Abstract:
Methods are disclosed that incorporate the straightforwardness and the simplification of the steps and procedures that are used to set up calls using regular fixed phones including homes&#39; phones, office&#39;s phones, public phones and PC&#39;s VoIP calls.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is a U.S. national phase filing under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/IB09/007424 filed 26 Oct. 2009 and claims priority from Israeli Patent Application No. 194908 filed on 26 Oct. 2008. The content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A landline phone  104 , main line or fixed-line phone  104  is a telephone that uses a line which travels through a solid medium, such as metal wire or optical fiber. Landline phones are distinguished from a mobile cellular phone  102 , which uses electromagnetic waves. 
         [0003]    As is known, the cellular  102  or mobile phone  102 , referred hereafter as mobile  102 , is lately replacing the fixed regular phone  104 , which is referred hereafter as fixed phone  104 . This trend is true for all categories of phones, including domestic phones, business phones (i.e. corporate/office phones), and public phones that are available in public areas such as the street. 
         [0004]    Public phones are being used less and less. The calling card market, including the open credit calling accounts and the pre-paid or debit calling accounts, is shrinking month after month. It is anticipated that there will be a further reduction of non-cellular voice communication or fixed phone communication, except for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which no doubt will have a considerable portion of the voice communication market in the future. 
         [0005]    One of the aims of the present invention is to ease this trend (using the mobile phone) or more precisely to show ways to, at least, attenuate, if not reverse the above mentioned trend that is affecting the fixed communications business. As will be described below, a method and system will be disclosed that has the potential to renew interest in using the fixed phone  104 . 
         [0006]    One of the existing factors which may contribute to attenuation of the above-mentioned trend is that a mobile phone radiates radiation which may be malignant for the user&#39;s health. Nevertheless, in spite of this risk or potential risk, people continue to use mobile phones more and more, due to many reasons, including the convenience of the mobile. 
         [0007]    Another factor which may also contribute to attenuation of this trend, is the general public health risk implied in the mobile infrastructure. That is, the antennas&#39; radiation may affect not only the mobile&#39;s user but the general public. Surely it may be that, in the near future, if the antennas&#39; damage to the general public health becomes a widely accepted fact, then this factor will attenuate or reverse the trend. 
         [0008]    A third factor that also acts against the use of the mobiles, is that instead of the regular fixed phone, the cost of usage of the mobile is a rate that is usually higher than the fixed phone. This may have a considerable effect on the caller&#39;s decision to place the next call using the mobile or the fixed phone. 
         [0009]    Nevertheless, and in spite of all the good reasons pointing toward the contrary, people are using their mobiles more and more. Why? There are many reasons, including the fact that the mobile is so convenient, and has many additional features. Actually, the mobile may be much more than a phone and is often the unique personal gadget that we carry with us. It may be useful for completing transactions, for identification of the owner, for logical access to networks, for physical access to restricted places. In addition, it can be used as a personal computer, as a photo camera, as a MP3/MP4 player and many other uses in addition to be a phone. 
         [0010]    In other words, we continue picking up the mobile each time we need to place a call, even though there may be a fixed phone that is available near by, with no radiation, at a lesser cost. Typically, in our cell phone we have stored our family&#39;s, friends&#39; and colleagues&#39; phone numbers. Thus, it is very convenient to use the mobile while pretending that this will be a short call, and the result is that one goes “cellular”, in spite of being perfectly aware that the correct decision should have been to pick up the fixed phone that is available near by. 
         [0011]    One of the problems addressed by the present invention is to find a way to have the best of the mobile and the best of the fixed phone in the same call. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a method  105  is disclosed that incorporates the straightforwardness and the simplification of the steps and procedures that we use in order to set up calls using regular fixed phones including homes&#39; phones, office&#39;s phones, public phones and PC&#39;s VoIP calls. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, method  105  includes a software application  100  which runs in mobile  102  of the user  101 . Software application  100  is also referred to in the following as the main application or soft-token  100 . 
         [0014]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, method  105  may include a participating service company  109 , and generally proceeds as follows: 
         [0015]    The caller or user  101  (i.e., the person who places the call) picks up his/her mobile  102  and retrieves and launches the application  100 . The user selects a destination number  110  that he would like to call, either from his mobile&#39;s phone-book  103  or alternatively caller  101  enters the destination number into mobile  102 . 
         [0016]    Caller  101  now places mobile  102  near the headset  128  of the available fixed phone  104  which includes a microphone  148 . 
         [0017]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , which illustrates a typical setting up of a fixed-line  104  phone call that utilizes a mobile  102 . 
         [0018]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. 
         [0019]    User  101  presses a given button  106  in mobile  102  that activates application  100  in mobile  102 . In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, application  100  computes a string of digits  107  which includes the following: Service Company  109  access number  119 ; the user&#39;s login number (or equivalent), the token serial number or the user&#39;s identification  108  for access to the calling service provided by the participating service company  109  (participating Telecom); and the user&#39;s destination number  110 . 
         [0020]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a typical string  107  is illustrated which comprises a participating telecom  109  service access number  119 , the token identification  108  and the user destination number  110   
         [0021]    It will be appreciated that the token identification may be made by means of the user login name or number, the token serial number, or other information that may be used to identify user  101 . 
         [0022]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first part of string  107  (i.e., access number  119 ) is encoded to a dual-tone multi frequency (DTMF) signal  113 . The last two parts of string  107  (i.e., login name or token identification  108 ; destination number  110 ) may also be encoded to sound using the standard acoustic DTMF technology or any other technology for encoding characters to sound  112 . One possible technology for encoding characters to sound is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,724, hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
         [0023]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a typical first part of string  107  is illustrated. String  107  is encoded to DTMF and includes participating service company access number  119 . 
         [0024]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, application  100  encodes string  107  to acoustic sound waves  111 . When user  101  places mobile  102  near headset  128  of fixed phone  104 , the fixed phone  104  hears or captures acoustic sound waves  111  containing encoded string  107 . 
         [0025]    With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , the DTMF (first) portion  113  is transmitted to the switch  117 . In accordance with an exemplary of the present invention, the first portion  113  of acoustic sound waves  111  contains the service company  109  access number  119  that is encoded using the DTMF acoustic standard. In accordance with an exemplary of the present invention, first portion  113  reaches, by means of a Local Telecom Company&#39;s network  116 , an integral part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the nearest Switch  117 . 
         [0026]    Switch  117  decodes the DTMF signal  113  in accordance with standard procedures, as is performed for any regular call  118  placed through a regular land-line phone, such as fixed phone  104 . 
         [0027]    Now, Switch  117  has decoded the first portion  113  and determined the fixed phone call&#39;s destination number. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fixed phone call&#39;s destination number is the access-to-the-service phone number  119 . The access-to-the-service is provided by the Participating Telecom or Service Company  109 . 
         [0028]    Next, Switch  117  sets up the call to access-to-the-service phone number  119 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , mobile  102  is illustrated in “voice contact” with the Participating Telecom Back-end System  123  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. That is, the sound generated by mobile  102  is heard or captured by system  123 . 
         [0030]    It will be appreciated that the sound does not arrive at system  123  as an acoustic sound signal, but rather as a digital electrical signal, into which the sound has been converted during the process of transmission. 
         [0031]    Switch  117  connects fixed phone  104  with the Service Company&#39;s Private Branch Exchange (PBX)  120 . This connection or call from fixed phone  104  to access number  119  will be referred to as the incoming call  127 . 
         [0032]    PBX  120  is also connected with a Service Company&#39;s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system  121 , and is also connected with a Service Company&#39;s Server  122  and databases  122 . 
         [0033]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Server  122  includes both the hardware and software components of the server. In addition, Service Company back-end System  123  or System  123  will be used to refer to the combination of PBX  120 , IVR  121 , and Server  122  including the server databases. System  123  captures the remaining portion of encoded string  111 . That is, the encoded to sound string  111  minus the first portion  113 . 
         [0034]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, this last portion includes the following: Soft-token  100  identification, or the user&#39;s login number and PIN (if any), or the caller&#39;s identification and authentication (if any)  108  for access to participating service company  109 , and the caller&#39;s destination number  110 . 
         [0035]    Now, utilizing the soft-token ID or user&#39;s login number  108 , system  123  retrieves and analyzes the soft-token or the user&#39;s account  124  and, consequently the credit status  125  of the caller  101  or of the soft-token  100 . If soft-token  100  or the user  101  has enough credit and system  123  enables the user to go ahead, system  123 , having received the third portion of the encoded string  111 , can determine the user&#39;s destination number  110 . Thus, System  123  places a call  126  to the user&#39;s destination number  110  and conferences both calls, the incoming call  127  and the outgoing call  126  from the System  123  to the user&#39;s destination number  110 . 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIG. 9 , a typical case of incoming call  127  in conference with an outgoing call  126  is illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Stated another way, user  101  is now speaking with his destination number  110  through the fixed phone. However, it will be appreciated that what user  101  actually has done is a similar practice as the steps he should do, if he has placed a call with his mobile  102 : 
         [0038]    1.—In the beginning, user  101  picked up his mobile  102 . 
         [0039]    2.—User  101  pressed some mobile buttons  106  or selected a mobile icon that resulted in the launching of mobile&#39;s application  100 . 
         [0040]    3.—Use  101  selected the destination number from the mobile phone book or from the mobile&#39;s SIM, or otherwise, user  101  entered the destination number into mobile  102 . 
         [0041]    4.—User  101  places mobile  102  near headset  128  of fixed phone  104  and pressed the Send button in mobile  102 . 
         [0042]    5.—User  101  Speaks With His Destination Through the Fixed Phone. 
         [0043]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , typical steps performed by user  101  in the process of setting up a call through fixed phone  104 , by means of mobile  102  are illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0044]    It will be appreciated that there is great similarity between these steps and the steps that user  101  would perform to set up a call through his mobile  102 . 
         [0045]    In addition, it is worth noting that user  101  never pressed any of fixed phone&#39;s  104  buttons. 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , a typical usage of a hands-free or speaker-phone telephone  104  is illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0047]    Therefore, it will be appreciated that there are not many differences between the experience of calling through the fixed phone and the experience of calling through the mobile. However, with respect to the user&#39;s health, user  101  has not used mobile  102  to communicate (that is, no exposure to radiation) and user  101  did not have to utilize the cellular antenna infrastructure. In addition, the call cost may be less than the mobile rate, as there is no air-time usage with a mobile phone. 
         [0048]    Thus it will be appreciated that method  105  and application or soft-token  100  of the present invention will be welcomed by the general public, as they love their mobile phones, but would like to reduce the monthly billing and also reduce the radiation dose that the caller  101  is receiving from the mobile  102 . 
         [0049]    As a result, it will be appreciated that the extensive usage of this method will cause an increment on the fixed Telecom Companies&#39; traffic at the expense of the cellular&#39;s traffic. 
         [0050]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Stages for an exemplary implementation will be described. 
         [0051]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes:
       a method  105 ,   a mobile&#39;s application  100 , wherein the mobile application  100  is a software module or soft-token which may be in Java or ready for running in a Symbian mobile operation system, or in any other cellphone operation system,   and devices and software  123  for usage by the Participating Telecom Service Company referred to as: “the system  123 ”, and used in order to set up calls (incoming  127  and outgoing  126 ) through a fixed phone  104 .       
 
         [0055]    STAGE #1: Installation Stage 
         [0056]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, application  100  is downloaded in mobile  102  and is initialized by the user  101 , entering the initial PIN  133 . In accordance with one aspect of this embodiment, soft-token  100  may request the selection of a new application&#39;s PIN  134 . Application  100  may already carry (embedded) the service company&#39;s user&#39;s login number  108  and user&#39;s system&#39;s PIN  135  or alternatively the account identification  124  or both. 
         [0057]    Regular Operation Stages (For an Exemplary Embodiment) 
         [0058]    STAGE #2: Retrieving the Soft-Token  100   
         [0059]    During the regular operation of the mobile application  100 , user  101  presses a given button  106  in mobile  102  or selects an icon, retrieving and launching application  100 . 
         [0060]    STAGE #3: Entering in the Mobile the Required Info. 
         [0061]    Now, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, application  101  may request from the user  101 : selected PIN  134 , and the destination number  110 . 
         [0062]    Destination number  110  may be retrieved from the mobile  102  phone&#39;s book  103 , entered by the user  101 , or retrieved from the service company  109  databases  123  at a later stage, by using a nickname  137 , among other possibilities. 
         [0063]    For example, if user  101  enters “Dentist”, the service company  109  knows that “Dentist”, for this particular user, is a pre-stored phone number  110  in their database. 
         [0064]    In accordance with other embodiments, the destination number is pre-embedded in the application  100 . 
         [0065]    STAGE #4: Computation of the String and Encoding to Sound. 
         [0066]    Now, application  100  computes a string of digits  107  that includes: 
         [0067]    (1) the Service Company access number  119 , which later is encoded to standard acoustic DTMF by application  100 , and optionally is followed by a pause, and (2) the user&#39;s login number  108  and system PIN  135  or the user&#39;s  101  identification and authentication  108 , or the soft-token account number, or any other information for access to the service  109 , and (3) the destination number  110 . 
         [0068]    Wherein, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the last two portions of string  107  may be encoded to sound using the standard acoustic DTMF or other technology for encoding to sound  112 . One possible technology for doing that is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,114. 
         [0069]    STAGE #5: Capturing, Converting from Sound to Electrical Waves 
         [0070]    According to an exemplary embodiment, user  101  approaches the mobile  102  to the fixed phone  104  headset&#39;s microphone  148  or to the speaker (hands free) phone&#39;s microphone  148  and presses the “Call” button  106  or “SEND”  106  or selects an icon which further actuates the application  100 . The application  100  encodes the string  107  to sound  111  as described in the stage 4 above. 
         [0071]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, soft-token  100  is an application able to capture and detect the fixed phone  104  dialing tone and use this detection as a trigger for generating the string  107  to sound waves  111 , instead of the user&#39;s action. 
         [0072]    The sound waves  111  are eventually captured by the fixed telephone microphone  148  as the voice is captured in any regular call. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the microphone  148  converts the sound on electromagnetic waves  141 . The first portion of these waves  141 , which is carrying the DTMF version of the access number  119  ultimately reaches the nearby PSTN&#39;s switch  117  traveling through the local telephone network  116  of the “fixed” Local Telephone Company  115 . 
         [0073]    STAGE #6: In the Local Telecom&#39;s Switch 
         [0074]    The first portion  113  which was encoded using DTMF standards reaches the switch  117  first. This portion carries the participating service company access number information  119 . This access number  119  may be a toll-free number. The switch  117  recuperates such information  119  and sets up a call to such number  119 . This call is referred here as the incoming call  127 . Now the fixed phone  104  is “vocally” connected to the participating service Telecom Company&#39;s system  123 . 
         [0075]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, system  123  includes a PBX  120  which is also connected with a Service Company&#39;s Interactive Voice Response (IVR)  121  and is also connected with the Service Company&#39;s Servers and databases  122 . As stated above, the PBX  120  in conjunction with the IVR  121  and the Servers, databases  122  will be referred collectively in the following as the Participating Telecom Service Company&#39;s back-end System  123 , or System  123 . 
         [0076]    STAGE #7: The Incoming Call (From the Fixed Phone  104  to the System  123 ) 
         [0077]    The switch  117  has connected the Participating Telecom&#39;s PBX  120  with the fixed phone  104 . 
         [0078]    Now, the rest of the sound waves  142  are converted to analog electrical waves  141  by the fixed telephone microphone  148 , and which is carrying the rest of the string  107 , reaches the system  123 . Others embodiments can digitize the information, using no analog waves. 
         [0079]    STAGE #8: The System  123  Sets up the Outgoing Call  126 . 
         [0080]    This System  123  captures the rest of the encoded string  111 , (that is,  111  without the first portion  113 ) 
         [0081]    The system  123  decodes such portion  142  recuperating the information about the user  101  or/and the user account  124  or the Soft-token account  143  according to various embodiments. Such information may include the user PIN  135  or the anonymous calling card account  143 , or the pre-paid acoustic dedicated calling card  144  account  145 , the conversation time limit  140 , if any, and the information regarding the user&#39;s destination number  110 , if it is no a dedicated soft-token in which case the fixed destination number  110  is received or retrieved from the database  123   
         [0082]    Now the system  123  has received or retrieved from the databases  122  the relevant information required to determine if it should enable the phone conversation requested  126 , which is the call from the system  123  to the user&#39;s destination  110  (the outgoing call  126 ) 
         [0083]    If eventually the system  123  enables the outgoing call  126 , it conferences both calls, incoming  127  and outgoing  126  and the user  101  is speaking with his destination number through the fixed phone  104  Reference is made to  FIG. 9  which outlines both calls, on conference at the service company  109  back-end system  123 . 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0084]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, where like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and: 
           [0085]      FIG. 1  illustrates a typical string  107  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0086]      FIG. 2  illustrates the first part of  107  encoded to DTMF  113  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0087]      FIG. 3  illustrates the transmission of the DTMF portion  113  to the PSTN local switch  117  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0088]      FIG. 4  illustrates the mobile  102  is in “voice contact” with the system  123  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0089]      FIG. 5  illustrates the outgoing call  126  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0090]      FIG. 6  illustrates the setting up of a fixed line phone  104  call by means of a mobile  104  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0091]      FIG. 7  illustrates the user  101  experience using the invention through a regular phone in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0092]      FIG. 8  illustrates the user  101  experience using a hands-free phone in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0093]      FIG. 9  illustrates typical incoming  127  and outgoing  126  calls in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0094]      FIG. 10  illustrates using VoIP/internet network in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0095]      FIG. 11  illustrates the detection of the Dial Tone by the Mobile and the consequential triggering of the first portion (DTMF) of the encoded message in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0096]      FIG. 12  illustrates the detection of the Triggering Tone by the Mobile and the consequential triggering of the second portion of the encoded message, which carries, amongst other, the accounting indicia or the destination number or both, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0097]    The present invention may be described herein in terms of various functional components and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional components may be realized by any number of hardware or structural components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the present invention may employ various integrated components, such as transistors, amplifiers, buffers, and logic devices comprised of various electrical devices, e.g., resistors, capacitors, diodes and the like, whose values may be suitably configured for various intended purposes. Further, it should be noted that while various components may be suitably coupled or connected to other components within exemplary circuits, such connections and couplings can be realized by direct connection between components, or by connection through other components and devices located thereinbetween. 
         [0098]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0099]    If a given Service Company, which is referred to in the following as a Participating 
         [0100]    Telecom Service Company  109 , or Service Company  109 , decides to adopt and market the present invention, Service Company  109  may bring to the market methods and system to set up calls using mobiles  102 . In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, such methods and system will not use the mobile network  129  of any cellular operator  130 , but instead will use the wired network, also referred as PSTN  116  of a fixed phone local Telecom Com  115 . 
         [0101]    In order to better clarify various methods of the present invention, we will describe summarily the steps carried on by the user  101 , application  100  and system  123  for various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0102]    First embodiment  132 : mobile  102 , generates the access number  119  encoded to DTMF. Access number  119  is captured and transmitted by the fixed phone  104 . Mobile  102 , by utilizing application  100 , encodes to sound the user&#39;s login number  108 , the application PIN  135  (if any), and according to the particular circumstance, the destination number  110 , or the nickname  137  of the destination, or any other information in order to enable the system  123  to retrieve the user&#39;s destination number  110  from the database  123 . 
         [0103]    The system  123  is placed in “voice-contact” with mobile  102 , through fixed phone  104 . System  123  receives the encoded version of the information  142  (i.e., soft-Token identification  124  and user destination number  110 ) and decodes the information to recuperate the soft-token&#39;s or user&#39;s account  124  as well as the user destination number  110 . 
         [0104]    Having determined the specific user&#39;s account  124 , system  123  checks account  124  to determine whether or not to enable the setting up of outgoing call  126 . If system  123  enables the outgoing call  126 , the system  123  dials the destination number  110  and conferences both calls, the incoming call  127  and the outgoing call  126 . System  123  may monitor the call evolution and limit it according to selected commercial criteria. 
         [0105]    2nd Embodiment  136 : Digital Signature 
         [0106]    Another exemplary embodiment  136  of the present invention may comprise an application  100  which computes string  107  in a different way. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the first portion  113  is similar as discussed above in accordance with the first embodiment. However, the 2 nd  of the string  107  has the destination number  110  or nickname  137 , digitally signed by the application  100 . 
         [0107]    Stated another way, mobile  102 , transmits the access number  119  encoded to DTMF through fixed phone  104 . Mobile  102 , by utilizing application  100 , encodes to sound the user&#39;s digital signature applied, optionally according with the case, to one or more of the following: the PIN  135 ; the time and date; the destination number  110 ; the nickname  137  of the destination; any other information in order to enable system  123  to retrieve the destination number from database  123 ; or to the conversation time limit (if any). 
         [0108]    System  123 , once in voice-contact with mobile  102  through the fixed phone  104 , receives the digitally signed data as an encoded version of the information and decodes it. 
         [0109]    The signed string may include the open information, the signed hash value of the information, and the X.509 or just the X.509 serial number. Having received this signed string, the system according to the case, may retrieve the X.509 certificate from the database  122 . Once the X.509 is available, system  123  may extract information about the user ID, and the user&#39;s public key from the X.509 certificate. With the Public key, system  123  may decrypt the received encrypted hash value and compare the value with the computed open information&#39;s hash value. If both Hash values are identical, the user is identified and the content of the digital signature cannot later be repudiated by a third party. 
         [0110]    Having determined the specific user&#39;s account  124 , system  123  checks account  124  to determine whether or not to enable the setting up of outgoing call  126 . If system  123  enables the outgoing call  126 , the system  123  dials the destination number  110  and conferences both calls, the incoming call  127  and the outgoing call  126 . System  123  may monitor the call evolution and limit it according to selected commercial criteria and the credit status  125  of account  124 . 
         [0111]    3rd Embodiment  138 : with Time-limit 
         [0112]    In accordance with another exemplary embodiment  138  of the present invention, string  107  may include the amount of credit, or of minutes (Conversation Time Limitation  140 ) selected by the user, or pre-established for that particular soft-token. 
         [0113]    In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, mobile  102 , transmits the access number  119  encoded to DTMF through fixed phone  104  to the switch  117 . Mobile  102 , by utilizing application  100 , encodes to sound the user&#39;s login number  108 , the application PIN  135  (if any), or the token/user account  124  according with the case, and the destination number  110 , or the nickname  137  of the destination, or any other information in order to enable the system  123  to retrieve the destination number from the databases  122 . Optionally, the conversation time limit  140  entered by the user  101 , or pre-set in the application  100 , or by default, is also included if present. 
         [0114]    System  123 , once in “voice-contact” with mobile  102 , through the fixed phone  104 , receives the encoded version of the information  142  and decodes the information. 
         [0115]    Having determined the specific user&#39;s account  124 , system  123  checks account  124  to determine whether or not to enable the setting up of outgoing call  126 . If system  123  enables the outgoing call  126 , the system  123  dials the destination number  110  and conferences both calls, the incoming call  127  and the outgoing call  126 . System  123  may monitor the call evolution and limit it according to selected commercial criteria and/or to a received time limit  140 . 
         [0116]    4 th  Embodiment  139 —Anonymous Soft-Token 
         [0117]    In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment  139  of the present invention, an “Anonymous Soft-token”  143  with rights to sustain one or more conversations for a limited time or a limited amount of money  140  is utilized. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, there is no user&#39;s identification or determination of user&#39;s account  124 . Rather, system  123  receives information about the soft-token identification and then retrieves the soft-token account  124 . 
         [0118]    The user receives/download the soft-token  100  which, in accordance with this exemplary embodiment  139 , includes a soft-token&#39;s serial number or soft-token&#39;s account number  124  or the Soft-token&#39;s Conversation Time Limit, which may be associated with a determined amount of money or any other accounting equivalent. 
         [0119]    When the user of the soft-token/application  100  launches application  100 , they are prompted for the destination number  110 , which may be retrieved from the mobile phone book, or entered by the user  101  into the mobile, or vocally recited by the user  101  for the system  123  which may interpret the number  110  using speech recognition technologies. 
         [0120]    As described above for other exemplary embodiments, the system  123  is placed into “voice-contact” with the mobile  102 , through the fixed phone  104 . 
         [0121]    In accordance with this exemplary embodiment  139 , mobile  102 , transmits the access number  119  encoded to DTMF through fixed phone  104 . Mobile  102 , by utilizing application  100 , encodes to sound the soft-token identification info, and according with the case, the destination number  110 , or the nickname  137  of the destination entered by the user, or any other information in order to enable the system  123  to determine the destination number. 
         [0122]    Having determined the specific soft-token  100 , system  123  determines whether or not to enable the setting up of the outgoing call  126 . If system  123  enables the outgoing call  126 , the system  123  dials the destination number  110  and conferences both calls, the incoming call  127  and the outgoing call  126 . System  123  may monitor the call evolution and limit it according to the received data and to selected commercial criteria. 
         [0123]    Alternative Embodiment: “Pre-signed Soft-Token” 
         [0124]    In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a soft-token  100  includes certain data which it is digitally signed by the participating telecom  109  or by any other related commercial entity, in a way such that system  123  may check the authenticity of the signed data transmitted by the soft-token  100 . In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, system  123  may authenticate the signed data by checking the validity of the participating telecom  109  signature. The digitally signed data may include one or more of the soft-token id/serial number and the soft-token rights (i.e., amount of minutes, money, or equivalent). 
         [0125]    In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, soft-token  100  forms the string that includes the destination number  110  and the soft-token&#39;s account number  124 , which is pre-digitally signed or secured by the Participating Telecom  109 . User  101  places mobile  102  proximate to the fixed phone headset&#39;s microphone  148  or to the hands-free microphone  148  and further activates the application  100 . Alternatively, in accordance with this exemplary embodiment, soft-token  100  activates itself when soft-token  100  “hears/detect” the fixed phone  104  dialing tone. Soft-token  100  encodes the service company access number  119  to DTMF and such sound waves are captured by microphone  148  and converted to electrical waves which are transmitted by the local telephone network, or PSTN  116  to the closest switch  117 . 
         [0126]    Switch  117  decodes the “electrical” DTMF and sets up the call to the participating service company&#39;s PBX  120  which is part of the service company system  123 . 
         [0127]    In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, system  123  receives data including the user&#39;s destination number  110  and the soft-token&#39;s account number  124 . These items may have been digitally signed by the participating telecom  109 . If this is the case, system  123  verifies the validity of the digital signature. 
         [0128]    Eventually, system  123  sets up the outgoing call  126  that enables user  101  to speak with his destination number  110  for a pre-specified amount time  140  or amount of money  145 , or any other equivalent limitation. 
         [0129]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, one further variation which may be applied to the various exemplary embodiments is where system  123 , when reached, returns with a special “tone” signal, referred to as a Triggering Tone, to the user  101  or to the mobile application  100 . The Triggering Tone signifies that system  123  is ready to receive and decode the rest of the encoded string  142  including all the sound waves after the first part, which carries the service company number. That is, the sound waves carrying, inter alia, the indicia about the account or the destination number or both. 
         [0130]    In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, with reference to  FIG. 12 , soft-token  100 , after capturing the special “tone” or Triggering Tone generated by system  123 , sends the rest of encoded string  111  (i.e., the rest of the string  107  encoded to sound). 
         [0131]    Therefore, the “pause” will continue until soft-token  100  captures the Triggering tone or, until after the pushing of a given key by the user  101  following the detection by the user of the Triggering tone generated by the system. 
         [0132]    5 th  Embodiment Referred to as Dedicated Number Soft-Token  144 . 
         [0133]    In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a Dedicated Destination Number soft-token  144  comprises soft-token  100  in which the conversation destination phone number  110  is pre-embedded. For example, a given person such as a parent buys a soft-token  144 . In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, soft-token  144  may comprise one of the various embodiments of the application  100  that is marketed or delivered by participating service company  109  in which the pre-specified user&#39;s destination number is pre-stored in the soft-token  100  (i.e., the phone number of the parent of the caller (the parent&#39;s number)). This soft-token can be an open credit token or may be limited to a given amount of money  145  (i.e., Pre-Paid Acoustic Dedicated soft-token). The parent purchases the token and sends token to his child, via, for example, SMS message. The child, having received and installed the Dedicated Destination Number soft-token  144 , may place calls only to her parent, with this soft-token, until the pre-paid amount  145  is exhausted, or until the pre-specified number of minutes  140  are used, or by using the soft-token credit line financed by the parent. 
         [0134]    It will be appreciated that the parent-child case is just an example of one of the possible pairings and that the same concept of dedicated number soft-token may be applied to other pairing such as a Store-Potential Customer pair. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the store sends the dedicated number soft-token  144  to a customer, by, for example, SMS, to enable, for example, an overseas customer, to call the store using the store account from any corner of the globe. 
         [0135]    In accordance with this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the soft-token may be configured to a particular country, such as the particular international call characteristics for that country, or alternatively, the user (store&#39;s customer) may select the county that is of interest. 
         [0136]    Alternatively, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention soft-token  100  forms a string  107  that includes only the user&#39;s destination number  110 . This string may be encoded to DTMF by the soft-token  100 . In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the call is not necessarily charged to the soft-token  100  owner or to the soft-token account. The switch  117  sets up the call to the received user&#39;s destination number  110  and it is not necessary to utilize a participating service company  109 . Instead, token  100  can be a feature of the cell phone  102  or may be used as an advertising tool. That is, token  100  announces/displays a message on behalf of a given entity. 
         [0137]    Various embodiments of the present invention may include apparatus for performing the operations described here. In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, one possible usage may comprise the use of specially designed fixed phone sets  146  that are to be used with the Cell phone  102  in which the soft-token  100  is installed. These specially designed fixed phone sets  146  have no dialing buttons, and in fact practically no mechanical parts, other than a speaker and a microphone  148 . Once soft-token  100  generates the encoded version of the string  107 , the microphone  148  of the specially designed fixed phone set  146  will capture the encoded string and since phone  146  is connected to the PSTN, the encoded information is transmitted to the nearest switch  117 . Thus, caller  101  will be able to speak with his destination number. 
         [0138]    It will be appreciated that the manufacturing and installation of such specially designed fixed phone sets  146 , due to their simplicity, may be very inexpensive, resulting in a convenient and secure public phone service, where no coins or cash are necessary and, simultaneously the access to the service can be restricted to authorized users only. That is, people that have acquired the application  100 . 
         [0139]    Unless specifically stated otherwise, it is appreciated that, throughout the specification, terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining”, “acoustic”, “encoding” or the like, refer sometimes to the action and/or processes of a mobile phone&#39;s computing system, or to other similar electronic computing device, such as any hand-held device that manipulates and/or transforms data, such as electronic data. Such actions may include quantities within a computing system&#39;s registers and/or memories into other data similarly representing quantities within a cell phone computing system&#39;s memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display tools. 
         [0140]    Various embodiments of the present invention may include apparatus for performing the operations described herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose cell phone or mobile phone, or any other hand-held device with computer capabilities. The soft-token may be stored in the mobile device&#39;s readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of SIM card, disk, including optical disks, electrically erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, Flash memory, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions and capable of being coupled to a the mobile CPU system. 
         [0141]    The processes and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular mobile or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may be used with soft-tokens  100  in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to use, instead of cell phones  102 , devices such as Palms, Pocket PCs, Blackberries or the like, or to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the desired method. In addition, various embodiments of the present invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language or operation system. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the present invention as described herein. 
         [0142]    Also, it should be appreciated that user&#39;s destinations number  110  may comprise cell phones numbers as well as VoIP destinations/addresses, and thus is not limited to fixed-line phone numbers 
         [0143]    An additional variation  147  of the present invention presented here is that instead of the fixed-line phones  104  usage, PCs are utilized that communicate with VoIP, and through the internet to the PSTN. 
         [0144]    One of the possible exemplary embodiments of this VoIP variation  147  includes the installation on the PC, of an ActiveX module able to capture the acoustic information  111  generated by the soft-token  100 , and to decode the acoustic information to recover the string  107 . Then, the ActiveX can pass to a system such as Skype, for example, the necessary information to set-up a call to a PC or to a phone. Thus all of the embodiments presented here can be modified according to this variation. 
         [0145]    Naturally, the string  107  for VoIP  147  variation includes the Service Company  1 D in certain cases, and may also include the destination address in order to reach a possible destination target which is a PC in the internet. 
         [0146]    Reference is made to  FIG. 10  which shows one possible embodiment using VoIP/internet network/with optional access to the PSTN. 
         [0147]    The distribution of soft-tokens  100  which represent free/limited access tools to the PSTN or Internet/VoIP networks may support marketing operations and advertising campaigns. 
         [0148]    Nevertheless, the soft-token  100  concept may also represent a personal tool for asking a given party to call-back. That is, an SMS with the soft-token  100  in the Dedicated Destination Number embodiment can send to such a party, wherein the party installs it in his cell phone  102  and calls the sender on the sender account, constituting a person to person calling tool. 
         [0149]    While we referred here to the acoustic transmission of the string  107  in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other transmission means such as IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the like may be used when convenient, especially when communicating with a PC. 
         [0150]    The present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the various exemplary embodiments can be implemented with other types of telephones or communication devices in addition to the telephones illustrated above. These alternatives can be suitably selected depending upon the particular application or in consideration of any number of factors associated with the operation of the system. Moreover, these and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.