Computer implemented communication apparatus and method

• US 20030223461A1
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Jeffrey P., Li, Ping, Young, Steve, Sharma, Raghu, Gunn, Timothy D., Maitra, Sidhartha, Thanawala, Ashish
• Granted Patent: US 7,092,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/493
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/04 using predictive techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6424 Access arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6427 Subscriber Access Module; Concentrator; Group equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6491 Echo cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6494 Silence suppression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/3416 in which the information is carried by both the individual signal points and the subset to which the individual points belong, e.g. using coset coding, lattice coding, or related schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 1/253 Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/068 using time division multiplex techniques; integrated services digital networks H04Q11/0428
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 : Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/002 : Applications of echo suppressors or cancellers in telephonic connections in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/08, echo suppressors or cancellers per se H04B3/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 : Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 : where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00206 : Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence

Abstract

A communication apparatus and method includes a modem operable for connection to a telephone line, a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user, and a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user. Further, processing circuitry, operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, may be, for example, operable to convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information, compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information, and packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon. Each of the outgoing packets includes at least one header. The processing circuitry may further be operable to provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem, and receive incoming packets including compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem. Each of the incoming packets includes at least one header; the at least one header includes information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus. Yet further, the processing circuitry may be operable to decompress compressed incoming digital voice information and convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the voice conveying interface apparatus.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user;

a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information;

compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header;

provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem;

receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus;

decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and

convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the voice conveying interface apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the user with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to simulate a speaker phone for hands free communication.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voice receiving interface apparatus comprises a microphone jack.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voice conveying interface apparatus comprises a speaker.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to remove at least a portion of the incoming digital voice information from the outgoing digital voice information for acoustic echo cancellation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide the compressed outgoing digital voice information for storage in memory associated therewith.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide the compressed incoming digital voice information for storage in memory associated therewith.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:

provide for retrieval of the compressed incoming digital voice information from the memory;

modify the compressed incoming digital voice information to create modified compressed incoming digital voice information; and

store the modified compressed incoming digital voice information for later retrieval.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephone line comprises a digital telephone line.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface program comprises a windowing software application.

14. A communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving voice signals from a local user;

converting the voice signals from the local user resulting in outgoing digital voice information;

compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing packets, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header;

providing the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem;

receiving incoming packets using the modem comprising compressed incoming digital voice information, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets;

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information;

converting the incoming digital voice information to produce voice signals for conveyance to the local user; and

conveying the voice signals to the local user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises providing the local user, using the graphical user interface program, with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises providing the local user, using the graphical user interface program, with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises simulating a speaker phone for hands free communication using the graphical user interface program.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the voice signals from a local user comprises receiving voice signals from a local user using a microphone jack.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein conveying voice signals to a local user comprises conveying voice signals to a local user using a speaker.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises removing at least a portion of the incoming digital voice information from the outgoing digital voice information for acoustic echo cancellation.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises providing the compressed outgoing digital voice information for storage in memory.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises providing the compressed incoming digital voice information for storage in memory.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

retrieving the compressed incoming digital voice information from the memory;

modifying the compressed incoming digital voice information to create modified compressed incoming digital voice information; and

storing the modified incoming digital voice information for later retrieval.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the telephone line comprises a digital telephone line.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the graphical user interface program comprises a windowing software application.

27. A computer system comprising:

a graphical user interface for simulating a hands free speaker phone;

a microphone apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user;

a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user;

a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; and

processing circuitry operable under control of the graphical user interface, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

convert received voice signals from the local user via the microphone apparatus into outgoing digital voice information;

compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header;

provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem;

receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the computer system;

decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and

convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the speaker apparatus.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface to provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface to provide the user with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the telephone line comprises a digital telephone line.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide the compressed outgoing digital voice information for storage in memory associated therewith.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide the compressed incoming digital voice information for storage in memory associated therewith.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide for retrieval of the compressed incoming digital voice information from the memory and modification of the compressed incoming digital voice information to create modified compressed incoming digital voice information.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the graphical user interface comprises at least a windowing component.

36. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information;

compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing another apparatus to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and

provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the voice receiving interface apparatus comprises a microphone jack.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the user with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide the compressed outgoing digital voice information for storage in memory associated therewith.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the graphical user interface program comprises a windowing software application.

42. A communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving voice signals from a local user;

converting the voice signals from the local user resulting in outgoing digital voice information;

compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing packets, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and

providing the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises providing the local user, using the graphical user interface program, with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises providing the local user, using the graphical user interface program, with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein receiving voice signals from a local user comprises receiving voice signals from a local user using a microphone jack.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises simulating a speaker phone for hands free communication using the graphical user interface program.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises providing the compressed outgoing digital voice information for storage in memory.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the graphical user interface program comprises a windowing software application.

49. A computer system comprising:

a graphical user interface for simulating a hands free speaker phone;

a microphone apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user;

a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user;

a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; and

processing circuitry operable under control of the graphical user interface, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book;

convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information;

compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and

provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface to provide the user with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide the compressed outgoing digital voice information for storage in memory associated therewith.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the graphical user interface comprises at least a windowing component.

53. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to a local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus;

decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and

convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the speaker apparatus.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the user with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to simulate a speaker phone for hands free communication.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide the compressed incoming digital voice information for storage in memory associated therewith.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide for retrieval of the compressed incoming digital voice information from the memory and modification of the compressed incoming digital voice information to create modified compressed incoming digital voice information.

58. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the graphical user interface program comprises a windowing software application.

59. A communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone;

receiving incoming packets using the modem comprising compressed incoming digital voice information, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus;

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information;

converting the incoming digital voice information to produce voice signals for conveyance to a local user; and

conveying the voice signals to the local user.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the method further comprises providing the local user, using the graphical user interface program, with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein conveying the voice signals to the local user comprises conveying the voice signals to the local user using a speaker.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the method further comprises simulating a speaker phone for hands free communication using the graphical user interface program.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the method further comprises providing the compressed incoming digital voice information for storage in memory.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the method further comprises retrieving the compressed incoming digital voice information from the memory and modifying the compressed incoming digital voice information to create modified compressed incoming digital voice information.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the graphical user interface program comprises a windowing software application.

66. A computer system comprising:

a graphical user interface for simulating a hands free speaker phone;

a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to a local user;

a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; and

processing circuitry operable under control of the graphical user interface, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication system;

decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and

convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the speaker apparatus.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface to provide the user with selectable options comprising one or more of a speaker phone, a handset, and a headset.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide the compressed incoming digital voice information for storage in memory associated therewith.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide for retrieval of the compressed incoming digital voice information from the memory and modification of the compressed incoming digital voice information to create modified compressed incoming digital voice information.

70. The system of claim 66, wherein the graphical user interface comprises at least a windowing component.