METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING TELEPHONE STATUS
The monitor is for monitoring the status of a first client telephone, and for sending this status information via a central server to an authorized second client telephone. The central server stores a database of registered client telephones and corresponding client telephones that the client may monitor. A user of a registered client telephone monitors in real time the telephone status of registered friends, family, or co-workers that have agreed to be monitored by the user.
1 - 18 . (canceled)
19 . A method for tracking a status of a first telephone over a telephony network, the method comprising the steps of:
sending a request to monitor the first telephone;
receiving authorization to monitor the first telephone;
receiving the status of the first telephone; and
storing the status of the first telephone.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further including the step of:
receiving an identifier of the first telephone that identifies a party to be monitored.
21 . The method of claim 20 , further including the step of:
storing the identifier of the first telephone.
22 . The method of claim 19 , further including the step of:
sending a request to register a second telephone, wherein the request includes a digital signature and an identifier that identifies the second telephone.
23 . The method of claim 22 , further including the step of:
receiving an indication of successful registration of the second telephone.
24 . The method of claim 19 , further including the step of:
decrypting the received status with a private key.
25 . The method of claim 19 , further including the step of:
sending an indication acknowledging successful receipt of the status.
26 . The method of claim 19 , further including the step of:
displaying the status of the first telephone.
27 . A system for tracking a status of a first telephone over a telephony network, the system comprising:
a monitor request service for sending a request to monitor the first telephone;
a communication interface coupled to the monitor request service for receiving authorization to monitor the first telephone; and
a database manager coupled to the communication interface for storing the status of the first telephone.
28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the monitor request service receives an identifier of the first telephone that identifies a party to be monitored.
29 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the monitor request service stores the identifier of the first telephone.
30 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the monitor request service sends a request to register a second telephone, wherein the request includes a digital signature and an identifier that identifies the second telephone.
31 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the monitor request service receives an indication of successful registration of the second telephone.
32 . The system of claim 27 , further comprising a decryption service for decrypting the received status with a private key.
33 . The system of claim 27 , further comprising a display manager for displaying the status of the first telephone.
34 . A system for tracking a status of a monitored telephone over a telephony network, the system comprising:
a notification service for receiving a status change signal from a first telephone and for determining a second telephone associated with the first telephone; and
a queue manager coupled to the notification service for transmitting the status change signal to the second telephone.
35 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the notification engine receives the status change signal when the signal is triggered by an off-hook signal of the first telephone.
36 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the notification service receives the status change signal when the signal is triggered by at least one DTMF digit being entered into the first telephone by a user.
37 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the notification engine intermittently receives the at least one DTMF signal.