Telephone system responsive to call control protocol

• US 7,856,091 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc. (Atos SE)
• Inventors: Caspi, Rami, Beyda, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addy, Thjuan K
• Application Number:
  US10/740,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,560 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/210.01, 379/88.12, 379/142.02, 379/212.01, 379/211.02, 455/420, 370/260, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0015 First party call control architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0021 Details of Application Programming Interfaces
• 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

Abstract

Some embodiments provide receipt by a telephone of call control signals from an external device, the call control signals associated with a third party call control protocol, and execution of telephone call functionality in accordance with the call control signals.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a telephone, telephone call signals from a Packet-Switched Telephone Network;

encapsulating the telephone call signals to a computer network protocol;

transmitting the encapsulated telephone call signals from the telephone to an external computing device;

decapsulating the encapsulated telephone call signals at the external computing device;

determining, at the external computing device, that the telephone call signals are intended for the telephone that received the telephone call signals from the Packet-Switched Telephone Network; and

transmitting the telephone call signals from the external computing device back to the telephone that received the telephone call signals from the Packet-Switched Telephone Network to establish a telephone call.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the call signals specify a first telephone functionality associated with a first one of a plurality of handsets that are associated with the telephone, and a second telephone functionality associated with a second one of the plurality of handsets.

3. A system, comprising:

a telephone to receive telephone call signals from a Packet-Switched Telephone Network, to encapsulate the telephone call signals to a computer network protocol, and to transmit the encapsulated telephone call signals; and

a computing device to receive the encapsulated telephone call signals from the telephone, to decapsulate the encapsulated telephone call signals, to determine that the telephone call signals are intended for the telephone that received the telephone call signals from the Packet-Switched Telephone Network, and to transmit the telephone call signals back to the telephone that received the telephone call signals from the Packet-Switched Telephone Network to establish a telephone call.

4. A system according to claim 3, the telephone comprising:

a base station; and

a plurality of handsets in communication with the base station.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the call signals specify a first telephone functionality associated with a first one of the plurality of handsets, and a second telephone functionality associated with a second one of the plurality of handsets.