`
`United States Patent
`Wood et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,574,328 B1
`*Jun. 3, 2003
`
`US006574328B1
`
`(54) TELEPHONE CALL CONTROL SYSTEM
`FOR THE PUBLIC SWITCHEI) TELEPHONE
`NETWORK
`
`6,078,581 A
`6,104,800 A
`6,259,692 B1
`
`6/2000 Shtivelman et al. ...... .. 370/352
`8/2000 Benson ..................... .. 379/215
`7/2001 Shtivelman et al. ...... .. 370/355
`
`_
`(75) Inventors: Samuel E. Wood, Los Altos HlllS, CA
`(US); Margaret Susan Asprey, L05
`Altos, CA (Us); Jerry A_ Klein, L05
`Altos, CA (Us)
`
`EP
`EP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`.......... .. H04Q/3/00
`10/1996
`0 738 093
`.......... .. H04Q/3/00
`2/1999
`0 898 431
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(73) Assignee: Telemaze, Inc., Los Altos, CA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U-S-C- 154(k)) by 0 days-
`
`ADC Telecommunications; SS7 NewNet SS7 Tutorial; @
`Copyright 1999.
`*
`_ d b
`_
`Cue
`y exammer
`Primary Examiner—Ahmad F. Matar
`
`_
`
`_
`
`_
`
`_
`
`_
`
`Assistant Examiner—Rasha AL-Aubaidi
`
`Th1_5 Patent 15 Sub]ect to a tefmlnal (11$-
`Clalmel
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Patent LaW Group LLP;
`Brian D. OgonoWsky
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 09/565,565
`-
`M 4 2000
`22 F1 01:
`ay ’
`1 e
`(
`)
`H04M 7/00
`51
`I
`Cl 7
`............................................... ..
`.
`nt.
`(52) US. Cl. ............ .. 379/224; 379/221.08; 379/221.11
`(58) Field of Search .......................... .. 379/224, 221.08,
`37902111
`
`()
`56
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`379/210.01
`5,566,236 A * 10/1996 MeLampy et a1.
`6,028,917 A
`2/2000 Creamer et a1. ..... .. 379/100.01
`6,031,836 A * 2/2000 Haserodt .................. .. 370/389
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`In one embodiment the s stem includes a rocessor
`’
`Y
`P
`(referred to herein as a tandem access controller) connected
`h PSTN h' h
`1d 11
`d'
`l
`to t e
`W 1c Wou a oW anyone to
`1rect y
`provision, that is to say set-up and make immediate changes
`to, the Con?guration Of his or her phone line- In another
`embodiment, a tandem access controller (TAC) subsystem is
`connected internally to the PSTN in a local service area. The
`TAC
`'d
`f
`1
`db h
`b 'b
`lld
`provi es eatures,se ecte yt esu scr1 er, to a e ge
`sWitches connected to the PSTN tandem sWitch. In one
`embodiment, the TAC is controlled by the subscriber using
`the Web.
`
`8 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`16 w PSTN
`TANDEM SWITCH
`
`~17
`
`CO
`
`TANDEM
`10w ACCESS
`CONTROLLER
`
`18”
`
`CO
`
`23
`3
`
`User
`Interface
`
`@
`0
`
`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 1
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 0f 9
`
`US 6,574,328 B1
`
`mm
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`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 2
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`US 6,574,328 B1
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 4
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`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 4
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`Jun. 3, 2003
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`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 6
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 0f 9
`
`US 6,574,328 B1
`
`Inbound Call (to Subscriber)
`
`@ Receive Incoming Call
`
`Request (SS7) from
`PSTN Tandem Office.
`I
`Format Message: Incoming Call
`Request (including called PPN,
`caller ID, channel #, etc.)
`I
`Look up Calling and Called
`Parties in Database.
`
`Refuse call.
`
`Look up Subscriber specified parameters
`in database. Determine if additional
`information is required from caller.
`
`Information
`
`;
`7| NO
`Determine outbound calling number: Look
`up Subscriber Conditional Call Fon/vard
`information (e.g. time-of-day, day-of-week,
`caller ID, caller password, etc.).
`I
`Send Call Request (SS7)
`to PSTN Tandem.
`
`IVR Subsystem
`obtains information
`(e.g. collect password
`from caller, etc).
`
`No
`
`No
`Connect this outbound call
`to original inbound call.
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 7
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 7 0f 9
`
`US 6,574,328 B1
`
`Outbound Call (from Subscriber)
`
`via web
`Subscriber enters or clicks on
`Outbound Called Number at UlS
`and indicates which Subscriber
`number call is to be placed from
`(e.g. cell or home number)
`
`UlS Formats and Sends a
`CallAndConnect Message to TAC.
`
`via phone
`User goes
`off "hook"
`on phone
`
`CO processes
`dialing and
`look UP
`
`TAC places call
`to Subscriber.
`
`:
`
`Sign?
`
`Send messages to
`UIS- Subscriber
`Phone Not
`Answering
`
`PSTN places call
`in conventional
`manner
`
`TAC places call to
`outbound number and
`connects the two.
`I
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 8
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 3, 2003
`
`Sheet 8 0f 9
`
`US 6,574,328 B1
`US 6,574,328 B1
`
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`
`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 9
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun.3,2003
`
`Sheet9 0f9
`
`US 6,574,328 B1
`
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`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 10
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`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 10
`
`
`
`
`
`US 6,574,328 B1
`
`1
`TELEPHONE CALL CONTROL SYSTEM
`FOR THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE
`NETWORK
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to telephone services and, in
`particular, to a system for allowing a subscriber to select
`features of the subscriber’s telephone service.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`People have used various means for limiting interruptions
`due to the telephone. In the past, people used sWitchboards
`and secretaries to screen incoming, or inbound, calls. Voice
`mail systems took over some of this role both in the home
`and in the central office. Today, there are Web-based com
`panies managing 3rd-party call control, via the toll-sWitch
`netWork, Which alloW users to enter call control information
`through a Web portal. There are also edge devices in each of
`the public telephone company’s central of?ces Which pro
`vide local control, but offer an extremely limited number of
`features and do not provide true 3rd-party call control.
`The Web-based toll systems provide good user interaction
`but they are not economical and cannot take advantage of
`local number portability because they do not provide local
`control and connectivity.
`The Public SWitched Telephone NetWork (PSTN) consists
`of a plurality of edge sWitches connected to telephones on
`one side and to a netWork of tandem sWitches on the other.
`The tandem sWitch netWork alloWs connectivity betWeen all
`of the edge sWitches, and a signalling system is used by the
`PSTN to alloW calling and to transmit both calling and called
`party identity.
`Until noW, optional features Were provided by the local
`service telephone company (telco) through the edge sWitch
`at the central office (CO). It Was not possible to provide
`optional features through any other means. Control of these
`features Was done through the ?rst party (calling party) or
`the second party (called party), or Worse yet, manually by
`calling the business of?ce.
`In the past, numerous devices have been built that alloW
`the connection of tWo lines together at an edge sWitch. These
`devices can be used to add features to a telephone netWork
`by receiving a call on one line and then dialing out on
`another line. The problem With these devices is that, because
`they are connected through an edge sWitch, transmission
`losses and impairments occur, degrading the overall con
`nection. In addition, signalling limitations prevent full
`control, by the subscriber or the system, over the call.
`The invention described herein connects at the tandem,
`thereby eliminating these problems.
`In the edge devices residing in the PSTN central of?ces,
`the 1st party (the calling party) has numerous features
`available (dialing options). The 2nd party (called party) also
`has options available such as call forWarding, but these
`features typically require access from the ?rst or second
`party’s device and are eXtremely aWkWard to program. The
`user interaction is not only aWkWard, it is limited and
`requires interaction With the telephone company to provision
`them. In other Words, past systems for provisioning, mean
`ing addition, modi?cation, or control of telephone features,
`required a subscriber to make the feature selection through
`the telephone business of?ce. Central of?ce Workers Would
`then implement the provisioning under request of the busi
`ness of?ce.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`Call ForWarding is one popular provision. There is sig
`ni?cation transmission degradation for Call ForWarding to
`take place. The calling party pays for a call to the edge
`device, and the edge subscriber, the called party, pays for the
`call to the forWarding number. For enhanced inbound call
`control to occur, a direct 3rd-party call control means is
`needed.
`A variety of services have arisen to address the problems
`mentioned above. Many of these systems alloW the called
`party to make changes to his/her call forWarding attributes
`Which do not alloW direct 3rd-party call control. These
`services provide good user interaction, some via the internet,
`but they rely upon the toll netWork through the use of “800”
`numbers. This requires the subscriber to pay by the minute
`and does not alloW the subscriber to take advantage of
`number portability in order to obtain 3rd-party call control.
`There are other toll netWork mechanisms for remote call
`forWarding. For eXample, MCI offers a service Where the
`customer can remotely change the forWarding target number
`for “800” numbers. Contacting the ultimate end-user before
`terminating the ?rst incoming call is similar to the manner
`in Which “800” credit calls and collect calls are processed,
`but these are not done at the local subscriber level.
`In addition to these toll services, there are edge devices
`that perform some of the same services. Edge devices such
`as phones and PBXs that include voice mail, inter-active
`voice response, call forWarding, speed calling, etc., have
`been used to provide additional call control. These devices
`alloW the phone user direct control over incoming and
`outgoing calls. The disadvantage of edge devices is that they
`add cost, degrade voice and transmission quality, can be
`dif?cult to program, are not easily programmed remotely,
`can require the user to pay for tWo lines, provide loWer
`quality of service, and cannot provide the same level of
`functionality as a system that controls the PSTN directly.
`There are Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoiP) products
`emerging that provide better user interfaces and control but
`they do not take advantage and voice quality of the PSTN.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The present invention adds direct control of third party
`call control features, but does not suffer from any of the
`disadvantages listed above, and alloWs the subscriber to
`manage his/her telephone system in a dynamic and eXcep
`tionally useful manner that is not currently available through
`the eXisting PSTN. The invention alloWs enhanced direct
`third-party call control features, such as selective call rout
`ing and remote dialing, to be added to the PSTN (Public
`SWitched Telephone NetWork) using local call control and
`providing dynamic provisioning of the system by the sub
`scriber. Direct 3rd-party control means that the ability to
`provision the 3rd-party features is directly available to a
`subscriber, eliminating the need to go through the telephone
`company (telco) business of?ce.
`In one embodiment, the system includes a processor
`(referred to herein as a tandem access controller) connected
`to the PSTN Which Would alloW anyone to directly
`provision, that is to say set-up and make immediate changes
`to, the con?guration of his or her phone line. In another
`embodiment, a tandem access controller (TAC) subsystem is
`connected internally to the PSTN in a local service area. The
`TAC provides features, selected by the subscriber, to all edge
`sWitches connected to the PSTN tandem sWitch. Connecting
`directly to the PSTN tandem sWitch (or embedding the
`system into the tandem sWitch) eliminates the signal deg
`radation problems previously described.
`
`Cisco Systems, Inc., EX 1159 Page 11
`
`
`
`US 6,574,328 B1
`
`3
`In one embodiment, the system allows provisioning of
`features via the internet under direct control of the sub
`scriber. Recently, several products have been introduced that
`provide a means of controlling features via the public
`internet. HoWever, all these devices fall short in that they
`require the subscriber to obtain an “800” number or some
`other number that requires the subscriber to pay a toll charge
`each time a call is made. The present invention connects
`locally, so no toll charges are incurred.
`The Web-enhanced services in one embodiment of the
`invention coexist With and overlay the local phone service at
`the local level, thereby providing good economics and user
`interaction, single number access to multiple subscriber
`devices, connectivity Without transmission impairments and
`true, direct 3rd-party call control.
`The present invention relies upon use of local telephone
`facilities thereby eliminating all the extra charges associated
`With making toll calls. It also alloWs the user to take
`advantage of number portability and keep his/her existing
`public phone number.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates the tandem access controller (TAC) of
`the present invention connected to the existing PSTN tan
`dem sWitch, the TAC providing features for the subscriber’s
`telephone as requested by the subscriber via the Web.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a system similar to FIG. 1 but shoWing
`multiple tandem sWitches and TAC’s and also shoWing hoW
`the subscriber may, in additional to using the standard
`telephone, make phone calls using Voice Over IP via a
`conventional digital telephone.
`FIG. 3 is a ?owchart of one method that a person may use
`to set up a subscriber account and to designate features the
`subscriber Would like for his/her telephone.
`FIG. 4 is a ?oWchart of a method that can be performed
`by the TAC in response to the subscriber (or other service)
`controlling the TAC, using the Web (or other packet-based
`system), to change the subscriber’s telephone provisioning
`or perform another function, such as make a VoIP call.
`FIG. 5 is a ?oWchart of a method that can be performed
`by the TAC in response to an inbound call to the subscriber.
`FIG. 6 is a ?oWchart of a method performed by the
`subscriber and the TAC When the subscriber desires to make
`an outbound call via the Web or using a conventional
`telephone.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a system, using the TAC, that alloWs
`Wireless cell phones to obtain the same provisioning options
`as the conventional telephones.
`FIG. 8 illustrates a system, using the TAC, that alloWs fax
`and modem calls to bene?t from the provisioning offered by
`the TAC.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`55
`
`FIG. 1 shoWs a tandem access controller (TAC) 10 that
`alloWs an authoriZed subscriber 12 to establish 3rd-party
`control criteria for calls to the subscriber’s telephone 14
`(having a “public” phone number that callers dial). In one
`embodiment, the TAC 10 is a programmed processor. The
`TAC 10 may use any combination of hardWare, ?rmWare, or
`softWare and, in one embodiment, is a conventional com
`puter programmed to carry out the functions described
`herein.
`The TAC 10 is connected to or inside the conventional
`PSTN tandem sWitch 16 such that calls may ?oW through the
`
`65
`
`4
`TAC 10 in the same manner as the existing PSTN tandem
`sWitch, except that additional 3rd-party features are applied
`to the call. As is Well knoWn, PSTN tandem sWitches are
`exchanges that direct telephone calls (or other traf?c) to
`central of?ces 17, 18 or to other tandem sWitches. Details of
`the operation of the existing phone netWork may be found in
`the publication entitled “NeW Net SS7 Tutorial,” by ADC
`Telecommunications, copyright 1999, incorporated herein
`by reference. Additional details may be found in the numer
`ous books describing the PSTN.
`The PSTN tandem sWitch 16 directs a ?rst call (from the
`calling party 20 to the subscriber’s phone 14 using the
`subscriber’s public phone number) to the TAC 10, Which in
`turn places a second call, subject to 3rd-party control
`information, to the subscriber’s “private” phone number
`Without yet terminating the ?rst call. When the subscriber 12
`terminates (or ansWers) the second call, the TAC 10 termi
`nates the ?rst call and connects it to the second call, thereby
`connecting the calling party 20 to the subscriber 12. Hence,
`the calling party essentially calls the TAC 10, using the
`subscriber’s public phone number, and the TAC 10, after
`processing the call using the selected features, calls the
`subscriber, as appropriate, using the subscriber’s private
`phone number and connects the tWo calls. The process is
`transparent to the parties.
`The TAC 10 is connected inside the PSTN in the sense
`that it is not an edge device such as a PBX or central office
`(CO) sWitch because it does not connect directly to sub
`scribers. Rather, it redirects calls to subscribers. The TAC 10
`provides intelligent interconnection betWeen a calling party
`and a subscriber.
`The reader should keep in mind that although only one
`tandem sWitch 16 is shoWn in FIG. 1, the invention Will
`apply equally Well to a netWork of tandem sWitches, as
`shoWn in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 also illustrates hoW the subscriber
`can make calls using voice over IP via a conventional digital
`telephone 21.
`FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred method for an authoriZed
`subscriber to modify the 3rd-party control criteria by means
`of the World Wide Web 22 (and Web server 23) using an
`internet broWser. By “authorized” We mean a subscriber Who
`is registered and has “logged-in” With appropriate security
`and passWord controls. The subscriber 12 interacts With the
`Web 22 via the Internet to quickly and easily specify the
`enhanced 3rd-party call control features. Web 22 then relays
`this information, in appropriate form, to the TAC 10.
`Preferably, the link to the TAC 10 uses a secure protocol.
`Examples of features that can be selected by the subscriber
`include: conditional call blocking, call forWarding, call
`altering, time of day conditions, day of Week conditions,
`folloW-me, caller recognition/passWord, caller ID, call
`screening/retrieval from voice mail, speed dialing, interac
`tive voice response, and speech recognition. Any other
`feature could be added. These features can be implemented
`in the TAC 10 using knoWn softWare techniques since such
`features are knoWn. Message outgoing call control includes:
`click-to-dial calling and group calling/messaging.
`The invention may also include ivr/vm/voverip.
`FIG. 1 uses a public internet portal connected via a data
`link to the TAC 10 or other interface system. As a registered
`subscriber, a user logs onto the portal (FIG. 3) and is granted
`access, alloWing the user to make additions or changes to
`features such as speed calling, call forWarding, selection of
`such descriptors as time of day, busy status, callerID status,
`etc. A user-friendly Web page leads the subscriber through
`the various procedures and available features. The selections
`
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`US 6,574,328 B1
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`5
`made by the subscriber are translated into provisioning data
`and transmitted to the TAC 10. The TAC 10 in turn keeps
`track of incoming and outgoing calls based on this infor
`mation.
`The subscriber can also program a set of the call control
`features via a telephone link in the event a data link
`connection is unavailable.
`FIG. 4 is a ?oWchart of actions that may be taken by the
`TAC 10 in response to the subscriber (or other service)
`controlling the TAC, using the Web or other packet-based
`system, to change the subscriber’s telephone provisioning or
`perform another function, such as make a VoIP call.
`FIG. 5 is a ?oWchart of actions taken by the TAC 10 in
`response to an inbound call (using the subscriber’s public
`phone number) to the subscriber. Examples of some of the
`actions taken by the TAC 10 are:
`Receives SS7 data indicating an incoming call
`Stores phone numbers doWnloaded from provisioning
`system
`Charts identity of calling party
`Checks time of day
`Stores lists of numbers in groups used for processing
`incoming calls
`Places outgoing calls in response to incoming calls
`according to information doWnloaded on the data link.
`Incoming call data is received by the TAC 10 from the
`tandem sWitch 16. The TAC 10 processor checks calling and
`called numbers, class of service, time of day, number lists,
`etc. In some cases additional data is gathered from the
`calling party via a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) system
`and stored in the system memory. The DSP system is used
`to play call progress tones and voice announcements as
`required. Voice announcements can be played through the
`DSP system. In response to the call data, an outgoing call to
`the subscriber 12 may be placed back through the tandem
`sWitch 16 by TAC 10. The TAC 10 links the tWo calls and
`monitors the connection.
`Information about the call may be collected by the TAC
`10 and sent to the subscriber or a 3rd party for display. Such
`information may be the length of the call or information used
`to bill the subscriber for the use of the system. The provi
`sioning system can also collect control information from a
`3rd party and relay it back to the TAC 10, Which Will then
`affect the call accordingly.
`FIG. 6 is a ?oWchart of actions taken by the subscriber 12
`and the TAC 10 When the subscriber desires to make an
`outbound call via the Web or using a conventional telephone.
`When using the Web to place a call, the subscriber may
`simply click a name on the computer screen 26 using a
`mouse.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a system, using the TAC 10, that alloWs
`Wireless cell phones 28 to obtain the same provisioning
`options as the conventional telephones 14. A local cell 30
`and a cell sWitch 32 are also shoWn in FIG. 7.
`FIG. 8 illustrates a system, using the TAC 10, that alloWs
`faX and modem calls to bene?t from the provisioning offered
`by the TAC 10. The TAC 10 may interface the ISP 36
`through the Web 22.
`One embodiment of the invention alloWs a subscriber to
`vieW the current state of his/her telephone via the Internet.
`Internet is a term of art by Which We mean an interconnec
`tion of packet sWitched netWorks. Prior to this invention
`there Was no Way for a user to eXamine the status of a
`telephone line. Recently, several products have been intro
`duced that provide a means of eXamining the voice message
`boxes.
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`An internet portal is connected via a data link to the TAC
`10. When a user logs onto the internet portal and is granted
`access to an individual subscription, the user can eXamine
`the status of calls/features. This information is transmitted
`from the TAC 10 to the Web portal and translated into user
`vieWables. The TAC 10 keeps track of incoming and out
`going calls based on this information.
`The TAC 10 may be implemented using conventional
`processor hardWare. The connection to the tandem sWitch 16
`may be as simple as a telephone circuit, since the TAC 10
`receives an incoming call from a caller and processes the
`call. Devising the softWare/?rmWare use to control the TAC
`10 is Well Within the capability of those skilled in the art
`since the various control features that can be made available
`are generally already knoWn.
`Certain advantages that can be obtained using the inven
`tion include the folloWing:
`Web-Based Telecom Navigator
`Manage Incoming Call Control
`Conditional Call Blocking/ForWarding/Alerting
`Time-of-Day, Day-of-Week, FolloW-Me, Caller
`Recognition/Password, Caller ID, etc.
`Call Screening/Retrieval from Voice Mail
`Interactive Voice Response and Speech Recognition
`Manage Outgoing Call Control
`Click-to-Dial Calling
`Group Calling and Messaging
`Web-Based Billing
`Web-Driven Personal Communications Management
`Cost-Effective Single Phone Number Access
`On-Line “Personal Digital Assistant”
`On-Line “Telcom Navigator”
`Inspired User Interaction
`Secure and Reliable Technology
`Cost-Effective Single Phone Number Access
`CLEC Status
`Free Local Calls, Incoming Calls (not 800 Toll Service)
`Retain Current Number (Local Number Portability)
`LoW-Cost Calling Throughout LATA
`Flat-Rate Foreign Exchange
`Single Installation Covers Entire LATA
`VoIP Toll-Bypass
`Compatible With EXisting Devices, Standards
`Standard DTMF and VoIP Phones
`Wireless Phones
`Standard Wired/Wireless and PIM BroWsers
`Web-Based Personal Digital Assistant
`CentraliZed and Consistent Personal Data
`Build Once, Use AnyWhere
`Private/Public Phone Directories and Calendars
`“Post-It” Style Annotation of Numbers
`Web Dialing
`Click-to-Dial from Web Pages, Directories, Calendars
`Multiple Phone List Management
`Uni?ed Messaging
`Voice Mail Access, Prompts, Alert Via Web
`User Interaction
`EXpected Behavior
`Compatible With Familiar Products (e.g. Palm Pilot)
`Commonality BetWeen All Wired and Wireless
`Mode-Based De?nition and Selection
`Vacation, Dinner Time, Go AWay, Family Call Waiting
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`US 6,574,328 B1
`
`Templates
`Learning Modes
`Persona-Based User Interaction Design
`Speech recognition
`WindoWs drag and drop
`Automatic Data Capture
`Build Phone List Based on Collected Usage Information
`Drag and Drop Into Lists
`Secure and Reliable Technology
`Separate Web-Site and Link GateWay
`No Direct External Access to GateWay
`Additional Security Layer
`No Denial-of-Service to Voice Links
`VoIP Link Degradation Detection
`Automatic Cutover to PSTN
`E-Commerce Security
`Billing Encryption
`While particular embodiments of the present invention
`have been shoWn and described, it Will be obvious to those
`skilled in the art that changes and modi?cations may be
`made Without departing from this invention in its broader
`aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encom
`pass Within the true spirit and spirit and scope of this
`invention.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A telephone system comprising:
`a public sWitched telephone netWork (PSTN) having a
`tandem sWitch; and
`a tandem access controller (TAC), Within the PSTN,
`connected to said tandem sWitch, said TAC being
`accessible via the Internet by at least one subscriber for
`selecting features to be applied to telephone calls
`intended for said subscriber routed through said PSTN,
`said TAC being in a local service area With respect to said
`subscriber,
`said TAC for receiving a ?rst call by a calling party,
`entering a ?rst telephone number, intended for said
`subscriber,
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`said TAC for applying said features to said ?rst call,
`placing a second call to said subscriber using a second
`telephone number different from said ?rst telephone
`number, and completing a communications path
`betWeen said calling party and said subscriber after said
`subscriber has ansWered said second call.
`2. The system of claim 1 Wherein ansWering said second
`call causes said TAC to connect a calling party’s commu
`nication device to other than said subscriber’s telephone, as
`designated by said subscriber pursuant to said features
`selected by said subscriber.
`3. The system of claim 1 Wherein said ?rst call is placed
`by said calling party through a PSTN central of?ce to said
`TAC, and said second call is placed by said TAC through a
`central of?ce.
`4. The system of claim 1 Wherein said features are
`selected from the group consisting of conditional call block
`ing and call forWarding.
`5. The system of claim 1 Wherein said features include
`selective call forWarding.
`6. The system of claim 1 Wherein said features include
`selective call forWarding, Wherein said TAC makes said
`second call to a particular communications device based on
`a time of said ?rst call.
`7. The system of claim 1 Wherein said features include
`selective call forWarding, Wherein said TAC makes said
`second call to a particular communications device based on
`the particular calling party making said ?rst call.
`8. The system of claim 1 Wherein:
`said TAC also receives a local third call, via said tandem
`sWitch, placed by said subscriber for a third party, said
`TAC placing a fourth call to said third party, via said
`tandem sWitch; and
`said TAC connects said subscriber to said third party after
`said third party receives said fourth call.
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