Portable VoIP service access module
DCFirst Claim
1. A portable telephony device, comprising:
- a portable memory device having a universal serial bus (′
USB) interface to facilitate communication with a computing device when the USB interface is coupled to the computing device; and
instructions stored on the portable memory device, wherein the instructions are executable by the computing device to automatically run softphone software at the computing device when the portable memory device is coupled to the computing device, wherein the softphone software stops running at the computing device when the portable memory device is uncoupled from the computing device, and wherein the softphone software is executable to;
send and receive voice communications via a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP);
store a telephone directory file on the portable memory device;
store user preference information on the portable memory device; and
send data to a service provider gateway, wherein the data associates the portable telephony device with a service provider account record.
12 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A voice over IP (VoIP) softphone access module (VSAM) comprises a softphone client installed on a portable memory device (PMD). The softphone client is installed in its own read-only partition. The softphone client is adapted to autorun from the PMD when the PMD is connected to a computing device and to load an instance of the softphone client in the volatile memory of the computing device. When used with a computing device comprising a duplex audio system with analog-to-digital conversion and an Internet connection, the VSAM permits a VoIP service subscriber to send and receive VoIP telephone calls through a VoIP service provider gateway. The VSAM may be associated with an activation code that when sent to the VoIP service provider gateway associates a user with pre-paid softphone usage credits. Alternatively, the softphone client is installed on CD.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A portable telephony device, comprising:
-
a portable memory device having a universal serial bus (′
USB) interface to facilitate communication with a computing device when the USB interface is coupled to the computing device; andinstructions stored on the portable memory device, wherein the instructions are executable by the computing device to automatically run softphone software at the computing device when the portable memory device is coupled to the computing device, wherein the softphone software stops running at the computing device when the portable memory device is uncoupled from the computing device, and wherein the softphone software is executable to; send and receive voice communications via a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP); store a telephone directory file on the portable memory device; store user preference information on the portable memory device; and send data to a service provider gateway, wherein the data associates the portable telephony device with a service provider account record. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method comprising:
-
loading an instance of a softphone client from a portable memory device to a computing system automatically when the portable memory device is coupled to the computing system; sending data to a service provider device to associate the instance of the softphone client with a user account record; and sending and receiving data related to voice communications via the service provider device using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method comprising:
-
receiving data from an instance of a softphone client via a computing system, wherein the softphone client is stored at a portable memory device and wherein the instance of the softphone client is automatically loaded to the computing system when the portable memory device is coupled to the computing system; associating the instance of the softphone client with a user account record based on the received data; and tracking usage credits associated with the user account record, wherein the usage credits are related to voice communications sent via the instance of the softphone client. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A voice over internet protocol service access module (VSAM) comprising:
-
a portable memory device, wherein the portable memory device is adapted to operate when installed in a computing device comprising a duplex audio system; a softphone client stored on the portable memory device, the softphone client comprising instructions for; auto-running the softphone client upon detection of the portable memory device by the computing device; and performing the functions of a plain old telephone; and a read/write memory to store a user file maintained by the softphone client, wherein the user profile associates the softphone client with a user account at a service provider device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification