IP telephone terminal and computer readable storage medium

• US 8,369,294 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Inada, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Gary
• Application Number:
  US12/201,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20090059902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 1/60 including speech amplifiers

Abstract

An IP telephone terminal and a method for controlling IP telephone terminal capable of performing IP telephone communication upon receiving information from a conversation application through a user interface provided with a microphone and a loud speaker when a conversation is to be performed with the microphone and the laud speaker. The IP telephone terminal is connected to an internet. The terminal has a mouse and a keyboard operable as an operation input device, and a microphone and a loud speaker operable as an audio input device. A first selecting unit selects the operation input device of an interface device, and a second selecting unit selects the audio input device of the interface device. A third selecting unit selects one of the interface devices. A first control part controls the first selecting unit so that the first selecting unit selects the operation input device of the interface device selected by the third selecting unit. A second control part controls the second selecting unit so that the second selecting unit selects the audio input device of the interface device selected by the third selecting unit.

Claims

1. An IP telephone terminal comprising:

a processor;

a communication unit configured to perform an IP telephone communication with another IP telephone terminal via an internet;

an interface device connecting unit configured to connect a plurality of interface devices to the IP telephone terminal, each interface device of the plurality of interface devices including an audio receiving device configured to receive audio data and a device-side operation receiving device configured to receive an operation input; and

a storing device configured to store;

an IP telephone application;

audio identification data that identifies the audio receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices, the audio identification data including usage audio identification data that identifies a particular audio receiving device to be used by the IP telephone application; and

operation identification data that identifies the device-side operation receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices, the operation identification data including usage operation identification data, and the operation identification data being associated with the audio identification data,

wherein the IP telephone application comprises;

a reception unit configured to receive a starting command from a particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to a particular interface device of the plurality of interface devices, the IP telephone application configured to set the particular interface device as an interface device to be used for the IP telephone communication after receiving the starting command from the particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to the particular interface device;

a communication control unit configured to control the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication with the other IP telephone terminal through the internet when the reception unit receives the starting command for starting the IP telephone communication; and

an audio communication control unit configured to transmit to the other IP telephone terminal, via the IP telephone communication, audio data received by the particular audio receiving device identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device after the communication control unit controls the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication,

wherein the IP telephone terminal further comprises;

an interface device selecting unit configured to select the particular interface device from the plurality of interface devices as a selected interface device;

an audio identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the audio identification data identifying the particular audio receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an audio identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the audio identification data acquired by the audio identification data acquiring unit as the usage audio identification data

an operation identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the operation identification data identifying the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an operation identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the operation identification data acquired by the operation identification data acquiring unit as the usage operation identification data; and

an IP telephone function control unit comprising;

a first transmitting part configured to transmit a conversation request to the other IP telephone terminal through the communication unit in accordance with an operation input from the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is identified by the usage operation identification data, and

a second transmitting part that transmits audio data received by the particular audio receiving device, which is identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device, through the communication unit, thereby controlling an IP telephone function of performing conversation with the other IP telephone terminal through the IP telephone communication.

2. An IP telephone terminal comprising:

a processor;

a communication unit configured to perform IP telephone communication with another IP telephone terminal via an internet;

an interface device connecting unit configured to connect a plurality of interface devices to the IP telephone terminal, each interface device of the plurality of interface devices including an audio receiving device configured to receive audio data and a device-side operation receiving device configured to receive an operation input; and

a storing device configured to store;

an IP telephone application;

audio identification data that identifies the audio receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices, the audio identification data including usage audio identification data that identifies a particular audio receiving device to be used by the IP telephone application; and

operation identification data that identifies the device-side operation receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices, the operation identification data including usage operation identification data, and the operation identification data being associated with the audio identification data,

wherein the IP telephone application comprises;

a reception unit configured to receive a starting command from a particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to a particular interface device of the plurality of interface devices, the IP telephone application configured to set the particular interface device as an interface device to be used for the IP telephone communication after receiving the starting command from the particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to the particular interface device;

a communication control unit configured to control the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication with the other IP telephone terminal through the internet when the reception unit receives the starting command for starting the IP telephone communication; and

an audio communication control unit configured to transmit to the other IP telephone terminal, via the IP telephone communication, audio data received by the particular audio receiving device identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device after the communication control unit controls the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication,

wherein the IP telephone terminal further comprises;

an interface device selecting unit configured to select the particular interface device from the plurality of interface devices as a selected interface device;

an audio identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the audio identification data identifying the particular audio receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an audio identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the audio identification data acquired by the audio identification data acquiring unit as the usage audio identification data;

an operation identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the operation identification data identifying the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an operation identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the operation identification data acquired by the operation identification data acquiring unit as the usage operation identification data; and

an IP telephone function control unit comprising;

a send-back part configured to send back a conversation permission to the other IP telephone terminal which has transmitted a conversation request through the communication unit, in accordance with an operation input from the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is identified by the usage operation identification data; and

an output part configured to control the particular audio receiving device so that the particular audio receiving device, which is identified by the usage audio identification data, outputs the audio data transmitted from the other IP telephone terminal through the communication unit, thereby controlling an IP telephone function of conversing with the other IP telephone terminal through the IP telephone communication.

3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable IP telephone terminal application program for controlling a computer operable as an IP telephone terminal, the IP telephone terminal including a processor, a communication unit configured to perform IP telephone communication with another IP telephone terminal via an internet, an interface device connecting unit configured to connect a plurality of interface devices each including an audio receiving device configured to receive audio data and a device-side operation receiving device configured to receive an operation input, and a storing device configured to store:

an IP telephone application;

audio identification data identifying the audio receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices and including usage audio identification data identifying a particular audio receiving device to be used by the IP telephone application; and

operation identification data identifying the device-side operation receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices and including usage operation identification data, the operation identification data being associated with the audio identification data;

the IP telephone application comprising instructions that instruct the processor to function as;

a reception unit configured to receive a starting command from a particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to a particular interface device of the plurality of interface devices, the IP telephone application configured to instruct the processor to set the particular interface device as an interface device to be used for the IP telephone communication after receiving the starting command from the particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to the particular interface device;

a communication control unit configured to control the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication with the other IP telephone terminal through the internet when the reception unit receives the starting command for starting the IP telephone communication;

an audio communication control unit configured to transmit to the other IP telephone terminal, via the IP telephone communication, audio data received by the particular audio receiving device identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device after the communication control unit controls the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication,

an interface device selecting unit configured to select the particular interface device from the plurality of interface devices as a selected interface device;

an audio identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the audio identification data identifying the particular audio receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an audio identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the audio identification data acquired by the audio identification data acquiring unit as the usage audio identification data;

an operation identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the operation identification data identifying the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an operation identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the operation identification data acquired by the operation identification data acquiring unit as the usage operation identification data and instructions for first selecting the operation input device;

a first transmitting part configured to transmit a conversation request to the other IP telephone terminal through the communication unit in accordance with an operation input from the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is identified by the usage operation identification data;

a second transmitting part that transmits audio data received by the particular audio receiving device identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device through the communication unit, thereby controlling an IP telephone function of performing conversation with the other IP telephone terminal through the IP telephone communication.

4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable IP telephone terminal application program for controlling a computer operable as an IP telephone terminal, the IP telephone terminal including a processor, a communication unit configured to perform IP telephone communication with another IP telephone terminal via an internet, an interface device connecting unit configured to connect a plurality of interface devices each including an audio receiving device configured to receive audio data and a device-side operation receiving device configured to receive an operation input, and a storing device configured to store:

an IP telephone application;

audio identification data identifying the audio receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices and including usage audio identification data identifying a particular audio receiving device to be used by the IP telephone application; and

operation identification data identifying the device-side operation receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices and including usage operation identification data, the operation identification data being associated with the audio identification data;

the IP telephone application comprising instructions that instruct the processor to function as;

a reception unit configured to receive a starting command from a particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to a particular interface device of the plurality of interface devices, the IP telephone application configured to instruct the processor to set the particular interface device as an interface device to be used for the IP telephone communication after receiving the starting command from the particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to the particular interface device;

a communication control unit configured to control the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication with the other IP telephone terminal through the internet when the reception unit receives the starting command for starting the IP telephone communication;

an audio communication control unit configured to transmit to the other IP telephone terminal, via the IP telephone communication, audio data received by the particular audio receiving device identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device after the communication control unit controls the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication,

an interface device selecting unit configured to select the particular interface device from the plurality of interface devices as a selected interface device;

an audio identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the audio identification data identifying the particular audio receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an audio identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the audio identification data acquired by the audio identification data acquiring unit as the usage audio identification data;

an operation identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the operation identification data identifying the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an operation identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the operation identification data acquired by the operation identification data acquiring unit as the usage operation identification data instructions for first selecting the operation input device;

a sending-back part configured to send a conversation permission to the other IP telephone terminal which has transmitted a conversation request through the communication unit, in accordance with an operation input from the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is identified by the usage operation identification data; and

an output part configured to control the particular audio receiving device so that the particular audio receiving device, which is identified by the usage audio identification data, outputs the audio data transmitted from the other IP telephone terminal through the communication unit, thereby controlling an IP telephone function of conversing with the other IP telephone terminal through the IP telephone communication.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable IP telephone terminal application program for controlling a computer operable as an IP telephone terminal, the IP telephone terminal including a processor, an internet-connecting unit configured to connect to an internet, an interface device connecting unit configured to connect to a plurality of interface devices each including an audio receiving device configured to receive audio data and a device-side operation receiving device configured to receive an operation input, and a storing device configured to store:

an IP telephone application;

audio identification data identifying the audio receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices and including usage audio identification data identifying a particular audio receiving device to be used by the IP telephone application; and

operation identification data identifying the device-side operation receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices and including usage operation identification data, the operation identification data being associated with the audio identification data, and the IP telephone application comprising instructions that instruct the processor to function as;

a reception unit configured to receive a starting command from a particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to a particular interface device of the plurality of interface devices, the IP telephone application configured to instruct the processor to set the particular interface device as an interface device to be used for the IP telephone communication after receiving the starting command from the particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to the particular interface device;

a communication control unit configured to control the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication with the other IP telephone terminal through the internet when the reception unit receives the starting command for starting the IP telephone communication;

an audio communication control unit configured to transmit to the other IP telephone terminal, via the IP telephone communication, audio data received by the particular audio receiving device identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device after the communication control unit controls the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication,

an interface device selecting unit configured to select the particular interface device from the plurality of interface devices as a selected interface device;

an audio identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the audio identification data identifying the particular audio receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an audio identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the audio identification data acquired by the audio identification data acquiring unit as the usage audio identification data;

an operation identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the operation identification data identifying the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an operation identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the operation identification data acquired by the operation identification data acquiring unit as the usage operation identification data; and

a communication starting unit configured to transmit to the reception unit the starting command when the IP telephone terminal receives from the particular interface device through the interface device connecting unit the starting command based on an operation, which is inputted in the particular device-side operation receiving device identified by the usage operation identification data, for starting the IP telephone communication.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein the IP telephone terminal further comprises a terminal-side operation receiving device configured to receive an operation input and a display output device,

wherein the storing device is further configured to store a device identification data identifying each of the plurality of interface devices in addition to the audio identification data and the operation identification data,

wherein the interface device selecting unit comprises:

a device identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire the device identification data from the storing device;

a display control unit configured to control the display output device to display a designation screen configured to receive the operation input indicating a selection of one of the plurality of interface devices based on the device identification data acquired by the device identification data acquiring unit;

a device designation unit configured to designate the interface device selected on the designation screen when the terminal-side operation receiving device receives the operation input indicating the selection of one of the plurality of interface devices after the display control unit controls the display output device to display the designation screen; and

a designated device selecting unit configured to select the interface device designated by the device designation unit as the selected interface device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein the interface device selecting unit comprises a request device selecting unit configured to select as the selected interface device the interface device from which selecting request data requesting the selection of the interface device is transmitted when the IP telephone terminal receives via the interface device connecting unit the selecting request data based on an operation input, the operation input indicating a request for the selection of the interface device and being received by the device-side operation receiving device provided on one of the plurality of interface devices,

wherein the audio identification data acquiring unit is configured to acquire the audio identification data when the request device selecting unit selects the interface device,

wherein the audio identification data storing unit is configured to store the audio identification data in the storing device as the usage audio identification data when the audio identification data acquiring unit acquires the audio identification data,

wherein the operation identification data acquiring unit is configured to acquire the operation identification data from the storing device when the request device selecting unit selects the interface device,

wherein the operation identification data storing unit is configured to store the operation identification data in the storing device as the usage operation identification data when the operation identification data acquiring unit acquires the operation identification data from the storing device,

wherein the communication starting unit is configured to transmit the starting command to the reception unit based on the selecting request data when the IP telephone terminal receives the selecting request data via the interface device connecting unit from the selected interface device, after the audio identification data storing unit stores the audio identification data in the storing device and the operation identification data storing unit stores the operation identification data in the storing device.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein the storing device is further configured to store device identification data identifying each of the plurality of interface devices and terminal identification data identifying the other IP telephone terminal, the device identification data and the terminal identification data being associated with each other,

wherein the interface device selecting unit comprises a device identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire the device identification data from the storing device, the device identification data acquiring unit being configured to acquire, when the IP telephone terminal receives the starting command and the terminal identification data identifying the other IP telephone terminal, the device identification data in association with the terminal identification data identifying the other IP telephone terminal receiving the starting command and the terminal identification data,

wherein the interface device selecting unit is configured to select as the selected interface device the interface device identified by the device identification data acquired by the device identification data acquiring unit,

wherein the audio identification data acquiring unit is configured to acquire the audio identification data when the identification device selecting unit selects the selected interface device,

wherein the audio identification data storing unit is configured to store the audio identification data in the storing device as the usage audio identification data when the audio identification data acquiring unit acquires the audio identification data,

wherein the operation identification data acquiring unit is configured to acquire the operation identification data from the storing device when the identification device selecting unit selects the selected interface device,

wherein the operation identification data storing unit is configured to store the operation identification data in the storing device when the operation identification data acquiring unit acquires the operation identification data from the storing device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein the IP telephone application further comprises instructions that instruct the processor to function as an application program interface configured to store the audio identification data in the storing device,

wherein audio identification data storing unit is configured to use the application program interface to store the audio identification data in the storing device.

10. An IP telephone terminal comprising:

a processor;

an internet-connecting unit configured to connect to the internet;

an interface device connecting unit configured to connect a plurality of interface devices to the IP telephone terminal, each interface device of the plurality of interface devices including an audio receiving device configured to receive audio data and a device-side operation receiving device configured to receive an operation input; and

a storing device configured to store;

an IP telephone application;

audio identification data that identifies the audio receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices, the audio identification data including usage audio identification data that identifies a particular audio receiving device to be used by the IP telephone application; and

operation identification data that identifies the device-side operation receiving device provided in each of the plurality of interface devices, the operation identification data including usage operation identification data, and the operation identification data being associated with the audio identification data,

wherein the IP telephone application comprises;

a reception unit configured to receive a starting command from a particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to a particular interface device of the plurality of interface devices, the IP telephone application configured to set the particular interface device as an interface device to be used for the IP telephone communication after receiving the starting command from the particular device-side operation receiving device corresponding to the particular interface device;

a communication control unit configured to control the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication with the other IP telephone terminal through the internet when the reception unit receives the starting command for starting the IP telephone communication; and

an audio communication control unit configured to transmit to the other IP telephone terminal, via the IP telephone communication, audio data received by the particular audio receiving device identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device after the communication control unit controls the IP telephone terminal to start the IP telephone communication,

wherein the IP telephone terminal further comprises;

an interface device selecting unit configured to select the particular interface device from the plurality of interface devices as a selected interface device;

an audio identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the audio identification data identifying the particular audio receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an audio identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the audio identification data acquired by the audio identification data acquiring unit as the usage audio identification data;

an operation identification data acquiring unit configured to acquire from the storing device the operation identification data identifying the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is provided in the selected interface device;

an operation identification data storing unit configured to store in the storing device the operation identification data acquired by the operation identification data acquiring unit as the usage operation identification data; and

an IP telephone function control unit comprising;

a first transmitting part configured to transmit a conversation request to the other IP telephone terminal through the IP telephone communication in accordance with an operation input from the particular device-side operation receiving device, which is identified by the usage operation identification data, and

a second transmitting part that transmits audio data received by the particular audio receiving device identified by the usage audio identification data stored in the storing device through the IP telephone communication, thereby controlling an IP telephone function of performing conversation with the other IP telephone terminal through the IP telephone communication.