Method and system for computer based intercom control and management

• US 20060056386A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Stogel
• Original Assignee: Scott Stogel
• Inventors: Stogel, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,760,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 audio communication system including a communication server with an operator interface coupled to a network and one or more audio communication terminal clients coupled to the network. The communication server is advantageously implemented in a PC based system connected to a network. The network may include the internet. In operation the server may monitor the network for a client connection request issued by one of the audio communication terminal clients. A TCP/IP network connection is established between the communication server and a client after said communication server receives a client connection request. Once the connection is established the server displays an indication of client connection request through operator interface. Alternatively an indication of the client connection request may be presented to the operator. The operator then controls the server based on inputs to the user/operator interface. The operator may respond to the remote client either by speaking, by playing a pre-recorded message or by transferring the connection and/or connection request to another communication server. The system may be have a fault tolerant feature whereby the audio communication terminal clients attempt to connect with and alternate communication server if the initial server is not available.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computer with multimedia audio support coupled to a network;

a software program in the computer having instructions to manage two or more TCP/IP connections between said computer and two or more dedicated audio communication terminals on said network;

at least two audio communication terminals, each coupled to said network and containing an IP address, an audio transducer, an audio codec and processor connected to said transducer to exchange IP data and control signals between the computer and the audio communication terminals over the network;

wherein the computer receives TCP/IP connection requests from said dedicated audio communication terminals and upon establishment of a connection the computer and audio communication terminals can exchange data and digitized audio; and

wherein the computer software contains instruction to control the network connection state and the audio modes of the audio communication terminal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said connection is a Wireless network connection.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said audio communication terminal further comprises a voice activated threshold sensor signaling the transmission of digital audio data.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said software program further includes command protocol instructions capable of distinguishing audio information from control code information.

5. A method comprising the steps of:

automatically establishing a TCP/IP network connection between a command center and at least one network client;

converting audio input at an audio communication terminal to digital format data representing said audio input;

transmitting said digital format data representing said audio input to said command center from said audio communication terminal;

examining terminal connection requests at said command center;

displaying a graphical notification of the client requests at said command center; and

acting on said connection requests by application of one or more rules at said command center.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the step of acting is to provide instructions to said audio communication terminal to establish a connection to an alternate IP address.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the step of acting is an operator activated response.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein the step of acting is transmission of stored data representing audio information.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the operator activated response is the conversion of an audio input to audio data and the transmission of said audio data.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said client has an IP address assigned by a DHCP server.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the connection is a TCP/IP connection and further comprising the step of maintaining the connection by examining LINK condition of a network physical interface (PHY) control line.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein said connection is a TCP/IP connection and further comprising the step of configuring the TCP/IP connection addresses and storing connection addresses and instructions in one or more audio communication terminals.

13. In an audio communication system having a communication server with an operator interface coupled to a network and one or more audio communication terminal clients coupled to said network, a communication method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the network for a client connection request at said communication server;

establishing a TCP/IP network connection between said communication server and a client after said communication server receives a client connection request;

present indication of client through operator interface upon establishing TCP/IP connection;

monitor user interface for operator instruction; and

processing operator instruction or other action based on application of rules.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of processing comprises receiving data over said connection and converting said data to audio output.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the step of processing comprises transmitting data representing audio information to said connection.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of retrieving said data from storage.

17. A method according to claim 13 wherein the step of processing comprises transmitting an IP address representing an alternate server in the absence of an operator response upon expiration of a timed period.

18. A method according to claim 13 wherein the step of processing comprises transferring said connection to an alternative communication server.

19. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the steps of initiating a timeout sequence upon establishing said TCP/IP connection and in the event of expiration of said timeout sequence prior to actuation of an operator instruction, transferring a communication session to an alternative operator console.

20. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the steps of notification one or more alternative operator consoles of the client connection request and transferring a communication session to one of said alternative operator consoles upon receipt by said communication server of a transfer request.

21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of presenting said notification through an operator interface of said alternative console and issuing transfer request upon activation through said user interface of said alternative console.

22. In an audio communication system having two or more communication servers with operator interfaces, each coupled to a network and one or more audio communication method comprising the steps of:

issuing a TCP/IP connection request to a first address by an audio communication terminal client in response to a trigger at said client;

in the event, issuing a further TCP/IP connection request to an alternative address.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein said alternate connection trigger is the expiration of a preset time period.

24. A method according to claim 22 wherein said alternate connection trigger is user input at said client.