Systems and methods of providing communications services
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing communications services, comprising:
- receiving, at a first telephony services provider, a request for communications services from a first telephony device that receives its native telephony service from a second telephony services provider, wherein the request includes caller ID information that identifies a telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device, wherein the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device is controlled by the second telephony services provider, wherein the first telephony services provider is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony system, wherein the second telephony services provider is a cellular telephony system, and wherein receiving a request for communications services from a first telephony device comprises the IP telephony system receiving a communication from a software application on the telephony device via a data network;
determining whether the first telephony device is entitled to receive the requested communications services based on at least the caller ID information identifying the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device that is included in the received request; and
providing the requested communications services if the first telephony device is determined to be entitled to receive the requested communications services, wherein providing the communications services comprises sending a communication to a second telephony device, the communication including caller ID information that includes the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An IP telephony system allows a user to register a telephony device that receives its native telephony service from a different telephony service provider as an extension telephone. The user can then place calls through the IP telephony system using the extension telephone. Such calls may or may not be established using the extension telephone'"'"'s native telephony service provider.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of providing communications services, comprising:
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receiving, at a first telephony services provider, a request for communications services from a first telephony device that receives its native telephony service from a second telephony services provider, wherein the request includes caller ID information that identifies a telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device, wherein the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device is controlled by the second telephony services provider, wherein the first telephony services provider is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony system, wherein the second telephony services provider is a cellular telephony system, and wherein receiving a request for communications services from a first telephony device comprises the IP telephony system receiving a communication from a software application on the telephony device via a data network; determining whether the first telephony device is entitled to receive the requested communications services based on at least the caller ID information identifying the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device that is included in the received request; and providing the requested communications services if the first telephony device is determined to be entitled to receive the requested communications services, wherein providing the communications services comprises sending a communication to a second telephony device, the communication including caller ID information that includes the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17)
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8. A system for providing communications services, comprising:
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an extension connection unit that is part of a first telephony services provider and that receives a request for communications services from a first telephony device that receives its native telephony service from a second telephony services provider, wherein the request includes caller ID information that identifies a telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device, wherein the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device is controlled by the second telephony services provider, wherein the first telephony services provider is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony system, wherein the second telephony services provider is a cellular telephony system, and wherein the extension connection unit receives the request for communications services from a software application on the telephony device via a data network; an authorization unit that is also part of the first telephony services provider and that determines whether the first telephony device is entitled to receive the requested communications services based on at least the caller ID information identifying the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device that is included in the received request;
wherein the extension connection unit provides the requested communications services if the first telephony device is determined to be entitled to receive the requested communications services, wherein providing the communications services comprises sending a communication to a second telephony device, the communication including caller ID information that includes the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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9. A system for providing communications services, comprising:
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means for receiving, at a first telephony services provider, a request for communications services from a first telephony device that receives its native telephony service from a second telephony services provider, wherein the request includes caller ID information that identifies a telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device, wherein the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device is controlled by the second telephony services provider, wherein the first telephony services provider is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony system, wherein the second telephony services provider is a cellular telephony system, and wherein receiving a request for communications services from a first telephony device comprises the IP telephony system receiving a communication from a software application on the telephony device via a data network; means for determining whether the first telephony device is entitled to receive the requested communications services based on at least the caller ID information identifying the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device that is included in the received request; and
means for providing the requested communications services if the first telephony device is determined to be entitled to receive the requested communications services, wherein the means for providing the communications services sends a communication to a second telephony device, the communication including caller ID information that includes the telephone number assigned to or associated with the first telephony device.
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Specification