Internet phone system and directory search engine using same

• US 8,929,520 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jagannathan, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARLEY, JASON A
• Application Number:
  US12/347,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20090103459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,197 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 379/90.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• 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 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• 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

An Internet compatible dialer pad is used to dial into an Internet server to provide services similar to those found on the Plain Old Telephone System (“POTS”). The dialer pad has an integrated modem set, an extended keypad with alphanumeric entry keys and function keys, display screen and display electronics that renders visual call progress information to the user as well as other communications indicators and related information about the current Internet connection. The dialer uses the Public Switched Telephone System (“PSTN”) and standard LAN/WAN technology to give the user entry into a plurality of Internet calling functions. An Internet database is maintained and permits the dialing party to obtain callee information by entering alphanumeric characters via the dialer. Links from the PSTN to an Internet data base are not restricted to a specific digital data protocol.

Claims

1. A telephony station for supporting telephony services, comprising:

a physical keypad for providing Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) dialing and alphabetic input to establish a switched voice call, said physical keypad having a connection to at least two Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) jacks for a single voice conversation telephone call including concurrent Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) initiated switched voice communication with audio phone format and functionality of a Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) via one of the PSTN jacks and a packet-switched voice call with Internet audio format via another of the PSTN jacks, whereby a caller may make the packet-switched voice call to a callee via an Internet Service Provider while maintaining the DTMF initiated switched voice communication with the callee;

a physical button, separate from the keypad, for initiating a packet-switched voice call via the Internet Service Provider;

an alphanumeric keyboard for inputting a callee identifier with an alphabetic character corresponding to the packet-switched voice call; and

a display coupled to the alphanumeric keyboard and configured to display the callee identifier, wherein

the physical keypad, the physical button, the alphanumeric keyboard, and the display are housed in a base of the telephony station,

the packet-switched voice call is initiated by a caller to an Internet address of the callee by entering the callee identifier,

the callee identifier is converted to the Internet address, and

after the callee identifier is converted to the Internet address, the packet-switched voice call is sent from the telephony station to the Internet address of the callee,

wherein the physical button is configured to initiate the packet-switched voice call via the Internet Service Provider to the callee without interrupting a current DTMF initiated switched voice connection by the telephone station.

2. A station according to claim 1, wherein the packet-switched voice call is a long distance call.

3. A station according to claim 1, wherein the callee identifier is not a valid domain name.

4. A station according to claim 1, wherein the physical key pad comprises numeric keys corresponding to the DTMF dialing.

5. A station according to claim 1, wherein the physical key pad comprises alphanumeric keys, and at least one key corresponds to the DTMF dialing.

6. A station according to claim 1, wherein the display shows information regarding a current callee.

7. A station according to claim 1, wherein the display shows a list of available callees.

8. A station according to claim 1, wherein the display shows a network address of an available callee.

9. A station according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicate with a computer to exchange data.

10. A method for placing a call over a data network, comprising:

dialing, via a physical keypad of a telephony station, Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) digits to establish a switched voice call over a first jack, wherein the physical keypad provides the Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) dialing and alphabetic input to establish the switched voice call, said physical keypad having a connection to at least two Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) jacks for a single voice conversation telephone call including concurrent Dual Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) initiated switched voice communication with audio phone format and functionality of a Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) via one of the PSTN jacks and a packet-switched voice call with Internet audio format via another of the PSTN jacks, whereby a caller may make the packet-switched voice call to a callee via an Internet Service Provider while maintaining the DTMF initiated switched voice communication with the callee;

subsequent to establishing the switched voice call via the one of the PSTN jacks, initiating, via a physical button that is separate from the keypad, the packet-switched voice call over the other of the PSTN jacks after; and

inputting a callee identifier for initiation of the packet-switched voice call to the callee, wherein

the packet-switched voice call is initiated by a caller to an Internet address of the callee by entering the callee identifier,

the callee identifier is converted to the Internet address, and

after the callee identifier is converted to the Internet address, the packet-switched voice call is sent from the telephony station to the Internet address of the callee,

wherein the physical keypad, the physical button, and the alphanumeric keyboard are housed in a base of the telephony station,

wherein the physical button is configured to initiate the packet-switched voice call via the Internet Service Provider to the callee without interrupting a current DTMF initiated switched voice connection by the telephone station.

11. A station according to claim 10, wherein the packet-switched voice call is a long distance call.

12. A station according to claim 10, wherein the callee identifier is not a valid domain name.

13. A station according to claim 10, wherein the physical key pad comprises numeric keys corresponding to the DTMF dialing.

14. A station according to claim 10, wherein the physical key pad comprises alphanumeric keys, and at least one key corresponds to the DTMF dialing.

15. A station according to claim 10, further comprising:

displaying information regarding of a current callee.

16. A station according to claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a list of available callees.

17. A station according to claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a network address of an available callee.

18. A station according to claim 10, further comprising:

communicating with a computer to exchange data.