Method for initiating internet telephone service from a web page
First Claim
1. A method for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
- accessing said web page using a browser;
downloading a web page document associated with said web page;
parsing said web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number;
modifying said character string in said web page document into a link to said internet telephone service;
providing said web page document including said modified character string to said browser; and
displaying said web page on said browser including said modified character string, wherein said act of parsing said web page for detecting a character string indicative of a telephone number comprises;
determining if said character string includes alphanumeric characters matching one of more predetermined telephone number formats; and
if said character string matches a first one of said predetermined telephone number format, designating said character string as a telephone number.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A direct telephone dialing scheme for initiating internet telephone service from a web page is provided. The scheme allows a caller, using an internet telephone service, to place telephone call to a telephone number appearing on any web page directly from that web page. In one embodiment, a caller navigates to a desired web page on the internet and the caller dials a telephone number on that web page directly to initiate a two-way audio communication with the destination telephone number using an internet telephone service. The direct telephone dialing scheme of the present invention improves the accessibility and ease of use of internet telephone services. Furthermore, the direct telephone dialing scheme can be used with video, data, and fax a communications which are supported by the VoIP data communication standard.
12 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
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accessing said web page using a browser;
downloading a web page document associated with said web page;
parsing said web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number;
modifying said character string in said web page document into a link to said internet telephone service;
providing said web page document including said modified character string to said browser; and
displaying said web page on said browser including said modified character string, wherein said act of parsing said web page for detecting a character string indicative of a telephone number comprises;
determining if said character string includes alphanumeric characters matching one of more predetermined telephone number formats; and
if said character string matches a first one of said predetermined telephone number format, designating said character string as a telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
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accessing said web page using a browser;
downloading a web page document associated with said web page;
parsing said web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number, modifying said character string in said web page document into a link to said internet telephone service;
providing said web page document including said modified character string to said browser; and
displaying said web pace on said browser including said modified character string, wherein said browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer and said method further comprises;
providing a Browser Helper Object including instructions for parsing said web page and modifying said character string indicative of said telephone number; and
installing said Browser Helper Object, thereby activating said Browser Helper Object whenever said browser is activated.
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11. A method for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
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accessing said web page using a browser;
downloading a web page document associated with said web page;
parsing said web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number, modifying said character string in said web page document into a link to said internet telephone service;
providing said web page document including said modified character string to said browser; and
displaying said web page on said browser including said modified character string, wherein said act of modifying said character string in said web page into a link to said internet telephone service comprises;
providing a first string including link information to said internet telephone service;
appending to said first string a first parameter containing said telephone number;
appending to said first parameter a second parameter containing said telephone number;
concatenating said first string, said first parameter and said second parameter to form said modified character string; and
providing said modified character string to said browser for display. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for initiating internet telephone service from a web page containing a telephone number, comprising:
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accessing said web page using a browser;
downloading a web page document associated with said web page;
parsing said web page document for detecting a character string representing a telephone number;
modifying said character string in said web page document into a link to said internet telephone service;
providing said web page document including said modified character string to said browser; and
displaying said web page on said browser including said modified character string, wherein said act of modifying said character string in said web page into a link to said internet telephone service comprises;
providing a first string including link information to said internet telephone service;
appending to said first string a first parameter containing said telephone number;
providing a second string including window properties information for displaying a window of said internet service provider;
appending to said second string a second parameter containing said telephone number;
providing a third string including character formatting information; and
concatenating said first string, said second string and said third string to form said modified character string; and
providing said modified character string to said browser for display.
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Specification