Multi-media communication management system with selectable call routing

• US 20030059021A1
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, Calivin E., Meyerson, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US10/147,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059021A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A communication device is served by a communication system that interconnects the communication device with a communication service provider network and may be served by a wide area network communication device that interconnects the communication device with a wide area wireless service provider network. The communication device comprises a dialog system for interfacing real time streaming audio with a subscriber, a network interface circuit for exchanging the real time streaming audio over the communication system, a docking interface for coupling to the wide area network communication device and exchanging the real time streaming audio over the wide are wireless service provider network using the wide are network communication device, and means for receiving subscriber selection of one of the network interface circuit and the docking interface for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication end point.

Claims

1. A communication device served by a communication system that interconnects the communication device with a communication service provider network and served by a wide area network communication device that interconnects the communication device with a wide area wireless service provider network, the communication device comprising:

a dialog system for interfacing real time streaming audio with a subscriber;

a network interface circuit for exchanging the real time streaming audio over the communication system;

a docking interface for coupling to the wide area network communication device and exchanging the real time streaming audio over the wide are wireless service provider network using the wide are network communication device;

means for receiving subscriber selection of a communication endpoint with which the real time streaming audio is to be exchanged; and

means for receiving subscriber selection of one of the network interface circuit and the docking interface for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication end point.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein:

the means for receiving subscriber selection of a communication endpoint comprises means for receiving subscriber entry of a numerical sequence corresponding to a telephone number associated with the communication endpoint; and

the docking interface comprises means for providing the numerical sequence to the wide area network communication device in response to operator selection of the docking interface for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication endpoint.

3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein:

the docking interface comprises means for providing the numerical sequence to the wide area network communication device in response to operator selection of the docking interface for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication endpoint.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for providing at least one of operating power and battery charging power to the wide area network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

5. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for supporting the wide are network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving subscriber selection of a communication endpoint comprises means for receiving subscriber entry of a numerical sequence corresponding to a telephone number associated with the communication endpoint;

and

the docking interface comprises means for providing the numerical sequence to the wide area network communication device in response to operator selection of the docking interface for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication endpoint.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for providing at least one of operating power and battery charging power to the wide area network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for supporting the wide are network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving subscriber selection of a communication endpoint comprises means for receiving subscriber entry of a numerical sequence corresponding to a telephone number associated with the communication endpoint;

and

the docking interface comprises means for providing the numerical sequence to the wide area network communication device in response to an indication that at least one of the communication system and the communication service provider network has inadequate capacity to support the real time streaming audio.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for providing at least one of operating power and battery charging power to the wide area network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for supporting the wide are network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

12. A communication device served by a communication system that interconnects the communication device with a communication service provider network and served by a wide area network communication device that interconnects the communication device with a wide area wireless service provider network, the communication device comprising:

a dialog system for interfacing real time streaming audio with a subscriber;

a network interface circuit for exchanging the real time streaming audio over the communication system during a real time streaming audio session;

a docking interface for coupling to the wide area network communication device and exchanging the real time streaming audio over the wide are wireless service provider network using the wide are network communication device during a real time streaming audio session;

means for receiving a subscriber indication to respond to a signal indicative of a remote communication endpoint attempt to establish real time streaming audio session with the wide area network communication device; and

means for providing a signal to the wide area network communication device to establish the communication session with the endpoint.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for providing at least one of operating power and battery charging power to the wide area network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for supporting the wide are network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

15. The communication device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for receiving a signal indicative of a remote communication endpoint attempt to establish a real time streaming audio session with the wide area network communication device.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for providing at least one of operating power and battery charging power to the wide area network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the docking interface further comprises means for supporting the wide are network communication device when the wide area network communication device is coupled to the docking interface.

18. A method of providing real time streaming audio communication with a remote endpoint in a communication device served by a communication system that interconnects the communication device with a communication service provider network and served by a wide area network communication device that interconnects the communication device with a wide area wireless service provider network, the method comprising:

receiving subscriber selection of a communication endpoint with which the real time streaming audio is to be exchanged;

receiving subscriber selection of one of the network interface circuit and the docking interface for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication end point; and

establishing a real time streaming audio session with the communication endpoint using the selected one of the network interface circuit and the docking interface;

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the step of receiving subscriber selection of a communication endpoint comprises receiving subscriber entry of a numerical sequence corresponding to a telephone number associated with the communication endpoint; and

the step of establishing a real time streaming audio session with the communication endpoint comprises;

providing the numerical sequence to the wide area network communication device in response to operator selection of the docking interface for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication endpoint; and

providing the numerical sequence to the communication system in response to operator selection of the network interface circuit for use exchanging the real time streaming audio with the communication endpoint.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

supporting the wide are network communication device in the docking interface when the docking interface is selected for establishing real time streaming audio with the communication endpoint.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing at least one of operating power and battery charging power to the wide area network communication device when supported in the docking interface.

22. A method of providing real time streaming audio communication with a remote endpoint in a communication device served by a communication system that interconnects the communication device with a communication service provider network and served by a wide area network communication device that interconnects the communication device with a wide area wireless service provider network, the method comprising:

receiving subscriber selection of a communication endpoint comprises receiving subscriber entry of a numerical sequence corresponding to a telephone number associated with the communication endpoint;

providing the numerical sequence to the communication system in response to operator entry;

providing the numerical sequence to the wide area network communication device in response to;

an indication that at least one of the communication system and the communication service provider network has inadequate capacity to support the real time streaming audio; and

detection that the wide area network communication device is coupled to a docking interface.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

supporting the wide are network communication device in the docking interface when the docking interface is selected for establishing real time streaming audio with the communication endpoint.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing at least one of operating power and battery charging power to the wide area network communication device when supported in the docking interface