Method and apparatus for obtaining telephone status over a network

• US 6,175,616 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1997
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Elliott Light, Jon L. Roberts
• Inventors: Light, Elliott, Roberts, Jon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US08/963,373
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 379/62.1, 379/69, 379/88.12, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/201, 379/213, 379/214, 379/215, 379/34, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.15, 379/88.16
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• 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 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A telephone status monitoring method an apparatus that monitors the status of a called party'"'"'s telephone to maximize the probability of a calling party reaching the called party. The system uses a telephone status monitor to monitor the various characteristics and condition of consumer telephones such as on-hook/off-hook, number of rings to voice mail, call forwarding information and other consumer options for telephone service that are offered by telephone companies. A calling party that desires to know if a called party is available accesses a telephone status file over a network and determines if the called party is available. If the called party is available, a call can be placed. By periodically updating the telephone status file, the telephone status monitor keeps the file current for the telephones being monitored. Other capabilities allow for e-mail conversion to voice mail and “beeping” a calling party when a called party telephone is available for a call.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining telephone status over a network comprising:

a calling party computer;

a network to which the calling party computer is connected;

a plurality of telephones;

a telephone status monitor connected to the plurality of telephones for monitoring a telephone status of the plurality of telephones; and

a telephone status file connected to the telephone status monitor for receiving the telephone status from the plurality of telephones, the telephone status file connected to and accessible via the network;

wherein the telephone status is a consumer option selected from the group consisting of;

number of rings to voicemail and call forwarding.

2. A system for obtaining telephone status over a network comprising:

a calling party computer;

a network to which the calling party computer is connected;

a plurality of telephones;

a telephone status monitor connected to the plurality of telephones for monitoring a telephone status of the plurality of telephones;

a telephone status file connected to the telephone status monitor for receiving the telephone status from the plurality of telephones, the telephone status file connected to and accessible via the network;

a called party processor connected to the network; and

a voice mail converter connected to the called party processor for converting an alpha numeric message to a voice mail message;

the converter being further connected to a called party telephone for allowing a called party to access the voice mail message; and

whereby the calling party processor can create an alphanumeric message to be sent to the called party processor over the network for subsequent conversion into voice mail by the voice mail converter.

3. A process for determining telephone status over a network comprising:

a calling party inputting a called party'"'"'s telephone number via a calling party processor

monitoring the telephone of the called party to determine the telephone status of the called party

making the status of the called party'"'"'s telephone available in a file;

accessing the called party telephone status file over a network;

the calling party creating an alpha numeric message;

sending the alpha numeric message over the network to a called party processor;

the called party processor receiving the alphanumeric message;

the received alphanumeric message being converted to voice mail via a voice mail converter; and

the called party accessing voice mail to receive the converted alpha numeric message.

4. A process for determining telephone status comprising:

accessing a telephone status file over a network;

monitoring the status of a plurality of telephones and providing that telephone status to the telephone status file;

periodically updating the telephone status file with the status of telephones being monitored; and

notifying a calling party by beeper that a called party telephone is in an on-hook condition.