Methods and systems for speed dialing

• US 8,085,922 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Robert, Kirchhoff, Leland W., Kelley, Colin, Trandal, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addy, Thjuan K
• Application Number:
  US11/740,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 379/216.01, 379/355.06, 379/355.01, 379/355.05, 379/350, 379/201.01, 379/355.02, 379/355.07, 370/352, 370/338, 370/351
• US Class Current: 379/216.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424

Abstract

Systems and methods for configuring and using speed dialing are described. A first user interface is displayed to a user, the first user interface providing a name field configured to display and/or receive a contact name and a phone address field configured to display and/or receive a phone address associated with the contact name. A speed dial field configured to receive and/or display a speed dial identifier associated with the phone address is provided. When the user later enters speed dial identifier via a telephone, the phone address is called.

Claims

1. A method of assigning and utilizing speed dial identifiers that can be used via a POTS landline telephone, the method comprising

causing at least in part a first user interface to be displayed to a user via a user device including a display, the first user interface providing:

a name field configured to at least display a contact name associated with a contact;

a phone address field configured to at least display a phone address associated with the contact;

a speed dial field via which the user can specify a speed dial identifier associated with the phone address,

wherein the user device is a different device than the POTS landline telephone;

wherein the user can utilize the first speed dial identifier to initiate a call to the phone address associated with the contact via a plurality telephonic device types,

at least one type of which is;

POTS landline telephone, and

at least one type of which is;

a type different than POTS landline telephone;

receiving at a call processing system an inbound call to a destination phone address wherein the call is placed is at least partly in response to the speed dial identifier being entered via the POTS landline telephone and signaling information associated with the call, including a calling party identification;

determining, at least in part, from the calling party identification and the destination phone address, what phone address to call;

placing an outbound call to the determined phone address; and

,

bridging the inbound call and outbound call.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user interface is accessible via a plurality of different telephonic device types.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user interface is presented via a client application executing on a host.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user interface is presented via a web page.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user interface is presented via a widget and/or gadget.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user device is a personal computer, a game console, or an interactive television.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user device is a wireless phone.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the speed dial field is configured to receive letters and/or numbers.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user can specify the speed dial identifier via a selection from a menu of speed dial identifiers.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving one or more letters entered into the speed dial field; and

translating the received letters into corresponding telephone key pad numbers.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, the method further comprising providing for display to the user the corresponding key pad numbers.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving one or more letters entered into the speed dial field; and

determining if any of the entered letters are not permitted, wherein at least one not permitted letter is not found on a standard POTS keypad.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving at a call processing system a first speed dial identifier selected by the user; and

transmitting the first speed dial identifier to a telecommunications system.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the call processing system includes a Service Control Point.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the telecommunications system includes a Service Switching Point.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the call processing system provides call routing instructions for a call to a phone address associated with the first speed dial identifier to the Service Switching Point.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a speed dial assignment made using the first user interface is useable via a plurality of telephonic devices serviced by corresponding different carriers.

18. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising causing at least in part a contact record for the contact to be displayed to the user, the contact record including the speed dial identifier and a physical address.

19. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user interface identifies unassigned speed dial identifiers.

20. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user interface identifies permitted speed dial identifiers.

21. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user interface includes a field via which the user can indicate if a calling phone address associated with the user is to be kept private for calls placed to the contact.

22. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the user later enters the speed dial identifier by speaking the speed dial identifier into one or more telephonic devices, the phone address is called.

23. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the name field is prepopulated using, at least in part, a query into a name database using signaling information associated with a call from the contact.

24. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the phone address field is prepopulated using signaling information from a call from the contact.

25. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing a voice interactive system for configuring at least one speed dial identifier, wherein the user can configure the at least one speed dial identifier via a telephonic device.

26. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing a messaging interface via which the user can configure at least one speed dial identifier by transmitting a text message to a first address.

27. The method as defined in claim 26, wherein the messaging interface is configured to receive at least SMS messages.

28. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the user later enters the speed dial identifier and enters and at least one additional character via at least one telephonic device, the phone address is called at least partly in response to the entered speed dial identifier and the at least one additional character.

29. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the user later enters the speed dial identifier via at least one telephonic device, a first system waits a first predetermined amount of time prior to calling the phone address.

30. A method of assigning and utilizing speed dial, the method comprising

causing at least in part a first user interface to be displayed to a user via a user device including a display, the first user interface providing:

a name field configured to display and/or receive a contact name associated with a contact;

a phone address field configured to display and/or receive a phone address associated with the contact;

a speed dial field configured to receive and/or display a speed dial identifier associated with the phone address,

wherein when the user later enters the speed dial identifier via a telephonic device key pad, the telephonic device being different than the user device;

wherein the user can utilize the first speed dial identifier via a plurality of telephonic devices of different types, including at least one POTS landline telephonic device and at least one wireless telephonic device;

receiving at a call processing system an inbound call to a destination phone address wherein the call is placed is at least partly in response to the entered speed dial identifier and signaling information associated with the call, including a calling party identification;

determining, at least in part, from the calling party identification and the destination phone address, what phone address to call;

placing an outbound call to the determined phone address; and

,

bridging the inbound call and outbound call.

31. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first user interface is accessible via a plurality of user devices.

32. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first user interface is presented via a client application executing on a host.

33. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first user interface is presented via a web page.

34. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first user interface is presented via a widget and/or gadget.

35. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the user device is a personal computer, a game console, or an interactive television.

36. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the user device is a wireless phone.

37. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the speed dial field is configured to receive the speed dial identifier via a user selection from a menu of speed dial identifiers.

38. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the speed dial field is configured to receive letters and/or numbers.

39. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising:

receiving one or more letters entered into the speed dial field; and

translating the received letters into corresponding telephonic device key pad numbers.

40. The method as defined in claim 39, the method further comprising providing for display to the user the corresponding key pad numbers.

41. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising:

receiving one or more letters entered into the speed dial field; and

determining if any of the entered letters are not permitted, wherein at least one not permitted letter is not found on a standard POTS keypad.

42. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising:

receiving at a call processing system a first speed dial identifier entered into the speed dial field; and

transmitting the first speed dial identifier to a telecommunications system.

43. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the call processing system includes a Service Control Point.

44. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the telecommunications system includes a Service Switching Point.

45. The method as defined in claim 44, wherein the call processing system provides call routing instructions for a call to a phone address associated with the first speed dial identifier to the Service Switching Point.

46. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising:

receiving from a first telecommunication system at a call processing system a first call placed by the user via a mobile telephonic device,

receiving in association with the first call a first speed dial identifier and a calling address;

using the calling address and the first speed dial identifier to locate a telephone address corresponding to the first speed dial identifier;

placing a second call to the telephone address corresponding to the first speed dial identifier; and

bridging the first call and the second call.

47. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein a speed dial assignment made using the first user interface is useable via a plurality of telephonic devices serviced by corresponding different carriers.

48. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising causing at least in part a contact record for the contact to be displayed to the user, the contact record including the speed dial identifier and a physical address.

49. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first user interface identifies unassigned speed dial identifiers.

50. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first user interface identifies permitted speed dial identifiers.

51. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the first user interface includes a privacy field via which the user can indicate if a calling phone address associated with the user is to be kept private for calls placed to the contact.

52. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein at least partly in response to the user later entering the speed dial identifier by speaking the speed dial identifier into a telephonic device, the phone address is called.

53. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the name field is prepopulated using, at least in part, a query into a name database using signaling information associated with a call from the contact.

54. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the phone address field is prepopulated using signaling information from a call from the contact.

55. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising providing a voice interactive system for configuring at least one speed dial identifier, wherein the user can configure the at least one speed dial identifier via a telephonic device.

56. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising providing a messaging interface via which the user can configure at least one speed dial identifier by transmitting a text message to a first address.

57. The method as defined in claim 56, wherein the messaging interface is configured to receive at least SMS messages.

58. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein when the user later enters the speed dial identifier and enters and at least one additional character via at least one telephonic device, the phone address is called at least partly in response to the entered speed dial identifier and the at least one additional character.

59. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein when the user later enters the speed dial identifier via at least one telephonic device, a first system waits a first predetermined amount of time prior to calling the phone address.

60. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising pre-configuring a wireless telephonic device with a plurality of speed dial assignments.

61. The method as defined in claim 60, wherein the user is not charged for call minutes for calls made via at least a portion of the preconfigured plurality of speed dial assignments.

62. The method as defined in claim 30, the method further comprising synchronizing at least two data stores, wherein at least one data store includes at least one speed dial assignment.

63. A method of assigning and utilizing speed dial, the method comprising

causing at least in part a first user interface to be provided to a user, wherein the user interface prompts the user to make a first speed dial assignment for a first phone address,

wherein the first speed dial assignment made via the first user interface is usable via a first landline telephonic device and a first mobile telephonic device;

and

wherein the first user interface is provided to the user by a device different than the first landline telephonic device or the first mobile telephonic device;

wherein a speed dial assignment made using the first user interface is useable via a plurality of telephonic devices, including two or more telephonic devices of different types serviced by corresponding different telecommunications systems, and

the user device is a different device than at least one of the plurality of telephonic devices, and

the user can utilize the first speed dial identifier via the plurality telephonic devices, at least one of which is a POT landline telephone and at least one of which is not the POTS landline telephone;

receiving at a call processing system an inbound call to a destination phone address wherein the call is placed is at least partly in response to the entered speed dial identifier and signaling information associated with the call, including a calling party identification;

determining, at least in part, from the calling party identification and the destination phone address, what phone address to call;

placing an outbound call to the phone address; and

bridging the inbound call and outbound call.

64. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface is configured to be displayed via a user device including a display.

65. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface includes:

a name field configured to display and/or receive a contact name associated with a contact;

a phone address field configured to display and/or receive a phone address associated with the contact;

a speed dial field configured to receive and/or display a speed dial identifier associated with the phone address.

66. The method as defined in claim 65, wherein when the user later enters the speed dial identifier entered via the first user interface using the first landline telephonic device'"'"'s key pad or the first mobile telephonic device'"'"'s keypad, the phone address is called at least partly in response to the entered speed dial identifier.

67. The method as defined in claim 65, wherein the speed dial field is configured to receive the speed dial identifier via a user selection from a menu of speed dial identifiers.

68. The method as defined in claim 65, wherein the speed dial field is configured to receive letters and/or numbers.

69. The method as defined in claim 65, the method further comprising:

receiving one or more letters entered into the speed dial field; and

translating the received letters into corresponding telephonic device key pad numbers.

70. The method as defined in claim 69, the method further comprising providing for display to the user the corresponding key pad numbers.

71. The method as defined in claim 65, the method further comprising:

receiving one or more letters entered into the speed dial field; and

determining if any of the entered letters are not permitted, wherein at least one not permitted letter is not found on a standard POTS keypad.

72. The method as defined in claim 65, wherein the name field is prepopulated using at least in part a query into a name database using signaling information associated with a call.

73. The method as defined in claim 65, wherein the phone address field is prepopulated using signaling information from a call.

74. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface is accessible via a plurality of user devices.

75. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface is a voice interactive user interface.

76. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface is presented at least partly in response to determining that the user entered less than a predetermined number of digits.

77. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface is presented at least partly in response to determining that the user has entered at least one digit but less than a threshold number of digits, and the user did not enter an additional digit within a first specified period of time.

78. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface is presented via a client application executing on a host, a web page, a widget, and/or gadget.

79. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface is presented via a personal computer, a game console, an interactive television, a wireless phone, or a landline phone.

80. The method as defined in claim 63, the method further comprising:

receiving from the a telecommunications system at the call processing system a first call placed by the user via a mobile phone,

receiving in association with the first call a first speed dial identifier and a calling address;

using the calling address and the first speed dial identifier to locate a telephone address corresponding to the first speed dial identifier;

placing a second call to the telephone address corresponding to the first speed dial identifier; and

bridging the first call and the second call.

81. The method as defined in claim 63, the method further comprising causing at least in part a contact record to be displayed to the user, the contact record including at least one speed dial identifier and a physical address.

82. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface identifies unassigned speed dial identifiers.

83. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface identifies permitted speed dial identifiers.

84. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface notifies the user if the user attempts to enter an invalid or unavailable speed dial identifiers.

85. The method as defined in claim 63, wherein the first user interface includes a privacy field via which the user can indicate if a calling phone address associated with the user is to be kept private for calls placed to a first phone address.

86. The method as defined in claim 63, the method further comprising providing a messaging interface via which the user can configure at least one speed dial identifier by transmitting a text message to a first address.

87. The method as defined in claim 86, wherein the messaging interface is configured to receive at least SMS messages.

88. The method as defined in claim 63, the method further comprising pre-configuring a wireless telephonic device with a plurality of speed dial assignments.

89. The method as defined in claim 88, wherein the user is not charged for call minutes for calls made via at least a portion of the preconfigured plurality of speed dial assignments.

90. The method as defined in claim 63, the method further comprising synchronizing at least two databases, including at least the first speed dial assignment.