Method and system for integrating a computer and a telephone

• US 6,549,621 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Dagert, Patrick J., Christie, IV, Samuel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/361,099
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 379/199, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/229, 379/230, 370/352, 370/355, 370/395.5, 370/389
• US Class Current: 379/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for integrating a computer and a telephone. A stimulus messaging device, such as an analog telephone, is provisioned as a functional messaging device, such as an ISDN telephone, at a switch. The switch communicates with the telephone through a loop interface device. The loop interface device translates ISDN messages destined for the telephone received from the switch into analog signals for the telephone. The loop interface device also sends the ISDN messages received from the switch to a computer associated with the telephone. The loop interface device translates analog signals received from the telephone into ISDN messages for transmission to either the switch and/or the computer. The present invention enhances call control information for an analog telephone and allows tight integration between a telephone and a computer.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a call control message between a loop interface device and a computer, comprising:

indicating to a switch associated with a telephone that the telephone communicates via an ISDN protocol, communications between the telephone and the switch being processed through a loop interface device;

receiving at the loop interface device a first ISDN message transmitted by the switch, the first ISDN message being associated with the telephone; and

sending notification of the first ISDN message to a computer associated with the telephone.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the telephone is a non-ISDN telephone.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the telephone is an analog telephone.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first ISDN message comprises a message for initiating a call with the telephone, further comprising receiving a response from the computer, the response including a command to reject the call, and forwarding a second ISDN message to the switch to reject the call.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the computer generates the second ISDN message, and wherein the response from the computer comprises the second ISDN message.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the notification comprises the first ISDN message.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein in response to the first ISDN message the computer outputs information to an output device.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein in response to the first ISDN message the computer performs a predetermined action.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the loop interface device comprises a media gateway controller.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the loop interface device comprises a digital loop carrier.

11. A method for enhancing call control information associated with a non-ISDN telephone, comprising:

indicating to a switch that a non-ISDN telephone communicates in ISDN protocol;

receiving at a loop interface device an ISDN message sent by the switch to the non-ISDN telephone;

forwarding data associated with the ISDN message to a computer; and

receiving at the loop interface device a message generated by the computer in response to the data forwarded to the computer.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the ISDN message is H.323 compliant.

13. A method comprising:

provisioning a subscriber line at a switch as an ISDN line;

coupling a loop interface device to the switch;

coupling the subscriber line to the loop interface device;

connecting an analog telephone to the subscriber line;

sending an ISDN message directed to the analog telephone from the switch to the loop interface device; and

sending notification of the ISDN message to a computer coupled to the loop interface device.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising receiving a directive from the computer in response to the notification.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising ringing the analog telephone in response to the directive.

16. A method for communicating a call control message between a loop interface device and a computer, comprising:

indicating to a switch associated with a stimulus messaging device that the stimulus messaging device communicates via a functional messaging protocol, communications between the stimulus messaging device and the switch being processed through a loop interface device;

receiving at the loop interface device a first functional message transmitted by the switch, the first functional message being associated with the stimulus messaging device; and

sending notification of the first functional message to a computer associated with the stimulus messaging device.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the functional messaging protocol comprises H.323.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the functional messaging protocol comprises SIP.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the stimulus messaging device comprises an analog telephone.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the stimulus messaging device ordinarily communicates via a stimulus messaging protocol selected from the group consisting of MGCP, H.248, and H.245.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein the switch comprises one of a call server, a media gateway controller, and a call agent.