WO2002001828A9

WO2002001828A9 - Automated exchange of electronic information

Info

Publication number: WO2002001828A9
Application number: PCT/CA2001/000945
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Wilk; Ronald D Winacott
Original assignee: Soma Networks Inc; Daniel Wilk; Ronald D Winacott
Priority date: 2000-06-28
Filing date: 2001-06-26
Publication date: 2002-09-19
Also published as: CN1241381C; CN1439218A; EP1410596A1; WO2002001828A1; MXPA02012696A; JP2004502347A; AU2001270398A1; CA2312601A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel system, method and apparatus for exchanging electronic information during a voice telephone call. A subscriber during a voice telephone call can provide subscriber-input to their telephone or to request a transfer of electronic information to one or more other subscribers during a voice telephone call. The present invention thus obviates the need for manually transcribing electronic information such as email addresses, facsimile number or web-page addresses during a voice telephone call.

Description

AUTOMATED EXCHANGE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system, apparatus and method of providing enhanced features in a telecommunications system. More specifically, the present invention relates to the automated exchange of electronic information between subscribers during a voice telephone call.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The convergence of the old, private switched telephone network ("PSTN") for carrying voice with more modern packet networks for carrying data is radically changing the structure of networks and the services that rely on these networks. Thus, it is now possible for individual subscribers to communicate using a variety of services, such as voice, web-browsers, fax or email.

In fact, subscribers typically communicate over networks using more than one service. When meeting face-to-face, it is common for subscribers to exchange business cards that bear personal information about each other, including telephone numbers, web-sites, fax numbers and email addresses. Subscribers may choose to convert this written information into electronic form by entering this information into their computers or personal digital assistants for later use. Such a process can be tedious, and has lead to the use of business card scanners which attempt to perform optical character recognition (OCR) on the card.

Where subscriber's exchange an email, or visit each other's web-site, then the process of locally creating and storing electronic information about each other is less tedious. Email and web- based data services, in particular, allow subscribers to readily cut-and-paste a variety of personal information from one application to another, and to retain local copies of that information in electronic form.

However, it is currently very tedious to exchange personal information when subscribers initiate contact with each other via a voice telephone call. Current technology requires that each subscriber manually transcribe, either in writing or by typing on a keyboard, the majority of personal information about the other subscriber. Caller-id services, when coupled with a personal computer, can assist in the electronic transcription of a caller's name and phone number, but are otherwise limited in utility. The transcription of email addresses, website addresses and other personal information are still done manually. Furthermore, the exchange of more detailed information, such as maps, catalogues, or other documents, between subscribers is hampered until website addresses, email addresses or facsimile numbers have been exchanged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel system, apparatus and method of exchanging electronic information via a communication link that obviates or mitigates at least one of the above-identified disadvantages of the prior art.

In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a system for exchanging electronic information that comprises a first voice terminal for conducting voice telephone calls and receiving subscriber-input and a data terminal associated with a subscriber of the first voice telephone and for receiving and presenting data to the subscriber. The system also comprises a second voice terminal for conducting voice telephone calls and receiving subscriber-input and a network that interconnects all of the terminals. The network includes persistent storage for storing an electronic address of the data terminal and electronic information respective to a subscriber of the second voice terminal. The network also includes a processing unit that is operable to transmit the electronic information to the data terminal during a telephone call.

The data terminal can be a personal computer executing an email client program, which is connected to the network via an email server. Each voice terminal can be POTS (plain old telephone system) telephone, or it can be a wireless phone such as a mobile phone. As used herein, the terms voice terminal and/or data terminal are also referred to as subscriber stations. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for exchanging electronic information in a network comprising the steps of: initiating a voice telephone connection between a first voice terminal and a second voice terminal; and transferring electronic information associated with the second voice terminal to a data terminal associated with the first voice terminal. The method can further comprise the step, after the initiating step, of completing the voice telephone connection.

The method can further comprise the step, after the initiating step, of receiving a request to transfer electronic information associated with the second voice terminal to a first data terminal associated with the first voice terminal.

The method can further comprise the step, after the transferring step, of receiving the electronic information at the data terminal and processing the electronic information according to user preferences. The electronic information can, for example, be embedded in the body of an email address or encoded as series of DTMF tones that can be decoded by the data terminal, such as where the data terminal is a computer having a modem operable to decode DTMF tones.

The data terminal and the voice terminal can be integrally formed into a single device, such as a web-enabled mobile phone, or a rich-featured telephone having a multi-line display.

The electronic information can include any information that is desired to send to another subscriber. For example, electronic information can include email addresses, postal addresses, website addresses, facsimile numbers, or telephone numbers. Having exchanged basic levels of electronic information, such as an email address, it is contemplated that a variety of applications can be used to allow subscribers to simultaneously conduct their voice telephone call and exchange and/or view electronic information. For example, it is expected that the present invention would be particularly useful for customers conducting transactions with business via a telephone, as a confirmation of the transactions could automatically be sent to the customer's data terminal. For example, where the customer is a traveler, and the business is a travel agency, then the traveler's itinerary could be automatically sent to the traveler, or reviewed simultaneously by the traveler during the selection of the traveler's various bookings. Alternatively, where the customer is conducting business with a financial institution by telephone, then confirmations of the customer's financial transaction could automatically be electronically delivered to the customer.

The present invention provides a novel system, method and apparatus for exchanging electronic information during a voice telephone call. A subscriber during a voice telephone call can provide subscriber-input to their telephone or to request a transfer of electronic information to one or more other subscribers during a voice telephone call. The present invention thus obviates the need for manually transcribing electronic information such as email addresses, facsimile number or web- page addresses during a voice telephone call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system for exchanging electronic information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a method for exchanging electronic information in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a system for exchanging electronic information in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a system for exchanging electronic information in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to Figure 1, a system for exchanging electronic information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at 20. System 20 includes a public communication network 24, such as the PSTN, which interconnects service provider nodes 28a and

28b, such as telephone company switches, central offices and/or wireless base stations. In turn, service provider nodes 28 are each connected to at least one subscriber node 32 via a communication link 36. Where service provider node 28 is a telephone company switch, then communication link 36 will typically be wired, however, communication link 36 can also be wireless, as for example, where service provider node 28 is a base station in a wireless local loop or cellular telephone system.

As shown in Figure 1 , in a present embodiment there are two subscriber nodes 32a and 32b, connected to service provider nodes 28a and 28b, respectively. (It is contemplated that system 20 will typically include a plurality of subscriber nodes in addition to nodes 32a and 32b.) As used herein, the term "caller" or "calling" means a call initiated at one of the subscriber nodes 32.

Similarly, the term "callee" means a call received by one of the subscriber nodes. For example, where subscriber node 32a is the "caller", then subscriber node 32b is the "callee".

In a present embodiment, each subscriber node 32 includes a microprocessor 40which interconnects a telephone handset 44, a monitor 48 or other user-output device, and a keyboard 52 or other user-input device. It is to be understood that the various components in subscriber nodes 32 can be substituted for substantially equivalent components, and/or combined into a single intelligent device, such as a personal digital assistant and/or rich-featured phone.

Using telephone handset 44, microprocessor 40 is operable to process voice calls carried over public communication network 24. Similarly, using keyboard 52 and monitor 48, microprocessor 40 is operable to process at least one data service, such as e-mail, for carriage over communication network 24. As will be explained in greater detail below, microprocessor 40 is further operable to automatically obtain information about the data service of other subscriber nodes 32 during a voice call.

System 20 further includes an electronic information object 56 associated with each subscriber node 32 that is typically resident at the service provider node 28 respective to its subscriber node 32. Electronic information object 56 is typically a data file that includes personal information about the subscriber at each subscriber node 32. In a present embodiment, such personal information includes, at least, the email address of its respective subscriber node 32. However, data object 56 can also include other personal information, such as that typically found on a business card, such as the name, postal address, telephone number, facsimile number and website address of the subscriber node 32 respective to the data object 56.

A method of exchanging electronic information in accordance with another embodiment of the invention will now be discussed with reference to Figure 2. For purposes of assisting in the explanation of the present embodiment, reference will be made to the foregoing discussion of system 20. At step 100, a voice call is initiated in any usual manner. For example, the receiver of telephone set 44a at subscriber node 32a is lifted off the hook and a number is dialed. It will be assumed for purposes of explaining the present embodiment that the telephone number of subscriber node 32b is dialed. This dialed number is processed by service provider node 28a, which utilizes public communication network 24 to contact service provider node 28b, which in turn sends a ringing signal to subscriber node 32b and rings telephone set 44b. Next, at step 105, the call initiated at step 100 is established, and a voice connection is completed. Continuing with the example, telephone set 44b is answered, thus completing a voice call between subscriber node 32a and subscriber node 32b. It will be understood that the steps of initiating and completing a voice call between subscriber nodes 32a and 32b could occur in other ways, for example, the call could have been initiated at subscriber node 32b. The method then advances to step 110, where a request for an exchange of electronic information is received. In a presently preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the request for the exchange of electronic information can be initiated at either subscriber station 32a or subscriber station 32b. Such a request can be to: 1) send electronic information object 56a to subscriber station 32b and/or 2) send electronic information object 56b to subscriber station 32a. Continuing with the present example, the request is accomplished using the flash-key on telephone set 44a, which is an "attention" signal that is sent to service provider node 28a in order to signal service provider node 28a that the subscriber at subscriber node 32a wishes to invoke a calling feature available at service provider node 28a. The use of the flash-key is followed by a predetermined dialing sequence. (Preferably the predetermined sequence is not currently in use for the invocation of other calling features, such as 3-way calling.) For example, the use of the flash- key can be followed by *222 in order to request that electronic information object 56a be sent to subscriber station 32b, or *333 in order to request that electronic information object 56b be sent to subscriber station 32a, or *444 in order to request that electronic information object 56a be sent to subscriber station 32b and that electronic information object 56b be sent to subscriber station 32a. Accordingly, service provider node 28a has now received the request for an exchange of electronic information.

The method then advances to step 115, where the actual electronic information is transferred according to the request received at step 110. Thus, as appropriate the data contained in electronic information object 56a is transferred to subscriber station 32b and/or the data contained in electronic information object 56b is transferred to subscriber station 32a.

The transfer can occur in a variety of ways. For example, using a suitable variation of existing caller-id technology, electronic information object 56a can be encoded into a series of DTMF tones by service provider node 28a, which are then sent over the voice connection and then decoded by software executing on microprocessor 40b. Using this method, it can be desired to mute the earpiece at both telephone set 44a and telephone set 44b during the transfer of the DTMF tones. However, the transfer of electronic information objects 56 can be accomplished in a variety of other ways. For example, in order to transfer electronic information object 56a to subscriber node 32b, software executing on service provider node 28a can query electronic information object 56b in order to access the e-mail address of subscriber node 32b. Having obtained the email address of subscriber node 32b, the complete set of electronic information stored in electronic information object 56a can simply be sent via email to subscriber node 32b. Thus, where communication link 36b is a voice telephone line with DSL internet service, the email containing the information in object 56a will arrive at microprocessor 40b for use at subscriber node 32b via the DSL link on the voice telephone line. (It will thus be apparent that, in general, link 36 is operable to carry both voice and data, and could be implemented in a variety of ways . For example, the voice portion of link 36 may be a wired link, while the data portion of link 36 may be via a cable-modem. Alternatively, link 36 can be a wireless link operable to carry both voice and data channels. Other implementations of link 36 will occur to those of skill in the art.)

Other means of transferring information objects 56 to other subscriber nodes 32 will occur to those of skill in the art and are within the scope of the invention.

The method then advances to step 120 where the electronic information is received and processed, thus completing the transfer at step 115. For example, microprocessor 40b receives the information contained in electronic information object 56a and stores it in persistent storage local to microprocessor 40b. The stored information can then be used by the subscriber interacting with applications executing on subscriber node 32b, in order to send emails or faxes to subscriber node 32a, or to access the web-pages belonging to subscriber node 32a.

It will be understood that, once subscriber node 32b has the email address of the subscriber node 32a (or vice-versa), virtually any type of electronic information can be sent, (either automatically or at the request of each subscriber), between the stations 32a, 32b, depending on the application(s) executing on each subscriber station 32a, 32b. For example, where subscriber station 32a is an individual consumer, and subscriber station 32b is a travel agent, then a software application executing on subscriber station 32b can provide the consumer with an email including an complete travel itinerary, confirmation bookings, electronic airline-tickets, and the like.

While in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 (and marked as system 20) shows a telephone handset 44 local to an email client executing on microprocessor 40, it will be understood that in other embodiments of the invention handset 44 need not be local to the email client. For example, an alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 3 and marked as system 220. Components in system 220 that are substantially the same as components in system 20 have a reference number 200 greater than the reference number of the component in system 20. As shown in Figure 3, system 220 includes a mobile handset 244c that is connected to network node 228c via a wireless link 236c. Thus, in a present embodiment, network node 228c is a wireless base station. Mobile handset 244c is associated with electronic information object 256a and subscriber node 232a. In the present embodiment, subscriber node 232a is essentially a data terminal executing an email client program. (Such an email client is typically connected to an email server via connected to network 224, as is known to those of skill in the art.) Electronic information about mobile handset 244c and node 232a (such as the email address of subscriber node 232a and the telephone number of handset 244c) are stored in electronic information object 256a. During a voice telephone call between mobile handset 244c and handset 244b, the data on information objects 256a and 256b can be exchanged between nodes 232a and 232b in substantially the same manner as discussed in the method of Figure 2, with appropriate modifications. For example, using a predefined series of key-strokes on handset 244c, instructions can be sent to network node 228c, that cause software executing on network node 228c to query information object 256b and obtain the email address of subscriber node 232b. Next, network node 228c can use this email address to email information object 256a to subscriber node 232b. Next, as desired, a subscriber at subscriber node 232b can use the contents information object 256a to arrange for electronic interactions directly with subscriber node 232a, such as sending information subscriber node 232a via email. It will now be apparent that other configurations, combinations and/or arrangements of voice handsets and email clients associated with a particular subscriber can be implemented, as desired.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown as system 320 in Figure 4. Components in system 320 that are substantially the same as components in system 20 have a reference number 300 greater than the reference number of the component in system 20. System 320 includes a first network node, which in a present embodiment is an Email server 328a. In turn, Email server 328a is connected to a subscriber station, which in the present embodiment is a data terminal 332a executing an email client program. System 320 also includes two additional network nodes, which in a present embodiment are PSTN switches 328b and 328c. Email server 328a and PSTN switches 328b and 328c are all interconnected by a network 324, which in a present embodiment combines the functionality of the PSTN for carrying voice traffic and the Internet for carrying data traffic.

PSTN switch 328c stores a Caller ID object 390a which contains the email address of data terminal 332a.

PSTN switches 328b and 328c are each connected via links 336c, 336b (respectively) to voice terminals, which in a present embodiment are POTS telephones 344c and 344b (respectively). PSTN switch 328b stores a plurality of electronic information objects 356a, 356b, and 356c which are associated with POTS telephone 344b. Each information object 356a, 356b and 356c can contain any type of information, as desired, and can be configured and/or defined by the subscriber at POTS telephone 334b. For instance, information object 356a can contain a map of directions to the residence of the subscriber of POTS telephone 334b; information object 356b can contain a complete business card, including phone numbers, email addresses and postal addresses of the subscriber at POTS telephone 334b; and information object 356c can contain a family photograph. It is to be emphasized, however, that there can be any number information objects 356 and that each information object 356 can contain any desired information.

In operation, a caller at POTS telephone 344c dials the phone number of POTS telephone 334b. PSTN switch 328c collects the dialed digits from POTS telephone 344c and, via network 324, connects to PSTN switch 328b in order to cause POTS telephone 344b to begin ringing. During the connection to PSTN switch 328b, Caller ID object 390a is delivered to PSTN Switch 328b and stored thereat for later use. Next, POTS telephone 344b is answered and a voice telephone call between POTS telephones 344c and 344b is established. During the voice telephone call, the subscriber at POTS telephone 344b decides to send electronic information to the subscriber at POTS telephone 344c. In a present embodiment, this is accomplished by pressing the 'flash' key on POTS telephone 344b, which gets the attention of PSTN switch 328b. At this point, PSTN switch 328b will typically mute the earpiece of POTS telephone 344c, and send a dial tone to the earpiece of POTS telephone 344b to obtain instructions therefrom. The subscriber at POTS telephone 344b then provides user input that a) instructs PSTN switch 328b to send an information object 356 to data terminal 332a and b) selects which of information object 356a, 356b or 356c to send. For example: the key sequence *331 could be used to send information object 356a; the key sequence *332 could be used to send information object 356b; and the key sequence *333 could be used to send information object 356c. However, any key sequence can be used.

It will be understood that, depending on the functionality of POTS telephone 344b and PSTN switch 328b, then any type of user input that instruct the delivery of an information object 356 to data terminal 332a can be used. For example, where PSTN switch 328b is operable to receive voice instructions, then the subscriber at POTS telephone 344b can issue voice instructions to instruct the delivery of an information object 356.

For purposes of explaining the present embodiment, it will be assumed that the subscriber at POTS telephone 344b enters the key sequence *332, and thus instructs that information object 356b be sent to data terminal 332a. Next, PSTN switch 328b uses this instruction to prepare an email message, using the email address of data terminal 332a previously extracted from the Caller ID stream from POTS telephone 344c. The prepared email message has information object 356b either embedded therein or attached thereto.

Having prepared the email message, it is sent via network 324 to email server 328a, where it then becomes available for retrieval by the email client executing on data terminal 332a.

At this point, PSTN switch 328b can automatically reactivate the earpiece of POTS telephone 344c and reestablish the complete voice connection between POTS telephones 344c and

344b. Alternatively, PSTN switch 328b can wait for more user-input (e.g. further depression of the

'flash' key) from the subscriber at POTS telephone 344b prior to reestablishing the complete voice connection.

It will be understood that the various components in system 320 can be varied, modified, or substituted as desired and still achieve the same function. Furthermore, while system 320 only shows one data terminal 332a associated with POTS telephone 344c, it will be understood that a second data terminal 332 can be added to system 320 and associated with POTS telephone 344b. Similarly, a plurality of information objects can be associated with POTS telephone 344c, and an email address can be embedded into the outgoing Caller ID stream associated with POTS telephone 344b.

While the embodiments discussed herein are directed to specific implementations of the invention, it will be understood that combinations, sub-sets and variations of the embodiments are within the scope of the invention. For example, it may be desired to add various security features to system 20 to ensure that the information object 56 of one subscriber node 32 is not inadvertently or unintentionally transferred to other subscriber nodes 32.

It may desired to simply embed the entire caller's information object 56 into the caller-id stream sent to the callee subscriber node 32 during the initiation of the voice telephone call, thus eliminating the need for the explicit request for electronic information exchange at step 110. However, it is expected that privacy features, such as the ability to block the transmission of the information object 56 during the initiation of the call, may also be incorporated into such as a system.

It may be desired to add certain other privacy/security features to the transmission of the electronic information. For example, the electronic information object may be encrypted during transmission, using any known encryption techniques. In addition, the electronic information may be transmitted along with a digital signature, which can be used to verify the source of the electronic information by the recipient.

The present invention may be used to allow subscribers to create and update their own personal phone directory. Such a phone book may be stored on a data terminal located at either the network node or on a data terminal local to the subscriber's voice terminal. An application associated with the phone book could be used to allow the subscriber to automatically place telephone calls, without having to remember any phone numbers. Using any known text-to-speech converter, the phone book can be "read" to the subscriber using a voice terminal, allowing the subscriber to select a number to be dialed using an interactive voice response (IVR) menu system. Using such a text-to-speech converter system, it will be apparent that the foregoing variation envisions an implementation of the present invention that obviates the need for a data terminal local to the subscriber's voice terminal. Alternatively, a data terminal associated with the subscriber's voice terminal could present a graphical user interface that allowed the subscriber to select a number to be dialed.

It may be desired to modify the present invention by allowing a caller to leave his information object 56 as part of, or in addition to, a voicemail message left for the callee. Software executing on the data terminal of the callee subscriber station can be used to record all incoming calls, and the associated incoming electronic information associated therewith. The present invention can be modified for use on TDD or TDY devices used by hearing impaired subscribers.

It is contemplated that the present invention can be modified for use during a n-way conference calls, to allow multiple subscribers to exchange electronic information.

In other embodiments of the invention, the various components in system 20 can be modified or varied to accomplish the same functionality. For instance, the electronic information object need not reside at the service provider node 28, but can reside, for example, at the subscriber node 32.

The present invention provides a novel, system, method and apparatus for exchanging electronic information. The present invention simplifies the process of exchanging information such as email address, facsimile numbers and web-page addresses during a voice telephone call, thus allowing subscribers to accurately and readily exchange such information without the need for transcribing, in writing or otherwise, each other's electronic information.

The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A system for exchanging electronic information comprising: a first voice terminal for conducting voice telephone calls and receiving subscriber-input; a data terminal associated with said first voice telephone and for receiving and presenting data; a second voice terminal for conducting voice telephone calls and receiving subscriber-input; and, a network interconnecting said terminals, said network including persistent storage for storing an electronic address of said data terminal and electronic information respective to a subscriber of said second voice terminal, said network further including a processing unit operable to transmit said electronic information to said data terminal during a telephone call.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said electronic information includes an email address of said second subscriber.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said electronic information includes a postal address, facsimile number and telephone number of said second subscriber.

4. The system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said data terminal is a facsimile machine and said electronic address is a facsimile number respective to said facsimile machine.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said data terminal includes an email client connected to said network via an email server; said electronic address is an email address and said electronic information is transmitted as an email message to said email client.

6. The system according to claim 1 further including a second data terminal associated with a subscriber of said second voice terminal; said persistent storage for further storing an electronic address of said second data terminal and for storing electronic information respective to a subscriber of said first voice terminal; said network further including a processing unit operable to transmit said first subscriber's electronic information to said second data terminal during a telephone call.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said network includes a first network node connected to said first voice terminal and a second network node connected to said second voice terminal; said persistent storage having a portion thereof being resident at said first network node to store said electronic address; said persistent storage having a remaining portion thereof being resident at said second network node to store said electronic information.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein at least one of said network nodes is a PSTN switch that houses said processing unit.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein said electronic information is encoded and transmitted as a series of DTMF tones and said data terminal is operable to decode said series of DTMF tones.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein said first voice terminal is a wireless telephone.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless telephone is a mobile wireless telephone.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein said first voice terminal is a POTS telephone.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein said first voice terminal and said data terminal are integrated into a single device.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein said information is not transmitted unless a predetermined input from one of said voice terminals is received by said processing unit.

15. The system according to claim 1 wherein said telephone call is initiated by said second voice terminal without establishing a voice connection with said first voice terminal and said transfer is made in lieu of establishing said voice connection.

16. A method for exchanging electronic information in a network comprising the steps of: initiating a voice telephone connection between a first voice terminal and a second voice terminal; retrieving an electronic address for a data terminal associated with said first voice terminal; and transferring electronic information associated with said second voice terminal to said data terminal.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step, after said initiating step, of completing said voice telephone connection.

18. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step, after said initiating step, of receiving a request to transfer electronic information associated with said second voice terminal to a first data terminal associated with said first voice terminal.

19. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step, after said transferring step, of receiving said electronic information at said data terminal and processing said electronic information according to user preferences.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein said electronic information includes an email address of said second subscriber.

21. The method according to claim 16 or 20 wherein said electronic information includes a postal address, facsimile number and telephone number of said second subscriber.

22. The method according to claim 16, 20 or 21 wherein said data terminal is a facsimile machine.

23. The method according to claim 16 wherein said data terminal includes an email client connected to said network via an email server; said electronic address is an email address and said electronic information is transmitted as an email message to said email client.

24. The method according to claim 16 further including the step of transferring electronic information associated with said first voice terminal to a second data terminal associated with said second voice terminal.

25. The method according to claim 16 wherein said electronic information is encoded and transmitted as a series of DTMF tones and said data terminal is operable to decode said series of DTMF tones.

26. The method according to claim 16 wherein said first voice terminal is a wireless telephone.

27. The method according to claim 16 wherein said wireless telephone is a mobile wireless telephone.

28. The method according to claim 16 wherein said first voice terminal is a POTS telephone.

29. The method according to claim 16 wherein said first voice terminal and said data terminal are integrated into a single device.

30. A network node for the exchange of electronic information comprising: a first connection means for connecting to a first voice terminal; a second connection means for connecting to a data terminal associated with a subscriber of said first voice terminal; a third connection means for connecting to a second voice terminal and a persistent storage device storing electronic information associated with said second voice terminal; and a processing unit interconnecting said first, second and third connection means, said processing unit operable to retrieve said electronic information and to transmit said electronic information to said data terminal upon initiation of a connection between said first voice terminal and said second voice terminal.

31. The network node according to claim 30 wherein said node is a PSTN switch.

32. The network node according to claim 30 wherein said electronic information is encodable and transmittable as a series of DTMF tones and said data terminal is operable to decode said series of DTMF tones.

33. The network node according to claim 30 wherein said node is a wireless base station and said first connection means includes a wireless transceiver.

34. The network node according to claim 30 wherein said second connection means is a data connection to an email server associated with an email client executing on said data terminal and said electronic information is transmitted in the form of an email.

35. The network node according to claim 30 wherein said third connection means is a connection to a PSTN, said PSTN connecting to a second network node connected to said second voice terminal, said persistent storage being resident at said second network node.

36. The network node according to claim 30 wherein said data terminal is a personal digital assistant.

37. The network node according to claim 30 wherein said data terminal is a personal computer.

38. The network node according to claim 30 wherein said data terminal and said first voice terminal are integral into a single intelligent device.

39. A Caller ID data stream comprising: a message type-byte indicating a type of said Caller ID data stream; a message length-byte indicating the length of said stream; a first parameter-type byte indicating that said parameter is an address of a data terminal; a first parameter-length byte associated with said first parameter-type byte, said first parameter-type byte indicating a length of said address; an address byte-stream corresponding in length to said first parameter-length byte and representative of said address; and, a checksum for validating said data stream when decoded.

40. The Caller ID data stream of claim 39 further comprising: a second parameter-type byte indicating that said second parameter is a phone number; a second parameter-length byte associated with said second parameter-type byte, said second parameter-type byte indicating a length of said phone number; and, an phone number byte-stream representative of said phone number.

41. The Caller ID data stream of claim 39 further comprising: a third parameter-type byte indicating that said third parameter is a date; a third parameter-length byte associated with said second parameter-type byte, said second parameter-type byte indicating a length of said date; and, an date byte-stream representative of said date.

42. The Caller ID data stream of claim 39 wherein said address is an email address and said data terminal is an email client.

43. The Caller ID data stream of claim 39 wherein said address is a facsimile number and said data terminal is a fax machine.

44. The Caller ID data stream of claim 39 wherein said message-type bytes indicates said Caller ID data stream is in Multiple Data Message Format.

45. The method according to claim 16 wherein said first voice terminal is associated with customer, said second voice terminal is associated with a business and said electronic information is a record of a business transaction conducted between said business and said customer.

46. The method according to claim 45 wherein said customer is a traveler, said business is a travel agent, and said record is a travel itinerary.

47. The method according to claim 45 wherein said customer is a account-holder, said business is said account-holder's financial institution and said record is a statement of a financial transaction.

48. The method according to claim 16 comprising the additional step, after said retrieving step, of selecting said electronic information from a database containing a plurality of different pieces of electronic information.

49. The method according to claim 16 comprising the additional step, prior to said transferring step, of encrypting said electronic information using an encryption key complementary to a decryption key available to said data terminal.

50. The method according to claim 16 comprising the additional step, prior to said transferring step, of embedding a digital signature in said electronic information.

51. The method according to claim 16 comprising the additional step, after said transferring step, of receiving said electronic information and storing said electronic information at said data terminal.

52. The method according to claim 51 comprising the additional step, after said receiving step, of initiating a voice call from said first voice terminal to said second voice terminal by retrieving a telephone number of said second voice terminal from said stored electronic information.

53. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data terminal is resident in said network and is operable to extract a telephone number for said second voice terminal from said electronic information and present, as an audio message, said telephone number at said first voice terminal as part of a list of available telephone numbers that can be automatically dialed from said first voice terminal.