Methods and apparatus for returning a call over a telephony system
First Claim
1. A method of performing a return-call operation to a caller'"'"'s private number so as not to reveal the private number to a called party, the method comprising:
- receiving at a call management system a call from a caller, the call intended for a user;
receiving signaling information, including a phone number associated with the caller;
determining whether the phone number is a private phone number based on the signaling information;
when the phone number is a private phone number,causing a display message to be presented to the user, the display message notifying the user of the call, wherein the display message does not include the private phone number;
storing the private phone number in computer readable memory, wherein the user is prevented from viewing the phone number in an unencrypted form; and
enabling the user to return the call to the private phone number without revealing the private phone number using a call bridging operation performed by the call management system, to thereby prevent the caller'"'"'s private phone number from appearing on a telephone bill of the user as a result of the return call.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a call-return process and system, wherein a called party can return a missed call to a caller'"'"'s private number. A forwarded call is received by a call management system, wherein the forwarded call was originally directed by a caller to a first telephone line associated with a user. The call management system receives call signaling information, including a phone number, associated with the caller. The call management system then determines whether the phone number is a private phone number or a public phone number. If the phone number is private, the call management system notifies the user of the call, and without revealing the caller'"'"'s phone number to the user, enables the user to return the caller'"'"'s call.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. A method of performing a return-call operation to a caller'"'"'s private number so as not to reveal the private number to a called party, the method comprising:
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receiving at a call management system a call from a caller, the call intended for a user; receiving signaling information, including a phone number associated with the caller; determining whether the phone number is a private phone number based on the signaling information; when the phone number is a private phone number, causing a display message to be presented to the user, the display message notifying the user of the call, wherein the display message does not include the private phone number; storing the private phone number in computer readable memory, wherein the user is prevented from viewing the phone number in an unencrypted form; and enabling the user to return the call to the private phone number without revealing the private phone number using a call bridging operation performed by the call management system, to thereby prevent the caller'"'"'s private phone number from appearing on a telephone bill of the user as a result of the return call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of performing a return-call operation to a caller'"'"'s private number so as not to reveal the private number to a called party, the method comprising:
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receiving from a caller a call intended for a user; receiving signaling information, including a private phone number associated with the caller; generating a message notifying the user of the call, wherein the message notification does not include the private phone number; enabling the user to return the call to the private phone number without revealing the private phone number to the user; and storing the private phone number in computer readable memory, wherein the user is prevented from viewing the stored private phone number in unencrypted form, and wherein the call is returned to the caller'"'"'s private phone number using a call bridging operation to thereby inhibit the caller'"'"'s private phone number from appearing on a telephone bill of the user as a result of the return call. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of processing a call from a caller with a private number to a first user without revealing the private number to the first user, the method comprising:
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receiving at a call management system a first call from a caller and an associated private phone number, wherein the first call is intended for a first user; storing the private phone number in computer readable memory, wherein the user is prevented from viewing the phone number in an unencrypted form; initiating the transmission of a message over a computer network to a computer terminal used by the first user, the message configured to provide a notification related to the call without displaying the private phone number to the first user; and enabling the first user to return the call to the private phone number without revealing the private phone number to the first user and without the private phone number appearing on the first user'"'"'s phone bill. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of returning a call to a private number so as not to reveal the private number to a called party, comprising:
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receiving a call intended for a first user, the call including signaling information providing the originating phone number; determining if the originating phone number is private; when the originating phone number is private; storing the private phone number in computer readable memory, wherein the user is prevented from viewing the phone number in an unencrypted form; enabling the first user to return a call, without revealing the private originating phone number to the first user; and causing the private originating phone number to be transmitted to a VoIP system without revealing the private originating phone number to the first user, to thereby connect the first user to the private originating phone number using VoIP. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method of performing a call operation for a call associated with a caller private phone number, the method comprising:
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receiving from a caller a call intended for a user; receiving signaling information, including a private phone number associated with the caller; storing the private phone number in computer readable memory, wherein the user is prevented from viewing the phone number in an unencrypted form; notifying the user of the call, wherein the notification does not include the private phone number; enabling the user to call the private phone number without revealing the private phone number to the user; and storing the private phone number in computer readable memory without providing the private phone number to the user, wherein the call to the caller'"'"'s private phone number is performed using a call bridging operation, and the caller'"'"'s private phone number does not appear on a telephone bill of the user as a result of the call to the caller'"'"'s private phone number. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A method of performing a call operation with respect to a private phone number, the method comprising:
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receiving from a caller a call intended for a user; receiving signaling information, including a private phone number associated with the caller; recording a voice message from the caller; notifying the user of the call, wherein the notification does not include the private phone number; enabling the user to place a call to the private phone number without revealing the private phone number to the user; and storing the private phone number in the call processing system, wherein the user is prevented from viewing the private phone number in an unencrypted form, wherein the call is placed to the caller'"'"'s private phone number using a call bridging operation and the caller'"'"'s private phone number does not appear on a telephone bill of the user as a result of the call to the private phone number. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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Specification