Abstract:
A telephone line status notification system including at least one telephone line having a status, a communications network, at least one communications terminal which is connectable to the communications network and which is employable by a seeking user to communicate via the communications network a status request concerning the status of the at least one telephone line, apparatus for processing the status request the apparatus for processing is connectable to the communications network for receiving the status request from the seeking user therethrough and communicating the request, and apparatus for acquiring the status of the at least one telephone line, the apparatus for acquiring is in communication with the apparatus for processing for receiving the status request therefrom, and the apparatus for acquiring is connectable to the communications network for communicating the status via the communications network.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to telephone status notification systems in general, and more particularly to the use of computer networks to relay the status of one or more telephones. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide users connected via a computer terminal to a computer network with details of the network connection status of other users similarly connected. Applicant&#39;s U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/791,437, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a system for providing a user with the network address, network connection status, and availability status of one or more users, to enable them, for example, to initiate a point to point connection with each other. 
     Public telephone systems, as presently constituted, generally only provide the status of a telephone at the time one attempts to establish a connection with it. Thus, one gets a busy signal, call waiting signal, or a ringing tone, etc. Some telephone carriers provide a service whereby a person who calls another party and receives a busy signal will be alerted when the telephone number called becomes available, but again status information is provided conditionally on having dialed a number previously. The ability to get an on-line report on the status of one or more telephone numbers automatically, or of receiving the logical status set by a user regarding his availability for a telephone call, as separate from its actual physical status, independent of the need to try to call the desired number, does not exist today among telephone carriers or telephone devices connected to the public telephone system, or the telephone line at home (as opposed to the carrier), or among telephone owners today. However, in general, all the necessary information exists or can be acquired, and can be made available by telephone carriers, by a telephone device which is connected to the system, or the telephone line at home which is connected to the public system, or by the telephone owner. PABXs and other specialized telephony systems such as call centers, telephony help desks, or Automatic Call Distribution Systems do posses the possibility of getting the status of their extensions, but while this information may be available to users connected to such systems by various known methods, it is not available to seeking users of the general public who are not subscribers or extensions of such systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to provide a system for requesting the status of a telephone line, recognizing the status, and passing on the status to one or more requesting computer network addresses. The system additionally provides for automatic call-back and conferencing once a telephone line&#39;s status has been determined. 
     There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a telephone line status notification system including at least one telephone line having a status, a communications network, at least one communications terminal which is connectable to the communications network and which is employable by a seeking user to communicate via the communications network a status request concerning the status of the at least one telephone line, apparatus for processing the status request the apparatus for processing is connectable to the communications network for receiving the status request from the seeking user therethrough and communicating the request, and apparatus for acquiring the status of the at least one telephone line, the apparatus for acquiring is in communication with the apparatus for processing for receiving the status request therefrom, and the apparatus for acquiring is connectable to the communications network for communicating the status via the communications network. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the status request includes a unique identification of any of the users. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention apparatus is included for identifying a network address associated with the unique identification. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one server is included which is connectable to the communications network. 
     Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention either of the apparatus for acquiring and the apparatus for processing is resident in the at least one server. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus for processing is resident in the communications terminal employable by the seeking user. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a communications terminal employable by a sought user and connectable to the communications network is included. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a telephone connectable to the telephone line is included. 
     Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus for acquiring is resident in the telephone. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus for acquiring is resident in the communications terminal employable by the sought user. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sought user communicates the status to the apparatus for acquiring via the communications terminal employable by the sought user. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the telephone line is part of a PABX system, and the status is communicated to a user not regularly connected to the PABX system. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a cellular telephone in communication with the communications terminal employable by the seeking user is included. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a cellular telephone in communication with the communications terminal employable by the sought user is included. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention e the communications terminal employable by the seeking user is a cellular telephone. 
     Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the communications terminal employable by the sought user is a cellular telephone. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the communications terminal employable by the sought user is adapted to receive a call-back request from the seeking user and initiate a call to the seeking user via the telephone line. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the seeking user has a telephone line status, and the communications terminal employable by the sought user is further adapted to initiate the call to the seeking user once the seeking user telephone line status has been determined. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sought user has a telephone line status, and the communications terminal employable by the sought user is further adapted to initiate the call to the seeking user once the sought user telephone line status has been determined. 
     Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sought user has a telephone line status, the seeking user has a telephone line status, and the communications terminal employable by the sought user is further adapted to initiate the call to the seeking user once either of the sought user telephone line status and the seeking user telephone line status has been determined. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention apparatus is included for conferencing connectable to the communications network and adapted to receive a conferencing request from the seeking user and initiate a conference call between the seeking user and at least one sought user. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus for conferencing is further adapted to first initiate a call to the seeking user and telephonically receive from the seeking user either of a telephone number of the sought user and an identifier associated with a telephone number of the sought user. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one sought user has a telephone line status, and the apparatus for conferencing is further adapted to initiate the conference call once the sought user telephone line status has been determined. 
     Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the seeking user has a telephone line status, and the apparatus for conferencing is further adapted to initiate the conference call once the seeking user telephone line status has been determined. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one seeking user has a telephone line status, the at least one sought user has a telephone line status, and the apparatus for conferencing is further adapted to initiate the conference call once either of the seeking user telephone line status and the sought user telephone line status has been determined. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus for acquiring maintains at least one telephone number associated with at least one sought user. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the either of the apparatus for acquiring and the apparatus for processing includes apparatus for checking the status request from the seeking user for an authorization. 
     Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the communications network is the Internet. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the cellular telephone is adapted to communicate using either of IP protocols and non-IP protocols. 
     There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing telephone line status, the method including providing at least one telephone line having a status, providing a communications network, communicating via the communications network a status request from a seeking user, the status request concerning the status of the at least one telephone line, acquiring the status of the at least one telephone line, and communicating the status via the communications network, thereby providing the telephone line status. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the communicating via the communications network a status request step includes communicating a unique identification of any of the users. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method includes identifying a network address associated with the unique identification. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the acquiring step includes acquiring the status of the at least one telephone line from a sought user. 
     Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method includes the steps of receiving a call-back request from the seeking user at a sought user, and initiating a call-back to the seeking user from the sought user via the telephone line. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method includes the steps of receiving a conferencing request from the seeking user, and initiating a conference call between the seeking user and at least one sought user. 
     Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the initiating step includes initiating once either of the seeking user&#39;s telephone line status and the sought user&#39;s telephone line status has been determined. 
     Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the acquiring step includes checking the status request from the seeking user for an authorization. 
     Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the communicating the status step includes communicating the status to either of the seeking user and a recipient indicated in the status request. 
     It is noted that throughout the specification and claims the phrase “status of a telephone” “status of a telephone number,” or derivations and permutations thereof refer to whether a telephone line at a given telephone number is physically in use or not, or whether it is logically “in use” or not, that is, whether or not the end-user or owner of a telephone line wishes to be contacted there through specifically by a telephone. 
     It is further noted that throughout the specification and claims the term “PABX” encompasses other specialized telephony systems such as call centers, telephony help desks, or Automatic Call Distribution Systems 
     It is further noted that throughout the specification and claims the term “user” encompasses any entity, preferably human, that operates a computer or other communications terminal, preferably for the purpose of connecting to and communicating via a communications network. It is further noted that the term “seeking user” encompasses any user who requests the status of a telephone line. It is further noted that the term “sought user” encompasses any user whose telephone line status is desired by a seeking user. It is further noted that the term “Internet” encompasses other communications systems using the Internet Protocol such as, but not limited to, “Intranet” and “Extranet” networks. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a telephone status notification system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description wherein reference is made, purely by way of example, to the following embodiments. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which is a simplified block diagram of a telephone status notification system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A user  10  wishes to determine the status of a telephone line  14  associated with a user  12 . User  10  typically sends a request for telephone line status information to a request server  16 . The request typically comprises the telephone number, or other information identifying telephone line  14  associated with user  12 . User  10  typically sends the request via a computer terminal  18  connectable to a communications network such as the Internet, the request being sent using known Internet protocols. It is appreciated that the request may be sent by user  10  using any known messaging means, or may be sent via client software running on computer terminal  18 . User  10  may provide a list of such telephone numbers that is sent to the request server once for ongoing fulfillment or submitted each time user  10  connects to the Internet. Additionally or alternatively, user  10  may send individual telephone number status requests on an ad hoc basis for one-time fulfillment. Each request typically comprises information identifying one or more telephones by their number, owner&#39;s name, or by any other identification method. Request server  16  is typically connectable to the Internet and is capable of receiving the request of user  10 . The request also preferably comprises a unique identification code and/or network address identifying user  10 , and a unique identification code and/or network address to which the notification of the status of telephone line  14  is to be sent. The request may also comprise one or more telephone numbers associated with user  10 . The request may also comprise a unique identification code and/or network address identifying user  12 . Any of the network addresses described hereinabove may be user  10 &#39;s or user  12 &#39;s permanent IP address, should user  10  or user  12  possess one. Where user  10  or user  12  have a dynamic IP address, the network address may be identified by other identifying information, such as a permanent subscriber code with which the dynamic IP address is related in a given session. Where a unique identification code is used, apparatus may be provided to determine a network address associated therewith. An example of this is described with reference to Applicant&#39;s U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/791,437. 
     Request server  16  then typically forwards the request to a telephone status acquirer  20 , typically via the Internet. Telephone status acquirer  20  may be a server or other apparatus at a telephone company or other entity to which telephone line statuses may become known. It is appreciated that request server  16  and telephone status acquirer  20  may be housed within a single server. It is further appreciated that request server  16  may be embodied within client software running on computer terminal  18 , being capable of sending a request directly to the telephone status acquirer  16  as described hereinabove. 
     It is appreciated that telephone status acquirer  20  may be embodied within client software running on a computer terminal  22  used by user  12  that is connectable to the Internet. In this case, the client software typically determines the status of telephone line  14  by being in communication with a device that determines the on-hook/off-hook status of telephone line  14 . The device may be attached to the telephone line (a line detector), connected directly to a telephone  24 , be part of telephone  24  itself, or contained within computer terminal  22  to which telephone  24  or telephone line  14  may be connected via any one of a number of well-known interface devices. Alternatively, the client software can be integrated with and reside in telephone  24 . Alternatively, telephone line  14  may be a PABX extension. In this case, telephone status acquirer  20  acquires the status from a known and integral part of a PABX system configured to determine the status of telephone line  14 , and then delivers the status, typically via the Internet or other non-PABX connection, to requesting server  16 , computer terminal  18 , or whatever destination or destinations specified in user  10 &#39;s request. User  12  may additionally or alternatively enter the physical status of telephone line  14  into the client software to indicate that telephone line  14  is busy, available, etc., and/or “logical” telephone statuses such as “available/not available for calls,” or more detailed status information such as “available for calls, but only to the following list of users . . . ” and the like. 
     User  12  may additionally or alternatively enter one or more telephone numbers with which user  12  is associated into the client software. Should user  10  not know with which telephone number user  12  is associated, or otherwise not wish to refer to user  12  by a telephone number, user  10  may include information in his request identifying user  12  by means other than a telephone number. In this case, the status returned typically includes a telephone number or numbers entered by user  12  into client software as described hereinabove. Alternatively, user  10  may request the statuses of telephone numbers user  12  uses regularly, typically with telephone status acquirer  20  or request server  16  storing one or more telephone numbers recently used by user  12 . 
     Requesting server  16  or telephone status acquirer  20  may be provided with means for checking the authorization of user  10  to request the status of telephone line  14  before divulging such. For example, the status may only be divulged if user  10  possesses a certain security rating or a certain level of account, or if user  10  provides a given password. 
     In response to the request forwarded from request server  16 , telephone status acquirer  20  preferably sends the requested status information to the destination address or addresses indicated by user  10 . It is appreciated that user  10 &#39;s request may specify different destinations depending on the nature of the status determination. 
     User  10  may alternatively input telephone line status requests into a cellular telephone  26 . In this case, the cellular telephone company, or the Internet Service Provider with which cellular telephone  26  is in contact, typically forwards the request to request server  16  as described hereinabove. Client software may reside in cellular telephone  26 . Cellular telephone  26  may additionally be connected to the Internet or other communications network. The client software residing in cellular telephone  26  typically generally functions as described hereinabove with reference to computer terminal  18 , with telephone status information preferably being displayed on cellular telephone  26 &#39;s display. It is appreciated that request server  16  may be embodied within client software running on cellular telephone  26  being capable of sending a request directly to the telephone status acquirer  16  as described hereinabove. It is further appreciated that cellular telephone  26  may be used alone or in combination with computer terminal  18 , and that cellular telephone  26  may communicate using IP or other protocols. 
     User  12  may additionally or alternatively communicate via a cellular telephone, which may comprise any of the client software and functionality described herein with reference to computer terminal  22  and telephone  24 . It is appreciated that the cellular telephone of user  12  may be used alone or in combination with computer terminal  22  and telephone  24 , and that the cellular telephone of user  12  may communicate using IP or other protocols. 
     It is appreciated that the client software described hereinabove with reference to the cellular telephones of users  10  and  12  may reside in a computer located remotely from the cellular telephone. In this case, communication between the cellular telephones of users  10  and  12  and the client may use IP or other protocols. 
     It will be appreciated that a notification system as described hereinabove may be used to provide other kinds of status information, for example the statuses of monitors, sensors, or measuring apparatus and/or logical statuses input by the user. It will be further appreciated that a notification system as described hereinabove may be used in conjunction with IP telephones designed for use with the Internet, where the IP telephones comprise computer circuitry and voice processing capability. In addition, a notification and acquisition system as described hereinabove may be used in conjunction with communication devices using CATV as part of the network infrastructure. 
     It is appreciated that once user  10  receives telephone number and other status information associated with user  12  as described hereinabove, or once it is stored in his client software, user  10  may send a request to computer terminal  22 , typically via the Internet, for a telephone call to be placed from user  12  to user  10 . Client software residing in computer terminal  22  may automatically place a call to user  10  either immediately, or when the telephone line statuses of user  10  and/or user  12  become known to computer terminal  22 . 
     User  10  may alternatively send a request, typically via the Internet, to an operator or an automatic telephone switch  28  to initiate two calls, one to user  10  and one to user  12 , and conference the two calls using known conferencing means. User  10  typically can configure his client software to send the telephone numbers for himself and for user  12 , or other means of identifying user  10  and user  12 , in addition to billing information indicating who should be billed for the call, along with proper authorization. User  10  may request a conference call with more than one user by sending multiple telephone numbers and/or identifiers in this manner. User  10  may additionally indicate if a conference call is to be tried immediately, with calls to be conferenced-in as the specified telephone numbers become available, or tried only when all the telephone numbers requested for a conference are known to be available, such as through requesting the status of the telephone numbers as described hereinabove. User  10  may also initiate a call back, delivering his telephone number and availability to an automated switch, to be conferenced with one of the switch&#39;s outgoing dialing lines. User  10  may additionally indicate if a call back is to be tried immediately or tried only when the telephone number with which the call back is concerned is known to be available, such as through requesting the status of the telephone number as described hereinabove. 
     It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims that follow: