Remote internet telephony device
First Claim
1. A remote cordless Internet telephony device comprising:
- a cordless telephone comprising a cordless telephone handset and a base unit; and
a computer program having a communications path to a digital telephony network and a connection to said base unit, said computer program executing instructions designed to accept data from said base unit, transmit audio information input from said base unit to said digital telephony network, receive audio information input from said digital telephony network, convert it to a form suitable for said base unit and transmit it to said base unit;
wherein said software is compatible with telephony software utilized by Internet telephony providers so as to allow emulation of a cordless POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) telephone call over the Internet whereby one user may communicate with a second user over said digital telephony network said cordless telephone handset comprising a microphone, a speaker, means for generating dialing or keypress events, a handset rf transceiver for communication with a base unit transceiver, circuitry for translating audio information input to said microphone to an rf signal as an input to said handset rf transceiver, circuitry for translating input from said handset rf transceiver to an electrical signal as an input to said speaker, and circuitry for translating a dialing or keypress event into a DTMF tone or keystroke data as an input to said handset rf transceiver;
said base unit communicating with a computer program, and comprising a base unit rf transceiver for communication with said handset rf transceiver, means for determining whether said communication represents a DTMF signal, keystroke data or audio information, circuitry for translating communications from said handset rf transceiver into digital form for transmission to a computer program, circuitry for receiving digital data from said computer program and translating said digital data to a form suitable for transmission to said base unit rf transceiver, and a connection for transmitting data between said base unit rf transceiver and said computer program.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Remote receipt and placement of Internet Telephony communications emulates traditional POTS telephone service through a combination of software and a specialized cordless telephony device, allowing ringing and answering of inbound calls, dialing of outbound numbers, and signaling of handset status, as well as traditional telephony capabilities such as memory dialing, redial and radio channel controls. Voice control of dialing may also be implemented under software control. This system is easily adapted for operation with most PC based Internet Telephony software systems. This system may be combined with a regular POTS cordless telephone which allows for standard POTS calls and contacting emergency services.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A remote cordless Internet telephony device comprising:
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a cordless telephone comprising a cordless telephone handset and a base unit; and
a computer program having a communications path to a digital telephony network and a connection to said base unit, said computer program executing instructions designed to accept data from said base unit, transmit audio information input from said base unit to said digital telephony network, receive audio information input from said digital telephony network, convert it to a form suitable for said base unit and transmit it to said base unit;
wherein said software is compatible with telephony software utilized by Internet telephony providers so as to allow emulation of a cordless POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) telephone call over the Internet whereby one user may communicate with a second user over said digital telephony network said cordless telephone handset comprising a microphone, a speaker, means for generating dialing or keypress events, a handset rf transceiver for communication with a base unit transceiver, circuitry for translating audio information input to said microphone to an rf signal as an input to said handset rf transceiver, circuitry for translating input from said handset rf transceiver to an electrical signal as an input to said speaker, and circuitry for translating a dialing or keypress event into a DTMF tone or keystroke data as an input to said handset rf transceiver;
said base unit communicating with a computer program, and comprising a base unit rf transceiver for communication with said handset rf transceiver, means for determining whether said communication represents a DTMF signal, keystroke data or audio information, circuitry for translating communications from said handset rf transceiver into digital form for transmission to a computer program, circuitry for receiving digital data from said computer program and translating said digital data to a form suitable for transmission to said base unit rf transceiver, and a connection for transmitting data between said base unit rf transceiver and said computer program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A process of establishing a Cordless Internet Telephone call, comprising:
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creation of a connection to the internet under the control of an operating system further controlling an interface to a Cordless Internet Telephone, said Cordless Internet Telephone comprising a base and a cordless handset, by way of a Device Interface Program;
initiating a telephone call by a dialing process on the cordless handset which is communicated to the Device Interface Program, which indicates an outbound connection request and its destination to an Internet Telephony Program and providing a contact list from an Internet Telephony Program and transmitting said contact list to the Cordless Internet Telephone by a Device Interface Program and associated USB drivers for RF transmission to a selected handset by a cordless handset base control device and RF transceiver and further display by a handset control device interfaced to a display unit and keypad. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A process for receiving a Cordless Internet Telephone call, comprising:
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providing a connection to the Internet under the control of an operating system further controlling an interface to a Cordless Internet Telephone comprising a base unit and a cordless handset, by way of a Device Interface Program;
receiving an inbound connection request in an Internet Telephony Program (ITP), which said ITP forwards said request to a Device Interface Program; and
determining the status of the Cordless Internet Telephone in said Device Interface Program, and returning a status indication if the handset is in use, off-line, or unavailable and sending a ring command to the cordless handset. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A process of establishing a connection, selectable from a connection to the internet under the control of an operating system or a connection to a POTS line, comprising
creation of a connection to the internet under the control of an operating system further controlling an interface to a Cordless Internet Telephone, said Cordless Internet Telephone comprising a base and a cordless handset, by way of a Device Interface Program and creation of a connection to a POTS line; -
providing a switch mechanism having multiple selection modes for choosing between said connection to the internet and said connection to a POTS line;
selecting one of said selection modes, thereby selecting either said connection to the internet or said connection to a POTS line;
initiating a telephone call by a dialing process on the cordless handset, said dialing process comprising either communication to a Device Interface Program, which indicates an outbound connection request and its destination to an Internet Telephony Program, or connection to a POTS line, depending upon which switch position has been selected. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A process for receiving a cordless telephone call, selectable from Internet telephony or POTS, comprising:
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providing a connection to the Internet under the control of an operating system further controlling an interface to a Cordless Internet Telephone by way of a Device Interface Program;
and providing a connection to a POTS line;
receiving either an inbound connection request in an Internet Telephony Program, which program forwards said request to a Device Interface Program or a ring signal from the POTS line;
in the case of an inbound connection request in an Internet Telephony Program, determining the status of the Cordless Internet Telephone in said Device Interface Program, and returning a status indication if the handset is in use, off-line, or unavailable and sending a ring command to the cordless handset;
and in the case of a ring signal from the POTS line, sending a ring command to the cordless handset. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification