Telephone network/computer network gateway

• US 7,907,706 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• 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): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/741,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,644 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/93.07, 379/52, 379/221.01, 379/266.02, 379/88.18, 379/106.09, 379/142.02, 379/93.02, 379/142.01, 379/201.01, 455/462, 455/567, 455/415, 370/260, 370/352, 709/249, 348/14.01
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• 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 3/42161 via computer interface
• 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 7/006 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 a computer network, a computing device coupled to the computer network, and a telephone coupled to the computer network and to a telephone line. The telephone may receive telephone call signals from the telephone line and transmit information associated with the telephone call signals to the computing device over the network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computer network;

a computing device coupled to the computer network; and

a telephone coupled to the computer network and to a telephone line, the telephone to receive telephone call signals from the telephone line and to transmit information associated with the telephone call signals to the computing device over the network;

wherein the computing device is to receive the information transmitted by the telephone over the computer network, and to determine, after receiving the information transmitted by the telephone over the computer network, that the telephone call signals received by the telephone from the telephone line are intended for the telephone.

2. A system according to claim 1, the computer network comprising an Internet Protocol computer network.

3. A system according to claim 1, the telephone further comprising:

a base station to receive the telephone line; and

a telephone handset to transmit second telephone call signals to the base station,

wherein the base station is to transmit information associated with the second telephone call signals to the computing device over the network.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the telephone is wirelessly coupled to the computer network.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the telephone is to transmit the information according to a wireless network protocol.

6. A system according to claim 1, the telephone further comprising:

a first interface to transmit telephone call signals to the telephone line; and

a second interface to transmit the information over the network.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the computing device is further to establish a conference call between the telephone and at least one other telephone based on conference call definitions.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the conference call definition specifies a workgroup to participate in the conference call.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the computing device is further to identify rules that are to be applied to telephone call signals intended for the telephone.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the rules specify that certain telephone call signals intended for the telephone should be directly routed to a voice mail system.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.

12. A method for a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving information associated with telephone call signals from a telephone over a computer network,

wherein the telephone received the telephone call signals from a telephone line; and

determining, after receiving the information from the telephone over the computer network, that the telephone call signals received by the telephone from the telephone line are intended for the telephone.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the computer network comprises an Internet Protocol computer network.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving information associated with second telephone call signals from a base station of the telephone, the second telephone call signals received by the base station from a telephone handset of the telephone.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein the telephone is wirelessly coupled to the computer network.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.

17. A method for a telephone, the method comprising:

receiving telephone call signals from a telephone line; and

transmitting, over a computer network, information associated with the telephone call signals to a computing device that is to (i) receive the information transmitted over the computer network, and (ii) determine, after receiving the information transmitted over the computer network, that the telephone call signals received by the telephone from the telephone line are intended for the telephone.

18. A method according to claim 17, the computer network comprising an Internet Protocol computer network.

19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

receiving second telephone call signals from a telephone handset associated with the telephone; and

transmitting information associated with the second telephone call signals to the computing device over the network.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the telephone is wirelessly coupled to the computer network.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.

22. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

receive information associated with telephone call signals from a telephone over a computer network,

wherein the telephone received the telephone call signals from a telephone line; and

determine, after receiving the information from the telephone over the computer network, that the telephone call signals received by the telephone from the telephone line are intended for the telephone.

23. A device according to claim 22, the computer network comprising an Internet Protocol computer network.

24. A device according to claim 22, the storage device further storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to:

receive information associated with second telephone call signals from a base station of the telephone, the second telephone call signals received by the base station from a telephone handset of the telephone.

25. A device according to claim 22, wherein the telephone is wirelessly coupled to the computer network.

26. A device according to claim 22, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.

27. A telephone comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

receive telephone call signals from a telephone line; and

transmit, over a computer network, information associated with the telephone call signals to a computing device that is to (i) receive the information transmitted over the computer network, and (ii) determine, after receiving the information transmitted over the computer network, that the telephone call signals from the telephone line are intended for the telephone.

28. A device according to claim 27, the computer network comprising an Internet Protocol computer network.

29. A device according to claim 27, the storage device further storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to:

receive second telephone call signals from a telephone handset associated with the telephone; and

transmit information associated with the second telephone call signals to the computing device over the network.

30. A device according to claim 27, wherein the telephone is wirelessly coupled to the computer network.

31. A device according to claim 27, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.