METHODS, SMART CARDS, AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING PORTABLE COMPUTER, VOIP, AND APPLICATION SERVICES

• US 20140161033A1
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric M. Dowling, Robert A. Westerlund
• Original Assignee: Eric M. Dowling, Robert A. Westerlund
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan, Westerlund, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/305 using wired telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/675 the user being required to insert a coded card, e.g. a smart card carrying an integrated circuit chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/60 related to security aspects in telephonic communication systems network architectures or network communication protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6063 Authentication using cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0078 Security; Fraud detection; Fraud prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 : based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 : Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]

Abstract

A smart card is used with a network based system to providing portable telecommunication and computing services. In an exemplary embodiment the smart card holds a user authentication code and user telephony account information. The smart card transfers the user authentication code and the account information to one of a plurality of geographically dispersed card readers which are each connected to a local telephony device. When the smart card is plugged into a first card reader, telephone calls directed to the smart card user'"'"'s follow-me telephone number are received at a first local telephony device. When the smart card is plugged into a second smart card reader, telephone calls directed to the follow-me telephone number are received at a second telephony local device. Hence the user is enabled to receive and place calls using any of the geographically dispersed telephony devices as though they were his/her own personal landline or cellular telephone supplied by his/her telephony services provider.

Claims

1. A VoIP server system associated with a VoIP telephony service, wherein the VoIP server system is configured to communicate with a plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints via a packet switched data network, the VoIP server system comprising:

a first VoIP server function that allows a first particular user of a respective first one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints to place an outbound VoIP telephone call to a selected one of a PSTN telephony endpoint and a second one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints;

a second VoIP server function that maintains at least one Internet connection by which to receive, from the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint, a particular 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number; and

a third VoIP server function that facilitates a call setup operation to cause a voice telephony call to be routed from the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint to the selected one of the PSTN telephony endpoint and the second portable VoIP telephony endpoint associated with the particular 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number;

wherein the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint comprises a cellular telephone.

2. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a database that includes a plurality of 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone numbers associated with a respective plurality of users of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints; and

a fourth VoIP server function that, in the event any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints is located at a first location, facilitates the directing of a first incoming call to the particular VoIP telephony endpoint at the first location, and in the event the particular o portable VoIP telephony endpoint is located at a second location, facilitates the directing of a second incoming call to the particular VoIP telephony endpoint at the second location;

wherein the first incoming call and the second incoming call are each identified by a particular 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number associated with the particular VoIP telephony endpoint;

wherein the first incoming call and the second incoming call are coupled to the particular VoIP telephony endpoint as respective first and second VoIP calls.

3. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first location corresponds to a first network address and the second location corresponds to a second network address.

4. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first location corresponds to a first Internet address and the second location corresponds to a second Internet address.

5. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first location corresponds to a first geographical location and the second location corresponds to a second geographical location.

6. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first incoming call comprises a PSTN telephone call initiated from a telephony endpoint that is connected to the PSTN.

7. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 2, wherein the first incoming call comprises a circuit switched telephone call initiated from a cellular telephone.

8. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 2, wherein the fourth server function facilitates the directing of the first incoming call by coupling first information to the VoIP telephony service.

9. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 8, wherein the fourth server function facilitates the directing of the second incoming call by coupling second information to the VoIP telephony service.

10. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first information comprises a first network address that facilitates routing of the first VoIP call to the first location and the second information comprises a second network address that facilitates routing of the second VoIP call to the second location.

11. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 5, wherein the fourth server function facilitates the directing of the first incoming call by coupling information to the VoIP telephony service.

12. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth VoIP server function configured to receive registration information associated with any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints, wherein the registration information includes a network address associated with the any particular one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints to facilitate VoIP telephony communications between the any particular one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints and the VoIP telephony service via the packet switched data network, and wherein further, the registration information comprises user-specific data associated with a user associated with the any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints.

13. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth VoIP server function configured to receive an abbreviated telephone number identifier and information relating to a physical geographical location of a particular one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints; and

a fifth VoIP server function configured to analyze the abbreviated telephone identifier and the information relating to the physical geographical location of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint to map the abbreviated telephone identifier to a 10-digit PSTN compatible telephone number of an entity associated with the abbreviated telephone number identifier and located in the geographic vicinity of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint, to thereby enable a speed dialing function to allow the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint to speed-dial a call to the entity associated with the abbreviated telephone number identifier and located in the geographic vicinity of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint.

14. A VoIP server system associated with a VoIP telephony service, wherein the VoIP server system is configured to communicate with a plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints via a packet switched data network, the VoIP server system comprising:

a first VoIP server function that allows a first particular user of a respective first one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints to place an outbound VoIP telephone call to a PSTN telephony endpoint;

a second VoIP server function that maintains at least one Internet connection by which to receive, from the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint, a particular 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number; and

a third VoIP server function that facilitates a call setup operation to cause a voice telephony call to be routed from the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint to the PSTN telephony endpoint associated with the 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number;

wherein the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint comprises a cellular telephone.

15. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a database that includes a plurality of 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone numbers associated with a respective plurality of users of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints; and

a fourth server function that, in the event any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints is located at a first location, facilitates the directing of a first incoming call to the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint at the first location, and in the event the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint is located at a second location, facilitates the directing of a second incoming call to the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint at the second location;

wherein the first incoming call and the second incoming call are each identified by a particular 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number associated with the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint;

wherein the first incoming call and the second incoming call are coupled to the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint as respective first and second VoIP calls.

16. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first location corresponds to a first network address and the second location corresponds to a second network address.

17. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first location corresponds to a first Internet address and the second location corresponds to a second Internet address.

18. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first location corresponds to a first geographical location and the second location corresponds to a second geographical location.

19. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first incoming call comprises a PSTN telephone call initiated from a telephony endpoint that is connected to the PSTN.

20. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first incoming call comprises a circuit switched telephone call initiated from a cellular telephone.

21. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 15, wherein the fourth server function facilitates the directing of the first incoming call by coupling first information to the VoIP telephony service.

22. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 21, wherein the fourth server function facilitates the directing of the second incoming call by coupling second information to the VoIP telephony service.

23. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 22, wherein the first information comprises a first network address that facilitates routing of the first VoIP call to the first location and the second information comprises a second network address that facilitates routing of the second VoIP call to the second location.

24. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 16, wherein the fourth server function facilitates the directing of the first incoming call by coupling information to the VoIP telephony service.

25. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a fourth VoIP server function configured to receive registration information associated with any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints, wherein the registration information includes a network address associated with the any particular one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints to facilitate VoIP telephony communications between the any particular one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints and the VoIP telephony service via the packet switched data network, and wherein further, the registration information comprises user-specific data associated with a user associated with the any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints.

26. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a fourth VoIP server function configured to receive an abbreviated telephone number identifier and information relating to a physical geographical location of a particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints; and

a fifth VoIP server function configured to analyze the abbreviated telephone identifier and the information relating to the physical geographical location of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint to map the abbreviated telephone identifier to a 10-digit PSTN compatible telephone number of an entity associated with the abbreviated telephone number identifier and located in the geographic vicinity of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint, to thereby enable a speed dialing function to allow the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint to speed-dial a call to the entity associated with the abbreviated telephone number identifier and located in the geographic vicinity of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint.

27. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 14, at least a portion of the packet switched data network comprises a portion of a cellular communications network.

28. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 14, wherein the portion of a cellular communications network a generalized packet radio service (GPRS).

29. The VoIP server system as recited in claim 14, at least a portion of the packet switched data network comprises a portion of a WiFi network.

30. A method for use in a VoIP telephony system in which a plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints communicate via a packet switched data network, the method comprising:

allowing a first particular user of a respective first one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints to place an outbound VoIP telephone call to a PSTN telephony endpoint;

receiving, via at least one Internet connection, from the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint, a particular 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number; and

facilitating a call setup operation to cause a voice telephony call to be routed from the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint to the PSTN telephony endpoint associated with the 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number;

wherein the first portable VoIP telephony endpoint comprises a cellular telephone.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

maintaining a database that includes a plurality of 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone numbers associated with a respective plurality of users of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints; and

in the event any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints is located at a first location, facilitating the directing of a first incoming call to the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint at the first location, and in the event the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint is located at a second location, facilitating the directing of a second incoming call to the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint at the second location;

wherein the first incoming call and the second incoming call are each identified by a particular 10-digit PSTN-compatible telephone number associated with the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint;

wherein the first incoming call and the second incoming call are coupled to the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint as respective first and second VoIP calls.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the first location corresponds to a first network address and the second location corresponds to a second network address.

33. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein the first location corresponds to a first Internet address and the second location corresponds to a second Internet address.

34. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the first location corresponds to a first geographical location and the second location corresponds to a second geographical location.

35. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the first incoming call comprises a PSTN telephone call initiated from a telephony endpoint that is connected to the PSTN.

36. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the first incoming call comprises a circuit switched telephone call initiated from a cellular telephone.

37. The method as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

facilitating the directing of the first incoming call by coupling first information to the VoIP telephony service.

38. The method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

facilitating the directing of the second incoming call by coupling second information to the VoIP telephony service.

39. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein the first information comprises a first network address that facilitates routing of the first VoIP call to the first location and the second information comprises a second network address that facilitates routing of the second VoIP call to the second location.

40. The method as recited in claim 32, further comprising:

facilitating the directing of the first incoming call by coupling information to the VoIP telephony service.

41. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

receiving registration information associated with any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints, wherein the registration information includes a network address associated with the any particular one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints to facilitate VoIP telephony communications between the any particular one of the portable VoIP telephony endpoints and the VoIP telephony service via the packet switched data network, and wherein further, the registration information comprises user-specific data associated with a user associated with the any particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints.

42. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

receiving an abbreviated telephone number identifier and information relating to a physical geographical location of a particular one of the plurality of portable VoIP telephony endpoints; and

analyzing the abbreviated telephone identifier and the information relating to the physical geographical location of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint to map the abbreviated telephone identifier to a 10-digit PSTN compatible telephone number of an entity associated with the abbreviated telephone number identifier and located in the geographic vicinity of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint, to thereby enable a speed dialing function to allow the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint to speed-dial a call to the entity associated with the abbreviated telephone number identifier and located in the geographic vicinity of the particular portable VoIP telephony endpoint.

43. The method as recited in claim 30, at least a portion of the packet switched data network comprises a portion of a cellular communications network.

44. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the portion of a cellular communications network a generalized packet radio service (GPRS).

45. The method as recited in claim 30, at least a portion of the packet switched data network comprises a portion of a WiFi network.