Private communications network including connected public communications devices and method of operation thereof

• US 20030118003A1
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Lima, Robinson Osmar, Ragin, Enoch Jr., Marcon da Rocha, Francisco Olympio, Zaniolo, Luiz Cesar, Geck, Bertram
• Granted Patent: US 7,636,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272

Abstract

A virtual private communications network (VPCN) and method of using the VPCN. The VPCN includes a communications server and at least one communications trunk connecting the communications server to a public telephone network. A web server and one or more digital telephones may be connected to the communications server. A remotely connected device (such as a PC or WAP) communicating with the communications server acts as a locally connected digital telephone. A remote telephone located in the vicinity of the remotely connected device provides telephonic communications in cooperation with the communications server controlled by the remotely connected device.

Claims

1. A virtual private communications network (VPCN) comprising:

a communications server;

at least one communications trunk connecting said communications server to a public telephone network;

a remotely connected device communicating with said communications server, said remotely connected device acting as a locally connected digital telephone; and

a remote telephone located in the vicinity of said remotely connected device, telephonic communications being provided to and from said remote telephone in cooperation with said communications server and controlled by said remotely connected device.

2. A VPCN as in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of digital telephones connected to said communications server.

3. A VPCN as in claim 1 wherein said remotely connected device is a web enabled device connected over the Internet, said VPCN further comprising:

a web server connected to said communications server and the Internet.

4. A VPCN as in claim 3 wherein said web enabled device is a personal computer (PC).

5. A VPCN as in claim 4 wherein said PC includes a modem connecting said PC to the Internet.

6. A VPCN as in claim 1 wherein said communications server is a PBX server.

7. A VPCN as in claim 1 wherein said remotely connected device is a wireless access protocol (WAP) device connected over the Internet.

8. A VPCN as in claim 7 wherein said WAP is a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a wireless connection to the Internet.

9. A virtual private communications network (VPCN) comprising:

a communications server;

a web server connected to said communications server and the Internet;

a plurality of digital telephones connected to said communications server;

at least one communications trunk connecting said communications server to a public telephone network;

a plurality of remotely connected web enabled devices communicating with said communications server, said remotely connected devices each acting as a locally connected digital telephone; and

a remote telephone located in the vicinity of each of said remotely connected web enabled devices, telephonic communications being provided to said digital telephones from remote telephones in cooperation with said communications server and controlled by said remotely connected web enabled devices.

10. A VPCN as in claim 9 wherein at least one web enabled device is a personal computer (PC).

11. A VPCN as in claim 10 wherein at least one PC includes a modem connecting to the Internet, said at least one PC being connected to the web server over the Internet.

12. A VPCN as in claim 9 wherein said communications server is a PBX server.

13. A VPCN as in claim 9 wherein at least one remotely connected device is a wireless access protocol (WAP) device connected over the Internet.

14. A VPCN as in claim 13 wherein said WAP is a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a wireless connection to the Internet.

15. A method for communicating with a private communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

a) connecting a remotely located web enabled device to a communications server; and

b) initiating calls at the communications server from and to a remote telephone in the vicinity of said remotely located web enabled device, said remotely located web enabled device initiating and controlling said calls.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein the step (a) of connecting the remotely located web enabled device comprises the steps of:

i) calling an Internet service provider;

ii) negotiating a modem connection with said Internet service provider; and

iii) connecting to a web server connected to said communications server.