Voice internet transmission system
First Claim
1. An audio transmission system for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, said system comprising:
- at least one originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;
at least one originating audio engine means for receiving the analog signal via the first switched telephone network, digitizing said signal, compressing the signal, encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet using an Internet protocol such that the message is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the signal via the Internet;
at least one receiving audio engine means for receiving the at least one Internet packet transmitted by the originating audio engine means, de-encapsulating the at least one Internet packet to retrieve the signal, de-compressing the signal, converting the signal back to an analog form, and transmitting the analog signal via a second switched telephone network; and
at least one receiving telephone means for receiving the analog signal via the second switched telephone network.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A voice Internet transmission system which enables a person to have a conversation via the Internet without having to use a computer at either end of the conversation, and without incurring long distance telephone charges regardless of the distance between those having the conversation. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus consists of two non-Internet capable devices being enabled to connect to the Internet and either in duplex or simplex mode transmit packets of Internet formatted data comprising digitized, compressed and encrypted conversation between the devices. In other words, a person can pick up an ordinary telephone and converse with another person, regardless of the distance between them, without incurring long distance telephone charges. No special telephone is required, nor is a computer running special software. The apparatus which makes this possible is a system of Internet access nodes or VoiceEngines. These local Internet VoiceEngines provide digitized, compressed, and encrypted duplex or simplex Internet voice/sound communication services.
17 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An audio transmission system for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, said system comprising:
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at least one originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;
at least one originating audio engine means for receiving the analog signal via the first switched telephone network, digitizing said signal, compressing the signal, encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet using an Internet protocol such that the message is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the signal via the Internet;
at least one receiving audio engine means for receiving the at least one Internet packet transmitted by the originating audio engine means, de-encapsulating the at least one Internet packet to retrieve the signal, de-compressing the signal, converting the signal back to an analog form, and transmitting the analog signal via a second switched telephone network; and
at least one receiving telephone means for receiving the analog signal via the second switched telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An audio transmission system for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, said system comprising:
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at least one originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;
at least one originating audio engine means for receiving the analog signal via the first switched telephone network, digitizing said signal, compressing the signal, encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet using an Internet protocol such that the message is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the signal via the Internet; and
a receiving computer means for receiving the at least one Internet packet transmitted by the originating audio engine means, de-encapsulating the at least one Internet packet to retrieve the signal, de-compressing the signal, converting the signal back to an analog signal, and playing the analog signal.
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18. An audio transmission system for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, said system comprising:
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an originating computer means for processing an analog signal by digitizing said signal, compressing the signal, encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet using an Internet protocol such that the message is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the signal via the Internet;
at least one receiving audio engine means for receiving the at least one Internet packet transmitted by the originating audio engine means, de-encapsulating the at least one Internet packet to retrieve the signal, de-compressing the signal, and converting the signal back to an analog signal, and transmitting the analog signal via a second switched telephone network; and
at least one receiving telephone means for receiving the analog signal via the second switched telephone network.
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19. A system for transmitting information via the Internet using communication devices which do not transmit information using Internet communication protocols, said system comprising:
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at least one originating communication means for transmitting non-Internet encapsulated data via a first switched telephone network;
at least one originating Internet translation engine means for receiving the non-Internet encapsulated data via the switched telephone network, encapsulating said data into Internet packets using an Internet protocol such that said data is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the Internet packets via the Internet;
at least one receiving Internet engine means for receiving the Internet packets transmitted by the originating Internet translation engine means, de-encapsulating the Internet packet, and transmitting the non-Internet data via a second switched telephone network; and
at least one receiving communication means for receiving said data via the second switched telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;
b) providing an originating audio engine means for receiving the signal via the first switched telephone network and transmitting the signal via the Internet;
c) providing a receiving audio engine means for receiving the signal via the Internet and transmitting the signal via a second switched telephone network; and
d) providing a receiving telephone means for receiving the signal via the second switched telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for transmitting data from a device which transmits data via a switched telephone network, but which does not encapsulate data within Internet packets for transmission via the Internet, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an originating communication means which communicates via a first switched telephone network;
b) providing a transmitting Internet engine means for receiving data from the originating communication means via the first switched telephone network and for transmitting said data;
c) providing a receiving Internet engine means for receiving the data from the Internet and for transmitting said data via a second switched telephone network; and
d) providing a receiving communication means which typically communicates via the second switched telephone network, and receiving the data from the receiving Internet engine means.
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46. The method as defined in step 45 wherein the step of transmitting the data via the Internet includes the step of encapsulating the data within at least one Internet packet in accordance with an Internet protocol such that the signal can be transmitted via the Internet.
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47. A method for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;
b) providing an originating audio engine means for receiving the signal via the first switched telephone network and transmitting the signal via the Internet; and
c) providing a receiving computer means for receiving the signal via the Internet and audibly playing the signal.
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48. A method for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an originating computer means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via the Internet;
b) providing a receiving audio engine means for receiving the signal via the Internet and transmitting the signal via a switched telephone network; and
c) providing a receiving telephone means for receiving the signal via the switched telephone network.
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Specification