CallWave Communication LLC v. AT&T Mobility LLC et al.

Filing 1

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT filed with Jury Demand against AT&T Inc., AT&T Mobility LLC, Google Inc. - Magistrate Consent Notice to Pltf. ( Filing fee $ 350, receipt number 0311-1189992.) - filed by CallWave Communications LLC. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit A, #2 Exhibit B, #3 Exhibit C, #4 Exhibit D, #5 Civil Cover Sheet)(els)

EXHIBIT D

111111

1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US007397910B2

(54)

United States Patent

(10)

Dolan et al.

c12)

(45)

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
PROVIDING EXPANDED
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

Patent No.:
Date of Patent:

(56)

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, Santa Barbara, CA
(US); David F. Hofstatter, Santa
Barbara, CA (US)

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

Notice:

1329852

5/1994

Assignee: Callwave, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)

( *)

2/1976 Nishigori eta!.

(Continued)

CA

(73)

*Jul. 8, 2008

References Cited

3,936,613 A

(75)

US 7,397,910 B2

(Continued)
Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.C. 154(b) by 619 days.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
(21)

Appl. No.: 11/062,182

(22)

Filed:

OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Johnson, Dave, "Now You're Talking-voice-response systems for
home offices-Product Information"; Home Office Computing;
http://www.findarticles.com; Feb. 1999.

Primary Examiner-Gerald Gauthier
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Knobbe, Martens, Olson &
BearLLP

(57)

(65)

Prior Publication Data

US 2005/0141490Al

Jun.30,2005

Related U.S. Application Data

(63)

Continuation of application No. 10/255,567, filed on
Sep. 26, 2002, now Pat. No. 6,898,275, which is a
continuation of application No. 09/539,375, filed on
Mar. 31, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,477,246.

(60)

Provisional application No. 60/127,434, filed on Apr.
1, 1999.

(51)

Int. Cl.
H04M 3142
(2006.01)
U.S. Cl. .............................. 379/211.02; 379/88.17;
379/88.25; 379/93.33; 370/356
Field of Classification Search .............. 379/88.17,
379/88.25, 93.33, 211.02; 370/356
See application file for complete search history.

(52)
(58)

ABSTRACT

Feb. 18, 2005

System and method for putting control of incoming telephone
calls in the hands of subscribers with the aid of computer
software and the Internet. In effect, a very efficient multiplexer is provided that does not require a change in the behavior of the called party or the calling party. This system permits
the called party to hear a spoken message by the calling party
in real time, and the content of the spoken message permits
the called party to decide how to handle the call. The system
adaptively learns and captures the rules of the called party for
handling calls, and learns which callers the called party
always wishes to talk to. The system uses special control
software on the called party's computer which is connected to
the Internet. The system employs a central server in which all
of the required intelligence is resident. Audio signals are
exchanged via non-data channels provided by the telephone
companies and by the Internet. Either a very simple Internet
busy pick-up is provided, or a very complex messaging system is provided, as desired. A feature is the monitoring and
screening of incoming calls before deciding how to handle
them. Another feature is the capturing and storage of the
decision making profile.
46 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets

US 7,397,910 B2
Page 2
6,044,059
6,078,581
6,104,800
6,144,644
6,160,881
6,167,127
6,169,796
6,178,183
6,181,691
6,208,638
6,212,261
6,230,009
6,243,378
6,253,249
6,278,704
6,304,565
6,350,066
6,353,663
6,405,035
6,411,601
6,411,805
6,438,216
6,438,222
6,477,246
6,496,576
6,501,750
6,510,162
6,512,930
6,519,258
6,539,084
6,549,612
6,564,321
6,567,505
6,643,034
6,721,408
6,785,021
6,857,074

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,956,595
4,009,337
4,022,983
4,485,470
4,736,405
4,809,321
4,893,336
4,994,926
5,040,208
5,046,087
5,291,302
5,404,537
5,434,908
5,459,584
5,467,388
5,526,524
5,533,102
5,577,111
5,583,918
5,619,557
5,640,677
5,651,054
5,751,795
5,774,067
5,805,587
5,809,128
5,812,551
5,825,867
5,832,060
5,894,504
5,946,386
5,960,064
5,960,073
5,963,629
5,995,594
5,995,603
6,014,436
6,032,051
6,034,956
6,035,031

A
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8/1991
9/1991
3/1994
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7/1995
10/1995
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6/1996
7/1996
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12/1996
4/1997
6/1997
7/1997
5/1998
6/1998
9/1998
9/1998
9/1998
10/1998
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4/1999
8/1999
9/1999
9/1999
10/1999
1111999
1111999
112000

Sobanski
Sakai et al.
Braun eta!.
Reali
Akiyama
Morganstein et a!.
Wuthnow
Gordon eta!.
Jolissaint
Sakai
Gordon eta!.
Olnowich eta!.
Klein
Gordon eta!.
Redd, Jr. eta!.
Madduri
Robinson eta!.
Iida eta!.
Nakagawa
VanBerkum
Karlsson
Dunn et al.
Hassler et a!.
Olnowich eta!.
Norris et al.
McMullin
Tsukazoe et a!.
Epler eta!.
Corlett et a!.
Alfred et al.
Rogers eta!.
Fo ladare et al.
Kikinis et al.
Jung
Shaffer et a!.
Anderson
Florence et a!.
212000 Hallet a!.
3/2000 Olnowich eta!.
3/2000 Silverman

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112001
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4/2001
5/2001
6/2001
6/2001
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3/2002
6/2002
6/2002
6/2002
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12/2002
112003
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Olnowich
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Bajzath eta!.
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Bauer eta!.
Buskirk, Jr.
Markgraf et a!.
Rieley eta!.
Meubus eta!.
Holmes eta!.
Olnowich
Belzile
Creamer et a!.
Ramamurthy
Bobo,II
Stevens et a!.
Singh
Shaffer et a!.
Becker eta!.
Aktas
Burg
Dolan eta!.
Tanaka eta!.
Shaffer et a!.
Fijolek et a!.
Sandegren
Tsukazoe et a!.
Long
Gifford et al.
Bobo,II
Omari et al.
Gordon eta!.
Bain eta!.
Gordon eta!.
Bobo,II

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

wo
wo
wo

wo 98/36551
wo 97/26749
wo 00/06084

8/1998
7/1999
10/2000

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28A

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Server (s) ~ 29

(Local)

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Gateway
(Central)

Figure 1

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28B

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=

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U.S. Patent

Jul. 8, 2008

US 7,397,910 B2

Sheet 2 of 14

COMMAND CENTER
!CALLER rNFORMATION

DISPLAY~

CALL BANDL:tNG

IMONITORI

]coNNECT

12] 0 0 0
otsTURBI

GREETING

I Joo

!TRANsFER!

NOT

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NEW CALL

MESSAGE RETRIEVAL
PLAY

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BACK

CALL BANDLXNG RULES
ALWAYS

JI

NEVER

DEF:J:NE

Display presentation is visual and/or
audible ca1ler infor.mation.
Shown are action buttons for various call
and message hand1ing. Actions may also be
taken by voice or touch tone commands.

Figure 2

~

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•

30

POTS

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INCOMING
CALL

~

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31
POTS
NETWORK

HOME
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NUMBER

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NOTE
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38

TELEPHONE

CALL HANDLING
DECISION
FIG. 7

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CALLER

HUMBER

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CALLER TO

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5. TOUCH TONE ID
OF CALLED PARTY

1.
2.
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4. TEL. NO.

PORTABILITY

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U.S. Patent

Jul. 8, 2008

US 7,397,910 B2

Sheet 5 of 14

LOCATE SUBSCRIBER
HOME NUMBER

LOGGED ON LINE

t-

40
FORWARDED
CALL

I

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ADDITIONAL
HOME
NUMBER

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NUMBER

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LAND LINE

TO

28

~ 50
SERVER
28

Figure 6

U.S. Patent

Jul. 8, 2008

US 7,397,910 B2

Sheet 6 of 14

51

PLACING A CALL
FROM A FIRST
ENTITY TO A
SECOND ENTITY

52

DETERMINE WHETHER
THE COMMAND
CENTER OF THE
SECOND ENTITY

57

IS COMMUNICATING
WITH THE

SERVER

RECEIVING THE
CALL AT A
LOCAL EXCHANGE

53

SWITCH

SENDING A MESSAGE
TO THE COMMAND
CENTER INDICATING
THE PRESENCE OF

IDENTIFYING A
NUMBER OF THE
FIRS'!' ENTITY

54

58

A CALL, CALL
INTERNETING AND
IDENTIFYING THE
NUMBER OF THE
FIRST ENTITY AND
THE NUMBER OF 'l'HE

SECOND ENTITY
55

DIRECTING

56

THE CALL

TO ONE OF A PLURALITY
OF TELEPHONIC
DEVICES ACCORDING
TO 'l'BE NUMBER OF THE
SECOND ENTITY

Figure 7

60

U.S. Patent

Jul. 8, 2008

US 7,397,910 B2

Sheet 7 of 14

62

RECEXVING AT THE
SERVER A COMMAND
FROM THE COMMAND
CENTER TO HAVE
THE SERVER ANSWER
THE CALL

ANSWERING THE CALL

63

64

THROUGH THE SERVER

PLA':a!iNG A

65

MESSAGE

RECORDING A
MESSAGE FROM
THE CALL

66

STORING THE
MESSAGE FROM THE

CALL IN THE
SERVER

-68

Figure 8

67

U.S. Patent

Jul. 8, 2008

Sheet 8 of 14

US 7,397,910 B2

BEGIN

DETERMINE WHETHER

SPEC~ INSTRUCTIONS
ARE STORED IN THE

71

COMPlJ'fER REGARDING
FORWARDING CALLS

FORWARDING THE CALL

TO A NUMBER

72

DBSIGNAi'ED BY THE

SECOND ENTITY

END

..__ 73

Figure 9

U.S. Patent

Jul. 8, 2008

US 7,397,910 B2

Sheet 9 of 14

74

BEGIN

RECORDING A PLURALITY

75

OF DIFFERENT AODIO
GREETINGS

STORING SAID AUDIO
GREETINGS IN A

76

MEMORY STORAGE
DEVJ:CE

PLAYING A
PRESELECTED ONE

77

OF SAID AUDIO
GREETXNGS TO A CALLER
ON DEMAND

78
END

Figure 10

U.S. Patent

Sheet 10 of 14

Jul. 8, 2008

BEGIN

US 7,397,910 B2

80

~
DEVELOPXNG A DATABASE OF

PRIORl:TY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

v- 81

+
ANSWERING A CALL BY. THE SERVER
ONLY IF TBE CALLER'S PRIORITY
LEVEL MATCHES THE SUBSCRIBER'S
AVAILABILITY LEVEL

,.,- 82

+
IF THE CALLER'S PRIORITY LEVEL
EXCEEDS THE SUBSCRIBER'S
MONITOR-AVAILABILITY LEVEL
-PERMITTING THE SUBSCRIBER TO
MONXTOR A MESSAGE FROM THE CALLER
AUDIBLY OVER THE INTERNET

....- 83

+

PERMITTING THE SUBSCRIBER TO MAKE A
DECISION HOW TO HANDLE THE CALL

OVER THE INTERNET

1-- 84

j.
PEBMITTING THE SUBSCRIBER TO SPECIFY:
ALWAYS, OR THIS TIME ONLY, CONNECT THE
CALL, TRANSFER THE CALL, TAKE A MESSAGE,.
OR TERMINATE THE CALL IF THE SELECTED
TECHNIQUE OVERRIDES THE ROLE, UPDATE
THE RULES PROFILE DYNAMIC

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Jul. 8, 2008

US 7,397,910 B2

Sheet 12 of 14

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MONITORING AND
SCREENING INCOMING
CALLS BASED ON
PROPERTIES SUCH AS

v-91

DYNAMICALLY CALL
TREATMENT :SY
SUBSCRIBER, AND

STORING

CALL TYPE, CALLER NO.,
CALLED NO. ,

I/ 95

PROFILING

TIME OF

DAY, FAMILY MEMBER
PROCESSING
LOCATING SUBSCRIBER
USING FIND ME, FOLLOW
ME, FIRST OR SECOND
HOME PHONE, BUSINESS
PHONE, CELL PHONE

ALLOWING SUBSCRIBER
TO SPECIFY CALL
TREATMENT, E.G. CONNECT
THE CALL, TRANSFER THE
CALL, TAKE A MESSAGE

82

PROFILES TO INFER
CALLER PRIORITY
AND CREATE RULES

REVIEWING BY
SUBSCRIBER OF
SUGGESTED CALL
HANDLING RULES

V

SS
CAPTURING AND

STORING DYNAMIC
PROFILE OF
SUBSCRIBER CALL
TREATMENT

OBSERVING AND NOTING
SUBSCRIBER TREATMENT

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US 7,397,910 B2
1

2

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
PROVIDING EXPANDED
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

caller can provide a spoken message which can be played via
the Internet to the subscriber at which time the subscriber can
make a decision as to how to handle the call. These features
are offered without the necessity for a behavior change by
either the calling party or the called party. However, other
messaging features can be offered, if desired. This makes the
system of the present invention as complex as is desired. It can
be extremely simple for the unsophisticated customer and yet
can offer many advanced features for those that desire them.
Other features of the present invention are disclosed or
apparent in the section entitled: "BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION."

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/255,567 (filed 26 Sep. 2002) now U.S. Pat.
No. 6,898,275, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/539,375 (filed 31 Mar. 2000; now U.S. Pat.
No. 6,477,246), which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional
Patent Application 60/127,434 (filed 1 Apr. 1999). The entire
disclosure of all of these priority applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

5

10

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
15

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a telecommunications system, and more particularly to the control of telephone calls in a telecommunication system by use of personal
computer software via the Internet.

20

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
25

Many telephone subscribers have a personal computer on
their desk and frequently the personal computer is logged in
to the same telephone line that would normally be used by the
telephone. This is for use of the computer on the Internet.
Frequently, incoming telephone calls receive a busy signal
because the computer is logged on to the Internet. Thus there
are many lost calls. Many individuals and small businesses
are searching for ways to simplify and control their telecommunications systems. Many of them are reluctant to acquire
additional telephone lines at current prices.
Most telecommunications systems today have limited
intelligence. It is estimated that 75% of business calls end in
voice mail, an often unsatisfactory conclusion. Calls not completed may result in irritated customers and lost sales. The
present invention addresses this waste of human and business
resources by using the Internet and Internet telephony to
deliver control of a customers telecommunication for the
individual or small business.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention ranges from an internet busy pick-up
through a very complex messaging system. All that is
required at the subscribers location is special software for use
on a personal computer in connection with the internet. The
system of the present invention operates a central server
which receives incoming telephone calls when a user is connected to the Internet. The company's central server delivers
the calling and called number information to the user's desktop computer for all calls. The user may elect to pick up that
call in which case a direct Internet connection is made
between the users desktop computer and the telephone system. If the user does not answer the call or the user is not
logged on line to the Internet, the company's central server
takes the message or optionally forwards the call to a traditional phone line or a cell phone. The information about the
call is then spoken to the customer who can again make a
decision whether to take that call.
It is presently contemplated that the system of the present
invention takes the call only if the subscriber's line is busy and
the calling parties number is recorded in memory storage at
the central server. It is also contemplated at present that the

30

35

40

45

For a fuller understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing in the following
detailed description of the Best Mode of Carrying Out the
Present Invention. In the drawing, the same reference characters are used to refer to the same elements of the present
invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an example of a typical screen for a control panel.
FIG. 3 is a more detailed version of the communication
path of the system of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the call handling process.
FIG. 5 is the process oflocating the subscriber.
FIG. 6 is an expansion of FIG. 3 showing how a Telco
central office can be connected by way of wireless connections or by way of land line connections to the server.
FIG. 7 is a sequence of steps on a flow chart indicating the
handling of a call.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a series of steps in the
handling of incoming telephone calls.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating further steps in the call
handling flow chart.
FIG. 10 is a sequence of steps in a flow chart.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart for steps in deciding how the subscriber answers a call.
FIG.12 illustrates calling back into the central server while
an incoming call is being held at the server.
FIG. 13 is a sequence of steps in a method flow chart
illustrating capturing the dynamic profile of a subscriber.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram indicating how the system
can handle undesired incoming calls.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second
embodiment of the call control system of the present invention.

50

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
INVENTION

55

60

65

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the organization of
one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a first
entity 20 connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 21. A second entity 22 is also connected to the
PSTN 21. The second entity 22 is illustrated as having a first
device 23 indirectly connected to the Internet 26 through a
PSTN 21 provided dial-up connection shared with the telephone of the second entity 22. The second entity 22 is also
shown to have a second device 24 directly connected to the
Internet 26. Both devices host a software based Command
Center 25. The devices may or may not be logged onto the
Internet 26. FIG. 1 also shows a local exchange switch 27
connected to the PS TN 21. The system directs the call and the
call information of the first entity 20 through the PSTN 21 to

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the local exchange switch 27 and then to a gateway 28; said
gateway can be implemented as a local gateway 28A near the
switching system 27 or a centralized gateway 28B near the
server 29. The gateway forwards the call information to the
Server (or array of Servers) 29 which then communicates to
the Command Center 25 over an Internet Protocol connection
that is by a plurality of means, including a single phone line
dial up connection (e.g. as shown in the case of the first device
23) an always on landline home connection (for example as
shown in the case of the second device 24) an always on
landline office connection or an always on wireless connection. The Server 29 and the Command Center 25 then interact
to coordinate the dialog with the first entity 20 over the PSTN
21 and the second entity 22 over the appropriate device 23 or
24.
Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, an example of a
typical screen for command center 25 a control panel is
shown. It should be understood that the control panel may
have messages on it other than the ones shown in the figure.
The control panel of FIG. 2 would typically show up in a
small area of the monitor screen of the subscriber's device
desktop (e.g. computer) 23 & 24. For example, the control
panel of FIG. 2 may occupy only a 1 inch by 2 inch corner of
the screen. The control panel of FIG. 2 displays status of the
incoming call and allows the second entity 22 to coordinate
interactions with the server 29. The command center interface
supports a plurality of call control inputs including a) no input
b) transfer call over circuit switching network c) take call over
Internet Protocol d) reoriginate the call over circuit switched
or Internet Protocol network e) have the server interact with
the caller to provide information or record the audible signal.
Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown a
more detailed version of the communication path of the system of the present invention. An incoming call is illustrated as
being directed to a home telephone number 30 in the Plain
Old Telephone System (POTS) which is passed on to the
POTS Network 31. The POTS Network 31 is shown connected to a Signaling System 7 (SS7) 32. The telephone
system employs what is known as Common Channel Signaling (CCS). This is a signaling system used in telephone networks that separates signaling information from user data. A
specified channel is exclusively designated to carry signaling
information for all other channels in the system. The SS7 32
is one of the standard CCS systems used by the telephone
company. The SS7 32 is connected to the central server 28.
The SS7 32 normally connects between central offices.
Because the present invention uses the SS7 32, it appears to be
a central office to the telephone companies. The system of the
present invention is actually a class 5 telephone office. A
message store memory 33 is located at the central server 29
for storing messages. The central server 29 communicates
through the internet 26 to the personal desktop computer 25 of
the client. The central server 29 is shown as also communicating to a second client having a personal desktop computer
34. A call merger 39 connects from the Internet 26 to a
telephone instrument.
When an incoming call comes in to the home telephone
number 30, the central server 29 interacts with the caller. It
makes a record of the caller's telephone number or prompts
the caller to unblock the telephone so as to give the caller's
telephone number. The central server 29 may give the caller
options that can be answered by a touch tone response, or it
may ask for a voice message to be passed on to the subscriber.
If an audio message is given to the central server 29, that
message is passed along using Voice Over IP (VOIP) which is
used in the telephone system and over the internet. The letters
IP stand for Internet Protocol.

Teleconferencing over the internet is done using a standard
developed by the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU). This standard is known as ITU-T H.323. This provides
for audio and video in a teleconferencing context. From the
standpoint ofVOIP, the video component of the teleconferencing signal is ignored and only the audio is used. This
permits audio to be transferred from the incoming call at the
home telephone number 30 to the client's personal desktop
computer 25. The client can listen to the message from the
incoming call before making a decision as to the handling of
the call. The server communicates to a command center running on a multiplicity of platforms and providing a control
interface to the second entity. The command center is a software and device solution that can be hosted alternatively on a
personal computer, a handheld computing device, a wireless
telephone, a television, a web interface appliance, or a command center server using voice and DTMF tone interaction
with a telephone device.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a schematic diagram of the call handling process. Box 35 indicates the arrival
of an incoming call. The options may include forward the call,
call forward no-answer, forward the call always, and it may
provide for switching the call to a different telephone number,
for example that of a cell phone or other device. The caller
may be presented with voice mail type options. For example,
if you wish to talk with Mr. Jones, press 1, if you wish to talk
with Mrs. Jones press 2, if you wish to talk with Susie Jones
press 3. The caller may be required to give a touch tone ID, or
to provide a touch tone ID of the called party. The dialog
process is for the purpose of obtaining as much information as
possible as to who is calling, which family member is being
called, and why. The caller may be asked to speak a message
into the telephone as would be done with an answering
machine. This message is recorded and passed on to the
subscriber so that he can listen to it to aid him in making the
call handling decision. As shown at box 37, the caller's telephone number is noted by the central server 29, or the caller
is prompted to unblock the telephone number. Box 36 indicates that a dialog is conducted by the central server 29 with
the caller. Box 38 shows the call handling decision. The
system identifies the first entity by the following methods:
detecting caller ID and or called number information from the
call information received from the switch, by means of voice
prompts from the system and tone response from the first
entity by which the first entity identifies their number, or the
person whom they are calling, or by means of capturing an
audible signal from the first entity.
The central server 29 may go through a process oflocating
the subscriber. This is illustrated in FIG. 5. This service is
sometimes referred to as find me/follow me. As indicated in
FIG. 5, the subscriber may have his home number logged on
line for the Internet as indicated in block 40. However, the
subscriber may have an additional home number as shown in
block 41 or the subscriber may have a business number as
shown in block 42. The subscriber may have a personal number as in block 43, or a special number classed as a single
purpose number as in block 44. In addition the subscriber may
have a cell phone 45 or a pager 46.
It should be understood that as the central server 29 goes
through the processes oflocating the subscriber, the caller is
not aware of any of the procedures that the central server 28 is
going through. The caller is unaware of any of the special
numbers that the subscriber may have, or equipment such as
pagers or cell phones.
It is not necessary for the equipment used by the system
such as the central server 29 to be located close to the subscriber or close to the called number. For example, as shown

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in FIG. 6, the POTS Network 31 can be connected through a
Telco central office 47 via the SS7 32 by way of wireless
connections 48 or by way of land line connections 50 to the
server 29 at a remote location.
It should be understood that the message store memory 33
shown in FIG. 3 may include a list of numbers that the subscriber wishes to speak to always. These may be family members, or business partners, or the like. These may be added to
at the subscriber's discretion. Other instructions for call handling may be recorded in the message store memory 33. One
of the first things done by the central server 29 is to check to
see if there are special instructions for handling of a given
incoming call. FIG. 7 shows a sequence of steps on a flow
chart indicating the handling of a call. The first box 51 is
"begin". Box 52 is "placing a call from a first entity to a
second entity". Box 53 is "receiving the call at a local
exchange switch". The next step is shown in box 54 as "identifYing a number of the first entity". Box 55 is "directing the
call and the number of the first entity to a gateway". Box 56 is
"directing the call, call information, and the number of the
first entity to a server". Box 57 is "determining whether the
Command Center of the second entity is communicating with
the server". Box 58 is "sending a message to the Command
Center indicating the presence of a call and identifYing the
number of the first entity and the number of the second
entity". Box 60 is "directing the call to one of a plurality of
telephonic devices according to the number of the second
entity" and the last block on FIG. 7 is box 61 "end".
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a series of steps in the
handling of incoming telephone calls. The first block 62 is
"begin". Block 63 is "receiving at the server a command from
the command center to have the server answer the call". Block
64 is "answering the call through the server". Block 65 is
"playing a message". Block 66 is "recording a message from
the call". Block 67 is "storing the message from the call in the
server". The last block is 68 "end".
FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating further steps in the call
handling flow chart. The first block 70 is "begin". Block 71 is
"determining whether special instructions are stored in the
computer regarding forwarding calls". Block 72 is "forwarding the call to a number designated by the second entity".
Block 73 is "end".
As has been indicated hereinbefore, an audible message
from the caller may be played to the subscriber to aid him in
making a decision for handling the call. However, the subscriber may also record messages, and these messages may be
played to the caller as well. There may be a number of different messages depending upon the circumstances, and these
may be selectively played as desired. Referring now to FIG.
10, there is shown a sequence of steps in a flow chart. Block
74 is "begin". Block 75 is "recording a plurality of different
audio greetings". Block 76 is "storing said audio greetings in
a memory storage device". Block 77 is "playing a preselected
one of said audio greetings to a caller on demand". Block 78
is "end". Referring now to FIG. 11, this figure shows a flow
chart for steps in deciding how the subscriber answers a call.
The first block 80 is "begin". Block 81 is "developing a data
base of important telephone numbers". Block 82 is "answering a call by the server only if the line is busy and the caller
number is in the data base". Block 83 is "permitting the
subscriber to monitor a message from the caller audibly over
the Internet". Block 84 is "permitting the subscriber to make
a decision how to handle the call over the Internet". Block 85
is "permitting the subscriber to specifY: always, or this time
only, connect the call, transfer the call, take a message, or
terminate the call". Block 86 is "end".

The client or subscriber has many ways to deal with an
incoming call. He can elect not to answer and to take a
message, or he can have the call played through the personal
desktop computer 25 and talk to the caller via the Internet 26,
or he can have the call transferred to a different instrument
such as a second telephone 24 (FIG. 1) or a cell phone 45
(FIG. 5). There is another way for the subscriber to handle a
call. While the central server 29 is holding the call, the client
can pick up a cell phone or a regular POTS phone and call in
to the central server 29 and have a call cross-connect right
there. This is illustrated in FIG. 12. This figure illustrates an
incoming call arriving at the central server 29. It is connected
to the Internet 26 and to the client's personal desktop computer 25. Then, the client may elect to make a POTS inbound
call to the server 87. This means, for example, picking up a
cell phone or a regular POTS phone and dialing the number to
the central server 29. At the central server 29, a call crossconnect is made, and the client can talk to the caller making
the incoming call.
The central server 29 is able to capture and store the
dynamic profile of the subscriber's rules for treatment of
incoming calls. This is illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a
sequence of steps in a method flow chart. Block 90 is "begin".
Block 91 is "monitoring and screening incoming calls based
on properties such as call type, caller number, called number,
time of day, family member called". Block 92 is "locating
subscriber using find me, follow me, first or second home
phone, business phone, cell phone and various Internet
devices". Block 93 is "allowing subscriber to specify call
treatment, e.g., connect the call, transfer the call, take amessage". Block 94 is "observing and noting subscriber treatment
of call". Block 95 is "profiling dynamically call treatment by
subscriber". Block 96 is "reviewing by subscriber of suggested call handling rules". The subscriber is not asked to
enter his rules for handling calls but rather the subscriber is
presented with rules determined implicitly by the central
server 28. The subscriber than has an opportunity to approve
or to reject the proposed rules. Block 97 is "capturing and
storing dynamic profile of subscriber call treatment". This
dynamic profile may be stored in the message store memory
33 of the central server 28. In addition an address book may be
compiled at that same location so that if the subscriber wishes
to place a call, or to return a call following a telephone
message, it is easy to initiate using the numbers logged in the
address book in the message store memory 33 of the central
server 28. In FIG. 13, the last block 98 is "end".
The central server 28 of the system of the present invention
gradually becomes more useful to the subscriber as it learns
the subscriber's profile. This profiling also adds another
dimension to the system of the present invention. This is an
advertising or media dimension. The profiling creates a community of users. People that call each other on the telephone
have a community of interests. Thus the profiling information
that is stored becomes, in effect, a collaborative filter based on
telephone numbers. Recording of calls made to other numbers indicates similar patterns of behavior. This is based on
shared interests. Thus, this gradual interactive development
of a profile based on decisions made by the client may be used
for advertising purposes, if desired.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram indicating how the system
can handle undesired incoming calls. At the left of FIG. 14
there is illustrated an incoming call 35. The call is coupled to
a detector for detecting phone "spam" 100. The incoming call
35 is also connected to a detector for detecting nuisance calls
101. Both of these types of telephone calls are unsolicited,
unwanted, and undesirable types of calls. When these types of
calls are detected, they are forwarded to block 102 which

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initiates a "rude" hang-up. This type of hang-up would have
an audible message to the caller saying something such as
"never call again". Then, the signal is passed on to block 103
which terminates the call.
Typically, the system only answers calls for the client when
the client's telephone line is busy and he is logged on the
Internet. However it can be arranged for the system to answer
all of the client's incoming calls. This is illustrated in FIG. 15.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the call control system of the present invention. In this
embodiment of the invention, the hard connection from the
POTS to the subscriber is broken. This is done by the central
server system providing a virtual phone number to the client
without providing a telephone instrument. This is illustrated
in block 104. The virtual telephone number is given to the
client who uses it in his advertising so that all calls will be
made to that number but in fact those calls will be intercepted
by the system of the present invention.
The present invention has been particularly shown and
described with respect to certain preferred embodiments and
features thereof. However, it should be readily apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and
modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in
the appended claims. The inventions illustratively disclosed
herein may be practiced without any element which is not
specifically disclosed herein.
What is claimed:
1. A method of providing a called entity the ability to
selectively accept phone calls, the method comprising:
receiving over a PSTN, at a call processing apparatus, a call
from a first entity directed to a second entity's virtual
telephone number;
opening a communication channel over the Internet with a
networked computer associated with the second entity;
recording speech from the first entity and transmitting the
speech over the Internet communication channel to the
networked computer to be played by the networked
computer to the second entity; and
receiving an instruction, over the Internet communication
channel from the second entity via the networked computer, and at least partly in response to the received
instruction, causing the first entity call to be selectively
connected to one of a plurality of potential second entity
terminal destinations.
2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first entity
is connected to the PSTN via a local switch.
3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call
processing apparatus is connected to the PSTN via a local
switch.
4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second
entity is connected to the Internet via a dial-up connection.
5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second
entity is connected to the Internet via an always on connection.
6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second
entity is connected to the Internet via a wireless connection.
7. A method of using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoiP) to
provide a called party the ability to audibly screen calls via a
networked computer, the method comprising:
receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling patty
intended forte called party, wherein signaling information associated with the call includes the calling party's
phone number;
playing a greeting to the calling party;
opening a communication channel over the Internet with a
networked computer associated with the called party;

transmitting in substantially real time at least a portion of
the signaling information for display to the called party
on the networked computer; and
transmitting in substantially real time a VoiP voice communication from the calling party over the communication channel to the networked computer so that the called
party can audibly listen to the voice communication in
substantially real time and screen the calling part's call.
8. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising
providing a user interface to the called party, wherein the user
interface is configured to be displayed on only a portion of a
display associated with the networked computer, and the display includes a control which ambles the called party to
indicate that the called patty wants to take the call.
9. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising
providing a user interface to the called party, wherein the user
interface is configured to be displayed on a display associated
with the networked computer, and wherein the user interface
includes,
a first control which enables the called party to indicate that
the called party wants to take the call using the Internet
Protocol, and
a second control which enables the called party to indicate
that the called party wants to transfer the call over a
circuit switching network.
10. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the networked computer is connected to the called party's telephone
line.
11. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising
determining, via an application hosted on the networked computer, that the networked computer is connected to the called
party's telephone line prior to transmitting the VoiP voice
communication to the networked computer.
12. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the call is
received at the first system via a Public Switched Telephone
Network (PSTN).
13. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the call was
forwarded to the first system by a call directing method
selected from the group including busy call forward and no
answer call forward.
14. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the call is
received at the first system via a PSTN gateway.
15. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the networked computer shares a PSTN dial-up line with a POTs
telephone.
16. A method of providing a called party the ability to
screen calls using a wireless phone via an audible message
from the calling party, the method comprising:
receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party
intended for the called party; playing a greeting via the
first system to the calling party;
opening a communication channel with a wireless phone
associated with the called party; and
transmitting in substantially real time via the first system
an audible voice communication from the calling party
over the communication channel to the wireless phone
so that the called party can listen to and screen the
audible voice communication in substantially real time.
17. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the wireless phone is configured to provide a first control enabling the
acceptance of the call at the wireless phone.
18. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the wireless phone hosts a command center application configured to
provide a first control enabling the transfer of the cell.
19. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the call was
forwarded to the first system by a call directing method

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selected from the group including busy call forward, no
answer call forward, call forward all, and telephone number
portability.
20. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising
sending a message to a user interface over an Internet Protocol connection indicating the presence of a call.
21. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising
receiving via a called party user interface a call handling
instruction selected from a group including:
transfer call over a circuit switching network, and
take call over an Internet Protocol network.
22. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising
recording the voice communication as the tint system for later
retrieval by the called party.
23. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the wireless phone is a cellular phone.
24. A method of enabling a called party to audibly screen
calls via a device having a call management user interface
displayed on a screen, the method comprising:
receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party
intended for the called party;
playing a greeting to the calling party;
opening a communication charmel to a communication
device having a display, wherein the display displays a
user interface including,
a first control that, when selected by the called party, causes
the first system to enable the called party to talk to the
caller;
a second control that, when selected by the called party,
causes the first system to transfer the call to another
communication device;
transmitting in substantially real time an audible voice
communication from the calling party over the communication charmel to the commumication device so that
the called party can listen to the audible voice communication in substantially real time and screen the calling
party's call; and
receiving an indication at the first system that the called
party selected the first control or the second control
while the voice communication from the calling party is
being transmitted in substantially real time.
25. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the communication device is a wireless telephone.
26. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the voice
communication is transmitted in substantially real time using
a voice over Internet protocol.
27. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein selection of
the second control causes the call to be transfered over the
Internet to another communication device.
28. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein selection of
the second control causes the call to be transferred over public
switched telephone network to another communication
device.
29. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the call was
forwarded to the first system by a call directing method
selected from a group including busy call forward and no
answer call forward.
30. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the user
interface providing the first control and the second control is
no greater than two square inches in size.
31. A method of locating a called party and providing the
called party the ability to audibly screen calls, the method
comprising;
receiving, at a first system, a call from a calling party
intended for the called party;
playing a greeting to the culling party;

retrieving from computer readable memory associated
with the first system stored information corresponding
to a plurality of terminals associated with the called
party;
determining atwhichofthe plurality of terminals the called
party is currently located;
opening a communication channel with the terminal the
called party is currently located at; and
transmitting in substantially real time a voice communication from the calling party over the communication
channel to the terminal at which the called party is currently located so that the called party can listen to the
voice communication in substantially real time and
screen the calling party's call.
32. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the information corresponding to a plurality of terminals includes a
home number, a business number, and a cell phone number.
33. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the called
party is not aware of the process of determining at which of
the plurality of terminals the called party is currently located
and opening a communication charmel with the terminal the
called party is currently located at.
34. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the called
party is not aware of the phone number associated with the
terminal the called party is currently located at.
35. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the terminal the called party is currently located at is a cell phone.
36. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the voice
communication is transmitted in substantially real time using
VoiP.
37. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the voice
communication is transmitted in substantially real time over a
wireless network.
38. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the voice
communication is transmitted in substantially real time over
the public switched telephone network.
39. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein a user
interface is displayed on the terminal the called party is currently located at, the user interface providing a control via
which the user can indicate that the call is to be forwarded to
another terminal.
40. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein a user
interface no greater than two inches square is displayed on the
terminal the called party is currently located at, the user
interface providing a control via which the user can indicate
that the call is to be forwarded to another terminal.
41. A method of providing a called party the ability to
screen calls that are forwarded to a call processing system, the
method comprising:
receiving at a call processing system a call from a first
entity intended for a second entity that was forwarded
via a PSTN, wherein the call was forwarded by a call
directing method selected from the group including busy
call forward and no answer call forward; playing a greeting to the first entity;
opening a communication charmel with a first communication device associated with the second entity; and
transmitting in substantially real time via the first system a
voice communication from the first entity over the communication channel to the communication device so that
the second entity can listen to and screen the voice
communication in substantially real time.
42. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein the voice
communication is transmitted in substantially real time using
Voice over Internet protocol.
43. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein the first
communicating on device is a wireless phone.

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44. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein the system
includes a database that stores contact information for a plurality of telecommunication devices associated with the
called party.
45. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein a user
intertface is displayed on the communication device the
called party is currently located at the user interface providing
a control via which the user can indicate that the call is to be
forwarded to another communication device.

46. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein a user
interface no greater than two inches square is displayed on the
communication device the second entity is currently located
at, the user interface providing a control via which the user
can indicate that the call is to be forwarded to another communication device.

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