Networkable telephone system

• US 8,116,447 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• 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): Jamal, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/740,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20060045257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,980 Days
• Field of Search: 379/357.02
• US Class Current: 379/357.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/667 Preventing unauthorised calls from a telephone set H04M1/677 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• 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 telephone comprising an interface port to receive a computer network interface device.

Claims

1. A telephone comprising:

means to encapsulate telephone call signals in accordance with a computer network protocol;

an interface port to receive a computer network interface device and to transmit the encapsulated signals to the computer network interface device;

wherein the computer network interface device comprises a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association card; and

an interface to receive telephone call signals independently of the computer network interface device;

where the telephone is coupled to a computing device comprising a microprocessor, a network interface and a data storage device in communication with a communication bus, the data storage device storing a workgroup definitions database, a conference call definitions database, and a call management rules database, and a telephone application.

2. A telephone according to claim 1,

the computer network interface device to couple the telephone to a computer network.

3. A telephone according to claim 2,

the computer network comprising an Internet Protocol network.

4. A telephone according to claim 1, wherein the interface port is to receive encapsulated telephone call signals from the computer network interface device, and the telephone further comprising means to decapsulate the encapsulated telephone call signals from the computer network interface device to generate telephone call signals.

9. A telephone according to claim 1, wherein the interface to receive telephone call signals independently of the computer network interface device comprises a PSTN interface.

5. A method for using a telephone, the method comprising:

receiving a computer network interface device into an interface port compatible with the computer network interface device;

wherein the computer network interface device comprises a Personal Computer Memory Card;

encapsulating telephone call signals in accordance with a computer network protocol;

transmitting the encapsulated signals to the computer network interface device; and

receiving telephone call signals independently of the computer network interface device;

where the telephone is coupled to a computing device comprising a microprocessor, a network interface and a data storage device in communication with a communication bus, the data storage device storing a workgroup definitions database, a conference call definitions database, a call management rules database, and a telephone application.

6. A method according to claim 5,

the computer network interface device to couple the telephone to a computer network.

7. A method according to claim 6,

the computer network comprising an Internet Protocol network.

8. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving encapsulated telephone call signals from the computer network interface device; and

decapsulating the encapsulated telephone call signals from the computer network interface device to generate telephone call signals.

10. A method according to claim 5, wherein receiving telephone call signals independently of the computer network interface device comprises receiving telephone call signals at a PSTN interface independently of the computer network interface device.