PCT
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`WO 99/14924
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 6 :
`H04M 3/42
`
`Al
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`25 March 1999 (25.03.99)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/US98/18646
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`8 September 1998 (08.09.98)
`
`(81) Designated States: AU, CA, CN, JP, KP, RU, European patent
`(AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT,
`LU, MC, NL, PT, SE).
`
`Published
`With international search report.
`Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the
`claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt of
`amendments.
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`08/928,264
`
`12 September 1997 (12.09.97) US
`
`(71) Applicant: GENESYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS LABO(cid:173)
`RATORIES, INC. [US/US]; 11th floor, 1155 Market Street,
`San Francisco, CA 94103 (US).
`
`(72) Inventors: SHTIVELMAN, Yuri; 2811 Monte Cresta Drive,
`Belmont, CA 94102 (US).
`TUROVSKI, Oleg; 5235
`Diamond Heights Boulevard #203, San Francisco, CA
`94131 (US).
`
`(74) Agent: BOYS, Donald, R.; P.O. Box 187, Aromas, CA 95004
`(US).
`
`(54) Title: INTERNET CALL WAITING
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`A telephony call-waiting system for clients having a computer (112) with a video display unit (PC/VDU) and a public-switched
`telephony network (PSTN) telephone (111) connected to the PSTN (151) by a single line (150), keeps a status indication of the client's
`Internet connection status and, during periods of time the PC/VDU is connected to the Internet (101), alerts the clients by an alert signal
`over the Internet connection of any waiting PSTN calls. In a preferred embodiment the client's PC/VDU is adapted to provide an audio
`and/or visual alert event when an alert signal is received, and to provide for a user-initiated response to an alert, accepting or rejecting
`a call. In the event a call is accepted, provision is made for connecting the accepted call to the client's PC/VDU as an IP call. In some
`embodiments several calls may be dealt with at the PC/VDU, and features are provided such as caller-ID on the client's VDU. Several
`ways of accomplishing the call-waiting system are taught.
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2052 - 1
`PCT Application No. WO 99/14924 IPR2016-01258
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`

`

`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`AL
`AM
`AT
`AU
`AZ
`BA
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`BJ
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CN
`cu
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`EE
`
`Albania
`Armenia
`Austria
`Australia
`Azerbaijan
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d'Ivoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Cuba
`Czech Republic
`Germany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`
`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan
`Democratic People's
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The former Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`sz
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`us
`uz
`VN
`YU
`zw
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2052 - 2
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`WO 99/14924
`
`PCT /US98/l 8646
`
`Internet Call Waiting
`
`5
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention is in the field of Internet communication and pertains
`
`more particularly to apparatus and methods for providing call waiting services for
`
`Io what are known as Internet Phone (IP) calls.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`15
`
`The present invention deals with telephony systems, including conventional
`
`telephone calls delivered to a telephone, and what are known now in the art as Internet
`
`Phone (IP) calls, which are telephone calls delivered over the Internet, and to which a
`
`user interfaces with a computer station, such as a personal computer (PC) during a
`
`session wherein the user is connected to the Internet. To avoid confusion a
`
`20
`
`convention is adopted for the purposes of this specification wherein the conventional
`
`telephone calls delivered over the public-switched telephony network to a telephone
`
`will be called PSTN calls, and the IP calls will continue to be called IP calls.
`
`The Internet is a global matrix of linked computers and file servers providing a
`
`virtually unlimited pool of knowledge to any user who has a connection for access.
`
`25 The state of the Internet is continually evolving and changing both in scope and
`
`technology. What has evolved from a type of military infrastructure has become a
`
`largely civilian super-structure allowing exchange of information to take place rapidly
`
`from almost any location in the world.
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`WO 99/14924
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`-2-
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`At the time of the present patent application, Internet infrastructures are
`
`largely land-based, transmitting data over digital links and analog lines, and the like.
`
`The typical user connections for the land-based infrastructure include a telephone line,
`
`a modem, and an Internet Service Provider (ISP) through which connection to the
`
`5
`
`Internet is provided. Generally speaking, these connective elements are all that are
`
`required for a user to have the basic capability to access the Internet, provided the user
`
`has a PC with at least minimum system requirements.
`
`At the time of the present patent application, it is believed by the inventor that
`
`between 60% and 80 % of persons having Internet access have only one telephone
`
`Io
`
`line to their premises, and the one line is connected to their personal computer and is
`
`also the user's regular telephone for receiving PSTN calls. It is well known in the art
`
`that a telephone line that is connected to a computer station and receiving digital data
`
`from the Internet cannot, at the same time, receive a PSTN call.. Therefore, if a
`
`person were to call someone who happens to be in a current session on the Internet
`
`15
`
`and using that particular line, the person placing the call would receive a busy signal.
`
`Because of this, if the person browsing the Internet has call-waiting service, the call
`
`waiting feature has to be disabled while browsing the Internet, because a call-waiting
`
`signal would disrupt an Internet data transfer.
`
`A typical telephone connection dedicated to accessing the Internet can be
`
`20
`
`expensive to maintain for a typical family that also maintains a telephone connection
`
`for conventional PSTN call use. Many families simply cannot afford to maintain
`
`more than one telephone line as would be required to browse the Internet and also
`
`receive PSTN calls in a normal fashion. Being restricted to one telephone line that is
`
`used for both Internet access and PSTN calls can be more than just an inconvenience
`
`25
`
`for a family, especially for a family with children. For example, while a user with a
`
`single phone line is browsing the Internet, one of the user's children may be trying to
`
`phone home. There is no way the user can receive even emergency calls.
`
`Personal Computers (PCs) on the market today are typically capable of
`
`multimedia communication. For example, with the appropriate software, speakers, a
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`WO 99/14924
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`PCT /US98/18646
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`standard microphone, and a sound card, a typical PC can be used as a voice
`
`communication device much like a telephone. Thus equipped, a caller can engage in
`
`two-way, real-time communication with one or more people while connected to the
`
`Internet. Since the Internet is the communication medium for such applications, there
`
`5
`
`are no toll charges involved for long distance connections. While not accruing toll
`
`charges is a distinct advantage with this type of arrangement, a drawback is that
`
`persons called or calling an Internet-connected user must have a multimedia PC
`
`connected to the Internet and have the matching software installed.
`
`What is clearly needed is a system including software executable on a
`
`Io multimedia PC whereby a person connected to the Internet and having only one
`
`telephone line can continue to receive PSTN calls from a user and make PSTN
`
`telephone calls to persons not connected to the Internet while he or she is engaged in
`
`an on-line browsing session. Such a system would alleviate inconvenience and
`
`concern associated with the inability to receive possibly important telephone calls
`
`15 while on-line. Such a method could also alleviate the expense associated with the
`
`addition of a second telephone line.
`
`20
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an Internet call-waiting
`
`telephony system is provided, comprising a telephony link adapted to connect a
`
`client's computer station and the client's public-switched telephony network (PSTN)
`
`telephone to a local PSTN switch; a port at the local PSTN switch adapted to receive
`
`25
`
`PSTN calls directed to the client; a status indicator indicating the client's Internet
`
`connection status; and an IP interface adapted to convert a PSTN telephone call to an
`
`Internet telephone protocol, the IP interface connected to both the PSTN and the
`
`Internet. During time that the status indicator indicates the client is Internet-
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2052 - 5
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`WO 99/14924
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`PCT /US98/18646
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`-4-
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`connected, on receiving a PSTN call directed to the client, the system sends, via the IP
`
`interface, an alert signal of a call waiting to an IP address associated with the client.
`
`In preferred embodiments the system further comprises a client station having
`
`a PSTN telephone and a computer station having a video display unit (VDU), the
`
`5
`
`computer station and the PSTN telephone connected to a single line connected to the
`
`telephony link. In these embodiments the computer station is adapted to provide an
`
`alert event on receipt of the alert signal of a call waiting, and to provide a user(cid:173)
`
`initiated response to the IP interface, indicating one of acceptance or refusal of the call
`
`waiting. Upon acceptance response, the IP interface is adapted to connect the PSTN
`
`10
`
`call to the client's computer station over the client's Internet connection. The alert
`
`event can be any one of several events or combinations of audio signals and visual
`
`indicia on the VDU.
`
`In some embodiments, upon connection of an IP call to the client's computer
`
`station, the client's computer station is adapted to play a pre-recorded announcement
`
`15
`
`to the caller. In some embodiments as well the system further comprises a second
`
`telephony switch to which the incoming PSTN calls directed to the client are
`
`forwarded, the second telephony switch being coupled to the IP interface. In some
`
`embodiments as well, the client's PCNDU connects to the Internet through the local
`
`PSTN switch to an Internet Service provider (ISP), and the IP interface coupled to the
`
`20
`
`second telephony switch connects to the Internet through the client's ISP.
`
`There are several ways Internet call-waiting according to embodiments of the
`
`invention may be implemented. In some the client's PCNDU connects to the Internet
`
`by dialing the ISP via a dialing string, and the dialing string comprises commands to
`
`cause the local PSTN switch to set up call forwarding of the PSTN calls directed to
`
`25
`
`the client to the second telephony switch. In other embodiments there is a server
`
`coupled to the client's ISP and to the second telephony switch, and a special log-in
`
`procedure at the ISP for the client initiates action by the server to direct the second
`
`telephony switch to call the local PSTN switch with a remote call forwarding number
`
`associated with the client, directing the local PSTN switch to set up call forwarding
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
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`W099/l4924
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`PCT/US98/18646
`
`-5-
`
`for incoming PSTN calls directed to the client. In still other embodiments there is a
`
`server coupled to the client's ISP and to a CTI-server connected by a CTI link to the
`
`local PSTN switch, and a special log-in procedure at the ISP for the client initiates
`
`action by the server to direct the CTI-server to direct incoming PSTN calls directed to
`
`5
`
`the client to the second telephony switch. The server and the CTI-server may be the
`
`same server.
`
`In a special embodiment of the invention the IP interface is coupled to the
`
`local PSTN switch and the client's PC/VDU is adapted, when Internet connection is
`
`established, to contact a WEB server also coupled to the local PSTN switch, initiating
`
`10
`
`Internet call waiting, wherein incoming calls directed to the client's PSTN telephone
`
`through the local PSTN switch are intercepted, and an alert is provided to the client's
`
`PC/VDU via the IP interface of a call waiting.
`
`The Internet call-waiting system of the present invention, in its many
`
`embodiments, provides for the first time a way for a client having a computer and
`
`15
`
`Internet connection ability, but just a single telephone line, to continue to receive
`
`PSTN telephone calls while engaged in an active Internet session. Moreover, many
`
`features are provided not before available in telephony systems.
`
`20
`
`Brief Description of the Drawing Figures
`
`Fig. 1 is a simplified overview of a telephony system according to an
`
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Fig. 2 is a simplified process flow chart illustrating a basic features in an
`
`25
`
`embodiment of the present invention.
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2052 - 7
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`PCT/US98/18646
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`- 6 -
`
`Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`
`In various embodiments of the present invention, described in enabling detail
`
`below, a telephony system is provided wherein, during the time a client is connected
`
`5
`
`to the Internet, a unique call-waiting system is enabled. The unique call-waiting
`
`system alerts the client by audio and/or video display at the client's Internet-connected
`
`computer when a PSTN call is waiting. Facility is provided wherein the client can
`
`choose to connect to a waiting call, whereby the selected call is connected to the
`
`client's computer over the Internet connection as an IP call. In some embodiments
`
`Io
`
`facility is also provided for alerting a client to multiple calls waiting, and the client is
`
`enabled to refuse calls, connect to calls, or connect and return an automatic pre(cid:173)
`
`recorded announcement. In various embodiments of the invention the client's
`
`connection status is maintained in various ways, described below in enabling detail.
`
`Fig. 1 is a simplified overview of a telephony-communication network and
`
`15
`
`system according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein PSTN
`
`telephone calls placed to a client's telephone number cause an alert to be sent to the
`
`client via the client's Internet-connected computer, and accepted calls may be
`
`converted to IP calls and connected to the client without interruption of an ongoing
`
`Internet session. In this specification the term client is used to mean any person to
`
`20 whom the services of the invention are provided in practicing the invention in any
`
`embodiment.
`
`The inventor in the following disclosure teaches several embodiments of the
`
`invention wherein PSTN calls may be routed to a client having an ongoing Internet
`
`session and Internet telephone capability, after first alerting the client to the call or
`
`25
`
`calls waiting. It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described
`
`below are examples of practice of the invention, and are not meant to be limiting.
`
`There are other possible alterations that may be made within the scope of the
`
`invention.
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`WO 99/14924
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`PCT /US98/l 8646
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`- 7 -
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`In the system of Fig. 1 a client premises 110 comprises a telephone 111 and a
`
`personal computer 112 sharing a telephone line and linked to a telephony switch 151
`
`in public-switched telephone network (PSTN) 100 via a line 150. Telephony line 150
`
`may be of the form of analog connection, digital and analog connection such as ISDN,
`
`5
`
`or any other line type deemed appropriate to carry both digital data and analog data.
`
`Telephony switch 151 is exemplary of switches in the PSTN, and via switch 151 the
`
`client may place telephone calls via telephone 111 to virtually anywhere on the planet,
`
`and may also connect through the PSTN and an Internet Service Provider's (ISP)
`
`modem bank 120 to the Internet network, indicated by network cloud 101. Once
`
`1 o connected to the ISP and logged on, the client can browse the Internet, connecting to a
`
`multitude of servers also connected to the Internet network. In embodiments of the
`
`present invention, the client at premises 110 will be logged onto the Internet as
`
`described immediately above.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, a person at a premises 115 having
`
`15
`
`a telephone 116 places a PSTN call to the client at station 110 using the telephone 116
`
`connected to PSTN 100 via line 152. Caller 115 may or may not have a PC or an
`
`Internet connection. To clearly illustrate the present invention it is intended, for
`
`purposes of this example, that the person at premises 115 has no PC and is not
`
`connected to the Internet.
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`20
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, when a client places a call to log
`
`onto the Internet via his Internet Service Provider (ISP), a pre-defined forwarding
`
`number is programmed into telephony switch 151 using the Centrex functions of the
`
`switch, and the client's call-waiting services (if any) are temporarily discontinued.
`
`The necessary commands may be added to the dialing string, for example, that is used
`
`25
`
`by the client's computer to dial-up the ISP. Centrex functions are software functions
`
`that are part of a normal telephone service such as call waiting, call forwarding,
`
`conference calling, and the like.
`
`The number to which incoming calls for telephone 111 are forwarded is a
`
`destination number associated with a telephony switch 141. While the client is
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`connected to the ISP, all incoming calls that are designated for the client at station 110
`
`( telephone 111) are routed via line 154 to switch 141.
`
`Telephony switch 141 has an IP telephony interface, that is, the switch is
`
`adapted to convert incoming calls for telephone 111 into digital Internet protocol
`
`5
`
`telephone calls using a Transfer Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) format
`
`and connection 136, and routing the data to the Internet. TCP/IP is a standard
`
`communication protocol that is well known in the art and utilized in much computer
`
`integrated communication with the Internet. In some embodiments the necessary
`
`hardware and software interface to do the call conversion may be integrated with
`
`Io
`
`telephony switch 141. In other embodiments there may be external equipment
`
`connected to switch 141 and to link 136.
`
`At telephony switch 141 the conversion is made and the call is routed through
`
`TCP/IP link 136 to an Internet sub-net 131 hosted by ISP 130. Now converted to one
`
`of several Internet formats (actual format depends on the client's Internet phone
`
`15
`
`application (IPA) 113), the call can be received by customer 110 in the form of an
`
`Internet phone call to PC 112 running an instance of an IP A 113.
`
`To process incoming calls it is necessary that switch 141, or a processor
`
`connected to the switch, have a look-up table or other means for associating client's
`
`with IP numbers. The association is made during setup. The association can be made
`
`20
`
`from destination number data arriving at switch 141 with a forwarded call. When a
`
`forwarded call is received at switch 141, an association is made to the client, the
`
`client's IP address is retrieved, and the call is forwarded to sub-net 131 as a IP
`
`telephone call. In many cases, clients will not have a permanent IP address, as the IP
`
`address for many services is assigned anew each time the client logs on. In this case,
`
`25
`
`the IP address is retrieved from the client's ISP 130, or from the client's IP A 113. It
`
`will be apparent to those with skill in the art how this may be done in many ways.
`
`In another aspect of the invention the client's computer station is adapted to
`
`deal with incoming calls in a variety of ways. This adaptation is accomplished
`
`through software, such as by a plug-in operating in concert with the client's WEB
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`browser. An important function of this application is to alert the client to a waiting
`
`call, because the call alert is now coming on the Internet connection and not on
`
`telephone 111. In a preferred embodiment, when an incoming call is received at
`
`switch 141 an alert signal is sent over the Internet to the client at computer station
`
`5
`
`112, and the signal initiates an alert action at the client's computer. The client's
`
`software may display a telephone icon, for example, on the video display of the
`
`computer, and the alert signal may result in an audio "ringing" accomplished through
`
`the multimedia abilities of the client's computer, together with a visual effect, such as
`
`the telephone vibrating on the screen. Also in a preferred embodiment caller ID
`
`10
`
`information may arrive with the alert signal, and cause the caller's ID to be displayed
`
`in conjunction with the audio/visual alert.
`
`In a preferred embodiment the client may respond to the audio/visual alert in a
`
`number of ways. Firstly, the client may elect to accept the call, which action may be
`
`predicated in any number of ways known in the art, such as double-clicking the alert
`
`15
`
`icon. When the client accepts the call, the system completes the IP call to the client
`
`via link 13 6, sub-net 131, and the client's Internet connection.
`
`In alternative embodiments, additional functionality may be built in to the
`
`client's application, such as an ability to handle more than one call at a time,
`
`presenting the client with separate icons or other indicia for each call, including caller
`
`20
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`ID. The client may select to return pre-recorded messages as well, such as "Thank
`
`you for the call. I'm on an Internet session. Please call back after 4:00 PM." In
`
`another alternative the client may select to take the call as a PSTN call, and end the
`
`Internet session, at which time the system forwards the call to the client as a PSTN
`
`call to telephone 111. In yet another embodiment of the invention the client may elect
`
`25
`
`to continue the Internet session, but to have the incoming call forwarded to a
`
`conventional (not Internet protocol) telephone number, such as a cellular telephone
`
`which the client may have nearby, or another telephone set in the same premises. In
`
`this embodiment the system is adapted to redirect the incoming call according to the
`
`recipient's selection. In this embodiment the client mat set his/her routing rules in
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2052 - 11
`PCT Application No. WO 99/14924 IPR2016-01258
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`

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`WO 99/14924
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`PCT /US98/18646
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`-10 -
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`subscribing to the service to have incoming calls during browsing sessions redirected
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`to a cell phone number, an alternate telephone at or near his/her premises, or to some
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`other destination. Alternatively the client may select a forwarding after being alerted
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`to an incoming call.
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`In embodiments of the invention switch 141 and associated equipment along
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`with a subscription service allowing client's to register and provide the necessary
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`information to use the service (telephone number, IP address, etc.), may be
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`implemented in a number of ways. For example, this equipment and service may be
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`provided by an Internet Service Provider, such as ISP 130, as shown in Fig. 1, or may
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`be provided by, for example, a local telephone company.
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`In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, initiation of service
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`through switch 141 is accomplished through ISP 130, rather than by call forwarding
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`via the Centrex functions of a PSTN switch, as in the first embodiment described
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`above. Referring again to Fig. 1, in this alternative embodiment, at the time of
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`Internet connection, using an amended log-in procedure for subscribers to the service,
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`a command is sent from modem bank 120 associated with ISP 130 to a telephone(cid:173)
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`survey server 13 3 connected to sub-net 131 ofISP 131. Telephone survey server 13 3
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`is a special server hosted by ISP 130 in this embodiment, and is the repository of the
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`subscriber list, look-up tables for associating subscriber's numbers with IP addresses,
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`and so forth, as described above.
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`Telephone-survey server 133 is connected via digital link 134 to a CTI-server
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`(hereinafter T-Server) 142. It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that T-server
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`142 and telephone-survey server 133 may be one server capable of the required
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`functions of the present invention. Separate servers are illustrated here for the explicit
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`purpose of describing separate functionality.
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`T-server 142 in this embodiment is a CTI-Sever capable of monitoring and
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`directing activities of switch 141. T-Server 142 receives direction via link 134 from
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`telephone-survey server 133 and directs switch 141 to initiate a call to the remote
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`access forwarding number of the client, thereby directing forwarding of incoming
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2052 - 12
`PCT Application No. WO 99/14924 IPR2016-01258
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`WO 99/14924
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`PCT /US98/18646
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`-11-
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`calls for the client to a number at switch 141. From this point operation is the same as
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`described above for the first embodiment, with incoming calls being converted at the
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`IP interface associated with switch 141 to TCP/IP protocol and routed to the client via
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`connection 136 and ISP 130.
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`There are certain advantages to this embodiment made possible by the unique
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`server capability. One advantage is that due to bypassing the centrex functions of
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`telephony switch 151 by having the modem bank initiate the forwarding command to
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`T-server 142, no delay would be experienced by customer 110 in logging on to the
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`Internet.
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`Another advantage of a server-controlled environment is that with appropriate
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`software features available with PC 112 (plug-in 114), a method is enabled whereby
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`the client at station 110 can place a call to a person not connected to the Internet such
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`as a friend, or public business, and so on, without disconnecting from the browsing
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`session. To further illustrate, assume that customer 110 is engaged in a current
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`Internet session with a single line, and has realized that he must place a time-sensitive
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`call to confirm a business appointment. Icons available through his plug-in 114 could
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`be matched with the conventional telephone number of the person he desires to
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`contact. This can be done either by accessing telephone-survey server 133 over the
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`Internet and initiating the appropriate configuration of the selected icon to that
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`particular analog number, or by obtaining the desired number from a telephone book
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`and manually configuring it to the selected icon. Instead of dialing the analog number
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`from the single Internet-connected analog telephone as would be required without the
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`appropriate software, customer 110 double clicks the icon representing the desired
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`contact and Internet phone application 113 places a digital call through modem bank
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`120, sub-net 131, and TCP/IP link 136 to telephony switch 141 where the digital call
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`is converted to analog. Switch 141 then places the analog call to the desired
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`destination, and performs the two-way conversion required for the on-going call once
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`connection is made. Associated toll charges could be stored on a separate server such
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2052 - 13
`PCT Application No. WO 99/14924 IPR2016-01258
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`WO 99/14924
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`PCT /US98/18646
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`-12 -
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`as server 143, and later billed to customer 110 in a conventional manner such as on
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`his telephone bill.
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`It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that once connected to an analog
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`phone, continued analog to digital and digital to analog data conversion would be
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`required to maintain dialog in the conversation. A full-duplex sound card will be
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`required on PC 112 to enable the client at station 110 to receive and send audio at the
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`same time, avoiding problems such as the need to wait until the incoming transaction
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`is complete before speaking and so on.
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`In another embodiment of the invention switch 151 is connected to CTI-server
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`142 via a CTI link 153, (Fig. 1) and T-Server 142 may thereby monitor and direct
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`activities of switch 151 directly. In this embodiment, when the client at station 110
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`logs on to ISP 130 via modem bank 120, T-Server 142 recognizes the activity, and
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`sets up call forwarding of incoming PSTN calls for that client to switch 141, where
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`such calls are converted and directed via the Internet as described above for the first
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`two embodiments.
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`In yet another embodiment of the invention, the local telephone company may
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`have a server (not shown) connected to switch 151 for performing functions according
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`to the present invention. This server could be a CTI-server connected via a CTI link
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`and executing a CTI application, or could be a server of another sort, or the
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`functionality may be integrated with the functions of switch 151. The special server is
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`Internet-connected, and hosts a WEB page. In this embodiment plug-in 114 in the
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`client's WEB Browser, after connection is made to the Internet through switch 151,
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`negotiates with the server through the Internet, which then sets up switch 151 to
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`redirect incoming calls through the Internet to the client. This embodiment has the
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`advantage of providing all the necessary services at the local PSTN switch hosted by
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`the phone company, and the ISP need not be involved.
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`It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the hardware used in various
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`embodiments of the present invention is well known in the art and can be utilized in
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`various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2052 - 14
`PCT Application No. WO 99/14924 IPR2016-01258
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`

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`WO 99/14924
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`PCT /US98/l 8646
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`-13 -
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, any one of several
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`commercially-available Internet telephone software packages may be used
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`Fig. 2 is a process flow chart illustrating various steps in practicing an
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`embodiment of the present invention in a general and broad sense At step 303 the
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`client places a call to access his/her dialup ISP. The system at step 305