JP4608610B2 - Method and system for remote establishment of a call - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to communication systems, and more particularly to a method and system for remote establishment of outgoing calls.

  The telephone system has become an important aspect of today's life. Currently, there are various mechanisms for a customer to make a call when they leave the home phone so that the call is charged to either the customer's account, the called party, or a third party.

  For example, if the user is away from the home phone and has a calling card, the user calls using a public telephone and charges the calling card. For example, a user calls a specific number (associated with a calling card) that is forwarded to a calling card center. In some cases, the calling card company has multiple such centers throughout the United States, in which case the call is generally routed to a regional calling card center in the same region as the caller. Alternatively, the call may be forwarded to a computer connected to a switch that provides a calling card type service. The calling card center (or switch) then prompts the user to enter the calling number and the calling card number. Generally, the caller number is the user's home phone number plus a four-digit personal identification number (PIN). The call is then transferred from the calling card center to the number entered by the user, and the caller is charged appropriately.

  In another embodiment, the user purchases a prepaid calling card. Use of this card is essentially the same as above, except that the user is charged after the call, and the cost of the call is deducted from the prepaid amount of the calling card until the card has no remaining balance. It is. Although the billing procedure has been simplified, the system requires it before calling another retail transaction.

  In another embodiment, a user away from home can make a collect call so that the call is charged to the called party. For example, a user dials a specific number to receive a collect call service. The call is then forwarded to the appropriate data center (or computer device) that prompts the user to enter the number being called. A call is then made to the calling number. If there is a response, the responder is asked whether to approve the charge for the call. If it approves, the center connects the caller and called party, and the called party is later charged for the call. However, this system requires action by the called party before the call proceeds.

  In yet another embodiment, the user places a call to the operator. The user is then connected to the operator, who provides the operator with the number being called, plus information about who to charge (eg, called party, user account, third party). The operator then verifies billing information (eg, the billed party approves the fee). Next, the operator connects the calling party and the called party. However, this imposes labor costs for hiring live operators.

  Accordingly, an improved method and system for remote establishment of outgoing calls is desirable.

  In accordance with the objectives of the present invention, a method and system is provided for establishing a call from a first device to a second device, as implemented and broadly described herein. In one embodiment, a method and system receives a call made by a user from a first device, receives information about a second device on which the call is made from a first device, and information about a third device. From the first device (the third device is associated with the user), forwarding the call to the first switch associated with the third device, and sending the call from the first switch to the second switch. Transfer using the information received from and transferring the call from the second switch to the second device (the second switch is associated with the second device).

  In another aspect, the invention comprises a method and system for a system for a call from a first device to a second device over a communication network, and receives a call made from a first device by a user A first switch for receiving information about the second device from which the call is made from the first device and a set for receiving information about the third device from the first device (the third device is associated with the user) Processor (s) associated with a second device for receiving a call, a second switch for transferring the call to the second device, and receiving a call from the first switch, A third switch is included for transferring the call to the second switch using information received from the first device.

  Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same (or similar) parts.

  The following is an embodiment of the method and system of the present invention that allows a user to place a call from any telephone and to be charged to the user's primary telephone number (eg, a home telephone) Provide a description of In such an embodiment, the call is routed to a service switching point (SSP) that provides service to the user's home phone (charged phone). The SSP then forwards the call to the called number.

  FIG. 1 provides a simplified diagram of a voice network 100 in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. As shown, the voice network 100 includes an intelligent service control point (ISCP) 102, service relay points (STP) 104, 106, service switching points (SSP) 108, 110, and an ISCP service provisioning and generation environment ( SPACE) 114. In this example, the voice network 100 is described as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), but the voice network 100 may be, for example, voice (or video) over a broadband network, a wireless broadband network, a wireless voice network. , Etc.

  Voice network 100 is implemented using PSTN and SS7 as signaling protocols. The SS7 protocol allows voice network 100 to provide, for example, call forwarding, caller ID, three-way calling, wireless services (eg, roaming and mobile terminal authentication, local number carrying system, and free / paid calls). Service)). The SS7 protocol provides various types of messages that support the functionality of the voice network 100. For example, these SS7 messages include event “triggers” and transaction function application (TCAP) messages that support queries and responses between ISCP 102 and SSP 108,110.

  The ISCP 302 may also be, for example, a standard service control point (SCP), an advanced intelligent network (AIN) SCP, a soft switch, or any other network call control device. As used herein, the term “service control point (SCP)” is a generic term that includes standard SCP, ISCP, and AIN SCP. The ISCP 102 provides a translation (and routing) service for multiple SS7 messages that support voice network 100 functionality (eg, forwarding). In addition, the ISCP 102 exchanges information with the service center 106 using TCP / IP (or SS7). ISCP 102 may be implemented using a combination of known hardware and software. ISCP 102 is shown with both a direct connection to service center 106 and a connection through ISCP SPACE 114, but any number of network components including routers, switches, hubs, etc. may be used. Used to connect the SPACE 114 and the service center 106. Furthermore, the information exchanged between ISCP 102 and service center 106 uses, for example, SR-3389 General Data Interface (GDI) for TCP / IP.

  The STPs 104 and 106 relay a plurality of SS7 messages within the voice network 100. For example, the STP 104 routes a plurality of SS7 messages between the SSP 108 and the SSP 110. The STP 102 is implemented using known hardware and software from manufacturers (eg, NORTEL and LUCENT Technologies).

  SSPs 108 and 110 each provide an interface between the voice network 100 and the telephones 114 and 120 to set up, manage and release calls within the voice network 100. SSPs 108, 110 are implemented as voice switches, SS7 switches, or computers connected to the switches. SSPs are also often referred to as central office (CO) switches, and this term is used interchangeably herein. SSPs 108 and 110 exchange a plurality of SS7 signaling units to support the call between caller 120 and user 110. For example, SSPs 108 and 110 exchange multiple SS7 messages (eg, multiple TCAP messages) within multiple message signaling units (MSUs), control calls, perform database queries, and form database 112. Maintenance information.

  FIG. 2 shows an exemplary logical diagram of a voice network 100 according to the method and system of the present invention, to illustrate an exemplary method and system for allowing a user to place a call from a remote location. Used in: As shown, the system includes a remote telephone 202, a network 204, an intelligent service control point (ISCP) 206, a service switching point (SSP) 208, a home telephone 210, a called party telephone 212, and an SSP 214. Although network 204 is illustrated as three separate clouds 204-A, 204-B, and 204-C, those skilled in the art will recognize that all of these are the same network, all of which are part of voice network 100. It will be understood that, therefore, additional SSPs, STPs, ISCPs, etc. are included. Further, although not shown, one or more signaling stations (STP) connect the SSP 214 to the ISCP 210 as described above.

  Also illustrated is an intelligent peripheral (IP) 216 that is connected to SSP 214 via SSP 208. For example, IP 216 is any type of commercially available IP (eg, available from Cognitronics and IBM). Also shown is a voice portal 218 that includes a voice recognition function that can receive and interpret dictation (or recognize voice commands). Voice portal 218 interfaces with a data center with voice data network 220 (used for billing purposes).

  FIG. 3 shows a flow chart for a method for establishing a call from a remote location according to the method and system of the present invention and is described in conjunction with FIG. As used herein, the term “call” means a communication session between two or more end points.

  The user first initiates a call from the remote telephone 202 by making a call to the voice portal number (S302). As used herein, the term “make a call” means that a user initiates a communication session between the user's device and one or more other devices. For example, this number is a specific number advertised to provide this service, for example, a 1-800 type number.

  Next, network 204-A (FIG. 2) receives the call and transfers the call to SSP 208 using the dialed number (S304). For example, the SSP 208 is located in a local access / transfer area (LATA) where services are provided to the user's home phone 210.

  The call is then received at SSP 208 that recognizes the dialed number as the number for remote establishment of the call. The SSP 208 then provides signaling information to the IP 216 using a protocol (eg, primary group rate interface (PRI) signaling) (S306).

  In response to the dialed number, IP 216 calls the appropriate software application. For example, this application assigns a 10-digit session ID to this call and logs the caller information received in the setup message as part of the PRI protocol. This caller information includes the called party number (CPN), the nature of the number, and the presentation restriction indicator. In this example, the CPN is a number dialed by the user to obtain this service (eg, a 1-800 number) and the nature of the number is whether the dialed number is a national number or an international number And the presentation restriction indicator indicates whether the number from which the call was made is not on the phone book or whether to specify that caller ID information is not displayed .

  The session ID is used for identification / tracking purposes and includes a unique IP ID number for identifying the IP 216 and a session number for identifying the session between the IP 216 and the voice portal 218. For example, in the embodiment, the session ID is a 10-digit number including a 6-digit IP ID number (NPA-XXX) and a 4-digit session number (YYYY) for identifying a session inside the IP 216. In addition, in this example, each IP has a maximum of 1,000 concurrent sessions active with the voice portal 218.

  Next, the application of IP 216 transmits a setting message to the voice portal 218 (S308). This setting message is transmitted by, for example, a TCP / IP connection. This message includes, for example, a 10-digit session ID number.

  Further, the application of IP 216 extends the voice path of the call to the voice portal 218 (S310). That is, the IP 216 instructs the SSP 208 to return the call through the network 204-B to the voice portal 218. The application of IP 216 sets the CPN for this call by the session ID transmitted to the call with the TCP / IP setting message.

  Next, the call arrives at the voice portal 218. Voice portal 218 (software application) matches the CPN with the waiting session ID. This indicates that a special operation is required for this call (S312).

  Next, the voice portal 218 reproduces a voice record indicating to the user that the call is received and the user is prompted to enter the number he wants to call (S314). In addition, the user is prompted to enter a primary number (eg, a number associated with home phone 210) along with a personal identification number (PIN). The user provides the requested information, for example, by inputting the information with voice or a telephone keyboard. The voice portal 218 then sends the user's primary number and PIN to the voice network data center 220 to confirm that the user is authorized to charge the call to the primary number. If the PIN entered by the user is not recognized, the voice portal 218 asks the user to re-enter this information or plays a message indicating that it should retry.

After providing the number that the user wishes to call, the voice portal 218 drops the call to the IP portal 216 , the call to the voice portal 218, and the call is associated with the user's primary number (eg, associated with the user's home phone 210). A TCP / IP release message instructing transfer to (number) is transmitted (S316). This release message includes, for example, a forwarding number (a 10-digit number that the user wants to call), the user's primary number (a 10-digit number associated with the user's home phone 210), and a session ID. Next, IP 216 uses the session ID in the release message to map the release message to the appropriate voice channel (S318).
In one embodiment, the IP 216 sends a PRI setup message to the SSP 208, dropping the call to the voice portal 218, and the SSP 214 associated with the user's primary number (eg, home phone 210). To establish against.

This PRI setup message includes the following. That is, a unique CPN (used by the service logic of the ISCP 206 that invokes the service logic of the voice portal 218), a transfer destination change parameter including the transfer destination number, a source caller number (OCN) (eg, from the user The remote telephone number received in the original call) and the user's primary number.

  The call is then routed to the SSP 214 that supplies the user's primary number (S320). This is accomplished, for example, by an IP216 application that instructs the SSP 208 to perform Two B Channel Transfer (TBCT).

  Next, the user's primary number termination attempt trigger (TAT trigger) is used to cause the SSP 214 to issue a query to the ISCP 206 (S322). This query includes the received transaction function application (TCAP) CPN value in the received call and, for example, causes the ISCP 206 to invoke its service logic. As described above, this CPN value is a unique CPN that is used by the service logic of the ISCP 206 to invoke the service logic of the voice portal 218. The service logic used by the ISCP 206 is, for example, AIN service logic.

  Based on the entered transaction function application (TCAP) CPN value, the service logic of ISCP 206 determines that this is a voice portal 218 call. Next, the service logic retrieves the input TCAP OCN and transfer destination change parameters from the received call. Next, the ISCP 206 retrieves the transfer destination number from the transfer destination change parameter, and installs this information via the output TCAP calling party and called party parameters, respectively, so that the OCN and the transfer destination number are sent to the SSP 214. Transmit (S324).

  Based on the reception of this information, the SSP 214 transfers the call to a number (for example, a transfer destination number) that the user wants to call (S326).

  The call is then routed by the network 204 to the forwarding number using the line class of service assigned to the user's primary number. The SSP associated with the forwarding number determines whether the associated telephone 212 is available. If available, the telephone 212 associated with this number begins to ring. If the call is answered, the call is completed and the user's primary number is charged appropriately (S328).

  In other embodiments, the voice portal 218 is connected to various other servers for performing other services described below with respect to FIG. For example, the voice portal 218 may send to a plurality of servers that store address books for users (as described in US Pat. No. _____ entitled “Methods And Systems for Contact Management”). Connected. In such an embodiment, the user can dial the number associated with voice portal 218 and use voice commands to place a call to the called party or to a number in the user's address book list. You can choose to “contact”. Next, the user says the name of the contact. In response, one or more servers access the user's address book and retrieve the number for the contact. The call is then transferred as described above.

  If the contact has multiple numbers (eg, work and home numbers) in the address book, the user is provided with this information and speaks the desired number (or keystrokes on the phone 202). Is allowed to select through. In addition, the user searches the address book, selects a desired contact, and changes information about the contact using a voice command (or key input to the telephone 202) (or adds a new contact). it can.

  FIG. 4 is an exemplary system logical architecture in accordance with the method and system of the present invention that allows a user to access an address book when a voice portal 218 is used to remotely establish a call.

  As shown, one or more user terminals (eg, 212_A and 212_B) are connected to the service center 402. This connection is made directly or via a network (eg, the Internet). The multiple user terminals 212 are any suitable type of device that a user can use to communicate with the service center 106. For example, the user terminal 212_A is a PDA that executes a program for communicating with the service center 106, and the user terminal 212_B is a desktop computer that executes a web browser for communicating with the service center 106 via the Internet. is there. In addition, the user invokes voice portal 218 using a telephone (eg, remote telephone 202).

  As shown, the service center 106 includes one or more digital companion servers 406, one or more communication portal servers 408, and a voice portal 218. Servers 406, 408 and voice portal 218 communicate with each other using, for example, a web service (or any other suitable protocol). Web services include extensible Markup Language (XML), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Web Service Description Language (WSDL), and Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) Internet Protocol (IP) backbone Is a standardized way to integrate multiple web-based applications using open standards.

  As shown, one or more digital companion servers 406 provide the following functions. That is, the client proxy 512, the web server 514, the application server function 516, and the database function 522. Each of these functions is performed by hardware, software, and / or firmware. Further, these functions may be divided into a plurality of servers by separate servers, included in a plurality of the same server functions, or executed in any other manner.

  The client proxy function 512 provides a proxy function to the digital companion used for security purposes. Since this client proxy function 512 is included in a separate server, all communications sent from other digital companion functions / servers to the user terminal 212 pass through the client proxy 512. Also, if the client proxy 512 is included on a separate server, for example, an additional firewall is provided between the client proxy 512 and other digital companion servers to provide additional security.

  Web server 514 provides the ability to receive traffic from customers via data network 102. For example, web server 514 is a standard web server that customers access using a web browser program (eg, Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator).

  Application server function 516 includes a plurality of general functions performed by one or more digital companion servers 406. For example, these functions include interworking with various other digital companion functions that execute a plurality of specific applications provided by the service center. These services include, for example, interfacing with one or more other functions, software, and / or hardware that provide the customer with the ability to manage outgoing calls online. For example, adding a contact to the address book from a history of calls that the customer made (or received by himself), and the customer uses, for example, his user terminal 212_A or 212_B Allows you to change, add, or delete contacts in the address book.

  In addition, the application server function 516 works with one or more external devices (eg, an external web server for retrieving or transmitting information). For example, the application server function 516 works with the voice network data center 220 (eg, verizon.com) to determine the service (eg, call waiting, automatic forwarding, voice mail, etc.) that the customer subscribes to.

  Database function 522 provides storage of information used by various applications executed by one or more digital companion servers 406. These databases are included, for example, in one or more external storage devices connected to one or more digital companion servers 406. Alternatively, multiple databases are included in multiple storage devices within one or more digital companion servers 406 themselves. The plurality of storage devices that provide the database function 522 are any type of storage device (eg, CD-ROM, DVD, disk drive, magnetic tape, etc.).

  One or more communication portal servers 408 provide hardware and software for managing customer accounts and interfacing with customer account information stored by the customer's voice network provider. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication portal server 408 provides the following functions. That is, a web server function 526, an application server function 528, a contact database function 530, and / or a customer profile function 532. These functions are divided into a plurality of servers by separate servers, included in a plurality of the same server functions, or executed by any other method.

  Similar to the web server function 522 of multiple digital companion servers, the web server function 526 provides a function for receiving network traffic from customers. For example, a web server is a standard web server that customers access using a web browser (eg, Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator).

  The application server function 528 includes a plurality of general functions executed by the plurality of communication portal servers 406. For example, these functions include working with a voice network to retrieve and / or modify customer profile information, and creating and editing an address book for the user. In addition, the application server function 528 includes the function of transmitting and / or receiving information to / from a plurality of external servers (and / or external devices). For example, the plurality of communication portal servers 408 are connected to a network (eg, the Internet). The application server function 528 then provides connectivity over the Internet to a plurality of external servers 552 that provide web services (eg, Superpages web pages). Next, the application function 528 connects to these external servers 552 and retrieves information (eg, address and / or number for the person in the user's address book).

  In other embodiments, the application server function 528 of the communication portal 408 connects with a single sign on (SSO) server 554 interface. SSO 554 is used to allow a user to access all the services he / she subscribes to based on a single authentication performed when accessing the network for the first time.

  Contact database 530 includes a plurality of storage devices for storing an address book for the user. This address book is an arbitrary type of address book. For example, a user's address book includes person and / or organization names, telephone numbers, and addresses. These storage devices are internal to the plurality of communication portal servers 406, external, or a combination thereof. In addition, these storage devices are any type of storage device (eg, magnetic storage device, memory storage device, etc.).

  Customer profile database 532 includes a plurality of storage devices that store customer profile information for users. These multiple storage devices are the same (or separate) multiple storage devices used for the contact database. The customer profile contains information about the user's account for the voice network. For example, this information includes the user's name, billing address, and other account information. In addition, the customer profile includes information regarding the voice service (eg, call waiting, voice mail, etc.) that the user subscribes to.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a call from a remote location using an address book for a user (in accordance with the method and system of the present invention) described in connection with FIGS. Indicates. As described in steps S302-S312 above, a user desiring to make a remote call initiates a call from the remote telephone 202 to the voice portal 218. Next, the user proves himself / herself by using a voice command, for example, by describing the user's name following the password designated by the user (S502). Next, the user selects to search his / her address book (S504). For example, the voice portal 218 recognizes several words (eg, search, address book, etc.) or a sequence of keystrokes on the telephone 202 as a request to search the address book. This request is then forwarded by the voice portal 218 to the application server 516 of one or more digital companion servers 406. Next, the application server 516 transmits a query to the application server 528 of the communication portal 408, and searches and searches for information on the contact destination (S506).

  For example, voice portal 218 may synthesize (or repeat) voice whether or not the user desires access to his address book (or whether the user simply enters a number). Ask at the prompt. The user then chooses to access his address book by saying the appropriate command (or entering a specific number or numbers on the keyboard of the telephone 202). If the user chooses to access his address book, for example, the voice portal 218 requests the user to spell the name. The voice portal 218 then contacts one or more digital companion servers 406 and looks up this name in the user's address book to find the contact number. The call is then transferred to this number (eg, by the method described in steps S316-S328 above).

  In addition, if the user is unsure of the contact name, the user can be presented with an opinion by the voice portal 218 that only says the first few letters of the contact name. Voice portal 218 then retrieves all contacts from the user's address book containing these first few characters. The user then selects from these retrieved names of the desired contact by saying the appropriate command (or entering a number on his telephone keyboard). The voice portal 218 retrieves the contact telephone number from the address book and the call is forwarded as described above.

  In addition, if the selected contact has multiple numbers (e.g., home, work, and cell phone), the voice portal 218 notifies the user of these multiple numbers and desires the user to select Ask for the number.

  While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Let's go.

1 is a simplified diagram of a voice network according to the method and system of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an exemplary logical diagram of a voice network 100 in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart for a method for establishing a call from a remote location in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. 1 is a typical system logical architecture that allows a user to access an address book in establishing a call from a remote location in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart for a method for establishing a call from a remote location using an address book for a user according to the method and system of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Voice Network 102 Intelligent Service Control Point (ISCP)
104,106 Service relay point (STP)
108,110 Service Exchange Point (SSP)
114 ISCP service provision and generation environment (SPACE)
120, 202, 210, 212 Telephone 204 Network 218 Voice portal 220 Voice data network 402 Service center 406 Digital companion server 408 Communication portal 512 Client proxy 514 Web server 516 Application server 522 Database 526 Web server 528 Application server 532 Customer profile database 552 External server 554 SSO server

Claims (16)

A method for establishing a call from a first device to a second device, comprising:
Receiving a call made by a user from the first device at a first switch that sends the call to a voice portal;
Receiving voice information of the user from the first device at a voice portal;
Using the voice information to receive first information about the second device at the voice portal;
Receiving at the voice portal second information for associating the user with the third device from the first device;
At the first switch, based on the received second information, drop the call to a voice portal and establish a new call to the second switch associated with the third device;
A second switch using the first information to transfer the new call from the second switch to a third switch associated with the second device;
The third switch, thereby completing the new call to the second device from said third switch,
Including methods. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a prompt to the first device via a voice portal such that the first device provides an audible instruction to the user. Receiving at the voice portal the first information about the second device using the user's voice information;
Voice portals, using said audio information, receives the contact destination information about the contact destination stored in the user's address book that,
Voice portals, The method of claim 1, using the contact destination information includes, for retrieving the first information from the address book. Receiving at the voice portal the first information about the second device using the user's voice information;
In the voice portal, from the voice information, an instruction to search for a contact in the user's address book is received,
Receive search criteria from users in the voice portal ,
Search the contact information from the address book using the search criteria in the voice portal ,
In the voice portal, send the searched contact information to the first device,
The voice portal receives selection information for designating at least one contact from the first device,
Receiving at the voice portal the first information using the selected information;
The method of claim 1 comprising: The method of claim 4, wherein receiving search criteria from a user at a voice portal comprises receiving voice information from the user at a voice portal . Receiving a call made by a user from a first device at a first switch that sends the call to a voice portal;
In the first switch transfers the signaling information relating to a call from the first switch to the first processor,
The first processor, the information relating to the call is transferred from the first processor to the second processor,
The first switch, and transferring the call from the first switch to the second processor,
The second processor receives the information about the second and third device from the first device,
In response to a command from a set of first processors, the first switch redirects the call from the set of second processors to the second switch;
The method of claim 1 comprising: A system for establishing a call from a first device to a second device via a communication network, comprising:
Receiving a call performed by the user from the first device, a call received, in the first switch sending the voice portal for receiving voice information from a user from the first device, in the voice portal, voice information A first switch that receives first information about the second device using the voice portal and receives second information for associating the user with the third device at the voice portal;
Based on the second information received at the voice portal, the call is dropped into the voice portal, and one or more first sets of processors establish a new call to the second switch associated with the third device. A first set of processors, wherein the second switch that receives the new call forwards the received new call to the second device based on the first information;
A third switch for receiving a new call from the first switch and completing a new call to the second device based on the first information;
Including system.   8. The system of claim 7, wherein the voice portal sends a prompt to the first device that causes the user to provide audible instructions. A storage device for storing an address book for the user;
One or more second sets of processors for accessing the address book;
The first set of processors, from the user's speech information, can recognize the contact destination stored in the user's address book, and send a Kueri about the contact destination to said second set of processors,
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second set of processors can retrieve first information about a second device from the address book in response to the query. A storage device for storing an address book for the user;
One or more second sets of processors for accessing the address book ;
The first set of processors, from the user's voice information, can receive an instruction to search for the contact destination by the address book, the search criteria can be received from the first device, the Kueri relates search criteria in said second set of processors In response to the query, the contact information can be received from the second set of processors using the search criteria, the received contact information can be transmitted to the first device, and at least one contact Can be received from the first device, the first information can be received using the selection information and contact information,
In response to the query, the second set of processors can retrieve contact information regarding one or more contacts from the address book using the search criteria, and the searched contact information can be retrieved from the first set. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system can be transmitted to a plurality of processors. The system of claim 10 search criteria received from the first device, including audio information from a user of the first device. A system for establishing a call from a first device to a second device, comprising:
Means for receiving a call made by a user from the first device at a first switch that sends the call to a voice portal;
Means for receiving at the voice portal user voice information from the first device;
Means for receiving at the voice portal first information about the second device using voice information;
Means for receiving at the voice portal second information relating the user to the third device from the first device;
The first switch, and means for dropping the the call to a voice portal, based on the second information, to establish a new call to the second switch associated with the third device,
The second switch, and means for using said first information, and transfers the new call, from the second switch, the third switch associated with the second device,
The third switch, and means for completing the new call to the second device from said third switch,
Including system. 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for sending a prompt to the first device so that the first device provides audible instructions to the user. Means for receiving at the voice portal the first information about the second device ;
Means for receiving contact information regarding the contact destination stored in the user's address book from the voice information of the user at the voice portal ;
Voice portals, using the contact information, and means for retrieving the first information from the address book,
The system of claim 12 comprising: Means for receiving at the voice portal the first information about the second device using the user's voice information from the first device;
Means for receiving, from the voice information at the voice portal, an instruction to search for a contact destination of the user's address book;
Means for receiving search criteria from the user at the voice portal ;
Means for retrieving contact information from the address book using the search criteria in a voice portal ;
Means for transferring contact information retrieved from the address book to the first device in a voice portal ;
Means for receiving from the first device selection information specifying at least one contact at a voice portal ;
Means for receiving the first information using the selected information at the voice portal ;
The system of claim 12 comprising:   The system of claim 15, wherein the search criteria includes audio information.

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