Method and apparatus for integrated telephone and internet services

Abstract

A system and method for providing integrated telephony and Internet services is described. An embodiment of the present invention comprises passively collecting incoming and/or outgoing call information from communications links communicatively coupled to a first party. The call information is extracted and customer information, such as demographic information, is retrieved. The customer information may be, for example, retrieved from a data provider or may have been previously collected or gathered. Thereafter, reports, charts, graphs, maps, and the like may be made available. In an embodiment, the reports, charts, graphs, maps, and the like are made available via a network such as the Internet.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a telephone network connector configured for connecting to a first communications link;    an Internet connector configured for providing Internet access;    a storage device; and    a processor configured to detect incoming calls via the telephone network connector, extract call information, and transmit call information to a centralized server via the Internet connector.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first communications link is communicatively coupled to a second communications link communicatively coupled between a first telephone and a telephone network.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor passively monitors traffic received via the telephone network connector.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to access the Internet via the Internet connector utilizing at least one of TCP/IP, WAP, UDP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, Telnet, and SFTP protocols.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate to the Internet or a telephone network via at least one of a bluetooth link, a satellite link, a WiFi link, a wireless link, a fiber link, or a wireline link.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate to a telephone network via the telephone network connector utilizing at least one of DTMF, WAP, CDMA, TDMA, GSM, wireline communications protocol, or a wireless communications protocol.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of telephone network connectors.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is connected in parallel to a company telephone network.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the company telephone network includes a PBX.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is connected in series with a company telephone network.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the company telephone network includes a PBX.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to extract call information from the PBX.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to extract outgoing call information for outgoing calls.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the outgoing call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a board insertable into a PBX.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured for retrieving caller information corresponding to one or more of the incoming calls.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the processor retrieves the caller information via the Internet connector.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the processor retrieves the caller information from a third-party provider via the Internet connector.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to extract caller information regarding a voice over IP call.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus to provide a company call information, the apparatus comprising: 
 a telephone network connector configured for communicatively coupling to a communications link, the communications link being communicatively coupled to a telephone network;    an Internet connector configured for providing Internet access;    a processor; and    memory storing instructions to perform steps comprising: 
 extracting call information from an incoming call, the call information including a first caller identifier;  
 retrieving caller information corresponding to the first caller identifier; and  
 providing access to the caller information.  
   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the communications link is communicatively coupled to a second communications link communicatively coupled between a first telephone and the telephone network.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the memory includes instructions to perform steps of: 
 comparing the first caller identifier with a list of previously received caller identifiers; and    retrieving caller information corresponding to the first caller identifier when the first caller identifier does not match a caller identifier included in the list of previously received caller identifiers.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the step of retrieving is performed by retrieving the caller information from a third-party data provider.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the step of retrieving is performed by retrieving the caller information from a local database.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the telephone network connector is configured to passively monitor traffic between a company telephone network and the telephone network.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the company telephone network includes a PBX.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the apparatus is communicatively coupled to the PBX.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the memory stores instructions to perform the step of extracting from the PBX call information corresponding to calls routed through the PBX.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the memory stores instructions to access the Internet via the Internet connector utilizing at least one of TCP/IP, WAP, UDP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, Telnet, and SFTP protocols.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the memory stores instructions to communicate to the Internet or the telephone network via at least one of a bluetooth link, a satellite link, a WiFi link, a wireless link, a fiber link, or a wireline link.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the memory stores instructions to communicate to the telephone network via the telephone network connector utilizing at least one of DTMF, WAP, CDMA, TDMA, GSM, wireline communications protocol, or a wireless communications protocol.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus does not interfere with normal call flow.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is not connected to a PBX.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions for extracting include instructions for extracting one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the telephone network connector is coupled to connect to a punch-down block.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the telephone network connector is coupled to connect to a PBX.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is configured to utilize SMDR to communicate with the PBX.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is connected in parallel to a company telephone network.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the company telephone network includes a PBX.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is connected in series with a company telephone network.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the company telephone network includes a PBX.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to extract call information from the PBX.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to extract outgoing call information for outgoing calls.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the outgoing call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus comprises a board insertable into a PBX.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured for retrieving caller information corresponding to one or more of the incoming calls.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the processor retrieves the caller information via the Internet connector.  
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the processor retrieves the caller information from a third-party provider via the Internet connector.  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to extract caller information regarding a voice over IP call.  
   
   
       52 . A method of providing customer information to a company, the method comprising the steps of: 
 extracting a first caller identifier from an incoming call;    comparing the first caller identifier with a list of previously received caller identifiers;    retrieving from a data provider caller information corresponding to the first caller identifier when the first caller identifier does not match a caller identifier included in the list of previously received caller identifiers; and    providing access to the caller information corresponding to the first caller identifier.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the providing is performed via an Internet web page.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the caller information includes one or more of name of caller, address of caller, call duration, call result, number of attempts, call date, call time, call location, distance to caller, business or residential indicator, mobile or pay phone indicator, and socio/economic demographic information.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of extracting a first caller identifier includes extracting one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing is performed by emailing the caller information to the company.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of extracting is performed by extracting the first caller identifier from one or more telephone lines communicatively coupled to a telephone network.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of extracting is performed by extracting the first caller identifier from a PBX.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the step of extracting is performed via an SMDR link.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of extracting is performed by passively monitoring incoming telephone lines to the company.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of comparing includes uploading the first caller identifier from a database located at a customer site to a central database.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the step of uploading is performed via the Internet.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the central database is a relational database management system.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the data provider is a third-party data provider.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing information includes generating one or more reports comprising return-on-investment, calls placed, calls received, demographic information, calls per hour, call details, call status, call results, or SMDR reports.  
   
   
       66 . A method of extracting caller information for a company, the method comprising the steps of: 
 splitting an incoming telephone network line into a first line and a second line, the first line being connected to a first interface and the second line being connected to a company telephone network;    connecting a second interface to a network;    receiving on the first line by the first interface calls received by the company;    extracting call information from calls received by the company; and    transmitting the call information to the network via the second interface.    
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the call information includes caller identification information.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising the step of storing the call information.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising the step of receiving by a server the call information.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70 , further comprising the step of retrieving by the server caller information based upon the call information.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the step of retrieving is performed by retrieving the caller information from a third-party data provider.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising the steps of generating one or more reports and providing the reports to the company.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the step of providing information includes generating one or more reports comprising return-on-investment, calls placed, calls received, demographic information, calls per hour, call details, call status, call results, or SMDR reports.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 73 , including the step of emailing the reports to the company.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 73 , including the step of making the reports available to the company via a website.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the call information includes at least one of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the step of extracting is performed by extracting a caller identifier from one or more telephone lines communicatively coupled to a telephone network.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the step of extracting is performed by extracting the caller identifier from a PBX.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the step of extracting is performed via an SMDR link.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the step of extracting is performed by passively monitoring incoming telephone lines to the company.  
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the step of connecting is performed by utilizing at least one of TCP/IP, WAP, UDP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, Telnet, and SFTP protocols.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the step of connecting to the Internet or the incoming telephone network line includes utilizing at least one of a bluetooth link, a satellite link, a WiFi link, a wireless link, a fiber link, or a wireline link.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the step of receiving is performed by utilizing at least one of DTMF, WAP, CDMA, TDMA, GSM, wireline communications protocol, or a wireless communications protocol.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 66 , including the step of connecting the first interface to a PBX.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 85 , further including the step of extracting call information from the PBX.  
   
   
       87 . The method of  claim 66 , further including the step of extracting outgoing call information for outgoing calls.  
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the outgoing call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       89 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the method is performed by a board insertable into a PBX.  
   
   
       90 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of telephone connections, each telephone connection being configured to communicatively couple to a communications link between a telephone network and a user device;    a second connection to the Internet;    a processor; and    memory for storing instructions for: 
 extracting call information from incoming calls via the plurality of telephone connections; and  
 transmitting the call information to a server via the second connection.  
   
   
   
       91 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, SMDR information, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       92 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the processor is configured to access the Internet via the second connection utilizing at least one of TCP/IP, WAP, UDP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, Telnet, and SFTP protocols.  
   
   
       93 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate via the plurality of telephone connections or the second connection via at least one of a bluetooth link, a satellite link, a WiFi link, a wireless link, a fiber link, or a wireline link.  
   
   
       94 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the instructions for extracting is performed by extracting a first set of call information from a communications link and a second set of call information from a PBX.  
   
   
       95 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the memory includes instructions for extracting outgoing call information.  
   
   
       96 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein the outgoing call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       97 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the apparatus comprises a board insertable into a PBX.  
   
   
       98 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the memory includes instructions for retrieving caller information corresponding to one or more of the incoming calls.  
   
   
       99 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein the memory includes instructions for retrieving the caller information via the second connection.  
   
   
       100 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein the memory includes instructions for retrieving the caller information from a third-party provider via the Internet connector.  
   
   
       101 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the memory includes instructions for extracting caller information regarding a voice over IP call.  
   
   
       102 . The apparatus of  claim 90 , wherein the memory includes instructions for transmitting via the second connection the call information to a server communicatively coupled to the Internet.  
   
   
       103 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of telephone connections, each telephone connection being configured to communicatively couple to a communications link between a telephone network and a user device;    a second connection to the Internet;    a processor; and    memory for storing instructions for: 
 extracting call information from a communications link via the first connection; and  
 transmitting the call information to a server via the second connection.  
   
   
   
       104 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, SMDR information, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       105 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the processor is configured to access the Internet via the Internet connector utilizing at least one of TCP/IP, WAP, UDP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, Telnet, and SFTP protocols.  
   
   
       106 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate to the Internet or the telephone network via at least one of a bluetooth link, a satellite link, a WiFi link, a wireless link, a fiber link, or a wireline link.  
   
   
       107 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the memory includes instructions for extracting outgoing call information.  
   
   
       108 . The apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein the outgoing call information includes one or more of a caller identifier, a call duration, a call time, a call result, a call date, a business or residential line indicator, a mobile phone or pay phone indicator, a MAC address, a computer address, a port status, and a termination identifier.  
   
   
       109 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the apparatus comprises a board insertable into a PBX.  
   
   
       110 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the memory includes instructions for retrieving caller information corresponding to one or more of the incoming calls.  
   
   
       111 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the memory includes instructions for retrieving the caller information via the second connection.  
   
   
       112 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the memory includes instructions for retrieving the caller information from a third-party provider via the Internet connector.  
   
   
       113 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the memory includes instructions for extracting caller information regarding a voice over IP call.  
   
   
       114 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the memory includes instructions for transmitting via the second connection the call information to a server communicatively coupled to the Internet.