Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service

• US 9,319,523 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Kirchhoff, Leland W., Trandal, David S., Kelley, Colin D., Brahm, David J., Smith, Robert F., Hofstatter, David F., Dolan, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US14/529,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20150215459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/212.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1079 of unsolicited session attempts, e.g. SPIT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call
• 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 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• 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 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5183 Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5232 Call distribution algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 Call deflection
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one computing device comprising hardware;

at least one network interface coupled to a first data network;

non-transitory memory coupled to the at least one computing device that stores instructions that when executed by the at least one computing device cause, at least in part, the system to implement;

enabling a software application to be downloaded over the first data network to a first computing device of a user, the user associated with a first phone address;

participating in a first communication connection, the first communication connection associated with a computing device of the user;

receiving an indication from the first computing device of the user that the user has selected a user interface control of the software application;

establishing a second communication connection to a called party with a second phone address, the second phone address different than the first phone address wherein at least a portion of the first phone address is inserted in a caller identification field associated with the second communication connection,

wherein the second communication connection is initiated at least partly in response to;

the indication from the first computing device of the user, and

receipt of a first request over a second data network from the software program executing on the first computing device of the user; and

joining the first communication connection and the second communication connection.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first computing device of the user comprises a mobile phone.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device further cause, at least in part, the system to implement:

enabling the software application to be downloaded over the first data network to a second computing device of the user.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device further cause, at least in part, the system to implement:

enabling the software application to be downloaded over the first data network to a second computing device of the user; and

in response to an incoming call to the first phone address, providing in substantially real-time, an incoming call alert notification over the second data network on the first computing device of the user and the second computing device of the user.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first data network and the second data network comprise the same data network.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein a leg of the first communication connection with the user or a leg of the second communication connection with the called party comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connection.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one computing device comprising hardware detects an online presence of different Internet Protocol connected computing devices of the user.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein a leg of the first communication connection with the user or a leg of the second communication connection with the called party comprises an Internet protocol connection.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the second phone address is stored in a contact data store on the first computing device of the user.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device further cause, at least in part, the system to implement:

in response to a change to a contact record associated with the second phone address, synchronizing the change to different second data network connected computing devices of the user.

11. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein participating in a first communication connection comprises receiving a first call from a caller.

12. A system, comprising:

at least one computing device comprising hardware;

non-transitory memory coupled to the at least one computing device that stores instructions that when executed by the at least one computing device cause, at least in part, the system to implement;

participating in a connection of a first call, the first call associated with a computing device of a user;

receiving an indication from a first computing device of the user that the user has selected a first user interface control;

placing a second call to a called party with a second phone address, the second phone address different than a first phone address associated with the user, wherein at least a portion of the first phone address is inserted in a caller identification field associated with the second call,

wherein the second call is placed at least partly in response to;

the indication from the first computing device of the user, and

receipt of a first request over a data network from the first computing device of the user; and

enabling the user and the called party to communicate over a connection between the first call and the second call.

13. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the call comprises a video call.

14. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein a portion of the first call with the user or a portion of the second call with the called party comprises an Internet protocol connection.

15. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein a portion of the first call with the user or a portion of the second call with the called party comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connection.

16. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device further cause, at least in part, the system to implement:

in response to an incoming call to the first phone address, providing in substantially real-time, an incoming call alert notification over the data network on the first computing device of the user.

17. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the second phone address is stored in a contact data store on the first computing device of the user.

18. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device further cause, at least in part, the system to implement:

in response to a change to a contact record associated with the second phone address, synchronizing the change to different data network connected computing devices of the user.

19. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein participating in the connection of the first call comprises receiving the first call.

20. A method of processing calls, comprising:

participating at a call processing system in a connection of a first call, the first call associated with a computing device of a user;

receiving at the call processing system an indication from a first computing device of the user that the user has selected a first user interface control;

placing from the call processing system a second call to a called party with a second phone address, the second phone address different than a first phone address associated with the user, wherein at least a portion of the first phone address is inserted in a caller identification field associated with the second call,

wherein the second call from the call processing system is placed at least partly in response to;

the indication from the first computing device of the user, and

receipt at the call processing system of a first request over a data network from the first computing device of the user;

enabling the user and the called party to communicate over a connection between the first call and the second call.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein a portion of the first call with the user or a portion of the second call with the called party comprises an Internet protocol connection.

22. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein a portion of the first call with the user or a portion of the second call with the called party comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connection.