Internet telephony callback system and method of operation

Abstract

A system and method to implement callback for unanswered telephone calls in a Distributed Information System (DIS) adapted for telephony. A calling station and a called station are each connected to the DIS through a local and remote service provider, respectively, each provider including a voice gateway and callback server. A telephone call originated at the calling station by a calling party is processed by the local service provider and the local callback server generates a control message which accompanies the telephone call. The remote service provider processes and connects the telephone call if answered by the called party and sends a message to delete the control message from the local callback server. If the telephone call is unanswered the remote callback server stores the control message and waits for the called party to initiate a return call. When the return call is initiated, the remote callback server sends a message to the local callback server to extend the return call to the calling party. If the calling party is busy or unavailable, the roles of the local and remote callback servers are reversed. The remote (formerly the local) callback server stores the message and initiates a return reply message when the called (formerly the calling) party generates message.