Communications module

• US 8,908,854 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Simon, Brause, Ellyse, Blackburn, Helen, Brenes, Manrique
• Primary Examiner(s): ISLAM, MOHAMMAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/345,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• US Class Current: 379/265.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0289 Telephone sets for operators
• 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

Abstract

A communications module comprising a network interface for connecting to a packet data network, a memory storing communication client code, a connection interface that is arranged to connect to a consumer device to establish a set of connections between the communications module and the consumer device, wherein the connection interface comprises at least one connection for exchanging analogue call signals with the consumer device; and at least one data connector; and processing means configured to convert analogue call signals received from the consumer device into packet data and supply the packet data to the network interface, the processing means further configured to execute the communication client code stored in the memory and send user interface data for display at the consumer device via the data connector.

Claims

1. A communications module comprising:

a network interface for connecting to a packet data network;

a connection interface arranged to plug into a consumer device to establish a set of connections between the communications module and the consumer device, the set of connections comprising;

at least one connection for exchanging analogue call signals with the consumer device; and

at least one data connector for communication of user interface data with the consumer device;

a processor; and

memory comprising instructions of a communication client executable by the processor to perform operations comprising;

converting analogue call signals received from the consumer device into packet data;

supplying the packet data to the network interface; and

sending the user interface data for display at the consumer device via the data connector.

2. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the set of connections further comprises a power connector to provide power from the consumer device to the communications module.

3. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the user interface data conforms to a proprietary protocol or an open standard protocol.

4. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to perform operations comprising:

receiving user data from the consumer device via the data connector and;

generating the user interface data responsive to receiving the user data.

5. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable to perform operations comprising:

converting packet data received over the packet data network at the network interface into analogue call data; and

supplying the analogue call data to the consumer device using the at least one connection for exchanging analogue call signals.

6. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the data connector is a serial or parallel connector.

7. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the network interface is a radio frequency transceiver.

8. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the network interface is an Ethernet interface.

9. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the communications module further comprises a circuit switched network interface for connecting to a circuit switched network.

10. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the instructions of the communication client are further executable to perform operations comprising:

accessing a communication system; and

establishing a packet data call.

11. The communications module according to claim 1, wherein the instructions of the communication client are further executable to perform operations comprising:

obtaining an authorisation certificate for exchanging in call establishment.

12. A consumer device comprising:

a call interface for receiving analogue call signals;

a switch configured to supply the analogue call signals to a connection interface;

the connection interface arranged to connect to a communications module to establish a set of data connections between said connection interface and the communications module, the set of connections comprising;

at least one connector for exchanging analogue call signals with the communications module; and

at least one data connector, wherein the consumer device is configured to receive user interface data for display at the consumer device via the data connector.

13. The consumer device according to claim 12, wherein the set of connections further comprises a power connector to supply power from the consumer device to the communications module.

14. The consumer device according to claim 12, wherein the consumer device is configured to receive power from a power source.

15. The consumer device according to claim 12 wherein the user interface data is received via the data connector according to a proprietary protocol or an open standard protocol.

16. The consumer device according to claim 12, wherein the data connector is a serial or a parallel connector.

17. The consumer device according to claim 16, wherein the consumer device is a telephone base station connected to a handset, wherein the user interface data is transmitted from the base station to the handset via the call interface and displayed on a display of the handset.

18. The consumer device according to claim 17, wherein the telephone base station is connected to the handset by a wired connection.

19. The consumer device according to claim 17, wherein the call interface is a radio frequency transceiver coupled to a radio frequency module to enable the telephone base station to transmit the user interface data wirelessly to the handset.

20. The consumer device according to claim 19, wherein the radio frequency transceiver transmits the user interface data wirelessly to the handset according to a proprietary protocol or an open standard protocol.

21. The consumer device according to claim 20, wherein the open standard protocol is CAT-iq.

22. The consumer device according to claim 17, wherein the telephone base station comprises an interface to a circuit switched network and the switch is further configured to supply the analogue call signals to the interface to the circuit switched network.

23. The consumer device according to claim 12, wherein the consumer device is a television and the user interface data is displayed on a screen of the television.

24. The consumer device according to claim 12, wherein the consumer device is one of a video disc player arranged to connect to a television, a set top box arranged to connect to a television, a personal video recorder arranged to connect to a television or a games console arranged to connect to a television, wherein the user interface data is displayed on the television.