Outside-LAN connectable IP key telephone system, terminal unit thereof, main unit thereof, and outside-LAN connecting method

• US 7,496,186 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yumiko, Kobayashi, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao; Seema S
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, XAVIER S
• Application Number:
  US10/724,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,911 Days
• Field of Search: 370400-404, 370/419, 370/420, 379/156, 379/157
• US Class Current: 379/156
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/00 Arrangements for interconnection not involving centralised switching

Abstract

A main unit of a key telephone system accommodates a plurality of terminal units of the key telephone system that use a LAN within company as extension lines and exchange calls with outside lines. The main unit of the key telephone system has a function as an IP server for the terminal units and stores and manages a database of information in a storing device. A terminal unit of the system accesses an IP address of the main unit of the key telephone system, and logs in to the main unit with predetermined first ID and password. The main unit of the key telephone system authenticates the first ID and password and registers the terminal unit of the key telephone system as an IP extension terminal unit, and allows the KTS terminal unit to voice communicate with another terminal unit of the key telephone system in accordance with the VoIP.

Claims

1. An outside-LAN (Local Area Network) connectable IP (Internet Protocol) key telephone system, comprising:

a key telephone system main unit, configured to accommodate a plurality of IP extension terminal units, for switching calls with outside lines; and

a key telephone system terminal unit, disposed outside the LAN, for accessing the key telephone system main unit through an IP network and for functioning as an IP extension terminal unit,

wherein said key telephone system terminal unit comprises;

log-in means for logging in to an IP address of the key telephone system main unit with predetermined first ID and password,

wherein said key telephone system main unit comprises;

means for authenticating the first ID and password received from the key telephone system terminal unit, registering the key telephone system terminal unit as an IP extension terminal unit, and allowing the key telephone system terminal unit to voice communicate with another IP extension terminal unit in accordance with the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) without allowing the key telephone system terminal unit to access directory information in a database in the key telephone system main unit,

wherein said key telephone system terminal unit registered as an IP extension terminal unit with the key telephone system main unit further comprises,

log-on means for logging on to the key telephone system main unit with predetermined second ID and password, and

means for displaying a portal site for accessing information stored in the database, when the log-on means has logged on to the key telephone system terminal unit, and

wherein said key telephone system main unit further comprises,

means for authenticating the second ID and password received from the key telephone system terminal unit and permitting the key telephone system terminal unit to access the directory information stored in the database.

2. The outside-LAN connectable IP key telephone system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said database stores a telephone directory list of users of the extension terminal units, the telephone directory list including presence information which represents whether or not each of the extension terminal units is able to perform an extension call to the other extension terminal units, and

wherein the presence information of the key telephone system terminal unit registered as an IP extension terminal unit is turned on.

3. The outside-LAN connectable IP key telephone system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said key telephone system main unit is configured to store information including voice messages, electronic mail, and telephone directory data in the database.

4. A key telephone system terminal unit, placed outside a LAN, for accessing through an IP network a key telephone system main unit configured to accommodate a plurality of IP extension terminal units and to switch calls to outside lines, and for functioning as an IP extension terminal unit, the key telephone system terminal unit comprising:

log-in means for logging in to an IP address of the key telephone system main unit with predetermined first ID and password,

wherein said key telephone system terminal unit is configured to be authenticated by the key telephone system main unit with the first ID and password, be registered as an IP extension terminal unit, and be allowed to voice communicate with another IP extension terminal units in accordance with the VoIP without allowing the key telephone system terminal unit to access directory information in a database in the key telephone system main unit,

wherein said key telephone system terminal unit that has been registered as an IP extension terminal unit with the key telephone system main unit further comprises,

log-on means for logging on to the key telephone system main unit with predetermined second ID and password, and

means for displaying a portal site for accessing information stored in the database, when the log-on means has logged on to the key telephone system terminal unit, and

wherein said key telephone system terminal unit is configured to be authenticated by the key telephone system main unit with the second ID and password and to access information stored in the database.

5. A key telephone system main unit of an outside-LAN connectable key telephone system, configured to accommodate a plurality of IP extension terminal units, for switching calls with outside lines, the key telephone system main unit comprising:

means, accessed by a key telephone system terminal unit which is placed outside a LAN through an IP network and which functions as an IP extension terminal unit, for authenticating the key telephone system terminal unit with predetermined first ID and password, for permitting the key telephone system terminal unit to log in to the key telephone system main unit, for registering the key telephone system terminal unit as an IP extension terminal unit, and for allowing the key telephone system terminal unit to voice communicate with another IP extension terminal units in accordance with the VoIP without allowing the key telephone system terminal unit to access directory information in a database in the key telephone system main unit, and

means for authenticating the key telephone system terminal unit registered as an IP extension terminal unit with predetermined second ID and password, for permitting the key telephone system terminal unit to log on to the IP key telephone system main unit, and for permitting the key telephone system terminal unit to access the directory information stored in the database.

6. A method for causing a key telephone system terminal unit placed outside a LAN to access, through an IP network, a key telephone system main unit which is configured to accommodate a plurality of IP extension terminal units and to switch calls with outside lines, and for permitting the key telephone system terminal unit to function as an IP extension terminal unit, comprising the steps of:

the key telephone system terminal unit logging in to an IP address of the key telephone system main unit with predetermined first ID and password;

the key telephone system main unit authenticating the key telephone system terminal unit with the first ID and password, registering the key telephone system terminal unit as an IP extension terminal unit, and allowing the key telephone system terminal unit to voice communicate with another IP extension terminal units in accordance with the VoIP without allowing the key telephone system terminal unit to access directory information in a database in the key telephone system main unit;

after the key telephone system terminal unit has been registered as an IP extension terminal unit with the key telephone system main unit, logging the key telephone system terminal unit on to the key telephone system main unit with predetermined second ID and password;

the key telephone system main unit authenticating the key telephone system terminal unit with the second ID and password and permitting the key telephone system terminal unit to access the directory information stored in the database; and

after the key telephone system terminal unit has been permitted to access the directory information, the key telephone system terminal unit displaying a portal site for accessing information stored in the database.