METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING TELEPHONE STATUS

• US 20060203968A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Alderucci, Dean P., Walker, Jay S., Kessman, Marc D., Dickerson, John B.
• Application Number:
  US11/421,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20060203968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/32.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/609 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/08 ISDN systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

The monitor is for monitoring the status of a first client telephone, and for sending this status information via a central server to an authorized second client telephone. The central server stores a database of registered client telephones and corresponding client telephones that the client may monitor. A user of a registered client telephone monitors in real time the telephone status of registered friends, family, or co-workers that have agreed to be monitored by the user.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method for tracking a status of a first telephone over a telephony network, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a request to monitor the first telephone;

receiving authorization to monitor the first telephone;

receiving the status of the first telephone; and

storing the status of the first telephone.

20. The method of claim 19, further including the step of:

receiving an identifier of the first telephone that identifies a party to be monitored.

21. The method of claim 20, further including the step of:

storing the identifier of the first telephone.

22. The method of claim 19, further including the step of:

sending a request to register a second telephone, wherein the request includes a digital signature and an identifier that identifies the second telephone.

23. The method of claim 22, further including the step of:

receiving an indication of successful registration of the second telephone.

24. The method of claim 19, further including the step of:

decrypting the received status with a private key.

25. The method of claim 19, further including the step of:

sending an indication acknowledging successful receipt of the status.

26. The method of claim 19, further including the step of:

displaying the status of the first telephone.

27. A system for tracking a status of a first telephone over a telephony network, the system comprising:

a monitor request service for sending a request to monitor the first telephone;

a communication interface coupled to the monitor request service for receiving authorization to monitor the first telephone; and

a database manager coupled to the communication interface for storing the status of the first telephone.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the monitor request service receives an identifier of the first telephone that identifies a party to be monitored.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the monitor request service stores the identifier of the first telephone.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the monitor request service sends a request to register a second telephone, wherein the request includes a digital signature and an identifier that identifies the second telephone.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the monitor request service receives an indication of successful registration of the second telephone.

32. The system of claim 27, further comprising a decryption service for decrypting the received status with a private key.

33. The system of claim 27, further comprising a display manager for displaying the status of the first telephone.

34. A system for tracking a status of a monitored telephone over a telephony network, the system comprising:

a notification service for receiving a status change signal from a first telephone and for determining a second telephone associated with the first telephone; and

a queue manager coupled to the notification service for transmitting the status change signal to the second telephone.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the notification engine receives the status change signal when the signal is triggered by an off-hook signal of the first telephone.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the notification service receives the status change signal when the signal is triggered by at least one DTMF digit being entered into the first telephone by a user.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the notification engine intermittently receives the at least one DTMF signal.