Method and apparatus for establishing communications with a remote node on a switched network based on hypertext calling received from a packet network

A method comprising:

• A service provider operating consumer premise equipment including an Internet server connected to the Internet and a related database, and a telephony switch connected to a telephone network
• a first party operating a computer terminal having a connection to the Internet and a telephone terminal having a link to said telephone network;
• a plurality of end user entities each operating a computer terminal having a connection to the Internet and a telephone terminal having a link to said telephone network;
• said service provider entity establishing a relationship with said first party and providing to said first party via the Internet, software and services to implement push to talk trigger communication to end user entities, said first party installing said software provided by said service provider entity in said first party computer terminal and running said software;
• said first party and said service provider installing and maintaining a web page of said first party located on an Internet server, said first party web page including dialog requesting the insertion of a telephone number;
• said first party using said software of said service provider entity which was installed in said first party computer terminal to implement push to talk trigger communications to end user entities including preparing an e-mail addressed to a selected end user entity containing an HTML file which includes a push to talk trigger;
• said first party sending said e-mail containing said HTML file to said selected end user entity via the Internet;
• said selected end user entity receiving said e-mail from said first party and activating said push to talk trigger contained therein, responsive to said activation of said push to talk trigger contained in said e-mail connecting said selected end user entity computer terminal via the Internet to said Internet web page of said first party on said Internet server;
• said selected end user entity entering a telephone number into said first party web page in response to said telephone number request contained therein;
• communicating said entered telephone number to said service provider entity database and related server, said server sending instructions to said service provider entity telephone switch and said switch signaling said telephone network;
• and
• establishing a connection between said selected end user entity and said first party via said telephone network.