# US 8,788,571 B2 · Apparatus and method that provide data communication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,571 B2 - Document ID: US8788571B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/611,506 - Filed: 2009-11-03 - Published: 2011-05-05 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-03 - Assignees: Language Line Services, Inc. - Applicants: Lindsay D'Penha; Thomas Sterns; Jordy G. Boom - Inventors: Lindsay D'Penha; Thomas Sterns; Jordy G. Boom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788571B2 ## CPC - H04L 65/104: {in the network} - H04L 65/1063: Application servers providing network services (systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42) - H04M 7/0024: {Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services (arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012)} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract An Internet enabled communication device has a data module that sends user data through the Internet to a web services system, requests an acknowledgement from the web services system based on the user data to proceed with a voice communication, and receives the acknowledgement from the web services system if the web services system receives the user data and the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication. The Internet enabled communication device also has a telephony module that, subsequent to the data module receiving the acknowledgement from the web services system, initiates the voice communication through a telephone network to an automated system. The automated system accesses the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without the user having to input the user data through the automated system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An Internet enabled communication device comprising: a data module that sends user data through the Internet to a web services system, requests an acknowledgement from the web services system based on the user data to proceed with a voice communication, and receives the acknowledgement from the web services system if the web services system receives the data and the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication, the user data including an identifier, the web services system storing the user data in a database according to the identifier; and a telephony module that, subsequent to the data module receiving the acknowledgement from the web services system, initiates the voice communication through a telephone network to an automated system that obtains the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without the user having to input the user data through the automated system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the user data includes a name of the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the user data includes account information of the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the user data includes the service requested by the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 4, wherein the service requested by the user is language interpretation for a specific language. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 4, wherein the service requested by the user is live language interpretation by an interpreter for a specific language. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a telephone number. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the automated system obtains the identifier through caller identification. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the telephone network is distinct from the Internet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the web services system determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication if the web services system receives an indication from a credit card processor that a credit card of a user is valid and a predetermined amount of available credit is available on the credit card of the user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, further comprising a display screen through which the user inputs the user data prior to the data module sending the user data to the web services system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The Internet enabled communication device of claim 1, wherein the telephony module and the data module are prevented from being utilized simultaneously. ### Claim 13 A system comprising: a database; a web services device that (i) receives, from a data module in an Internet enabled communication device, through the Internet user data and a request of an acknowledgement based on the user data to enable the Internet enabled communication device to proceed with a voice communication and (ii) sends the acknowledgement to the data module in the Internet enable device if the web service platform receives the user data and determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication, the user data including an identifier, the web services system storing the data in the database according to the identifier; and an automated system that, subsequent to the web services system sending the acknowledgement to the data module, (i) receives a request from a telephony module in the Internet enabled communication device to initiate the voice communication through a telephone network and (ii) obtains the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without having to receive the user data directly from the user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the Internet enabled communication device prevents the data module from directly communicating with the telephony module within the Internet enabled communication device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the Internet enabled communication device prevents the telephony module and the data module from being utilized simultaneously. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the Internet enabled communication device is a telephone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the user data includes a name of the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the user data includes account information of the user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the user data includes the service requested by the user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the service requested by the user is language interpretation for a specific language. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the service requested by the user is live language interpretation by an interpreter for a specific language. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the identifier is a telephone number. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the automated system obtains the identifier through caller identification. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the telephone network is distinct from the Internet. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the web services system determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication if the web services system receives an indication from a credit card processor that a credit card of a user is valid and a predetermined amount of available credit is available on the credit card of the user. ### Claim 26 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the Internet enabled communication device includes a display screen through which the user inputs the user data prior to the data module sending the user data to the web services system. ### Claim 27 A method comprising: sending, with a data module executed by a processor in an Internet enabled communication device, user data through the Internet to a web services system, the user data including an identifier, the web services system storing the data in a database according to the identifier; requesting, with the data module executed by the processor in the Internet enabled communication device, an acknowledgement from the web services system based on the user data to proceed with a voice communication; receiving, with the data module executed by the processor in the Internet enabled communication device, the acknowledgement from the web services system if the web services system receives the data and the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication; and initiating, with a telephony module executed by the processor in the Internet enabled communication device, the voice communication through a telephone network to an automated system that obtains the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without the user having to input the user data through the automated system subsequent to the acknowledgement being received by the data module. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the user data includes a name of the user. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the user data includes account information of the user. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the user data includes the service requested by the user. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the service requested by the user is language interpretation for a specific language. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the service requested by the user is live language interpretation by an interpreter for a specific language. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the identifier is a telephone number. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the automated system obtains the identifier through caller identification. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the telephone network is distinct from the Internet. ### Claim 36 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the web services system determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication if the web services system receives an indication from a credit card processor that a credit card of a user is valid and a predetermined amount of available credit is available on the credit card of the user. ### Claim 37 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a display screen through which the user inputs the user data prior to the data module sending the user data to the web services system. ### Claim 38 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the telephony module and the data module are prevented from being utilized simultaneously. ### Claim 39 A method comprising: receiving, at a web services system from a data module in an Internet enabled communication device through the Internet, user data and a request of an acknowledgement based on the user data to enable the Internet enabled communication device to proceed with a voice communication, the user data including an identifier, the web services system storing the data in a database according to the identifier; sending, from the web services system to the data module in the Internet enabled communication device through the Internet, the acknowledgement to the data module in the Internet enabled communication device if the web service platform receives the user data and determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication; receiving, at the automated system subsequent to the acknowledgement being received by the data module from the web services system, a request from a telephony module in the Internet enabled communication device to initiate the voice communication through a telephone network; and obtaining, with the automated system subsequent to the receipt of the request from the telephony module, the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without having to receive the user data directly from the user. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the Internet enabled communication device prevents the data module from directly communicating with the telephony module within the Internet enabled communication device. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the Internet enabled communication device prevents the telephony module and the data module from being utilized simultaneously. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the Internet enabled communication device is a telephone. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the user data includes a name of the user. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the user data includes account information of the user. ### Claim 45 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the user data includes the service requested by the user. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, wherein the service requested by the user is language interpretation for a specific language. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, wherein the service requested by the user is live language interpretation by an interpreter for a specific language. ### Claim 48 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the identifier is a telephone number. ### Claim 49 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the automated system obtains the identifier through caller identification. ### Claim 50 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the telephone network is distinct from the Internet. ### Claim 51 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the web services system determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication if the web services system receives an indication from a credit card processor that a credit card of a user is valid and a predetermined amount of available credit is available on the credit card of the user. ### Claim 52 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the Internet enabled communication device includes a display screen through which the user inputs the user data prior to the data module sending the user data to the web services system. ### Claim 53 A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage device having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to: send, with a data module executed by a processor in an Internet enabled communication device, user data through the Internet to a web services system, the user data including an identifier, the web services system storing the data in a database according to the identifier; request, with the data module executed by the processor in the Internet enabled communication device, an acknowledgement from the web services system based on the user data to proceed with a voice communication; receive, with the data module executed by the processor in the Internet enabled communication device, the acknowledgement from the web services system if the web services system receives the data and the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication; and initiate, with a telephony module executed by the processor in the Internet enabled communication device, the voice communication through a telephone network to an automated system that obtains the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without the user having to input the user data through the automated system subsequent to the acknowledgement being received by the data module. ### Claim 54 A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage device having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to: receive, with a web services system from a data module in an Internet enabled communication device through the Internet, user data and a request of an acknowledgement based on the user data to enable the Internet enabled communication device to proceed with a voice communication, the user data including an identifier, the web services system storing the data in a database according to the identifier; send, with the web services system from the data module in the Internet enabled communication device through the Internet, the acknowledgement to the data module in the Internet enabled communication device if the web service platform receives the user data and determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication; receive, with the automated system subsequent to the acknowledgement being received by the data module from the web services system, a request from a telephony module in the Internet enabled communication device to initiate the voice communication through a telephone network; and obtain, with the automated system subsequent to the receipt of the request from the telephony module, the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without having to receive the user data directly from the user. ### Claim 55 A system comprising: a computing device that sends user data through a first network to a services system, requests an acknowledgement from the services system based on the user data to proceed with a voice communication, and receives the acknowledgement from the services system if the services system receives the data and the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication, the user data including an identifier, the services system storing the data in a database according to the identifier; and a telephone, subsequent to the computing device receiving the acknowledgement from the services system, initiates the voice communication through a second network to an automated system that obtains the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without the user having to input the user data through the automated system, the second network being distinct from the first network. ### Claim 56 A system comprising: a database; a services device that (i) receives, from a computing device, through a first network user data and a request of an acknowledgement based on the user data to enable the computing device to proceed with a voice communication and (ii) sends the acknowledgement to the computing device if the services device receives the user data and determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the voice communication, the user data including an identifier, the services device storing the data in the database according to the identifier; and an automated system that, subsequent to the services device sending the acknowledgement to the computing device, (i) receives a request from a telephone to initiate the voice communication through a second network and (ii) obtains the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without having to receive the user data directly from the user, the second network being distinct from the first network. ### Claim 57 A system comprising: a computing device that sends user data through a first network to a services system, requests an acknowledgement from the services system based on the user data to proceed with a communication, and receives the acknowledgement from the services system if the services system receives the data and the user is authorized to proceed with the communication, the user data including an identifier, the services system storing the data in a database according to the identifier; and a communications device, subsequent to the computing device receiving the acknowledgement from the services system, initiates the communication through a second network to an automated system that obtains the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without the user having to input the user data through the automated system. ### Claim 58 A system comprising: a database; a services device that (i) receives, from a computing device, through a first network user data and a request of an acknowledgement based on the user data to enable the computing device to proceed with a communication and (ii) sends the acknowledgement to the computing device if the services device receives the user data and determines that the user is authorized to proceed with the communication, the user data including an identifier, the services device storing the data in the database according to the identifier; and an automated system that, subsequent to the services device sending the acknowledgement to the computing device, (i) receives a request from a telephone to initiate the communication through a second network and (ii) obtains the identifier to access the user data in the database to automatically connect the user to a service without having to receive the user data directly from the user, the second network being distinct from the first network.