US6310873B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internet telephony directory server
Assignee: Yahoo Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-09
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Granted: 2001-10-30
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Expires: 2017-01-09
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a system that provides telephonic communication over the Internet, and more particularly relates to an Internet telephony system that allows the user to select a service to handle the call, to choose a method of payment, and to call a party by ringing the party's standard telephone. When the user desires to place a call, the user receives rate quotes from candidate telephony servers and selects a telephony server, which connects the call to the receiving party's standard telephone. The selected telephony server handles payment for the call and provides the user with information regarding progress and cost of the call.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Rainis
- 👤 Stephen Ng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M7/00; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/1285; H04M15/00; H04M15/49; H04M15/56; H04M15/70; H04M15/745; H04M15/80; H04M15/8044; H04M15/805; H04M15/83; H04M17/00; H04M17/20; H04M2017/26; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0108; H04M2215/0168; H04M2215/0176; H04M2215/018; H04M2215/20; H04M2215/202; H04M2215/46; H04M2215/74; H04M2215/745; H04M2215/7457; H04M2215/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An Internet telephony system, comprising: user input means for allowing a user to input data, the data including a destination telephone number of a receiving party; identifying means for identifying a plurality of candidate telephony servers from a telephony server list, wherein each of the candidate telephony servers provides service to one or more receiving parties based on predetermined criteria; telephony server selection means for allowing the user to select one of the candidate telephony servers; and call initiation means responsive to the telephony server selection means for requesting the selected candidate telephony server to connect a call to the destination telephone number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An Internet telephony system, comprising: user input means for allowing a user to input data, the data including a destination telephone number of a receiving party; identifying means for identifying a plurality of candidate telephony servers from a telephony server list, wherein each of the candidate telephony servers provides service to one or more receiving parties based on predetermined criteria; telephony server selection means for allowing the user to select one of the candidate telephony servers; and call initiation means responsive to the telephony server selection means for requesting the selected candidate telephony server to connect a call to the destination telephone number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising: quote request means for requesting rate quotes from the candidate telephony servers based on the data; quote receiving means for receiving the rate quotes from candidate telephony servers responding to the quote request means; and quote displaying means for displaying to the user the rate quotes of the responding candidate telephony servers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 2 , wherein the rate quotes include a quote for an unavailable telephone line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 2 , wherein each of the rate quotes includes a lifetime indication of the time period in which the rate quote will be honored.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the rate quotes includes additional candidate telephony server information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 5 , wherein the additional candidate telephony server information includes advertising.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising payment selection means for allowing a user to select a payment method.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising payment means for providing payment to the selected candidate telephony server.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 8 , wherein the payment includes an initial prepayment for the beginning of the call.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 9 , wherein the payment further includes a plurality of additional prepayments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 8 , wherein the selected candidate telephony server periodically requests for an additional payment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 8 , wherein the payment includes a payment token, wherein the payment token serves as proof of ability to pay for the call.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 12 , wherein the payment token includes security features.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 13 , wherein the security features include encryption and digital signatures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 14 , further comprising means for decrypting and verifying the payment token.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 8 , wherein the payment comprises funds from a digital calling card.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 16 , further comprising means for registering the digital calling card.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising means for generating a bill.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising progress means for providing the user with progress data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising progress exchange means for exchanging progress data packets with the selected candidate telephony server.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 20 , wherein the progress data packets include security features.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 21 , wherein the security features include encryption and digital signatures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 22 , further comprising means for decrypting and verifying the progress data packets.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising exchange means for exchanging digitized speech packets with the selected candidate telephony server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 24 , wherein the digitized speech packets are encrypted.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising termination means for allowing the user, the receiving party or the selected candidate telephony server to terminate the call.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , wherein the telephony server list is a database.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising registering means for registering telephony server data with the telephony server list.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 28 , wherein the registering means includes an on-line service.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 1 , further comprising means for accessing information sources and additional telecommunications services.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
99 words
An internet telephony system, comprising: a client that enables a user to input data, including a destination telephone number of a receiving party; a telephony server identifier that enables identification of at least one candidate telephony server providing service to one or more receiving parties based upon predetermined criteria; a telephony server selector that enables a user to select at least one of the at least one candidate telephony servers; and a call initiator, responsive to the telephony server selector, that enables the selected at least one candidate telephony server to connect a call to the destination telephone number.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
99 words
An internet telephony system, comprising: a client that enables a user to input data, including a destination telephone number of a receiving party; a telephony server identifier that enables identification of at least one candidate telephony server providing service to one or more receiving parties based upon predetermined criteria; a telephony server selector that enables a user to select at least one of the at least one candidate telephony servers; and a call initiator, responsive to the telephony server selector, that enables the selected at least one candidate telephony server to connect a call to the destination telephone number.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 31 , further comprising a payment object that provides payment to the selected at least one candidate telephony server.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 31 , further comprising an exchanger that exchanges digitized speech packets with the selected at least one candidate telephony server.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 31 , further comprising, a progress indicator that provides the user with progress data.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 31 , further comprising a terminator that enables the user, the one or more receiving parties, or the selected at least on candidate telephony server to terminate the call.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
An Internet telephony system according to claim 31 , wherein the data is in the form of dual tone multifrequency signals.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service, comprising the steps of: allowing a user to input data, the data including a destination telephone number of a receiving party; identifying a plurality of candidate telephony servers from a telephony server list, wherein each of the candidate telephony servers provides service to one or more receiving parties based on predetermined criteria; allowing the user to select one of the candidate telephony servers; and requesting the selected candidate telephony server to connect a call to the destination telephone number.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service, comprising the steps of: allowing a user to input data, the data including a destination telephone number of a receiving party; identifying a plurality of candidate telephony servers from a telephony server list, wherein each of the candidate telephony servers provides service to one or more receiving parties based on predetermined criteria; allowing the user to select one of the candidate telephony servers; and requesting the selected candidate telephony server to connect a call to the destination telephone number.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , further comprising the steps of: requesting rate quotes from the candidate telephony servers based on the data; receiving the rate quotes from candidate telephony servers responding to the quote request means; and displaying to the user the rate quotes of the responding candidate telephony servers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 38 , wherein each of the rate quotes includes a lifetime indication of the time period in which the rate quote will be honored.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , further comprising the step of allowing a user to select a payment method.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , further comprising the step of providing payment to the selected candidate telephony server.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 41 , wherein the payment includes an initial prepayment for the beginning of the call.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 42 , wherein the payment further includes a plurality of additional prepayments.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 41 , wherein the selected candidate telephony server periodically requests for an additional payment.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , further comprising the step of providing the user with progress data.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , further comprising the step of exchanging progress data packets with the selected candidate telephony server.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 46 , wherein the progress data packets include security features.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , further comprising the step of exchanging digitized speech packets with the selected candidate telephony server.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , wherein the telephony server list is a database.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , further comprising the step of registering telephony server data with the telephony server list.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for providing Internet telephony service according to claim 37 , further comprising the step of accessing information sources and additional telecommunications services.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
120 words
An electronic storage medium having code embodied thereon for causing at least one processor to enable an Internet telephony system, the medium comprising: client user input code that enables a user to input data, including a destination telephone number of a receiving party; telephony server identifier code that enables identification of at least one candidate telephony server providing service to one or more receiving parties based upon predetermined criteria; telephony server selector code that enables a user to select at least one of the at least one candidate telephony servers; and call initiator code, responsive to the telephony server selector code, that enables the selected at least one candidate telephony server to connect a call to the destination telephone number.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
120 words
An electronic storage medium having code embodied thereon for causing at least one processor to enable an Internet telephony system, the medium comprising: client user input code that enables a user to input data, including a destination telephone number of a receiving party; telephony server identifier code that enables identification of at least one candidate telephony server providing service to one or more receiving parties based upon predetermined criteria; telephony server selector code that enables a user to select at least one of the at least one candidate telephony servers; and call initiator code, responsive to the telephony server selector code, that enables the selected at least one candidate telephony server to connect a call to the destination telephone number.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic storage medium according to claim 52 , further comprising payment provider code that enables the provision of payment to the selected at least one candidate telephony server.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic storage medium according to claim 52 , further comprising exhanger code that enables exchanging digitized speech packets with the selected at least one candidate telephony server.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic storage medium according to claim 52 , further comprising progress code that enables the provision of progress data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-29 | 2005-04-30 | 2005-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-29 | 2009-04-30 | 2009-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-29 | 2013-04-30 | 2013-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |