Network telephone system and methods therefor

• US 20040091089A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• 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 7,092,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.05
• 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

One embodiment of the present invention includes a telephony interface, a network interface and a local area network (LAN). The telephony interface provides connectivity between one or more netphones and an external telephone network such as a PSTN telephone system. The network interface provides connectivity between one or more computers and an external computer network such as the Internet. The local area network provides interconnectivity between the netphone(s), the computer(s), the telephony interface and the network interface. In some embodiments, there may be two or more netphones which can communicate with each other internally via the LAN, in addition to communicating with the external telephone network. Similarly, there may be two or more computers that can also communicate with each other internally via the same LAN, in addition to the external computer network. By combining both the internal and external connectivity needs of both the netphone(s) and computer(s), the entry cost of installing both the netphone(s) and the computer(s) is dramatically lowered. In addition, once the network infrastructure has been installed, the existing netphone(s) and computer(s) can be very easily relocated within the network, and new netphone(s) and computer(s) can be added to the network with minimal changes to the network.

Claims

1. An apparatus useful in association with at least one netphone and at least one computer, the apparatus comprising:

a telephony interface for coupling the at least one netphone to an external telephone system;

a network interface for coupling the at least one computer to an external computer network; and

a local area network for interconnecting the at least one netphone, the at least one computer, the telephony interface and the network interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is wireless.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is based on a dial-up modem protocol.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is based on a cable modem protocol

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is based on an ISDN protocol.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is based on an xDSL protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is based on an Ethernet protocol.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external computer network is an Internet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external telephone system is a PSTN telephone system.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external telephone system is a PBX telephone system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the local area network is based on an Ethernet protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the local area network is wireless.