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Telephone number searching system supporting automatic telephone connection and method therefor

  • US 7,177,415 B1
  • Filed: 10/27/1998
  • Issued: 02/13/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for dialing a telephone number retrieved via a first telephone line and the internet from a remote web server which stores multiple telephone numbers in a telephone number database, the system comprising:

  • a telephone operable by a user and connected with a second telephone line; and

    an information terminal operable by the user and comprising;

    a web browser, which selectively connects to the web server via the first telephone line and the internet, and which submits a search request to the remote web server for searching the stored telephone numbers in the telephone number database, and the remote web server transfers at least one telephone number among the stored telephone numbers to the web browser;

    a screen which;

    displays the search request input by a user, anddisplays the at least one telephone number retrieved by the web server as a hypertext markup language (HTML) document; and

    a telephone plug-in connected with the web browser, the second telephone line, and the telephone, wherein;

    where the user selects one of the retrieved and displayed telephone numbers, the web browser determines whether the selected telephone number is defined with a predetermined link syntax, and if the selected telephone number is defined with the predetermined link syntax, the telephone plug-in automatically dials the selected telephone number using the second telephone line independently of the web server, to set up a communication channel through the telephone, the communication channel being independent of the telephone plug-in, the first telephone line and the internet.

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