Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6188683?dq=patent:+7360079
Timestamp: 2016-06-30 06:51:45
Document Index: 424183784

Matched Legal Cases: ['arty 30', 'arty 30', 'arty 30', 'arty 30', 'arty 30', 'arty 30', 'arty 30', 'arty 30', 'arty 44']

Patent US6188683 - System and method for establishing long distance voice communications using ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsAn apparatus and a method for completing long distance telephone calls over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) using an automated Internet Operator are disclosed. The apparatus includes a long distance service provider node connected to the Internet and a call connection control computer connected...http://www.google.com/patents/US6188683?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6188683 - System and method for establishing long distance voice communications using the internetAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6188683 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/811,099Publication dateFeb 13, 2001Filing dateMar 3, 1997Priority dateFeb 19, 1997Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2198024A1, CA2198024CPublication number08811099, 811099, US 6188683 B1, US 6188683B1, US-B1-6188683, US6188683 B1, US6188683B1InventorsAlexander C. Lang, Mansour MahammadiOriginal AssigneeSoftalk, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (8), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (90), Classifications (8), Legal Events (13) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystem and method for establishing long distance voice communications using the internet
US 6188683 B1Abstract
We claim: 1. An apparatus for establishing long distance voice communications between an origination number supplied by a calling party having Internet access and a telephone connected by a first line to a public switched telephone network, and a termination number of a called party having access to a telephone connected by a second line to the public switched telephone network, comprising:
a long distance service provider node accessible by the calling party's computer through the Internet, the node being programmed to: a) on a one time basis, to download to a calling party's computer a membership identification form and to obtain identification information and verify the credit rating of the calling party on receipt of the completed form; b) on a per session basis, to download a logon form to identify the calling party and verify the calling party's eligibility to place long distance calls; c) on a per session basis, in an instance where the calling party is eligible to place long distance calls, to download call request enabling software to permit the calling party to request a long distance call; d) on a per call basis, to accept a call request from the calling party and to forward the call request to a call connection control computer; the call connection control computer having an interface with a toll switch connected to the public switched telephone network and programmed to: a) receive the call request from the long distance service provider node and instruct the toll switch through the interface to: 1) establish communications with the origination number using a first trunk; 2) establish communications with the termination number using a second trunk; 3) conference together the first and second trunks; and 4) pass back at least a variable representing a duration of the call on call termination; whereby at least the variable representing the duration of the call is stored in a data base by the call connection control computer or returned by the call connection control computer to the long distance service provider node for storage in the data base to permit billing the calling party for the long distance charges for the call. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the long distance service provider node is a worldwide web server.
a) providing Internet access with a logon form for accessing a long distance service provider node connected to the Internet; b) accepting the logon form on an indication that the logon form has been completed by the calling party; c) verifying entitlement to establish long distance voice communications on the public switched telephone network on receipt of the logon form; d) enabling access to call request software where entitlement to establish long distance voice communications is verified; e) accepting a call request including at least an indication of a call origination number and a call termination number for the long distance voice communications to be established between a calling party and a called party; and f) forwarding the call request to a call connection control computer interfaced with a telephone toll switch connected to the public switched telephone network; whereby the call connection control computer operates on receipt of the call request to instruct the telephone toll switch to establish communications with the origination number using a first trunk and with the termination number using a second trunk and to conference together the first and second trunks to establish voice communications between the calling party and the called party. 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user is the calling party.
As shown in FIG. 1, the principle components of the apparatus in accordance with the invention are a long distance service provider node 20 (hereinafter a “LDSP server 20”) and a call connection control computer 22 which are respectively connected by communication lines 24 to the Internet 26. While not illustrated for simplicity, the LDSP server 20 and the call connection control computer 22 are, in actual practice, normally connected to an Internet Service Provider (hereinafter an “ISP 36”) which in turn provides an interface to the Internet 26. The LDSP server 20 is preferably a world wide web server configured in a manner well known in the art to permit access by a calling party 30 who has access to a computer 32 which can typically access the Internet 26 via a public switched telephone network local switch, (hereinafter referred to as a PSTN local switch) and an ISP 36. The calling party 30 may have one or more telephone lines 38 for access to the PSTN local switch 34. If only one line is available, the calling party's computer 32 and telephone 40 are each connected to the telephone line 38. A calling party 30 will normally access the Internet 26 using a browser application such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer� or Netscape's Navigator�, or a similar browser application, all well known in the art. When the calling party 30 connects to the LDSP server 20, the calling party 30 is provided with a user interface that permits the calling party 30 to learn about the system, register as a member to use the system and, if qualified, place long distance calls using the Internet operator in accordance with the invention. When a calling party 30 instructs the automated Internet Operator to place a long distance call, the LDSP server 20 instructs the call connection control computer 22 to control the public switched telephone network toll switch 42, (hereinafter referred to as the “PSTN toll switch 42”), to establish a connection between the calling party 30 and a called party 44 who is connected to a PSTN local switch 48 by a telephone line 46.
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20000927Nov 18, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: WAVETECH INTERNATIONAL, INC., ARIZONAFree format text: EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:SOFTALK, INC.;REEL/FRAME:013512/0894Effective date: 19990730Apr 25, 2003ASAssignmentOwner name: INNOSYS COMPUTING, INC., ILLINOISFree format text: LIEN;ASSIGNOR:SOFTALK INC.;REEL/FRAME:013986/0356Effective date: 20030414Aug 13, 2004FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Mar 5, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: INNOSYS COMMUNICATIONS INC., ILLINOISFree format text: COURT JUDGMENT;ASSIGNOR:SOFTALK, INC.;REEL/FRAME:020666/0582Effective date: 20080228May 28, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: SOFTALK INC., CANADAFree format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT PREVIOUSLY APPLICATION NUMBER RECORDED ONREEL 020666 FRAME 0582;ASSIGNOR:SOFTTALK INC.;REEL/FRAME:021029/0281Effective date: 20080228Jul 7, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: LANG, ALEXANDER C., CANADAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SOFTALK INC.;REEL/FRAME:021217/0001Effective date: 20080626Aug 13, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Mar 9, 2009ASAssignmentOwner name: INTREGEN HOLDINGS PTE LTD, SINGAPOREFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LANG, ALEXANDER C.;REEL/FRAME:022460/0575Effective date: 20090309Sep 24, 2012REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedFeb 13, 2013SULPSurcharge for late paymentYear of fee payment: 11Feb 13, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services