Internet controlled telephone system

• US 7,512,117 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Web Telephony LLC
• Original Assignee: Web Telephony LLC
• Inventors: Swartz, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US10/914,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20050025133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems

Abstract

An Internet controlled telephony system employing a host services processor connected to a subscriber via the Internet and further connected to the public switched telephone system (PSTN). The subscriber employs a web interface to populate a database with preference data which is used by the host services processor to handle incoming calls and establish outgoing telephone connections in accordance with the preference data provided by the subscriber. Incoming calls to a telephone number assigned to the subscriber may be automatically forwarded to any telephone number specified by the preference data. The subscriber may also use the web interface to specify whether call waiting is to be activated, to screen or reroute calls from designated numbers, for recording voice mail messages in designated voice mailboxes, for selectively playing back voice mail messages via the web interface or for forwarding voice mail as an email attachment, for handling incoming fax transmissions using character recognition and email attachment functions, and for automatically paging the subscriber when incoming voice mail, fax or email messages are received, all in accordance with the preference data supplied by the subscriber using the web interface. Outgoing connections and conference calls may be initiated using the web interface, and the subscriber may block the operation of caller identification functions. Call progress information may be visually displayed to the subscriber during calls by transmitting web pages from the host services computer to the subscriber'"'"'s web browser.

Claims

1. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber which comprises, in combination, the steps of:

connecting a web server to the Internet for communicating with a web browser accessible to said subscriber at a location remote from said web server,

employing said web server to accept preference data submitted from said web browser via the Internet, said preference data defining the manner in which said subscriber desires to have telephone calls processed,

storing said preference data in a database,

employing call processing apparatus coupled to said database and to the public switched telephone network to process incoming telephone calls directed to a subscriber telephone number assigned to said subscriber via said public switched telephone network in a manner specified by said preference data,

employing said call processing apparatus to forward at least some of said incoming calls to one or more destination telephone numbers specified by said preference data,

recording voice mail messages from the originators of at least some of said incoming telephone calls,

employing said web server to transmit to said web browser a displayable listing identifying previously recorded ones of said voice mail messages, and

employing said web server to transmit one or more web pages to said web browser that enable said subscriber to listen to selected voice mail messages identified on said displayable listing.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of employing said call processing apparatus for activating and deactivating call waiting services in accordance said preference data.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of employing said call processing apparatus to screen calls to prevent incoming calls from being answered which originate from one or more telephone numbers specified by said preference data.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of recording voice mail messages from the originators of at least some of said incoming telephone calls includes the step of storing said voice mail messages as audio files accessible to said web server which may be retrieved and reproduced by said subscriber via the Internet using said web browser.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of said incoming telephone calls are facsimile transmissions, and further comprising the step of transmitting the content of said facsimile transmissions to a specified destination in a manner specified by said preference data.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting commands to said public switched telephone network to alter the manner in which said incoming telephone calls are processed in response to changes in said preference data submitted from said web browser.

7. The method set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of transmitting commands to said public switched telephone network comprises sending DTMF key sequences.

8. The method set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of transmitting commands to said public switched telephone network comprises sending SS7 call management signals.

9. The method set forth in claim 1 further including the step of activating and deactivating call tracing functions in response to changes in said preference data submitted by said subscriber.

10. The method set forth in claim 1 further including the step of employing said web server to transmit displayable information describing telephone calls processed by said call processing apparatus to said web browser.

11. The method set forth in claim 1 further including the step of employing said web server to accept the text of notes entered by the subscriber using said web browser and employing said web server to store said text for future reference by said subscriber.

12. The method set forth in claim 1 further including the step of receiving incoming email transmissions via the Internet directed to said subscriber and for processing said email messages in accordance with said preference data.

18. The method set forth in claim 10 wherein said displayable information describing telephone calls processed by said call processing apparatus includes caller identification information provided by said public switched telephone network.

19. The method set forth in claim 18 further including the step of employing said web server to accept telephone book data submitted to said web server from said web browser, said telephone book data consisting of a plurality of telephone book data entries each of which includes at least a name and a telephone number, and wherein said displayable information describing said incoming telephone calls further comprises additional information about the calling party obtained from said telephone book data by matching the telephone number specified by said caller identification information with a telephone number specified in one of said telephone book data entries.

20. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said displayable listing specifies the time at which said voice mail messages were received.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said one or more web pages enable the subscriber to play, rewind or move the playback position of a selected one of said voice mail messages.

22. The method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step of saving a copy of a selected one of said voice mail messages in response to a save request from said subscriber.

23. The method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step of transmitting at least selected ones of said voice mail messages as MIME voice file attachments to outgoing email messages directed to one or more email addresses specified in said preference data.

24. The method set forth in claim 10 further including the steps of transmitting to said web browser a displayable listing of a plurality of different remote telephone station sets, accepting a selection from said web browser of a particular one of said remote telephone station sets selected from said listing, and establishing an outgoing telephone connection between said subscriber and said particular one of said remote telephone station sets in response to said selection.

25. The method set forth in claim 10 wherein said displayable information includes the name and telephone number of a party placing at least some of said incoming calls.

26. The method set forth in claim 10 further including the step of employing said web server to accept telephone book data from said web browser, said telephone book data consisting of a plurality of telephone book data entries each of which includes at least a name and a telephone number.

27. The method set forth in claim 26 further including the step of employing said web server to transmit at least a selected portion of said telephone book data for display and editing by said web browser.

28. The method set forth in claim 27 further including the steps of accepting a selection by said subscriber using said web browser of a particular one of said telephone book data entries, and establishing an outgoing telephone connection between said subscriber and a remote telephone station set designated by said particular one of said entries in response to said selection.

29. The method set forth in claim 26 further including the step of organizing said telephone book data entries in alphabetical order by name, employing said web server to transmit a web page containing an alphabetical index to said entries for display by said web browser, and employing said web server to accept from said web browser a selection of one or more of said entries.

30. The method set forth in claim 26 further comprising the step of employing said web server to transmit a web page containing an editable telephone book data entry form to said web browser, said editable telephone book data entry form including controls for displaying and editing a person'"'"'s name, telephone number, and email address.

31. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprises the step of employing said call processing apparatus to forward said incoming calls to a first destination telephone number during a first chronological time period specified by said preference data and forwarding said incoming calls to a second destination telephone number specified by said preference data during a second chronological time period specified by said preference data.

32. The method set forth in claim 25 further including the step of transmitting a web page to said web browser including a memo control for displaying and editing the text of notes entered by said subscriber relating to a particular one of said incoming calls, and thereafter accepting and storing the contents of said memo control submitted from said web browser.

13. The method of establishing and controlling telephone connections between a subscriber and remote telephone station sets which comprises, in combination,

employing a web server connected to the Internet at a location remote from a web browser for accepting data submitted by said subscriber using said web browser, said data consisting of:

preference data for controlling the manner in which telephone calls are processed on behalf of said subscriber,

telephone book data consisting of a plurality of entries each of which contains at least a name and a telephone number, and

selection data designating one of said entries in said telephone book data for specifying the telephone number of a selected remote telephone station set, and

employing call processing means for establishing a packetized Internet Protocol voice telephone gateway connection between said public switched telephone network and said subscriber for receiving incoming telephone calls directed to a telephone number assigned to said subscriber, for establishing an outgoing telephone connection for a outgoing telephone call directed to said selected remote telephone station set by said subscriber, and for controlling the manner in which at least selected ones of said incoming and outgoing telephone calls are processed as specified by said preference data.

14. The method set forth in claim 13 further including the step of activating and deactivating call waiting services in response to changes in said preference data submitted by said subscriber.

15. The method set forth in claim 13 further including the step of activating and deactivating caller identification functions in response to changes in said preference data submitted by said subscriber.

16. The method set forth in claim 13 further including the step of employing said web server to transmit displayable information describing a telephone call in progress to said web browser.

17. The method set forth in claim 13 further including the step of establishing a multiparty conference call connection between said subscriber and a plurality of remotely located station sets whose telephone numbers are specified by said subscriber using said web browser.

33. A method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber which comprises, in combination, the steps of:

connecting a web server to the Internet at a location remote from a web browser,

accepting preference data submitted from said web browser to said web server via the Internet, said preference data defining the manner in which said subscriber desires to have telephone calls processed,

storing said preference data as submitted in a database,

employing call processing apparatus coupled to said database and to the public switched telephone network for processing incoming telephone calls directed to a subscriber telephone number assigned to said subscriber via said public switched telephone network in a manner specified by said preference data,

recording voice mail messages from the originators of at least some of said incoming telephone calls, and

employing said web server to transmit to said web browser a displayable listing identifying previously received ones of said voice mail messages.

34. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 33 further comprising the step of accepting from said web browser a selection of a particular one of said voice mail messages identified on said displayable listing and for transmitting said particular one of said voice mail messages to said subscriber for playback.

35. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 34 wherein said particular one of said voice mail files is transmitted to said subscriber as an audio file to enable the subscriber to play, rewind or move the playback position of said audio file.

36. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 33 wherein said step of recording voice mail messages comprises storing said voice mail messages as audio files and wherein said method further comprises the step of transmitting a selected one of said audio files to said subscriber as requested by said subscriber using said web browser.

37. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 36 wherein said step of transmitting a selected one of said audio files to said subscriber enables said subscriber to play, rewind or move the playback position of said selected one of said audio files.

38. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 36 further including the step of deleting a copy of a selected one of said audio files in response to a deletion request from said subscriber.

39. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 33 further including the step of transmitting a copy of at least a selected one of said voice mail messages as an audio file attached to an outgoing email message sent to an email address specified in said preference data.

40. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 37 further including the step of transmitting a copy of at least selected ones of said audio files as attachments to outgoing email messages sent to an email address specified in said preference data.

41. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set fort in claim 33 wherein said a displayable listing specifies the time at which said previously received ones of said voice mail messages were recorded.

42. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 36 further including the step of deleting a copy of a selected one of said audio files in response to a deletion request from said subscriber.

43. A method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber which comprises, in combination, the steps of:

connecting a web server to the Internet at a location remote from a web browser,

employing said web server to accept preference data from said web browser via the Internet, said preference data defining the manner in which said subscriber desires to have telephone calls processed,

storing said preference data as submitted in a database,

employing call processing apparatus coupled to said database and to the public switched telephone network for processing incoming telephone calls directed to a subscriber telephone number assigned to said subscriber via said public switched telephone network in a manner specified by said preference data,

recording voice mail messages from the originators of at least some of said incoming telephone calls, and

transmitting a copy of at least selected ones of said voice mail messages as voice file attachments to outgoing email messages directed to one or more email addresses specified by said preference data.

44. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 43 wherein said step of recording voice mail messages comprises storing said voice mail messages as voice files which may be selectively retrieved and reproduced by said subscriber via the Internet using said web browser.

45. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 44 wherein said voice files enable said subscriber to employ said browser to play, rewind or move the playback position of one of said voice files retrieved and reproduced by said subscriber.

46. The method of processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber as set forth in claim 44 further including the step of deleting a copy of a selected one of said voice files in response to a deletion request from said subscriber.

47. A host services facility connected to the Internet for processing telephone calls on behalf of a subscriber, said host services facility comprising, in combination:

a connection to a digital communications facility providing Internet access to a client application program executed on a remotely located client computer operated by said subscriber,

a server for accepting selection data submitted via said digital communication facility from said client application program, said selection data defining the manner in which said subscriber desires to have telephone calls processed,

an interface for connecting said host services facility to the public switched telephone network for receiving incoming telephone calls directed to a subscriber telephone number assigned to said subscriber,

a voice mailbox for recording voice mail messages from the originators of at least some of said incoming telephone calls directed to said subscriber telephone number, and

a call processor capable of executing each of the following call processing functions;

establishing a packetized Internet Protocol voice connection to said subscriber via said digital communications facility for at least some of said incoming telephone calls;

responding to a request from said subscriber by transmitting to said subscriber listing data displayable by said client application program identifying previously received ones of said voice mail messages, and

responding to a selection of a given one of said messages received from said client application program by transmitting said given one of said voice mail messages to said subscriber.

48. A host services facility as set forth in claim 47 wherein said listing data identifies the telephone number of the callers that placed previously received ones of said voice mail messages.

49. A host services facility as set forth in claim 48 wherein said displayable listing further identifies times when previously received ones of said voice mail messages were recorded.

50. A host services facility as set forth in claim 49 wherein said call processor is also capable of deleting a previously received one of said voice mail messages specified by selection data received from said subscriber.

51. A host services facility as set forth in claim 50 wherein said selection data includes an email address and wherein said call processor is also capable of forwarding at least selected ones of said voice mail messages to said email address.

52. A host services facility as set forth in claim 51 wherein said selected ones of said voice mail messages are forwarded to said email address as voice file attachments to email messages sent to said email address.

53. A host services facility as set forth in claim 50 wherein said selection data includes an email address and wherein said call processor is also capable of transmitting an email message to said email address containing test information derived from one of said voice mail messages.

54. A host services facility as set forth in claim 47 wherein said interface further includes a dial tone interpreter coupled to said interface for accepting DTMF commands via the public switched telephone network containing at least some of said selection data.

55. A host services facility as set fort in claim 47 wherein said interface further includes means for transmitting control commands to said public switched telephone system in response to said selection data to control the manner in which said public switched telephone network processes telephone calls on behalf of said subscriber.

56. A host services facility as set forth in claim 51 wherein said control commands comprise DTMF key sequences.

57. A host services facility as set forth in claim 51 wherein said control commands comprise SS7 call management signals.

58. A host services facility as set forth in claim 47 wherein said server transmits caller identification data to said subscriber via the Internet that is displayable by said client application program to identify the party or parties placing at least some of said incoming calls.

59. A host services facility as set forth in claim 47 wherein said client application program includes a web browser and wherein said server is a Web server that transmits web forms to said web browser which may be completed by said subscriber and then submitted to and received by said web server to accept at least some of said selection data defining the manner in which said subscriber desires to have telephone calls processed.

60. A host services facility as set forth in claim 59 wherein said web server transmits one or more web pages to said web browser containing a displayable listing of a plurality of different remotely located parties, accepts selection data from said web browser specifying a particular one of remotely located said parties from said web browser, and accepts selection data from said web browser which specifies the manner in which telephone calls between said subscriber and said particular one of said remotely located parties are to be processed by said executable programs.

61. A host services facility as set forth in claim 60 wherein said displayable listing includes the name and telephone number of at least some of said remotely located parties.

62. A host services facility as set forth in claim 61 wherein said call processor is also capable of establishing an outgoing telephone connection between said subscriber and said particular one of said remotely located panics in response to said selection data.

63. A host services facility as set forth in claim 61 wherein said displayable listing contains information retrieved from a database of information accessible to said web server and containing information submitted at least in part by said subscriber.

64. A host services facility as set forth in claim 47 further comprising a database coupled to said server for storing telephone book data submitted by said subscriber, said telephone book data consisting of a plurality of telephone book data entries each of which includes at least a name and a telephone number.

65. A host services facility as set forth in claim 64 wherein said server transmits at least some of said telephone book data to said client application program for displaying at least selected ones of said telephone book data entries to said subscriber.

66. A host services facility as set forth in claim 64 wherein call processor is also capable of blocking incoming calls from phone numbers specified in selected ones of said telephone book data entries in a manner specified by said selection data.

67. A host services facility as set forth in claim 64 wherein call processor is also capable of handling telephone calls between said subscriber and parties identified by selected ones of said telephone book data entries in a manner specified by said selection data.

68. A host services facility as set forth in claim 47 wherein call processor is also capable of forwarding at least selected ones of said incoming calls to one or more destination telephone numbers specified by said selection data.

69. A host services facility as set forth in claim 68 wherein call processor is also capable of forwarding at least some of said incoming calls to a first destination telephone number during a first chronological time period specified by said selection data and forwarding others of said incoming calls to a second destination telephone number specified by said selection data during a second chronological time period specified by said preference data.

70. A host services facility as set forth in claim 47 wherein call processor is also capable of first attempting to establish said packetized Internet Protocol voice connection between said public switched telephone network for incoming calls before forwarding said incoming calls via said public switched telephone network to a telephone number specified by said selection data.