Telephonic communications – Special services – Locating using diverse technology
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-24
2001-06-19
Hong, Harry S. (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Special services
Locating using diverse technology
C370S352000, C370S401000, C379S093230, C379S216010, C379S900000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249576
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a method and system for providing telephone directory information. More particularly, the invention relates to a web-based telephone directory information system with call placement capability.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Telecommunications play a vital role in modern society, especially in the business sector. As markets have continued to become more globalized, telecommunications have grown more vital in maintaining channels of communication between remotely located individuals and corporations engaged in business. With the growing reliance on telecommunications, a premium is placed on efficiency in accessing telephone number information and setting up telephone calls.
One of the longest standing sources of telephone directory information is a telephone book. The directory information is stored in an accessible format by providing, for instance, separate business, residential, and governmental agency listings. Often business listings will also be presented alphabetically by business classification. A telephone book is limited, however, by the geographical area for which it provides information. Although it is possible to access directory information for any given geographical area by simply obtaining the telephone book encompassing that area, a collection of telephone books can quickly become unwieldy.
Telephone-accessible directory information services are also available. These services provide an advantage over telephone books in that the service is not necessarily limited to a particular geographical area. A caller can access a telephone number assigned to a telephone in any location, provided that a service has been established for that location. Typically, a caller will call the number of a directory information service provider, identify the name and perhaps an address of the called party, and the service provider will access the telephone number from a database.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,685 to Kero describes a refinement of the above-described telephone-accessible directory service wherein, subsequent to accessing the telephone number of the called party, the service provider places the telephone call to the called party for the user.
Telephone directory information services are now also available on-line over a data network, such as the World Wide Web of the Internet. The service enables a user to enter the name of a party to be called and, optionally, the city and address where the party resides. The user transmits the information to the server supporting the web site of the service provider, and the server accesses information that includes the telephone number of the called party. The server then transmits the telephone number to the user. The user can then make the telephone call to the party based upon the transmitted search results.
What is needed is a web-based directory information system having a call placement capability which allows a user to perform a telephone number search from a computer and to connect to the called party without having to make a separate telephone call.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A directory information system with call completion capability includes a data network server located on a data network for establishing a connection between a first communication device and a second communication device. The network server has two modes of operation, namely a search mode and an establish-connection mode. Within the search mode, the network server responds to a search request transmitted by a computer over the data network by transmitting a search command signal. During the establish-connection mode, the network server responds to an establish-connection request by transmitting an establish-connection command signal. The server is connected to a memory device which stores data, including a first telephone number assigned to the first communication device. The memory device responds to the search command signal transmitted by the network server by transmitting the first telephone number to the network server.
In a preferred embodiment, a connection between a requesting computer and the network server is configured to relay the search request and the establish-connection request from the computer to the server. The connection is further configured to relay the establish-connection command signal from the server to the computer. The establish-connection command signal includes instructions directing the computer to dial the first telephone number to establish the connection between the first communication device and the second communication device, which is typically a second telephone. In this embodiment, the connection is triggered from the server, but is established from the computer that requested the directory information.
Another embodiment of the invention includes the server configured to transmit the establish-connection command signal to a telephone switch, the establish-connection command signal including the first telephone number and instructions directing the switch to establish a connection between the first and second communication devices based upon the first telephone number. In this embodiment, the first communication device may be a first telephone and the second communication device is a second telephone connected to the computer. The establish-connection command signal further includes instructions to the switch to transmit a busy signal to the server if a line connected to the first telephone is off-hook. The server is configured to transmit a busy signal message to the computer upon receipt of the busy signal from the telephone switch.
The server is also configured to transmit a monitor command signal to the telephone switch in response to a monitor request signal transmitted from the computer. The monitor command signal includes instructions to the telephone switch, directing the switch to activate a ringer on the second telephone upon the line connected to the first telephone becoming available and to place a call from the second telephone to the first telephone if the second telephone goes off-hook while the ringer is activated.
A method for providing telephone directory information with a call completion feature includes receiving a data transmission via a data network, the transmission including a search request for the telephone number assigned to the first communication device. The telephone number is accessed from a telephone directory database and is transmitted over the data network. A request is received to establish a telephonic connection between the first communication device and the remotely located second communication device based upon the transmitted telephone number. A connection is then established between the first communication device and the second communication device based upon the request to establish the connection.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5903631 (1999-05-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5960442 (1999-09-01), Pickering
patent: 5999609 (1999-12-01), Nishimura
patent: 6091808 (2000-07-01), Wood et al.
patent: 6097793 (2000-08-01), Jandel
King Neal J.
Sassin Michael
Hong Harry S.
Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc.
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