Patent Application

App. No. 12/890,167

Abstract

Claims (52)

1 . A method for processing anonymous web calls, the method comprising:

using an application web server, prompting a calling party to initiate an anonymous web call to a specified called party via a web application;

using the application web server, receiving a selection indication from the calling party indicating a desire to initiate the anonymous web call to the specified called party;

using the application web server, querying a charging server or a tariff rate associated with the anonymous web call to the called party;

using the application web server, receiving the tariff rate associated with the anonymous web call to the called party from the charging server;

using the application web server, rendering the tariff rate to the calling party and prompting the calling party to confirm initiation of the anonymous web call to the specified called party via the web application;

using the application web server, receiving a confirmation of the anonymous web call from the calling party via the web application; and

using the application web server, connecting the anonymous web call.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising after receiving the selection indication from the calling party and prior to querying the charging server:

using the application web server, sending a SIP INVITE message to a called party user equipment registered to the web application;

using the application web server, receiving a SIP 200 OK message; and

using the application web server, constructing a query message based at least partially on the SIP 200 OK message.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

using the application web server, after prompting the calling party to confirm initiation of the anonymous web call, receiving negative response from the calling party regarding the anonymous web call via the web application; and

using the application web server, aborting the anonymous web call.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

using the application web server, registering the calling party with the application web server including obtaining a phone number for user equipment of the calling party and a web name to be used in anonymous web calls initiated by the calling party; and

using the web name in connecting the anonymous web call.

5 . The method of claim 4 , where registering the calling party with the application web server includes obtaining one of a prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party with a service provider associated with the web application and a credit card account number of the calling party; further comprising using the application web server, charging the prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party or the credit card account number of the calling party according to the tariff rate after the anonymous web call is completed.

6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

using the application web server, registering the calling party with the application web server including obtaining one of a prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party with a service provider associated with the web application and a credit card account number of the calling party; and

using the application web server, charging the prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party or the credit card account number of the calling party according to the tariff ate after the anonymous web call is completed.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the application web server, after prompting the calling party to confirm initiation of the anonymous web call, receiving negative response from the calling party regarding the anonymous web call via the web application; and

using the application web server, aborting the anonymous web call.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the application web server, registering the calling party with the application web server including obtaining a phone number for user equipment of the calling party and a web name to be used in anonymous web calls initiated by the calling party; and

using the web name in connecting the anonymous web call.

9 . The method of claim 1 , where registering the calling party with the application web server includes obtaining one of a prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party with a service provider associated with the web application and a credit card account number of the calling party; further comprising using the application web server, charging the prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party or the credit card account number of the calling party according to the tariff rate after the anonymous web call is completed.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the application web server, registering the calling party with the application web server including obtaining one of a prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party with a service provider associated with the web application and a credit card account number of the calling party; and

using the application web server, charging the prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party or the credit card account number of the calling party according to the tariff rate after the anonymous web call is completed.

11 . An application web server, comprising:

a processor programmed to prompt a calling party to initiate an anonymous web call to a specified called party via a web application;

the processor being programmed to receive a selection indication from the calling party indicating a desire to initiate the anonymous web call to the specified called party;

the processor being programmed to query a charging server or a tariff rate associated with the anonymous web call to the called party;

the processor being programmed to receive the tariff rate associated with the anonymous web call to the called party from the charging server;

the processor being programmed to render the tariff rate to the calling party and to prompt the calling party to confirm initiation of the anonymous web call to the specified called party via the web application;

the processor being programmed to receive a confirmation of the anonymous web call from the calling party via the web application; and

the processor being programmed to connect the anonymous web call.

12 . The application web server of claim 11 , where the processor is further programmed, after receiving the selection indication from the calling party and prior to querying the charging server, to:

send a SIP INVITE message to a called party user equipment registered to the web application;

receive a SIP 200 OK message; and

construct a query message based at least partially on the SIP 200 OK message.

13 . The application web server of claim 12 , where the processor is programmed to abort the anonymous call if a negative response is received after prompting the calling party to confirm initiation of the anonymous web call.

14 . The application web server of claim 12 , where the processor is programmed to register the calling party with the application web server including obtaining a phone number for user equipment of the calling party and a web name to be used in anonymous web calls initiated by the calling party, and where the processor is programmed to use the web name in connecting the anonymous web call.

15 . The application web server of claim 14 , where the processor is programmed to obtain one of a prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party with a service provider associated with the web application and a credit card account number of the calling party, and where the processor is programmed to charge the prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party or the credit card account number of the calling party according to the tariff rate after the anonymous web call is completed.

16 . The application web server of claim 12 , where the processor is programmed to obtain from the calling party one of a prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party with a service provider associated with the web application and a credit card account number of the calling party, and where the processor is programmed to charge the prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party or the credit card account number of the calling party according to the tariff rate after the anonymous web call is completed.

17 . The application web server of claim 11 , where the processor is programmed to abort the anonymous call if a negative response is received after prompting the calling party to confirm initiation of the anonymous web call.

18 . The application web server of claim 11 , where the processor is programmed to register the calling party with the application web server including obtaining a phone number for user equipment of the calling party and a web name to be used in anonymous web calls initiated by the calling party, and where the processor is programmed to use the web name in connecting the anonymous web call.

19 . The application web server of claim 18 , where the processor is programmed to obtain one of a prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party with a service provider associated with the web application and a credit card account number of the calling party, and where the processor is programmed to charge the prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party or the credit card account number of the calling party according to the tariff rate after the anonymous web call is completed.

20 . The application web server of claim 11 , where the processor is programmed to obtain from the calling party one of a prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party with a service provider associated with the web application and a credit card account number of the calling party, and where the processor is programmed to charge the prepaid or postpaid account established by the calling party or the credit card account number of the calling party according to the tariff rate after the anonymous web call is completed.

Assignments (11)