Telephonic communications – Internet
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-23
2001-07-03
Hong, Harry S. (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Internet
C348S014160, C370S260000, C370S270000, C370S353000, C379S202010, C709S204000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256389
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the field of integrated desktop telecommunications. In particular, this invention relates to a way in which applications, data communications, and public switched telephone network (PSTN) voice calls can all be integrated together in a desktop computer system.
2. Description of the Problem Solved
Presently, voice telecommunications and data telecommunications are largely separate to most computer users. A desktop computer user can run an application which includes integrated multimedia communications, however, if the user wishes to initiate a voice communication, the user must use a separate PSTN telephone line. Alternatively, the user can make use of a data communications system which includes voice capability, where the voice communications path is terminated by the user's personal computer. Such a system however, makes use of some type of voice-data conversion, such as voice-over-lnternet-protocol, resulting in lower quality voice communications than is typical of the PSTN. Additionally, typical multimedia telecommunication applications do not allow for close integration with other desktop applications such as office suites, presentation software, word processing software and the like.
A typical multimedia telecommunications platform is specified in H.323, a well-known standard of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Application programs such as Microsoft Netmeeting™ allow the integration of voice communications together with multimedia telecommunications, however, the quality of the voice connection is poor. A high-quality voice connection can be made through the PSTN, however, this connection must usually be manually initiated. Additionally such a connection does not allow for close integration of the voice communications with the multimedia data communications. Products such as Voice Button®, marketed by the assignee of the present application, allow a PSTN call to be initiated from the computer user interface, however the call is not closely integrated with any sort of data communications system and does not allow application sharing. Additionally, such a call cannot be initiated from within desktop computer application suites. A description of a way a phone call can be initiated from the computer desktop can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/948,975, entitled, “Method and Apparatus for Originating Voice Calls from a Data Network,” Filed Oct. 10, 1997, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference.
What is needed is a way to provide integration between data and high-quality PSTN voice. Such a system should not only result in automated PSTN voice call origination through the public network, but also provide for the integration of voice and data communication components into common desktop computer application suites. The system should allow users to initiate a call having both voice and data components from within typical desktop applications and from within a generic operating system user interface. The system should also not require any specialized customer premises equipment (CPE).
SUMMARY
The present invention solves the above problems by providing a framework for the continuous delivery of value added communication services. The present invention enhances overall human communication efficiency by extending public switched telephone network (PSTN) voice calls with data and application sharing capabilities. The present invention consists of client software which integrates seamlessly with a personal, desktop computer operating system and desktop computer applications. The software controls communications through the PSTN, and through the public data network, and with any necessary servers within either of the networks. We call the invention an Integrated Telecommunications Collaboration System or an “ITCS”. We further refer to a call initiated and maintained by such a system as a “harmonized” call, because the voice session, the data session, and one or more desktop applications are working in harmony. With the present invention, a user need only initiate one harmonized call which results in a PSTN voice session originating through the PSTN, and an associated data session established over a public data network connection.
The present invention can request a server such as a computer telephony server to establish a telephone connection with the calling user. In effect, the user's computer rings the user's telephone. Upon receiving a notification that the connection is established, the client software of the present invention requests the server to offer a harmonized call to a called user. When the client receives a notification that the harmonized call has been accepted by the called user, the client establishes the telephone session and associated data session with the called user. In an alternative embodiment the calling user initiates the harmonized call by picking up the telephone receiver. This results in an off-hook notification to the client software, allowing the client software to initiate a harmonized call. Optionally, the client software can notify the user of the progress of connecting the call. When the call is complete, the client receives a release notification message, and releases the telephone connection and the associated data connection.
The client software of the integrated telecommunication collaboration system can manage calls either with another integrated telecommunication collaboration system or with other types of data communication clients, which support the same data communications standards as used by the ITCS. When an integrated telecommunication collaboration system according to the present invention receives a call offered notification message, it requests the server to establish a telephone connection with the called user. Again, the client software rings the user's telephone. After receiving a notification that the telephone connection with the called user has been established, the client software participates in establishing a telephone session and the associated data session.
The integrated telecommunication collaboration system client according to the present invention includes a voice agent for establishing telephone connections through server, and the data agent for establishing associated data connections with other clients. A communications agent connected to both the voice agent and the data agent observes the voice agent and the data agent, synchronizes the communications of the voice agent in the data agent, and provides interfaces for plurality of service agents. An integration agent is connected to the communications agent and processes user input, makes requests, and provides interfaces to applications.
The software which implements many aspects of the present invention can be stored on a media. The media can be magnetic such as diskette, tape or fixed disk, or optical such as a CD-ROM. Additionally, the software can be supplied via the Internet or some type of private data network. A workstation which typically runs the client software includes a plurality of input/output devices a connection for a network and a system unit which includes both hardware and software necessary to run the Integrated Telecommunications Collaboration System client. A client workstation according to the present invention typically operates in a network which includes a PSTN, a public data network which has a service provider point of presence for providing the public data network connection, and a computer telephony server which is connected to both the PSTN in the public data network. The user's telephone is connected to the PSTN and the Integrated Telecommunication Collaboration System is connected to both the PSTN and public data network.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5689641 (1997-11-01), Ludwig et al.
patent: 5907547 (1999-05-01), Foladare et al.
patent: 0583094 A2 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 0921659 A1 (1999-06-01), None
patent: 2282506 (1995-04-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Jap
Chen Ta-Ming
Dalrymple William Clyde Prentice
Matlock James Lashlee
Monroe, Jr. Robert Donald
O'Shaughnessey Patrick Michael
Hong Harry S.
Nortel Networks Limited
Withrow & Terranova, P.L.L.C.
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