Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of providing a called entity the ability to selectively accept phone calls, the method comprising:
- receiving over a PSTN, at a call processing apparatus, a call from a first entity directed to a second entity'"'"'s virtual telephone number;
opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the second entity;
recording speech from the first entity and transmitting the speech over the Internet communication channel to the networked computer to be played by the networked computer to the second entity; and
receiving an instruction, over the Internet communication channel from the second entity via the networked computer, and at least partly in response to the received instruction, causing the first entity call to be selectively connected to one of a plurality of potential second entity terminal destinations.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method of providing a called entity the ability to selectively accept phone calls, the method comprising:
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receiving over a PSTN, at a call processing apparatus, a call from a first entity directed to a second entity'"'"'s virtual telephone number; opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the second entity; recording speech from the first entity and transmitting the speech over the Internet communication channel to the networked computer to be played by the networked computer to the second entity; and receiving an instruction, over the Internet communication channel from the second entity via the networked computer, and at least partly in response to the received instruction, causing the first entity call to be selectively connected to one of a plurality of potential second entity terminal destinations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to provide a called party the ability to audibly screen calls via a networked computer, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling patty intended forte called party, wherein signaling information associated with the call includes the calling party'"'"'s phone number; playing a greeting to the calling party; opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the called party; transmitting in substantially real time at least a portion of the signaling information for display to the called party on the networked computer; and transmitting in substantially real time a VoIP voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the networked computer so that the called party can audibly listen to the voice communication in substantially real time and screen the calling part'"'"'s call. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls using a wireless phone via an audible message from the calling party, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party intended for the called party;
playing a greeting via the first system to the calling party;opening a communication channel with a wireless phone associated with the called party; and transmitting in substantially real time via the first system an audible voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the wireless phone so that the called party can listen to and screen the audible voice communication in substantially real time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of enabling a called party to audibly screen calls via a device having a call management user interface displayed on a screen, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party intended for the called party; playing a greeting to the calling party; opening a communication channel to a communication device having a display, wherein the display displays a user interface including, a first control that, when selected by the called party, causes the first system to enable the called party to talk to the caller; a second control that, when selected by the called party, causes the first system to transfer the call to another communication device; transmitting in substantially real time an audible voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the commumication device so that the called party can listen to the audible voice communication in substantially real time and screen the calling party'"'"'s call; and receiving an indication at the first system that the called party selected the first control or the second control while the voice communication from the calling party is being transmitted in substantially real time. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of locating a called party and providing the called party the ability to audibly screen calls, the method comprising;
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receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party intended for the called party; playing a greeting to the culling party; retrieving from computer readable memory associated with the first system stored information corresponding to a plurality of terminals associated with the called party; determining at which of the plurality of terminals the called party is currently located; opening a communication channel with the terminal the called party is currently located at; and transmitting in substantially real time a voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the terminal at which the called party is currently located so that the called party can listen to the voice communication in substantially real time and screen the calling party'"'"'s call. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls that are forwarded to a call processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving at a call processing system 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 and no answer call forward;
playing a greeting to the first entity;opening a communication channel with a first communication device associated with the second entity; and transmitting in substantially real time via the first system a voice communication from the first entity over the communication channel to the communication device so that the second entity can listen to and screen the voice communication in substantially real time. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification