Telephony call control using a data network and a graphical user interface and exchanging datagrams between parties to a telephone call

• US 6,868,140 B2
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Cruickshank, Brian, Myers, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/220,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20020181670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/72, 379/76, 379/88.08, 379/88.11, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/900, 379/902, 379/908
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/902 Auto-switch for an incoming voice data, or fax telephone call, e.g. comp/fax/tel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

In a communications network, a method and apparatus are disclosed for using a graphical user interface for telephony call control. A method is also disclosed for sending a datagram from a called party to a calling party. Call control of a call is diverted to a voice-mail system. The IP address of the caller is determined. The IP address of the caller is determined by either a search on a look-up table or from a voice over Internet call set up message. Call control information, or a datagram is sent to the caller. In the case of call control information, the caller inputs call control commands which are received by the voice mail system. The invention provides an easier method and apparatus to navigate voice-mail menus and reduces the problem of “voice-mail jail”.

Claims

1. A method of handling a voice call diverted to a voice mail system (VMS), comprising:

determining in a lookup table, in response to said voice call, a data network address of a network terminal associated with a calling telephone station apparatus for said voice call;

sending a voice call facilitation message to said address over a data network; and

,

wherein said lookup table is associated with an apparatus selected from a group consisting of;

a central office, a PBX, a VMS, a gatekeeper, a calling station apparatus and a LAN.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a call control command from said address over said data network; and

controlling said voice call at said VMS in accordance with said call control command.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining the data network address of said network terminal comprises:

determining a caller ID of said caller;

determining if said caller ID matches a value stored in said lookup table; and

if said caller ID matches said stored value, then determining said data network address of said network terminal stored in said lookup table and corresponding to said matched caller ID.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said table is associated with said VMS.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said table is associated with said terminal of said caller.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of sending said voice call facilitation message to said address over said data network further comprises:

determining a called number of said call;

determining if said called number of said call matches a value stored in said lookup table;

if said called number matches said stored value, then determining from said lookup table a web server address corresponding to said called number; and

sending a message to said web server address, said message containing said network address of said terminal, said called number and a caller ID of said caller.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving said message at said web server; and

determining if a call is in progress between said caller and said called number.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein said voice call facilitation message identifies said voice call at said VMS.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein said voice call facilitation message provides parameters for a display of a graphical call control page at said network terminal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said parameters provide an address for a graphical call control page on said data network.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving a request from said address for said graphical call control page and returning said graphical call control page to said address.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein said call control command includes an address for a given graphical call control page on said data network, the method further comprising returning said given graphical call control page to said address.

13. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions comprising:

means for determining in a lookup table, in response to a said voice call, a data network address of a network terminal associated with a calling telephone station apparatus for said voice call;

means for sending a voice call facilitation message to said data network address over a data network; and

wherein said lookup table is associated with an apparatus selected from a group consisting of;

a central office, a PBX, a VMS, a gatekeeper, a calling station apparatus and a LAN.

14. A method of handling a voice call, comprising:

determining in a lookup table, in response to said voice call, a data network address of a network terminal associated with a calling telephone station apparatus for said voice call, and wherein said lookup table is associated with an apparatus selected from a group consisting of;

a central office, a PBX, a VMS, a gatekeeper, a calling station apparatus and a LAN;

identifying a graphical page associated with said called telephone station apparatus for said voice call; and

sending the graphical page to said address.

15. A method comprising:

(a) initiating a voice call from a telephone handset to a called gatekeeper;

(b) exchanging set up information with said called gatekeeper;

(c) diverting said voice call to a voice-mail system associated with said called gatekeeper;

(d) sending a caller IP address to a web site server associated with said called gatekeeper;

(e) sending, over a data network, a call control URL to said caller IP address from said web site server;

(f) receiving, over a data network, a call control command from said caller IP address at said web site server; and

(g) transmitting a call control signal to said voice mail system in response to said call control command.

16. A method comprising:

(a) receiving from a lookup table, via a data network, an IP address of a caller in response to a voice call initiated by said caller, and wherein said lookup table is associated with an apparatus selected from a group consisting of;

a central office, a PBX, a VMS, a gatekeeper, a calling station apparatus, and a LAN;

(b) sending, via a data network, a call control URL to said IP address;

(c) receiving, via a data network, a call control command from said IP address; and

(d) transmitting a call control signal to a voice mail system in response to said call control command.

17. An apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving from a lookup table, via a data network, an IP address of a caller in response to a voice call initiated by said caller, and wherein said lookup table is associated with an apparatus selected from a group consisting of;

a central office, a PBX, a VMS, a gatekeeper, a calling station apparatus and a LAN;

(b) means for sending, via a data network, a call control URL to said IP address;

(c) means for receiving, via a data network, a call control command from said IP address; and

(d) means for transmitting a call control signal to a voice mail system in response to said call control command.

18. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a network interface;

(b) a processor connected to said network interface;

(c) a voice-mail interface connected to said processor;

(d) a memory associated with said processor;

(e) an internet software application stored in said memory, said internet software application, via said network interface commands and in response to a voice call initiated from a caller telephone handset, receiving IP addresses, transmitting call control URL'"'"'s, and receiving call control commands via a data network to said caller; and

(f) a voice-mail system software application stored in said memory, said voice-mail system software application, via said voice-mail interface, transmitting signals to said voice-mail interface in response to call control commands.

19. A method for operating a voice mail system comprising:

(a) accepting a voice call placed from a telephone handset at said voice mail system;

(b) passing call control options via a data network to an associated data network element, said call control options having graphical components further operable for display on a terminal associated with said telephone handset;

(c) receiving call control signals for said voice call from said associated data network element via the data network; and

(d) controlling said voice call in response to said call control signals.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said call is accepted from a switched network and said call control signals are received from a data network to which said associated data network element is connected.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said associated data network element is a server.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said associated data network element is a component terminal.