I 1111111111111111 1111111111 1111111111 11111 111111111111111 lll111111111111111
`US011218585B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Zhidov et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.: US 11,218,585 B2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Jan. 4, 2022
`
`(54) TELEPHONE NETWORK SYSTEM AND
`METHOD
`
`(71) Applicant: Flypsi, Inc., Bedford, TX (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Ivan Zhidov, Chickasha, OK (US);
`Peter Rinfret, Nantucket, MA (US);
`Sunir Kochhar, Oro Valley, AZ (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Flypsi, Inc., Bedford, TX (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 17/243,401
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 28, 2021
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2021/0250437 Al
`
`Aug. 12, 2021
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Division of application No. 17/039,566, filed on Sep.
`30, 2020, now Pat. No. 11,012,554, which is a
`(Continued)
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 117243
`H04M 3/42
`
`(2021.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ..... H04M 117243 (2021.01); H04M 3/42042
`(2013.01); H04M 3/42263 (2013.01);
`(Continued)
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ......... H04M 1/72547; H04M 3/42272; H04M
`3/42042; H04M 3/565; H04M 2203/5054;
`H04M 3/436; H04L 65/1069; H04W
`76/10
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,673,299 A
`6,282,574 Bl
`
`9/1997 Fuller et al.
`8/2001 Voit
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`GB
`WO
`WO
`
`2454886 A
`2007049943 Al
`2007131269 Al
`
`5/2009
`5/2007
`11/2007
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Author: Superuser, What are the Internet Workings of the Google
`Voice captured at https://superuser.corn/questions/325891/what-are(cid:173)
`the-internal-workings-of-google-voice, posted Aug.2011, Aug.2011,
`internet publication.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Nam T Huynh
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - West & Associates, A
`PC; Stuart J. West; Charlotte Rodeen-Dickert
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Systems for and methods of delivering telephone calls using
`the combination of a data channel and a voice channel are
`disclosed. A data channel connection with the telephone
`handset may provide pre-call information used to set up
`incoming and outgoing calls which are ultimately connected
`using a voice channel. Use of the pre-call information may
`permit the same handset to be associated with multiple
`secondary telephone numbers from which calls appear to
`have been made and to which calls appear to have been
`placed.
`
`12 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`I
`
`c~~J s 1
`
`,--J--
`
`311J
`
`1 - - - - - - - - - - - 1
`
`PSTN
`
`__ ~Q;··-i
`
`1
`
`Page 1 of 14
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1001
`
`

`

`US 11,218,585 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`division of application No. 16/444,753, filed on Jun.
`18, 2019, now abandoned, which is a division of
`application No. 16/031,806, filed on Jul. 10, 2018,
`now Pat. No. 10,334,094, which is a continuation of
`application No. 15/582,091, filed on Apr. 28, 2017,
`now Pat. No. 10,051,105, which is a continuation of
`application No. 14/307,052, filed on Jun. 17, 2014,
`now Pat. No. 9,667,770, which is a continuation-in(cid:173)
`part of application No. 13/944,853, filed on Jul. 17,
`2013, now abandoned.
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2018.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 3/436
`H04L 29/06
`H04W 76/10
`H04M 3/56
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC ..... H04M 3/42272 (2013.01); H04L 65/1069
`(2013.01); H04M 3/436 (2013.01); H04M
`3/565 (2013.01); H04M 2203/5054 (2013.01);
`H04W 76/10 (2018.02)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,445,694 Bl
`6,633,562 Bl
`7,068,668 B2
`7,860,785 B2
`8,275,107 B2
`8,306,201 Bl
`
`9/2002 Swartz
`10/2003 Boyd et al.
`6/2006 Feuer
`12/2010 Delinsky et al.
`9/2012 Srinivasan
`11/2012 Borislow et al.
`
`6/2013 Helbling et al.
`8,472,606 B2
`11/2013 Marghescu et al.
`8,576,995 Bl
`8/2014 Petrack et al.
`8,804,931 B2
`8/2014 Lai
`8,817,619 B2
`8/2014 Walker et al.
`8,817,669 B2
`8/2014 Cyriac et al.
`8,819,129 Bl
`5/2016 Backhaus et al.
`9,332,128 B2
`5/2016 Lowman et al.
`9,332,408 B2
`5/2016 Backhaus et al.
`9,332,425 B2
`4/2018 Walker et al.
`9,942,406 B2
`1/2020 Backhaus et al.
`10,542,395 B2
`10/2004 Chin et al.
`2004/0203565 Al
`2006/0140200 Al * 6/2006 Black.
`
`2010/0128857 Al
`2010/0177662 Al
`2012/0282903 Al
`2013/0295899 Al
`2014/0362742 Al
`
`5/2010 Logan
`7/2010 Meineke et al.
`11/2012 Rabra et al.
`11/2013 Lowman
`12/2014 Martinez et al.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`H04W76/20
`370/401
`
`Benjamin E. Johnson, Google Voice: Connecting Your Telephone to
`the 21st Century, Computers Libr. 21, 2010 WLNR 28403479,
`Computer in Libraries, Information Today, Inc., Jun. 2010, Jun. 1,
`2010, vol. 30, Issue 5.
`H. Schulzrinne et al., The Session Initiation Protocol: Providing
`Advanced Telephony Services Across the Internet, Bell Labs Tech(cid:173)
`nical Journal, Oct.-Dec. 1998 Journal, Dec. 1998.
`John Brandon, One Number to Rule Them All-MIT Technology
`Review captured at https://www.technologyreview.com/2009/04/02/
`214463/one-number-to-rule-them-all/ posted Apr. 2, 2009, MIT
`Technology Review, Apr. 2, 2009, MIT Technology Review, inter(cid:173)
`net publication.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.4,2022
`Jan. 4, 2022
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 11,218,585 B2
`US 11,218,585 B2
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`Page 3 of 14
`
`Page 3 of 14
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.4,2022
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 11,218,585 B2
`
`A USER SUBSCR!BES TO
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`
`,...._......___,, 00
`2·
`
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`APPLICATION
`INST.~LLED ON
`TELEPHONE HANDSET
`
`ADDS ONE OR MORE SECONDARY
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`REFERENCED TO PRIMARY
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`
`USER SELECTS
`CALL
`PROCESSING RULES
`
`'?: J2 ~~
`
`04
`"-~
`
`"I 06 ~ ·
`
`INCOMING AND OUTGOING CALLS ARE
`ROUTED VIA THE PUBLIC SWITCHED
`TELEPHONE NETWORK IPSTN) TO THE
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`
`~ ; 18
`21
`
`Page 4 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.4,2022
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 11,218,585 B2
`
`PUBLIC SWITCHED
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`(PQTN:i,
`
`.' V
`
`' }
`
`310'--"",
`
`"'-----------
`
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`AUTOM.ATED STRUCTURE
`
`;
`
`'
`
`-
`
`• M H
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`-
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`•• • H H
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`H H •• •• •
`
`H H M
`
`, • • ,
`
`11 O
`
`;
`
`t_ __________________________________ ;
`
`NETWORK LAYER
`TELECOM SWITCH
`
`!
`
`, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`l
`
`TELECOM
`100, ./._,
`: ,
`RULES SERVER
`: :
`".,._,._., ___________ ~----~~A-~•,~---- ... :
`;
`L---------~---------l
`__________ l ________ _
`I
`'
`'
`·
`APPUCATION LAYER
`' ' ..................... . , ............ ·,
`CALL MANAGER
`······-·····················: '
`' l
`106' -r~······t~OBilTv"~1·AN,~(iR·····; ,
`
`;_, ............. ,. ....... ______________ !
`
`102
`104,
`
`l
`
`l
`
`108,
`
`!
`
`· ,
`WEB MANAGER
`, :
`• ......... ., ..•. ,. .. , .. .,.- .......... ,. . . . !
`~ - - - - - - - - - _________ J
`
`,--··-·---··-------------------------l
`~
`I
`
`I
`
`316~
`'
`
`iNTERNET
`
`MOBILE NETWORK
`MOBILE
`SWITCHlt~G
`CENTER /MSC)
`~ _./ 314
`., ____ ., _________ ., ______ ,.,. __ _
`
`313
`
`340
`
`...._..,344
`
`HANDSET
`APPUC.~TlON
`
`342
`
`MOB!I.E
`DATA
`N ETVVORK
`
`'"'348
`
`WEB
`PORTAL
`
`350,
`
`1
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 5 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.4,2022
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 11,218,585 B2
`
`208 -~
`
`-----
`
`'I'>
`
`'-I>
`
`I....;,.
`
`---;,.
`
`-------
`
`CALL IS PLACED BY A C/1LLER TO
`A SECONDARY NUMBER (CALL 1)
`...
`THE CALL IS ROUTED V!A THE PSTN OR PRIVATE
`NETWORK TO THE TELEPHONE NEW✓ORK
`½
`CALL MAN,""GER .A.PPL! ES THE CALL PROCESS!NG RULES, ASSIGNS A BRIDGE
`NUMBER AND COMMUNICATES WITH THE HA~JDSET
`½
`PRE-CALL ~JOTIFICATION IS SErH
`TO THE HANDSET WITH .A BRIDGE NUMBER
`,I,
`HANDSET APPLICATION DISPLAYS THE CALLED AND CALLl~JG PHONE NUMBER
`INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL CUSTOM INFORMATION
`
`•
`
`USER CHOOSES: ACCEPT CALL. NOT A.CCEPT CALL. CUSTOM VOICE M~IL
`MESSAGE, CUSTOM MESSAGE
`,I,
`USER CHOICE IS SENT TO
`CALL MANAGER
`
`Dt:11VER MESSAGE
`
`CALL NOT ACCEPTED
`
`DEUVrn CUSTOM VOICE
`MAIL MESSAGE
`
`HANDSET DIALS THE ASSIGNED
`BRIDGE NUMBER (CALL 2)
`+
`SWITCH CONNECTS THIS CALL AND THE INCOMING CAl.L TOGETHER
`Ct,LL 1 AND C.ALL 2 ARE BRIDGED
`
`FIG. 4
`
`/2
`
`~ 02
`
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`4
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`4
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`
`i'--3 18
`
`~ 20
`
`"-1 22
`
`0 24
`
`Page 6 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.4,2022
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 11,218,585 B2
`
`208
`'~
`
`50 f\ ·!/,
`
`HA~msET APPLICATiON
`OPENED FOR
`OUTGOiNG CALL
`
`l
`
`usrn CHOOSE'S ONE OF
`THE SECONDARY
`TELEPHONE NUMBERS AS
`THE ORIGINATING
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`
`l
`
`USER ENTERS
`THE TELEPHONE
`NUMBER TO BE CALLED
`AND INiTIATES THE CALL
`
`!
`
`CALL MANAGER
`APPLIE:S THE CALL
`PROCESSING RULES
`
`I
`
`50 4
`'✓
`
`50 6 1y
`
`5C 'Y
`:8
`
`-----------------------------
`
`CALL MANAGER
`ASSIGNS AND SENDS
`A BRIDGE NUMBER
`TO HANDSET
`
`t
`
`NATIVE HANDSET
`DIALER ORIGiNATES
`ACALl. TO
`BRIDGE NUMBER
`
`!
`
`THE C,~LL MANAGER V!A
`THE SW!TCH DIALS
`THE CALLED NUMBER
`AND SE:CONDARY
`NUMBER. APPEARS
`AS THE
`CALLING NUMBER
`
`rJ 10
`
`.... -
`
`J::
`
`"-.':-12
`
`'-.'.;'. 14
`5
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Page 7 of 14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.4,2022
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 11,218,585 B2
`
`ORIGINATOR
`HANDSET
`APPL!CA TION
`
`APPLICATION
`SERVER AND
`SWITCH
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`. . . . . - - - - - - - - . I
`CONFERENCE HEQ
`PICK USERS/\ B, C, D
`:
`TO JOiN ,r:,, CONF. CALL NOW ··-+-----(cid:173)
`CAN ALSO BE SCHEDULED
`FORALATER DATA& TIME
`r'
`600
`
`ASSIGN A CONFERENCE
`BRIDGE NUMBER.
`(PIN NUMBER OPTIONAL!
`,
`
`.
`
`INVITEES
`HANDSET
`APPUCATION
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I 602
`~
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`~604
`I
`I
`
`1
`
`SEND MESSAGE TO
`APPLICATION ON USER
`A, B, C, D HANDSET
`• JACK HAS INVITED YOU TO
`"'------========~1--1
`- • JOIN A CONFERECE CALL
`• BRIDGE NUMBER,
`• /OPTIONAL) OTHER
`• OPTIONAL PiN NUMBER PARTICiPANTS ARE A, B, C, D
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`-J · · · · .. · · · · · · · .. · USER ''8" YES
`. .l ................... USER "C" YES
`-+···················· USER "D" YES
`·· r ........... ··········· ····· ORiGNf\.TOR
`I
`I
`
`··- - · ·-· ............ -- · - -- -
`
`-
`
`j
`
`SWiTCH! SERVER
`AUTHENTiCATES INCOM!NG
`CALJER ID W!TH INVITEE LIST
`(PIN OPTIONAL\ AND ALLOWS
`, THEM TO JOIN THE BRIDGE
`UPD.AJE ORIGINATION APP WITH
`
`608
`
`NOTIFICATION SENT TO
`ORGANIZER: "A"
`WILL JOIN \N 5 MIN
`
`SWITCH/ SERVER
`AUTHENTICATES INCOMING
`CAL LEI~ ID WiTH INVITEE UST
`(PIN OPTIONAL) AND ALLOWS
`THEM TO JOIN THE BRIDGE
`UPDATE ORIGINATION APP WITH
`
`I
`I
`I
`<1--1__(cid:173)
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`usrn B, C, D ACCEPT TO
`JOIN THE CONFrnENCE C,f:,,LL
`APPUCMlON INITl,f:,,TES THE
`CALL TO THE BRIDGE
`
`J06
`
`USER "A'; CHOOSES
`TO JO!N IN 5 M!N
`
`610
`·v
`
`IN 5 MIN: REMINDER TO "A''
`TC JOIN THE CALL
`
`612
`""V'.
`
`Page 8 of 14
`
`

`

`US 11,218,585 B2
`
`1
`TELEPHONE NETWORK SYSTEM AND
`METHOD
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION(S)
`
`This application is a divisional application and claims the
`benefit of priority to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 17/039,566, filed Sep. 30, 2020 by Zhidov et al., which
`is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/444,
`753, filed Jun. 18, 2019, by Zhidov, et al., which is a
`divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`16/031,806 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,334,094), filed Jul. 10,
`2018 by Zhidov, et al., which is a continuation application
`of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/582,091 (now U.S.
`Pat. No. 10,051,105), filed Apr. 28, 2017, by Zhidov, et al.,
`which is a continuation application of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 14/307,052 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,667,770),
`filed Jun. 17, 2014, by Zhidov, et al., which is a continua(cid:173)
`tion-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`13/944,853, filed Jul. 17, 2013, by Zhidov, et al., the
`complete contents of each of which is hereby incorporated
`herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Technical Field
`
`The present invention relates to systems and methods for
`setting up and connecting telephone calls, and delivering
`information related to such telephone calls using an Internet
`Protocol (IP) or other data channel while delivering the
`voice portion of the call in accordance with CDMA, GSM
`or like voice channel delivery standards.
`
`Background
`
`The volume of telephone calls and text messaging has
`increased dramatically and users are finding it more and
`more difficult to manage that volume of calls and messages.
`The current systems to aid in managing some types of calls
`only provide minimal assistance to the user. It is therefore an
`advantage of some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of
`the present invention to provide systems and methods for
`assisting callers and call recipients with the management of
`calls and messages.
`Additional advantages of various embodiments of the
`invention are set forth, in part, in the description that follows
`and, in part, will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the
`art from the description and/or from the practice of the
`invention.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`Responsive to the foregoing challenges, Applicant has
`developed an innovative method of providing telephone
`service by transmitting call handling information between a
`handset and a switch using an IP channel or similar protocol
`channel and by transmitting a voice call associated with the
`call handling information between the handset and the
`switch using a voice channel provided in accordance with a
`voice channel protocol, e.g., in accordance with CDMA or
`GSM, 3G, 4G, LTE or like future protocol channels stan(cid:173)
`dards.
`Applicant has further developed an innovative method of
`providing telephone service comprising: automatically stor(cid:173)
`ing electronic information that indicates an association of a
`
`5
`
`2
`secondary telephone number and a primary telephone num(cid:173)
`ber with a telephone handset in a computer memory asso(cid:173)
`ciated with a server; automatically storing electronic infor(cid:173)
`mation that indicates a selection of call processing rules for
`the primary telephone number in the computer memory;
`automatically storing electronic information that indicates a
`selection of call processing rules for the secondary telephone
`number in the computer memory; receiving an electronic
`indication of an incoming call to the secondary telephone
`10 number at the server, said electronic indication of an incom(cid:173)
`ing call being received from a switch associated with the
`server; automatically accessing the call processing rules for
`the secondary telephone number under the control of the
`server responsive to the receipt of the electronic indication
`15 of the incoming call to the secondary telephone number;
`automatically handling the incoming call in accordance with
`the accessed call processing rules for the secondary tele(cid:173)
`phone number; transmitting pre-call information via a data
`channel to the handset under the control of the server, said
`20 pre-call information including a bridge telephone number
`for connecting the handset to the incoming call at the switch;
`and receiving, at the server via the data channel, an elec(cid:173)
`tronic indication of a selection of a call processing rule for
`handling the incoming call to the secondary telephone
`25 number, or establishing a voice channel connection between
`the handset and the switch as a result of the handset calling
`the switch using the bridge number.
`Applicant has further developed an innovative method of
`providing telephone service, comprising: automatically stor-
`30 ing electronic information that indicates an association of a
`secondary telephone number and a primary telephone num(cid:173)
`ber with a telephone handset in a computer memory asso(cid:173)
`ciated with a server; automatically associating a unique
`bridge telephone number with each of a plurality of contact
`35 telephone numbers in the computer memory; automatically
`transmitting information that indicates the association of the
`unique bridge telephone number with each of a plurality of
`contact telephone numbers to the handset via the data
`channel; automatically associating each primary telephone
`40 number and bridge telephone number pairing with a corre(cid:173)
`sponding secondary telephone number and contact tele(cid:173)
`phone number pairing in the computer memory; receiving,
`at a switch associated with the server, an outgoing call from
`the handset to the bridge telephone number via a voice
`45 channel; receiving, at the server, information from the
`switch indicating the outgoing call is being made to the
`bridge telephone number from the primary telephone num(cid:173)
`ber; receiving, at the switch, information from the server
`directing the switch to: (a) connect the outgoing call to a
`50 contact telephone number associated with the primary tele(cid:173)
`phone number and bridge telephone number pairing, and (b)
`identify the telephone number from which the outgoing call
`is being made as the secondary telephone number.
`Applicant has still further developed an innovative
`55 method of providing telephone service, comprising: enroll(cid:173)
`ing a telephone handset in a telecommunications system
`having a server and a switch, wherein said telephone handset
`is associated with a primary telephone number in a database
`associated with the server and switch; electronically trans-
`60 mitting an application from the server to the telephone
`handset via a data channel responsive to telephone handset
`enrollment, wherein said application is: adapted to send
`instructions to have one or more secondary telephone num(cid:173)
`bers referenced to the primary telephone number in the
`65 database, adapted to present visually perceptible call pro(cid:173)
`cessing rules on the telephone handset, and adapted to
`transmit information indicating a selection of call processing
`
`Page 9 of 14
`
`

`

`US 11,218,585 B2
`
`4
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a method of setting
`up and connecting an incoming call in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a method of setting
`up and connecting an outgoing call in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a call sequence diagram illustrating a method of
`setting up and connecting a conference call in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`5
`
`3
`rules from the telephone handset to the server; electronically
`receiving instructions from the telephone handset via the
`data channel to reference the one or more secondary tele(cid:173)
`phone numbers to the primary telephone number; storing
`telephone handset information, including the primary tele-
`phone number and the one or more secondary telephone
`numbers referenced to the primary telephone number, in the
`database; electronically receiving instructions from the tele(cid:173)
`phone handset via the data channel to store user selected call
`processing rules for the telephone handset in the database, 10
`wherein the user selected call processing rules include
`instructions to route calls over a voice channel in a manner
`that will indicate that the calls are made to or from the one
`or more secondary telephone numbers; electronically trans(cid:173)
`mitting information to the telephone handset via the data
`channel, said information being adapted to cause a pre-call
`information to be displayed on the telephone handset
`responsive to initiation of an outgoing call using the one or
`more secondary telephone numbers or an incoming call to 20
`the one or more secondary telephone numbers; electroni(cid:173)
`cally receiving from the telephone handset via the data
`channel call handling information indicating a user selected
`call processing rule to be used to process the outgoing or
`incoming call; and automatically handling the outgoing or 25
`incoming call based on the call handling information.
`Applicant has still further developed an innovative
`method of providing telephone service, comprising: associ(cid:173)
`ating a telephone handset with primary and secondary
`telephone numbers in a database; receiving, from the tele- 30
`phone handset via a data channel, digital information indi(cid:173)
`cating primary call processing rules for handling calls to the
`first telephone number; storing the primary call processing
`rules digitally; receiving, from the telephone handset via the
`data channel, digital information indicating secondary call 35
`processing rules for handling calls to the secondary tele(cid:173)
`phone number; storing the secondary call processing rules
`digitally; receiving a call request to the secondary telephone
`number; transmitting pre-call information to the telephone
`handset via the data channel responsive to receipt of the call 40
`request, wherein said pre-call information is based on the
`secondary call processing rules; responsive to the pre-call
`information, receiving information indicative of a user input
`to the telephone handset over the data channel; and process(cid:173)
`ing the call based on the stored alternative call processing 45
`rules and user input to the telephone handset, wherein said
`processing includes an option of connecting the call over a
`voice channel.
`It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
`description and the following detailed description are exem- 50
`plary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the
`invention as claimed.
`
`Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of
`the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in
`15 the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other
`embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be
`made without departing from the scope of the present
`invention.
`It should be noted that in connection with the described
`embodiments, reference is made to a data channel. A pre(cid:173)
`ferred data channel may be an Internet Protocol (IP) channel,
`which is not a conventional telephone voice channel. How(cid:173)
`ever, other data, non-conventional voice, channels over
`which information may be transmitted between a telephone
`handset and a server may be used in alternative embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the invention.
`With reference to FIG. 1, embodiments of the present
`invention may be implemented using a system having a
`server 100, associated computer memory, such as a database
`120, and an associated telecommunications switch 110
`which communicate through a network with a telephone
`handset 340. The server 100 may be connected to the
`database 120 and the switch 110. The server 100 may also
`be connected via the Internet 316 through one or more
`nodes, such as a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 322
`and a Servicing GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 324, to a
`mobile network 313. The switch 110 may be connected
`through the PSTN 310 to the mobile network 313 at a
`Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 314. In tum, the MSC 314
`may be connected to a Home Location Register database
`(HLR) 318, a Visitor Location Register database (312), a
`Mobile Number Portability database (MNP) 320, a location
`server 308, and the SGSN 324. The SGSN 324 may be
`connected to one or more Radio Network Controllers (RNC)
`326 and/or one or more Processor Control Units (PCU) 327,
`which in tum may be connected to one or more Base
`Stations (BS) 328 and to one or more mobile devices
`referred to collectively as "handsets" 340.
`The communications between the server 100 and the
`handset 340 over the Internet 316 may utilize IP as a
`protocol opposed to protocols used to establish communi(cid:173)
`cations according to CDMA, GSM, or like standards. Such
`IP governed communications are referred to herein as being
`conducted over a "data channel." Conversely, communica-
`55 tions between the switch 110 and the handset over the PSTN
`310 may be transmitted and received in accordance with
`CDMA, GSM or like standards as opposed to using IP. Such
`CDMA, GSM or like governed communications, when used
`to carry voice information, are referred to herein as being
`60 conducted over a "voice channel."
`With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, method embodiments of
`the invention may be facilitated starting with step 200 in
`which a handset 340 may be used to subscribe to 10 the
`telephone network that includes the server 100 and switch
`65 110 used to provide telephone service in accordance with
`embodiments of the invention. A user may subscribe to the
`telephone network in step 200 by enrolling the telephone
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In order to assist the understanding of this invention,
`reference will now be made to the appended drawings, in
`which like reference characters refer to like elements.
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network
`architecture that may be used to provide telephone service in
`accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a method of pro(cid:173)
`viding telephone calls in accordance with embodiments of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating data channel and
`voice channel connections used to provide telephone service
`in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
`
`Page 10 of 14
`
`

`

`US 11,218,585 B2
`
`5
`handset 340 using a data channel connection between the
`handset and the server 100. Responsive to a data channel
`request received from the handset 340, a handset application
`may be transmitted to the handset from the server 100, and
`installed and stored in memory associated with the handset
`in step 202. Once the handset application is installed on the
`handset 340, the handset may connect to the server 100 by
`operation of the handset application as needed over a data
`channel connection which may include the BS 328, RNC
`326 or PCU 327, SGSN 324, GGSN 322, and Internet 316.
`In connection with step 204, the server 100 may transmit
`information to the handset 340 via the data channel, which,
`through automatic operation of the handset application,
`permits the user to select one or more secondary telephone
`numbers to be referenced to a primary telephone number for
`the handset. The primary telephone number, preferably, may
`be a SIM number or ESN which is assigned to the handset
`340 at the time of activation. Once selected, the handset 340
`may automatically transmit information which to the server
`100 over the data channel which requests that the secondary
`telephone numbers be associated with the primary telephone
`number. In response. the server 100 may store (i.e., refer(cid:173)
`ence) information indicating the association of the one or
`more selected secondary telephone numbers in computer
`memory associated with the server such as the database 120.
`In an alternative embodiment, the server 100 may automati(cid:173)
`cally assign one or more secondary telephone numbers to the
`handset 340, as opposed to them being selected.
`In step 206 of FIG. 2, the handset 340 may be used to
`access the handset application installed thereon to select call
`processing rules for handling incoming and outgoing voice
`channel calls to and from the handset 340. Information
`indicating call processing rules may be transmitted from the
`handset 340 to the server 100 via the data channel by
`automatic operation of the handset application. Custom call
`processing rules may be selected for, and associated with,
`each of the primary telephone number and the one or more
`secondary telephone numbers associated with the primary
`telephone number. The call processing rules information
`may be automatically stored in a computer memory, such as
`database 120, by the server 100. An indication of the
`association of particular call processing rules with a par(cid:173)
`ticular 10 handset 340 and particular primary and/or sec(cid:173)
`ondary telephone numbers may also be stored in the data(cid:173)
`base 120. The call processing rules may include preset
`responses for incoming calls, such as custom stored voice
`message(s) and/or custom stored text message(s) to be
`associated with the primary and/or one or more secondary
`telephone numbers. The call processing rules may further
`permit the handset 340 to be used to control the availability
`of the secondary telephone numbers as well as activation of
`additional secondary telephone numbers and deactivation of
`existing secondary telephone numbers. Information indicat(cid:173)
`ing the call processing rules for the primary telephone
`number and secondary telephone numbers may be stored
`automatically in memory associated with the handset 340.
`The call processing rules may further include stock rules
`used for all telephone numbers, such as an option to accept
`or not accept (i.e., drop) an incoming call. With reference to
`step 208, the application stored on the handset 340 may
`enable it to be used to receive incoming calls from, and place
`outgoing calls to, a recipient telephone (not shown) which is
`connected to the PSTN 310, as explained in more detail
`below.
`With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the handset 340 may be
`used to receive incoming (terminating) calls to a secondary
`telephone number, using a telephone network automated
`
`5
`
`6
`structure having a network layer 101 and an application
`layer 102 associated therewith. An incoming call to the
`secondary telephone number may be placed in step 402 by
`a calling party. The incoming call is routed from the caller's
`telephone to the PSTN 310. In step 404, the incoming call
`may be routed over the PSTN 310 to the switch 110
`Responsive to receipt of the incoming call at the switch 110,
`a Call Manager 104 application, which cooperates with a
`Mobility Manager 106 application, and a Web Manager 108
`10 application, which are all associated with the server 100,
`may access the call processing rules in the database 120
`which are associated with the secondary telephone number
`that is being called. Subject to the accessed call processing
`rules, the Call Manager 104 may assign or look up a bridge
`15 telephone number to be used for completion of the call in
`step 406. The bridge telephone number may be associated
`with the switch 110, and calls to the bridge telephone
`number may be automatically routed to this switch.
`The call processing rules may provide for call routing via
`20 a call distribution algorithm where the call could be routed
`to one or many telephone numbers. The call processing rules
`may be user selectable and configurable, and may apply to
`voice, text and/or other data messaging. The call processing
`rules may govern how calls are handled and may provide
`25 automated call routing or call dropping based on location
`data of the calling and/or called party. The call processing
`rules may further govern handling calls based on incoming
`caller ID, which may identify a calling party as being on an
`accepted caller ID list or a non-accepted caller ID list. The
`30 call processing rules may further provide call routing based
`on weekday, weekend, holiday, time of day, biometrics data,
`and accelerometer data information. The call processing
`rules may still further provide call routing based on an
`interface with a handset 340 calendar to check availability to
`35 accept calls. Such calendars may include, for example,
`Outlook, Google Calendar, and other user calendars.
`If the call processing rules indicate that the secondary
`telephone number is not available to this particular caller, or
`to all callers, however, the Call Manager 104 may apply such
`40 rule or rules and reject the incoming call at the conclusion
`of step 406. Application of the call processing rules for a call
`rejection may result in the call simply not being answered,
`being dropped, or automated return of a voice, text, or other
`type of message to the calling telephone number or a
`45 communication device associated therewith.
`On the other hand, if the call processing rules permit
`completion of the call, in step 408 the Call Manager 104 may
`transmit pre-call notification information to the handset 340,
`which includes the assigned/looked up bridge telephone
`50 number, via the data channel connection, i.e., over the
`Internet 316 and the Mobile Data Network 348. The pre-call
`information may include information used by the application
`installed on the handset 340 to cause a display of the calling
`telephone number, the calling party name, calling party
`55 location, such as GPS location, and/or the called secondary
`telephone number, as well as other information in step 410.
`The incoming pr