Methods and systems for selecting a buddy from a buddy list and for placing call to a buddy
First Claim
1. A method for determining contact information of a buddy of a user, the user using a user telephone means having associated identification information, the method comprising:
- receiving, at an Internet-enabled computing device, an incoming call with calling line identification (CLID) information from the user telephone means, the Internet-enabled computing device being remotely located from the user telephone means;
validating the CLID by comparing the CLID a against the associated identification information of the user;
if the CLID matches the associated identification information of the user;
prompting the user for buddy identification of the budderreceiving, at the Internet-enabled computing device, the buddy identification of the buddy from the user;
searching for the buddy identification within a group of pre-defined Internet-accessible destinations located remotely from the user telephone means to identify a match result defining the contact information of the buddy; and
sending the match result to the user telephone means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a provides a method for selecting a buddy with which a user wants to connect. The buddy having a buddy identification being listed in a pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations. The user using a user telephone means to which is associated identification information. The method comprises: initiating a call from the user telephone means to an Internet-enabled computing device, the call having associated thereto calling line identification (CLID) information; comparing the CLID information to the user telephone means identification information; validating the CLID information using the comparison upon positive validation, the user providing the buddy identification; consulting the pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations for a match between the buddy identification and one of the Internet-accessible destinations; and advising the user of a successful or unsuccessful match. Alternatively, a call is placed to a party which does not necessarily belong to a pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for determining contact information of a buddy of a user, the user using a user telephone means having associated identification information, the method comprising:
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receiving, at an Internet-enabled computing device, an incoming call with calling line identification (CLID) information from the user telephone means, the Internet-enabled computing device being remotely located from the user telephone means; validating the CLID by comparing the CLID a against the associated identification information of the user; if the CLID matches the associated identification information of the user; prompting the user for buddy identification of the budder receiving, at the Internet-enabled computing device, the buddy identification of the buddy from the user; searching for the buddy identification within a group of pre-defined Internet-accessible destinations located remotely from the user telephone means to identify a match result defining the contact information of the buddy; and sending the match result to the user telephone means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A buddy selection system for determining contact information of a buddy of a user of the buddy selection system, the system comprising:
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a database for storing a pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations; and an Internet-enabled computing device communicatively coupled with the database and comprising; an Internet telephony application for receiving a call from a user telephone means of the user, the call having calling line identification (CLID) information, the user telephone means of the user being remotely located from the Internet-enabled computing device; a specialized software application for intervening in the call when a validation of the CLID information indicates that the call is from the user telephone means, and for receiving buddy identification from the user via the user telephone means; a communication software application for searching for the buddy identification within the pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations located remotely from the user telephone means to determine a search result; and a prompting device for prompting the user to provide the buddy identification upon positive validation of the CLID; wherein the specialized software application cooperates with the Internet telephone software to create an outgoing call to an Internet-accessible destination associated with the search result based upon a match between the buddy identification and one of the Internet-accessible destinations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification