(12) United States Patent
`Swartz
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US006445694Bl
`US 6,445,694 Bl
`Sep.3,2002
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54)
`
`INTERNET CONTROLLED TELEPHONE
`SYSTEM
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Robert Swartz, 1066 Centerfield Ct.,
`Highland Park, IL (US) 60035
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/033,287
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 2, 1998
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`(52)
`(58)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/040,046, filed on Mar. 7,
`1997.
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ H04L 12/66
`U.S. Cl. ....................... 370/352; 379/85; 379/88.01
`Field of Search ................................. 370/352, 218,
`370/235, 252, 253, 254, 255, 260, 264,
`299,321,326,327,336,353,354,355,
`356,357,359,360,396,398,400,401,
`402, 404, 405, 420, 421, 422; 379/68, 69,
`70, 71, 85, 88.01, 88.04, 88.27
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,737,395 A * 4/1998 Irribarren ................. 379/88.13
`5,742,596 A * 4/1998 Baratz et al.
`............... 370/356
`5,761,294 A * 6/1998 Shaffer et al.
`.............. 379/230
`5,764,639 A * 6/1998 Staples et al.
`.............. 370/401
`5,764,910 A * 6/1998 Shachar ...................... 709/223
`5,838,682 A * 11/1998 Dekelbaum et al. ........ 370/401
`5,870,550 A * 2/1999 Wesinger, Jr. et al. ...... 709/218
`5,905,476 A * 5/1999 McLaughlin et al. .......... 345/1
`5,914,951 A * 6/1999 Bentley et al.
`............. 370/352
`5,940,598 A * 8/1999 Strauss et al.
`.............. 709/249
`5,991,292 A * 11/1999 Focsaneanu et al. ........ 370/352
`5,999,965 A * 12/1999 Kelly ......................... 709/202
`6,044,107 A * 3/2000 Gatherer et al. ............ 375/222
`
`6,052,372 A * 4/2000 Gittins et al. ............... 370/396
`6,131,095 A * 10/2000 Low et al. .................... 707/10
`6,161,128 A * 12/2000 Smyk ......................... 709/205
`6,199,076 Bl * 3/2001 Logan et al.
`............ 707/501.1
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Douglas Olms
`Assistant Examiner---Phirin Sam
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles G. Call
`ABSTRACT
`
`(57)
`
`An Internet controlled telephony system employing a host
`services processor connected to a subscriber via the Internet
`and further connected to the public switched telephone
`system (PSTN). The subscriber employs a web interface to
`populate a database with preference data which is used by
`the host services processor to handle incoming calls and
`establish outgoing telephone connections in accordance with
`the preference data provided by the subscriber. Incoming
`calls to a telephone number assigned to the subscriber may
`be automatically forwarded to any telephone number speci(cid:173)
`fied by the preference data. The subscriber may also use the
`web interface to specify whether call waiting is to be
`activated, to screen or reroute calls from designated
`numbers, for recording voice mail messages in designated
`voice mailboxes, for selectively playing back voice mail
`messages via the web interface or for forwarding voice mail
`as an email attachment, for handling incoming fax trans(cid:173)
`missions using character recognition and email attachment
`functions, and for automatically paging the subscriber when
`incoming voice mail, fax or email messages are received, all
`in accordance with the preference data supplied by the
`subscriber using the web interface. Outgoing connections
`and conference calls may be initiated using the web
`interface, and the subscriber may block the operation of
`caller identification functions. Call progress information
`may be visually displayed to the subscriber during calls by
`transmitting web pages from the host services computer to
`the subscriber's web browser.
`
`13 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`35
`
`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2054 - 1
`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.3,2002
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.3,2002
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`Sheet 2 of 11
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`Main Menu
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`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2054 - 3
`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.3,2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
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`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep.3,2002
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`Sheet 4 of 11
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`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.3,2002
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`Sheet 5 of 11
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`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.3,2002
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`Sheet 6 of 11
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`US 6,445,694 Bl
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`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2054 - 7
`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.3,2002
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`US 6,445,694 Bl
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`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2054 - 8
`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.3,2002
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`US 6,445,694 Bl
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`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2054 - 9
`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.3,2002
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
`
`US 6,445,694 Bl
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
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`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2054 - 12
`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
`
`

`

`US 6,445,694 Bl
`
`1
`INTERNET CONTROLLED TELEPHONE
`SYSTEM
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application claims the benefit of the prior filed
`copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
`60/040,046 filed on Mar. 7, 1997.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to computer controlled telephone
`systems and more particularly to a telephone system which
`may be controlled using commands transmitted from a
`subscriber location over the Internet to a host computer
`which provides telephone services.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an illustrative
`arrangement of hardware components which provide the
`infrastructure for implementing a preferred embodiment of
`the invention;
`FIG. 2 shows the screen display of a main menu giving
`options available to the subscriber;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a screen displayed to enable the sub(cid:173)
`scriber to place a call and request a conference call;
`FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative screen display which enables
`the subscriber to control a call in progress;
`FIG. 5 is a screen display presented to enable the sub(cid:173)
`scriber to review and select particular persons or firms listed
`in a phone book database;
`FIG. 6 shows a screen displayed when a form is presented
`to enable the subscriber to add or edit information in a phone
`book entry and to take place calls and the like to the person
`listed;
`FIG. 7 illustrates a screen which is displayed to enable
`call forwarding and "follow me" calling;
`FIG. 8 illustrates a further screen display which enables
`the subscriber to select and change a variety of call and
`message forwarding options;
`FIG. 9 is a screen display which enables the subscriber to
`create and specify features of a voice mailbox;
`FIG. 10 is a screen display which is allows the subscriber
`to view and control the playback of voice messages left in
`a voice mailbox; and
`FIG. 11 is a screen display which enables the user to select
`various options and control the operation of an automatic
`paging system implemented by the disclosed embodiment of
`the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`The infrastructure used to implement the present inven(cid:173)
`tion may consist entirely of conventional and readily avail- 55
`able hardware and software components. As will be seen
`from the discussion that follows, the hardware and software
`used at the subscriber ( client) location is already present and
`in use in many well equipped home and small office com(cid:173)
`puter installations. Similarly, the principal hardware and 60
`software components needed by the host services computer
`(server) are similarly readily available, as are the software
`development tools needed to prepare the limited amount of
`special purpose programs required for execution at the
`server.
`FIG. l of the drawings shows the manner in which various
`conventional hardware components may be interconnected
`
`2
`to provide an illustrative hardware infrastructure for imple(cid:173)
`menting the invention. The arrangement seen in FIG. 1
`provides the facilities needed for controlling a variety of
`communications services, including telephone, email, fax
`5 and paging services provided by a host services computer
`operating under the control of either or both (1) a World
`Wide Web interface and (2) a telephone interface.
`A typical subscriber location seen at 30 includes, by way
`of example, a personal computer 31, a monitor 32 for
`10 displaying text and images, a keyboard 33 for entering data
`and commands from the user, a printer 34, a digital scanner
`35, a modem 36 and a microphone and headset/speaker
`represented in FIG. 1 by the handset 37.
`The modem 36 is used to establish a dialup telephone
`15 connection via the conventional telephone network 40 to a
`remote computer 50 which operates as an Internet Service
`Provider (ISP). The ISP computer 50 provides the connected
`computer 31 with access to the Internet, enabling the sub(cid:173)
`scriber computer 31 to exchange data via the Internet seen
`20 at 70 in FIG. 1 with other computers, such as the computer
`41 at the host services location 40 and a computer 60 which
`is representative of a selected one of the millions of remote
`computers connected to the Internet. The dialup connection
`between computers 31 and 50 seen in FIG. 1 is merely
`25 illustrative of one common method for connecting a sub(cid:173)
`scriber location to the Internet. Alternatively, the conven(cid:173)
`tional modem 36 may be replaced by a cable modem,
`satellite connection, local area network gateway, proxy
`server or a connected router. All such communications
`30 facilities and the components for providing Internet access
`are conventional.
`The host services computer 41 is connected to the Internet
`70 and employs a multi-port input/output (1/0) unit 43 to
`permit a number of outside callers to be concurrently
`35 connected via the dialup telephone system 40. The dialup
`telephone system 40 also provides conventional connections
`to a conventional telephone stationset 38 and a conventional
`facsimile machine 39, both of which are provided with
`separate assigned lines and telephone numbers for use at the
`40 subscriber location 30. In addition, the telephone system 40
`may also interconnect any other connected telephone or
`facsimile machine, as illustrated at 81 and 83 respectively, as
`well as other services, such as a remote radio transmission
`facility 85 used to provide communication to a pager 87
`45 which is assigned to and used by the subscriber. Similarly,
`the subscriber may utilize a cellular phone (not shown) when
`traveling to remote locations. As discussed below, the sub(cid:173)
`scriber controls and uses the host service computer using
`these conventional instrumentalities. Importantly, conven-
`50 tional web browser software running on the computer 31
`may be employed, along with voice commands and DTMF
`(dialtone) signaling via the conventional telephone hookup,
`to control the state and function of the host services com-
`puter 41.
`The host services computer may alternatively take the
`form of an Intranet server which is connected to a plurality
`of client (subscriber) computers by means of a local area
`network and/or a wide area network. In addition, the host
`services computer may be connected via a multiport 1/0
`device to serve a number of telephone stationsets. In this
`arrangement, the host services computer operates as both a
`shared computer resource for the connected client computers
`and provides PBX services to the connected subscriber
`telephone stationsets. Internet connections are provided via
`65 an Internet gateway on the LAN/WAN such that both the
`host services computer and the connected subscriber com(cid:173)
`puters have Internet access.
`
`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2054 - 13
`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
`
`

`

`US 6,445,694 Bl
`
`3
`Note further that, with the host services computer oper(cid:173)
`ating as a PBS, a direct telephone voice line connection may
`be established between host services computer and indi(cid:173)
`vidual telephone subscriber stationsets. In this way, incom(cid:173)
`ing calls may be directly connected to the called subscriber 5
`stationset without forwarding the incoming call through the
`dialup telephone facility. A multiplexed telephone line, such
`as a leased Tl carrier line, may be used to connect a plurality
`of subscriber phones to the host services computer, enabling
`the servicing of branch offices. By concentrating traffic in a 10
`shared wideband leased line, branch locations can be served
`through a central PBX provided by the host services com(cid:173)
`puter at less cost by eliminating individual lines.
`The host services computer 41 may employ conventional
`server operating system software, such as the SCO OpenS- 15
`erver operating system sold by The Santa Cruz Operation,
`Inc. (SCO), Santa Cruz, Calif. 95061. This client/server
`UNIX operating system for Intel processor-based platforms
`includes graphical system administration and software man(cid:173)
`agement facilities for managing both local and remote 20
`systems. The program's Motif GUI provides the look and
`feel of Microsoft Windows and includes TCP/IP communi(cid:173)
`cation gateway services for local and network access exter(cid:173)
`nal information services. The computer 41 may advanta(cid:173)
`geously equipped with an enhanced audio input/output 25
`facilities, such as the Dialogic D/240SC 24 channel digital
`interface board which provides a voice channel interface
`between the computer 41 and incoming audio channels from
`the connected telephone lines as well as call management
`functions. The D/240SC is marketed by Dialogic Corp. of 30
`Parsippany, N.J. 07054. As discussed below, it is the prin(cid:173)
`cipal function of the host services computer 41 to receive
`and respond to data and commands received from the
`subscriber location 30, either in the form of HTML form
`submissions or in the form of voice and/or dialtone 35
`commands, and to perform requested functions in response
`to those commands.
`Web Interface
`A wide variety of available interface mechanisms can be
`utilized to facilitate communications and control between
`the subscriber and the host services computer. As described
`in more detail below, a highly effective interface may be
`readily implemented using a conventional HTML web pages
`which are sent to the subscriber computer from the host
`services computer, including HTML forms which are trans(cid:173)
`mitted to request and accept specific information from the
`subscriber using as "fill-in-the-blanks" input boxes, memo
`boxes, check boxes, and radio buttons. Javascript may be
`advantageously included in the HTML pages to provide
`validity checking of entered data by the subscriber com- 50
`puter. Alternatively, these and other interface functions and
`"client-side" operations may be implemented special pur(cid:173)
`pose "plug-in" programs which work with a conventional
`browser program, or by Java and/or Active-X applets which
`are transmitted from the host services computer for execu- 55
`tion on the subscriber computer using facilities provided by
`the browser. If desired, special-purpose client application
`programs may be used to directly communicate with the host
`services computer without using a general purpose browser.
`In one particularly useful form, the functions performed at 60
`the subscriber location as contemplated by the present
`invention can advantageously be implemented by routines
`stored as dynamic link libraries which make telephone
`subscriber functions available through an open application
`program interface (API). By way of example, the widely 65
`used Microsoft Windows 95 operating system provides
`specifications for a robust computer/telephone interface
`
`4
`named "TAPI" which is fully documented in the Microsoft
`Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK) which includes
`documentation, tools, and sample code to assist application
`programmers in adapting programs to be compatible with
`TAPI. Two documents, the Microsoft Telephony Program(cid:173)
`mer's Reference and the Microsoft Telephony Service Pro-
`vider Interface (TSPI)for Telephony, are also available from
`Microsoft Corp. to provide additional development guid(cid:173)
`ance. The programmer's reference is intended to document
`the functionality that an application using TAPI will need.
`The service provider documentation assists developers and
`tele~hone equipment vendors in writing their own TAPI
`services.
`Telephone services are integrated into Windows using the
`Windows Open Systems Architecture ("WOSA"). WOSA
`uses a Windows dynamic-link library (DLL) that allows
`software components to be linked at runtime. In this way,
`applications are able to connect to services dynamically. An
`application needs to know only the definition of the
`interface, not its implementation. Telephony services under
`Windows follow the WOSA model. This means that there
`exists a Telephony API, which is the application program(cid:173)
`mers access to telephony services, a Telephony SPI (Service
`Provider Interface) which is implemented by telephony
`service vendors, and a Telephony Dynamic Link Library
`(the TAPI DDL) which is part of the Windows operating
`system. Applications are presented with a uniform set of
`devices accessed uniformly via the API without needing to
`know which service provider actually ends up controlling
`which device. Similarly, service providers just execute
`requests on behalf of the Windows Telephony DLL; they are
`unaware that these requests are the result of multiple appli(cid:173)
`cations using the APL The SPI definition reflects this single
`user model at the service provider level. All this multiplex-
`ing demultiplexing of requests and replies is confined to the
`Telephony DLL. In an environment with multiple PCs on a
`local area network, it is possible to develop applications
`and/or service providers that are distributed in nature. With
`a distributed service provider, a service provider instance on
`40 one client PC is able to communicate with its peers on other
`client PCs, providing potentially a more powerful model as
`it can combine knowledge about multiple client PCs that
`may be involved with the same call. The services provided
`by the line and phone abstractions of the Telephony SPI can
`45 be partitioned into three classes:
`(1) Basic Services are a minimal subset of core services.
`They must be provided by all service providers. The
`function contained in basic telephony roughly corre(cid:173)
`spond to that of POTS. Phone device services are not
`part of basic telephony.
`(2) Supplementary Services are the collection of all the
`services defined by the SPI, but not included in the
`basic telephony subset. It includes all so-called supple(cid:173)
`mentary features found on modern PBXs including
`hold, transfer, conference, park, etc. All supplementary
`features are optional. This means that a service provider
`decides which of these services it does or does not
`provide. The TAPI DLL can query a line or phone
`device for the set of supplementary services it provides.
`Note that a single supplementary service may consist of
`multiple function calls and messages. It is important to
`point out that the Telephony SPI defines the meaning
`(i.e., behavior) for each of these supplementary fea(cid:173)
`tures.
`(3) Extended Services (or Device Specific Services)
`include all service provider defined extensions to the
`SPI. A mechanism is defined in the SPI, and reflected
`
`BHN, et al. v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2054 - 14
`U.S. Patent No. 6,445,694
`IPR2016-01262
`
`

`

`US 6,445,694 Bl
`
`5
`in the API, that allows service provider vendors to
`extend the Telephony SPI using device-specific exten(cid:173)
`sions. Since the SPI only defines the extension
`mechanism, definition of the extended service behavior
`must be completely specified by the service provider.
`The extension mechanism allows a service provider to
`define new values to enumeration types and bit flags, as
`well as to add fields to data structures. The interpreta(cid:173)
`tion of extensions is keyed off of the service provider's
`manufacturer ID. Special function and callbacks are
`provided in the SPI that allow an application to directly
`communicate with a service provider. Many of the
`control functions contemplated by the present inven(cid:173)
`tion which are controlled through the TAPI interface by
`the SPI DLL are in fact executed, as will be described,
`by the host services computer in ways that are invisible
`to the user or the application program which is execut(cid:173)
`ing on the subscriber computer.
`As an alternative to the TAPI implementation noted
`above, the host services computer may present an API to
`programs which execute on the subscriber computers and
`communicate with the host computer over the Internet or an
`equivalent data pathway. With the remote host services
`computer providing an API which makes available a set of
`telephony functions, application programmers may imple- 25
`ment a rich and expandable set collection of special purpose
`programs which execute on the subscriber computer to
`implement the features and functions such as those
`described below in the example HTML/CGI implementation
`of the invention. When these application programs take the
`form of Java applets or Active-X applets that are down(cid:173)
`loadable from the host services computer to the subscriber
`computer, the necessity for resident special purpose software
`at the subscriber location is eliminated and the cost savings
`associated with "thin client" network computer architectures
`are preserved.
`HTTP/CGI Control
`While such special purpose programs of the type noted
`above provide a high degree of interoperability with other
`application programs, they must be specially loaded for
`execution into each subscriber computer. By using the
`capabilities found in existing web browser software, it is
`possible to provide the desired functionality with no new
`software of any kind being required at the subscriber loca(cid:173)
`tion. Thus, in perhaps its simplest form, the present inven(cid:173)
`tion can be readily implemented by using a conventional
`web browser program ( e.g. Netscape Navigator or Microsoft
`Explorer) which executes on the subscriber computer 31
`seen in FIG. 1, and conventional web server software (e.g.
`BSD Unix 2.2, Apache 1.1.1) or an SQL server which so
`interoperates with a relational database (such as the Sybase
`SQL Server V.11). On the server side, web page requests or
`form submission from the subscriber computer's web
`browser are sent to the host services computer 41 using the
`HTTP protocol. At the host services computer 41, the
`received transmissions from the subscriber location may be
`handled by Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programs
`which typically process information from the subscriber and
`return HTML pages for display on the subscriber's web
`browser. The HTTP/CGI interface infrastructure is conven(cid:173)
`tional and is described, for example, in Developing CG!
`Applications with PERL, by John Deep and Peter Holfelder,
`John Wiley & Sons (1966), ISBN 0-471-14158-5.
`To establish a working relationship between the host
`services computer and the subscriber, the host services 65
`computer makes available to the public at large a "home
`page" at a predetermined URL (Universal Resource
`
`6
`Locator). The home page, when displayed, identifies and
`makes available descriptive information about the system,
`inviting members of the public to subscribe to the offered
`services by displaying, completing and submitting a sub-
`s scription form.
`The HTML subscription form shown enables user to
`establish an account with the operator of the host services
`computer. When the subscription form is submitted, the host
`services computer stores the descriptive information entered
`10 on the submitted form in persistent storage (typically a
`database on a local magnetic disk drive) accessible to the
`host computer. As is conventional, the subscription process
`may advantageously employ conventional secure encrypted
`communications protocols for obtaining the subscriber's
`15 credit card number and authorization to facilitate billing. As
`will be understood, the subscriber may be billed for services
`based on monthly fees or measured use of the system at rates
`which, because of economies achieved by the system, may
`be significantly lower than the costs associated with such
`20 services when provided by conventional means. When the
`subscription form is received and accepted, the new sub(cid:173)
`scriber may be sent a user ID and password (which may be
`done by conventional mail at the same time user manuals or
`other information is supplied to the subscriber).
`In accordance with an important feature of the invention,
`the subscriber can access his or her personalized phone
`services and database from any computer having access to
`the Internet, and need not be limited to a particular computer
`on which special programs or data are stored. At the same
`30 time, the password protection afforded by the system assures
`the security of