Universal point of contact identifier system calling device and method

A method of establishing a connection between a preferred end unit of a caller and a preferred contact device of a call recipient over a telephone network utilizing a calling device communicating with a server over the network, wherein the calling device includes an input device with an alphanumeric keypad and a storage medium, the method comprising:

• entering an identifier corresponding to the call recipient into the storage medium of the calling device utilizing the keypad of the input device, wherein the identifier is not a connection address of the preferred contact device;
• transmitting an initiation signal from the calling device to the server over the network to establish a communication link between the calling device and the server;
• and
• in response to establishing the communication link between the calling device and the server, transmitting a connection request signal from the calling device to the server, wherein the connection request signal includes the identifier;
• wherein, in response to transmission of the connection request signal, a connection between the preferred end unit of the caller and the preferred contact device of the call recipient is automatically achieved over the network.

A calling device for communicating with a server to permit the server to establish a connection between a caller and a call recipient over a telephone network, wherein the server connects a preferred end unit of the caller to a preferred contact device of the call recipient by selecting a connection address for the preferred contact device, the calling device comprising:

• a means for inputting an identifier corresponding to the call recipient, wherein the identifier is not the connection address for the preferred contact device;
• a means for storing the identifier and a connection code to connect with the server;
• and
• a means for transmitting a plurality of signals from the calling device to the server over the network, wherein the plurality of signals includes:
• a initiation signal based on the connection code to establish a communication link between the calling device and the server;
• and
• a connection request signal transmitted in response to establishing the communication link between the calling device and the server, the connection request signal including the identifier;
• wherein transmission of the connection request signal facilitates automatic connection between the preferred end unit of the caller and the preferred contact device of the call recipient over the network.

A calling device for communicating with a server over a telephone network to permit the calling device to receive a preferred physical address for a subscriber of a universal point of contact service associated with the server, the calling device comprising:

• an input device including a keypad with alphanumeric characters configured to input an identifier corresponding to the subscriber;
• an output unit configured to connect the calling device to the network;
• a storage medium configured to store the identifier input by the input device and a predetermined connection code to connect with the server;
• a communication unit coupled to the output unit and configured to establish a communication link between the calling device and the server over the network;
• a display;
• and
• a controller coupled to each of the input device, the storage medium, the communication unit and the display, the controller being configured to control the communication unit at least to:
• transmit an initiation signal over the network to the server to establish the communication link between the calling device and the server, wherein the initiation signal is based on the connection code;
• and
• transmit a connection request signal over the network to the server in response to establishing the communication link, wherein the connection request signal includes the identifier;
• wherein the calling device is configured to receive the preferred physical address of the subscriber from the server and display the preferred physical address via the display in response to transmission of the connection request signal to the server.

A method of receiving a preferred physical address for a subscriber of a universal point of contact service utilizing a calling device communicating with a server associated with the universal point of contact service over a telephone network, wherein the calling device includes an input device with an alphanumeric keypad, a storage medium, and a display, the method comprising:

• entering an identifier corresponding to the subscriber into the storage medium of the calling device utilizing the keypad of the input device;
• transmitting an initiation signal from the calling device to the server over the network to establish a communication link between the calling device and the server;
• in response to establishing the communication link between the calling device and the server, transmitting a connection request signal from the calling device to the server, wherein the connection request signal includes the identifier;
• and
• in response to transmission of the connection request signal, receiving the preferred physical address of the subscriber from the server and displaying the preferred physical address via the display of the calling device.