Method and system for multicasting call notifications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for communication to a called party, comprising:
- receiving a request for a call to a telephone number of the called party initiated via a circuit-switched network;
determining multiple destinations associated with the called party based on the telephone number; and
multicasting respective call notifications over a packet-switched network to the multiple destinations, wherein at least one of the destinations is a communications device coupled to the packet-switched network via a circuit-switched network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for communication over a network, which can be both analog and digital includes simultaneously transmitting a call notification to a plurality of communication devices. These communication devices include devices such as telephones, pagers, computers, and voice mail systems. The addresses (e.g., telephone numbers) are stored in a database which is queried based on the call notification. For example, this method can be used in a find-me/follow-me system or to initiate a conference call.
49 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for communication to a called party, comprising:
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receiving a request for a call to a telephone number of the called party initiated via a circuit-switched network;
determining multiple destinations associated with the called party based on the telephone number; and
multicasting respective call notifications over a packet-switched network to the multiple destinations, wherein at least one of the destinations is a communications device coupled to the packet-switched network via a circuit-switched network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for communication, comprising:
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receiving a call notification for a called party;
extracting identification information of the called party from the call notification;
determining multiple destinations associated with the called party;
multicasting respective call notifications over a packet-switched network to the multiple destinations, wherein at least one of the destinations is a communications device coupled to the packet-switched network via a circuit-switched network; and
establishing a communication with more than one of the destinations.
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10. A communication system comprising:
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a plurality of converters having a same network address, each converter operable to sample voice signals and create digital packets containing a representation of the voice signals;
a database associating telephone numbers with each of a plurality of subscribers; and
a computer system operable, upon receipt of a call notification from a caller to a subscriber, to query the database to retrieve the telephone numbers associated with the subscriber and multicasting respective digital call notification packets to a plurality of the converters at the same network address, the digital notification packets including information relating to the telephone numbers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A communication system comprising:
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means for accessing a database associating addresses of respective communication devices with each of a plurality of subscribers in response to a request for call to a telephone number of a subscriber initiated from a telephone on a circuit-switched network;
means for multicasting respective digital call notification packets via a packet-switched network, the digital notification packets addressed to each of the addresses associated with a subscriber; and
means for forwarding one of the digital call notification packets from the packet-switched network to a corresponding one of communication devices via a circuit-switched network. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for communication to a called party, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for a call to a telephone number of the called party initiated from a telephone on a circuit-switched network;
determining multiple destinations associated with the called party based on the telephone number;
multicasting respective call notifications over a packet-switched network to the multiple destinations; and
forwarding at least one of the multiple call notifications from the packet-switched network to a device via a circuit-switched network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for communication over a packet-switched network, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a call notification for a telephone number;
determining multiple destinations associated with the telephone number; and
multicasting respective call notifications over the packet-switched network to the multiple destinations; and
establishing a conference communication with a plurality of the multiple destinations.
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Specification