Telephone to computational device association

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a system for dynamic association of a computational device, which includes at least one communication interface and a control system coupled to the at least one communication interface with a communication device. A request to authenticate an association between a computational device and a communication device is received by the control system and a communication connection is established with the communication device. A request for authentication information is sent via the communication connection to the communication device. A response is received from the communication device and information determined from the response is forwarded.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for associating a computational device with a communication device, the system comprising:
 at least one communication interface; and   a control system coupled to the at least one communication interface and configured to:
 receive a request to authenticate an association between the computational device and the communication device; 
 establish a communication connection with the communication device; 
 send a request for authentication information to the communication device via the communication connection; 
 receive a response to the request for authentication information from the communication device; and 
 forward information determined from the response to the request for authentication information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the association between the computational device and the communication device allows the computational device to control at least one function of the communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the association between the computational device and the communication device allows the computational device to keep track of at least one operational aspect of the communication device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a computer-telephone adaptor configured to send the request to authenticate the association between the computational device and the communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , comprising a telephony switch coupled between the computer-telephone adaptor and the at least one communication interface, wherein the request to authenticate an association between the computational device and the communication device is received via the telephony switch. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a communication switch, the control system being configured to establish the communication connection with the communication device via the communication switch. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an interactive response system comprises the at least one communication interface and the control system coupled to the at least one communication interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control system is configured to send the request for authentication information by providing an automated voice message to the communication device via a telephony connection. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control system is configured to receive the response to the request for authentication information by receiving signaling resulting from keypad entries at the communication device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control system is configured to receive the response to the request for authentication information by receiving a voice response from the communication device, the control system being configured to perform speech recognition on the voice response. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to forward the information determined from the response to the request for authentication information by forwarding information to a computer-telephone adaptor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to forward the information determined from the response for authentication information by forwarding the information to a network device configured to associate computational devices with communication devices. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
 receive a request to establish a communication session with two communication devices from a network device configured to associate computational devices with communication devices; and   establish the requested communication session.   
     
     
         14 . A communication system comprising:
 a plurality of communication interfaces;   a switching fabric coupled to the plurality of communication interfaces; and   a control system coupled to the switching fabric and configured to:
 receive a request to authenticate a communication device from a network device configured to associate computational devices with communication devices; 
 establish a communication connection with the communication device; 
 send a request for authentication information to the communication device via the communication connection; 
 receive a response to the request for authentication information from the communication device; and 
 forward information determined from the response to the request for authentication information. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , comprising an interactive voice response system coupled to a communication switch, wherein the control system is configured to send the request for authentication information by providing an automated voice message from the interactive voice response system to the communication device via a telephony connection. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control system is configured to receive the response to the request for authentication information by receiving signaling resulting from keypad entries on the communication device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
 receive the response to the request for authentication information by receiving a voice response from the communication device; and   couple the voice response to the interactive voice response system; and   wherein the interactive voice response system is configured to perform speech recognition on the voice response.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control system is further configured to forward information determined from the response for authentication information by forwarding information to the network device configured to associate computational devices with communication devices. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
 receive a request to establish a communication session with two communication devices from the network device configured to associate computational devices with communication devices; and   establish the requested communication session.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein an association between a computational device and a communication device allows the computational device to control at least one function of the associated communication device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein an association between a computational device and a communication device allows the computational device to keep track of at least one operational aspect of the communication device.