Systems and methods for phone call management

• US 7,596,217 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Union Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Union Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Balk, Igor, Choupak, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah; Olisa
• Application Number:
  US12/277,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20090067595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 379/210.01, 379/88.13, 379/205.01, 379/202.01, 379/204.01, 379/207.01, 379/158, 379/93.21, 379/212.01, 379/376.01, 379/214.01, 709/206, 709/227
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0012 Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A communication system includes client software operating on a PC, or similar platform, and a client telephone that is connected to a call routing server. A user manages telephone communication, including incoming and outgoing calls, conference calls and call forwarding, through the client software. The client software commands the call routing server using instant messenger communication.

Claims

1. A method of managing telephone calls to and from a user'"'"'s telephone comprising:

sending a first instant messenger communication from a client device associated with the telephone to a call routing server that is connected to the telephone, the first instant messenger communication containing information regarding an outgoing telephone call including a destination;

the call routing server placing the outgoing telephone call to the destination and connecting the telephone to the destination in response to the first instant messenger communication; and

in response to the call routing server receiving an incoming telephone call directed to the telephone, sending a second instant messenger communication to the client device that is associated with the telephone, the second instant messenger communication including information regarding the incoming telephone call;

wherein the incoming telephone call is transferred in response to an instant messenger command sent from the client device to the call routing server, the instant messenger command being dependent on presence information regarding the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the telephone to an interactive voice response server while the call routing server places the outgoing telephone call, prior to connecting the telephone to the destination, the interactive voice response server providing voice information to the telephone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein another incoming telephone call is placed on hold in response to another instant messenger command sent from the client device to the call routing server, the another instant messenger command being dependent on presence information regarding the user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein another incoming telephone call is hung-up in response to another instant messenger command sent from the client device to the call routing server, the another instant messenger command being dependent on presence information regarding the user.

5. A system for managing telephone calls to and from a user'"'"'s telephone comprising:

a client device associated with the telephone configured to send a first instant messenger communication to a call routing server that is connected to the telephone, the first instant messenger communication containing information regarding an outgoing telephone call including a destination;

the call routing server configured to place the outgoing telephone call to the destination and connecting the telephone to the destination in response to the first instant messenger communication; and

the call routing server sending a second instant messenger communication to the client device associated with the telephone in response to the call routing server receiving an incoming telephone call directed to the telephone, the second instant messenger communication including information regarding the incoming telephone call;

wherein the incoming telephone call is transferred in response to an instant messenger command sent from the client device to the call routing server, the instant messenger command being dependent on presence information regarding the user.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the call routing server connects the telephone to an interactive voice response server while the call routing server places the outgoing telephone call prior to connecting the telephone to the destination, the interactive voice response server providing voice information to the telephone.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the call routing server places another incoming telephone call on hold in response to another instant messenger command sent from the client device to the call routing server, the another instant messenger command being dependent on presence information regarding the user.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the call routing server hangs up another incoming telephone call in response to another instant messenger command sent from the client device to the call routing server, the another instant messenger command being dependent on presence information regarding the user.