Methods for enabling e-commerce voice communication

Abstract

A method for operating a server includes receiving a page request for a web page from a client computer via the Internet, the web page including an icon, retrieving the web page from a storage of the server, sending the web page to the client computer via the Internet, receiving a request from the client computer to initiate a telephone call via the Internet in response to a selection of the icon on the web page, initiating a real-time communications channel between the client computer and the server via the Internet in response to the request, determining a telephone number in response to the request, using a voice modem, coupled to the server and to a telephone line, to dial the telephone number, receiving packets of voice data from the client computer from the Internet, reassembling the packets of voice data into a stream of digital voice data, converting the stream of digital voice data to a stream of analog voice data, outputting the stream of analog voice data to the voice modem, and outputting the stream of the analog voice data from the voice modem to the telephone line.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to voice communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to voice communications over the Internet.[0002]The growth of the Internet, World Wide Web and their users has induced the development of numerous applications. Internet with the voice-over-IP technology has become a major network player in telecommunication. PC to PC Internet telephony, an Internet application, has certainly attracted a lot of attention recently. Internet telephony represents a generic technology and / or application which utilizes the Internet protocol to facilitate a low cost phone call using the Internet network. The most technical and business developments in Internet telephony are focused on serving the mass telephone user market. The technical inventions and solutions are centered around replacing existing telecommunication network with new gateways, switches and routers, hence more hardware oriented. The challenges facing the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention relates to a system and method for enabling direct web page to telephone communication over the Internet using a computer server and a voice modem. The system allows users to view web pages and make phone calls through a computer network, eliminating the need for special telephone devices or gateway devices. The server uses a hardware sound card and a full-duplex voice modem to establish a real-time communication channel with a telephone network. The system can also convert voice data to digital format and output it to a telephone line using a voice modem and a sound board. The technical effects of the invention include improved efficiency and convenience for users and reduced costs for providers."

Problems solved by technology

The above prior art are generally limited to PC to PC communication through Internet.

Unfortunately, such hardware system and network infrastructure with special circuit boards are usually very expensive and difficult to build up to cover all geographical regions where end users reside.

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