Method and apparatus for initiating telephone calls using a data network

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention a process for initiating a telephone call, comprises the steps, performed by a processor, of: receiving a network request identifying a telephone number and an account number; retrieving from the database a telephone number associated with the account number; and signaling a telephone switch to place a call connecting instruments corresponding to the telephone number from the request and the telephone number retrieved from the database.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for initiating telephone calls on a voice network in response to requests from a data network comprising the steps, performed by a processor, of: 
 receiving a data network request to initiate a telephone call;    identifying a stored telephone number corresponding to the request; and    signaling a switch to make a call on the voice network to an instrument identified by the telephone number.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein the receiving step includes the substep of: 
 identifying a user telephone number, and wherein the signaling step includes the substep of:    connecting an instrument identified by the user telephone number to the call.    
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the receiving step includes the substeps of: 
 providing a web page for user input and request selection.    
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the identifying step includes the substep of: 
 accessing a stored database in accordance with the data network request.    
     
     
         5 . A method for initiating a telephone call, comprising the steps, performed by a processor, of: 
 receiving a network request identifying a telephone number and an account number;    retrieving from the database a telephone number associated with the account number; and    signaling a telephone switch to place a call connecting instruments corresponding to the telephone number from the request and the telephone number retrieved from the database.    
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the retrieving step includes the substep of: 
 accessing a database to verify the account number.    
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the signaling step includes the substep of: 
 displaying a status of the call.    
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the signaling step includes the substeps of: 
 monitoring a status of the call; and    updating the status of the call to reflect any changes; and    displaying the status of the call.    
     
     
         9 . A method for providing telephone services on a public switched telephone network from a data network, comprising the step, performed by a processor, of: 
 receiving a customer request via the data network to modify a stored telephone directory;    modifying the telephone directory in accordance with the request;    receiving a new request to make a telephone call, including a telephone number from the telephone directory; and    signaling a telephone switch connected to the public switched telephone network to place a call connecting instruments corresponding to a stored telephone number for the customer and the telephone number specified in the new request.    
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein the modifying step includes the substep of: 
 notifying the customer that the requested modification to the telephone directory has been made.    
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein the step of receiving a customer request to modify the stored telephone directory includes the sub step of: 
 determining whether the customer has permission to modify the stored telephone directory.    
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the determining step includes the substep of: 
 accessing a stored database for an account number for the customer.    
     
     
         13 . A method for providing telephone services on a public switched telephone network from a data network, comprising the step, performed by a processor, of: 
 receiving a conference call request, including a customer number and a group identifier;    retrieving from a database stored telephone numbers corresponding to the customer number and group identifier; and    signaling a telephone switch to place a conference call on the public switched telephone network connecting instruments corresponding to the telephone numbers retrieved from the database.    
     
     
         14 . A system for initiating telephone calls on a voice network in response to requests from a data network comprising: 
 an input component configured to receive a data network request to initiate a telephone call;    a processing component configured to identify a stored telephone number corresponding to the request; and    a signaling component configured to signal a switch to make a call on the voice network to an instrument identified by the telephone number.    
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 14   , wherein the input unit includes: 
 means configured to identify a user telephone number, and wherein the signaling component includes:    means configured to connect an instrument identified by the user telephone number to the call.    
     
     
         16 . The system of    claim 14   , wherein the input component includes: 
 means configured to provide a web page for user input and request selection.    
     
     
         17 . The system of    claim 14   , wherein the processing component includes: 
 an database accessing component configured to access a stored database in accordance with the data network request.    
     
     
         18 . A system for initiating a telephone call, comprising: 
 an input component configured to receive a network request identifying a telephone number and an account number;    a component configured to retrieve from the database a telephone number associated with the account number; and    a signaling component configured to signal a telephone switch to place a call connecting instruments corresponding to the telephone number from the request and the telephone number retrieved from the database.    
     
     
         19 . The system of    claim 18   , wherein the component configured to retrieve the telephone number from the database includes: 
 a database accessing component configured to access a database to verify the account number.    
     
     
         20 . The system of    claim 18   , wherein the signaling component includes: 
 means for displaying a status of the call.    
     
     
         21 . The system of    claim 18   , wherein the signaling component includes: 
 means for monitoring a status of the call; and    means for updating the status of the call to reflect any changes; and    means for displaying the status of the call.    
     
     
         22 . A system for providing telephone services on a public switched telephone network from a data network, comprising: 
 a first input component configured to receive a customer request via the data network to modify a stored telephone directory;    a component configured to modify the telephone directory in accordance with the request;    a second input component configured to receive a new request to make a telephone call, including a telephone number from the telephone directory; and    a signaling component configured to signal a telephone switch connected to the public switched telephone network to place a call connecting instruments corresponding to a stored telephone number for the customer and the telephone number specified in the new request.    
     
     
         23 . The system of    claim 22   , wherein the modifying component includes: 
 a component configured to notify the customer that the requested modification to the telephone directory has been made.    
     
     
         24 . The system of    claim 22   , wherein the first input component includes: 
 a processing component configureed to determine whether the customer has permission to modify the stored telephone directory.    
     
     
         25 . The system of    claim 24   , wherein the processing component includes: 
 a database access component configured to access a stored database for an account number for the customer.    
     
     
         26 . A system for providing telephone services on a public switched telephone network from a data network, comprising: 
 an input component configured to receive a conference call request, including a customer number and a group identifier;    a retrieving component configured to retrieve from a database stored telephone numbers corresponding to the customer number and group identifier; and    a signaling component configured to signal a telephone switch to place a conference call on the public switched telephone network connecting instruments corresponding to the telephone numbers retrieved from the database.