Systems and methods for providing enhanced telephone services

Abstract

A switching platform comprises a first, second, and third circuit. The first circuit is adapted for recognizing a first set of tones generated by art originating telephone line. The originating telephone line is associated with a call origin telephone number. The first set of tones represents a request for a telephone conference over a conference line. The second circuit is adapted for determining whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication. The third circuit is adapted for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, executed by a computerized telephone services device, for providing enhanced telephone services comprising:
 recognizing, by the computerized telephone services device, tones generated by an originating telephone line, the originating telephone line being associated with a calling telephone number, wherein the tones are associated with a common number assigned to two or more telephone lines of the called party;   determining, by the computerized telephone services device, whether one of the two or more telephone lines of the called party is in use;   determining, by the computerized telephone services device, whether the calling telephone number associated with the originating telephone line is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the in-use telephone line of the called party without requiring authentication of the calling party; and   establishing, by the computerized telephone services device, a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the in-use telephone line of the called party if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the calling telephone number.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the calling telephone number associated with the originating telephone line is included in a set of defined telephone numbers includes searching a database management system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, upon determining that the set of defined telephone numbers does not include the calling telephone number:
 sending, by the computerized telephone services device, a challenge to the originating telephone line;   recognizing, at the computerized telephone services device, receipt of a response to the challenge by the originating telephone line; and   determining, at the computerized telephone services device, whether the received response satisfies the challenge.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the challenge includes a prompt to enter a pass code. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising determining, by the computerized telephone services device, that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the telephone connection. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, upon determining that the set of defined telephone numbers does not include the calling telephone number and that one of the two or more telephone lines of the called party is in use:
 sending, by the computerized telephone services device, a challenge to the originating telephone line;   recognizing, at the computerized telephone services device, receipt of a response to the challenge by the originating telephone line; and   determining, at the computerized telephone services device, whether the received response satisfies the challenge.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, upon determining that the challenge is satisfied, establishing, by the computerized telephone services device, the telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the in-use telephone line. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, upon determining that none of the telephone lines of the called party is in use: establishing, by the computerized telephone services device, a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and one of the telephone lines of the called party. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein establishing the telephone connection includes allocating and/or initializing, at the computerized telephone services device, one or more data structures representing the connection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the computerized telephone services device in response to the challenge, a pass code, the pass code being associated with the originating telephone line, the pass code excluding the calling telephone number; and   establishing, by the computerized telephone services device, the telephone connection upon validation of the pass code.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising determining, by the computerized telephone services device, that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the telephone connection. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising establishing, by the computerized telephone services device, the telephone connection upon determining that the challenge is satisfied. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recognizing, at the computerized telephone services device, upon having established the telephone connection, a command to establish an additional participant connection between the in-use telephone line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;   determining, at the computerized telephone services device, whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number; and   establishing, by the computerized telephone services device, the additional participant connection upon having determined that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 recognizing, at the computerized telephone services device, upon having established the telephone connection, a command to establish an additional participant connection between the in-use telephone line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant;   sending, by the computerized telephone services device, a challenge to the additional participant line; and   waiting, by the computerized telephone services device, for the additional participant to satisfy the challenge.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising establishing, by the computerized telephone services device, the additional participant connection upon the additional participant satisfying the challenge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining, by the computerized telephone services device, that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the additional participant connection.