System and method for placing a phone call through a selected telecommunications network

• US 8,787,533 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: MacDonald, Douglas James
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US12/657,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67
• US Class Current: 379/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• 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 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services

Abstract

A system and method for placing a phone call through a selected telephone network is disclosed. A member submits a source phone number and a destination phone number to an application server in the selected telephone network. The member'"'"'s class of service (COS) is determined. A first phone call is placed to the source phone number, if it is within the member'"'"'s COS. A second phone call is placed to the destination phone number if it is within the member'"'"'s COS. Caller ID information associated with the member'"'"'s phone in the selected telephone network is communicated to the destination phone. The phone calls are connected to enable communication between the source and destination phones.

Claims

1. A method for placing a phone call through a selected telecommunications network, comprising:

accessing a member'"'"'s class of service provided by the selected telecommunications network using a computer device in communication with the selected telecommunications network, the member'"'"'s class of service provides selected access to a communication server;

providing an application server running an application module that is in communication with the computer device;

providing the communication server located in the selected telecommunications network, wherein the communication server is in communication with the application server;

communicating a source phone number and a destination phone number to the application module;

placing a first telephone call from the application module through the communication server to a source phone associated with the source phone number;

determining if the destination phone number is within a member'"'"'s class of service;

placing a second telephone call from the application module to a destination phone associated with the destination phone number if it is determined that the destination phone number is within the member'"'"'s class of service;

connecting the first telephone call and the second telephone call to enable communication between the source phone and destination phone through the communication server located in the selected telecommunications network;

accessing caller identification information for a member'"'"'s telephone that is located within the selected telecommunications network; and

communicating the caller identification information for the members telephone that is located within the selected telecommunications network to the destination phone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing a member'"'"'s class of service further comprises submitting a member'"'"'s access credentials to a credentials server in communication with the selected telecommunications network through the computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the source and destination phone numbers further comprises entering a source phone number and a destination phone number through a graphical user interface operating on the computer device, wherein the computer device is selected from at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mobile computer, and the source phone configured as a smart phone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the communication server located in the selected telecommunications network further comprises providing at least one of an Internet Protocol server and a circuit switched private branch exchange (PBX) server to form the selected telecommunications network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the first telephone call further comprises determining if the source phone number is within the member'"'"'s class of service.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising sending a message to the member when at least one of the source phone number and the destination phone number is outside of the member'"'"'s class of service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the member'"'"'s class of service further comprises accessing a class of service database operating on a server in communication with the communication server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an option for the member to select a callback when the destination phone is busy.

9. A system for placing a phone call through a selected telecommunication network, comprising:

a credentials server;

a class of service (COS) database in communication with the selected telecommunications network, the database comprising a class of service for each of a plurality of members of the telecommunication network, each member'"'"'s class of service provides selected access to a communication server;

a computer device in communication with the credentials server and configured to receive access credentials from a member of the selected telecommunications network and provide access through the credentials server to the selected telecommunications network, wherein the access is limited to the member'"'"'s class of service contained in the COS database;

an application server in communication with the computer device;

the communication server located in the selected telecommunications network that is in communication with the application server;

an application module operating on the application server that is configured to;

receive a source telephone number and a destination telephone number;

place a first telephone call through the communication server to a source phone associated with the source phone number;

determine if the destination telephone number is within the member'"'"'s class of service;

place a second telephone call to a destination phone associated with the destination telephone number if it is determined that the destination telephone number is within the member'"'"'s class of service;

connect the first telephone call and the second telephone call to enable communication between the source phone and destination phone through the communication server located in the selected telecommunications network;

access caller identification information for a member'"'"'s telephone that is located within the selected telecommunications network; and

send the caller identification information for the member'"'"'s telephone that is located within the selected telecommunications network to the destination phone.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) operable on the computer device that is organized to receive at least one of the access credentials, the source phone number, and the destination phone number.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the communications server is configured to determine whether at least one of the first and second telephone calls are within the member'"'"'s class of service and report the information to the application module.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer device is integrated with the source phone to form a smart phone operable to display the graphical user interface and communicate the source and destination phone numbers to the application module operating on the application server.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer device is selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mobile computer device, and a smart phone computer device.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to provide selected functionality of the member'"'"'s telephone that is located within the telecommunications network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to provide functionality of the member'"'"'s telephone selected from the group consisting of mute, call forwarding, conference calling, access to an electronic phone book, access to voice mail, speaker phone, call transfer, and paging.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the class of service database comprises a first record for telephone calls made by the member within the telecommunications network and a second record for telephone calls made by the member through the system.

17. A system for placing a phone call through a selected telecommunication network, comprising:

a means for accessing a member'"'"'s class of service provided by the selected telecommunications network, the member'"'"'s class of service provides selected access to a communication server;

an application server;

the communication server located in the selected telecommunications network that is in communication with the application server;

an application module operating on the application server that is configured to;

receive a source telephone number and a destination telephone number;

place a first telephone call through the communication server to a source phone associated with the source phone number;

determine if the destination telephone number is within a member'"'"'s class of service;

place a second telephone call to a destination phone associated with the destination telephone number if it is determined that the destination telephone number is within the members class of service;

connect the first telephone call and the second telephone call to enable communication between the source phone and destination phone through the communication server located in the selected telecommunications network;

access caller identification information for a member'"'"'s telephone that is located within the selected telecommunications network; and

send the caller identification information for the member'"'"'s telephone that is located within the selected telecommunications network to the destination phone.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a credentials server; and

a class of service (COS) database in communication with the selected telecommunications network, and wherein the means for accessing the member'"'"'s class of service is a computer device in communication with the credentials server and configured to receive access credentials from a member of the selected telecommunications network and provide access through the credentials server to the selected telecommunications network, wherein the access is limited to the member'"'"'s class of service contained in the COS database.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) operable on the computer device that is configured to receive at least one of the access credentials, the source phone number, and the destination phone number, and wherein the computer device is integrated with the source phone to form a smart phone operable to display the graphical user interface and communicate the source and destination phone numbers to the application module operating on the application server.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to provide functionality of the member'"'"'s telephone selected from the group consisting of mute, call forwarding, conference calling, access to an electronic phone book, access to voice mail, speaker phone, call transfer, and paging.