Computer implemented voice over data communication apparatus and method

• US 7,082,141 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi-Tech Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Jeffrey P., Sharma, Raghu, Gunn, Timothy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Application Number:
  US10/353,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20030223407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 370/276, 370/204, 370/280, 370/281, 370/295, 370/296, 370/405, 370/535, 370/537, 370/477, 370/476, 379/202, 379/142, 379/93.02, 379/93.06, 379/93.08, 379/95.15, 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/100.13, 379/118, 379/127, 379/128, 379/126, 379/130, 375/345, 375/222, 375/265, 380/23
• US Class Current: 370/493
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/04 using predictive techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6424 Access arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6427 Subscriber Access Module; Concentrator; Group equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6491 Echo cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6494 Silence suppression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/3416 in which the information is carried by both the individual signal points and the subset to which the individual points belong, e.g. using coset coding, lattice coding, or related schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 1/253 Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/068 using time division multiplex techniques; integrated services digital networks H04Q11/0428
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 : Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/002 : Applications of echo suppressors or cancellers in telephonic connections in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/08, echo suppressors or cancellers per se H04B3/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 : Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 : where the data service is an information service
• 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 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00206 : Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence

Abstract

A communication apparatus and method includes a modem operable for connection to a telephone line. Further, under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, various processing may be provided. For example, the apparatus and/or method may convert received voice signals from the local user into outgoing digital voice information and convert incoming digital voice information into voice signals, and further may compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information and decompress compressed incoming digital voice information into the incoming digital voice information. Yet further, processing circuitry may be operable to packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing voice packets based thereon (e.g., each of the outgoing voice packets including at least one header), and further may packetize outgoing data packets including outgoing digital data information (e.g., each of the outgoing data packets including at least one header). The processing circuitry may yet further be operable to combine the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets to provide a stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line via the modem, and also receive a stream of incoming packets via the modem from the telephone line. The stream of incoming packets may include incoming data packets and incoming voice packets. Each of the incoming voice packets includes at least one header and each of the incoming data packets includes at least one header. The headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets include information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus. Further, the processing circuitry may be operable to separate the stream of incoming packets to provide the incoming data packets and the incoming voice packets.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable to be connected to a telephone line;

a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user;

a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

convert received voice signals from the local user into outgoing digital voice information and convert incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user;

compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information and decompress compressed incoming digital voice information into the incoming digital voice information;

packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing voice packets based thereon, each of the outgoing voice packets comprising at least one header;

packetize outgoing data packets comprising outgoing digital data information, each of the outgoing data packets comprising at least one header;

combine the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets to provide a stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line via the modem;

receive a stream of incoming packets via the modem from the telephone line, the stream of incoming packets comprising incoming data packets and incoming voice packets, each of the incoming voice packets comprising at least one header and each of the incoming data packets comprising at least one header, wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus; and

separate the stream of incoming packets to provide the incoming data packets comprising incoming digital data information and the incoming voice packets comprising the compressed incoming digital voice information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voice receiving interface apparatus comprises a microphone jack.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voice conveying interface apparatus comprises a speaker.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to remove at least a portion of the incoming digital voice information from the outgoing digital voice information for acoustic echo cancellation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide for transmission of fax data to the telephone line via the modem and operable to receive fax data via the modem from the telephone line.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to forward the compressed outgoing digital voice information for storage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to forward the compressed incoming digital voice information for storage.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide for retrieval of the compressed incoming digital voice information and modification of the compressed incoming digital voice information to create modified compressed incoming digital voice information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephone line comprises an analog telephone line.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephone line comprises a digital telephone line.

12. A communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving outgoing digital voice information;

compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing voice packets, each of the outgoing voice packets comprising at least one header;

receiving outgoing digital data information;

packetizing the outgoing digital data information into outgoing data packets, each of the outgoing data packets comprising at least one header;

combining the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets for use in providing a stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem;

receiving a stream of incoming packets using the modem, the stream of incoming packets comprising incoming voice packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information and incoming data packets comprising incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprises at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprises at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets;

separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets; and

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises providing a local user, using the graphical user interface program, with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

converting the incoming digital voice information into voice signals; and

conveying voice signals to a local user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein conveying voice signals to a local user comprises conveying voice signals to a local user using a speaker.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving voice signals from a local user; and

converting the voice signals resulting in the outgoing digital voice information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the voice signals from a local user comprises receiving voice signals from a local user using a microphone jack.

18. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable to be connected to a telephone line;

a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

receive outgoing digital voice information;

compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing voice packets, each of the outgoing voice packets comprising at least one header;

receive outgoing digital data information;

packetize the outgoing digital data information into outgoing data packets, each of the outgoing data packets comprising at least one header, wherein the headers of the outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets comprise information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon;

combine the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets resulting in a stream of outgoing packets; and

communicate the stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the voice receiving interface apparatus comprises a microphone jack.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:

detect absence or presence of voice signals from the local user;

transmit outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets when presence of voice signals from the local user is detected; and

transmit only outgoing data packets when absence of voice signals from the local user is detected.

22. A computer implemented communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving outgoing digital voice information;

compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing voice packets, each of the outgoing voice packets comprising at least one header;

receiving outgoing digital data information;

packetizing the outgoing digital data information into outgoing data packets, each of the outgoing data packets comprising at least one header, wherein the headers of the outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets comprise information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon;

combining the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets resulting in a stream of outgoing packets; and

communicating the stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises providing the local user, using the graphical user interface program, with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving voice signals from a local user; and

converting the voice signals resulting in the outgoing digital voice information.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving voice signals from a local user comprises receiving voice signals from a local user using a microphone jack.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the method further comprises detecting absence or presence of local voice signals, and further wherein communicating the stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem comprises:

transmitting outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets when presence of voice signals from the local user is detected; and

transmitting only outgoing data packets when absence of voice signals from the local user is detected.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein detecting absence or presence of voice signals from the local user comprises:

determining a power value associated with a plurality of samples of the voice signals from the local user; and

comparing the power value to a threshold.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein transmitting outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets when presence of voice signals from the local user is detected comprises:

collecting and buffering outgoing data packets;

collecting outgoing voice packets including non-silent outgoing voice packets and silent outgoing voice packets;

buffering non-silent outgoing voice packets;

discarding silent outgoing voice packets; and

transmitting non-silent outgoing voice packets on a priority basis with respect to outgoing data packets.

29. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable to be connected to a telephone line;

a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to a local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

receive a stream of incoming packets using the modem, wherein the stream of incoming packets comprises incoming voice packets and incoming data packets, wherein the incoming voice packets comprise compressed incoming digital voice information and the incoming data packets comprise incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprise at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprise at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus;

separate the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets; and

decompress the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information for conveyance to the local user.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:

detect corrupted transmission of the incoming data packets and request retransmission in response thereto; and

detect corrupted transmission of the incoming voice packets and ignore such corruption.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein voice conveying interface apparatus comprises a speaker.

68. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein voice conveying interface apparatus comprises a speaker.

32. A computer implemented communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving a stream of incoming packets using the modem, wherein the stream of incoming packets comprises incoming voice packets and incoming data packets, wherein the incoming voice packets comprise compressed incoming digital voice information and the incoming data packets comprise incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprise at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprise at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets;

separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets; and

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information for use in conveyance to a local user.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting corrupted transmission of the incoming data packets and requesting retransmission in response thereto; and

detecting corrupted transmission of the incoming voice packets and ignoring such corruption.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the method further comprises conveying the voice signals to the local user.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein conveying voice signals to the local user comprises conveying voice signals to the local user using a speaker.

36. A communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem;

receiving a stream of incoming packets using the modem, wherein the stream of incoming packets comprises incoming voice packets and incoming data packets, wherein the incoming voice packets comprise compressed incoming digital voice information and the incoming data packets comprise incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprise at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprise at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets;

separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets, wherein separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprises removing the compressed incoming digital voice information from the incoming voice packets;

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information;

detecting corrupted transmission of the incoming data packets and requesting retransmission in response thereto; and

detecting corrupted transmission of the incoming voice packets and ignoring such corruption.

37. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable to be connected to a telephone line;

a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user;

a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to the local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

convert received voice signals from the local user into outgoing digital voice information and convert incoming digital voice information into voice signals for conveyance to the local user;

compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information and decompress compressed incoming digital voice information into the incoming digital voice information;

packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information and provide outgoing voice packets based thereon, each of the outgoing voice packets comprising at least one header;

packetize outgoing data packets comprising outgoing digital data information, each of the outgoing data packets comprising at least one header;

combine the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets to provide a stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line via the modem for connection to at least one packet switched network;

receive a stream of incoming packets via the modem from the telephone line, the stream of incoming packets communicated from at least one packet switched network, the stream of incoming packets comprising incoming data packets and incoming voice packets, each of the incoming voice packets comprising at least one header and each of the incoming data packets comprising at least one header, wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus; and

separate the stream of incoming packets to provide the incoming data packets comprising incoming digital data information and the incoming voice packets comprising the compressed incoming digital voice information.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the voice receiving interface apparatus comprises a microphone jack.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the voice conveying interface apparatus comprises a speaker.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to forward the compressed outgoing digital voice information for storage.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to forward the compressed incoming digital voice information for storage.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to provide for retrieval of the compressed incoming digital voice information and modification of the compressed incoming digital voice information to create modified compressed incoming digital voice information.

44. A communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving outgoing digital voice information;

compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing voice packets, each of the outgoing voice packets comprising at least one header;

receiving outgoing digital data information;

packetizing the outgoing digital data information into outgoing data packets, each of the outgoing data packets comprising at least one header;

combining the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets for use in providing a stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem for connection to at least one packet switched network;

receiving a stream of incoming packets using the modem, the stream of incoming packets communicated from at least one packet switched network, the stream of incoming packets comprising incoming voice packets comprising compressed incoming digital voice information and incoming data packets comprising incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprises at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprises at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets;

separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets; and

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the method further comprises providing a local user, using the graphical user interface program, with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the method further comprises:

converting the incoming digital voice information into voice signals; and

conveying voice signals to a local user.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein conveying voice signals to a local user comprises conveying voice signals to a local user using a speaker.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving voice signals from a local user; and

converting the voice signals resulting in the outgoing digital voice information.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein receiving the voice signals from a local user comprises receiving voice signals from a local user using a microphone jack.

50. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable to be connected to a telephone line;

a voice receiving interface apparatus for use in receiving voice signals from a local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

receive outgoing digital voice information;

compress the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetize the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing voice packets, each of the outgoing voice packets comprising at least one header;

receive outgoing digital data information;

packetize the outgoing digital data information into outgoing data packets, each of the outgoing data packets comprising at least one header, wherein the headers of the outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets comprise information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon;

combine the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets resulting in a stream of outgoing packets; and

communicate the stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem for connection to at least one packet switched network.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable under control of the graphical user interface program to provide the local user with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the voice receiving interface apparatus comprises a microphone jack.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:

detect absence or presence of voice signals from the local user;

transmit outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets when presence of voice signals from the local user is detected; and

transmit only outgoing data packets when absence of voice signals from the local user is detected.

54. A computer implemented communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving outgoing digital voice information;

compressing the outgoing digital voice information into compressed outgoing digital voice information;

packetizing the compressed outgoing digital voice information into outgoing voice packets, each of the outgoing voice packets comprising at least one header;

receiving outgoing digital data information;

packetizing the outgoing digital data information into outgoing data packets, each of the outgoing data packets comprising at least one header, wherein the headers of the outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets comprise information allowing an apparatus that receives such information to route such outgoing packets based thereon;

combining the outgoing voice packets and the outgoing data packets resulting in a stream of outgoing packets; and

communicating the stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem for connection to at least one packet switched network.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the method further comprises providing the local user, using the graphical user interface program, with access to one or more telephone numbers in an address book.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving voice signals from a local user; and

converting the voice signals resulting in the outgoing digital voice information.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein receiving voice signals from a local user comprises receiving voice signals from a local user using a microphone jack.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the method further comprises detecting absence or presence of local voice signals, and further wherein communicating the stream of outgoing packets to the telephone line using the modem comprises:

transmitting outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets when presence of voice signals from the local user is detected; and

transmitting only outgoing data packets when absence of voice signals from the local user is detected.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein detecting absence or presence of voice signals from the local user comprises:

determining a power value associated with a plurality of samples of the voice signals from the local user; and

comparing the power value to a threshold.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein transmitting outgoing voice packets and outgoing data packets when presence of voice signals from the local user is detected comprises:

collecting and buffering outgoing data packets;

collecting outgoing voice packets including non-silent outgoing voice packets and silent outgoing voice packets;

buffering non-silent outgoing voice packets;

discarding silent outgoing voice packets; and

transmitting non-silent outgoing voice packets on a priority basis with respect to outgoing data packets.

61. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable to be connected to a telephone line;

a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to a local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

receive a stream of incoming packets using the modem, the stream of incoming packets communicated from at least one packet switched network, wherein the stream of incoming packets comprises incoming voice packets and incoming data packets, wherein the incoming voice packets comprise compressed incoming digital voice information and the incoming data packets comprise incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprise at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprise at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus;

separate the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets; and

decompress the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information for conveyance to the local user.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein voice conveying interface apparatus comprises a speaker.

63. A computer implemented communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving a stream of incoming packets using the modem, the stream of incoming packets communicated from at least one packet switched network, wherein the stream of incoming packets comprises incoming voice packets and incoming data packets, wherein the incoming voice packets comprise compressed incoming digital voice information and the incoming data packets comprise incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprise at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprise at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets;

separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets; and

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information for use in conveyance to a local user.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the method further comprises conveying the voice signals to the local user.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein conveying voice signals to the local user comprises conveying voice signals to the local user using a speaker.

66. A communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem;

receiving a stream of incoming packets using the modem, the stream of incoming packets communicated from at least one packet switched network, wherein the stream of incoming packets comprises incoming voice packets and incoming data packets, wherein the incoming voice packets comprise compressed incoming digital voice information and the incoming data packets comprise incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprise at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprise at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets;

separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets, wherein separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprises removing the compressed incoming digital voice information from the incoming voice packets;

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information;

detecting corrupted transmission of the incoming data packets and requesting retransmission in response thereto; and

detecting corrupted transmission of the incoming voice packets and ignoring such corruption.

67. A communication apparatus comprising:

a modem operable to be connected to a telephone line;

a voice conveying interface apparatus for use in conveying voice signals to a local user; and

processing circuitry operable under control of a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to;

receive a stream of incoming packets using the modem via the telephone line, wherein the incoming packets are received in a frame format, the frame format usable for communication of incoming packets between at least one packet switched network and the modem, wherein the stream of incoming packets comprises incoming voice packets and incoming data packets, wherein the incoming voice packets comprise compressed incoming digital voice information and the incoming data packets comprise incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprise at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprise at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets within the communication apparatus;

separate the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets; and

decompress the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information for conveyance to the local user.

69. A computer implemented communication method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface program executable on a personal computer with a modem, the modem operable for connection to a telephone line;

receiving a stream of incoming packets using the modem via the telephone line, wherein the incoming packets are received in a frame format, the frame format usable for communication of incoming packets between at least one packet switched network and the modem, wherein the stream of incoming packets comprises incoming voice packets and incoming data packets, wherein the incoming voice packets comprise compressed incoming digital voice information and the incoming data packets comprise incoming digital data information, wherein each of the incoming voice packets comprise at least one header and wherein each of the incoming data packets comprise at least one header, and further wherein the headers of the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets comprise information used to route the incoming packets;

separating the incoming voice packets and the incoming data packets of the stream of incoming packets; and

decompressing the compressed incoming digital voice information into incoming digital voice information for use in conveyance to a local user.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the method further comprises conveying the voice signals to the local user.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein conveying voice signals to the local user comprises conveying voice signals to the local user using a speaker.