Network-extensible and controllable telephone

• US 9,288,080 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2009
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Krzyzanowski, Paul, Kelly, Michael, Hume, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US12/580,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20100178876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,342 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/14 Relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1275 Methods and means to improve the telephone service quality, e.g. reservation, prioritisation or admission control

Abstract

A system that includes a telephone adapted for connection to a data communications network. The telephone is capable of discovering other devices connected to the data communications network and using those devices to extend its own functionality. The telephone is also accessible and controllable by other devices on the data communications network.

Claims

1. A telephone that serves as both a network-extensible device and a control point, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having stored thereon an operating system and logic that enables the telephone to discover other devices being communicatively connected to a network and to extend its own telephony functionality using one or more of the other devices, the logic configuring the telephone to extend its own telephony functionality at least by

configuring the telephone to discover a directory server that maintains a presence status for a plurality of users and is used as a dialing directory on the telephone,

configuring the telephone to register with the directory server, and

configuring the telephone to receive an event when the directory server modifies a presence status associated with one of the plurality of users.

2. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the logic enables the telephone to extend its own telephony functionality further by configuring the telephone to discover one or more of an audio output device to be used to create a speakerphone or an audio input device to be used as a remote microphone.

3. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the logic enables the telephone to extend its own telephony functionality further by configuring the telephone to discover one or more of a video output device or a video input device.

4. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the logic enables the telephone to extend its own telephony functionality further by configuring the telephone to update its own display to a specific video output device.

5. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the logic enables the telephone to extend its own telephony functionality further by configuring the telephone to send its ring to a separate audio output device.

6. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the logic enables the telephone to extend its own telephony functionality further by configuring the telephone to discover an authentication server and to authenticate a user of the telephone.

7. A method for operating a telephone that serves as both a network-extensible device and a control point, comprising

discovering one or more devices communicatively connected to a data communication network using the telephone;

and

extending a telephony functionality of the telephone using the discovered one or more devices, the discovered one or more devices comprising a directory server that maintains a presence status for a plurality of users and is used as a dialing directory on the telephone, and extending the telephony functionality of the telephone comprising at least

registering the telephone with the directory server, and

receiving an event when the directory server modifies a presence status associated with one of the plurality of users.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein extending the telephony functionality of the telephone further comprises configuring the telephone to discover one or more of an audio output device to be used to create a speakerphone or an audio input device to be used as a remote microphone.

9. The method of claim 7, extending the telephony functionality of the telephone further comprises configuring the telephone to discover one or more of a video output device or a video input device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein extending the telephony functionality of the telephone further comprises configuring the telephone to update its own display to a specific video output device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein extending the telephony functionality of the telephone further comprises configuring the telephone to send its ring to a separate audio output device.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein extending the telephony functionality of the telephone further comprises configuring the telephone to discover an authentication server and to authenticate a user of the telephone.