(12) United States Patent
`Hori et al.
`
`I 1111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 1111111111 1111111111 1111111111 11111111
`
`US006845096Bl
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,845,096 Bl
`Jan.18,2005
`
`(54) WEB PHONE DIALER SYSTEM APPARATUS
`AND METHOD
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Yasunobu Hori, Kawasaki (JP);
`Hisashi Matsumura, Odawara (JP);
`Yoshiyuki Sato, Ebina (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
`
`( *) 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.: 09/079,157
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`May 15, 1998
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ H04L 12/66
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................................................... 370/352
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 370/352, 353,
`370/354, 355, 356, 401, 422, 426; 379/88.17,
`93.01, 93.09, 93.17, 93.24, 93.25, 100.08,
`220,221,222,223,201
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,790,649 A * 8/1998 Hiroshige ................... 379/201
`5,850,433 A * 12/1998 Rondeau ..................... 379/201
`
`5,991,291 A * 11/1999 Asai et al. .................. 370/352
`6,091,808 A * 7/2000 Wood et al. ................ 379/201
`6,526,129 Bl * 2/2003 Beaton et al.
`........... 379/90.01
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Kwang B. Yao
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Antonelli, Terry, Stout &
`Kraus, LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A web phone dialer system that can easily transmit a call to
`a person, even if the telephone number of the person is
`changed. The web phone dialer system includes a web
`server, a sending client, and a receiving client each being
`connected to each other through a network. The web server
`includes a telephone directory database which stores a
`database file having a plurality of records each including an
`assignment, name, and telephone number of a parson oper(cid:173)
`ating a receiving client and an IP address, and mail address
`if the receiving client. The web server in response to an
`inquiry from a sending client, including at least one of an
`assignment and name of a person to which communication
`is to be established, searches the telephone directory data(cid:173)
`base to obtain the telephone number, IP address and mail
`address of the person. The sending client use the telephone
`number to call.
`
`20 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`SENDING CLIENT 100
`
`WEB SERVER 10
`
`RECEIVING CLIENT 200
`
`MAIL SERVER 40
`
`RECEIVE WEB ACCESS
`AND RETURN
`WEB INFORMATION
`s632
`SEARCH DATABASE FROM
`USER IDENTIFICATION
`INFORMATION
`s634
`
`TRANSMIT SEARCH RESULT
`
`s636
`
`CONNECT WEB
`
`s602
`RECEIVE WEB INFORMATION
`AND OUTPUT USER
`IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION
`s604
`RECEIVE IN FORMATION
`
`s606
`CONFIRM PRESENCE OF
`RECEIVING PARTY
`s608
`IN CASE OF
`PRESENCE
`EXECUTE AUTOMATIC
`DIALING
`
`s610
`CONVERSE USING A
`HANDSET
`
`SET PRESENCE/
`ABSENCE REG I STRATI ON
`
`s652
`
`s654
`
`CONVERSE USING A
`HANDSET
`
`REGISTER VOICE
`.,.,
`.,,,
`..._ ___ __,---,.-
`5
`5
`TRANSMIT VOICE MAIL
`TO MA IL SERVER
`
`4.
`
`,._I--r------------j----s-6:-:5:-:6:---------+-l REC El VE MA I L
`
`s616
`
`RELEASE ABSENCE
`REGISTRATION IN CASE
`OF PRESENCE, AND
`RECEIVE MAIL TO HEAR
`VOICE MESSAGE
`
`s672
`IN FORM
`RECEIVED MAIL
`
`s674
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 1 of 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.18,2005
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 6,845,096 Bl
`
`FIG. I
`
`40
`
`MAIL
`SERVER
`
`D
`
`WEB
`SERVER
`
`D =
`
`,----,---___,, a
`
`10
`
`20
`
`TELEPHONE
`DIR EC TORY
`DATABASE
`
`30 NETWORK
`
`C
`
`200
`
`RECEIVING
`CLIENT
`
`100
`
`SENDING
`CLIENT
`
`=D
`
`50
`
`PBX
`
`_______ /
`
`B
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 2 of 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.18,2005
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 6,845,096 Bl
`
`LD
`(\J
`'--.._
`
`'--
`
`'----
`
`(\J
`N
`
`' -
`
`N
`
`'-----
`
`(/)
`(/)
`w
`a::
`0
`0
`<!
`_J -
`<!
`~
`a::
`~
`~
`:::>
`z
`w
`z
`0 :::c
`a..
`w
`_J
`w
`I-
`
`(/)
`(/)
`w
`a::
`0
`0
`<!
`
`Q_
`
`......
`
`w
`~
`<!
`z
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`(9
`<!
`~
`<!
`z
`<!
`I-
`
`X
`X
`X
`X
`I
`X
`X
`X
`X
`I
`t<)
`0
`
`X
`X
`X
`X
`<;f"
`..-
`N
`
`OJ
`LO
`..-
`
`<!
`~
`<! z
`~
`0
`a:: -:::c
`
`u
`
`1-i
`
`I-
`z
`w
`~
`z
`(!) -
`
`Cf)
`CJ)
`<!
`
`I-
`<!
`z
`>- zW
`a:: ~
`0:: I-
`I- (I) a::
`u w<!
`<! 0~
`0
`LL.
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 3 of 13
`
`

`

`i,-
`~
`
`'° a-...
`b
`(It
`,I;;..
`~
`_,.a-...
`rJ'J.
`e
`
`O'I
`
`~
`
`0 ....,
`~ ....
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`
`Ul
`0
`0
`N
`~CIO
`'"""'
`?
`~
`~
`
`~ = ......
`~ ......
`~
`•
`r:JJ.
`d •
`
`~
`
`170
`
`165
`
`160
`
`(cid:143)
`
`CD-ROM
`
`FDD
`
`180
`
`105
`
`L ____ ..J
`INPUT 1
`1
`:vo1cE 1
`
`INTERFACE
`TELEPHONE
`
`115 "8 ~ 110
`
`50
`
`CONFIRMATION UNIT
`
`L __ ---__ ...J
`I TAPI /TSAPI
`I
`r--------,
`
`145
`
`TRANSMITTER
`
`DIAL
`
`155
`
`REGISTRATION UN IT
`PRESENCE /ABSENCE
`
`140
`
`/ RECEIVER
`
`MAIL TRANSMITTER
`
`135
`
`RECEIVER
`
`WEB DATABASE
`
`UN IT
`
`CONTROL
`NETWORK
`
`1
`
`NETWORK1
`
`30
`
`PROGRAM
`
`APPL! CATION
`
`WEB BROWSER
`
`150
`
`100 ( 200)
`
`,,125
`
`120
`
`FIG.3
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 4 of 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.18,2005
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 6,845,096 Bl
`
`10
`
`14
`
`FIG. 4
`
`16
`
`18
`
`WEB SERVER
`ACCESS
`TRANSMITTER
`/ RECEIVER
`
`SEARCH
`RESULT
`TRANSMITTER
`
`DATABASE
`ACCESS
`MECHANISM
`
`NETWORK CONTROL UNIT
`
`12
`
`30
`
`NETWORK
`
`20
`
`TELEPHONE
`DI RECTORY
`DA TAB A SE
`
`111 I 11
`
`I
`
`FIG. 5
`
`40
`
`44
`
`46
`
`MAIL
`
`VOICE
`
`TRANSMITTER MAIL STORAGE
`/ RECEIVER
`UNIT
`
`NETWORK CONTROL UN IT
`
`42
`
`30
`
`NETWORK
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 5 of 13
`
`

`

`i,-
`~
`
`'° a-...
`b
`(It
`,I;;..
`~
`_,.a-...
`rJ'J.
`e
`
`O'I
`
`0 ....,
`Ul
`~ ....
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`
`Ul
`0
`0
`N
`~CIO
`'"""'
`?
`~
`~
`
`~ = ......
`~ ......
`~
`•
`r:JJ.
`d •
`
`s674
`
`RECEIVED MAIL
`
`IN FORM
`
`s672
`
`RECEIVE MAIL
`
`VOICE MESSAGE
`
`RECEIVE MAIL TO HEAR
`OF PRESENCE, AND
`REG I ST RATION IN CASE
`RELEASE ABSENCE
`s656
`
`HANDSET
`
`CONVERSE USING A
`
`s654
`
`ts652
`
`ABSENCE REGISTRATION
`
`SET PRESENCE/
`
`s636
`
`TRANSMIT SEARCH RESULT
`
`s634
`
`USER IDENTIFICATION
`SEARCH DATABASE FROM
`
`INFORMATION
`
`,
`
`RECEIVE WEB ACCESS
`
`s632
`WEB I NFORMAT 10 N
`
`AND RETURN
`
`FIG. 6
`
`s616
`
`TO MA IL SERVER
`
`TRANSMIT VOICE MAIL
`
`s614
`
`REG! STER VO I CE
`
`t s612
`
`ABSENCE
`IN CASE OF
`
`HANDSET
`
`CONVERSE USING A
`
`s 610
`
`DIALING
`
`EXECUTE AUTOMATIC
`
`( s 608
`
`PRESENCE
`IN CASE OF
`
`CONFIRM PRES ENCE OF
`s606
`
`RECEIVING PARTY
`
`RECEIVE INFORMATION
`
`s604
`
`I DENT I FI CAT ION INFORMATION•
`
`RECEIVE WEB INFORMATION
`s602
`
`AND OUTPUT USER
`
`CONNECT WEB
`
`MAIL SERVER 40
`
`RECEIVING CLIENT 200
`
`WEB SERVER 10
`
`SENDING CLIENT 100
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 6 of 13
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.18,2005
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 6,845,096 Bl
`
`FIG. 7A
`
`260
`
`FIG. 7B
`
`260
`
`I ASSIGNMENT!
`
`NAME
`
`I FACTORY Al
`
`j BRANCH xi
`
`I FACTO RY BI
`
`I BRANCH YI
`
`FIG. 7C
`
`260
`
`A B C D
`
`r--- - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - -
`
`--r--- -
`Z
`X Y
`
`FIG. 7D
`
`260
`
`ITAKAHASH1I ITAKEDA I 'TANAKA
`I TAGUCHI I jTATEISH1I I TAN 1
`
`FIG. 7E
`
`260
`
`FACTORY A
`ICHIRO
`TANAKA DESIGN DEPARTMENT
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 7 of 13
`
`

`

`US 6,845,096 Bl
`
`1
`WEB PHONE DIALER SYSTEM APPARATUS
`AND METHOD
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a web phone dialer
`system that links the web system on an Intranet or an
`Internet with an automatic telephone dialing system. More
`particularly this invention relates to a web phone dialer
`system to obtain telephone number, IP address, mail address
`of receiving clients or operators. The present invention
`relates to confirm presence/absence of receiving operator.
`The present invention also relates to a confirmation sys(cid:173)
`tem that confirms the presence of operators. In the conven(cid:173)
`tional telephone communication system, when calling a
`person, one dials the telephone number of the person from
`a telephone set.
`In recent developments, the functions of a personal com(cid:173)
`puter are being harmonized with a telephone function into
`what is known as a computer telephony integration system
`which enables the computer to transmit and receive a call.
`Such a system allows the operator of a computer, the
`operator is able to phone call from the computer as a process
`of the work being performed by the operator. More specifi(cid:173)
`cally the operator is allowed to dial the telephone number of
`the party to call while operating the display of the computer.
`In the conventional system, when calling a party (receiving
`operator), the sending operator needs to know the telephone
`number of the party in advance. However, if there occurs a 30
`change in the telephone number of the party, or the like, the
`sending operator can not call the party.
`
`2
`mation unit to confirm the presence/absence of another
`operator on another client. Each record of the database file
`of the telephone directory database further includes an IP
`address. The web server, using the telephone directory
`5 database, provides an IP address of a receiving client
`response to an inquiry from the sending client including the
`assignment and/or name of the operator using the receiving
`client. The presence/absence confirmation unit of the send(cid:173)
`ing client confirms the presence/absence of the operator
`10 using the receiving client with the presence/absence regis(cid:173)
`tration unit of the receiving client.
`Thus, using the IP address, provided by the web server,
`the system can beforehand confirm the presence or absence
`of the party to be called with the presence/absence confir-
`15 mation unit of the receiving client. The system can prevent
`unnecessary calls when the party being called is absent.
`According to another aspect of the invention, the system
`further includes a mail server connected to the communica(cid:173)
`tion network, each client further includes a mail transmitter/
`20 receiver, and each record of the database file of the telephone
`directory database further includes a mail address. In this
`construction, the web server, using the telephone directory
`database, provides a mail address of a receiving client in
`response to an inquiry from the sending client including the
`25 assignment and/or name of the operator using the receiving
`client. The mail transmitter/receiver of the sending client
`transmits mail for the receiving client to the mail server by
`using the mail address provided by the web server.
`According to the foregoing construction, while the party
`is absent, the system can send mail to the mail address
`obtained in advance, and communication during absence can
`easily be made.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`An object of the present invention is to provide a web 35
`phone dialer system whereby the operator can easily call the
`party even if the telephone number of the party has changed.
`In order to accomplish the foregoing object, the web
`phone dialer system according to the present invention
`includes a telephone directory database which stores a
`plurality of records, each having an assignment, name, and
`telephone number on a web server which searches for a the
`telephone number corresponding to an assignment and name
`in the telephone directory database and a plurality of clients
`connected to the web server through a communication
`network. Each client contains a telephone dialing unit for
`controlling the transmission or reception of a call. In this
`construction, the web server, using the telephone directory
`database, provides a telephone number of a receiving opera- 50
`tor in response to an inquiry from a sending client including
`an assignment and/or name of an operator using the receiv(cid:173)
`ing client. The sending client connects a call to the receiving
`client by dialing the telephone number provided by the web
`server using the telephone dialing unit.
`According to the foregoing construction, the system
`searches the telephone number of the party to be called, and
`thereafter, transmits a call to the receiving client that the
`party to be called operates. The telephone directory database
`is controlled to be centralized. Thus the updated telephone
`number can always be obtained, even if the telephone
`number of the party is changed. Therefore, the system can
`easily prevent the operator from calling a wrong number.
`According to another aspect of the invention, in the web
`phone dialer system, the client further includes a presence/
`absence registration unit to register the presence/absence of
`the operator on the client, and a presence/absence confir-
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The scope of the present invention will be apparent from
`the following detailed description, when taken in conjunc(cid:173)
`tion with the accompanying drawings, and such detailed
`description and specific examples, while indicating pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of
`40 illustration only, since various changes and modifications
`within the spirit and scope of the invention will become
`apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed
`description, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall construction of
`45 the web phone dialer system according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the data construction of a
`telephone directory database used in the web phone dialer
`system according to one embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of a
`client used in the web phone dialer system according to one
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of a
`web server used in the web phone dialer system according
`to one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of a
`mail server used in the web phone dialer system according
`60 to one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the web
`phone dialer system according to one embodiment of the
`present invention; and
`FIGS. 7A-E are schematic diagrams illustrating display
`65 screens that explain how to input selected information in the
`web phone dialer system according to one embodiment of
`the present invention.
`
`55
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 8 of 13
`
`

`

`US 6,845,096 Bl
`
`5
`
`30
`
`3
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`The web phone dialer system according to one embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present invention will hereafter be described
`with reference to the accompanying drawings.
`First, the overall construction of the web phone dialer
`system of the embodiment will be described with reference
`to FIG. 1.
`In the description hereunder, the web represents a system
`that provides information to be visually observed with a
`feeling of a hypertext. In the web, a computer that stores the
`information is called a web server, a computer that can
`search the information is called a web client. The overall
`construction is known as the web system. Further, the
`Intranet and the Internet are the communication networks in 15
`which computers can communicate with each other using a
`common protocol.
`The web system includes a web server 10, a sending client
`100, a receiving client 200, and a mail server 40, a plural of
`clients, each of which is connected to each other via a 20
`network 30.
`The web server 10 is provided with a telephone directory
`database 20. The telephone directory database 20 stores
`information such as assignments, names, and telephone
`numbers of individual personnel, and data such as IP
`addresses, mail addresses, and the like, which will be
`detailed later with reference to FIG. 2. An Internet protocol
`address (IP address) is a global network address inherent to
`a machine used on the Internet. The telephone directory
`database 20 may be constructed separately from the web
`server 10.
`The sending client 100 and the receiving client 200 are
`each a computer telephony integration system in which the
`computer such as personal computer is combined with a 35
`telephone function and a telephone call can be transmitted
`and received from the computer. The sending client 100 is
`able to access the web server 10 through the network 30, and
`to search data stored in the telephone directory database 20.
`Further, the sending client 100 and the receiving client 40
`200 are connected to each other through a PBX (Private
`Branch Exchange) 50 being a telephone exchange and a
`communication line. Therefore, when calling a receiving
`party, the operator of the sending client 100 rings up the
`receiving client 200 through the PBX 50, thereby allowing 45
`the operator to communicate with the receiving party.
`The mail server 40 is able to transmit voice mail trans(cid:173)
`mitted by the sending client 100 through the network 30 to
`the receiving client 200 through the network 30. Voice mail
`is a type of mail wherein analog voices are digitized. The 50
`digitized data of the voices are filed and transferred by the
`computer, and the digital data is converted into the analog
`voice on the receiver side thereby allowing the receiving
`party to hear the original voices.
`Next, a general flow in case of the sending client 100 55
`calling the receiving client 200 will be described briefly. The
`individual construction and operation of the web server 10,
`the sending client 100, the receiving client 200, and the mail
`server 40 will be described later.
`First, the sending operator operates the sending client 100
`to access the web server 10 to search for the telephone
`number of the party to be called. Using the telephone
`directory database 20, the web server 10 obtains the tele(cid:173)
`phone number, IP address, and mail address of the receiving
`client 200 on the basis of the assignment and name of the
`party input from the sending client 100. This is represented
`by arrow A
`
`4
`Next, the sending client 100 accesses the receiving client
`200 through the network 30 using the IP address obtained,
`and confirms the presence/absence of the operator of the
`receiving client 200.
`When the receiving operator is present, the sending client
`100 calls the receiving client 200 through the PBX 50, using
`the telephone number obtained as represented by arrow B.
`When the receiving operator is absent, the sending client 100
`transmits a voice mail to the mail server 40 through the
`10 network 30, using the mail address obtained, as represented
`by arrow C. When the receiving operator returns, the receiv(cid:173)
`ing operator operates the receiving client 200 and obtains the
`voice mail from the mail server 40 as represented by arrow
`D. Next, the data construction of the telephone directory
`database 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
`In the telephone directory database 20 a plurality of
`records are registered. Each record includes an assignment
`21 and a name 22 of the operator, an IP address 23 of the
`computer used by the operator, a telephone number 24, and
`a mail address 25. In the assignment 21 are registered
`"Factory A, design department" as illustrated. In the name
`22 are registered names such as "Ichiro Tanaka". The IP
`address 23 is registered in a form of "158. 214. xx. xx". The
`telephone number 24 is registered in a form of "03-xxxx-
`25 xxxx". The mail address 15 is registered in a form of "tanaka
`@NNN".
`These data are controlled to be centralized for each site
`(for example, for each department). Therefore, if there is any
`change in the assignment, IP address, telephone number,
`mail address, and the like with respect to "Ichiro Tanaka",
`the record is modified each time, and the updated data are
`registered.
`Next, the configuration of the sending client 100 will be
`described with reference to FIG. 3. The receiving client 200
`is also configured in the same manner as the sending client
`100. Thus only the sending client 100 will be described. The
`sending client 100 contains a telephone interface 110 that
`possesses a telephone dialing function to transmit a call to
`the receiving client 200 from a TAPI or TSAPI interface and
`a voice input function to input voices from a handset 105.
`Here, the TAPI is the abbreviation for Telephony Applica(cid:173)
`tion Program Interface, and the TSAPI is the abbreviation
`for Telephony Service Application Program Interface. Both
`are the program interfaces that can control transmission and
`reception of a call from/to a computer to/from a telephone.
`The telephone interface 110 is able to connect, using the
`telephone dialing function, the sending client 100 to the
`receiving client 200 corresponding to the telephone number
`of the party to call through a telephone set 115 and the PBX
`50. A network control unit 120 connects a web browser 125,
`a web database receiver 130, a mail transmitter/receiver 135,
`a presence/absence registration unit 140, and a presence/
`absence confirmation unit 145 of the sending client 100 to
`the network 30.
`The web browser 125 accesses the web server 10. The
`web database receiver 130 receives information of the
`receiving operator, stored in the telephone directory data(cid:173)
`base 20, transmitted from the web server 10. The mail
`60 transmitter/receiver 135 transmits or receives voice mail in
`case the operator is absent. The presence/absence registra(cid:173)
`tion unit 140 registers "presence" when the sending operator
`is present at the sending client by an input device and
`registers "absence" when the sending operator is absent. The
`65 presence/absence confirmation unit 145 is to confirm the
`presence or absence of the receiving operator with the
`receiving client 200. The presence/absence confirmation
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 9 of 13
`
`

`

`US 6,845,096 Bl
`
`10
`
`20
`
`5
`unit 145 accesses the presence/absence registration unit 140
`of the receiving client 200, obtains the information on the
`presence or absence of the operator, and thereby confirms
`the presence or absence of the operator of the receiving
`client 200. The web browser 125, web database receiver
`130, mail transmitter/receiver 135, presence/absence regis(cid:173)
`tration unit 140, and presence/absence confirmation unit 145
`are controlled by an application program 150. A dial trans(cid:173)
`mitter 155 receives the telephone number of the receiving
`client 200 through the application program 150, and trans-
`mits the number to be dialed to the telephone interface 110.
`The sending client 100 is provided with a CRT 160 as a
`display /output device, a keyboard 165 and mouse 170 as a
`input device, and floppy disc driver or CD-ROM driver as
`readable device with external recording media. The opera- 15
`tion of the interface and units 110, 120, ... , 155 will be
`described later with reference to FIG. 6. These operations
`can act according to program provided from external record(cid:173)
`ing media. Next, the configuration of the web server 10 will
`be described with reference to FIG. 4.
`The web server 10 contains a network control unit 12. The
`network control unit 12 connects a web server access
`transmitter/receiver 14, a search result transmitter 16, and a
`database access mechanism 18 to the network 30. The web
`server access transmitter/receiver 14 receives accesses to the 25
`web server 10 from the clients 100, 200, and transmits
`response to the accesses to the clients 100, 200. The search
`result transmitter 16 transmits back to the sending client 100
`the telephone number 24, IP address 23, and mail address 25
`as the data relating to the receiving client 200 that are
`obtained by searching the telephone directory database 20 in
`response to the search access which includes at least the
`name of the receiving operator from the sending client 100.
`The database access mechanism 18 accesses the telephone
`directory database 20. The operation of the foregoing units
`12, ... , 18 will be described later.
`Next, the configuration of the mail server 40 will be
`described with reference to FIG. 5.
`The mail server 40 contains a network control unit 42. The
`network control unit 42 connects a mail transmitter/receiver
`44 and a voice mail storage unit 46 to the network 30. The
`mail transmitter/receiver 44 executes reception and trans(cid:173)
`mission of mail storage and retrieval of mail to and from the
`voice mail storage unit and control of the voice server. The
`voice mail storage unit 46 stores voice mails transmitted
`from the sending client 100. The operation of the foregoing
`units 42, ... , 46 will be described later. Next, the operation
`of the web phone dialer system according to the embodiment
`will be described with reference to FIG. 6. First, a general
`access to the web will be described. At step 602, when the 50
`sending operator at the sending client 100 desires to call the
`receiving operator who uses the receiving client 200, the
`sending client 100 is connected to the web server 10
`according to general access to the web system. The sending
`client 100 shown in FIG. 3 connects with the web server 10 55
`from the web browser 125 through the network control unit
`120 and the network 30. At step 632, the web server 10
`transmits the web information requested (for example, a
`menu information of the telephone directory) back to the
`sending client 100 through the web server access
`transmitter/receiver 14 shown in FIG. 4. The web server 10
`is connected to the network 30 by the network control unit
`12 in advance. Receiving an access from the sending client
`100, the web server 10 starts the web server access
`transmitter/receiver 14, and transmits the web information
`requested back to the sending client 100. At step 604, the
`sending client 100 inputs information on the assignment or
`
`6
`name of the party to be called, which are selected out of the
`menu information of the telephone directory on the web. The
`input of the selected information is carried out, using the
`displays as shown in FIG. 7. In this flow although the web
`5 server presents guidance for inputting a name of receiving
`client, it is OK the client has the function. It can change
`occasionally.
`Here, how to input the selected information will be
`described with reference to FIG. 7.
`The menu information of the telephone directory on the
`web is presented as shown in FIG. 7(A). FIG. 7(A) illus(cid:173)
`trates a display screen on the CRT 160 of the sending client
`100 shown in FIG. 3. The display screen presents "assign(cid:173)
`ment" and "name". The sending operator selects either one
`of them, using an input device such as the mouse 170 in FIG.
`3. Usually, the sending operator selects "assignment" by
`clicking the mouse 170.
`If" assignment" is selected, the web server "branch X" 10
`transmits the web information shown in FIG. 7(B). The
`display presents assignments in a broad manner, such as
`"factory A", "factory B", ... , "branch X", "branch Y", ....
`To this presentation, the sending operator selects the assign(cid:173)
`ment corresponding to the receiving operator.
`If the sending operator wants to call, for example, Mr.
`"Tanaka" belonging to "factory A", the operator selects
`"factory A", the web server 10 transmits the next web
`information as shown in FIG. 7(C). On the display, the web
`server 10 presents a set of alphabet, "A", ... , "Z", and puts
`30 out a message to prompt the operator to input the first letter
`of the family name.
`There, the operator selects "T" as the first letter of
`"Tanaka", and the web server 10 transmits the next web
`information as shown in FIG. 7(D). On the display, the web
`35 server 10 presents the family names of the personnel whose
`first letter involves "T", and who belong to "factory A".
`Next, as the operator selects "Tanaka", the web server 10
`transmits the next web information as shown in FIG. 7(E).
`The web information displays a list of the full names of the
`40 personnels whose family name is "Tanaka" together with the
`assignments, as "Ichiro Tanaka, factory A design depart(cid:173)
`ment". The operator selects the party to call from this list.
`Selecting, for example, "Ichiro Tanaka" ( clicking the mouse
`on the name, for example) will complete to input the
`45 selected information of the party at step 604. Incidentally, at
`step 604, the assignment and name of the party may be
`inputted directly; however, the foregoing method will sim(cid:173)
`plify the input of the party to call.
`Next, at step 634, the web server 10 searches the database
`for the selected information. That is, the web server 10
`searches the telephone directory database 20 having the data
`construction as shown in FIG. 2 through the database access
`mechanism 18 shown in FIG. 4. At step 636, hitting the
`information corresponding to the party, the web server 10
`transmits the searched information to the sending client 100.
`That is, the search result transmitter 16 of the web server 10
`transmits the information of the party such as the telephone
`number 24, IP address 23, and mail address 25 through the
`web server access transmitter/receiver 14 back to the send-
`60 ing client 100. At step 606, the sending client 100 receives
`the information. That is, the sending client 100 receives the
`information, the telephone number 24, IP address 23, and
`mail address 25, transmitted from the web server 10 through
`the web database receiver 130. Next, at step 608, the sending
`65 client 100 confirms the presence of the receiving operator.
`That is, the sending client 100 starts the application program
`150. The application program 150 sends, using the presence/
`
`CISCO EXHIBIT 1010
`Page 10 of 13
`
`

`

`US 6,845,096 Bl
`
`10
`
`35
`
`7
`absence confirmation unit 145, a request to confirm the
`presence or absence of the receiving operator on the basis of
`the received IP address through the network 30. At step 652,
`the receiving client 200 has the information as to presence
`or absence of the receiving operator registered in the internal
`presence/absence registration unit. The registration is made
`in such a manner that the receiving client 200 usually
`displays "presence" on the CRT display. However, when the
`operator leaves the location (being absent), the operator
`clicks "presence" to change it into "absence". Thus, the
`operator registers either the presence or absence in the
`presence/absence registration unit of the receiving client
`200. The receiving client 200 sends back the information on
`either the presence or absence in response to the confirma(cid:173)
`tion request from the sending client 100. Incidentally, if the
`receiving client 200 is not powered, the presence/absence
`confirmation unit 145 judges that the receiving operator is
`absent, when the confirmation request from the sending
`client 100 has not been responded to obtain a predetermined
`time.
`The description hereunder will be divided into the case of
`the operator being present and the case of the operator being
`absent. First, the case of presence will be described. When
`the receiving operator is confirmed to be present by the
`return message from the receiving client 200, the application
`program 150 of the sending client 100 executes the auto(cid:173)
`matic dialing at step 610. That is, the application program
`150 transfers the telephone number 24 of the receiving client
`200 received by the web database receiver 130 to the dial
`transmitter 155. The dial transmitter 155 transmits a call 30
`through the telephone interface 110 provided with the TAPI
`or TSAPI interface. When the sending client 100 connects to
`the receiving client 200, the operators on both sides are able
`to converse by using the handsets 105, or the like, at step 612
`and step 654.
`Next, the case of absence will be described. At step 614,
`the application program 150 of the sending client 100
`executes the voice registration. That is, the application
`program 150 prompts the sending operator to perform the
`voice registration through the voice input unit, registers the 40
`message in the form of voice, and stores it as a file. At step
`616, the application program 150 of the sending client 100
`transmits the voice mail to the mail server 40. That is, using
`the mail address 25 of the receiving client 200 received by
`the web database receiver 130, the application program 45
`transmits to the mail server 40 the voice mail (voice file
`registered) of the files stored by the mail transmitter/receiver
`135. At step 672, the mail server 40 receives the mail. The
`mail server 40 receives the mail by the mail transmitter/
`receiver 44 through the network control unit 42, and stores 50
`it in the voice mail storage unit 46. Next, at step 674, the
`mail server 40 informs the receiving client 200 of the
`received mail.
`When the operator of the receiving client 200 is present,
`the receiving operator releases the "absence" set by the 55
`presence/absence registration unit 140, and notices that mail
`from the mail server 40 has been received by the mail
`transmitter/receiver 135. If the mail is a text, the operator
`rea