Controlling communications
First Claim
1. A gateway associated with a first network having one or more first end-user computer terminals and one or more corresponding telephone units, the gateway to enable communication with a second, packet-based network comprising one or more second end-user computer terminals installed with a communication client of the second network, the one or more telephone units for performing calls with one of the second end-user computer terminals over the second network the gateway comprising:
- a switching apparatus including a processing device and a gateway engine operable via the processing device and configured to;
automatically detect in association with a call whether a user operates one of said first end-user computer terminals or uses one of said telephone units to select respectively between a first state in which the call is to be performed using one of said first end-user computer terminals and a second state in which the call is to be performed using one of said telephone units; and
route the call based on the selection between the first state and the second state including;
on condition of detecting user operation of one of said first end-user computer terminals, selecting the first state and routing both call set-up signalling and call media to the first end-user computer terminal; and
on condition of detecting use of one of said telephone units, selecting the second state routing call set-up signalling to the first end-user terminal, and routing the call media to the one of said telephone units.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first network comprising: one or more first end-user computer terminals; a gateway to a second, packet-based network comprising one or more second end-user computer terminals installed with a communication client of the second network; one or more telephone units for performing calls with one of the second end-user computer terminals over the second network; wherein each of the one or more first end-user terminals is installed with a communication client for performing calls with the second end-user computer terminals over the second network; and wherein the gateway comprises switching apparatus configured to detect a user selection between a first state in which one of said calls is to be performed using one of said first end-user computer terminals and a second state in which the call is to be performed using one of said telephone units; and on condition of detecting the first state, to route both call set-up signaling and call media to the first end-user computer terminal; and on condition of detecting the second state, to route call set-up signaling to the first end-user terminal but route the call media to the telephone unit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gateway associated with a first network having one or more first end-user computer terminals and one or more corresponding telephone units, the gateway to enable communication with a second, packet-based network comprising one or more second end-user computer terminals installed with a communication client of the second network, the one or more telephone units for performing calls with one of the second end-user computer terminals over the second network the gateway comprising:
a switching apparatus including a processing device and a gateway engine operable via the processing device and configured to; automatically detect in association with a call whether a user operates one of said first end-user computer terminals or uses one of said telephone units to select respectively between a first state in which the call is to be performed using one of said first end-user computer terminals and a second state in which the call is to be performed using one of said telephone units; and route the call based on the selection between the first state and the second state including; on condition of detecting user operation of one of said first end-user computer terminals, selecting the first state and routing both call set-up signalling and call media to the first end-user computer terminal; and on condition of detecting use of one of said telephone units, selecting the second state routing call set-up signalling to the first end-user terminal, and routing the call media to the one of said telephone units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for use in a first network comprising one or more first end-user computer terminals, a gateway to a second packet-based network comprising one or more second end-user computer terminals installed with a communication client of the second network, and one or more telephone units for performing calls with one of the second end-user computer terminals over the second network;
- the method comprising;
detecting at the gateway a signal that indicates whether a user operates one of said first end-user computer terminals or uses one of said telephone units for a call, the signal employed by the gateway to make a selection between a first state in which one of said calls is to be performed using one of said first end-user computer terminals and a second state in which the call is to be performed using one of said telephone units; and on condition of detecting the first state, routing by the gateway both call set-up signalling and call media to the first end-user computer terminal; and on condition of detecting the second state, routing by the gateway call set-up signalling to the first end-user terminal and routing the call media to the one of said telephone unit.
- the method comprising;
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20. A computer program product for a gateway connected to one or more first end-user computer terminals, in a first network to enable communication with a second packet-based network comprising one or more second end-user computer terminals installed with a communication client of the second network, and one or more telephone units for performing calls with one of the second end-user computer terminals over the second network, wherein each of the one or more first end-user terminals is installed with a communication client for performing calls with the second end-user computer terminals over the second network;
- the program product comprising code embodied on a computer readable storage device connected to the gateway and configured so as when executed on the gateway to;
select a first state in which one of said calls is to be performed using one of said first end-user computer terminals or a second state in which the call is to be performed using one of said telephone units based upon automatic determination of whether or not a telephone unit is used for the call; and apply pairing to pair the telephone unit with the gateway dependent upon the determination including; on condition of selecting the first state, foregoing the pairing and routing both call set-up signalling and call media to the first end-user computer terminal; and on condition of selecting the second state, applying the pairing, routing call set-up signalling to the first end-user terminal and routing the call media to the one of said telephone units.
- the program product comprising code embodied on a computer readable storage device connected to the gateway and configured so as when executed on the gateway to;
Specification