Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is related to Internet protocol (IP) telephony
systems that allow users to place and receive telephone calls, and to send
and receive text and video messages via data packets that are communicated
over a data network.
[0002] Presently, there are many IP telephony systems that provide
telephony services to their users. Typically, a user will register with an IP
telephony system to obtain telephony services at their residence or business.
-
As part of the registration process, one or more of the user's telephony
devices in their home or business are registered with the IP telephony system.
[0003] When the user wishes to place a call or send a text or video
message, the user's telephony device contacts a server or a gateway
maintained by the IP telephony system over a public and/or private data
network. The server or gateway then acts to provide the user with the
requested communications services.
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[0004] IP telephony
systems can provide the same types of
communications services as traditional telephony service providers that
operate through a publically switched telephone network (PSTN), but at
significantly lower costs. For this reason, many people have switched their
residential and business telephony service provider from a traditional PSTN-
based telephony services provider to an IP telephony service provider.
[0005] Many users
also have a separate mobile or cellular telephone in
addition to their residential and business telephones. Although it would be
desirable to utilize an IP telephony service provider to obtain certain types
of
communications services on mobile telephones, doing so is often
inconvenient.
[0006] Generally,
the only way to place international long distance
telephone calls through an IP telephony service provider using a mobile
telephone is to pre-pay for an IP telephony service that is separate and
distinct from the carrier that provides the regular native telephony service
to
the user's mobile telephone. Once the user has prepaid for a certain amount
of minutes, in order to place a telephone call using the IP telephony service,
the user must engage in a cumbersome dialing procedure. In order to use the
IP telephony service, the user may need to remember a username or account
number, as well as a PIN or password.
[0007] Thus,
although it is possible to obtain lower cost IP telephony
services on a mobile telephone, it is not convenient or quick to place calls
through the service. Further, the user must engage in a separate financial
transaction to obtain minutes of call time on the IP telephony service. Also,
if
the user has an account with an IP telephony service that is left with only a
few minutes of talk time, the user may choose to not use the remaining
minutes, meaning some of the money spent to acquire minutes of talk time on
the IP telephony system will be lost.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Figure 1 is
a diagram of a communications environment including
various elements which are associated with an Internet protocol (IP) telephony
system operating in accordance with the invention;
[0009] Figure 2 is
a diagram of various elements of a processor that
forms part of a IP telephony system;
[0010] Figure 3 is
block diagram illustrating selected elements of an IP
telephony system that is capable of providing telephony services to a
telephony device that is native to another telephony system;
[0011] Figure 4
illustrates elements of a software application that may be
present on an extension telephony device;
[0012] Figure 5 is
diagram illustrating steps of a method of providing
telephony services to a telephone that is native to a first telephony system
with elements of a second telephony system;
[0013] Figure 6 is
diagram illustrating steps of a method of assigning a
local telephone number within a first country that a user within the first
country
can dial to be connected to a different telephone number in a second country;
[0014] Figure 7 is
a diagram illustrating steps of a method that would be
performed by software running on a smartphone or a computer that is acting
as an extension telephony device to place a telephone call;
[0015] Figure 8 is
a diagram illustrating steps of a method that would be
performed by an extension operations unit of an IP telephony system to
connect a smartphone or a computer acting as an extension telephony device
to a called party;
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[0016] Figure 9
illustrates steps of a method performed by elements of
an IF telephony system to establish a telephony communication for an
extension telephony device;
[0017] Figure 10
illustrates steps of a method performed by a software
application on an extension telephony device to establish a telephony
communication for an extension telephony device;
[0018] Figure 11
illustrates steps of a method performed by elements of
an IF telephony system to connect an extension telephony device to an
ongoing telephony communication;
[0019] Figure 12
illustrates steps of a method performed by an extension
telephony device to join an ongoing telephony communication;
[0020] Figure 13
illustrates steps of a method performed by elements of
an IP telephony system to determine which calling party identifier to use in
caller ID information; and
[0021] Figure 14
illustrates steps of a method performed by a software
application of an extension telephony device to determine which calling party
identifier to use in caller ID information.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The
following detailed description of preferred embodiments
refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of
the invention. Other embodiments having different structures and operations
do not depart from the scope of the present invention.
[0023] The
technology is related to telephony systems generally. The
technology encompasses systems and methods of providing communications
services to a user's telephony device that is native to a first telephony
system
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through a second telephony system. Preferably, the second telephony
system is an IP based telephony system and is distinct from the first
telephony
system.
[0024] In the
following description, the terms VOIP, VolP (Voice over IP)
system, VOIP telephony system, IF system and IP telephony system are all
intended to refer to a system that connects callers and that delivers data,
text
and video communications using Internet protocol data communications.
[0025] As
illustrated in Figure 1, a communications environment 100 is
provided to facilitate IF enhanced communications. An IP telephony system
120 enables connection of telephone calls between its own customers and
other parties via data communications that pass over a data network. The
data network is commonly the Internet 110, although the IF telephony system
may also make use of private data networks. The IF telephony system 120 is
connected to the Internet 110. In addition, the IF telephony system 120 is
connected to a first publicly switched telephone network (PSTN) 130 via a
gateway 122. The first PSTN 130 may also be directly coupled to the Internet
110 through one of its own internal gateways. Thus, communications may
pass back and forth between the first IF telephony system 120 and the PSTN
130 through the Internet 110 via a gateway maintained within the PSTN 130.
[0026] The gateway
122 allows users and devices that are connected to
the PSTN 130 to connect with users and devices that are reachable through
the IF telephony system 120, and vice versa. In some instances, the gateway
122 would be a part of the IF telephony system 120. In other instances, the
gateway 122 could be maintained by a third party.
[0027] Customers of
the IF telephony system 120 can place and receive
telephone calls using an IF telephone 108 that is connected to the Internet
110. Such an IF telephone 108 could be connected to an Internet service
provider via a wired connection or via a wireless router. In some instances,
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the IP telephone 108 could utilize a cellular telephone system to access the
Internet 110.
[0028]
Alternatively, a customer could utilize a normal analog telephone
102a which is connected to the Internet 110 via a telephone adapter 104. The
telephone adapter 104 converts analog signals from the telephone 102a into
data signals that pass over the Internet 110, and vice versa. Also, as
illustrated in Figure 1, multiple analog telephone devices 102a, 102b and 102c
could all be coupled to the same telephone adaptor 104. Analog telephone
devices include but are not limited to standard telephones and document
imaging devices such as facsimile machines. A
configuration using a
telephone adapter 104 is common where all of the analog telephone devices
102a, 102b and 102c are located in a residence or business, and all of the
telephone devices are connected to the same telephone adapter. With this
type of a configuration, all of the analog telephone devices 102a, 102b, 102c
share the same telephone number assigned to the telephone adaptor 104.
Other configurations are also possible where multiple communication lines
(e.g., a second telephone number) are provisioned by the IP telephony
system 120.
[0029] In addition,
a customer could utilize a soft-phone client running on
a computer 106 to place and receive IP based telephone calls, and to access
other IP telephony systems (not shown). In some instances, the soft-phone
client could be assigned its own telephone number. In other instances, the
soft-phone client could be associated with a telephone number that is also
assigned to an IP telephone 108, or to a telephone adaptor 104 that is
connected to one or more analog telephones 102.
[0030] A third
party using an analog telephone 132 which is connected to
the PSTN 130 may call a customer of the IP telephony system 120. In this
instance, the call is initially connected from the analog telephone 132 to the
PSTN 130, and then from the PSTN 130, through the gateway 122 to the IP
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telephony system 120. The IP telephony system 120 then routes the call to
the customer's IF telephony device. A third party using a cellular telephone
134 could also place a call to an IF telephony system customer, and the
connection would be established in a similar manner, although the first link
would involve communications between the cellular telephone 134 and a
cellular telephone network. For purposes
of this explanation, the cellular
telephone network is considered part of the PSTN 130.
[0031] In addition,
mobile computing devices which include cellular
telephone capabilities could also be used to place telephone calls to
customers of the IF telephony system. A mobile computing device 136, as
illustrated in Figure 1, might connect to the PSTN 130 using its cellular
telephone capabilities. However, such devices might also have the ability to
connect wirelessly via some other means. For example, a mobile computing
device 136 might communicate with a wireless access point 138 which
connects the mobile computing device 136 directly to a data network, such as
the Internet 110. In this instance, communications between the mobile
computing device 136 and other parties could be entirely carried by data
communications which pass from the mobile computing device 136 directly to
a data network 110. Of course, alternate embodiments could utilize any other
form of wireless communications path to enable communications.
[0032] Users of the
IP telephony system 120 are able to access the
service from virtually any location where they can connect to the Internet
110.
Thus, a customer could register with an IF telephony system provider in the
U.S., and that customer could then use an IF telephone 108 located in a
country outside the U.S. to access the services. Likewise, the customer could
also utilize a computer outside the U.S. that is running a soft-phone client
to
access the IF telephony system 120.
[0033] Figure 1
also illustrates that a second IF telephony system 140
may interact with the first IP telephony system 120 via the Internet 110. For
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example, customers of the second IP telephony system 140 may place calls
to customers of the first IP telephony system 120. In that instance, assets of
the second IP telephony system 140 interact with assets of the first IP
telephony system 120 to setup and carry the telephone call. The same basic
thing could happen if customers of the first IP telephony system 120 place
calls to customers of the second IP telephony system 140.
[0034] Figure 1
also illustrates a second PSTN 150 that is coupled to an
analog telephone 152 and a cellular telephone 154. The second PSTN 150
may also be directly coupled to the Internet 110 through one of its own
internal gateways. Thus, communications may pass back and forth between
the first IP telephony system 120 and the second PSTN 150 through the
Internet 110 via a gateway maintained within the second PSTN 150. Calls
from customers of the first IP telephony system 120 may be routed to the
analog telephone 152 or the cellular telephone 154 through the second PSTN
154.
[0035] For purposes
of the following description, we will assume that the
first PSTN 130 is located in a first country, and that the second PSTN 140 is
located in a second country. Likewise, the analog telephone 132 and cellular
telephone 134 coupled to the first PSTN 130 are located in the first country,
whereas the analog telephone 152 and cellular telephone 154 coupled to the
second PSTN 150 are located in the second country.
[0036] Figure 2 illustrates elements of a computer processor 250 that can be
used as part of the IP telephony system 120 to accomplish various functions.
The IP telephony system 120 could include multiple processors 250 located at
various locations in the system, along with their operating components and
programming, each carrying out a specific or dedicated portion of the
functions performed by the IP telephony system 120.
[0037] The processor 250 shown in Figure 2 may be one of any form of a
general purpose computer processor used in accessing an IP-based network,
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such as a corporate intranet, the Internet or the like. The processor 250
comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 252, a memory 254, and support
circuits 256 for the CPU 252. The processor 250 also includes provisions
258/260 for connecting the processor 250 to customer equipment, to service
provider equipment, to an IP network or gateways, as well as possibly one or
more input/output devices (not shown) for accessing the processor and/or
performing ancillary or administrative functions related thereto. The
provisions 258/260 are shown as separate bus structures in Figure 2;
however, they may alternately be a single bus structure without degrading or
otherwise changing the intended operability of the processor 250.
[0038] The memory 254 is coupled to the CPU 252. The memory 254, or
computer-readable medium, may be one or more of readily available memory
such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), floppy
disk, hard disk, flash memory or any other form of digital storage, local or
remote, and is preferably of non-volatile nature. The support circuits 256 are
coupled to the CPU 252 for supporting the processor in a conventional
manner. These
circuits include cache, power supplies, clock circuits,
input/output circuitry and subsystems, and the like.
[0039] A software routine 262, when executed by the CPU 252, causes the
processor 250 to perform processes of the disclosed embodiments, and is
generally stored in the memory 254. The software routine 262 may also be
stored and/or executed by a second CPU (not shown) that is remotely located
from the hardware being controlled by the CPU 252. Also, the software
routines could also be stored remotely from the CPU. For example, the
software could be resident on servers and memory devices that are located
remotely from the CPU, but which are accessible to the CPU via a data
network connection.
[0040] The software routine 262, when executed by the CPU 252, transforms
the general purpose computer into a specific purpose computer that performs
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one or more functions of the IP telephony system 120. Although the
processes of the disclosed embodiments may be discussed as being
implemented as a software routine, some of the method steps that are
disclosed therein may be performed in hardware as well as by a processor
running software. As such, the embodiments may be implemented in
software as executed upon a computer system, in hardware as an application
specific integrated circuit or other type of hardware implementation, or a
combination of software and hardware. The software routine 262 of the
disclosed embodiments is capable of being executed on any computer
operating system, and is capable of being performed using any CPU
architecture.
[0041] In the
following description, references will be made to an "IP
telephony device." This term is used to refer to any type of device which is
capable of interacting with an IP telephony system to complete a telephone
call. An IP telephony device could be an IP telephone, a computer running IP
telephony software, a telephone adapter which is itself connected to a normal
analog telephone, or some other type of device capable of communicating via
data packets. An IP telephony device could also be a cellular telephone or a
portable computing device that runs a software client that enables the device
to act as an IP telephone. Thus, a single device might be capable of
operating as both a cellular telephone and an IP telephone.
[0042] Moreover,
certain devices that are not traditionally used as
telephony devices may act as telephony devices once they are configured
with appropriate client software. Thus, some devices that would not normally
be considered telephony devices may become telephony devices or IP
telephony devices once they are running appropriate software.
[0043] The
following description will also refer to telephony
communications and telephony activity. These terms are intended to
encompass all types of analog and video telephone calls, regardless of
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whether all or a portion of the calls are carried in an analog or digital
format.
These terms are also intended to encompass data communications that are
conveyed through a PSTN or VOIP telephony system, such as facsimile
transmissions, text messages, SMS messages, MMS messages, video
messages, and all other types of data communications sent by or received by
a user. In other words, these terms are intended to encompass any
communications whatsoever, in any format, which traverse all or a portion of a
communications network or telephony network.
[0044] Figure 3
illustrates elements of an IP telephony system 120. The
IP telephony system 120 includes a call routing engine 230. The call routing
engine 230 provides instructions to servers of the telephony system 120 to
help the servers establish communications channels between a calling party
and a called party. The call routing engine 230 also helps servers to deliver
text messages, SMS messages, MMS messages and other forms of
communications.
[0045] The IP
telephony system 120 further includes a billing system
240. The billing system 240 uses information drawn from a call detail record
(CDR) database 220, and possibly other sources, to determine how much to
bill the users of the IF telephony system 120.
[0046] The IP
telephony system 120 also includes a partner provider
interface module 250. This module communicates various items of
information with partner providers who help to complete telephone calls for
the
IP telephony system 120 in various locations throughout the world. The same
partner providers may deliver incoming calls directed to users of the IP
telephony system 120. In some instances, the partner providers may feed
information about calls to the IF telephony system 120 via the partner
provider
interface module 250. This information could be used by the IF telephony
system 120 to create CDRs for user calls.
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[0047] The IP
telephony system 120 provides communications services
to its registered users through telephony devices that the users have
registered with the IP telephony system. For example, and with reference to
Figure 1, assume that a first user who has established an account with the IF
telephony system 120 has registered the telephone adaptor 104 with the IP
telephony system 120. The IP telephony system 120 will have assigned a first
telephone number to the first user's account, and calls to that telephone
number will be routed to the telephone adaptor 104.
[0048] Likewise,
assume that a second user who has an account with
the IP telephony system 120 has registered the IF telephone 108 with the IP
telephony system 120. The IP telephony system 120 will have assigned a
second telephone number to the second user's account, and calls to that
number will be routed to the IF telephone 108.
[0049] In the
following description, and the appended claims, the IP
telephony system 120 may be referred to as a telephony system that provides
landline type" telephony services. This description is intended to distinguish
the IF telephony system from a traditional cellular telephone services
provider.
However, this does not mean that the IF telephony system is incapable of
providing telephony services to a mobile or cellular telephone. In fact, quite
the opposite is true, as will be explained below.
[0050] Next, assume
that the first user also possesses the cellular
telephone 134. The cellular telephone 134 is registered with a separate, first
cellular telephony services provider. Also, assume that the second user
possesses the mobile computing device with a cellular telephone 136. The
mobile computing device with a cellular telephone 136 is registered with a
separate, second cellular telephony services provider.
[0051] An IF
telephony system 120 as illustrated in Figure 3 is capable of
providing communications services to a user through both the IF telephony
device(s) that the user has registered with the IP telephony system 120, and
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through a telephony device that is registered with and obtains its native
telephony service from a separate telephony services provider. Thus, for
example, the first user could obtain telephony services from the IP telephony
system 120 using the first user's cellular telephone 134 that is registered
with
a first cellular telephony services provider. Likewise, the second user could
obtain telephony services from the IP telephony system 120 using the mobile
computing device 136 that is registered with a second cellular telephony
services provider. Further, the IF telephony system 120 will bill the first
and
second users for telephone calls made using the cellular telephone 134 and
mobile computing device 136 as part of their regular monthly bills from the IF
telephony system 120.
[0052] The IF
telephony system 120 allows a user to register additional
telephony devices that can act as "extensions" of the user's main IF telephony
device(s). Thus, the first user can register his cellular telephone 134 as an
extension telephony device. While incoming telephone calls directed to the
first user's assigned telephone number will continue to be routed to the
telephone adaptor 104, the first user can place outgoing telephone calls
through the IF telephony system 120 using his cellular telephone 134, even
though the first user's cellular telephone 134 is provided with its native
telephony service by a separate cellular telephony services provider. This
allows the first user to take advantage of the relatively low rates for long
distance and international calls that are offered by the IP telephony system
120. Those rates will typically be significantly lower than the rates the
first
user would be charged by the cellular telephony services provider. In
addition, charges for calls made from the first user's cellular telephone 134
that are routed through the IP telephony system 120 will simply appear on the
first user's regular monthly IP telephony system bill.
[00531 Likewise,
the IP telephony system 120 allows the second user to
register his mobile computing device 136 as an extension telephony device.
While incoming telephone calls directed to the second user's assigned
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telephone number will continue to be routed to the second user's IP telephone
108, the second user can place outgoing telephone calls though the IF
telephony system 120 using his mobile computing device 136, even though
the second user's mobile computing device 136 is provided with its native
telephone service by a separate cellular telephony services provider.
[0054] As
illustrated in Figure 3, the IF telephony system 120 includes an
extensions operating unit 200. The extensions operating unit 200 handles the
registration of extension telephony devices, the setup and configuration of
dialing aids, and the provisioning of telephony services to extension
telephony
devices.
[0055] An extension
connection unit 202 is responsible for setting up
calls for an extension telephony device. An
authorization unit 204 is
responsible for helping to register a telephony device as an extension of an
existing account with the IF telephony system 120. The authorization unit 204
is also responsible for determining if a registered extension telephony device
is authorized to receive certain telephony services from the IP telephony
system.
[0056] An extension
speed dial unit 205 can provide speed dial functions
for extension telephony devices. A local to international number assignment
unit sets up special numbers that can be called in various countries to reach
an extension telephony device.
[0057] A forwarding
unit 208 operates to forward calls that are originally
directed to a customer's main telephone number to an extension telephony
device that is associated with the user's account.
[0058] A quality
checking unit 210 checks a quality of a data connection
that is established between the IF telephony system 120 and an extension
telephony device via a data network. Calls may be connected to an extension
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telephony device in various different ways depending on the determined
connection quality.
[0059] When a user
wishes to register a telephony device as an
extension telephony device, the actual registration process could be handled
by the authorization unit 204 in multiple different ways. In some instances, a
user could utilize a website interface to register a telephony device that
receives its native telephony service from a different telephony service
provider as an extension telephony device. In other instances, the user could
call a special access number maintained by the IF telephony system 120.
This would connect the user to an interactive voice response system that
would allow the user to register the extension telephony device. In other
instances, a user could call and speak to a customer service representative
that would assist with the registration of the extension telephony device.
[0060] It still
other instances, such as where the extension telephony
device is a mobile computing device, the user can download a software
application onto the mobile computing device, and the software application
can handle the registration of the mobile computing device as an extension
telephony device. The application might also provide a user interface that
allows the user to place telephone calls from the mobile computing device
through the IF telephony system 120.
[0061] Figure 4
illustrates elements of a software application or client
400 that could be loaded onto an extension telephony device. The software
client 400 includes a call connection unit 402 which establishes calls through
the IF telephony system 120. A configuration unit 404 records certain
preferences that the user has selected. As will be explained in greater detail
below, those preferences can include preferences about how calls are
connected, and references relating to the information that is presented to a
called party in caller ID information. The software
client also includes a
quality checking unit 406, which determines a quality of a connection that an
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extension telephony device is able to establish with the IP telephony system
120 over a data network, or a quality of a connection to a wireless access
point, or both.
[0062] Regardless
of how it is accomplished, during the registration
process the IP telephony system 120 obtains a telephone number or some
other unique identifier associated with the extension telephony device. In
addition, the authorization unit 204 may assign a unique personal
identification number (PIN) to the extension telephony device. The user may
be asked for the PIN when the user requests services through the IP
telephony system 120. In other instances, the same PIN associated with the
user's main account with the IP telephony system 120 might be used to
authorize the provision of communications services to the user through the
extension telephony device.
[0063] With
reference to the communications environment illustrated in
Figure 1, the first user, whose primary IP telephony device is the telephone
adaptor 104, would register his cellular telephone 134 as an extension
telephony device. During the registration process, the authorization unit 204
obtains the telephone number associated with the cellular telephone 134. The
authorization unit may also assign a PIN number that the user can provide
when requesting communications services from the IP telephony system 120
through the cellular telephone 134.
[0064] Likewise,
the second user would register his mobile computing
device 136 as an extension telephony device. During the registration process,
the authorization unit 204 could obtain a telephone number associated with
the mobile computing device 136, or a unique identification number assigned
to the mobile computing device 136, or both. Here again, the authorization
unit 204 may assign a PIN number to the mobile computing device 136 that
the second user would provide to obtain communications services from the IP
telephony system 120 through the mobile computing device 136.
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[0065] The IP
telephony system 120 may allow a user to register one or
a predetermined number of extension telephony devices without charge. Any
calls placed from the extension telephony device(s) would then incur the same
charges as calls made from the user's primary IP telephony device. If the
user places a call with an extension device to a telephone number that is part
of an unlimited calling plan, no additional charges would apply. If a call is
placed with an extension telephony device to a telephone number that would
incur a per minute charge, the same rate applies to calls made from the
extension telephony device that would apply to calls made from the user's
primary IP telephony device.
[0066] If the user
wants to register additional extension telephony
devices beyond the number that can be registered for free, the IP telephony
system 120 may charge the user a monthly re-occurring charge for each
additional extension device. Paying the monthly re-occurring charge would
then entitle the user to obtain communications services through the extension
telephony device at the same rates the user would be charged for
communications services provided to the user through his primary IP
telephony device. Alternatively, the user may be provided with the option of
registering additional extension telephony devices without the need to pay a
monthly re-occurring charge if the user instead pays per minute fees for calls
placed from the additional extension telephony devices.
[0067] Also, the IP
telephony system 120 could offer the user different
pricing options for communications services provided to the user through an
extension telephony device than for communications services provided to the
user through the user's primary IP telephony device. Regardless, the user
would continue to receive one monthly bill for charges incurred for
communications services provided to the user through the user's primary IP
telephony device and through the user's extension telephony devices.
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[0068] The IP
telephony system 120 could also allow a master account
holder to specify a maximum allowable monthly spending limit for each
extension telephony device. The master user could set and change those
spending limits by interacting with the authorization unit 204 via a web
portal,
through an interactive voice response system, or using an application loaded
on a mobile computing device. Alternatively, the master user could speak
with a customer service representative to have the maximum spending limits
set or changed.
[0069] When a user
wishes to place a call from an extension telephony
device via the IP telephony system 120, the call could be established in any
of
multiple different ways.
[0070] If the
extension telephony device has a software client provided
by the IP telephony system, and the extension telephony device is able to
establish a data connection to a data network, such as the Internet, via a
wireless access point, the call can be established without making use of the
extension telephony device's native telephony service. Instead, the software
client contacts the extension connection unit 202 of the IP telephony system
120 over the data network to request the setup of a call. The extension
connection unit 202 then sets up a VOIP session to the extension telephony
device over the data connection, and places an outgoing call to the requested
party. The two calls are then effectively bridged together.
[0071] In instances
where a software client on an extension telephony
device cannot establish a data connection to the extension connection unit
202 of the IF telephony system 120 via a wireless access point, it may
nevertheless be possible to establish the data connection via a cellular data
service provided by the extension telephony device's native telephony service
provider. In that case, the extension connection unit could still set up a
VOIP
session to the extension telephony device over the cellular data connection,
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and place an outgoing call to the requested party. The two calls are then
effectively bridged together.
[0072] In instances
where a software client on an extension telephony
device cannot establish a data connection to the extension connection unit
202, or in instances where the extension telephony device does not have the
ability to run a software client, it is still possible to setup a call through
the IP
telephony system 120. This is accomplished by placing a call to an access
telephone number maintained by the IF telephony system. The call could be
placed using the extension telephony device's native telephony service
provider. Once connected to the IF telephony system 120, the extension
telephony device can request that the IF telephony system 120 place an
outgoing call that is connected to the extension telephony device. This type
of
a connection method is illustrated in Figure 5.
[0073] Figure 5
illustrates the steps of a method 500 that would be
performed by elements of the IP telephony system 120 to setup an outgoing
call from an extension telephony device. The user places a call to a local
access telephone number or to a toll free access number from a registered
extension telephony device. The method begins and proceeds to step S502,
where the call is received by the extension connection unit 202 of the IP
telephony system 120 illustrated in Figure 3.
[0074] The
extension connection unit 202 obtains the telephone number
of the extension telephony device through the caller ID information provided
as part of the incoming call. In some instances, the extension connection unit
202 may obtain a unique ID number associated with the extension telephony
device, or the extension connection unit 202 may request the user to input a
unique identification number. The telephone number or unique identification
number associated with the extension telephony device will be recognized
because the user will have already registered the extension telephony device.
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[0075] In step S504, the extension connection unit 202 asks the user to
provide a PIN that is associated with the extension telephony device, or with
the user's main account with the IP telephony system. This information could
be provided to the extension connection unit in multiple different ways. It
could be provided by the user pressing buttons on a keypad of the extension
telephony device. Alternatively, the user might speak the information. In
other instances, such as where an application is running on a mobile
computing device, a query could be sent to an application running on the
device, and the application could automatically provide the PIN information
without further user intervention. Regardless, the extension connection unit
202 would acquire the information, and/or interpret any spoken responses
using speech recognition assets.
[0076] In alternate embodiments, the provision of a PIN is not required.
Instead, the caller ID information is used to verify the identity of the
party.
[0077] In step S506, the extension connection unit 202 verifies that the
calling party is authorized to place a call through the IP telephony system
120
using the extension telephony device. This would likely include interacting
with the authorization unit 204 to verify that the obtained telephone
number/unique identification number of the extension telephony device and
the obtained PIN information match the information stored in the authorization
unit 204.
[0078] Assuming the obtained information is verified, and the user is
authorized to place a call through the IP telephony system 120 with the
extension telephony device, in step S508 the extension connection unit 202
obtains the telephone number the user would like to call. This could occur in
multiple different ways.
[0079] In a simple embodiment, the extension connection unit 202
prompts the user for the telephone number, and the user enters the telephone
number using a keypad of the extension telephony device. The user might
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also speak the number, and the extension connection unit 202 would utilize
speech recognition assets to interpret the user's spoken response.
[0080] In other
instances, the user might be able to access a speed dial
system that has been created for the user's main account with the IP
telephony system 120, or which has been specifically created for the
extension telephony device. For example,
Figure 3 illustrates that an
extension speed dial unit 205 may be a part of the extension operations unit
200 of the IP telephony system 120.
[0081] A user could
configure the extensions speed dial unit 205 so that
multiple pre-stored telephone numbers correspond to predetermined
numbered options for each extension telephony device. When a user calls a
local access number with an extension telephony device, the extension
connection unit 202 will determine the identity of the extension telephony
device. The user could make a telephone number selection from the
predetermined list maintained for that extension telephony device in the
extension speed dial unit 205.
[0082] In more
complex embodiments, the access number that was
originally dialed by the user may be tied to a particular destination
telephone
number. If that is the case, then simply by virtue of the access number dialed
by the user, the extension connection unit 202 will know what telephone
number the user is attempting to reach. This concept is discussed in more
detail below.
[0083] If the user
is reaching the extension connection unit 202 from a
mobile computing device that is running an application provided by the IP
telephony system 120, the application may allow the user to easily select a
telephone number from a contact list maintained on the mobile computing
device. The application would then forward the telephone number on to the
extension connection unit 202.
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[0084] Once the
extension connection unit 202 has obtained the
telephone number the user wishes to reach, in step S510 the extension
connection unit 202 causes a telephone call to be setup to the desired
telephone number using normal IP telephony system assets, as is well known
to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some instances, the telephone call
will
be established such that the called party telephony device receives caller ID
information identifying the extension telephony device as the calling party.
In
other instances, the caller ID information may reflect the telephony number
associated with the user's main account with the IP telephony system as the
calling party. These options are discussed in greater detail below.
[0085] The IP
telephony system 120 will create a CDR for the call, and
the CDR will be updated, finalized and stored at the completion of the call.
The CDR will later be used to bill the user for the call placed through the
extension telephony device. For this reason, the CDR may include a field that
indicates that the call was placed through a particular registered extension
telephony device.
[0086] Once the
call has been setup by the IP telephony system 120, the
server that originally establishes the call may conduct an optional call
transfer
in step S412. The call transfer would allow the call signaling to proceed more
directly between the extension telephony device and the called telephony
device. When a call transfer is conducted, it would free up assets of the IP
telephony system 120 for other uses.
[0087] In some
embodiments, the user's extension telephony device may
be a mobile computing device that is running an application provided by the IP
telephony system 120. In such an embodiment, once a call is established to
the extension connection unit 202, the application may send information to the
extension connection unit that includes the telephone number of the extension
telephony device, a unique identifier assigned to the user's extension
telephony device, and/or a PIN number. Thus, a software application on an
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extension telephony device could automate the performance of certain steps
illustrated in Figure 5.
[0088] As mentioned
above, in some embodiments, the IP telephony
system 120 can assign a local access number for a user to correspond to a
number that the user frequently calls from his extension telephony device.
For purposes of explanation, and with reference to Figure 1, assume that the
first user frequently uses his cellular telephone 134 to call his mother, who
has
analog telephone 152 in a different country. The first user has already
registered his cellular telephone 134 as an extension telephony device with
the IP telephony system 120. The first user can request that the IP telephony
system assign a local access number to correspond to the telephone number
assigned to his mother's analog telephone 152. Steps of a
method to
accomplish this assignment are illustrated in Figure 6. The steps illustrated
in
Figure 6 would be performed by elements of the IP telephony system 120.
[0089] The method
600 begins when the first user requests that a local
access number be assigned to his mother's telephone number. This request
would be received by the local to international telephone number assignment
unit 206 of the extensions operation unit 200 of the IP telephony system 120,
as shown in Figure 3. The first user could interact with the local to
international telephone number assignment unit 206 in multiple different ways.
The first user could utilize a web interface, an interactive voice response
system available through an access number, or the first user could speak with
a customer service representative. If the first user's extension telephony
device is a mobile computing device, an application running on the mobile
computing device could also be used to interact with the local to
international
telephone number assignment unit 206.
[00901 The method
begins and proceeds to step S602, where the local to
international telephone number assignment unit 206 receives the request from
the first user. In step S604, the local to international telephone number
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assignment unit 206 obtains the telephone number the first user wishes to be
assigned, which in this case is the telephone number of his mother's analog
telephone 152. The local to international telephone number assignment unit
206 also obtains the identity of the party at that telephone number, in this
case, the first user's mother. In step S606, the local to international
telephone
number assignment unit 206 assigns a local access number that the first user
can call to be connected to his mother's analog telephone 152. This number
is ideally one that the first user can call from his extension telephony
device
without incurring any long distance or toll charges.
[0091] In step
S608, the local to international telephone number
assignment unit 206 initiates an outbound call to the first user's extension
telephony device. The call will indicate that it has originated from the
assigned local access number, and it will indicate that the call is from the
first
user's mother. When this information is captured by the first user's extension
telephony device, it is easy for the first user to store this information in a
contact list on the first user's extension telephony device. Thus, the local
access number is communicated to the first user in an easy and convenient
manner. In step S610, the outbound call is then terminated.
[0092] Once this
process has been conduced, the first user can simply
call the assigned local access number. When the call is received by the
extension connection unit 202, the extension connection unit 202 will know
both the local access number that was called, and the telephone number or ID
number of the first user's extension telephony device. This will allow the
extension connection unit 202 to determine the number that the first user
wishes to call. The extension connection unit 202 may then ask the first user
for the PIN number assigned to the first user's extension telephony device to
ensure that the user's is authorized to make the call through the IP telephony
system. As soon as the user provides the PIN, the call would be connected.
In some embodiments, obtaining the PIN may not occur, In still other
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embodiments, a software application on the user's extension telephony device
may automatically provide the PIN.
[0093] As mentioned above, in some instances a user could place a call from
an extension telephony device that is a smartphone or a computer or a
portable computing device running appropriate software. In these instances,
some or all of the communications required to inform the extension operation
unit 200 of the called party's telephone number, the user's account
information and a PIN number can be automated by the software. The
software might also make it easier for the user to input or select a telephone
number of the party the user is attempting to reach.
[0094] Figure 7 illustrates steps of a method 700 that would be performed by
an application on a smartphone or software on a computer in order to place a
call while the smartphone or computer is acting as an extension telephony
device. Figure 8 illustrates steps of a method 800 that would be performed by
the extensions operation unit 202 of an IP telephony system 120 to connect
such an extension telephony device to a called party. In the following
description, we will assume that the user is placing a call from a smartphone
that is registered as an extension telephony device under a user's main
account with an IP telephony system 120. However, the same basic steps
would be performed if the user was placing a call from a computer or a
portable computing device that is acting as an extension telephony device.
[0095] The method begins when a user decides to place a call using a
smartphone as an extension telephony device. The user loads and runs an
application on the smartphone that automates many of the steps the user
would otherwise have to perform under the methods described above. The
method begins and proceeds to step S702, where the application receives an
indication from the user as to who the user wishes to call. This could be
accomplished in many different ways. The user could simply type in the
number the user wishes to call on a keypad of the smartphone. Alternatively,
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the application could cause a keypad to be displayed on a touch sensitive
display screen on the smartphone, and the user could enter the telephone
number using the displayed keypad. In still other instances, the application
could present the user with a list of contacts, and the user could select one
of
the contacts from the list. In this instance, the contact list could be a
contact
list that is stored on the smartphone through another separate application, or
a contact list that has been input and maintained on the smartphone using the
application that has been run by the user to place a call using the smartphone
as an extension telephony device. The actual data that constitutes the
contact list could be stored on the smartphone itself, or it could be stored
on a
remote server that the smartphone is able access via a data connection.
[0096] Once the application has obtained the telephone number of the called
party, in step S704, the application establishes a data link with the
extension
connection unit 202 of the extension operations unit 200 of the IP telephony
system 120, as illustrated in Figure 3. This data link could be established
using a cellular data channel or via a wireless or wired link to a public or
private data network, such as the Internet. Regardless of how the data link is
established, the data link allows the application on the user's smartphone to
communicate with a server that is part of the extension connection unit 202.
[0097] In step S706, the application informs the extension connection unit 202
of the called party's telephone number. The application may also provide the
extension connection unit 202 with the telephone number of the user's
smartphone, or a special identification number assigned to the user's
smartphone or to the application running on the user's smartphone. This
information will allow the extension connection unit to identify the user's
smartphone as a registered extension telephony device.
[00981 The application may also automatically provide the extension
connection unit 202 with a PIN number that was assigned to the user or to the
user's smartphone or to the application loaded on the smartphone. The PIN
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number is used to verify the identity of the user or the smartphone for
purposes of fraud prevention. In alternate embodiments, the application may
require the user to enter or speak the PIN number, which would be another
way of preventing an unauthorized user from placing a telephone call using
someone else's smartphone.
[0099] In step S708, the application obtains a telephone number from the
extension connection unit 202. Then, in step S710, the application causes the
smartphone to call the telephone number it received from the extension
connection unit 202. As will be explained in greater detail below, the user
would then be connected to the called party.
[00100] Although the
embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 ultimately
connects the user to the called party through a telephone call placed to the
telephone number obtained from the extension connection unit 202, in
alternate embodiments, the user may be connected to the called party in
some other fashion. For example, the data link established between the
user's smartphone and the extension connection unit 202 could be used to
establish a VOIP call to the called party. In other instances, the application
on
the user's smartphone may establish a VOIP call to the called party in some
other fashion, with the assistance of the extension connection unit 202.
[00101] Figure 8
illustrates steps of a method 800 performed by the
extension operations unit 200 of the IP telephony system 120 to connect a
smartphone running an application and acting as an extension telephony
device to a called party. The method 800 begins and proceeds to step S802,
where the extension connection unit 202 receives a communication from the
application on the user's smartphone indicating that the application is
attempting to place a call to a called party. In step S802, the extension
connection unit 202 establishes a data link with the application on the
smartphone. As noted above, this data link could be established in multiple
different ways.
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[00102] In step
S804, the extension connection unit 202 receives several
pieces of information from the application on the user's smartphone. First,
the
extension connection unit 202 receives either the telephone number of the
user's smartphone or an identification number that was assigned to the user's
smartphone or to the application running on the user's smartphone. This
information is used to verify the identity of the user and to verify that the
smartphone is a registered extension telephony device. The telephone
number of the user's smartphone may also be used for caller ID purposes
when the call is placed to the called party.
[00103] The
extension connection unit 202 also receives the telephone
number of the called party that the user is attempting to reach. The extension
connection unit 202 may also automatically receive a PIN number from the
application on the user's smartphone. Alternatively, the application may
request that the user input a PIN number, and that information may then be
provided to the extension connection unit 202. In still other embodiments, the
extension connection unit 202 may send a query to the user, via the
application on the user's smartphone, asking the user to input a PIN number.
In some embodiments, the user may have the option of speaking the PIN
number. In those embodiments, the application on the smartphone may
interpret this spoken response, or the extension connection unit 202 may
receive the audio of the spoken response, and the extension connection unit
202 may be responsible for interpreting the spoken response. In still other
embodiments, a PIN may not be required. Instead, the user's identity may be
verified using caller ID information.
[00104] In step
S806, the extension connection unit 202 verifies that the
user is authorized to place the requested call. This would likely include
interacting with the authorization unit 204 to verify that the obtained
telephone
number/unique identification number of the smartphone and the obtained PIN
information match the information stored in the authorization unit 204.
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[00105] If the user
is authorized to place the requested call, in step S808,
the extension connection unit 202 provides the application on the user's
smartphone with a telephone number that the smartphone can call to be
connected to the called party. At this point, the application on the user's
smartphone will place a call to the telephone number obtained from the
extension connection unit 202, as described above in connection with Figure
6.
[00106] In step
S810, the extension connection unit 202 receives the
incoming call from the user's smartphone. The extension connection unit 202
recognizes the user's smartphone through caller ID information, and the
extension connection unit 202 will already know, from the previous information
exchange with the application on the smartphone, what telephone number the
user is attempting to call. In step S812, the extension connection unit 202
places an outgoing call to the called party, and in step S814, the extension
connection unit 202 bridges the incoming and outgoing calls so that the
user's smartphone is connected to the called party.
[00107] In some
embodiments, the extension connection unit 202 waits to
receive the incoming call from the user's smartphone before placing the
outgoing call to the called party. In other instances, the extension
connection
unit begins to setup the outgoing call after it receives the called party's
telephone number from the application on the user's smartphone and before it
receives the incoming call from the user's smartphone. This would result in a
faster connection for the user.
[00108] As noted
above, in alternate embodiments, the user's smartphone
may be connected to the called party in a different fashion. For example,
because the extension connection unit 202 receives all required relevant
information from the application on the user's smartphone via the initial data
connection, the extension connection unit 202 may setup a VOIP call to the
called party, and that call may be bridged to the user's smartphone using the
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same data connection that was used to receive information from the
application on the user's smartphone. This would eliminate the need for the
application to place a separate call to the telephone number provided by the
extension connection unit 202.
[00109] The
application on a user's smartphone, or software running on a
computer or portable computing device, may provide additional functionality
beyond merely allowing the user to place a call. For example, the software
may also allow a user to perform a rate lookup to determine how much it will
cost to place a particular call. The application may also allow a user to
access
his account information with the IP telephony system, and also edit or update
that information. The application may also allow a user to place a text
message to particular telephone number using the smartphone or computer
as an extension telephony device.
[00110] In the
examples given above, it was assumed that the user would
already have an existing account with the IP telephony system, and that the
user would have already registered a primary IP telephony device with the IP
telephony system. In alternate embodiments, it is not necessary for a user to
have a separate primary IP telephony device. Instead, a user would setup a
new account with the IP telephony system with the intention of only
registering
a telephony device that is already registered with and provided service by a
separate telephony service provider. This would allow the user to place calls
from the telephony device using the native telephony service provider, or
through the IP telephony system. In many instances, the IP telephony system
may be able to provide the user with communications services at lower rates
than the native telephony service provider would charge.
[00111] Also, in the
examples given above, the user places a telephone
call using an extension telephony device. However, the
same basic
procedures would be used if a user wishes to obtain other types of
communications services from the IF telephony system via an extension
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telephony device. For example, the user could send SMS text messages,
MMS messages and other forms of communications through the IP telephony
system from an extension telephony device.
[00112] As explained
above, in many instances, an application on a
smartphone or computer that is acting as an extension telephony device can
establish a data connection to the extension connection unit 202. The data
connection can be used to establish a VOIP link to the extension telephony
device. That VOIP link can be used to establish an outgoing call from the
extension telephony device, or to receive an incoming call. However,
conducting a good quality call in this fashion requires that the quality of
the
data connection between the extension telephony device and the extension
connection unit 202 be sufficiently high to support a VOIP call.
[00113] Figure 9
illustrates steps of a method 900 that would be
performed by elements of an extension connection unit 200 to setup a call for
an extension telephony device. During this method, the quality of a data
connection between the extension operations unit 200 and the extension
telephony device is determined during an initial exchange. The call is then
setup based on the determined quality.
[00114] The method
900 begins and proceeds to step S902 where the
extension connection unit 202 receives a request from a registered extension
telephony device to setup a new telephony communication. In step S904, a
quality checking unit 210 of the extension operations unit checks the quality
of
a data connection between the extension operations unit 200 and the
extension telephony device. This could be accomplished by monitoring how
well data packets bearing the setup request were communicated from the
extension telephony device to the extension operations unit 200. Also, when
the setup request is received, the extension connection unit 202 could send
an acknowledgement message back to the extension telephony device. The
determination about the quality of the data connection could also be based on
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how well data packets bearing the acknowledgement message were
communicated from the extension connection unit 202 to the extension
telephony device.
[00115] In step
S906, a check is performed to determine if the quality of
the data connection between the extension telephony device and the
extension operations unit 200 is sufficiently high to support a VOIP call. If
so,
the method proceeds to step S908, and a VOIP link is established between
the extension connection unit 202 and the extension telephony device. That
VOIP link is used for the outgoing call. If the check performed in step S906
indicates that the quality of the data connection is not sufficiently high to
support a VOIP call, the outgoing call is established using the extension
telephony device's native telephony service. In either case, the call can be
established as explained above.
[00116] In alternate
embodiments, the check of the quality of the data
connection could be performed before a user actually requests that a call be
established. For example, the quality check could be performed on a periodic
basis. When quality checks are performed on a periodic basis, so long as the
last quality check was performed relatively recently, a call could be
established immediately upon user request.
[00117] Also, in
some embodiments, a quality check is performed upon
the occurrence of a triggering event. A triggering event could be when a
mobile telephony device establishes a new data connection or switches a
cellular connection from one base station to another. Other triggering events
could include switching a WiFi transceiver on, switching a cellular
transceiver
on, or simply turning the telephony device on.
[00118] Figure 10
illustrates steps of a method 1000 that are performed
by a software application 400 on the extension telephony device to
accomplish this operation. The method 1000 begins and proceeds to step
S1002, where a call connection unit 402 of the software application 400 sends
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a communication setup request to the extension connection unit 202 over a
data connection. In step S1004, a quality checking unit 406 of the software
application 400 checks the quality of the data connection. As mentioned
above, this could include monitoring how well data packets bearing the setup
request are communicated to the extension connection unit 202 and/or how
well data packets bearing an acknowledgement message are communicated
from the extension connection unit 202 back to the extension telephony
device. In addition, the quality checking unit 406 of the software application
400 may also check a quality of a connection that has been established
between the extension telephony device and a wireless access point that
provides the extension telephony device with access to a data network. This
information could be used alone, or together, with information about how well
data packets are being communicated back and forth between the extension
telephony device and the extension connection unit 202.
[00119] In step
S1006, a check is performed to determine if the quality of
the data connection between the extension telephony device and the
extension operations unit 200 is sufficiently high to support a VOIP call. If
so,
the method proceeds to step S1008, and a VOIP link is established between
the extension connection unit 202 and the extension telephony device. That
VOIP link is used for the outgoing call. If the check performed in step S1006
indicates that the quality of the data connection is not sufficiently high to
support a VOIP call, the outgoing call is established using the extension
telephony device's native telephony service. In either case, the call can be
established as explained above.
[00120] The methods
illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 ensure that the
quality of an outgoing call from an extension telephony device remains high.
Where the data network can be used to carry the call, it is used to avoid
making use of the extension telephony device's native telephony service.
This can minimize charges that the user must pay for use of the extension
telephony device.
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[00121] In the above
methods, the data network connection that is
established between the extension telephony device and the extension
operations unit 200 of the IP telephony system could be a data connection
that is established through a wireless access point. Alternatively, the data
connection could be one established through a cellular data link that is
provided as part of the extension telephony device's native telephony service.
[00122] The software
application 400 on an extension telephony device
includes a configuration unit 404, which can record various user preferences.
One such user preference is how calls to the extension telephony device are
to be established. For example, the user could specify that the extension
telephony device is not to establish an outgoing call through the IP telephony
system 120 unless it can be accomplished via a data connection established
through a wireless access point. This would prevent the software application
from setting up a call through the IP telephony system using the extension
telephony device's native telephony service.
[00123]
Alternatively, the user could specify that calls through the IP
telephony system can be established via a data connection through a wireless
access point, or via a cellular data channel provided as part of the extension
telephony device's native telephony service. This would prevent the software
application 400 from setting up a call using minutes of a calling plan that is
part of the extension telephony device's native telephony service.
[00124] The user may
also specify that any type of connection could be
used ,to establish a call through the IP telephony system 120. This would give
the software application 400 maximum flexibility to setup the call using the
channel that provides the best quality. However, the user may still specify a
preference about which channel is used.
[00125] As mentioned
above, a registered extension telephony device is
intended to be an extension of the user's basic telephony service provided by
the IP telephony system 120. As such, it is also desirable to use an extension
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just like a normal extension telephone that is present in a user's residence
or
office. In other words, it is desirable to be able to use both the user's
primary
registered telephony device and an extension telephony device in parallel, at
the same time to allow multiple parties to be connected to the same incoming
or outgoing telephony communication. For example, if a user received an
incoming telephone call in the user's residence, and the user answered the
call with the user's primary telephony device associated with the user's
account, it would be desirable to allow a second person to connect to that
telephony communication using the extension telephony device.
[00126] Figure 11
illustrates steps of a method 1100 that would be
performed by elements of an IF telephony system to connect an extension
telephony device to an ongoing telephony communication that has been
established to the main telephony device registered for the user's account
with an IP telephony system 120. The ongoing telephony communication
could be an outgoing call or an incoming call.
[00127] The method
1100 begins and proceeds to step S1102, where the
extension connection unit 202 of an extension operations unit 200 of an IP
telephony system 120 receives a request from an extension telephony device
to join an ongoing telephony communication that has been established to a
main telephony device that is associated with the user's account with the IF
telephony system 120. The request could be received from a software
application on the extension telephony device via a data network connection.
[00128] In step
S1104, the extension connection unit 202 establishes a
telephony connection to the extension telephony device. This could be a
VOIP link established over a data connection, or a telephone link established
over the native telephony service of the extension telephony device. Any of
the methods described above could be used to establish the telephony link
between the extension connection unit 202 and the extension telephony
device.
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[00129] In step
S1106, the telephony link to the extension telephony
device is effectively bridged to the ongoing telephony communication that has
been established for the primary telephony device registered for the user's
account. As a result, the user of the extension telephony device will be able
to participate in the call. This type of a bridge arrangement essentially
resembles a conference call.
[00130] If the user
of the primary telephony device associated with the
account hangs up, the telephony communication may continue between the
user of the extension telephony device and the third party. Alternatively, the
termination by the primary telephony device may act to terminate the call with
respect to all parties.
[00131] Figure 12
illustrates steps of a method 1200 that would be
performed by the software application on an extension telephony device to
accomplish the same operations. The method 1200 begins and proceeds to
step S 1202, where the software application sends a request to join an
ongoing telephony communication to the extension connection unit 202. In
step S1204, the software application would act to establish a telephony link
between the extension telephony device and the extension connection unit
202 using any of the methods which have been described above. Assuming
the telephony link is established, the extension connection unit 202 would
then bridge the telephony link to the ongoing telephony communication so that
the user of the extension telephony device can join the ongoing telephony
communication.
[00132] In order for
the user of the extension telephony device to join an
ongoing telephony communication that has been established for the primary
telephony device associated with the account, the user of the extension
telephony device must first be made aware of the existence of the telephony
communication. This could
occur because the user of the extension
telephony device is co-located with the user of the primary telephony device.
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Alternatively, each time that a call is established for the primary telephony
device, a message could be sent to the software application on the extension
telephony device that notifies of the existence of the telephony
communication. The message could include information about the identity of
the third party to the communication. The software application could use this
message and information to provide a notification to the user about the
telephony communication, and the software application could ask the user if
the user wishes to join the telephony communication. If the user responds
affirmatively, the methods illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 would then be
performed.
[00133] Figure 3
illustrates that the extension operations unit 200 includes
a forwarding unit 208. The forwarding unit 208 could act to forward telephony
communications that are directed to the telephone number of the primary
telephony device associated with an account to one or more extension
telephony devices associated with the account. The user could make use of a
web interface, an interactive voice response system or the user could interact
with a customer service agent to configure how and when telephony
communications are to be forwarded to an extension telephony device. The
forwarding could be automatically activated and deactivated based on the
user's preferences.
[00134] For example,
the user could specify that during business hours,
all telephony communications directed to the user's primary telephony device
in the user's residence are to be forwarded to a mobile telephone which is
registered as an extension telephony device. Alternatively, the user could
specify that during non-business hours, telephony communications directed to
a primary telephony device in the user's office are to be forward to a mobile
telephony device that is registered as an extension telephone device. Any
other sort of preferences could also be followed to automatically forward
telephony communications to an extension telephony device.
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[00135] If a user
has multiple extension telephony devices, the user could
specify that any forwarded communications are to be forwarded to all
extension telephony devices simultaneously, or that the extension telephony
devices are to be rung in a particular order until one of the extension
telephony devices answers.
[00136] When a user
places an outgoing call from an extension telephony
device, the caller ID information that is sent to the called party could
reflect
any of several different calling party identifiers. The caller ID information
could include a calling party identifier associated with the extension
telephony
device itself, such as the telephone number of the extension telephony device
as established by the extension telephony device's native telephony service
provider. Alternatively, the caller ID information could include a calling
party
identifier of a primary telephony device associated with the user's account
with the IF telephony system.
[00137] A user of an
extension telephony device could record a
preference about which calling party identifier is to be used in the
configuration unit 404 of a software application 400 on the extension
telephony device. Alternatively, such a preference could be recorded in an
element of the extension operations unit 200. In still other embodiments, a
user may be queried each time that an outgoing call is placed from the
extension telephony device, the query asking the user to specify which calling
party identifier is to be reflected in caller ID information sent to the
called
party.
[00138] Figure 13
illustrates steps of a method 1300 that would be
performed by elements of an extension operations unit 200 of an IF telephony
system 120 when an outgoing call is to be established for an extension
telephony device. The method would begin and proceed to step S1302,
where the extension connection unit 202 receives a communication setup
request from an extension telephony device. In step S1304, the extension
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connection unit determines which calling party identifier to use in caller ID
information that is to be sent to the called party. The determination could be
made by consulting preferences that have been stored in the extension
operations unit. Alternatively, the extension connection unit 202 could query
a
software application on the extension telephony device to determine which
calling party identifier to use. In still other instances, the calling party
identifier
that is to be used may be identified in the call setup request that was
received
from the extension telephony device.
[00139] In step S1306, the requested communication is established.
During the establishment of the communication, caller ID information that
includes the determined calling party identifier is sent to the called party.
The
call could be established for the extension telephony device using any of the
many methods described above.
[00140] Figure 14
illustrates steps of a method 1400 that would be
performed by a software application on an extension telephony device to
setup an outgoing telephony communication through the IP telephony system
120. The method begins and proceeds to step S1402 where the software
application receives a request from a user to setup an outgoing telephony
communication. In step S1404, the software application queries the user
about which calling party identifier to use, In step S1406, the software
application receives input from the user that indicates which calling party
identifier to use. In step
S1408, the software application sends a
communication setup request to the extension connection unit 202 of an
extension operations unit 200 of an IP telephony system 120. The
communication setup request includes an indication of which calling party
identifier to use in caller ID information that is to be sent to the called
party. In
step S1410, the software application interacts with the extension connection
unit 202 to establish the requested telephony communication.
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[00141] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the
invention.
As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include
the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It
will
be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when
used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[00142] While the invention has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is
to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed
embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications
and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
