Systems and methods implementing internet screen dialing for circuit switched telephones

A system, comprising:

• a telephony device coupled to a telephone line;
• a computer coupled to the telephone line, the computer having a user interface and comprising:
• an input device,
• at least one processor configured to:
• receive an electronic document that includes data representing a telephone number,
• receive input via the input device selecting the telephone number from the electronic document by way of the user interface, and
• signal, via a packet-switched network coupled to the telephone line, a telecommunication system to connect a call between a telephone associated with the telephone number and the telephony device in response to the selection of the telephone number, the call being connected via the telephone line,
• means for storing a calling party telephone number associated with the telephony device in the computer to obtain a stored calling party telephone number,
• means for returning a status message to the computer if the calling party does not answer the telephony device within a specified time period wherein said status message comprises the calling party telephone number and possible reasons for failure of the call;
• and
• means for using the stored calling party telephone number to connect all calls from the telephony device to any telephone number including the telephone number, subsequent to attempting the call.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one computer processor having a user interface to perform a method of making a telephone call using an electronic document, the method comprising:

• receiving an electronic document that includes data representing at least one telephone number;
• receiving input via an input device selecting through the user interface a first telephone number from the electronic document thereby providing a selected telephone number;
• signaling, via a packet-switched network coupled to a first line, a telecommunication system to connect a call between a first telephone associated with the first telephone number and a second telephone associated with a calling party telephone number in response to the selection of the first telephone number, the calling party telephone number being stored in the computer, the call being connected via the first line;
• returning a status message to the computer if the calling party does not answer the second telephone within a specified time period wherein said status message comprises the calling party telephone number and possible reasons for failure of the call;
• and
• subsequent to attempting the call, using the stored calling party telephone number to connect all calls from the calling party to any telephone number including the selected telephone number.

A method of making a telephone call using an electronic document stored in a computer having a user interface, comprising:

• retrieving the electronic document, the electronic document including data representing at least one telephone number;
• selecting a first telephone number from the electronic document by way of the user interface;
• signaling, from the computer via a packet-switched network coupled to a first line, a telecommunication system to connect a call between the first telephone number and a calling party telephone number in response to the selection of the first telephone number, the calling party telephone number being stored in the computer;
• establishing, via the first line, a circuit-switched connection between a first telephone associated with the first telephone number and a second telephone associated with the calling party telephone number wherein the second telephone is a component of the computer;
• subsequent to attempting the call, returning a status message to the computer if the calling party does not answer the second telephone within a specified time period wherein said status message comprises the calling party telephone number and possible reasons for failure of the call;
• and
• subsequent to attempting the call, using the stored calling party telephone number to connect all calls from the calling party to any telephone number including the first telephone number.

A system comprising:

• a telephony device of a calling party coupled to a first telephone line;
• and
• a computer having a user interface coupled to the first telephone line, the destination number of the telephony device being stored in the computer, the computer comprising:
• an input device,
• at least one processor configured to:
• receive an electronic document that includes data representing a telephone number,
• receive input via the input device selecting the telephone number from the electronic document by way of the user interface, and
• initiate the establishment of a circuit-switched connection between a telephone associated with the telephone number and the telephony device via the first telephone line,
• return a status message to the computer if the calling party does not answer the telephony device within a specified time period wherein said status message comprises the destination number of the telephony device and possible reasons for failure of the call;
• and
• means for using the stored destination number to connect all calls from the telephony device to any telephone number including the selected telephone number, subsequent to attempting the connection.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one computer processor having a user interface to perform a method of making a telephone call using an electronic document, the method comprising:

• receiving an electronic document that includes data representing at least one telephone number;
• receiving input via an input device selecting a first telephone number from the electronic document by way of the user interface;
• signaling, via a packet-switched network coupled to a first line, a telecommunication system to connect a call between the first telephone number and a calling party telephone number in response to the selection of the first telephone number, the calling party telephone number being stored in the computer;
• establishing, via the first line, a circuit-switched connection between a first telephone associated with the first telephone number and a second telephone associated with the calling party telephone number;
• returning a status message to the computer if the calling party does not answer the second telephone within a specified time period wherein said status message comprises the calling party telephone number and possible reasons for failure of the call;
• and
• subsequent to attempting the call, using the stored calling party telephone number to connect all calls from the calling party to any telephone number including the first telephone number.

A system for making a telephone call using an electronic document stored in a computer having a user interface, the system comprising:

• means for receiving the electronic document, the electronic document including data representing at least one telephone number;
• means, utilizing the user interface, for selecting a first telephone number from the electronic document to obtain a selected telephone number;
• means for signaling, via a packet-switched network coupled to a first line, a telecommunication system to connect a call between a first telephone associated with the first telephone number and a second telephone associated with a calling party telephone number in response to the selection of the first telephone number, the calling party telephone number being stored in the computer, the call being connected via the first line;
• means for returning a status message to the computer if the calling party does not answer the second telephone within a specified time period wherein said status message comprises the calling party telephone number and possible reasons for failure of the call;
• and
• means for using the stored calling party telephone number to connect all calls from the calling party to any telephone number including the selected telephone number, subsequent to attempting the call.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one computer processor having a user interface to perform a method of making a telephone call using an electronic document, the method comprising:

• receiving an electronic document that includes data representing at least one telephone number;
• receiving input via an input device selecting through the user interface a first telephone number from the electronic document thereby providing a selected telephone number;
• signaling, via a packet-switched network coupled to a first line, a telecommunication system to connect a call between a first telephone associated with the first telephone number and a second telephone associated with a calling party telephone number in response to the selection of the first telephone number, the calling party telephone number being stored in the computer, the call being connected via the first line;
• wherein the calling party telephone number is stored in the computer and the status message comprises the calling party telephone number and possible reasons for failure of the call, and
• subsequent to attempting the call, using the stored calling party telephone number to connect all calls from the calling party to any telephone number including the selected telephone number and returning a status message to the computer if the calling party does not answer the second telephone within a specified time period.

A method of making a telephone call using an electronic document stored in a computer having a user interface, comprising:

• retrieving the electronic document, the electronic document including data representing at least one telephone number;
• selecting a first telephone number from the electronic document by way of the user interface;
• signaling, from the computer via a packet-switched network coupled to a first line, a telecommunication system to connect a call between the first telephone number and a calling party telephone number in response to the selection of the first telephone number, the calling party telephone number being stored in the computer;
• establishing, via the first line, a circuit-switched connection between a first telephone associated with the first telephone number and a second telephone associated with the calling party telephone number;
• and
• subsequent to attempting the call, using the stored calling party telephone number to connect all calls from the calling party to any telephone number including the first telephone number and returning a status message to the computer if the calling party does not answer the second telephone within a specified time period wherein said status message comprises the calling party telephone number and possible reasons for failure of the call.