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Internet phone system and directory search engine using same

  • US 6,829,231 B1
  • Filed: 12/31/1996
  • Issued: 12/07/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A network system for Internet telephony, comprising:

  • a first local exchange switch within a geographic vicinity of and communicably connected to a plurality of caller dial pads via switched telephone circuits, wherein each of caller dial pads has an alphanumeric keyboard for entering an Internet callee identifier with an alphabetic character, a display screen, an integrated modem set for dialing over the Internet and transmitting the Internet callee identifier with the alphabetic character, and a connection to at least two Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) jacks for a single voice conversation telephone call including concurrent Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) initiated switched voice communication with audio phone format and functionality of a Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) via one of the PSTN jacks and Internet connect audio communication with Internet audio format via another of the PSTN jacks, whereby a caller may make the Internet connect audio communication to a callee via an Internet Service Provider while maintaining the DTMF initiated switched voice communication with the callee;

    an Internet service provider system communicably connected to the Internet for receiving the Internet callee identifier through said local exchange switch; and

    an Internet directory search engine communicably coupled to said Internet service provider system via switched protocol circuits for receiving the Internet callee identifier.

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