Data communication method, data communication terminal, data communication system and communication control system

• US 6,222,859 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Munehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/078,619
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 370/522, 370/498, 370/464, 370/465, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/100.17, 970/352, 970/351, 970/400, 970/401, 970/399, 970/389
• US Class Current: 370/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1008 Calls without connection establishment for implicit information transfer or as a service trigger
• 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 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0435 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

Prior to communication over the Internet and using a different line, a first terminal transmits to a second terminal a set of information including at least an IP address of the first terminal on the Internet. Based on the IP address thus transmitted separately, the party at the second terminal initiates communication over the Internet. This establishes direct end-to-end communication between the two terminals over the Internet. In a communication setup such as an Internet-based telephone call wherein address information about a desired party on the network is not previously known to a calling party, the inventive method allows the two parties to communicate directly with each other over the network on an end-to-end communication basis without recourse to a rendezvous server or like services.

Claims

1. A data communication method for transmitting and receiving communicated data between communication terminals over a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting connection from a first communication terminal to said computer network via a first telephone line in order to acquire a first computer network address of said first communication terminal;

transmitting from said communication terminal communication information including at least said first computer network address to a second communication terminal via a second telephone line;

upon receipt by said second communication terminal of the communication information including said first computer network address, requesting connection from said second communication terminal to said computer network via said first telephone line in order to acquire a second computer network address of said second communication terminal;

outputting from said second communication terminal connection information including said first and said second addresses onto said computer network to request communication with said first communication terminal;

whereby communication is established between said first and said second communication terminals over said computer network; and

wherein the communication information transmitted by said first communication terminal to said second communication terminal via said second telephone line further includes encryption key information and said first and said second communication terminals encrypt transmission data using the encryption key for communication therebetween.

2. A data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the communication information transmitted by said first communication terminal to said second communication terminal via said second telephone line further includes calling terminal information, and said second communication terminal, in accordance with said calling terminal information, automatically requests connection to said computer network via said first telephone line.

3. A data communication method according to claim 1, wherein a single Integrated Service Digital Network line comprises said first and said second telephone lines.

4. A data communication method according to claim 3, wherein the communication information transmitted by said first communication terminal to said second communication terminal via said second telephone line is sent as user-to-user information included in a call set message of the Integrated Service Digital Network.

5. A data communication method according to claim 3, wherein the communication information transmitted by said first communication terminal to said second communication terminal via said second telephone line is sent by use of sub-address information of the Integrated Service Digital Network.

6. A data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the communication information transmitted by said first communication terminal to said second communication terminal via said second telephone line is sent as modulated data processed by use of a modem.

7. A data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the communication information transmitted by said first communication terminal to said second communication terminal via said second telephone line is sent by use of a dial tone.

8. A data communication method according to claim 1, wherein the communicated data communicated between said first and said second communication terminals are audio data.

9. A data communication method according to claim 1, wherein said computer network is the Internet.

10. A data communication terminal for use in a data communication system for transmitting and receiving communicated data between communication terminals over a computer network, said data communication terminal comprising:

address acquiring means for requesting connection to said computer network via a first telephone line in order to acquire a computer network address to identify said data communication terminal on said computer network;

transmitting means for transmitting communication information including at least said computer network address to another communication terminal via a second telephone line;

communication controlling means fore acknowledging a connection request sent by said another communication terminal over said first telephone line in order to establish communication between said data communication terminal and said another communication terminal; and

further comprising encrypting means for encrypting transmission data by a predetermined encryption method, wherein the communication information transmitted by said transmitting means to said another communication terminal includes an encryption key for designating said encryption method.

11. A data communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein the communication information transmitted by said transmitting means to said another communication terminal includes identification information for identifying said data communication terminal.

12. A data communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein a single Integrated Service Digital Network line comprises said first and said second telephone lines.

13. A data communication terminal according claim 12, wherein said transmitting means transmits said communication information as user-to-user information placed in a call set message of the Integrated Service Digital Network.

14. A data communication terminal according claim 12, wherein said transmitting means transmits said communication information as sub-address information of the Integrated Service Digital Network.

15. A data communication terminal according claim 10, wherein said transmitting means processes said communication information using a modem.

16. A data communication terminal according claim 10, wherein said transmitting means transmits said communication information using a dial tone.

17. A data communication terminal according claim 10, wherein the communication data transmitted and received between terminals are audio data.

18. A data communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein said computer network is the Internet.

19. A data communication system for transmitting and receiving communicated data between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal over a computer network, said first communication terminal comprising:

means for requesting connection to said computer network via a first telephone line in order to acquire a first computer network address of said first communication terminal;

means for transmitting communication information including at least said first computer network address to said second communication terminal via a second telephone line; and

said second communication terminal comprising;

means for connecting to said computer network, upon receipt of the communication information including said first computer network address by said second communication terminal, via said first telephone line in order to acquire a second computer network address of said second communication terminal;

means for outputting connection information including said first and said second computer network address onto said computer network to request communication with said first communication terminal;

whereby communication is established between said first and said second communication terminals over said computer network.

20. A communication control system comprising a remotely controlling center and a remotely controlled terminal, said remotely controlling center controlling said remotely controlled terminal via a computer network, said remotely controlling center comprising:

means for requesting connection to said computer network via first telephone line in order to acquire a first computer network address of said remotely controlling center;

means for transmitting communication information including at least said first computer network address to said remotely controlled terminal via a second telephone line; and

said remotely controlled terminal comprising;

means for requesting connection to said computer network, upon receipt of the information including said first address, via said first telephone line in order to acquire a second computer network address of said remotely controlled terminal;

means for outputting connection information including said first and said second computer network addresses onto said computer network to request communication with said remotely controlling center;

whereby communication is established between said remotely controlling center and said remotely controlled terminal over said computer network so that said remotely controlling center may remotely control said remotely controlled terminal.