Application independent telephone call initiation
First Claim
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1. A method of application independent telephone call initiation comprising:
- providing a computer having a display, an input device, an application program and a telephone call module,the application program comprising an integrated body of computer software comprised of one or more files, modules or parts that calls operating system services and performs work for a user, andthe telephone call module comprising software distinct from the application program and operating apart from the application program;
the application program causing a telephone number to be displayed on the display;
the telephone call module recognizing user activation of the displayed telephone number;
the telephone call module, in response to recognizing the activation of the displayed telephone number, causing a first signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between a predefined telephone number and the displayed telephone number;
the telephone call module recognizing user activation of a second telephone number; and
the telephone call module, in response to recognizing the activation of the second telephone number, causing a second signal to be sent to the switch instructing the switch to initiate a conference call between the predefined telephone number, the displayed telephone number and the second telephone number wherein the first signal and the second signal are joined in a single message to the switch.
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Abstract
There are disclosed methods and apparatus for telephone call initiation. An application program causes a telephone number to be displayed. A user activates the displayed telephone number. A telephone call module recognizes the activation of the displayed telephone number, and causes a signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between a predefined telephone number and the displayed telephone number.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method of application independent telephone call initiation comprising:
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providing a computer having a display, an input device, an application program and a telephone call module, the application program comprising an integrated body of computer software comprised of one or more files, modules or parts that calls operating system services and performs work for a user, and the telephone call module comprising software distinct from the application program and operating apart from the application program; the application program causing a telephone number to be displayed on the display; the telephone call module recognizing user activation of the displayed telephone number; the telephone call module, in response to recognizing the activation of the displayed telephone number, causing a first signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between a predefined telephone number and the displayed telephone number; the telephone call module recognizing user activation of a second telephone number; and the telephone call module, in response to recognizing the activation of the second telephone number, causing a second signal to be sent to the switch instructing the switch to initiate a conference call between the predefined telephone number, the displayed telephone number and the second telephone number wherein the first signal and the second signal are joined in a single message to the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product stored on a machine readable medium comprising computer software distinct from an application program and operating apart from the application program, the computer software having instructions for causing a processor to:
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recognize activation by a user of a telephone number displayed by an application program; in response to recognizing the activation of the displayed telephone number, cause a first signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between a predefined telephone number and the displayed telephone number; recognize activation of a second telephone number; and in response to recognizing the activation of the second telephone number, cause a second signal to be sent to the switch instructing the switch to initiate a conference call between the predefined telephone number, the displayed telephone number and the second telephone number wherein the first signal and the second signal are joined in a single message to the switch. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A client computer for application independent telephone call initiation comprising:
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a user input device; a display device; a processor; and a memory; wherein the processor and the memory comprise circuits and software for; recognizing activation by a user of a telephone number displayed by an application program, and in response to recognizing the activation of the displayed telephone number, causing a first signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between a predefined telephone number and the displayed telephone number; recognizing activation of a second telephone number; and in response to recognizing the activation of the second telephone number, causing a second signal to be sent to the switch instructing the switch to initiate a conference call between the predefined telephone number, the displayed telephone number and the second telephone number wherein the first signal and the second signal are joined in a single message to the switch. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of server-based telephone call initiation comprising:
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providing a server having a network application program and a telephone call module; the application program sending a first message to a client computer for causing a first telephone number to be displayed by the client computer; the application program receiving a second message from the client computer that the displayed telephone number has been activated; the telephone call module, in response to receiving the second message, causing a first signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between a second, predefined telephone number and the first telephone number; the telephone call module receiving a third message from the client computer that a third telephone number has been activated; and the telephone call module, in response to receiving the third message that the third telephone number has been activated, causing a second signal to be sent to the switch instructing the switch to initiate a conference call between the first telephone number, the second telephone number and the third telephone number wherein the first signal and the second signal are joined in a single message to the switch. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A computer program product stored on a machine readable medium comprising computer software having instructions for causing a processor to:
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send a message to a client computer for causing a first telephone number to be displayed by the client computer; receive a message from the client computer that the displayed telephone number has been activated; in response to receiving the message from the client computer, cause a first signal to be sent to a switch instructing the switch to initiate a telephone call between a second, predefined telephone number and the first telephone number; receive a message from the client computer that a third telephone number has been activated; and in response to receiving the message that the third telephone number has been activated, cause a second signal to be sent to the switch instructing the switch to initiate a conference call between the first telephone number, the second telephone number and the third telephone number wherein the first signal and the second signal are joined in a single message to the switch. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification