Method and apparatus for network-based telephone communication without a separate call manager unit
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a network through which can be transmitted message units containing information in a digital format;
a plurality of separate telephone units which are each coupled to said network, which are each usable by a person, and which communicate with each other by transmitting message units through said network; and
a control portion which is integral in its entirety to said telephone units, and which in response to a manual event at a first of said telephone units is operative to selectively establish audio communication between said first telephone unit and a second of said telephone units by transmitting message units between said first and second telephone units through said network;
wherein said control portion is operative to cause each of said telephone units to use message units transmitted through said network to automatically identify every other said telephone unit coupled to said network, and to obtain from every other said telephone unit a respective unique network address thereof.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system (10) includes a network (12) of the type used to interconnect computers, and includes a plurality of telephone units (21-26) which are coupled to the network. These telephone units have sufficient embedded intelligence so that they can carry out all of their intended functionality as telephones. The system thus does not include a physically separate master control computer which is coupled to the network to serve as a call manager server or key system unit that treats the telephones as slaves. Each telephone has a manually operable device such as thumbwheels (108), which can be used to specify a unique number that forms part of the network address of the telephone and which also serves as the extension number for that telephone. One or more of the telephones can optionally be coupled to respective telephone lines (31-33) of a conventional public switching telephone network (36). Also, several computers (16-19) may optionally be coupled to the network, and communicate with each other through the network.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network through which can be transmitted message units containing information in a digital format;
a plurality of separate telephone units which are each coupled to said network, which are each usable by a person, and which communicate with each other by transmitting message units through said network; and
a control portion which is integral in its entirety to said telephone units, and which in response to a manual event at a first of said telephone units is operative to selectively establish audio communication between said first telephone unit and a second of said telephone units by transmitting message units between said first and second telephone units through said network;
wherein said control portion is operative to cause each of said telephone units to use message units transmitted through said network to automatically identify every other said telephone unit coupled to said network, and to obtain from every other said telephone unit a respective unique network address thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising the steps of:
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providing a network through which can be transmitted message units that contain information in a digital format;
coupling to said network a plurality of separate telephone units which are each usable by a person, and which have therein a control portion that is integral in its entirety to said telephone units, and that transmits message units through said network in order to effect communication between said telephone units;
causing said control portion to respond to a manual event at a first of said telephone units by selectively establishing audio communication between said first telephone unit and a second of said telephone units using message units transmitted between said first and second telephone units through said network; and
causing each of said telephone units under control of said control portion to transmit message units through said network in order to automatically identify every other said telephone unit coupled to said network and in order to obtain from every other said telephone unit a respective unique network address thereof. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
- first and second telephone units which are each usable by a person and which each include a network interface portion that can be operatively coupled to a network and that can transmit and receive network message units containing information in a digital format, said first and second telephone units including a control portion which is integral in its entirety to said first and second telephone units, and which in response to a manual event at one of said first and second telephone units is operable to selectively establish audio communication between said first and second telephone units by causing said network interface portions thereof to transmit network message units between said first and second telephone units;
wherein said second telephone unit has a line interface portion that can be operatively coupled to a telephone line of a telephone system, and wherein said second telephone unit is operable under control of said control portion to facilitate communication between said line interface portion thereof and said network interface portion thereof by converting audio information received in a predetermined form through said line interface portion thereof into network message units to be transmitted through said network interface portion thereof, and by converting audio information received through said network interface portion thereof in the form of network message units into the predetermined form to be transmitted through said line interface portion thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- first and second telephone units which are each usable by a person and which each include a network interface portion that can be operatively coupled to a network and that can transmit and receive network message units containing information in a digital format, said first and second telephone units including a control portion which is integral in its entirety to said first and second telephone units, and which in response to a manual event at one of said first and second telephone units is operable to selectively establish audio communication between said first and second telephone units by causing said network interface portions thereof to transmit network message units between said first and second telephone units;
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22. An apparatus, comprising:
- first and second telephone units which are each usable by a person and which each include a network interface portion that can be operatively coupled to a network and that can transmit and receive network message units containing information in a digital format, said first and second telephone units including a control portion which is integral in its entirety to said first and second telephone units, and which in response to a manual event at one of said first and second telephone units is operable to selectively establish audio communication between said first and second telephone units by causing said network interface portions thereof to transmit network message units between said first and second telephone units;
wherein each said telephone unit is operable under control of said control portion to transmit through said network interface portion thereof a polling network message unit that polls for the presence of at least one other telephone unit, and to respond to receipt of a polling network message unit through said network interface portion thereof by transmitting through said network interface portion thereof at least one network message unit which includes a unique network address thereof.
- first and second telephone units which are each usable by a person and which each include a network interface portion that can be operatively coupled to a network and that can transmit and receive network message units containing information in a digital format, said first and second telephone units including a control portion which is integral in its entirety to said first and second telephone units, and which in response to a manual event at one of said first and second telephone units is operable to selectively establish audio communication between said first and second telephone units by causing said network interface portions thereof to transmit network message units between said first and second telephone units;
Specification