Methods and apparatus for enhancing wireless data network telephony including a personal router in a client

• US 6,421,325 B1
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dan Kikinis
• Original Assignee: Dan Kikinis
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US09/352,416
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 370/278, 370/280, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/341, 370/349, 379/88.17, 379/88.19, 379/88.21, 379/93.17, 379/142, 379/220, 379/221, 379/229, 455/445, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452, 455/453, 455/509, 455/517, 709/201, 709/203
• US Class Current: 370/280
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2061 Language aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/18 with means for reducing interference or noise; with means for reducing effects due to line faults with means for protecting lines
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0825 with collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A system for wireless communication comprises an hierarchical system of connected routers between a data network and a base station having connected transceivers for wireless transmission and reception of data, and a plurality of hand-held client communicators adapted for users to communicate with the network via the transceivers through the routers. The system is adapted to provide wireless Data Network Telephony (DNT) and to provide personal router services to users of client communicators, wherein users may establish and update routing rules for incoming calls addressed to the user'"'"'s client communicator. Functions include an interactive interface displayed on a display at the client, wherein a user may select calls for processing and process calls.

Claims

1. A data network telephony (DNT) system, comprising:

a base station connected to a DNT capable data network and to a plurality of wireless transceivers, each transceiver transmitting to a distinct area, the base station adapted to operate the transceivers by a two-way, narrow-band, multiple-channel, real-time duplex radio protocol; and

a plurality of portable computer-enhanced client communicator units, including microphone and speaker apparatus, each assigned a unique address and adapted to communicate with the base station via the transceivers by the two-way real-time radio protocol and to process DNT calls;

wherein individual ones of the communicator units execute a personal router application, wherein a user may establish and edit routing rules for incoming DNT calls to the user'"'"'s communicator address, and communicate the routing rules to the base station to be used in routing incoming DNT calls.

2. The DNT system of claim 1 wherein the personal router application executes on the client communicator.

3. The DNT system of claim 1 wherein the personal router application executes on the base station.

4. The DNT system of claim 1 wherein incoming calls for a client communicator are queued at the base station with an indication of the call forwarded to the client communicator.

5. The DNT system of claim 4 wherein the indication of the call includes caller ID.

6. The DNT system of claim 5 wherein the client system is enabled to display incoming calls interactively on a display at the client communicator, including caller ID, and wherein a user may interact with the display to interact with calls, including placing calls on hold, canceling calls, selecting calls to answer, and forwarding calls.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a hierarchical network of connected routers between the data network and a plurality of base stations each connected to at least one transceiver, each router and base station maintaining a routing table, wherein an operating communicator moving from one area to another causes updating to occur in a minimum number of routers, and wherein each base station is adapted to interact with client communicators in personal routing functions.

8. In a system providing wireless communication between a hand-held client communicator and a base station over a dedicated channel via a plurality of transceivers connected to the base station, wherein the hand-held communicator is adapted for Data Network Telephony and executes an application for routing DNT calls wherein a client may establish and edit routing rules and provide signals, a method for routing incoming DNT calls to the client communicator comprising steps of:

(a) receiving and queuing incoming DNT calls at the base station;

(b) transmitting indications of the incoming DNT calls to the client communicator along with caller ID; and

(c) processing DNT calls according to rules established by the client and in response to signals from the client.