Method and apparatus for one number mapping directory presence service
View Patent ↗A method includes associating an e-mail address with a plurality of telephone numbers; associating one of the telephone numbers with a one number service ( 108 ); allowing telephone calls to the one of the telephone numbers by selecting the e-mail address. In some embodiments, the allowing telephone calls comprises calling a programmed caller number and calling to a called party number associated with the e-mail address. In some embodiments, a called party and a calling party are subscribers to a one-number service ( 108 ).
1. A method for making telephone calls comprising:
a server receiving a request from a calling party to call a called party, the request identifying an e-mail address of the called party;
the server determining whether the called party is registered with a one number service hosted by the server:
upon a determination that the called party is not registered with the service, an invitation to register with the service being sent to the e-mail address of the called party;
the server receiving a response to the invitation to register with the server to utilize the service hosted by the server;
the server associating the e-mail address with a first telephone number upon receipt of the response to the invitation;
the server associating at least one second telephone number with the e-mail address and the first telephone number;
the server allowing telephone calls to the first telephone number upon receipt of information from the calling party that indicates the e-mail address was selected for initiating a telephone call by the calling party after the called party is registered with the server; and
upon a determination that the called party is registered with the service hosted by the server, the server establishing a telephone call to the called party via the first telephone number based upon the e-mail address identified in the received request.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
the calling party selecting the e-mail address for sending the request to the server by dragging a representation of the e-mail address displayed in a graphical user interface of a user device or by clicking on the displayed e-mail address.
3. The method in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising displaying an address book entry for the called party associated with the selected e-mail address.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
checking contact lists of the called party and the calling party to determine whether the called party is within the contacts list of the calling party;
upon a determination that the called party is within the contacts list of the calling party, updating the contacts list of the called party to include the calling party.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the server checks the contacts lists and causes the contacts lists of the called party to be updated.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the updating of the contacts list of the called party occurs automatically.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the contacts list of the calling party is stored on a user device of the calling party and the contacts list of the called party is stored on a user device of the called party.
8. A telecommunications system, comprising:
a network;
a plurality of user devices coupled to the network, the user devices comprising a first user device and a second user device, the first user device associated with a first user and the second user device associated with a second user;
a first server coupled to the network that hosts an e-mail service;
a second server coupled to the network;
the second server receiving a request to initiate a telephone call to the second user, the request identifying an e-mail address of the second user;
the second server determining whether the second user is registered with a one number service hosted by the second server;
upon a determination that the second user is not registered with the one number service hosted by the second server, the second server causing an invitation to register with the one number service to be sent to the e-mail address of the second user;
the second server receiving a response to the invitation to register with the second server to utilize the one number service hosted by the second server;
the second server associating the e-mail address with a first telephone number upon receipt of the response to the invitation;
the second server associating at least one second telephone number with the e-mail address and the first telephone number;
the server allowing telephone calls to the first telephone number upon receipt of information from the first user that indicates the e-mail address was selected for initiating a telephone call by the second user; and
upon a determination that the second user is registered with the one number service hosted by the second server, the second server establishing a telephone call to the second user via the first telephone number based upon the e-mail address identified in the received request.
9. The system in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising a packet telephone network for making a telephone call.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the second server communicates with the first user device to prompt the first user to send the invitation as an e-mail so that the invitation to register with the second server is sent as an e-mail to the second user that is addressed via the e-mail address.
11. The system in accordance with claim 10 , further comprising an e-mail generator configured to send the invitation.
12. The system in accordance with claim 10 , further comprising a packet telephone interface for making a telephone call to the second user over a packet network.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the second server checking contact lists of the second user and the first user to determine whether the second user is within the contacts list of the second user;
upon a determination that the second user is within the contacts list of the first user, updating the contacts list of the second user to include the first user.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the contacts list of the first user is stored on the first user device and the contacts list of the second user is stored on the second user device.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein the updating of the contacts list of the second user occurs automatically.
16. The system of claim 8 wherein each of the user devices is one of a telephone, a cellular telephone, and a computer.