System for interconnecting standard telephony communications equipment to internet protocol networks

• US 20040165582A1
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bear Creek Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Joseph B. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Joseph B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• 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 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks

Abstract

A system for linking standard telephony communications with internet protocols. Standard telephony equipment, such as a telephone, can communicate using the internet without special adapters or the like. A network of Internet servers may be connected to the Internet and telephony communications system, enabling telephony communications equipment access to the Internet.

Claims

1. A telephony system comprising:

a server comprising a receiving mechanism for receiving a telephony destination code representing a telephony destination address, an assigning mechanism for assigning an Internet protocol packet destination address corresponding to said telephony destination address, and a communications mechanism for packetizing and forwarding payload data to an Internet protocol router.

2. The telephony system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism for receiving a telephony destination code comprises a mechanism for receiving a PSTN destination telephone number.

3. The telephony system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism for receiving a telephony destination code comprises a mechanism for receiving a PBX destination telephone number.

4. A communications management system for transmitting payload data from an originating standard dial-out telephony communications equipment, said system comprising:

an Internet server coupled to receive call initiation requests from said standard dial-out telephony communications equipment, said Internet server comprising an IP protocol interface to an Internet host and a mechanism for converting a received telephony destination code to an IP address.

5. The communications management system according to claim 4, wherein said payload data comprises voice data, and said standard dial-out telephony communications equipment comprises an analog telephone.

6. The communications management system according to claim 4, wherein said payload data comprises voice data, and said standard dial-out telephony communications equipment comprises a digital telephone.

7. The communications management system according to claim 6, wherein said digital telephone comprises a PBX telephone.

8. The communications management system according to claim 4, wherein said Internet server further comprises a mechanism for determining, from a telephony destination code received by said Internet server from said originating standard dial-out telephony communications equipment, to which of a plurality of other Internet servers said payload data should be forwarded, said Internet server and each of said other Internet servers being interconnected via said Internet.