Patent Application
20070263612
Referring to
The packet-switched network 18, in the described embodiment, includes the Internet 18. The telephone system 10 further includes a system server 24 and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) gateway 26. A plurality of other sets of telephone equipment 30 is connected to the telephone system 10 by connection to the Internet 18. Additionally, another plurality of sets of telephone equipment 32 is connectable to the Internet 18 by connection through a circuit-switched telephone network 34, such as the PSTN 34 and the PSTN gateway 26.
Referring to
The data card 60 includes data storage medium, such as a magnetic storage medium, a semiconductor storage medium, an optical storage medium, or the like. Encoded in the storage medium of the data card 60 is registration information. The registration information includes a network address, the network address being associated with a first user telephone number, and authentication information. Typically, the network address is associated with the telephone number by an tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) protocol, or the like.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
During the electronic registration, the network address and the authentication information included in the registration information are used to successfully complete the electronic registration. As a result of the electronic registration with the system server 24, data stream packets from calls made to the first user telephone number will now be routed through the Internet to the first user set of telephone equipment 12, and call made by the first user will from first user set of telephone equipment 12 will be associated with the first user telephone number.
Once the electronic registration is successfully completed, calls the first user makes to and/or receives from the sets of telephone equipment 30, 32, proceed according to the appropriate protocols for the packet-switched network-based telephone system 10, such as a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). According to such protocols, the first user calls to or from the sets of telephone equipment 30 are typically routed through the Internet, and need not necessarily involve the system server 24, at least not for the entire call, whereas first user calls to or from the sets of telephone equipment 32 must be completed utilizing the PSTN gateway 26, or a similar device.
Electronic registration with the system server 24 also allows the first user to access messages associated with the first user telephone number on the message database 72, i.e., a virtual or “voice” mail box, and allows updating of billing information in the billing account database 74, based on the first user's on-going use of the system, for instance on a per-call, per-minute, or fixed-rate basis. Thus, the data card 60 is enabled to serve as a type of calling card, without necessarily requiring that telephone usage time be paid in advance.
When the first user leaves home, the first user removes the data card 60 from the slot 52. When the data reading device detects that the data card is no longer inserted in the slot 52, the telephone 40 automatically de-registers with the server. As a result, the first user's telephone number will no longer be associated with the set of telephone equipment 12. Calls made to the first user's telephone number when the data card is not inserted to any slot 52 will typically be forwarded to the first user's voice mail box, allowing a message to be recorded for the first user on the message database 72.
The first user, upon arriving at the office, inserts the data card 60 into the data reading device 50 of the set of telephone equipment 14. As with the set of telephone equipment 12, this results in electronic registration with the system server 24 and the association of the first user's telephone number with the set of telephone equipment 14. The first user also has access to the message database 72 and telephone usage by the first user will result in updating of the billing account database 74. Removal of the data card 60 will, similarly with the set of telephone equipment 12, result in de-registration. If the first user is traveling on business, for instance, and stays at the hotel with the set of telephone equipment 16, insertion and subsequent removal of the data card 60 in the data reading device 50 of the telephone equipment 16 will produce the same results.
As can be seen from the foregoing description, the present invention allows for enhanced portability of the first user's telephone number and allows the first user to easily access other telephone services, such as voice mail, from any packet-switched network telephone equipment adapted to receive registration information from the portable data storage device 60. Recipients of calls from the first user, if supplied with telephone equipment equipped with Caller ID, or the like, will always see the first user's telephone number displayed, even though the first user may alternately be at home, the office, the hotel, or some other location having telephone equipment adapted to receive registration information from the portable data storage device 60. Rather than having to use calling cards, or the like, at each location, the present invention allows the first user to be billed on an on-going basis. Unlike the prior art, the present invention enables these, and other, advantages, while not necessarily requiring any particularized knowledge of network addresses and programming procedures, and no equipment beyond the portable data storage device 60.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but that other modifications and variations, and adaptations for circumstances fall within the scope of the present invention.
For instance, the packet-switched network telephone system 10 is described as utilizing the Internet 18. While many packet-switched based telephone systems currently use the Internet, at least in part, the present invention is not limited to such systems. For instance, the present invention can also be advantageously employed in connection with an entirely private packet-switched LAN or Wide-Area Network (WAN), that is not connected to the Internet.
Only one system server 24 and PSTN gateway 26 are shown, but the present invention includes and applies to packet-switched network based telephone systems using multiple proxy servers and PSTN gateways, as well as other system components known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, although system server 24 is shown directly connected to the message database 72 and the billing account database 74, it will be understood that additional databases, corresponding to additional known user phone services, such as concierge-type services, and other administrative and/or accounting functions, are includable. Such databases need not be directly connected with the system server 24 or another proxy server, but can be integral to the server 24, and also accessible through the Internet or other network, for instance.
Although the sets of telephone equipment 30 are shown as not forming a part of the telephone system 10, some or all of the sets 30 can also be part of the same telephone system 10 as the plurality of the first user sets of telephone equipment 12-16.
In the sets of telephone equipment 20, 120 and 220, the telephone 40, 140 or the digital phone adapter 242 are all adapted to electronically register with the system server 24 based on the registration information obtained by the data reading device 50, 150 and 250. Accordingly, the telephone 40, 140 and the digital phone adapter 242 typically have separate connections to the Internet 18 and to the data reading device 50, 150 and 250.
In an alternate embodiment, referring to
Each of the first user sets of telephone equipment 12-16 is described as substantially similar, though a variety of different sets of telephone equipment, such any of the sets 20, 120, 220, and 320, could be substituted. More or fewer sets of telephone equipment could also be included in the telephone system 10. Also, one or more other telephone systems are also includable in the system, typically associated with other service providers and commonly using the Internet 18 together with the telephone system 10. The present invention is further not limited to two-party, voice-only telephone calling, but further encompasses telephone systems providing conference calling, facsimile, video, multi-media, and other known telecommunications services.
In the embodiment described above, the telephone 40 automatically electronically registers with the system server 24 upon receiving the registration information from the data reading device 50. Alternatively, a user command, such a key entry can be required prior to performance of the electronic registration. Similarly, de-registration occurs automatically upon removal of the data card 60, but can occur earlier or later based on another user command. Although, in the embodiment described, authentication information is stored on the data card 60 and automatically communicated to the system server 24, the first user can also be required to enter authentication information, such a Personal Identification (PIN) number, using, for instance, the telephone 40 keypad.
In the described embodiment, the portability of the first user's telephone number and associated telephone services, such as voice mail, is demonstrated in connection with the first user successively using the data card 60 in the plurality of first user sets of telephone equipment 12-16. It will be appreciated that the present invention also allows multiple users similar flexibility to successively use the same set of telephone equipment. For instance, a family of users provided with respective data cards 60, each ultimately associated with a different telephone number, may, by successively inserting the respective data cards 60, receive and make calls on the same set of telephone equipment, and have such calls associated with the currently inserted respective data card 60.
Also, referring to
The data reading devices 50, 150, 250, 350 and 450 are each adapted to physically interface with the data card 60, for instance by insertion of the data card 60 into the data reading devices. However, within the scope of the present invention, other combinations of portable data storage devices and data reading devices are employable. For example, referring to
The data reading devices 550 and 650 are adapted to remotely interface with the respective portable data storage devices 560 and 600. “Physical” and “remote” interface refer generally to the interface of the data reading device and the portable data storage device, and not necessarily to the relationship between the data reading means included in the data reading device, and the data storage medium included in the portable data storage device. For instance, if the portable data storage device uses an optical storage medium, and the data reading device uses a laser diode to read the optical storage medium, the laser diode will typically not touch the optical storage medium, even if the portable data storage device is inserted within, or otherwise physically interfaces with, the data reading device.
As with the data reading devices 50, 150, 250, 350 and 450, the data reading devices 550 and 650 can be formed, or modified, to be integral within, or separate form, a component of the telephone equipment.
These and other variations, modification and adaptations are all possible within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200610071049.1 | Mar 2006 | CN | national |
