Internet phone system and directory search engine using same

• US 20050041649A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• 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 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• 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

Abstract

An Internet compatible dialer pad is used to dial into an Internet server to provide services similar to those found on the Plain Old Telephone System (“POTS”). The dialer pad has an integrated modem set, an extended keypad with alphanumeric entry keys and function keys, display screen and display electronics that renders visual call progress information to the user as well as other communications indicators and related information about the current Internet connection. The dialer uses the Public Switched Telephone System (“PSTN”) and standard LAN/WAN technology to give the user entry into a plurality of Internet calling functions. An Internet database is maintained and permits the dialing party to obtain callee information by entering alphanumeric characters via the dialer. Links from the PSTN to an Internet data base are not restricted to a specific digital data protocol.

Claims

1-3. -3. (Canceled)

4. A method for supporting telephony services over a data network, the method comprising:

transmitting a prompt message to a telephony station of a caller for an identifier of a callee in response to detecting placement of a call to the callee;

receiving a message specifying the identifier from the telephony station of the caller in response to the prompt message; and

converting the identifier to a network address for use in establishment of the call over the data network to the callee.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the identifier corresponds to one or more callees, the method further comprising:

transmitting a plurality of names of the callees to the telephony station, wherein the caller selects a particular one of the names for establishment of the call.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the call is a long distance call.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the identifier is not a valid domain name.

8. A server for supporting telephony services over a data network, comprising:

a network interface configured to transmit a prompt message to a telephony station of a caller for an identifier of a callee in response to detecting placement of a call to the callee, wherein the network interface is further configured to receive a message specifying the identifier from a telephony station of the caller in response to the prompt message; and

a processor configured to convert the identifier to a network address for use in establishment of the call over the data network to the callee.

9. A server according to claim 8, wherein the identifier corresponds to one or more callees, and a plurality of names of the callees are transmitted to the telephony station, the caller selecting a particular one of the names for establishment of the call.

10. A server according to claim 8, wherein the call is a long distance call.

11. A server according to claim 8, wherein the identifier is not a valid domain name.

12. A telephony station for supporting telephony services, comprising:

a physical keypad for providing Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) dialing to establish a switched voice call;

a physical button, separate from the keypad, for initiating a packet-switched voice call;

an alphanumeric keyboard for inputting a callee identifier with an alphabetic character corresponding to the packet-switched voice call; and

a display coupled to the alphanumeric keyboard and configured to display the callee identifier.

13. A station according to claim 12, further comprising:

a first jack configured to connect to a circuit-switched telephony network to support the switched voice call; and

a second jack configured to connect to the circuit-switched telephony network to support the packet-switched voice call.

14. A station according to claim 12, wherein the packet-switched voice call is a long distance call.

15. A station according to claim 12, wherein the callee identifier is not a valid domain name.

16. A station according to claim 12, wherein the physical key pad comprises numeric keys corresponding to the DTMF dialing.

17. A station according to claim 12, wherein the physical key pad comprises alphanumeric keys, and at least one key corresponds to the DTMF dialing.

18. A station according to claim 12, wherein the display shows information regarding a current callee.

19. A station according to claim 12, wherein the display shows a list of available callees.

20. A station according to claim 12, wherein the display shows a network address of an available callee.

21. A station according to claim 12, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicate with a computer to exchange data.

22. A method for placing a call over a data network, comprising:

dialing, via a physical keypad, Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) digits to establish a switched voice call over a first jack;

concurrently initiating, via a physical button that is separate from the keypad, a packet-switched voice call over a second jack; and

inputting a callee identifier for termination of the packet-switched voice call.

23. A station according to claim 22, wherein the first jack connects to a circuit-switched telephony network to support the switched voice call, and the second jack connects to the circuit-switched telephony network to support the packet-switched voice call.

24. A station according to claim 22, wherein the packet-switched voice call is a long distance call.

25. A station according to claim 22, wherein the callee identifier is not a valid domain name.

26. A station according to claim 22, wherein the physical key pad comprises numeric keys corresponding to the DTMF dialing.

27. A station according to claim 22, wherein the physical key pad comprises alphanumeric keys, and at least one key corresponds to the DTMF dialing.

28. A station according to claim 22, further comprising:

displaying information regarding of a current callee.

29. A station according to claim 22, further comprising:

displaying a list of available callees.

30. A station according to claim 22, further comprising:

displaying a network address of an available callee.

31. A station according to claim 22, further comprising:

communicating with a computer to exchange data.

32. A system for providing directory services for calls placed over a data network, comprising:

a directory server configured to receive an identifier of a callee from a telephony station of the caller, the telephony station communicating with the data network through a circuit-switched network, wherein the telephony station includes a physical button to initiate a call via a circuit-switched connection for establishment of the call over the data network to the callee; and

a user database coupled to the directory server, the database storing a network address corresponding to the identifier, wherein the network address is used for establishment of the call over the data network to the callee.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the directory server communicates with a domain name server to obtain the network address.

34. A system according to claim 32, wherein the call is a long distance call.

35. A system according to claim 32, wherein the identifier is not a valid domain name.

36. A system according to claim 32, wherein the call is in an Internet audio format and the callee receives the call via a telephony station supporting an audio phone format, the system further comprising:

an audio conversion switch configured to convert from the Internet audio format to the audio phone format.