Voice-over-IP communicator

• US 20040114581A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Mark Taylor, Hans, Mathieu Claude
• Application Number:
  US10/319,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114581A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• 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 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

An exemplary apparatus for providing VoIP services comprises: (a) a telephone hardware interface connectable to a POTS network; (b) a VoIP gateway connectable to a VoIP network; (c) a bridge operable to interconnect a POTS session over the telephone hardware interface with a VoIP session over the VoIP gateway; and (d) an input/output interface that is connected to at least one of the telephone hardware interface, the VoIP gateway, and the bridge, and which is also connectable to a telephone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing VoIP services, comprising:

(a) a telephone hardware interface connectable to a POTS network;

(b) a VoIP gateway connectable to a VoIP network;

(c) a bridge operable to interconnect a POTS session over said telephone hardware interface with a VoIP session over said VoIP gateway; and

(d) an input/output interface;

(1) connected to at least one of said telephone hardware interface, said VoIP gateway, and said bridge; and

(2) connectable to a telephone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where said VoIP network is implemented over said POTS network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where said VoIP gateway connects to said VoIP network via said telephone hardware interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 where said VoIP network is different from said POTS network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 where said VoIP gateway includes a high speed modem.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 where said VoIP gateway is connectable to a high speed modem situated between said VoIP gateway and said VoIP network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 where said bridge includes:

(1) a PSTN to VoIP interface; and

(2) a POTS interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 where said bridge includes a ring generator.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 where said bridge includes a current generator configured to generate current in response to VoIP services.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 where said bridge includes a snoop and hold circuit.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 where said VoIP gateway is capable of joining multiple VoIP sessions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 where said bridge is operable to join multiple VoIP sessions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 where said input/output interface includes a graphic user interface for user control to join multiple VoIP sessions.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 where said bridge is operable to join VoIP and POTS sessions.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 where said VoIP gateway includes a recording module configured to record a session.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 where said recording module includes a sub-module configured to index said recorded session.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an interface for outputting multimedia content received over at least one of said sessions.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 where said bridge is configured to provide conference calling capability.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 where said bridge is configured to allow a user to pick up either a VoIP or a POTS call via said telephone.

20. A method for providing VoIP services, comprising:

(a) connecting a telephone hardware interface to a POTS network;

(b) connecting a VoIP gateway to a VoIP network; and

(c) interconnecting a POTS session over said telephone hardware interface with a VoIP session over said VoIP gateway.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) generating a distinctive ring on a telephone to indicate whether a call is from said POTS network or said VoIP network.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) generating a current in response to VoIP services.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) snooping said POTS network; and

(e) generating a distinctive ring on a telephone to indicate that an incoming call is from said POTS network.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) placing a session on hold; and

(e) generating a distinctive ring on a telephone during said session to indicate an incoming call.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) joining multiple VoIP sessions via said VoIP gateway.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) providing a graphic user interface; and

(e) receiving user control to join multiple VoIP sessions via said graphic user interface.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) recording a session.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

(d) processing said recorded session.

29. The method of claim 28, where said processing includes:

(i) indexing said recorded session.

30. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) receiving multimedia content over at least one of said sessions.

31. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) providing conference calling capability.

32. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

(d) allowing a user to pick up either a VoIP or a POTS call via a telephone.

33. An apparatus for providing VoIP services, comprising:

(a) means for connecting to a POTS network;

(b) means for connecting to a VoIP network;

(c) means for interconnecting a POTS session with a VoIP session; and

(d) means for providing audio input/output.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for generating different rings.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for generating current in response to VoIP services.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for line snooping and holding.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for joining multiple VoIP sessions.

38. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for recording a session.

39. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for outputting multimedia content received over at least one of said sessions.

40. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for where said bridge is providing conference calling capability.

41. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for allowing a user to pick up either a VoIP or a POTS call via said telephone.

42. A computer readable medium for executing a computer method, comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(a) connect a telephone interface to a POTS network;

(b) connect a VoIP gateway to a VoIP network; and

(c) interconnect a POTS session with a VoIP session over said VoIP gateway.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(d) generate a distinctive ring on a telephone to indicate whether a call is from said POTS network or said VoIP network.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(d) generate a current in response to VoIP services.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(d) snoop said POTS network; and

(e) generate a distinctive ring on a telephone to indicate that an incoming call is from said POTS network.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(d) join multiple VoIP sessions via said VoIP gateway.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(d) record a session.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(d) receive multimedia content over at least one of said sessions.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(d) provide conference calling capability.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 42 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed:

(d) allow a user to pick up either a VoIP or a POTS call via a telephone.