Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) ready computer system and method

• US 20060291442A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Duan, Mark Xiaoming
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• 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

Abstract

A VoIP ready computer system includes a housing having an integrated audio communications device holder adapted to receive an audio communications device. The housing includes a portion adapted to contain processing circuitry operable to execute programs and a storage device coupled to the processing circuitry. The storage device stores a VoIP program and other general purpose programs for execution by the processing circuitry. An audio communications device is removably positioned in the audio communications device holder and is coupled to the processing circuitry. The audio communications device is operable to communicate audio signals during execution of the VoIP program.

Claims

1. A VoIP ready computer system, comprising:

a housing including an integrated audio communications device holder adapted to receive an audio communications device and the housing including a portion adapted to contain,

processing circuitry operable to execute programs;

a storage device coupled to the processing circuitry, the storage device storing a VoIP program and other general purpose programs for execution by the processing circuitry; and

an audio communications device removably positioned in the audio communications device holder and coupled to the processing circuitry, the audio communications device operable to communicate audio signals during execution of the VoIP program.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the audio communications device comprises a handset.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the audio communications device comprises a headset.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a top having edges and having a recessed portion along one of the edges, wherein the recessed portion corresponds to the audio communications device holder.

5. The computer system of claim 4 wherein the recessed portion in the top of the housing is a rectangular block shaped portion.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry comprises a microprocessor coupled to a system memory that is operable to store portions of a program being executed by the processing circuitry.

7. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising input devices coupled to the processing circuitry.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the input devices include a keyboard and a mouse.

9. The computer system of claim 1 further including output devices coupled to the processing circuitry.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the output devices include a video display.

11. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the audio communications device is coupled to the processing circuitry through an analog bus.

12. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the audio communications device is coupled to the processing circuitry through a digital communications bus and wherein the device includes analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters.

13. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry includes a connector not accessible externally when the housing is assembled and wherein the audio communications device is coupled to the processing circuitry through this connector.

17. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry comprises a microprocessor coupled to a system memory and coupled to a mass storage device that stores the preinstalled VoIP program.

18. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising input devices and output devices coupled to the processing circuitry.

14. A VoIP ready computer system, comprising:

processing circuitry operable to execute a preinstalled VoIP program that has been configured to operate properly on the computer system;

a chassis including an integrated holder adapted to receive an audio communications device, the processing circuitry being contained within the chassis; and

an audio communications device coupled to the processing circuitry and adapted to be removably positioned in the holder.

15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the audio communications device comprises a handset.

16. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the housing includes a top portion having edges and having a recessed portion formed along one of the edges, wherein the recessed portion corresponds to the holder.

19. A method of communicating audio signals over a digital communications network using a computer system, the method comprising:

supplying power to the computer system;

coupling the computer system to the digital communications network;

without installing any software on the computer system, clicking on an icon displayed on the computer system;

rendering an account activation form on the computer system;

supplying customer account information in response to the account activation form; and

using the computer system to communicate audio signals over the network.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the account activation form includes one or more Web pages that allow a user to enter personal information to establish an account with a VoIP service provider associated with VoIP software preinstalled on the computer system.

21. The method of claim 19 where the digital communications network includes the Internet.

22. A method of configuring a computer system for communicating audio signals over a digital communications network, the method comprising:

installing VoIP software on the computer system;

configuring the software for proper operation on the computer system;

placing an icon on a desktop of the computer system that provides a link to an account activation form associated with the VoIP software;

coupling an audio communications device to the computer system; and

packaging the computer system for sale to a customer.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the account activation form includes one or more Web pages that allow a user to enter personal information to establish an account with a VoIP service provider associated with the VoIP software.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein configuring the software for proper operation on the computer system further comprises configuring the computer system so that upon the audio communications device being activated by a user for the first time causes the computer system to display the account activation form.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein coupling an audio communications device to the computer system includes integrating a holder for the audio communications device into a chassis of the computer system.