Computer implemented communication apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A communication apparatus comprising:
- a modem operable for connection to a telephone line;
a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user;
a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; and
processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;
convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information;
compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;
packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header;
provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem;
receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus;
decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and
convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the voice conveying interface apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication apparatus and method includes a modem operable for connection to a telephone line, a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user, and a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user. Further, processing circuitry, operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, may be, for example, operable to convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information, compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information, and packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon. Each of the outgoing packets includes at least one header. The processing circuitry may further be operable to provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem, and receive incoming packets including compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem. Each of the incoming packets includes at least one header; the at least one header includes information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus. Yet further, the processing circuitry may be operable to decompress compressed incoming digital voice information and convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the voice conveying interface apparatus.
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Citations
124 Claims
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1. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; and processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header; provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem; receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus; decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the voice conveying interface apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communication method comprising:
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providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line; receiving voice signals from a local user; converting the voice signals from the local user resulting in outgoing digital voice information; compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing packets, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header; providing the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem; receiving incoming packets using the modem comprising compressed incoming digital voice information, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets; decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information; converting the incoming digital voice information to produce voice signals for conveyance to the local user; and conveying the voice signals to the local user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer system comprising:
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a graphical user interface for simulating a hands free speaker phone; a microphone apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; and processing circuitry operable under control of the graphical user interface, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; convert received voice signals from the local user via the microphone apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header; provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem; receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the computer system; decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the speaker apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; and processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing another apparatus to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A communication method comprising:
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providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;
receiving voice signals from a local user;converting the voice signals from the local user resulting in outgoing digital voice information; compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing packets, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and providing the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A computer system comprising:
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a graphical user interface for simulating a hands free speaker phone; a microphone apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; a modern operable for connection to a telephone line; and processing circuitry operable under control of the graphical user interface, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book; convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to a local user; and processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus; decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the speaker apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A communication method comprising:
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providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone; receiving incoming packets using the modem comprising compressed incoming digital voice information, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus; decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information; converting the incoming digital voice information to produce voice signals for conveyance to a local user; and conveying the voice signals to the local user. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A computer system comprising:
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a graphical user interface for simulating a hands free speaker phone; a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to a local user; a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; and processing circuitry operable under control of the graphical user interface, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication system; decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the speaker apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; and processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, wherein the modem is operable for connection to a telephone line, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing another apparatus to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem for connection to at least one packet switched network. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A communication method comprising:
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providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line; receiving voice signals from a local user; converting the voice signals from the local user resulting in outgoing digital voice information; compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing packets, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and providing the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem for connection to at least one packet switched network. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; and processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, wherein the modem is operable for connection to a telephone line, and further wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing another apparatus to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem, wherein the outgoing packets are provided in a frame format usable for connection to at least one packet switched network. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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90. A communication method comprising:
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providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line; receiving voice signals from a local user; converting the voice signals from the local user resulting in outgoing digital voice information; compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing packets, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and providing the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem, wherein the outgoing packets are provided in a frame format usable for connection to at least one packet switched network. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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97. A communication apparatus comprising:
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a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; and processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, wherein the modem is operable for connection to a telephone line, and further wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header; provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem, wherein the outgoing packets are provided in a frame format usable for connection to at least one packet switched network; receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus; decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the voice conveying interface apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105)
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106. A communication method comprising:
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providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line; receiving voice signals from a local user converting the voice signals from the local user resulting in outgoing digital voice information; compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing packets, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header; providing the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem, wherein the outgoing packets are provided in a frame format usable for connection to at least one packet switched network; receiving incoming packets using the modem comprising compressed incoming digital voice information, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets; decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information; converting the incoming digital voice information to produce voice signals for conveyance to the local user; and conveying the voice signals to the local user. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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115. A computer system comprising:
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a graphical user interface for simulating a hands free speaker phone; a microphone apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; a modern is operable for connection to a telephone line; and processing circuitry operable under control of the graphical user interface, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; convert received voice signals from the local user via the microphone apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header; provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem, wherein the outgoing packets are provided in a frame format usable for connection to at least one packet switched network; receive incoming packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information from the telephone line using the modem, wherein each of the incoming packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information used to route the incoming packets within the computer system; decompress compressed incoming digital voice information; and convert decompressed incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user via the speaker apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (116, 117, 118, 119, 120)
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121. A computer system comprising:
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a graphical user interface for simulating a hands free speaker phone; a microphone apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; a speaker apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; a modem operable for connection to a telephone line; and processing circuitry operable under control of the graphical user interface, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to; provide the local user with access to one or more types of address information, wherein the one or more types of address information comprises destination addresses; convert received voice signals from the local user via the voice receiving interface apparatus into outgoing digital voice information; compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information; packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing packets based thereon, wherein each of the outgoing packets comprises at least one header, wherein the at least one header comprises information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon; and provide the outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem, wherein the outgoing packets are provided in a frame format usable for connection to at least one packet switched network. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124)
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Specification