Method of universal communication and devices thereof

• US 6,744,874 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hengning Wu
• Original Assignee: Hengning Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Hengning
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US09/681,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20020172345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 379/91.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/142.05, 379/142.06, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/213.01, 379/221.13, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005

Abstract

A method of universal communication, comprising: (1) assigning user phone numbers each representing a user; (2) providing user verification and user digital signature service; (3) providing a handheld personal communication device for user verification and digital signature; (4) dynamic binding of a user phone number to a physical phone number by a database. A universal communication system comprises a handheld personal communication device as the controller for each user, a database system as the intelligent center, and communication adaptors. As a result of the separation of the user phone number from the physical phone number and the related verification and digital signature service, a common interface is provided for various physical communication systems. This allows the various physical communication systems to develop independently and at the same time work together to meet the ever increasing communication demand. This also allows service providers to develop convenient, secure, and cost-effective services. Therefore, a people oriented universal communication system is provided with flexibility, scalability, security, affordability, and efficiency.

Claims

1. A method of universal communication, comprising:

(a) assigning a plurality of user phone numbers each representing a user in a communication system;

(b) establishing user verification and user digital signature service of a private key—

public key pair algorithm in a database system;

(c) providing a handheld personal communication device for user verification and user digital signature to each user, which will store data and programs for performing user verification and for performing digital signature by said private key—

public key pair algorithm. and provide input and output means for user verification and user digital signature;

(d) establishing binding relation between the user phone number and the physical phone number of a communication device in said database system;

whereby a people oriented communication system is established to replace the location oriented communication system;

whereby a common interface is established for various physical communication systems which makes possible the cooperation and independent development of said physical communication systems;

whereby a general user identification and signature service is provided.

2. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, wherein said user phone number adopts the existing numbering system of telephone communication.

3. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, wherein said user verification uses an algorithm which takes the user phone number, user PINT, and time as input parameters to generate a dynamic PIN and which is of sufficient complexity so that it is difficult to reverse engineer said algorithm.

4. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, wherein said database system is organized in a distributed computing system.

5. The distributed computing system in claim 4, wherein the architecture of said distributed computing system is selected from the group consisting of enterprise javabeans and COM+.

6. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, further comprising a dialing scheme including the user phone number of the receiver, the user phone number and verification of the sender, and the message type.

7. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, further comprising a physical dialing method, whereby an alternative communication method is provided when the intention is to reach a particular physical location.

8. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, further comprising a message in message communication mode in which the communication parameters in the first message is used to make communication in the second message type.

9. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, further comprising providing an adaptor which will detect control signals, switch and connect communication devices.

10. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, further comprising

(a) storing the public keys of a plurality of user phone numbers obtained from said database in a control device of a property;

(b) providing a message for a user to digitally sign said message with the handheld personal communication device;

(c) verifying the digital signature provided by said user with said public key in step (a) for identification and authorization verification;

whereby a security access to physical properties and software is provided.

11. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, further comprising

(a) transforming information in a first message type into information in a second message type;

(b) obtaining the physical phone number corresponding to said second message type and the receiver of said first message type;

(c) sending the information in said second message type to said physical phone number obtained in (b);

whereby different communication methods can work together to provide a service.

12. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, further comprising

(a) establishing a communication link with a merchant using the handheld personal communication device;

(b) sending payment information from said handheld personal communication device to said merchant;

(c) receiving transaction information from said merchant;

(d) producing a digital signature of said transaction information by the digital signature function of said handheld personal communication device and sending said digital signature to said merchant;

(e) verifying said digital signature with a public key obtained from the database system;

whereby a convenient, secure and cost-effective electronic transaction system is provided.

13. The method of universal communication according to claim 1, further comprising

(a) providing at least one access number for voter registration and voting;

(b) registering voters by obtaining the user phone number of a caller and comparing said user phone numbers with a eligible voter list;

(c) obtaining the vote result from a voter and assigning a vote number for said vote result;

(d) obtaining a digital signature for said vote result provided by the handheld personal communication device of said voter and verifying the validity of said digital signature with the public key of said voter;

(e) saving said vote result and said digital signature along with said vote number;

(f) tallying the vote results;

whereby an accurate, convenient, and cost-effective voting method is provided.

14. A handheld personal communication device used as a controller in a communication system, comprising:

(a) a CPU for processing data and a read-only memory coupled with said CPU for storing data and programs for user verification and user digital signature;

(b) a random access memory for storage of data;

(c) a display device for presenting information;

(d) a phone device for sending and receiving information, and for providing input through the keyboard of said phone device;

(e) a short-distance wireless communication device for sending and receiving information;

(f) a data connection means for connecting said CPU with said memory, said display device, said phone device, and said short-distance wireless communication device;

(g) programming means, executable bv said CPU, for performing user verification and performing user digital signature by a private key—

public key pair algorithm;

whereby said handheld personal communication device can be used for user identification and digital signature;

whereby said handheld personal communication device can be used as a controller in a people oriented communication system.

15. The handheld personal communication device according to claim 14, wherein said display device is a LCD device.

16. The handheld personal communication device according to claim 14, wherein said short-distance communication device is an infrared device.

17. The handheld personal communication device according to claim 14, further comprising a radio frequency module which is connected to said phone device and is selected from the group consisting of cellular phone module and cordless phone module.

18. The handheld personal communication device according to claim 14, further comprising a personal digital assistant module connected to said CPU for enhanced data storage, data processing and presentation.

19. An adaptor in a communication system, comprising:

(a) a CPU for processing data and a nonvolatile memory coupled with said CPU for storing data and programs;

(b) a memory connected to said CPU for storage of the incoming call processing list, outgoing call processing list, and call notification list;

(c) a means for detecting control signals and determining the call characteristics;

(d) at least one input means for connecting to the outside line and at least one output means for connecting to communication devices;

(e) a switch controlled by said CPU for connecting said input means and said output means;

(f) programming means, executable by said CPU, for processing the incoming calls according to the incoming call processing list and call notification list,

(g) programming means. executable by said CPU, for processing the outgoing calls according to the outgoing call processing list;

whereby the adaptor will deliver the incoming communication media to the intended user and physical devices;

whereby the physical devices at the user premises can work together.

20. A handheld personal communication device used as a controller in a communication system, comprising:

(a) a CPU for processing data and a memory means coupled with said CPU for storing data and programs for user verification and user digital signature;

(b) an input/output means for sending and receiving information;

(c) a data connection means for connecting said CPU with said input/output means;

(d) programming means, executable by said CPU, for performing user verification and performing user digital signature bv a private key—

public key pair algorithm;

whereby said handheld personal communication device can be used for user identification and digital signature;

whereby said handheld personal communication device can be used as a controller in a people oriented communication system.