Methods and apparatus for providing internet messaging on the screen of a digital telephone

• US 20030123431A1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Rocha, Francisco Olympio Marcon da, Geck, Bertram
• Application Number:
  US10/034,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20030123431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for redirecting Internet-type text messages from a computer workstation to a digital telephone having an LCD display include replacing Internet browser plug-ins with applications which intercept messages and redirect them to the digital telephone. The applications also permit the digital telephone to log on to the workstation and identify the address of the telephone so that messages may be forwarded to the correct address.

Claims

1. A method for routing Internet-type messages from a computer workstation to a digital telephone having a display, said method comprising:

a) coupling the computer workstation to a TCP/IP network;

b) coupling the digital telephone to the TCP/IP network;

c) providing the computer workstation with a browser program which supports messaging plug-ins; and

d) providing custom messaging plug-ins for the browser program which allow the digital telephone to log on to the computer workstation and which forward messages to the digital telephone logged on to the workstation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital telephone and the computer workstation are directly coupled to said TCP/IP network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the TCP/IP network is the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the TCP/IP network is a LAN.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

e) coupling the computer workstation is coupled to the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital telephone is coupled to the TCP/IP network via a PBX network coupled to a server computer coupled to the TCP/IP network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital telephone is coupled to the TCP/IP network via the PSTN coupled to a PBX network coupled to the TCP/IP network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital telephone is coupled to the TCP/IP network via a wireless connection to a PBX network coupled to the TCP/IP network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the digital telephone is coupled to the TCP/IP network via a wireless connection to the PSTN to a PBX network coupled to the TCP/IP network.

10. An apparatus for routing Internet-type messages from a computer workstation to a digital telephone having a display, said method comprising:

a) a computer workstation coupled to a TCP/IP network;

b) a digital telephone coupled to the TCP/IP network;

c) a browser program which supports messaging plug-ins installed on said computer workstation; and

d) at least one custom messaging program appearing as a plug-in to the browser program, said custom messaging program allowing said digital telephone to log on to said computer workstation and said custom messaging program forwarding messages to said digital telephone once it has logged on to said workstation.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said digital telephone and said computer workstation are directly coupled to said TCP/IP network.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the TCP/IP network is the Internet.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the TCP/IP network is a LAN.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said computer workstation is coupled to the Internet.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said digital telephone is coupled to the TCP/IP network via a PBX network coupled to a server computer coupled to the TCP/IP network.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said digital telephone is coupled to the TCP/IP network via the PSTN coupled to a PBX network coupled to the TCP/IP network.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said digital telephone is coupled to the TCP/IP network via a wireless connection to a PBX network coupled to the TCP/IP network.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said digital telephone is coupled to the TCP/IP network via a wireless connection to the PSTN to a PBX network coupled to the TCP/IP network.