Internet telephony directory server
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRobert Rainis, Stephen Ng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims55
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.