Telephony

Abstract

In one embodiment of an improvement to telephony, a solution to the problem of communicating to “the many” is made by enabling telecommunications service providers to: accept digital dialog as well as conventional dialog, enable augmented phone service to be added to conventional phone services, handle non-calls in addition to calls, and turn content into content-of-interest.

1 - 82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . A method for providing an online home for a user, the online home presented to the user and visitors via a plurality of interfaces, the method comprising:
 (a) presenting to the user a plurality of virtual rooms, each room having predefined characteristics and functions;   (b) presenting a plurality of virtual objects, each object having predefined functions and characteristics;   (c) providing access to the online home to the user via a variety of access networking including the Internet and a voice telephone network; and   (d) receiving inputs from the user and activating functions of the plurality of virtual rooms and the plurality of virtual objects.   
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the inputs are text inputs by the user. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the inputs are click stream data input by the user. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the inputs are verbal commands of the user. 
     
     
         87 . (canceled) 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86  wherein the inputs are received via a voice telephone network. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the presenting of (a) and (b) is realized by spoken word. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89  wherein the spoken word is computer generated. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the presenting of (a) and (b) is realized by a GUI. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the user may modify the predefined characteristics and functions of the plurality of virtual rooms and the plurality of virtual objects. 
     
     
         93 - 99 . (canceled) 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 83  wherein a default setting includes disallowing the access of commercial entities. 
     
     
         101 - 120 . (canceled) 
     
     
         121 . A method of creating a phone web system, said method comprising:
 providing a plurality of telephone numbers;   mass registering with an internet address registrar a plurality of internet addresses, each of said plurality of internet addresses including one of said plurality of telephone numbers, each of said telephone numbers being the telephone number of a phone web user;   providing a server computer; and   hosting a plurality of web sites on said server computer, each of said web sites having one of said plurality of internet addresses including one of said telephone numbers.   
     
     
         122 . A method as in  claim 121  wherein each of said internet addresses is of the form www.[number] where number is one of said plurality of telephone numbers. 
     
     
         123 . A method as in  claim 121 , and further comprising providing a processing unit on said server computer and providing on said server computer a computer-readable medium providing instructions for directing said processor unit to permit a user of said phone web to customize said web site having a web address including said user's telephone number. 
     
     
         124 . A method as in  claim 123 , and further comprising, upon customization of said web site by said user, billing said user for use of said web site on a regular periodic basis. 
     
     
         125 . A method as in  claim 121 , and further comprising permitting said phone web user to customize said web site via telephone using voice communications. 
     
     
         126 . A method as in  claim 121 , and further comprising providing on said web site the geolocation of one or more of the family members of said phone web user. 
     
     
         127 . A method as in  claim 121 , and further comprising providing a processing unit on said server computer and providing on said server computer a computer-readable medium providing instructions for directing said processor unit to perform one or more of: providing a governmental warning system; organizing home-oriented messages; organizing work-related messages; organizing shopping-related messages; organizing travel-related messages; and organizing education-related messages. 
     
     
         128 . A phone web system comprising:
 one of more server computers;   a plurality of web sites maintained on said one or more server computers, each of said web sites having an internet address including a telephone number, each of said telephone numbers being a different telephone number of a different user; and   wherein each of said plurality of web sites can be accessed via telephone by dialing said telephone number of said user.   
     
     
         129 . A phone web system as in  claim 128  wherein each of said internet addresses is of the form www. [number], where number is one of said plurality of telephone numbers. 
     
     
         130 . A phone web system as in  claim 128  wherein said one or more server computers includes a processing unit, said one or more server computers further include a computer-readable medium containing instructions for directing said processing unit to customize said web site having an address containing the telephone number of said user upon receiving customization input from said user. 
     
     
         131 . A phone web system as in  claim 128  wherein each of said plurality of web sites comprises a personal web site for a phone web user having the corresponding telephone number and said personal web site is accessible from any convenient electronic terminal, including conventional telephones, cell phones, and browsers. 
     
     
         132 . A phone web as in  claim 121  wherein said one or more server computers include a processing unit, and said server computer includes a computer-readable medium providing instructions for directing said processor unit to perform one or more of: providing a governmental warning system; organizing home-oriented messages; organizing work-related messages; organizing shopping-related messages; organizing travel-related messages; and organizing education-related messages.