Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 1 of 14
`
`Exhibit 4
`
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`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 2 of 14
`I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 lllll lllll 111111111111111 111111111111111111
`
`US009667770B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Zhidov et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`May 30, 2017
`
`(54) TELEPHONE NETWORK SYSTEM AND
`METHOD
`
`(71) Applicant: Flypsi, Inc., Denton, TX (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Ivan Zhidov, Chickasa, OK (US);
`Peter A. Rinfret, Nantucket, MA (US);
`Sunir Kochhar, Oro Valley, AZ (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Flypsi, Inc., Denton, TX (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 82 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/307,052
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 17, 2014
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2015/0024718 Al
`
`Jan. 22, 2015
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63)
`
`Continuation-in-part of application No. 13/944,853,
`filed on Jul. 17, 2013.
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2009.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 11725
`H04M 3/42
`H04M 3/436
`H04W 76/02
`H04L 29/06
`H04M 3/56
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC ... H04M 1172547 (2013.01); H04M 3/42042
`(2013.01); 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 76/02 (2013.01)
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ........... H04W 4/16; H04W 4/00; H04W 4/02;
`
`H04W 76/02; H04M 1/72547; H04M
`3/42042; H04M 3/42272; H04M 3/436;
`H04M 3/565; H04M 2203/5054; H04L
`65/1069
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9,008,298 B2
`2004/0076272 Al
`2006/0140200 Al
`2008/0008105 Al
`
`4/2015 Wright et al.
`4/2004 Zafar et al.
`6/2006 Black et al.
`1/2008 Black et al.
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`CN
`WO
`
`1/2008
`101112053 A
`7/2001
`WO 01/54364 Al
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Office Action for Canadian Patent Application No. 2918352 mailed
`Feb. 11, 2016 (5 pages).
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Nam Huynh
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`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.
`
`6 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`PUBLIC SWITCHED
`TELEPHONENElWORK
`.__ _ _ f~''-'I _ __.
`
`310
`
`101
`110
`100
`
`313
`
`314
`
`102
`
`104
`100
`
`~ -- --h~;UCATfON~YER
`' , . ··--~~~.~~~~~~·········: i
`: , _;:
`100: l _______________ ··u
`
`, : MOBILITY MANAGER
`
`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 3 of 14
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2009/0060155 Al
`2009/0086953 Al
`2010/0130228 Al
`2013/0102298 Al
`
`3/2009 Chingon et al.
`4/2009 Vendrow
`5/2010 Vendrow et al.
`4/2013 Goodman
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`WO
`WO
`
`WO 2004/049625 Al
`W02004/073288 A2
`
`6/2004
`8/2004
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report for International Application No. PCT/
`US2014/042736, mailed Mar. 9, 2015.
`Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 13/944,853, mailed Nov. 18, 2015,
`10 pages.
`Search Report for International Patent Application No. PCT/
`US2014/042736, mailed Mar. 9, 2015, 2 pages.
`Office Action for Chinese Patent Application No. 201480040216.9,
`received Sep. 25, 2016, with English translation (36 pages).
`Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 13/944,853, mailed Aug. 18, 2016.
`Office Action for Korean Patent Application No. 2016-7001879,
`mailed May 23, 2016, with English translation (7 pages).
`Supplementary Partial Search Report for European Patent Applica(cid:173)
`tion No. 14827040, received Jan. 17, 2017 (6 pages).
`Decision to Grant for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-
`7001879, received Dec. 28, 2016 (3 pages).
`Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 13/944,853 mailed Dec. 27, 2016.
`
`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 4 of 14
`
`3'8
`
`312
`
`320
`
`HOME
`LOCATION
`REGISTER
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`VISITOR
`LOCATION
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`SERVER
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`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 5 of 14
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 30, 2017
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`
`A USER SUBSCRIBES TO
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`APPLICATION
`INSTALLED ON
`TELEPHONE HANDSET
`
`ADDS ONE OR MORE SECONDARY
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`REFERENCED TO PRIMARY
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`
`USER SELECTS
`CALL
`PROCESSING RULES
`
`INCOMING AND OUTGOING CALLS ARE
`ROUTED VIA THE PUBLIC SWITCHED
`TELEPHONE NETWORK rsTN) TO THE
`TELEPHONE NE WORK
`
`00 N
`
`02 N
`
`N
`
`04
`
`06 N
`
`08 N
`
`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 6 of 14
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 30, 2017
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`
`PUBLIC SWITCHED
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`(PSTN)
`
`310
`
`101
`110
`
`100
`
`102
`104
`
`106
`
`108
`
`APPLICATION LAYER
`CALL MANAGER
`
`1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ •
`
`:
`
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`AUTOMATED STRUCTURE
`
`NETWORK LAYER
`
`I
`
`••••••..•••••••••••••••••••••••••.•
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`
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`i
`i
`RULES SERVER
`~~~~~~~~~~l~~~~~~~~~·
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`:
`1----------------------------------·
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`:
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`• • - - • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • - • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I
`
`WEB MANAGER
`
`'
`.
`
`1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ·
`
`316
`
`INTERNET
`
`WEB
`PORTAL
`
`350
`
`Fl~ 3
`
`MOBILE NETWORK
`-----------------------
`MOBILE
`SWITCHING
`_ .. f ~-~T.~~- JM~_q) _ .. :
`346
`
`313
`
`314
`
`D 0
`
`340
`
`344
`
`HANDSET
`APPLICATION
`
`342
`
`MOBILE
`DATA
`NETWORK
`
`348
`
`Ll 360
`
`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 7 of 14
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 30, 2017
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`
`CALL IS PLACED BY A CALLER TO
`A SECONDARY NUMBER (CALL 1)
`
`•
`
`THE CALL IS ROUTED VIA THE PSTN OR PRIVATE
`NETWORK TO THE TELEPHONE NETWORK
`+
`CALL MANAGER APPLIES THE CALL PROCESSING RULES, ASSIGNS A BRIDGE
`NJMBER AND COMMUNICATES WITH THE HANDSET
`+
`PRE-CALL NOTIFICATION IS SENT
`TO THE HANDSET WITH A BRIDGE NUMBER
`+
`HANDSET APPLICATION DISPLAYS THE CALLED AND CALLING PHONE NUMBER
`INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL CUSTOM INFORMATION
`
`•
`•
`
`USER CHOOSES: ACCEPT CALL, NOT ACCEPT CALL, CUSTOM VOICE MAIL
`MESSAGE,CUSTOMMESSAGE
`
`USER CHOICE IS SENT TO
`CALL MANAGER
`
`---a--------
`
`DELIVER MESSAGE
`
`CALL NOT ACCEPTED
`
`DELIVER CUSTOM VOICE
`MAIL MESSAGE
`
`HANDSET DIALS THE ASSIGNED
`BRIDGE NUMBER (CALL 2)
`,j,
`SWITCH CONNECTS THIS CALL AND THE INCOMING CA~L TOGETHER
`CALL 1 AND CALL 2 ARE BRIDGED
`
`Fl .4
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`4 D4
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`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 8 of 14
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 30, 2017
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`
`208 ------..
`
`50 ,y
`
`50
`'~
`
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`50
`
`50
`'Y
`
`HANDSET APPLICATION
`OPENED FOR
`OUTGOING CALL
`l
`
`USER CHOOSE'S ONE OF
`THE SECONDARY
`TELEPHONE NUMBERS AS
`THE ORIGINATING
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`
`l
`
`USER ENT:RS
`THE TELEPHONE
`NUMBER TO BE CALLED
`AND INITIATES THE CALL
`
`!
`
`CALL MANAGER
`APPLIES THE CALL
`PROCESSING RULES
`
`I
`
`-
`
`-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`CALL MANAGER
`
`- ASSIGNS AND SENDS
`
`A BRIDGE NUMBER
`TO HANDSET
`
`l
`
`NATIVE HANDSET
`DIALER ORIGINATES
`ACALL TO
`BRIDGE NUMBER
`
`l
`THE CALL MANAGER VIA
`THE SWITCH DIALS
`THE CALLED NUMBER
`AND SECONDARY
`NUMBER APPEARS
`AS THE
`CALLING NUMBER
`
`10
`~
`
`~-
`
`12
`~
`
`14
`~
`
`Fl . 5
`
`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 9 of 14
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 30, 2017
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`
`ORIGINATOR
`HANDSET
`APPLICATION
`
`APPLICATION
`SERVER AND
`SWITCH
`
`INVITEES
`HANDSET
`APPLICATION
`
`PICK USERS A, B, C, D
`CONFERENCE REQ
`TO JOIN A CONF CALL NOW 1-+-------..
`CAN ALSO BE SCHEDULED
`FOR A LATER DATA& TIME
`
`ASSIGN A CONFERENCE
`BRIDGE NUMBER.
`(PIN NUMBER OPTIONAL)
`
`SEND MESSAGE TO
`APPLICATION ON USER
`A, B, C, D HANDSET
`
`600
`
`- - - -
`
`608
`
`1 - - - - -
`I
`I
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`I
`JOIN A CONFERECE CALL
`• (OPTIONAL) OTHER
`• BRIDGE NUMBER
`• OPTIONAL PIN NUMBER PARTICIPANTS ARE A, B, C, D
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`1
`
`606
`USER B. C, D ACCEPT TO
`JOIN THE CONFERENCE CALLN
`APPLICATION INITIATES THE
`CALL TO THE BRIDGE
`
`l
`
`SWITCH/ SERVER
`AUTHENTICATES INCOMING
`....•.. · ·•···· · ·· · USER "B" YES
`CALLER ID WITH INVITEE LIST
`. .l.. ................ USER 'C" YES
`(PIN OPTION L) AND ALLOWS
`-+···················· USER "D" YES
`TH:=M TO J&N THE BRIDGE
`-r-· ········· ····· ·· · · ··· ORIGNATOR
`UPDATE ORIGINATION APP WITH
`~ - - - - - - -~ I
`I
`NOTIFICATION SENT TO
`:
`I
`ORGANIZER: 'A"
`1
`I WILL JOIN IN 5 MIN
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`USER "A" CHOOSES
`TO JOIN IN 5 MIN
`
`IN 5 MIN: REMINDER TO "A" r312
`TO JOIN THE CALL
`
`61 .~
`
`SWITCH/ SERVER
`AUTHENTICATES INCOMING
`CALLER ID WTH INVITEE LIST
`(PIN OPTIONA~ AND ALLOWS
`TH::M TO JOI THE BRIDGE
`UPDATE ORIGINATION APP WITH
`
`1-t
`
`+·
`
`I
`I
`1
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 10 of 14
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`
`1
`TELEPHONE NETWORK SYSTEM AND
`METHOD
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The present invention and application relates to, is a
`continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefit of the earlier
`filing date and priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`13/944,853, filed on Jul. 17, 2013, entitled "A Method Of A
`Data Channel Telephone Network System."
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`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 OF THE INVENTION
`
`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 OF THE INVENTION
`
`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
`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
`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
`
`2
`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
`5 channel to the handset under the control of the server, said
`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
`10 handling the incoming call to the secondary telephone
`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
`15 providing telephone service, comprising: automatically stor(cid:173)
`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
`20 bridge telephone number with each of a plurality of contact
`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
`25 channel; automatically associating each primary telephone
`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
`30 the handset to the bridge telephone number via a voice
`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
`35 directing the switch to: (a) connect the outgoing call to a
`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
`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
`45 associated with the server and switch; electronically trans(cid:173)
`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-
`50 bers referenced to the primary telephone number in the
`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
`rules from the telephone handset to the server; electronically
`55 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(cid:173)
`phone number and the one or more secondary telephone
`60 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,
`wherein the user selected call processing rules include
`65 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-
`
`40
`
`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 11 of 14
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
`
`3
`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 5
`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 10
`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- 15
`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 20
`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 25
`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 30
`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- 35
`plary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the
`invention as claimed.
`
`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.
`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 OF EMBODIMENTS
`OF THE INVENTION
`
`Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of
`the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in
`
`4
`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
`40 conducted over a "data channel." Conversely, communica(cid:173)
`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
`45 to carry voice information, are referred to herein as being
`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 the
`50 telephone network that includes the server 100 and switch
`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
`handset 340 using a data channel connection between the
`55 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
`60 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
`65 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
`
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`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 12 of 14
`
`US 9,667,770 B2
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`5
`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 5
`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 10
`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 15
`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 handset 340 and particular primary and/or secondary
`telephone numbers may also be stored in the database 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 num(cid:173)
`bers. 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 addi(cid:173)
`tional 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 45
`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
`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 the switch 110.
`Responsive to receipt of the incoming call at the switch 110, 60
`a Call Manager 104 application, which cooperates with a
`Mobility Manager 106 application, and a Web Manager 108
`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 65
`that is being called. Subject to the accessed call processing
`rules, the Call Manager 104 may assign or look up a bridge
`
`6
`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
`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
`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
`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
`20 interface with a handset 340 calendar to check availability to
`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
`25 to all callers, however, the Call Manager 104 may apply such
`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
`30 type of message to the calling telephone number or a
`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,
`35 which includes the assigned/looked up bridge telephone
`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
`40 telephone number, the calling party name, calling party
`location, such as GPS location, and/or the called secondary
`telephone number, as well as other information in step 410.
`The incoming pre-call information may be received at the
`handset 340 before or during the call ringing on the handset.
`In step 412, responsive to receipt of the incoming pre-call
`notification information, the handset application may cause
`the handset 340 to display call handling choices for the call.
`For example, the handset 340 may be directed under the
`control of the handset application to display receive call,
`50 drop call, custom voice mail message, and/or custom text
`message choices. The choices may be selected through
`interaction with the handset 340, all before the call is
`connected or dropped. In step 414, the selection of either
`delivering a responsive text message (416), not accepting,
`55 i.e., "dropping" the call (418), or responding to the call with
`a custom voice message (420) may be transmitted from the
`handset 340 to the server 100 via the data channel. There(cid:173)
`after, the Call Manager 104 may automatically implement
`the drop call or respond with text or voice message instruc(cid:173)
`tions received over the data channel, and the call attempt
`may be terminated thereafter.
`If the call is accepted in step 414, however, the handset
`application may automatically cause the handset 340 to call
`the bridge telephone number in step 422 over a voice
`channel. The return call from the handset 340 to the bridge
`telephone number may be routed over the PSTN 310 to the
`switch 110 using a voice channel connection. In step 424,
`
`

`

`Case 6:22-cv-00031-ADA Document 67-4 Filed 10/28/22 Page 13 of 14
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`US 9,667,770 B2
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`7