Network telephone communication

• US 6,650,635 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1999
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kowalonek, John A., Chigier, Benjamin, Goldstein, James A., Rosen, P. Bradley, Olkkola, Ed, Weinstein, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US09/299,207
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88, 379/15.02, 379/142.18, 379/220.01, 379/265.09, 379/243, 379/399.01, 379/90.01, 375/220, 370/389, 370/276, 370/282, 370/351-354, 370/395.61, 370/469, 370/466, 370/467, 370/473, 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0015 First party call control architectures

Abstract

A communications system includes a telephone, a data network, a device coupled to the data network and telephone, and a communications routine in the device. The communications routine controls communication of voice data between the telephone and the data network.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

host logic; and

an input device coupled to said host logic;

wherein said host logic is capable of receiving voice commands from a telephone coupled to said computer; and

wherein said host logic is capable of detecting when a user takes the telephone off hook and responding by permitting the telephone to be connected to a telephone system; and

wherein said host logic also is capable of detecting when a user flashes the telephone and responding by disconnecting the telephone from the telephone system and connecting the telephone to the computer.

2. The computer of claim 1 wherein the host logic receives a voice command from the telephone.

3. The computer of claim 2 wherein the host logic interprets said voice command and performs an action in response to said voice command.

4. The computer of claim 3 wherein the voice command includes turning on or off lights controllable by said computer.

5. A method, comprising:

detecting a phone taken off hook;

connecting the phone to a phone system;

detecting a phone flash;

disconnecting the phone from the telephone system;

connecting the phone to a computer;

receiving a voice command from the phone;

interpreting said voice command; and

performing an action in response to the voice command.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said action includes completing a phone call.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said action includes turning on or off lights controllable by said computer.