Third party call control of all phones

• US 7,715,421 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fisher, Steve, Glazer, Samuel, Goldman, Shelley B., Kowalski, Thaddeus, Foladare, Mark J., Chen, Yihsiu
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, PHUC H
• Application Number:
  US10/773,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20050180457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,287 Days
• Field of Search: 370/446, 370/465, 370/464, 370/280, 370/281, 370/298, 370/310, 370/466
• US Class Current: 370/432
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres

Abstract

A system and method for call control wherein a call received at a communication device may be controlled through an IP device connected to an IP network over which at least a portion of the call was routed. The IP device is connected to the IP network via a control gateway.

Claims

1. A system for call control, comprising:

a control gateway providing control access to an IP network;

at least one IP device connected to the control gateway, said at least one IP device configured to control a call, the IP device adapted to translate an SIP address into one or more physical addresses on the IP network, the IP device adapted to route the call over multiple call links to ring all phones of a set of separate phones at each of a plurality of destinations, the set of separate phones comprising a cell phone destination, a voice over IP phone, and a PBX phone, via the IP device, controlling a plurality of applications associated with the call using an SIP protocol, the applications comprising remote voice mail screening, call transfer to another phone prior to picking up a destination phone, midcall transfer to another phone, call logging, adding the call to an audio conference, putting a caller on hold, remote call hangup, ringing multiple phones on an incoming call, a screen popup on a personal computer that indicates who is calling, providing a picture of the caller, managing multiple devices and telephone numbers, controlling one button dialing from a phone, and voice dialing control.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP device controls the call using the SIP protocol, the IP device adapted to receive a particular number to be dialed from a personal computer client, the personal computer client provide the number based upon a click.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP device controls the call using a protocol having a call control portion and a voice control portion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP device provides a service application of the plurality of applications, the service application adapted for controlling the call, the service application adapted to route the call to both a voice mail system and to a personal computer client, the service application adapted to connect the call to a PBX phone responsive to a request from the user indicative of a decision to pick up the call.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a communications device for receiving the call.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP device controls the call using a protocol having a call control portion and a voice control portion, via the voice control portion, the IP device adapted to receive a voice command from a cell phone and determine a party to call from the voice command, the IP device adapted to cause an establishment of a connection between the cell phone and the party.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the IP device provides a second service application under control of the IP device, the second service application adapted to transfer the call from a cell phone to the PBX phone, the IP device adapted to receive a voice command from the cell phone, the voice command indicative of a party to call, the IP device adapted to cause a connection to be established to a third party via a dial request based upon the voice command.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the call is routed through a Public Switched Telephone Network and an IP network.