Self-configuring network telephone system and method

• US 20040047297A1
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sol H. Wynn
• Original Assignee: Sol H. Wynn
• Inventors: Wynn, Sol H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,058,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• 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 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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

Abstract

A self-configuring telephone device interconnected by a network to other network telephone devices. The network telephone device is especially adapted to connect to other similar devices on a network, such as a local area network, without the need for a central controller or secondary wiring. A network telephone sends a broadcast over the network with a predetermined number. If there is no other telephone on the network, the network telephone assigns the predetermined number to itself and notifies the network. If there is another telephone on the network, the phone receives a message so indicating and a directory of numbers from which to choose a non-conflicting telephone number. When a non-conflicting number is found, the telephone adopts the number and informs the network. Voice mail and calls between outside lines and a network phone are supported as well.

Claims

1. A method for automatically configuring a network phone system, comprising:

broadcasting, by a phone connected to the network, a command containing a predetermined telephone number over the network;

if a network response is received during a timeout period,

determining from the response that the predetermined telephone number is already assigned to another telephone connected to the network;

receiving a directory message over the network after receiving the number-assigned response, the directory message including a telephone directory containing numbers assigned to telephones connected to the network;

finding a non-conflicting telephone number from the received telephone directory;

adopting the found number as the number for the phone, and

broadcasting the adopted number over the network.

2. A method for configuring as recited in claim 1, wherein broadcasting a command containing a predetermined telephone number is performed by sending out a broadcast frame with a ‘

Phone Number Tryout Command’

.

3. A method for configuring as recited in claim 1, wherein the network response received during the timeout period is a ‘

Number Already Exists Command’

.

4. A method for configuring as recited in claim 1, wherein the directory message is a ‘

Directory Transmit Command’

.

5. A method for configuring as recited in claim 1, wherein broadcasting the adopted number over the network is performed by sending out a broadcast frame with a ‘

Phone Number Transmit Command’

.

6. A method for configuring as recited in claim 1, further comprising, if no response is received during the timeout period,

selecting the predetermined telephone number as the number for the phone;

broadcasting the predetermined number over the network;

requesting a phone directory be sent;

if no response is received, adopting the selected number as the number for the phone.

7. A method for configuring as recited in claim 6, wherein broadcasting the predetermined number over the network is performed by sending a broadcast frame with a ‘

Phone Number Broadcast Command’

.

8. A method for configuring as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of finding a non-conflicting telephone number includes:

selecting the next available number from the telephone directory;

broadcasting, over the network, a command containing the selected number;

if no response from the network occurs during a timeout period, adopting the selected number as the number for the phone.

9. A method for configuring as recited in claim 8, wherein broadcasting a command containing the selected number is performed by send a broadcast frame with a ‘

Phone Number Tryout Command’

.

10. A method for configuring as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of, after receiving the directory message, acknowledging the receipt of the directory message.

11. A method for configuring as recited in claim 10, wherein acknowledging the receipt of the directory message is performed by sending a ‘

Directory Received Command’

.

12. A method for automatically configuring a network phone system, comprising:

receiving a directory message over the network, the directory message including a telephone directory containing numbers assigned to telephones connected to the network;

finding a non-conflicting telephone number from the received telephone directory;

adopting the found number as the number for the phone, and broadcasting the adopted number over the network.

13. A method for automatically configuring a network phone system as recited in claim 12, further comprising receiving a number-assigned response over the network, prior to the receiving a directory message over the network.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising broadcasting a message containing a predetermined telephone number over the network prior to receiving a number-assigned response.

15. A method for configuring as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of finding a non-conflicting telephone number includes:

selecting the next available number from the telephone directory;

broadcasting, over the network, a command containing the selected number;

if no response from the network occurs during a timeout period, adopting the selected number as the number for the phone.

16. A method of operating a voice mail system over a network that interconnects a voice mail device and at least two network telephones, comprising:

receiving a ring command at a second network phone from a first network phone;

if the number of ring commands exceeds a predetermined number, sending a voice message storage request to the voice mail device;

receiving a call-connected status from the voice mail device and sending a call-connected status to the first network phone;

receiving a voice data greeting and sending the voice data greeting to the first network phone;

in response to the voice data greeting, receiving a voice data message from the first phone and sending the voice data message to the voice mail device over the network;

receiving a call-disconnect command from the first phone and sending a call-disconnect command to the voice mail device; and

receiving a voice mail message available command from the voice mail device, the voice mail message available command causing a voice mail message waiting indicator to light on the second network phone.

17. A method of operating a voice mail system over a network that interconnects a voice mail device and at least two network telephones, comprising:

sending a ring command from the first network phone to the second network phone, a predetermined number of ring commands being exceeded at the second network phone;

receiving a voice data greeting from the voice mail device, the second phone having sent a voice message storage request to the voice mail device;

sending a voice data message to the voice mail device; and

sending a call-disconnect message to the voice mail device, a voice message waiting indicator being lighted on the second network phone.

18. A method of transmitting a voice message between at least two network telephones interconnected by a network, comprising:

entering a phone number of a second phone into a first phone and sending the phone number over the network;

sending a voice message storage request command to the second phone, the second phone forwarding the storage request command to a voice mail device connected to the network;

receiving a call-connected message from the second phone, the second phone forwarding the call-connected message received from the voice mail device;

receiving a voice data greeting from the second phone, the second phone forwarding the voice data greeting received from the voice mail device;

sending a voice message to the second phone, the second phone forwarding the voice message to the voice mail device; and

sending a call-disconnect message to the second phone, the second phone forwarding the call-disconnect message to the voice mail device.

19. A method of transmitting a voice message between at least two network telephones interconnected by a network, comprising:

entering a phone number of a second phone into a first phone and sending the phone number over the network;

sending a voice message storage request command to the second phone, the second phone forwarding the storage request command to a voice mail device connected to the network;

receiving a call-connected message from the voice mail device;

receiving a voice data greeting from a voice mail device;

sending a voice message to the voice mail device; and

sending a call-disconnect message to the voice mail device.

20. A method of transmitting a character message between at least two network telephones interconnected by a network, comprising:

entering a character message and saving the message in a first phone;

entering a phone number of a second phone into a first phone and sending the phone number over the network;

sending a data message storage request over the network to the second phone;

receiving a data message storage ready command from the second phone;

sending the saved message to the second phone; and

receiving a data message acknowledge command from the second phone.

21. A method for automatically configuring a voice mail device for a network that interconnects the voice mail device and a network phone, comprising:

broadcasting a device type command over the network;

broadcasting a phone directory request command over the network;

receiving a phone directory from the network phone; and

sending an acknowledge message to the network phone.

22. A method for automatically configuring a trunk line card device for a network that interconnects the trunk line card device and a network phone, comprising:

broadcasting a device type command over the network;

broadcasting a phone directory request command over the network;

receiving a phone directory from the network phone;

sending an acknowledge message to the network phone; and

polling on a regular basis to determine the calling status of any phone connected to the network.

23. A method for conducting a phone call between a first and second phone interconnected by a network, comprising:

sending a ring command from the first phone to the second phone over the network;

receiving a ring status from the second phone;

receiving a call-connected status from the second phone;

transferring voice data between the first phone and the second phone; and

sending a call-disconnect command to the second phone.

24. A method of completing a phone call between a destination phone outside a network and a telephone connected to the network, comprising:

sending a link request to a trunk line card coupled between the network and the destination phone;

receiving a link request acknowledge from the trunk line card;

transmitting DTMF data to the trunk line card;

receiving a ring tone from a central office via the trunk line card;

receiving a call-connected message from the trunk line card;

transferring voice data between the network phone and the destination phone outside the network via the trunk line card; and

sending a call-disconnect message to the destination outside the network via the trunk line card.