×

Method and apparatus for controlling telephone calls using a computer assistant

  • US 7,990,954 B2
  • Filed: 11/01/2008
  • Issued: 08/02/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for initiating a voice communication using a call assistant program associated with a communications service providing voice communications, comprising the steps of:

  • initiating execution of the call assistant program on a computing system;

    registering the call assistant program for a first user with the communications service, wherein status/control packets are periodically exchanged between the call assistant program and the communications service;

    displaying at least one icon on the computing system that presents status information regarding the first user;

    displaying content on the computing system with a program running on the computing system that is different from the call assistant program;

    parsing the displayed content with the call assistant program to determine a telephone number of a second user contained within the displayed content;

    in response to user activation, determining target information associated with a telephone of the second user;

    sending a voice communications initiation control packet from the call assistant program to the communications service; and

    initiating a voice communication via the communications service between the first user and the second user.

View all claims
  • 4 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×