Using phone service to initiate requests for web information

Abstract

A method of retrieving information via a network by initiating a phone call by entering a dialing sequence on a telephone to make a telephone connection. If it is determined that the phone call is a request for web-based information, the requested web-based information is determined as well as a network address associated with the phone call. A network protocol request is the generated for the requested web-based information. The network protocol request is then sent to a network server capable of retrieving the information and the retrieved information is delivered to the network address associated with the phone call. Determining that the phone call is a request for web-based information may include detecting a specified sequence that is appended to the phone number. An IP address associated with the telephone may be appended to the phone call either manually or automatically.