Method and apparatus for receiving conventional telephone calls while connected to the internet

• US 6,178,183 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1997
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Buskirk, Martin Cornelius Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US08/861,295
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 310/260, 310/263, 310/264, 310/270, 310/352, 310/355, 310/389, 310/493, 379/201, 379/202, 379/93.01, 379/93.09, 379/93.21, 379/158, 379/215
• US Class Current: 370/493
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• 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

The present invention enables a user, logged on to a data network over a traditional telephone line, to be notified of incoming calls over that same line without interruption of the data session. In addition, the user can accept the incoming call without terminating the data session. The user is also able to provide communication between the incoming call and the data session such that, voice over the data session can be conferenced into voice over the incoming telephone line.

Claims

1. A method for non-disruptively receiving one or more incoming telephone calls over a telephone line while said telephone line has an existing data session between a user workstation and a data service provider, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing said existing data session between said user workstation and said data service provider using a data channel established between said user workstation and a mux/demux device over said telephone line further comprising the steps of;

executing a first dial request from said user workstation to a first central office switch, said first dial request requesting a data session with said data service provider;

sending a first request for instructions from said first central office switch, responsive to receiving said first dial request, to a computer telephony interface server (CTI);

sending a first response from said CTI to said first central office switch, responsive to said first request for instructions, instructing said first central office switch to redirect said first dial request to a first telephone number representing a first free port on said mux/demux device;

redirecting, by said first central office switch, said first dial request to said first telephone number, thereby establishing a connection between said user workstation and said mux/demux device;

establishing said data channel; and

establishing a path between said user workstation and said data service provider over said data channel;

establishing a control channel between said user workstation and said first central office switch over said telephone line;

establishing a voice channel between said user workstation and said mux/demux device over said telephone line;

establishing a first incoming telephone call to said user workstation using said voice channel while said existing data session continues to operate on said data channel and retains an ability to concurrently transmit data, further comprising the steps of;

receiving a connection request at said first central office switch, said connection request issued by an external caller and requesting a telephone call to a user workstation phone number of said user workstation;

sending a second request for instructions from said first central office switch, responsive to receiving said connection request, to said CTI;

sending a third request for instructions from said CTI to said mux/demux device, said third request instructing said user workstation to ask a user of said user workstation whether to answer said requested telephone call;

forwarding said third request from said mux/demux device to said user workstation on said control channel;

accepting a response regarding answering said requested telephone call from said user at said user workstation;

sending said accepted response from said user workstation to said mux/demux device on said control channel;

forwarding said accepted response from said mux/demux device to said CTI on said control channel; and

completing said requested telephone call when said accepted response indicates that said requested telephone call is to be answered, further comprising the steps of;

sending a second response from said CTI to said first central office switch, instructing said first central office switch to redirect said connection request to one of a second telephone number or a port identifier representing a second free port on said mux/demux device;

redirecting, by said first central office switch, said connection request to said second telephone number or said port identifier; and

answering, by either of said mux/demux device or said first central office switch, said redirected connection request;

communicating on said first incoming telephone call using said voice channel while said existing data session on said data channel continues to concurrently operate and transmit data;

routing information from said data channel, said control channel, and said voice channel through said mux/demux device to manage transmission of information to said user workstation; and

retaining an ability to accept a subsequent incoming telephone call on said telephone line.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior to the step of said CTI server sending said first response, said CTI server contacts said mux/demux device to determine said first telephone number and said first free port number.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third request for instructions further comprises one or both of:

(1) a caller'"'"'s phone number of said external caller and (2) an identification of said external caller.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said CTI maintains ongoing information as to a status of connectivity of said user workstation.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

demultiplexing, in said user workstation, information received at said user workstation on said data channel, said voice channel, and said control channel;

multiplexing, in said user workstation, information to be transmitted from said user workstation on said data channel, said voice channel, and said control channel;

demultiplexing, in said mux/demux device, information received on said data channel, said voice channel, and said control channel; and

multiplexing, in said mux/demux device, information to be sent over said data channel, said voice channel, and said control channel.

6. A method for non-disruptively receiving an incoming telephone call over a telephone line while said telephone line has an existing data session between a user workstation and a data service provider, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing said existing data session between said user workstation and said data service provider using a data channel established between said user workstation and a mux/demux device over said telephone line, further comprising the steps of;

executing a first dial request from said user workstation to a first central office switch, said first dial request requesting a data session with said data service provider;

sending a first request for instructions from said first central office switch, responsive to receiving said first dial request, to a computer telephony interface server (CTI);

sending a first response from said CTI to said first central office switch, responsive to said first request for instructions, instructing said first central office switch to redirect said first dial request to a first telephone number representing a first free port on said mux/demux device;

redirecting, by said first central office switch, said first dial request to said first telephone number, thereby establishing a connection between said user workstation and said mux/demux device;

establishing said data channel; and

establishing a path between said user workstation and said data service provider over said data channel;

establishing a control channel between said user workstation and said first central office switch over said telephone line;

establishing a voice channel between said user workstation and said mux/demux device using said telephone line;

establishing said incoming telephone call to said user workstation on said voice channel while said existing data session continues to operate on said data channel and retains an ability to concurrently transmit data, further comprising the steps of;

receiving a connection request at a second central office switch, said connection request issued by an external caller and requesting a telephone call to a user workstation phone number of said user workstation;

forwarding said connection request from said second central office switch to said first central office switch;

sending a second request for instructions from said first central office switch, responsive to receiving said connection request, to said CTI;

sending a third request for instructions from said CTI to said mux/demux device, said third request instructing said user workstation to ask a user of said user workstation whether to answer said requested telephone call;

forwarding said third request from said mux/demux device to said user workstation on said control channel;

accepting a response regarding answering said requested telephone call from said user at said user workstation;

sending said accepted response from said user workstation to said mux/demux device on said control channel;

forwarding said accepted response from said mux/demux device to said CTI on said control channel; and

completing said requested telephone call when said accepted response indicates that said requested telephone call is to be answered, further comprising the steps of;

sending a second response from said CTI to said first central office switch, instructing said first central office switch to redirect said connection request to one of a second telephone number or a port identifier representing a second free port on said mux/demux device;

redirecting, by said first central office switch, said connection request to said second telephone number or said port identifier; and

answering, by either of said mux/demux device or said first central office switch, said redirected connection request; and

communicating on said incoming telephone call using said voice channel while said existing data session on said data channel continues to concurrently operate and transmit data.

7. A telephone communications system for non-disruptively receiving one or more incoming telephone calls over a telephone line while said telephone line has an existing data session between a user workstation and a data service provider, said system comprising:

means for establishing said existing data session between said user workstation and said data service provider using a data channel established between said user workstation and a mux/demux device over said telephone line, further comprising;

means for executing a first dial request from said user workstation to a first central office switch, said first dial request requesting a data session with said data service provider;

means for sending a first request for instructions from said first central office switch, responsive to receiving said first dial request, to a computer telephony interface server (CTI);

means for sending a first response from said CTI to said first central office switch, responsive to said first request for instructions, instructing said first central office switch to redirect said first dial request to a first telephone number representing a first free port on said mux/demux device;

means for redirecting, by said first central office switch, said first dial request to said first telephone number, thereby establishing a connection between said user workstation and said mux/demux device;

means for establishing said data channel; and

means for establishing a path between said user workstation and said data service provider over said data channel;

means for establishing a control channel between said user workstation and said first central office switch over said telephone line;

means for establishing a voice channel between said user workstation and said mux/demux device over said telephone line;

means for establishing said incoming telephone call to said user workstation using said voice channel while said existing data session continues to operate on said data channel and retains an ability to concurrently transmit data, further comprising;

means for receiving a connection request at said first central office switch, said connection request issued by an external caller and requesting a telephone call to a user workstation phone number of said user workstation;

means for sending a second request for instructions from said first central office switch, responsive to receiving said connection request, to said CTI;

means for sending a third request for instructions from said CTI to said mux/demux device, said third request instructing said user workstation to ask a user of said user workstation whether to answer said requested telephone call;

means for forwarding said third request from said mux/demux device to said user workstation on said control channel;

means for accepting a response regarding answering said requested telephone call from said user at said user workstation;

means for sending said accepted response from said user workstation to said mux/demux device on said control channel;

means for forwarding said accepted response from said mux/demux device to said CTI on said control channel; and

means for completing said requested telephone call when said accepted response indicates that said requested telephone call is to be answered, further comprising;

means for sending a second response from said CTI to said first central office switch, instructing said first central office switch to redirect said connection request to one of a second telephone number or a port identifier representing a second free port on said mux/demux device;

means for redirecting, by said first central office switch, said connection request to said second telephone number or said port identifier; and

means for answering, by either of said mux/demux device or said first central office switch, said redirected connection request; and

means for communicating on said incoming telephone call using said voice channel while said existing data session on said data channel continues to concurrently operate and transmit data.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mux/demux device resides within said first central office switch.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mux/demux device resides in a black box separate from said first central office switch.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

means for receiving, at said first central office switch, one or more additional incoming telephone call requests;

means for establishing an additional voice channel between said user workstation and said mux/demux device over said telephone line for each of said additional incoming requests; and

means for repeating said means for establishing said incoming telephone call for each of said additional incoming telephone call requests; and

wherein said means for communicating on said telephone call further comprises means for communicating on each of said additional incoming telephone calls using said additional voice channels.

11. A computer program product for non-disruptively receiving an incoming telephone call over a telephone line while said telephone line has one or more existing data sessions between a user workstation and one or more data service providers said computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium in a telephone communications system and comprising:

computer-readable program code means for establishing a first data session between said user workstation and a first data service provider using a first data channel established between said user workstation and a mux/demux device over said telephone line, further comprising;

computer-readable program code means for executing a first dial request from said user workstation to a first central office switch, said first dial request requesting a data session with said first data service provider;

computer-readable program code means for sending a first request for instructions from said first central office switch, responsive to receiving said first dial request, to a computer telephony interface server (CTI);

computer-readable program code means for sending a first response from said CTI to said first central office switch, responsive to said first request for instructions, instructing said first central office switch to redirect said first dial request to a first telephone number representing a first free port on said mux/demux device;

computer-readable program code means for redirecting, by said first central office switch, said first dial request to said first telephone number, thereby establishing a connection between said user workstation and said mux/demux device;

computer-readable program code means for establishing said first data channel; and

computer-readable program code means for establishing a first path between said user workstation and said first data service provider over said first data channel;

computer-readable program code means for establishing a control channel between said user workstation and said first central office switch over said telephone line;

computer-readable program code means for establishing a voice channel between said user workstation and said mux/demux device over said telephone line;

computer-readable program code means for establishing said incoming telephone call to said user workstation using said voice channel while said existing data session continues to operate on said first data channel and retains an ability to concurrently transmit data, further comprising;

computer-readable program code means for receiving a connection request at said first central office switch, said connection request issued by an external caller and requesting a telephone call to a user workstation phone number of said user workstation;

computer-readable program code means for sending a second request for instructions from said first central office switch, responsive to receiving said connection request, to said CTI;

computer-readable program code means for sending a third request for instructions from said CTI to said mux/demux device, said third request instructing said user workstation to ask a user of said user workstation whether to answer said requested telephone call;

computer-readable program code means for forwarding said third request from said mux/demux device to said user workstation on said control channel;

computer-readable program code means for accepting a response regarding answering said requested telephone call from said user at said user workstation;

computer-readable program code means for sending said accepted response from said user workstation to said mux/demux device on said control channel;

computer-readable program code means for forwarding said accepted response from said mux/demux device to said CTI on said control channel; and

computer-readable program code means for completing said requested telephone call when said accepted response indicates that said requested telephone call is to be answered, further comprising;

computer-readable program code means for sending a second response from said CTI to said first central office switch, instructing said first central office switch to redirect said connection request to one of a second telephone number or a port identifier representing a second free port on said mux/demux device;

computer-readable program code means for redirecting, by said first central office switch, said connection request to said second telephone number or said port identifier; and

computer-readable program code means for answering, by either of said mux/demux device or said first central office switch, said redirected connection request; and

computer-readable program code means for communicating on said incoming telephone call using said voice channel while said existing data session on said first data channel continues to concurrently operate and transmit data.

12. The computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein said mux/demux device resides within said first central office switch.

13. The computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein said mux/demux device resides in a black box separate from said first central office switch.

14. The computer program product as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

computer-readable program code means for establishing, from said user workstation, one or more additional data sessions, further comprising;

computer-readable program code means for establishing an additional data channel between said user workstation and a mux/demux device over said telephone line for each of said additional data sessions; and

computer-readable program code means for repeating execution of said computer-readable program code means for establishing said first data session using said additional data channels;

computer-readable program code means for demultiplexing, in said user workstation, information received at said user workstation on said first data channel, said additional data channels, said voice channel, and said control channel; and

computer-readable program code means for multiplexing, in said user workstation, information to be transmitted from said user workstation on said first data channel, said additional data channels, said voice channel, and said control channel.