on the end user computer; and

activating the icon at the end user computer to perform the establishing step.

29. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

receiving first voice data from a calling party at a first computer;

converting the first voice data to first digital voice data packets at the first computer;

transmitting the first digital voice data packets to a second computer connected to the first computer through a packet network;

receiving second digital voice data packets from the second computer;

converting the second digital voice data packets to second voice data;

sending a command message from the first computer to the second computer; and

changing a media setting at the second computer in response to the command message, wherein the media setting is a speaker volume.

30. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

receiving first voice data from a calling party at a first computer;

converting the first voice data to first digital voice data packets at the first computer;

transmitting the first digital voice data packets to a second computer connected to the first computer through a packet network;

receiving second digital voice data packets from the second computer;

converting the second digital voice data packets to second voice data;

sending a command message from the first computer to the second computer; and

changing a media setting at the second computer in response to the command message, wherein the media setting is echo suppression.

31. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

receiving first voice data from a calling party at a first computer;

converting the first voice data to first digital voice data packets at the first computer;

transmitting the first digital voice data packets to a second computer connected to the first computer through a packet network;

receiving second digital voice data packets from the second computer;

converting the second digital voice data packets to second voice data;

sending a command message from the first computer to the second computer; and

changing a media setting at the second computer in response to the command message, wherein the media setting is echo cancellation.

32. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

receiving first voice data from a calling party at a first computer;

converting the first voice data to first digital voice data packets at the first computer;

transmitting the first digital voice data packets to a second computer connected to the first computer through a packet network;

receiving second digital voice data packets from the second computer;

converting the second digital voice data packets to second voice data;

sending a command message from the first computer to the second computer; and

changing a media setting at the second computer in response to the command message, wherein the media setting is a microphone volume.

33. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

receiving first voice data from a calling party at a first computer;

converting the first voice data to first digital voice data packets at the first computer;

transmitting the first digital voice data packets to a second computer connected to the first computer through a packet network;

receiving second digital voice data packets from the second computer;

converting the second digital voice data packets to second voice data;

sending a command message from the first computer to the second computer; and

changing a media setting at the second computer in response to the command message, wherein command message includes a new value for the media setting and the media setting is changed according to the new value in the changing step.

34. A method for remotely controlling a media setting comprising the steps of:

receiving first voice data from a calling party at a first computer;

converting the first voice data to first digital voice data packets at the first computer;

transmitting the first digital voice data packets to a second computer connected to the first computer through a packet network;

receiving second digital voice data packets from the second computer;

converting the second digital voice data packets to second voice data;

sending a command message from the first computer to the second computer;

changing a media setting at the second computer in response to the command message,

downloading a web page to the end user computer, the web page including an icon that, when activated, causes a program to be downloaded to the end user computer, the program being operable to establish an internet telephone call to be established between the end user computer and a predetermined telephone number corresponding to the telephone without the necessity of having internet telephony software installed on the end user computer; and

activating the icon at the end user computer to perform the establishing step.

35. A method for identifying an end user computer connected to a data packet network to called party equipment connected to a public switched telephone network comprising the steps of:

collecting, at the end user terminal, customer identification information;

transmitting the customer identification information to a first server;

storing the customer identification information at the first server;

establishing a phone call between an end user terminal and called party equipment, the call being routed through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;

detecting a gateway identifier at the called party equipment;

sending the gateway identifier to the first server;

using the gateway identifier to retrieve the customer identification information at the first server; and

sending the customer identification information from the first server to the called party equipment,

wherein the gateway identifier is in an automatic number identification service format.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of displaying data associated with the customer identification information on a display associated with the called party.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the customer identification information is collected from cookie information sent by the second server and stored at the end user terminal.

38. A method for controlling a display of an end user terminal comprising the steps of:

establishing a phone call between an end user terminal connected to a data packet network and other party equipment connected to a public switched telephone network, the phone call being routed through a gateway connected to the data packet network and the public switched telephone network;

generating a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) command at the other party equipment;

detecting the DTMF command;

forming an address based at least in part on the DTMF command;

receiving display information from the address at the end user terminal; and

sending a request for display information to the address.

39. A method for providing an Internet telephone service to initiate an Internet telephone call from a mobile subscriber station comprising the steps of:

displaying first data, indicative of the presence of an Internet telephony service, on said mobile subscriber station;

receiving, in response to a user of the mobile subscriber station selecting said Internet telephony service by responding to said first data, second data indicative of an identity of a destination communication device; and

connecting, in response to the user of the mobile subscriber station selecting said Internet telephony service by responding to said first data, the mobile subscriber station to the destination communication device through the wireless communication system and a Public Switched Telephone Network gateway system.