Patent Publication Number: US-2005141439-A1

Title: Method for enabling the user of a local computer operating in an instant messenger environment to make a voice communications link

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 092137066, filed on Dec. 26, 2003, and Taiwanese application no. 093131175, filed on Oct. 14, 2004.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to a method for making a voice communications link, more particularly to a method for enabling the user of a local computer operating in an instant messenger environment to make a bi-directional real-time voice communications link.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Instant messenger applications, such as MSN, ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger, AOL messenger, etc., are convenient communications channels well known to most Internet users. In use, a computer user first installs an instant messenger application on his/her computer, and then establishes a buddy list so that data, such as nicknames, pictures, etc., of buddies (i.e., other computer users of interest), as well as individual on-line status of the buddies, are shown together with the buddy list during subsequent activation of the instant messenger application.  
      To communicate with a buddy, the computer user first checks for the current status (e.g., on-line, off-line or unavailable) of the intended buddy. The computer user and the intended buddy are able to exchange messages directly when the intended buddy is on-line.  
      The format of exchanged messages is not limited to a text format. In particular, present technology makes it also possible to exchange messages in voice and/or video format in real-time.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , taking the MSN instant messenger application as an example, aside from enabling communications through text messages, other options are available in the buddy list  9  to permit bi-directional information exchange through activation of voice chat  91 , video exchange via activation of web camera  92 , activation of net meeting  93 , or a telephone link  94 . The voice chat function requires installation of audio devices in the user&#39;s computer, whereas the video exchange and net meeting functions require installation of a web camera in the user&#39;s computer.  
      On the other hand, the telephone link option involves making a telephone connection through the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). To be able to make use of this option, the computer user must register with a VoIP service provider beforehand and must also make pre-payment arrangements. The procedure as such is rather complicated and inconvenient for most computer users.  
      While voice communications through the VoIP protocol incurs less expense for long distance communications, in view of the troublesome procedure for registration and making pre-payment arrangements, user preference for voice communications through the VoIP protocol is rather low.  
      In addition, computer users are not always present in front of their computers. Current instant messenger applications do not provide a function of allowing computer users to receive messages when they are not in front of their computers.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for making a voice communications link that can overcome at least one of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a voice communications link to be implemented using local and remote computers, each of which operates in an instant messenger environment and is connected to a data network. The local computer is equipped with a call forwarding device for connecting to a telephone network. The method comprises: 
          a) in response to an incoming phone call placed by a calling party and received by the local computer through the call forwarding device that is connected to the telephone network, enabling activation of the instant messenger function of the local computer for paging the remote computer; and     b) in response to an acknowledge message issued by the remote computer to accept establishment of the voice communications link and received by the local computer through the data network, activating the instant messenger function of the local and remote computers for establishing the voice communications link that includes a telephone network link between the calling party and the local computer, and a data network link between the local and remote computers.        

      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a voice communications link to be implemented using local and remote computers, each of which operates in an instant messenger environment, is connected to a data network, and is equipped with a respective call forwarding device for connecting to a telephone network. The method comprises: 
          a) in response to an incoming phone call placed by a calling party and received by the local computer through the call forwarding device that is connected to the telephone network, enabling activation of the instant messenger function of the local computer for paging the remote computer;     b) activating the instant messenger function of the remote computer for enabling the remote computer to issue an acknowledge message to the local computer when the remote computer is paged through the data network;     c) enabling the remote computer to activate the call forwarding device thereof for placing an outgoing phone call to an intended call recipient through the telephone network; and     d) activating the instant messenger function of the local and remote computers for establishing the voice communications link that includes a first telephone network link between the calling party and the local computer, a data network link between the local and remote computers, and a second telephone network link between the remote computer and the intended call recipient.        

      According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a voice communications link to be implemented using a local computer that operates in an instant messenger environment, that is connected to a data network, and that is equipped with a call forwarding device for connecting to a telephone network. The method comprises: 
          a) in response to paging of the local computer through the data network by a remote computer that also operates in the instant messenger environment, enabling activation of the call forwarding device for placing an outgoing phone call to an intended call recipient through the telephone network using a specified telephone number, thereby permitting establishment of the voice communications link between the user of the remote computer and the intended call recipient.       

    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating different communication modes available in current MSN instant messenger applications;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a call forwarding device used in the method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating components of the call forwarding device of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a graphical user interface generated in the method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates how buddy preferences are set in the method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  illustrates how a call forwarding option is configured in the method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram to illustrate a voice communications link made between a calling party and an intended call recipient in the method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention;  
      FIGS.  8  to  11  are flowcharts of the preferred embodiment for making the voice communications link of  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram to illustrate another voice communications link made between a calling party and an intended call recipient in the method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention; and  
       FIGS. 13 and 14  are flowcharts of the preferred embodiment for making the voice communications link of  FIG. 12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate a call forwarding device  1  used in the method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention. The call forwarding device  1  includes a portable housing  11 , and a PSTN port  111 , a telephone port  112  and a USB port  113  provided on one side of the housing  11 . The call forwarding device  1  further includes a microphone jack  114  and an earphone jack  115  provided on another side of the housing  11  for connecting with an external microphone  411  and an earphone device  412 , respectively.  
      Inside the housing  11 , there are disposed a control circuit  12 , a data access arrangement (DAA) module  13 , a subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) module  14 , a USB interface module  15 , a voice code converter  16 , an echo suppressing module  17 , and a memory module  18 . The DAA module  13  is connected electrically to the control circuit  12  and the PSTN port  111 . The SLIC module  14  is connected electrically to the control circuit  12  and the telephone port  112 . The USB interface module  15  is connected electrically to the control circuit  12  and the USB port  113 . The voice code converter  16  is connected electrically to the control circuit  12  and is operable so as to process voice signals to and from the earphone jack  115  and the microphone jack  114 . The echo suppressing module  17  is connected electrically to the voice code converter  16 . The memory module  18  is connected electrically to the control circuit  12 .  
      The DAA module  13  is connected to a telephone network  2 , such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), through the PSTN port  111 . The SLIC module  14  is connected to a telephone set  3  through the telephone port  112 . Preferably, in case of an incoming phone call through the telephone network  2 , the incoming phone call can be accepted through the telephone set  3  in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, when an incoming phone call arrives at a time the call forwarding device  1  is operated to place an outgoing phone call, a busy tone will be detected by the party who made the incoming phone call in a known manner.  
      The USB interface module  15  is connected to an electronic device  4  through the USB port  113 . The electronic device  4  is operable in an instant messenger environment (i.e., it has an instant messenger application installed therein), and can be a personal computer, a notebook computer, etc. In practice, many alternative schemes, such as through an IEEE 1394 serial port, known to those skilled in the art are available for establishing electrical connection between the call forwarding device  1  and the electronic device  4 .  
      Once a microphone  411  and an earphone device  412  are connected respectively to the microphone jack  114  and the earphone jack  115 , an ordinary telephone conversation can proceed. In this manner, it is not necessary to install the aforesaid telephone set  3  when accepting an incoming phone call. Moreover, while the call forwarding device  1  is exemplified as being suitable for use with an external microphone  411 , it is apparent to those skilled in the art that an internal microphone may be employed to accomplish the function of picking-up voice signals. In addition, the earphone device  412  may be an external speaker or any other conventional sound reproducing device.  
      In this embodiment, the combined functions of the control circuit  12  and the voice code converter  16  are realized using a Tiger Jet® TJ560 series control chipset. This particular control chipset, which is able to process the USB transmission data format, is ideal for processing USB transmission data received from the electronic device  4  through the USB interface module  15 . On the other hand, the TJ560 series control chipset is further operable so as to perform sound effect format conversion from μ-law format to pulse-coded-modulation (PCM) format and vice-versa upon voice signals from and to the microphone  411  and the earphone device  412 . The echo suppressing module  17  can be realized using OKI® MSM7602 or DSP D16559TDA control chipset, and can suppress echo noise in the voice data that is inputted into the voice code converter  16 . It should be noted herein that the aforesaid control chipsets may be replaced with other control chipsets that can perform the same functions.  
      After receiving a call forwarding command through the USB interface module  15 , the control circuit  12  is able to dial a specified telephone number through the DAA module  13 . A calling party is able to talk to an intended call recipient through the external microphone  411 , and to listen to the call recipient through the earphone device  412 . Incoming and outgoing voice signals undergo code conversion through the voice code converter  16  for processing by the control circuit  12  and for reproduction by the earphone device  412 . The call forwarding device  1  further provides a message recording function, in which voice data are recorded in the memory module  18  (in this embodiment, the memory module  18  has a 32-MB capacity), similar to that provided by a telephone answering machine.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a graphical user interface  7  generated upon execution by the electronic device  4  of a call forwarding application that is associated with the call forwarding device  1  in the method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention. The interface  7  includes a buddy list  711 , an activation key  712 , an automatic forwarding key  713 , and a synchronization transmission key  714 .  
      The activation key  712  is used to activate or deactivate the call forwarding device  1 . The automatic forwarding key  713  is used to enable or disable automatic call forwarding options. The synchronization transmission key  714  is used to synchronize the contents of the buddy list  711  with that of the instant messenger application that is installed in the electronic device  4 .  
      The method for making a voice communications link according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the following illustrative examples. In the examples, it is assumed that: (i) the user of a local computer is an intended call recipient; or (ii) the user of the local computer is a calling party.  
      (i) The User is an Intended Call Recipient:  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the user of the local computer is able to set buddy preferences for each buddy in the buddy list  711 . In this embodiment, the buddy preferences include: (A) “Direct Forward” call privilege; and (B) “Remote Forward” call privilege. For instance, if the user wishes to grant a buddy nicknamed ‘Alan’ the “Direct Forward” and “Remote Forward” call privileges, the user clicks on an icon associated with the nickname ‘Alan’ to result in a corresponding pop-up menu  72 . The user then sets the relevant buddy preferences through the pop-up menu  72 .  
      The “Direct Forward” and “Remote Forward” options will be described in greater detail in the succeeding paragraphs.  
      (A) “Direct Forward” option  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , in order to enable use of the “Direct Forward” option, the user of the local computer must first select a “Forward Setting and Log” item in a Task menu  73  of the interface  7 . Upon selection of said item, a corresponding dialog box  74  pops-up to enable the user to input a specific telephone number, such as his mobile phone number 09xx-xxxxxx. Referring to  FIG. 7 , it is assumed that the user (hereinafter referred to as the intended call recipient  100 ), who is a resident of the United States, is not at home, is in another state, and is carrying a mobile phone  32  with him. A person (hereinafter referred to as the calling party  200 ) living in Taiwan wishes to contact the intended call recipient  100 . Through the use of a remote computer  41  that operates in an instant messenger environment, the calling party  200  is able to page the local computer  42  (that also operates in a similar instant messenger environment) of the intended call recipient  100  via a data network  5 . Since the local computer  42  is connected to the call forwarding device  1 , and since the call forwarding device  1  is connected to a telephone network  2 , the “Direct Forward” option enables the calling party  200  to get in touch with the intended call recipient  100  through a voice communications link that includes a data network link between the remote and local computers  41 ,  42 , and a telephone network link between the call forwarding device  1  of the local computer  42  and the mobile phone  32  of the intended call recipient  100 .  
       FIG. 8  illustrates steps associated with the “Direct Forward” option in greater detail. Initially, instep  101 , the call forwarding application is executed to enable the intended call recipient  100  to specify a telephone number of his mobile phone  32 . Then, the appearance of a dialog box in the instant messenger environment of the local computer  42  (i.e., due to paging by the remote computer  41  of the calling party  200 ) is detected through the call forwarding application in step  102 . Thereafter, in step  103 , the buddy preferences set in the buddy list  711  are inspected to verify whether the intended call recipient  100  has granted the calling party  200  the “Direct Forward” call privilege. If not, the flow goes to step  104 , where a reject message is formed based on the result obtained in step  103 . In step  105 , the reject message is sent to the remote computer  41 of the calling party  200 . Then, instep  106 , the dialog box of the local computer  42  is automatically closed. If it was determined in step  103  that the calling party  200  was granted the “Direct Forward” call privilege, the flow goes to step  107 . In step  107 , a previously established acknowledge message is sent to the remote computer  41  of the calling party  200 . An example of the acknowledge message is: “I am not at home right now. If you wish to forward a call, please enter ‘ 0204 ’. If you do not wish to forward a call, please enter ‘ 8686 ’ or wait 60 seconds to exit automatically.” The keywords ‘ 0204 ’ and ‘ 8686 ’ are relied upon to determine whether or not the calling party  200  intends to proceed with establishment of a voice communications link via the “Direct Forward” option. In the affirmative (i.e., ‘ 0204 ’ was received from the remote computer  41 ), the flow goes to step  108 , where the telephone number previously specified in the local computer  42  is dialed using the call forwarding device  1 . Then, in step  109 , it is determined if the intended call recipient  100  was able to accept the call. If not, the flow goes to step  110 , where a call rejected message is sent to the remote computer  41  of the calling party  200 , and then to step  106  so as to close the dialog box of the local computer  42 .  
      If it was determined in step  109  that the intended call recipient  100  was able to accept the call, the flow goes to step  111 . In step  111 , the calling party  200  and the intended call recipient  100  are able to communicate with each other through a voice communications link that includes a data network link between the local and remote computers  42 ,  41 , and a telephone network link between the local computer  42  and the intended call recipient  100  (that is, between the call forwarding device  1  and the mobile phone  32  of the intended call recipient  100 ). In step  112 , it is determined via the call forwarding application whether a failure in communications has occurred due to an erroneous action performed by either the calling party  200  or the intended call recipient  100 . In the affirmative, the flow goes to step  113  for failure handling, and then to step  114  so as to close the dialog box of the local computer  42 , thereby terminating the voice communications link in order to permit future establishment of another voice communications link.  
      In step  115 , it is further determined via the call forwarding application whether the voice communications link is to be terminated. Determination is made by detecting the presence of any one of the following conditions: (1) input of a call terminating command by the calling party  200  through the remote computer  41 ; (2) failure of the intended call recipient  100  to respond within a specified time period; and (3) closing of the instant messenger environment of the remote computer  41 . In this embodiment, the call terminating command is ‘ 8686 ’, and the specified time period is 60 seconds. It should be noted herein that the call terminating command may be replaced by any other specific command, and the specified time period may also vary depending on actual requirements. When it is determined that the voice communications link is to be terminated, the voice communications link is terminated in step  116 , and the flow goes to step  114  to close the dialog box of the local computer  42 .  
      (B) “Remote Forward” Option  
      The setup for the “Remote Forward” option is the same as that shown in  FIG. 7 . However, unlike the “Direct Forward” option, the telephone number dialed by the call forwarding device  1  is not one that was previously configured by the intended call recipient  100 , but is instead a telephone number specified by the calling party  200 .  
       FIG. 9  illustrates steps associated with the “Remote Forward” option in greater detail. First, in step  201 , the appearance of a dialog box in the instant messenger environment of the local computer  42  (i.e., due to paging by the remote computer  41  of the calling party  200 ) is detected through the call forwarding application. Thereafter, in step  202 , the buddy preferences set in the buddy list  711  are inspected to verify whether the calling party  200  has been granted the “Remote Forward” call privilege. If not, the flow goes to step  203 , where a reject message is formed based on the result obtained in step  202 . In step  204 , the reject message is sent to the remote computer  41  of the calling party  200 . Then, in step  205 , the dialog box of the local computer  42  is automatically closed.  
      If it was determined in step  202  that the calling party  200  was granted the “Remote Forward” call privilege, the flow goes to step  206 . In step  206 , an acknowledge message is sent to the remote computer  41  of the calling party  200  for prompting the latter to input the telephone number of an intended call recipient  100 . In step  207 , upon receipt from the remote computer  41  of the calling party  200 , the intended telephone number is dialed using the call forwarding device  1 . Then, in step  208 , it is determined if the intended call recipient  100  was able to accept the call. If not, the flow goes to step  209 , where a call rejected message is sent to the remote computer  41  of the calling party  200 , and then to step  205  so as to close the dialog box of the local computer  42 .  
      If it was determined in step  208  that the intended call recipient  100  was able to accept the call, the flow goes to step  210 . In step  210 , the calling party  200  and the intended call recipient  100  are able to communicate with each other through a voice communications link that includes a data network link between the local and remote computers  42 ,  41 , and a telephone network link between the local computer  42  and the intended call recipient  100 . In step  211 , it is determined via the call forwarding application whether a failure in communications has occurred due to an erroneous action performed by either the calling party  200  or the intended call recipient  100 . In the affirmative, the flow goes to step  212  for failure handling, and then to step  213  so as to close the dialog box of the local computer  42 , thereby terminating the voice communications link in order to permit future establishment of another voice communications link.  
      In step  214 , it is further determined via the call forwarding application whether the voice communications link is to be terminated. Determination is made in a manner similar to that described hereinabove in connection with the “Direct Forward” option. When it is determined that the voice communications link is to be terminated, the voice communications link is terminated in step  215 , and the flow goes to step  213  to close the dialog box of the local computer  42 .  
      (ii) The User is a Calling Party:  
      The following options are available when the user is the calling party: (C) Phone-to-PC Direct Forward; (D) Phone-to-PC Remote Forward; (E) Phone-to-Phone Direct Forward; and (F) Phone-to-Phone Remote Forward. These four options will be described in greater detail in the succeeding paragraphs.  
      (C) “Phone-to-PC Direct Forward” Option  
      This option will be illustrated using the same setup shown in  FIG. 7 . However, it is assumed herein that the user (hereinafter referred to as the calling party  100 ), who is a resident of the United States, is not at home, is in another state, and is carrying a mobile phone  32  with him. The calling party  100  wishes to contact a person (hereinafter referred to as the intended call recipient  200 ) living in Taiwan. Through a telephone network link made using the mobile phone  32  and established with a call forwarding device  1  that is connected to a local computer  42  operating in an instant messenger environment and installed in the user&#39;s home, the calling party  100  is able to page a remote computer  41  (that also operates in an instant messenger environment) of the intended call recipient  200  via a data network  5  to which the local and remote computers  42 ,  41  are connected. The “Phone-to-PC Direct Forward” option enables the calling party  100  to get in touch with the intended call recipient  200  through a voice communications link that includes the data network link between the remote and local computers  41 ,  42 , and the telephone network link between the call forwarding device  1  of the local computer  42  and the mobile phone  32  (or any other telephone device) of the calling party  100 .  
       FIG. 10  illustrates steps associated with the “Phone-to-PC Direct Forward” option in greater detail. First, in step  401 , the call forwarding application is executed by the local computer  42 , and in step  402 , the calling party  100  is able to specify an instant messenger (IM) address of the intended call recipient  200 . Then, instep  403 , the presence of an incoming phone call placed by the calling party  100  and received by the local computer  42  through the call forwarding device  1  that is connected to the telephone network  2  is detected via the call forwarding application. In the affirmative, the flow goes to step  404 , where the presence of a dialog box indicative of the instant messenger environment of the local computer  42  is detected through the call forwarding application. Then, in step  405 , the instant messenger function of the local computer  42  is activated for paging the remote computer  41  of the intended call recipient  200  using the instant messenger address specified in step  402 . Subsequently, in step  406 , it is determined if the intended call recipient  200  is willing to accept establishment of a voice communications link. This is made possible by detecting an acknowledge message issued by the remote computer  41  and received by the local computer  42  through the data network  5 . If the intended call recipient  200  is unwilling, the flow goes to step  407 , where a call rejected message is generated, and then to step  408 , where the voice communications link is terminated. Finally, the flow goes to step  409 , where the dialog box of the local computer  42  is automatically closed.  
      If it was determined in step  406  that the intended call recipient  200  is willing, the flow goes to step  410 . In step  410 , the intended call recipient  200  and the calling party  100  are able to communicate with each other through a voice communications link that includes the data network link between the local and remote computers  42 ,  41 , and the telephone network link between the local computer  42  and the calling party  100  (that is, between the call forwarding device  1  and the mobile phone  32  of the calling party  100 ). In step  411 , it is further determined whether the voice communications link is to be terminated. In the affirmative, the flow goes to step  408  to terminate the voice communications link, and then to step  409  to close the dialog box of the local computer  42 .  
      (D) “Phone-to-PC Remote Forward” Option  
      The setup for the “Phone-to-PC Remote Forward” option is the same as that shown in  FIG. 7 . However, unlike the “Phone-to-PC Direct Forward” option, there is no need to specify the instant messenger (IM) address of the intended call recipient  200  in the local computer  
       FIG. 11  illustrates steps associated with the “Phone-to-PC Remote Forward” option in greater detail. First, in step  501 , the call forwarding application is executed by the local computer  42 , and in step  502 , the presence of an incoming phone call placed by the calling party  100  and received by the local computer  42  through the call forwarding device  1  that is connected to the telephone network  2  is detected via the call forwarding application. In the affirmative, the flow goes to step  503 , where the presence of a dialog box indicative of the instant messenger environment of the local computer  42  is detected through the call forwarding application. Then, in step  504 , the calling party  100  is permitted to input the instant messenger (IM) address of the remote computer  42  of the intended call recipient  200  via known voice or DTMF input techniques. Accordingly, one of DTMF decoding technology and voice-recognition technology can be employed to recognize the data inputted by the calling party  100 . Thereafter, in step  505 , the instant messenger function of the local computer  42  is activated for paging the remote computer  41  of the intended call recipient  200  using the instant messenger address specified by the calling party  100  in step  504 . Subsequently, in step  506 , it is determined if the intended call recipient  200  is willing to accept establishment of a voice communications link. This is made possible by detecting an acknowledge message issued by the remote computer  41  and received by the local computer  42  through the data network  5 . If the intended call recipient  200  is unwilling, the flow goes to step  507 , where a call rejected message is generated, and then to step  508 , where the voice communications link is terminated. Finally, the flow goes to step  509 , where the dialog box of the local computer  42  is automatically closed.  
      If it was determined in step  506  that the intended call recipient  200  is willing, the flow goes to step  510 . In step  510 , the intended call recipient  200  and the calling party  100  are able to communicate with each other through a voice communications link that includes the data network link between the local and remote computers  42 ,  41 , and the telephone network link between the local computer  42  and the calling party  100  (that is, between the call forwarding device  1  and the mobile phone  32  of the calling party  100 ). In step  511 , it is further determined whether the voice communications link is to be terminated. In the affirmative, the flow goes to step  508  to terminate the voice communications link, and then to step  509  to close the dialog box of the local computer  42 .  
      (E) “Phone-to-Phone Direct Forward” Option  
      This option will be illustrated using the setup shown in  FIG. 12 . It is assumed herein that the user (hereinafter referred to as the calling party  100 ), who is a resident of the United States, is not at home, is in another state, and is carrying a mobile phone  32  with him. The calling party  100  wishes to contact a person (hereinafter referred to as the intended call recipient  200 ) living in Taiwan. However, the intended call recipient  200  is also not at home and is in another city in Taiwan. Through a first telephone network link made using the mobile phone  32  and established with a call forwarding device  1  that is connected to a local computer  42  operating in an instant messenger environment and installed in the user&#39;s home, the calling party  100  is able to page a remote computer  41  (that also operates in an instant messenger environment) of the intended call recipient  200  via a data network  5  to which the local and remote computers  42 ,  41  are connected. Then, through a second telephone network link established between another call forwarding device  1  that is connected to the remote computer  41  and a mobile phone  31  of the intended call recipient  200 , the “Phone-to-Phone Direct Forward” option enables the calling party  100  to get in touch with the intended call recipient  200  through a voice communications link that includes the first telephone network link between the calling party  100  and the local computer  42  (i.e., between the mobile phone  32  of the calling party  100  and the call forwarding device  1  that is connected to the local computer  42 ), the data network link between the remote and local computers  41 ,  42 , and the second telephone network link between the intended call recipient  200  and the remote computer  41  (i.e., between the call forwarding device  1  of the remote computer  41  and the mobile phone  31  of the intended call recipient  200 ).  
       FIG. 13  illustrates steps associated with the “Phone-to-Phone Direct Forward” option. The steps  601  to  605  of  FIG. 13  correspond to the steps  401  to  405  of  FIG. 10  and are performed by the local computer  42 . As for the steps performed by the remote computer  41 , they are the same as steps  103  to  116  of  FIG. 8 . In this manner, the voice communications link that includes two telephone network links and a data network link can be made between the calling party  100  and the intended call recipient  200 .  
      (F) “Phone-to-Phone Remote Forward” Option  
      The setup for the “Phone-to-Phone Remote Forward” option is the same as that shown in  FIG. 12 . However, unlike the “Phone-to-Phone Direct Forward” option, there is no need to specify the instant messenger (IM) address of the intended call recipient  200  in the local computer  42 .  
       FIG. 14  illustrates steps associated with the “Phone-to-Phone Remote Forward” option. The steps  701  to  705  of  FIG. 14  correspond to the steps  501  to  505  of  FIG. 11  and are performed by the local computer  42 . As for the steps performed by the remote computer  41 , they are the same as steps  202  to  215  of  FIG. 9 . In this manner, the voice communications link that includes two telephone network links and a data network link can be made between the calling party  100  and the intended call recipient  200 .  
      In the aforesaid “Phone-to-PC Direct Forward” and “Phone-to-PC Remote Forward” options, overseas phone costs can be saved, and only the user  100  incurs phone expense. In the aforesaid “Phone-to-Phone Direct Forward” and “Phone-to-Phone Remote Forward” options, overseas phone costs are also saved, but both the user  100  and the person  200  incur phone expense.  
      In sum, the method for making a voice communications link according to this invention offers the following advantages:  
      1. When the call forwarding device and the associated call forwarding application are installed on an electronic device of the user, and a telephone number was specified beforehand by the user, the user will be able to receive forwarded calls when he or she is not at home, and hence will not miss important messages.  
      2. The cost of making long distance calls can be saved.  
      3. Through the selective grant of call privilege to buddies in a buddy list, undesired forwarded calls can be screened, and the privacy of the user is thus ensured.  
      4. Unnecessary communication expenses can be saved by terminating the voice communications link upon occurrence of any one of predetermined conditions.  
      While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.