Internet telephony through hosts

• US 20070005729A1
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Sharma, Puneet, Kahng, Andrew, Cox, Johathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42

Abstract

Systems of the invention employ peer-to-peer and centralized server networking to enable POTS/PSTN/PBX phone lines to be shared with other users of the system over the Internet. An example application of the invention is to allow a person, having access to an Internet connection, to receive calls and make calls using his/her home or office telephone, or using the phones of other parties that he/she is authorized to access. In preferred embodiments, the invention can exploit availability of an existing voice modem port on the user'"'"'s home or office computer, and can require only the installation of software on the home or office computer, and on whatever device (laptop, PDA, computer, mobile phones, etc.) is employed by the user in the remote location. Variant realizations of the invention may also provide any combination of features typically available to phone users, including, for example, the following features: authentication, verification, directory services, directory search, access rights, call forwarding, call answering, voice, mail, missed-call information, call screening, and caller identification.

Claims

1. A method for providing telephony services through the Internet, the method comprising steps of:

by a host connected to a phone line, providing access to the phone line through the internet;

by a server available through the Internet, communicating with the host and with clients through the Internet to provide clients access to phone services.

2. A server accessible through the Internet, the server providing access control to a remote client that accesses phone services through a host computer to provide the remote client with phone services available at the host computer.

3. The server of claim 2, wherein the server provides one or more of the following services:

authentication, tunneling, initiation of peer-to-peer communication, routing, directory, directory search, and access rights.

7. The host of claim 2, wherein the server provides one or more of the following services:

directory search, voicemail and missed calls, call answering, and call initiation.

4. A host having access to a local phone service and an Internet connection, the host providing Internet server-enabled access to the local phone service via an internet connection by permitting a client to utilize the local phone service.

5. The host of claim 4, wherein the server comprises a client.

6. The host of claim 4, wherein the server controls client access to the host.

8. A client enabled to access a phone service through an Internet connection, the client having functions for requesting access to the local phone service, and for performing communications through an established connection.

9. The client of claim 8, wherein the client provides one or more of the following services:

phone line interface, authentication, verification, call forwarding, call answering, voice mail and missed calls, and local-call routing.

10. A system for providing phone services to Internet users through the Internet, the system comprising:

one or more host computers, each host computer having access to a local phone service;

at least one server that controls access between said one or more host computers and phone service clients seeking to access phone services through the Internet.

11. A business method, the method comprising charging clients for access to the system of claim 10.

12. A business method, the method comprising providing virtual local phone service for a fee by providing a simulation of local phone service to remote clients through the Internet.