Network communication system

• US 6,934,376 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Mclaughlin
• Original Assignee: NXi Communications, Inc. (NexTalk)
• Inventors: Nelson, Ronald J., Messinger, James E., McLaughlin, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/758,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/52, 379/93.01, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 379/93.04, 379/93.09, 379/93.15, 379/88.12, 379/93.21, 379/93.28, 379/100.12, 379/100.13, 379/142.01, 375/222, 375/225
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• 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 3/42391 where the subscribers are hearing-impaired persons, e.g. telephone devices for the deaf
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0012 Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a network communication system that provides textual communication and call transferring between nodes. The system further allows simultaneous notification of multiple nodes of an incoming call. The system includes a local computer that may also serve as a node in the system. A call may originate with the local computer or be generated by a remote device that is in communication with the local computer. The local computer generates a call indicator that is transmitted to one or more nodes simultaneously. Selection of the nodes may be based on user intervention or by predefined groupings. Each node receiving a call indicator is configured to generate a ring message in response. The ring message is displayed on an output device to alert a node user to the incoming call. In response to the ring message, a node user may choose to accept or decline the call. A node user'"'"'s responses to the call indicator are transmitted to the local computer. Once the local computer receives an acceptance from a node, the local computer transmits call data representative of the call to the accepting node.

Claims

1. A network communication system for transferring a call from a local user to a plurality of node users, comprising:

a local device configured to transmit call data representative of the call and generate a call indicator;

a plurality of nodes in electrical communication with the local device and configured to generate a ring message in response to receipt of the call indicator, each node having,

an output device for displaying the ring message, and

an input device for entering response data in response to the ring message; and

a server in electrical communication with the local device and the plurality of nodes to regulate call data and response data.

2. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the call data comprises text data.

3. The network communication system of claim 1, further comprising a modem in electrical communication with the local device, the modem configured to establish a carrier connection with a remote device to receive the call from the remote device, the local device configured to convert call data into a format suitable for transfer from the local device to a node.

4. The network communication system of claim 3, wherein the modem maintains a carrier connection with the remote device during transfer of the call.

5. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein each node is configured to generate response data representative of node user inputs and transfer the response data to the local device to thereby enable real time communication between nodes and the local device.

6. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the call indicator includes identification data for identifying the call.

7. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein each node includes a node module having,

a call indicator module configured to recognize receipt of a call indicator;

a ring message generation module configured to generate a ring message displayable on the output device in response to receipt of the call indicator;

a user interface module configured to recognize node user responses to the ring message; and

a response generation module configured to generate response data representative of node user responses.

8. The network communication system of claim 6, wherein the node module comprises a browser for interfacing with the world wide web.

9. The network communication system of claim 6, wherein the ring message generation module generates a visual display on the output device.

10. The network communication system of claim 6, wherein the ring message generation module generates an audible indicator on the output device.

11. The network communication system of claim 6, wherein the ring message generation module generates input options to accept and decline the call.

12. The network communication system of claim 10, wherein the ring message generation module generates input options to request further identification data on the call.

13. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the local computer includes a local module having,

a node selection module configured to transmit the call indicator to selected nodes;

a response module configured to identify response data from a node; and

a call transfer module configured to transmit call data to a node in response to receiving response data indicating an acceptance of the call.

14. The network communication system of claim 1, wherein the local modem is capable of communicating through TDD, ITU, and VOICE signals.

15. A method for transferring a call across a network system, comprising:

generating a call indicator indicative of a call;

transmitting the call indicator across the network system to a plurality of nodes;

displaying a ring message on the nodes in response to the call indicator;

generating affirmative response data indicative of an acceptance of the call by an accepting node;

transmitting call data representative of the call to the accepting node; and

the accepting node responding to call data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the call data comprises text data.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting the plurality of nodes to receive the call indicator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein selecting the plurality of nodes is based on predetermined grouping of the nodes.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting call data representative of the call to the accepting node prevents transmission of the call data to another node.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising transferring call data from the accepting node to another node.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving the call from a remote device through a modem.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

the modem establishing a carrier connection with the remote device;

maintaining the carrier connection during transfer of the call to a node; and

a local device converting the call into call data suitable for transmission across the network.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein the call indicator includes identification data for identifying the call.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising a node requesting additional identification data.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying ring messages on output devices of the nodes, the ring messages including identification of the call and options to accept and decline the call.

26. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a method for transferring a call across a network, the method comprising:

generating a call indicator indicative of a call;

transmitting the call indicator across the network system to a plurality of nodes;

displaying a ring message on the nodes in response to the call indicator;

generating affirmative response data indicative of an acceptance of the call by an accepting node; and

transmitting call data representative of the call to the accepting node.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the response data comprises text data.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 26, further comprising selecting the plurality of nodes to receive the call indicator.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein selecting the plurality of nodes is based on predetermined grouping of the nodes.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein transmitting call data representative of the call to the accepting node prevents transmission of the call data to another node.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 26, further comprising transferring call data from the accepting node to another node.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 26, wherein the call indicator includes identification data for identifying the call.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 26, further comprising displaying ring messages on output devices of the nodes, the ring messages including identification of the call and options to accept and decline the call.