Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service

• US 6,898,275 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Inventors: Dolan, Robert A., Hofstatter, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G
• Application Number:
  US10/255,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.11, 379 8813- 8817, 379 8819- 8828, 379/93.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/93.26, 379/207.01, 37920704-2071, 379/207.14, 379/207.15, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 379/265.09, 379/265.11, 379/142.01, 379/372, 379/373.01, 379/376.01, 379/900, 379/908, 370352-356
• 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 of providing telecommunication services, comprising:

receiving at a server a call from a first entity intended for a second entity that was forwarded via a PSTN, wherein the call was forwarded by a call directing method selected from the group including busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability;

determining whether a first computer device of the second entity is online;

sending a message to the first computer device via an Internet Protocol connection indicating the call has been received and providing identification information related to the call originator and the number of the second entity that was entered; and

directing the call to one of a plurality of telephonic devices according to a phone number of the second entity that was entered by the first entity.

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

receiving an instruction from the second entity for the server to answer the call;

answering the call via the server;

playing a message to the first entity;

recording a message from the first entity; and

storing the first entity message on the server.

3. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the second entity has defined at least a first rule regarding processing calls; and

processing a call from a third entity at least partly in response to the first rule.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

storing a plurality of different audio greetings from the second entity in a memory storage device; and

playing a selected one of the plurality of different audio greetings to the first entity in response to an instruction received from the second entity after receiving the first entity'"'"'s call.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the call was forwarded at least partly as a result of the second entity accessing the Internet using a telephone line to which the call was placed so that the telephone line was busy.

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 after the first entity enters a number for the second entity, comprising:

receiving the call from the first entity as a result of a call directing method selected from the group including one or more of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability;

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

sending a message to the computer device over a data network indicating the presence of the call and identifying the number of the first entity;

holding the call at the server; and

cross-connecting the first entity and the second entity.

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, comprising:

receiving the call from the first entity at a server via a switched telephone network as a result of a call directing method selected from the group including at least one of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability;

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

sending a message to the computer device over the network indicating the presence of the call and delivering identifying information of the first entity and a verbal communication from the first entity;

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

directing the call in response to the input.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a second call at the server; and

directing the second call in response to a rule predefined by the second entity.

9. The method as defined in claim 7, further automatically creating a set of call handling rules based on how the user handles calls.

10. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising automatically creating a set of call handling rules based on how the user handles calls for at least one of different caller numbers, different called numbers, different times of day, and different calendar days.

11. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

recording a plurality of different audio greetings provided by the second entity;

storing the audio greetings in a memory storage device; and

playing a pre-selected one of the audio greetings to a caller.

12. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether first entity instructions are stored regarding automatic handling of incoming calls; and

directing at least one incoming call based on the special instructions.

13. A system providing telephone services connectable to a telecommunications network, the system comprising:

a call processing system connectable to a switched telephone network to receive calls directed to the call processing system by a call directing method selected from the group including at least one of busy call forward, no answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number portability, the call processing system including;

a data storage device that stores software configured to;

determine if at least a first subscriber'"'"'s computing device is communicating with the server over a data network;

transmit caller communications for incoming calls to the first subscriber'"'"'s computing device over the data network so that the subscriber can screen the calls;

receive first subscriber call processing instructions over the data network;

process incoming calls in accordance with the first subscriber call instructions.

14. The system as defined in claim 13, further comprising a plurality of stored greeting messages recorded by the first subscriber, wherein the software is further configured to selectively play one of the plurality of stored greeting messages to a caller in response to a first subscriber instruction.

15. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:

receiving, at a call processing apparatus, a forwarded call from a calling party intended for the called party, wherein signaling information associated with the forwarded call includes the calling party'"'"'s phone number, and wherein the call was forwarded to the call processing apparatus as a result of a call directing method selected from the group including at least one of busy call forward, no answer call forward, and call forward all;

playing a greeting to the calling party;

opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the called party; and

transmitting in substantially real time at least a portion of the signaling information and a voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the networked computer so that the called party can screen the calling party'"'"'s call.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an instruction over the communication channel from the called party to connect the calling party to the called party; and

connecting the calling party and the called party.

17. The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising receiving an indication that the networked computer is communicating with the call processing apparatus before performing the act of transmitting speech from the calling party over the Internet communication channel to the networked computer for reproduction.

18. The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, at the call processing apparatus, a second forwarded call from a second calling party intended for the called party, wherein signaling information associated with the second forwarded call includes the second calling party'"'"'s phone number;

receiving a voice communication from the second caller;

causing the second party'"'"'s phone number to be transmitted to a cell phone associated with the called party so that the called party can determine the second caller'"'"'s identity;

transmitting the voice communication from the second caller to the cell phone so that the called party can screen the second caller; and

receiving a call processing instruction via the cell phone.

19. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the calling party is separated from the call processing apparatus by at least a first local carrier switch.

20. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the networked computer is at least one of a personal computer, a handheld computing device, a wireless telephone, a television, and a web interface appliance.

21. The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a third call from a second calling party;

transmitting a voice communication from the second calling party to the networked computer;

receiving a second instruction from the called party; and

playing a predetermined message indicating that the third call is not being accepted to the third calling party at least partly in response to the second instruction.