System and method for monitoring and handling telecommunication activity via a computer network

摘要

A configurable PSTN call-handling (CPC) service enables monitoring and custom responses to calls received over multiple subscriber lines. A CPC Client Program runs on a computer and presents a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the user to associate call-handling options with call characteristics. The GUI also allows the user to customize the notification signals provided and to provide custom responses to certain callers, by associating call characteristics with various GUI appearances, sound files, or images. The CPC relieves the communications network of performing certain call-handling functions, such as call forwarding, by moving decision-making processes to the user's PC. The user can remotely monitor any subscriber line associated with the user from any browser, because the communications network sends notifications directly to an IP address specified by the user. The IP address associated with a computer connected to the subscriber line need not be the IP address specified by the user.