WO2001024500A1 - System and method for accessing an internet server using a portable information device -pda through a data network telephone - Google Patents

System and method for accessing an internet server using a portable information device -pda through a data network telephone Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001024500A1
WO2001024500A1 PCT/US2000/026594 US0026594W WO0124500A1 WO 2001024500 A1 WO2001024500 A1 WO 2001024500A1 US 0026594 W US0026594 W US 0026594W WO 0124500 A1 WO0124500 A1 WO 0124500A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
data
network
data network
telephone
voice
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/026594
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Guido M. Schuster
Ikhlaq S. Sidhu
Frederick D. Dean
Ronnen Belkind
Original Assignee
3Com Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 3Com Corporation filed Critical 3Com Corporation
Priority to AU77250/00A priority Critical patent/AU7725000A/en
Publication of WO2001024500A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001024500A1/en

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M7/00Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
    • H04M7/0024Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2201/00Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
    • H04M2201/42Graphical user interfaces
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2207/00Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place
    • H04M2207/18Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place wireless networks
    • H04M2207/187Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place wireless networks combining circuit and packet-switched, e.g. GPRS

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system and method for providing communication services over a network.
  • the present invention relates to a system and method for providing communication between a portable information devices (PIDs) and a network server through a network connected telecommunication device.
  • PIDs portable information devices
  • PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
  • CLASS Custom Local Area Signaling Service
  • PBX Private Branch Exchange
  • CLASS features permit customer subscribers of the features to tailor their telephone service according to individual needs.
  • Call blocking The customer may specify one or more numbers from which he or she does not want to receive calls. A blocked caller will hear a rejection message, while the callee will not receive any indication of the call.
  • Call return Returns a call to the most recent caller. If the most recent caller is busy, the returned call may be queued until it can be completed.
  • Caller ID The caller's number is automatically displayed during the silence period after the first ring. This feature requires the customer's line to be equipped with a device to read and display the out-of-band signal containing the number.
  • Caller ID blocking Allows a caller to block the display of their number in a callee's caller ID device.
  • Priority ringing Allows a customer to specify a list of numbers for which, when the customer is called by one of the numbers, the customer will hear a distinctive ring.
  • Call forwarding A customer may cause incoming calls to be automatically forwarded to another number for a period of time.
  • a customer subscriber to a CLASS feature may typically activate and/or deactivate a CLASS feature using "*" directives (e.g., *69 to automatically return a call to the most recent caller).
  • CLASS features may also be implemented with the use of out-of- band data.
  • CLASS feature data is typically transmitted between local Class-5 switches using the Signaling System 7 (SS7).
  • SS7 Signaling System 7
  • LECs Local Exchange Carriers
  • Other similar organizations maintain CLASS offices that typically contain a database entry for each customer.
  • the database allows specification of the CLASS features a customer has subscribed to, as well as information, such as lists of phone numbers, associated with those features. In some cases, customers may edit these lists on-line via a touch-tone interface.
  • a list of all phone numbers that have originated or terminated a call with each customer is often included in the CLASS office database. For each customer, usually only the most recent number on this list is stored by the local Class-5 switch.
  • a Private Branch Exchange is a stored program switch similar to a Class- 5 switch. It is usually used within a medium-to-large-sized business for employee telephony service. Since a PBX is typically operated by a single private organization, there exists a wide variety of PBX services and features. Custom configurations are common, such as integration with intercom and voice mail systems. PBX's typically support their own versions of the CLASS features, as well as other features in addition to those of CLASS. Most PBX features are designed to facilitate business and group communications.
  • a summary of typical PBX features includes: • Call transfer: An established call may be transferred from one number to another number on the same PBX. • Call forwarding: In addition to CLASS call forwarding, a PBX number can be programmed to automatically transfer a call to another number when the first number does not answer or is busy.
  • Camp-on queuing Similar to PSTN call return, a call to a busy number can be queued until the callee can accept it. The caller can hang up their phone and the PBX will ring them when the callee answers.
  • Conference calling Two or more parties can be connected to one another by dialing into a conference bridge number.
  • the CLASS and PBX features have enhanced the offerings of service providers that use the PSTN, the features are nevertheless limited in their flexibility and scope.
  • the effect to the user is that the features become clumsy and difficult to use. For example, in order to use the Call Forwarding function, the user must perform the steps at the user's own phone prior to moving to the location of the telephone to which calls will be forwarded. A more desirable approach, from the standpoint of usefulness to the user, would be to perform the steps at the telephone to which calls will be forwarded.
  • Much of the lack of flexibility of the PSTN features is due to the lack of flexibility in the PSTN system itself.
  • One problem with the PSTN is that the terminal devices (e.g. telephones) lack intelligence and operate as "dumb" terminals on a network having the intelligence in central offices. Most PSTN telephones are limited in functional capability to converting the analog signals they receive to sound and converting the sound from the handset to analog signals.
  • Some PSTN telephones have a display device and a display function to display specific information communicated from intelligent agents in the PSTN network using the PSTN signaling architecture. For example, some PSTN telephones have a display function to enable the Caller ED feature. Even such PSTN telephones are limited however by the closed PSTN signaling architecture, which prohibits access by the PSTN telephones to the network signaling protocols.
  • the display functions are effectively limited to displaying text, again, as a "dumb" terminal.
  • the Internet presents a possible solution for distributing intelligence to telephony terminal devices.
  • digitized voice is treated as data and transmitted across a digital data network between a telephone calls' participants.
  • One form of Internet telephony uses a telephony gateway/terminal where EP telephony calls are terminated on the network.
  • PSTN telephones are connected by a subscriber line to the gateway/terminal at the local exchange, or at the nearest central office. This form of Internet telephony provides substantial cost savings for users. Because the PSTN portion used in Internet telephony calls is limited to the local lines on each end of the call, long distance calls may be made for essentially the cost of a local call.
  • Internet telephony Notwithstanding the costs savings provided by this form of Internet telephony, it is no more flexible than the PSTN with respect to providing enhancements and features to the basic telephone service.
  • telephones are connected to access networks that access the Internet using a router.
  • the telephones in this form of Internet telephony may be substantially more intelligent than typical PSTN telephones.
  • such a telephone may include substantially the computer resources of a typical personal computer. It would be desirable to incorporate CLASS and PBX features into a data network telephony system that uses a data network such as the Internet.
  • the present invention addresses the above needs by providing a system in a data network telephony system, such as for example, the Internet, that enables users to connect to Internet services using a personal information device.
  • a data network telephony system such as for example, the Internet
  • FIG. 1 is block diagram of a network telephony system according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system for using a portable information device (PID) to connect to Internet services cm a telephony system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data network telephone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a PID according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a stack layer diagram showing the layers of an IrDA stack
  • FIG. 6 is a block and stack layer diagram illustrating an embodiment of the protocol stacks in an exemplary embodiment of a PED linked to a data network telephone
  • FIG. 7A is block and stack layer diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which a connection to an Internet service may be established
  • FIG. 7B is a block and stack layer diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a connection to an Internet service may be established.
  • FIG. 8 is a combined block and pictorial diagram showing advantageous use of a system for providing PED data exchange according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a system 100 for connecting to Internet services according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the system includes a data network 106.
  • a first voice communication device 108a linked to a first access network 112 via connection 130 may communicate over the data network 106 by connecting via the first access network 112.
  • a second voice communication device 108b is linked to a second access network 114 through connection 136 and may communicate over the data network 106 by connecting via the second access network 114
  • the data network 106 in the system 100 typically includes one or more I_ocal
  • the data network 106 may use Voice Over Packet (VOP) schemes in which voice signals are carried in data packets.
  • VOP Voice Over Packet
  • PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
  • the data network 106 may include one or more LANs such as Ethernet LANs and support data transport protocols for performing Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) techniques on the Internet.
  • VoIP Voice-over-Internet-Protocol
  • an Internet Telephony gateway may be included within the system 100 to allow for voice connections to users connected by subscriber lines at a PSTN Central Office.
  • the data network 106 may be used to access a variety of Internet services 101.
  • the Internet includes the World-Wide Web 102, which is a well-known system for exchanging data over the Internet.
  • the World-Wide Web 102 is commonly used to access targeted information using a computer workstation and an application on the workstation called a browser.
  • PID's many Internet Content Providers offer a variety of Web clippings 103 to permit viewing World-Wide Web data on a PED which is smaller than a workstation.
  • One advantage of the system 100 in FIG. 1 is that web clippings 103 and other Internet services 101 may be accessed using the PED 110a,b without having to place a telephone call over the wireless cellular network.
  • the voice communication devices 108a-b typically include a voice input, a voice output and a voice processing system.
  • the voice processing system converts voice sound to digital data signals that are communicated on a voice connection over the data network.
  • the voice processing system also converts digital data signals received from the voice connection to voice sound.
  • the voice communication devices 108a-b typically include a central processing unit and memory to store and process computer programs. Additionally, each voice communication device 108a-b typically includes a unique network address, such as an IP address, in memory to uniquely identify it to the data network 106 and to permit data packets to be routed to the device.
  • a first PID 110a linked to the first voice communication device 108a via connection 109a may communicate over the data network 106 by connecting via the first access network 112.
  • a second PID 110b linked to the second voice communication device 108b via connection 109b may communicate over the data network 106 by connecting via the second access network 114.
  • the PIDs 11 Oa-b each contain user attributes stored in a user information data base.
  • the user attributes may contain such information as a user identifier, schedule information, and other information that is associated with a user of the PED 110a or 110b.
  • the PIDS 11 Oa-b each include a user interface allowing a user to easily enter and retrieve data.
  • the user interface includes a pressure-sensitive display that allows a user to enter input with a stylus or other device.
  • a PED with such an interace is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), such as one of the PalmTM series of PDAs offered by 3Com® Corporation.
  • the PIDs 1 lOa-b may include other functionality, such as wireless phone or two-way radio functionality.
  • Links 109a-b are point-to-point links, and may be entirely or partially wireless, or they may be hard-wired connections.
  • Each of the links 109a-b is preferably a wireless link, such as an infrared link specified by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) (see irda.org for further information) or a radio frequency (RF) link such as the Bluetooth system (see www.bluetooth.com for further information).
  • the point-to-point link can also be a hardwired connection, such as an RS-232 serial port.
  • the voice communication device 108a includes a handset with a receiver and transmitter similar or identical to handsets of traditional circuit- switched telephones.
  • a console on which the handset sits may include the voice processing system, a display 116, and a keypad 118.
  • a portion of the voice communication device 108a utilizes an NBX 100TM communication system phone offered by 3Com® Corporation.
  • the voice communication device 108a may include any device having voice communications capabilities.
  • a personal computer having a microphone input and speaker output may also be used to implement the voice communication device 108a.
  • Other configurations are also intended to be within the scope of the present invention.
  • the details relating to operation of the voice communication devices 108a and 108b depend on the nature of the data network 106 and the nature of the access networks 112, 114 connecting the voice communication devices 108a and 108b to each other and/or to other network entities.
  • the access networks 112, 114 typically include any high bandwidth network adapted for data communications, i.e. a network having greater than 64,000 bits-per-second (bps) bandwidth.
  • the access networks 112, 114 may link to the voice communication devices 108a-b using an Ethernet LAN, a token ring LAN, a coaxial cable link (e.g. CATV adapted for digital communication), a digital subscriber line (DSL), twisted pair cable, fiberoptic cable, an integrated services digital network
  • the access networks 112, 114 may also include the PSTN and link the voice communications devices 108a-b by an analog modem.
  • the PED 110a includes a web application for retrieving information that can be communicated from the Internet services 101 over the data network 106, transported across the first access network 112, to the voice communication
  • the PID 110a can receive the information across the link 109a for display on the PID HOba.
  • the PID 1 10a uses the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) to communicate with the voice communications device 108a.
  • PPP Point-to-Point Protocol
  • the PID 1 10a communicates requests for services to the voice communications device 108a to send over the data network 106.
  • the PID 110a receives the Internet service offerings (e.g. web clippings) from the data network through the voice communication device 108a.
  • a voice-over-data channel for communicating voice-over-data may or may not concurrently exist with this communication of information over a data channel.
  • a user of the PED 110a can receive information from the Internet services 101 while voice signals are communicated between the voice communication device 108a and the voice communication device 108b.
  • the user may use the PED 1 10a connection to the Internet services independently of any telephone calls.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one example of the system 100 of FIG. 1 for accessing Internet services 101 using a PID 210a according to the present invention.
  • the system 200 in FIG. 2 includes a local area network 212, connected to a data network 206 by a first router 228.
  • a cable network 214 is connected to the data network 206 by a second router 238.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the access networks as the local area network 212 and the cable network 214, any other type of network may be used.
  • the local area network 212 and/or the cable network 214 may be replaced by ISDN, DSL, or any other high-speed data link.
  • the local area network 212 provides data connectivity to its network elements, such as a first data network telephone 208a, a second data network telephone 208b, and a first network telephony connection server 150.
  • the local area network 212 in FIG. 2 is an Ethernet LAN operating according to the EEEE 802.3 specification, which is incorporated by reference herein, however, any other type of local area network may be used.
  • the local area network 212 uses the router 228 to provide the data network telephone 208a and the first network telephony connection server 150 with access to the data network 206.
  • the router 228 may perform routing functions using protocol stacks that include the Internet Protocol and other protocols for communicating on the Internet.
  • the first network telephony connection server 150 provides telephony registration, location and session initiation services for voice connections in which its members are a party.
  • a user may register for telephony service with an administrator of the first network telephony connection server 150 and receive a user identifier and a telephone identifier.
  • the user identifier and telephone identifier may be sequences of unique alphanumeric elements that callers use to direct voice connections to the user.
  • the first network telephony connection server 150 registers users by storing user records in a first registration database 152 in response to registration requests made by the user.
  • the call setup process and the user and telephone identifiers preferably conform to requirements defined in a call management protocol.
  • the call management protocol is used to permit a caller anywhere on the data network to connect to the user identified by the user identifier in a data network telephone call.
  • a data network telephone call includes a call setup process and a voice exchange process.
  • the call setup process includes steps and message exchanges that a caller and callee perform to establish the telephone call.
  • the actual exchange of voice signals is performed by a data communications channel.
  • the data communications channel incorporates other data transport and data formatting protocols, and preferably includes well-known data communications channels typically established over the Internet.
  • the call management protocol used in FIG. 2 is the Session Initiation Protocol (SEP), which is described in M. Handley et al., "SIP: Session Initiation Protocol," IETF RFC 2543, Mar. 1999, incorporated by reference herein, however, any other such protocol may be used.
  • SEP Session Initiation Protocol
  • Other protocols include H.323, the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), MEGACO, etc.
  • the network telephony connection server 150 may be used to provide telephony service for mobile users.
  • a user may be registered to use the first network telephone 208a (which is identified by its telephone identifier), but move to a location near the second network telephone 208b. The user may re-register as the user of the second network telephone 208b. Calls that identify the user by the user's user identifier may reach the user at the second network telephone 208b. 2. Cable Network As An Exemplary Access Network
  • the system 200 in FIG. 2 also shows a cable network 214 connected to the data network 206 by a router 238.
  • the cable network 214 provides data network access to its network elements, which in FIG. 2 include a third data network telephone 218a and a second network telephony connection server 162.
  • the users of the data network telephone 218a connected to the cable network 214 may communicate over the data network 206 with the users of the data network telephones 208a-b connected to the local area network 212.
  • the cable network 214 includes any digital cable television system that provides data connectivity.
  • data is communicated by radio frequency in a high-frequency coaxial cable.
  • the cable network 214 may include a head-end, or a central termination system that permits management of the cable connections to the users.
  • the second network telephony connection server 162 is preferably a SIP-based server that performs call initiation, maintenance and teardown for the data network telephone 218a connected to the cable network 214.
  • the second network telephony connection server 162 may be similar or identical to the first network telephony connection server 150 connected to the local area network 212.
  • the system 200 shown in FIG. 2 permits the data network telephones 208a-b connected to the local area network 212 to communicate with the data network telephone 218a connected to the cable network 214.
  • the system shown in FIG. 2 uses SIP in order to establish, maintain, and teardown telephone calls between users.
  • the UA resides at the SIP end stations, (e.g. the data network telephones), and contains two parts: a user agent client (UAC), which is responsible for issuing SIP requests, and a user agent server (UAS), which responds to such requests.
  • UAC user agent client
  • UAS user agent server
  • the various network server types may be combined into a single server, such as the network telephony connection server 150 and 162. Not all server types are required to implement the embodiments of the present invention.
  • the communication services to be provided will determine which servers are present in the communication system. Preferred embodiments of the present invention may be carried out using proxy servers.
  • SIP operation involves a SIP UAC issuing a request, a SEP proxy server acting as end-user location discovery agent, and a SEP UAS accepting the call.
  • a successful SIP invitation consists of two requests: INVITE followed by ACK.
  • the INVITE message contains a user identifier to identify the callee, a caller user identifier to identify the caller, and a session description that informs the called party what type of media the caller can accept and where it wishes the media data to be sent.
  • User identifiers in SIP requests are known as SIP addresses.
  • SEP addresses are referred to as SIP Uniform Resource Locators (SEP-URLs), which are of the form sip:user@host.domain. Other addressing conventions may also be used.
  • Redirect servers process an INVITE message by sending back the SIP-URL where the callee is reachable.
  • Proxy servers perform application layer routing of the SIP requests and responses.
  • a proxy server can either be stateful or stateless.
  • a stateful proxy holds information about the call during the entire time the call is up, while a stateless proxy processes a message without saving information contained in the message.
  • proxies can be either forking or non-forking.
  • a forking proxy can, for example, ring several data network telephones at once until somebody takes the call.
  • Registrar servers are used to record the SIP address (the SIP URL) and the associated EP address.
  • the central registrar/proxy server such as the first network telephony server 150
  • the central registrar/proxy server is the primary destination of all SEP messages trying to establish a connection with users on the local area network 212.
  • the first network telephony server 150 is also the only destination advertised to the SIP clients outside the LAN 212 on behalf of all the SIP clients residing on the LAN 212.
  • the network telephony server 150 relays all SIP INVITE messages to the appropriate final destination (or another SIP proxy), based on a database lookup using the first SIP database 152. It allows all mobile clients to register with their current locations.
  • the second network telephony server 162 is the primary destination of all SIP messages trying to establish a connection with the data network telephone 218a connected to the cable network 214.
  • the second network telephony server 162 is also the only destination advertised to the SIP clients outside the cable network 214 on behalf of all the SEP clients (e.g. data network telephones) residing on the cable network 214.
  • the second network telephony server 162 relays all SEP INVITE messages to the appropriate final destination (or another SEP proxy), based on a database lookup using the second SEP database 164.
  • the data network telephones 208a-b and 218a in the system 200 preferably have pre-programmed device identifiers (e.g. phone numbers), represented as SEP-URL's that are of the form sip: user@domain. An example is sip: 8475551212@3Com.com..
  • SEP-URL's that are of the form sip: user@domain.
  • An example is sip: 8475551212@3Com.com..
  • each of the data network telephones 208a-b and 218a sends a SIP REGISTER message to the default registrar, such as the network telephony servers 150 and 162.
  • the server will forward the call to the appropriate destination.
  • the data network 206 provides data connectivity for a plurality of data communications channels.
  • the data network telephones 208a and 218a can communicate voice signals as voice-over-data packets on a voice-over-data channel.
  • the data network telephones 208a and 218a can also communicate data (such as PED data) as data packets on a data channel.
  • the data may be communicated to and from the PIDs 210a and/or 220a across links 209a and 219a to the data network telephones 208a and 218a, where data is packetized and depacketized as part of the process for communicating the data packets across the data network 206 and any access networks, such as the Ethernet LAN 212 and the cable network 214.
  • the data channels may be established to communicate data to and from the Internet services 101.
  • the data network telephones 208a-b are preferably telephones that include an
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the data network telephone 208a connected to the local area network 212 in FIG. 2.
  • the data network telephone 208a in FIG. 3 is connected to the network 212 by a network interface 270.
  • the network interface 270 may, for example, be a network interface card, and may be in the form of an integrated circuit.
  • a bus 248 may be used to connect the network interface 270 with a processor 240 and a memory 242.
  • Also connected to the processor are user interface circuitry 260 and three alternative link interfaces to a PED, such as the PED 210a.
  • a first link interface 248 includes an RS-232 serial connection and associated coupling hardware and mechanisms.
  • the first alternative link interface 248 may, for example, be a docking cradle for a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), in which information can be transferred between the PDA and the data network telephone 208a.
  • the second alternative link interface comprises a first connection 254, such as an RS-232 connection, along with infrared circuitry 250 for converting signals into infrared output and for accepting infrared input.
  • An infrared interface 252 may also be included within the second alternative link interface.
  • the third alternative link interface comprises a first connection 256, such as an RS-232 connection, along with radio-frequency circuitry 258 for converting signals into radio frequency output and for accepting radio frequency input.
  • a radio frequency interface 259 may also be included as part of the third alternative link interface.
  • the three alternative link interfaces described above are merely examples, and additional means for implementing the link interface between the data network telephone 208a and the PID 210a may also be used. Although three link interfaces are shown in FIG. 3, there may be only one such interface in the data network telephone 208a. More than one link interface may be included to improve flexibility and to provide redundancy in case of failure of one of the link interfaces.
  • the user interface circuitry 260 includes hardware and software components that access the functions of the handset, display, and keypad to provide user input and output resources for functions in the processor 240.
  • the user interface circuitry includes a display interface 262, a keypad interface 264, an audio output interface 265, and an audio input interface 267.
  • the audio input interface 267 may receive voice signals from a microphone or other audio input device and convert the signals to digital voice information.
  • the conversion preferably conforms to the G.711 ITU Standard. Further processing of the digital signal may be performed in the audio input interface 267, such as providing compression (e.g. using G.723.1 standard) or providing noise reduction, although such processing may also be performed in the processor 240.
  • the audio input interface 267 may communicate an analog voice signal to the processor 240 for conversion to digital information within the processor 240.
  • the audio output interface 265 receives digital information representing voice from the processor 240 and converts the information to audible sound, such as through a magnetic speaker.
  • the audio output interface 265 receives information in the form of G.711, although other processing such as decompression may be performed in the audio output interface 265.
  • the processor 240 may convert digital information to analog voice signals and communicate the analog voice signals to the audio output interface 265.
  • the keypad interface 264 and the display interface 262 include well-known device interfaces and respective signal processing techniques.
  • the user interface circuitry 260 may support other hardware and software interfaces. For example, a videophone implementation might also include a camera and monitor.
  • the data network telephones of the present invention are not limited to telephones or videophones - additional user interface types, for example, such as the ones needed for computer games, are also contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.
  • some of the features described here, such as the display interface 262 are optional and serve to enhance the functionality of the first data network telephone 208a.
  • the processor 240 may consist of one or more smaller processing units, including, for example, a programmable digital signal processing engine. In the preferred embodiment, the processor is implemented as a single ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) to improve speed and to economize space.
  • the processor 240 also may include an operating system, and application and communications software to implement the functions of the data network telephone 208a.
  • the operating system may be any suitable commercially available embedded or disk-based operating system, or any proprietary operating system.
  • the processor 240 includes a media engine 241 and a signaling stack 243 to perform the primary communications and application functions of the data network telephone 208a.
  • the purpose of the signaling stack in the exemplary data network telephone 208a is to set up, manage, and tear down a call.
  • a user may use the keypad to enter a user identifier to call.
  • a PID such as PED
  • the signaling stack 243 receives the user entry and formats a request message to send to the user identified by the user identifier to initiate a telephone call.
  • the request message is sent, the location of the user identified by the user identifier is discovered, communication parameters, such as the supported voice CODEC types are exchanged, and a voice-over-data channel is established.
  • the management phase for example, other parties may be invited to the call if needed.
  • the tear down phase the call is terminated.
  • the signaling protocol used in the data network telephone 208a in FIG. 3 is the SIP protocol.
  • the signaling stack implements a User Agent Client 244 and a User Agent Server 242, in accordance with the SIP protocol.
  • Alternative signaling protocols such as the ITU-T H.323 protocol, MGCP, MEGACO, and others, may also be used to implement the present invention.
  • the media engine 241 manages the communication over one or more data communications channels using network transport protocols and the network interface 270.
  • the media engine 241 sends and receives data packets having a data payload for carrying data and an indication of the type of data is being transported.
  • the media engine 241 in the data network telephones 208a may sample the voice signals from the audio input 267 (or receive voice samples from the audio input 267), encode the samples, and build data packets on the sending side.
  • the media engine On the receiver side, in addition to performing the reverse operations, the media engine also typically manages a receiver buffer to compensate for network jitter. Similar procedures may be performed for other types of data, such as graphical data, or for data used in PED applications such as email, contacts data, calendar data, other non- voice sound data, interactive game data, etc.
  • the media engine 241 may also include hardware and software components for performing registration functions 247, voice-over-data functions 249, display data functions 251, and keypad output functions 253.
  • the media engine 241 processes data that is received from the network 212, and data to be sent over the network 241.
  • the media engine 241 may determine from the type of data in the packet (such as by examining a packet header) whether packets contain sampled voice signals or other data types. Packets containing sampled voice signals are processed by the voice-over-data function 249.
  • the voice- over-data function 249 preferably conforms to a protocol for formatting voice signals as digital data streams. While any suitable protocol may be used, the media (i.e. the voice signal) is preferably transported via the Real Time Protocol (RTP), which itself is carried inside of UDP (User Datagram Protocol).
  • RTP Real Time Protocol
  • UDP User Datagram Protocol
  • Packets containing data for use in registering the data network telephone 208a with a network telephony service are processed by the registration function 247.
  • a user may establish with the network telephony connection server 150 that calls addressed to the user's user identifier may be connected to the data network telephone 208a.
  • Registration may occur when the data network telephone 208a sends a request to register to a service provider host, such as the network telephony connection server 150.
  • the service provider host may respond by setting the user's user identifier to correspond to the telephone identifier of the data network telephone 208a, and by acknowledging the request with a status message to the data network telephone 208a.
  • a request to register the data network telephone 208a to a default user is automatically sent during power-up of the data network telephone 208a.
  • the first data network telephone 208a may be provisioned to provide selected network telephony services by establishing a data connection with a service provider, requesting the selected services, and receiving data that ensures that the services have been successfully provisioned.
  • Such services may include, for example, caller identification, call forwarding, voice mail and any other services offered by the network telephony service provider to enhance the capabilities of the first data network telephone 208a.
  • provisioning functions is that services may be ordered for temporary use in a manner convenient to the user.
  • Packets containing data for display on a display device of the data network telephone 208a are processed by the display data function 251.
  • the display data function 251 may be used for displaying, for example, the names and user identifiers of other parties to the call, the status of the telephone call, billing information, and other information.
  • the media engine 241 For data to be sent over the data network 212, the media engine 241 formats the data as data packets in accordance with a selected protocol.
  • the selected protocol is preferably a protocol that is supported by data network telephones that will receive the data being transported.
  • the media engine 241 may include a data connection application 245 to perform functions relating to data connections over the data network 206.
  • the data network telephone 208 may include a data connection management protocol (e.g. the hypertext transport protocol, or http) to handle data connections. Altematively, the SEP protocol may be used to establish data connections as well as voice connections.
  • the data connection application 245 may also perform proxy services to permit the PED 108 to establish data connections.
  • the voice-over-data function 249 formats voice samples according to the protocol used by the receiving data network telephone. In one preferred embodiment, the voice over data function 249 formats voice samples as RTP packets.
  • the registration function 247 and the keypad output function 253 may control the transport of data that does not represent voice signals.
  • the data network telephones 208b and 218a are preferably similar or identical to the data network telephone 208a. For each of the data network telephones 208a-b and 218a, many of the features described in FIG. 3 are optional and their inclusion depends on the services to be offered.
  • PIDs Portable Information Devices
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the exemplary PED 210a that can communicate via the link 209a with the data network telephone 208a connected to the LAN 212.
  • the PID 210a may be linked to the data network telephone 208a through a link interface 545.
  • a bus 580 may be used to connect the point-to-point interface 545 with a processor 540, a memory 542, data storage 543, and user interface circuitry 544.
  • the link interface 545 shown in FIG. 4 illustrates three alternative link interfaces for establishing a link to a data network telephone, such as the data network telephone 208a.
  • a first link interface 546 includes an RS-232 serial connection and associated coupling hardware mechanisms.
  • the first alternative link interface 546 may, for example, be for coupling with a PDA docking cradle, in which information can be transferred between the PDA and the data network telephone 208a.
  • the second alternative link interface comprises a first connection 548, such as an RS-232 serial connection, along with infrared circuitry 250 for converting signals into infrared output and for accepting infrared input.
  • An infrared interface 552 may also be included within the second alternative link interface.
  • the third alternative link interface comprises a first connection 554, such as an RS-232 connection, along with radio-frequency circuitry 556 for converting signals into radio frequency output and for accepting radio frequency input.
  • a radio frequency interface 558 may also be included as part of the third alternative interface.
  • the radio interface 554/556/558 may be implemented according to the Bluetooth specifications, described at www.bluetooth.com.
  • the three altemative link interfaces described above are merely exemplary, and additional means for implementing the interface between the PID 210a and the data network telephone 208a may also be utilized. Although three link interfaces are shown in FIG. 4, there may be only one such interface in the PID 210a. More than one link interface may be included to improve flexibility and to provide redundancy in case of failure of one of the link interfaces.
  • the user interface circuitry 544 includes hardware and software components that provide user input and output resources for functions in the processor 540.
  • the user interface circuitry includes a display output 562, a display input 565, and an additional input/output interface 567.
  • the display output 562 preferably receives digital information representing graphical data from the processor 540 and converts the information to a graphical display, such as text and/or images, for display on a display screen, for example.
  • the display input 565 may receive data inputs, such as graphical data inputs, from a user of the PED 210a.
  • the graphical data inputs are preferably entered by the user with a stylus on a pressure-sensitive display screen, and may include text, drawings, or other objects that are capable of being graphically presented.
  • the additional input/output interface 567 allows the user to enter other types of data besides graphical data into the PID 210a.
  • audio data, additional graphical data, or additional input, such as video camera input for example may be entered through the additional input output interface 567.
  • the data may also include data formatted for operation with particular applications on the PID. For example, email data, calendar data, contacts data, database data, spreadsheets, notes, game data, etc. may also be entered.
  • Touch-sensitive screen buttons are an exemplary method for a user to enter control data into the PID 210a.
  • the processor 540 may include an operating system, as well as application and communication software, to implement the functions of the PED 210a.
  • the operating system may be any suitable commercially available operating system, or any proprietary operating system.
  • the operating system and software may be stored on data storage 543, in the memory 542, or the may be embedded in the processor 540.
  • the processor 540 is shown connected to the data storage 543 through a bus 580, other configurations may also be used.
  • the memory 542 may be configured other than as shown in FIG. 4, and may be embedded within the processor 540.
  • the PED 210a is able to send data to and receive data from the data network telephone 208a across a point-to-point link, such as the point-to-point link 209a shown in FIG. 1.
  • a user enters PID data at the display input 565.
  • the graphical data may be processed in the user interface circuitry 544 or it may go directly to the processor 540 or the memory 542.
  • the processor 540 may also perform processing functions, such
  • a PID data application may be used to perform functions that may implement the display input, the display output, and the processing functions.
  • a web clippings application 575 may be used to request and receive information from Internet services 101 (shown in FIG. 2) in a format suitable for the PID 210. The information, or clippings are provided by the Internet services 101. The information retrieved as clippings could then be displayed through the display output 562 to enable the user to see a visual representation of the information.
  • a periodic request may be set up to make a request at a designated time as long as a link interface to the data network telephone 208 is active.
  • the user may store links (e.g. hot links) and select the hotlinks using the stylus or other user input to request specific information at anytime.
  • the request can be transmitted through one of the point-to-point interfaces 545, allowing the data to be received by the data network telephone 208a.
  • An application in the data network telephone 208a receives the request across the point-to- point link, and the request is prepared for transmission across the data network 206, such as by the media engine 241 shown in FIG. 3.
  • the request is converted to data packets and is communicated on a data channel across the LAN 212 through the router 228 across the data network 206 to the selected web clipping 103.
  • the web clipping 103 processes the request using well-known techniques (e.g. http).
  • the requested information is formatted as data packets, preferably in the form of TCP/EP data packets to the data network telephone 208a.
  • the data network telephone 208a may recognize the data packets as related to the previously made request and simply pass the information to the PID 210, or process the data packets.
  • the link 209a between PID 210a and the first data network telephone 208a can alternatively be implemented as an infrared link using all or parts of a specialized protocol, such as the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol stack, where data is interpreted through the stack between application-layer processes at each end of the link.
  • IrDA Infrared Data Association
  • FIG. 5 is a protocol diagram illustrating the layers of the IrDA protocol stack. An IrDA stack is implemented at each of the connection endpoints of an IrDA link.
  • the first PID 210a and the first data network telephone 208a could each implement an IrDA protocol stack to enable the link 209a.
  • two PIDs such as the first PED 210a and the third PID 218a, may each contain an IrDA stack.
  • the communications between the PIDs and the data network telephones might take place without the assistance of IrDA.
  • IrDa data from the first PID 210a might be transmitted across the link 209a as a serial stream of data to the first data network telephone 208a, which might treat the IrDA data like any other data received from the first PED 210a.
  • the first data network telephone 208a could then assemble the IrDA data into packets, such as TCP/IP packets for transport across the access and data networks to the third data network telephone 218a.
  • the third data network telephone 218a may disassemble the packets and forward the IrDA data (without interpreting the IrDA portions) across the link 219a to the third PED 220a.
  • the third PID 220a could then process the IrDA information received across the networks.
  • the required layers of an IrDA protocol stack are the physical layer 602, the IrLAP layer 604, the IRLMP layer 606 and the IAS layer 608.
  • the physical layer 602 specifies optical characteristics of the link, encoding of data, and framing for various speeds.
  • the IrLAP (Link Access Protocol) layer 604 establishes the basic reliable connection between the two ends of the link.
  • the IrLMP (Link Management Protocol) layer 606 multiplexes services and applications on the IrLAP connection.
  • the IAS (Information Access Service) layer 608 provides a directory or "yellow pages" of services on an IrDA device.
  • the IrDA protocol also specifies a number of optional protocol layers, these protocol layers being TinyTP 610, IrOBEX 612, IrCOMM 614 and IrLAN 616.
  • TinyTP Transport Protocol
  • IrOBEX Infrared Object Exchange protocol
  • IrCOMM 614 is a serial and parallel port emulation that enables existing applications that use serial and parallel communications to use IrDA without change.
  • IrLAN Infrared E-ocal Area Network 616 enables walk-up infrared LAN access for laptops and other devices.
  • the use of the optional layers depends upon the particular application in the IrDA device.
  • the IrDA protocol stack is defined by such standards documents as "IrDA Serial Infrared Physical Layer Link Specification”, “IrDA 'IrCOMM' : Serial and Parallel Port Emulation over ER (Wire Replacement)", “IrDA Serial Infrared Link Access Protocol (IrLAP)", “IrDA Infrared Link Management Protocol (IrLMP)", and “IrDA 'Tiny TP': A Flow-Control Mechanism for use with IrLMP", and related specifications published by the IrDA and available at http://www.irda.org/standards/specifications.asp and is incorporated by reference herein.
  • the IrDA protocol stack can be implemented at just the PID devices at the endpoints with the intermediate phones and networks simply providing a tunnel for the media stream attendant to the infrared links. Since PEDs, such as the Palm PDA, already have an IrDA stack implemented in them to support their infrared link to other devices and the benefits of the IrDA stack are already available.
  • the PED applications and the base applications in the phones can be simplified as the IrDA protocol layers take over certain functionalities.
  • the IrOBEX layer in each IrDA protocol stack can be used to transfer text and graphics object files, such as electronic business cards or whiteboard graphics, end-to-end between PED devices connected via data connected data network telephones..
  • the IrDA stack being implemented only in the PEDs and not in the phones, only a small level of delay is introduced for stack interpretation by each PED and the connection provided is largely transparent to the applications in the PED devices, i.e. little or no modification to existing user applications in the PIDs is required. This approach may be more suitable for delay sensitive applications, such as interactive games involving the transfer of data between user applications in each PID.
  • the IrDA stack is written for a single infrared point-to- point interface and not for an infrared-to-network-to-infrared interface. As a result, the timers and retransmission schemes implemented in view of the single infrared point-to- point interface may not function properly for the extended network interface.
  • IrDA stacks can be implemented in the phones as well. By implementing IrDA stacks in the phones, the timing of the infrared interface is unaffected by a network delay. Also, additional functions and features can be implemented in the phones. For example, the phones can implement challenge and authentication where the phone requires the user, through the PED, to enter a password or other information to authenticate an authorized user. Similarly, the PID may also be used to transmit commands to the phone and receive status information via the IrDA stack. The approach taken will depend upon the requirements of the design and the particular application.
  • FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram and protocol stack diagram illustrating an embodiment of the protocol stacks in the first PID 210a and the first data network telephone 208a that support link 209a.
  • the link interface circuitry 545 in the first PED 210a provides the physical layer 656, such as that specified by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA), that connects via link 209a to the link interface circuitry 260 implementing a physical layer 664 in the first data network telephone 208a.
  • the data link layer 654 in the first PID 210a provides data link control for link 209a in transferring data to and from a PED application client 652.
  • the first data network telephone 208a includes a data link layer 662 and a base application server 600 that is configured to synchronize connection and other functions with the PID application 652 in the first PID 210a.
  • the synchronization application client 652 in the PID 210a may send the user's SEP URL across the link 209a to the first data network telephone 208a, where it is received by the synchronization application server 600.
  • the synchronization application server 600 sends the SIP URL received from the PID 210a across connection 230 and the Ethernet LAN 212 through connection 243 to the network telephony connection server 150.
  • the network telephony connection server 150 may store the SIP URL and the IP address of the associated data network telephone 208a in the SIP database 152 so that the SIP URL is listed as being resident at the IP address of the data network telephone 208a. (If the network telephony connection server 150 uses a location server for registration/location tasks, the registration information might instead be stored with such a location server). SQL (Structured Query Language) is preferred for querying the database.
  • SQL Structured Query Language
  • FIG. 7A is a functional block and protocol stack diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention where a SIP connection is established from the first data network phone 208a to the third data network phone 218a through network connection 230, first access network 212, data network 206, second access network 214 and network connection 236.
  • the routers 228 and 238, and associated connections 232a- b and 234a-b, are not shown to simplify the block diagram representation.
  • the diagram of FIG. 7 A shows how requests for Internet services can be transmitted and responses to the requests processed in one aspect of the present invention.
  • the PID application 652 in PED 210a is configured to send PID data as input, which in the present context is a request for data, such as a hotlink, or an URL.
  • the request is sent through the user interface 650 through link 209a to base application 660 in the first data network phone 208a.
  • base application 660 is configured to define data channels for transport to the Internet services 101.
  • the Internet services 101 responds to the request by sending back requested services to the PID 110a.
  • the Internet services may send back data from web clippings 686 to the PID 110a as PED data.
  • SIP Session Description Protocol
  • RFC 2327 RFC 2327
  • the called device includes functionality to receive the connection as described in Table 1, then the called device will respond to the INVITE request with a 200 OK response that includes the same option values. If the called device or party is unable or unwilling to receive such a connection, then it will respond with altemative option values for the connection. See RFC 2543 for further details regarding the negotiation of connection parameters in SIP.
  • a first data channel for voice data has been negotiated by the base applications 660 in the first data network telephone 208a and the base application 674 in the second data network telephone 218a.
  • a second data channel for Internet services data has been negotiated by the base application 660 in the first data network telephone 208a and web clippings application 686 in the Internet services 101.
  • the base applications 660 and 674 transfer voice data between the AUDIO applications, such as applications including G.711 encoders, in each phone via the first data channel.
  • the base application 660 in phone 208a is also configured to send data requests received via link 209a from PID 210a to the Internet services 101 via the second data channel.
  • the Internet services 101 processes the request and provides the requested information over the second data channel.
  • FIG. 7A shows an alternative embodiment for providing a data connection from the PID 1 10a to the Internet services 101.
  • the link 209a in FIG. 7B is an RS232 connection.
  • the PID 1 10a includes an IP stack that includes a Point-To-Point client 653.
  • the telephone 208a includes a PPP server 663.
  • the PID 1 10a may connect directly to the Internet services 101 with its own IP address.
  • One advantage of using the PPP-based connection in FIG. 7B is that even a basic, low-cost PED 110a may perform sophisticated Internet communications because the PPP is widely available at a low cost.
  • FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for transmitting data from an Internet service concurrently with voice services during a telephone conversation.
  • the PID 210a includes a display screen 702, a stylus 700 that a user can use to select a hotlink, or URL address to a Web service.
  • a SYNC button 718 may be used to initiate a series of requests to the Internet services 101.
  • the display screen 702 is shown as a pressure-sensitive display screen in which the stylus 700 can be used to enter PID data 714 into the first PID 210a.
  • the PID 210a includes hotlink 706 for accessing prices of selected stocks from the Internet services 101. The stylus is being used to select the hotlink 706 the stock prices.
  • the hotlink 706 is transmitted across the link 209a to the first data network telephone 208a.
  • an application within the first data network telephone 208a will place the hotlink 714 into PID data packets for transmission to the Internet services 101 across the access and data networks 212, 206 (and any associated connections and routers).
  • the Internet services then processes the hotlink 714 and responds by sending the requested stock prices in the PID data channel 724 back to the data network telephone 208.
  • the data network telephone 208 transmits the information to the PID 208 for display on the PID display 702.
  • the access networks shown in FIG. 2 may comprise any other suitable type of local area network or service infrastructure.
  • protocols of various types are referenced throughout. While preferred and altemative embodiments may implement selected protocols, any suitable replacement protocol not mentioned, or any function not part of a protocol used to replace a corresponding function from a protocol may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

Abstract

A system and method for using a personal information device (PID) to access Internet services over a data network using a telephone. The user may select a hotlink or URL on a display screen on the PID. A communications application transmits the hotlink as PID data to the telephone. The telephone is configured to establish a data communications channel upon receipt of the PID data. The PID data is sent to the Internet services. The Internet Services respond by downloading data associated with the request in the PID data.

Description

APPLICATION FOR A UNITED STATES PATENT
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (MBHB Case No. 99,593; 3Com Case No. 2620.S4.US.P)
Title: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING AN INTERNET SERVER USING A PORTABLE
INFORMATION DEVICE -PDA THROUGH A DATA NETWORK TELEPHONE
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING A NETWORK SERVER USING A
PORTABLE INFORMATION DEVICES THROUGH A NETWORK BASED
TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM
A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing communication services over a network. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for providing communication between a portable information devices (PIDs) and a network server through a network connected telecommunication device.
B. Description of the Related Art
For many years, telephone service providers on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) provided their customers nothing more than a telephone line to use to communicate with other subscribers. Over time, telephone service providers have enhanced their service by providing Custom Local Area Signaling Service (CLASS) features to their customers. Similar communication services are provided by a Private Branch Exchange (PBX), which is typically implemented in a nonresidential setting. The CLASS features permit customer subscribers of the features to tailor their telephone service according to individual needs. Some of the more well-known CLASS features are:
• Call blocking: The customer may specify one or more numbers from which he or she does not want to receive calls. A blocked caller will hear a rejection message, while the callee will not receive any indication of the call. • Call return: Returns a call to the most recent caller. If the most recent caller is busy, the returned call may be queued until it can be completed.
• Call trace: Allows a customer to trigger a trace of the number of the most recent caller.
• Caller ID: The caller's number is automatically displayed during the silence period after the first ring. This feature requires the customer's line to be equipped with a device to read and display the out-of-band signal containing the number. • Caller ID blocking: Allows a caller to block the display of their number in a callee's caller ID device.
• Priority ringing: Allows a customer to specify a list of numbers for which, when the customer is called by one of the numbers, the customer will hear a distinctive ring.
• Call forwarding: A customer may cause incoming calls to be automatically forwarded to another number for a period of time.
A customer subscriber to a CLASS feature may typically activate and/or deactivate a CLASS feature using "*" directives (e.g., *69 to automatically return a call to the most recent caller). CLASS features may also be implemented with the use of out-of- band data. CLASS feature data is typically transmitted between local Class-5 switches using the Signaling System 7 (SS7).
Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) and other similar organizations maintain CLASS offices that typically contain a database entry for each customer. The database allows specification of the CLASS features a customer has subscribed to, as well as information, such as lists of phone numbers, associated with those features. In some cases, customers may edit these lists on-line via a touch-tone interface. A list of all phone numbers that have originated or terminated a call with each customer is often included in the CLASS office database. For each customer, usually only the most recent number on this list is stored by the local Class-5 switch.
A Private Branch Exchange (PBX), is a stored program switch similar to a Class- 5 switch. It is usually used within a medium-to-large-sized business for employee telephony service. Since a PBX is typically operated by a single private organization, there exists a wide variety of PBX services and features. Custom configurations are common, such as integration with intercom and voice mail systems. PBX's typically support their own versions of the CLASS features, as well as other features in addition to those of CLASS. Most PBX features are designed to facilitate business and group communications.
A summary of typical PBX features includes: • Call transfer: An established call may be transferred from one number to another number on the same PBX. • Call forwarding: In addition to CLASS call forwarding, a PBX number can be programmed to automatically transfer a call to another number when the first number does not answer or is busy.
• Camp-on queuing: Similar to PSTN call return, a call to a busy number can be queued until the callee can accept it. The caller can hang up their phone and the PBX will ring them when the callee answers.
• Conference calling: Two or more parties can be connected to one another by dialing into a conference bridge number.
• Call parking: An established call at one number can be put on hold and then reestablished from another number. This is useful when call transfer is not warranted.
• Executive override: A privileged individual can break into an established call. After a warning tone to the two participants, the call becomes a three-way call.
While the CLASS and PBX features have enhanced the offerings of service providers that use the PSTN, the features are nevertheless limited in their flexibility and scope. The effect to the user is that the features become clumsy and difficult to use. For example, in order to use the Call Forwarding function, the user must perform the steps at the user's own phone prior to moving to the location of the telephone to which calls will be forwarded. A more desirable approach, from the standpoint of usefulness to the user, would be to perform the steps at the telephone to which calls will be forwarded. Much of the lack of flexibility of the PSTN features is due to the lack of flexibility in the PSTN system itself. One problem with the PSTN is that the terminal devices (e.g. telephones) lack intelligence and operate as "dumb" terminals on a network having the intelligence in central offices. Most PSTN telephones are limited in functional capability to converting the analog signals they receive to sound and converting the sound from the handset to analog signals.
Some PSTN telephones have a display device and a display function to display specific information communicated from intelligent agents in the PSTN network using the PSTN signaling architecture. For example, some PSTN telephones have a display function to enable the Caller ED feature. Even such PSTN telephones are limited however by the closed PSTN signaling architecture, which prohibits access by the PSTN telephones to the network signaling protocols. The display functions are effectively limited to displaying text, again, as a "dumb" terminal.
The Internet presents a possible solution for distributing intelligence to telephony terminal devices. In Internet telephony, digitized voice is treated as data and transmitted across a digital data network between a telephone calls' participants. One form of Internet telephony uses a telephony gateway/terminal where EP telephony calls are terminated on the network. PSTN telephones are connected by a subscriber line to the gateway/terminal at the local exchange, or at the nearest central office. This form of Internet telephony provides substantial cost savings for users. Because the PSTN portion used in Internet telephony calls is limited to the local lines on each end of the call, long distance calls may be made for essentially the cost of a local call. Notwithstanding the costs savings provided by this form of Internet telephony, it is no more flexible than the PSTN with respect to providing enhancements and features to the basic telephone service. In another form of Internet telephony, telephones are connected to access networks that access the Internet using a router. The telephones in this form of Internet telephony may be substantially more intelligent than typical PSTN telephones. For example, such a telephone may include substantially the computer resources of a typical personal computer. It would be desirable to incorporate CLASS and PBX features into a data network telephony system that uses a data network such as the Internet.
It would be desirable to provide new features and enhancements to telephony service that accommodates and conforms to users' needs.
It would also be desirable to provide features and capabilities to telephone service that create new opportunities for users and for service providers.
The present invention addresses the above needs by providing a system in a data network telephony system, such as for example, the Internet, that enables users to connect to Internet services using a personal information device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are described below in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the various figures, and wherein: FIG. 1 is block diagram of a network telephony system according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system for using a portable information device (PID) to connect to Internet services cm a telephony system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data network telephone according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a PID according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a stack layer diagram showing the layers of an IrDA stack; FIG. 6 is a block and stack layer diagram illustrating an embodiment of the protocol stacks in an exemplary embodiment of a PED linked to a data network telephone;
FIG. 7A is block and stack layer diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention in which a connection to an Internet service may be established;
FIG. 7B is a block and stack layer diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a connection to an Internet service may be established; and
FIG. 8 is a combined block and pictorial diagram showing advantageous use of a system for providing PED data exchange according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following references to patent applications filed concurrently herewith are incorporated be reference:
* "System and Method for Controlling Telephone Service Using a Wireless Personal Information Device" to Schuster, et al.
* "System and Method for Advertising Using Data Network Telephone Connections" to Schuster, et al.
* "System and Method for Providing User-Configured Telephone Service in a Data Network Telephony System" to Sidhu, et al. * "System and Method for Interconnecting Portable Information Devices Through a
Network Based Telecommunication System" to Schuster, et al.
* "System and Method for Enabling Encryption on a Telephony Network" to Schuster, et al.
* "System and Method for Using a Portable Information Device to Establish a Conference Call on a Telephony Network" to Schuster, et al.
* "System and Method for Associating Notes with a Portable Information Device on a Network Telephony Call" to Schuster, et al.
* "System and Method for Providing Shared Workspace Services Over a Telephony Network" to Schuster, et al. * "System and Method for Providing Service Provider Configurations for
Telephones in a Data Network Telephony System" to Schuster, et al. The following additional references are also incorporated by reference herein:
* "Multiple ISP Support for Data Over Cable Networks" to Ali Akgun, et al.
* "Method and System for Provisioning Network Addresses in a Data-Over-Cable System" to Ali Akgun, et al., Serial No. 09/218,793.
* "Network Access Methods, Including Direct Wireless to Internet Access" to Yingchun Xu, et al., Serial No. 08/887,313 A. PID-Enabled Data Network Telephony System
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a system 100 for connecting to Internet services according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a data network 106. A first voice communication device 108a linked to a first access network 112 via connection 130 may communicate over the data network 106 by connecting via the first access network 112. A second voice communication device 108b is linked to a second access network 114 through connection 136 and may communicate over the data network 106 by connecting via the second access network 114 The data network 106 in the system 100 typically includes one or more I_ocal
Area Networks (LANs) connected to one another or to a Wide- Area Network (WAN), such as an Internet Protocol (EP) network, to provide wide-scale data connectivity. The data network 106 may use Voice Over Packet (VOP) schemes in which voice signals are carried in data packets. The network 106 may also include a connection to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to allow for voice connections using traditional circuit switching techniques. In one embodiment, the data network 106 may include one or more LANs such as Ethernet LANs and support data transport protocols for performing Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) techniques on the Internet. For further details regarding VoEP, see the information available through the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) at www.ietf.org. In addition, an Internet Telephony gateway may be included within the system 100 to allow for voice connections to users connected by subscriber lines at a PSTN Central Office.
The data network 106 may be used to access a variety of Internet services 101. For example, the Internet includes the World-Wide Web 102, which is a well-known system for exchanging data over the Internet. The World-Wide Web 102 is commonly used to access targeted information using a computer workstation and an application on the workstation called a browser. With respect to PID's, many Internet Content Providers offer a variety of Web clippings 103 to permit viewing World-Wide Web data on a PED which is smaller than a workstation. One advantage of the system 100 in FIG. 1 is that web clippings 103 and other Internet services 101 may be accessed using the PED 110a,b without having to place a telephone call over the wireless cellular network. The voice communication devices 108a-b (described further below with reference to FIG. 3) typically include a voice input, a voice output and a voice processing system. The voice processing system converts voice sound to digital data signals that are communicated on a voice connection over the data network. The voice processing system also converts digital data signals received from the voice connection to voice sound. The voice communication devices 108a-b typically include a central processing unit and memory to store and process computer programs. Additionally, each voice communication device 108a-b typically includes a unique network address, such as an IP address, in memory to uniquely identify it to the data network 106 and to permit data packets to be routed to the device.
A first PID 110a linked to the first voice communication device 108a via connection 109a may communicate over the data network 106 by connecting via the first access network 112. A second PID 110b linked to the second voice communication device 108b via connection 109b may communicate over the data network 106 by connecting via the second access network 114. The PIDs 11 Oa-b each contain user attributes stored in a user information data base. The user attributes may contain such information as a user identifier, schedule information, and other information that is associated with a user of the PED 110a or 110b. The PIDS 11 Oa-b each include a user interface allowing a user to easily enter and retrieve data. In a preferred embodiment, the user interface includes a pressure-sensitive display that allows a user to enter input with a stylus or other device. An example of a PED with such an interace is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), such as one of the Palm™ series of PDAs offered by 3Com® Corporation. The PIDs 1 lOa-b may include other functionality, such as wireless phone or two-way radio functionality. Links 109a-b are point-to-point links, and may be entirely or partially wireless, or they may be hard-wired connections. Each of the links 109a-b is preferably a wireless link, such as an infrared link specified by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) (see irda.org for further information) or a radio frequency (RF) link such as the Bluetooth system (see www.bluetooth.com for further information). However, the point-to-point link can also be a hardwired connection, such as an RS-232 serial port. In one embodiment, the voice communication device 108a includes a handset with a receiver and transmitter similar or identical to handsets of traditional circuit- switched telephones. A console on which the handset sits may include the voice processing system, a display 116, and a keypad 118. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the voice communication device 108a utilizes an NBX 100™ communication system phone offered by 3Com® Corporation. In alternative embodiments, the voice communication device 108a may include any device having voice communications capabilities. For example, a personal computer having a microphone input and speaker output may also be used to implement the voice communication device 108a. Other configurations are also intended to be within the scope of the present invention.
The details relating to operation of the voice communication devices 108a and 108b depend on the nature of the data network 106 and the nature of the access networks 112, 114 connecting the voice communication devices 108a and 108b to each other and/or to other network entities. The access networks 112, 114 typically include any high bandwidth network adapted for data communications, i.e. a network having greater than 64,000 bits-per-second (bps) bandwidth. The access networks 112, 114 may link to the voice communication devices 108a-b using an Ethernet LAN, a token ring LAN, a coaxial cable link (e.g. CATV adapted for digital communication), a digital subscriber line (DSL), twisted pair cable, fiberoptic cable, an integrated services digital network
(ISDN) link, and wireless links. In embodiments that may not require bandwidth greater than 64,000 bps, the access networks 112, 114 may also include the PSTN and link the voice communications devices 108a-b by an analog modem.
B. System for Connecting to Data Network Services Using a Data Network Telephony System
One advantage of the PED-Enabled Data Network Telephony System 100 in FIG.
1 is that it may be used to provide PID connectivity to the data network 106. In one embodiment, the PEDs 110a are able to connect to data network services through a user interface on the PED 110a. The PED 110a includes a web application for retrieving information that can be communicated from the Internet services 101 over the data network 106, transported across the first access network 112, to the voice communication
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff \ Q device 108a. The PID 110a can receive the information across the link 109a for display on the PID HOba.
In one embodiment, the PID 1 10a uses the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) to communicate with the voice communications device 108a. The PID 1 10a communicates requests for services to the voice communications device 108a to send over the data network 106. The PID 110a receives the Internet service offerings (e.g. web clippings) from the data network through the voice communication device 108a.
A voice-over-data channel for communicating voice-over-data may or may not concurrently exist with this communication of information over a data channel. In this way, a user of the PED 110a can receive information from the Internet services 101 while voice signals are communicated between the voice communication device 108a and the voice communication device 108b. Alternatively, the user may use the PED 1 10a connection to the Internet services independently of any telephone calls.
1. Local Area Network As An Exemplary Access Network FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one example of the system 100 of FIG. 1 for accessing Internet services 101 using a PID 210a according to the present invention. The system 200 in FIG. 2 includes a local area network 212, connected to a data network 206 by a first router 228. A cable network 214 is connected to the data network 206 by a second router 238. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that while FIG. 2 illustrates the access networks as the local area network 212 and the cable network 214, any other type of network may be used. For example, the local area network 212 and/or the cable network 214 may be replaced by ISDN, DSL, or any other high-speed data link.
The local area network 212 provides data connectivity to its network elements, such as a first data network telephone 208a, a second data network telephone 208b, and a first network telephony connection server 150. The local area network 212 in FIG. 2 is an Ethernet LAN operating according to the EEEE 802.3 specification, which is incorporated by reference herein, however, any other type of local area network may be used. The local area network 212 uses the router 228 to provide the data network telephone 208a and the first network telephony connection server 150 with access to the data network 206. For example, the router 228 may perform routing functions using protocol stacks that include the Internet Protocol and other protocols for communicating on the Internet.
The first network telephony connection server 150 provides telephony registration, location and session initiation services for voice connections in which its members are a party. A user may register for telephony service with an administrator of the first network telephony connection server 150 and receive a user identifier and a telephone identifier. The user identifier and telephone identifier may be sequences of unique alphanumeric elements that callers use to direct voice connections to the user. The first network telephony connection server 150 registers users by storing user records in a first registration database 152 in response to registration requests made by the user. The call setup process and the user and telephone identifiers preferably conform to requirements defined in a call management protocol. The call management protocol is used to permit a caller anywhere on the data network to connect to the user identified by the user identifier in a data network telephone call. A data network telephone call includes a call setup process and a voice exchange process. The call setup process includes steps and message exchanges that a caller and callee perform to establish the telephone call. The actual exchange of voice signals is performed by a data communications channel. The data communications channel incorporates other data transport and data formatting protocols, and preferably includes well-known data communications channels typically established over the Internet.
The call management protocol used in FIG. 2 is the Session Initiation Protocol (SEP), which is described in M. Handley et al., "SIP: Session Initiation Protocol," IETF RFC 2543, Mar. 1999, incorporated by reference herein, however, any other such protocol may be used. Other protocols include H.323, the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), MEGACO, etc.
The network telephony connection server 150 may be used to provide telephony service for mobile users. A user may be registered to use the first network telephone 208a (which is identified by its telephone identifier), but move to a location near the second network telephone 208b. The user may re-register as the user of the second network telephone 208b. Calls that identify the user by the user's user identifier may reach the user at the second network telephone 208b. 2. Cable Network As An Exemplary Access Network
The system 200 in FIG. 2 also shows a cable network 214 connected to the data network 206 by a router 238. The cable network 214 provides data network access to its network elements, which in FIG. 2 include a third data network telephone 218a and a second network telephony connection server 162. The users of the data network telephone 218a connected to the cable network 214 may communicate over the data network 206 with the users of the data network telephones 208a-b connected to the local area network 212.
The cable network 214 includes any digital cable television system that provides data connectivity. In the cable network 214, data is communicated by radio frequency in a high-frequency coaxial cable. The cable network 214 may include a head-end, or a central termination system that permits management of the cable connections to the users.
3. Providing Telephony Services
The second network telephony connection server 162 is preferably a SIP-based server that performs call initiation, maintenance and teardown for the data network telephone 218a connected to the cable network 214. The second network telephony connection server 162 may be similar or identical to the first network telephony connection server 150 connected to the local area network 212.
The system 200 shown in FIG. 2 permits the data network telephones 208a-b connected to the local area network 212 to communicate with the data network telephone 218a connected to the cable network 214. The system shown in FIG. 2 uses SIP in order to establish, maintain, and teardown telephone calls between users.
There are two major architectural elements to SEP : the user agent (UA) and the network server. The UA resides at the SIP end stations, (e.g. the data network telephones), and contains two parts: a user agent client (UAC), which is responsible for issuing SIP requests, and a user agent server (UAS), which responds to such requests. There are three different network server types: a redirect server, a proxy server, and a registrar. The various network server types may be combined into a single server, such as the network telephony connection server 150 and 162. Not all server types are required to implement the embodiments of the present invention. The communication services to be provided will determine which servers are present in the communication system. Preferred embodiments of the present invention may be carried out using proxy servers.
One example of a SIP operation involves a SIP UAC issuing a request, a SEP proxy server acting as end-user location discovery agent, and a SEP UAS accepting the call. A successful SIP invitation consists of two requests: INVITE followed by ACK. The INVITE message contains a user identifier to identify the callee, a caller user identifier to identify the caller, and a session description that informs the called party what type of media the caller can accept and where it wishes the media data to be sent. User identifiers in SIP requests are known as SIP addresses. SEP addresses are referred to as SIP Uniform Resource Locators (SEP-URLs), which are of the form sip:user@host.domain. Other addressing conventions may also be used.
Redirect servers process an INVITE message by sending back the SIP-URL where the callee is reachable. Proxy servers perform application layer routing of the SIP requests and responses. A proxy server can either be stateful or stateless. A stateful proxy holds information about the call during the entire time the call is up, while a stateless proxy processes a message without saving information contained in the message. Furthermore, proxies can be either forking or non-forking. A forking proxy can, for example, ring several data network telephones at once until somebody takes the call. Registrar servers are used to record the SIP address (the SIP URL) and the associated EP address. The most common use of a registrar server is for the UAC to notify the registrar where a particular SEP URL can be reached for a specified amount of time. When an INVITE request arrives for the SIP URL used in a REGISTER message, the proxy or redirect server forwards the request correctly. At the local area network 212, the central registrar/proxy server, such as the first network telephony server 150, is the primary destination of all SEP messages trying to establish a connection with users on the local area network 212. Preferably, the first network telephony server 150 is also the only destination advertised to the SIP clients outside the LAN 212 on behalf of all the SIP clients residing on the LAN 212. The network telephony server 150 relays all SIP INVITE messages to the appropriate final destination (or another SIP proxy), based on a database lookup using the first SIP database 152. It allows all mobile clients to register with their current locations.
Similarly, the second network telephony server 162 is the primary destination of all SIP messages trying to establish a connection with the data network telephone 218a connected to the cable network 214. Preferably, the second network telephony server 162 is also the only destination advertised to the SIP clients outside the cable network 214 on behalf of all the SEP clients (e.g. data network telephones) residing on the cable network 214. The second network telephony server 162 relays all SEP INVITE messages to the appropriate final destination (or another SEP proxy), based on a database lookup using the second SEP database 164.
The data network telephones 208a-b and 218a in the system 200 preferably have pre-programmed device identifiers (e.g. phone numbers), represented as SEP-URL's that are of the form sip: user@domain. An example is sip: 8475551212@3Com.com.. After power-up, each of the data network telephones 208a-b and 218a sends a SIP REGISTER message to the default registrar, such as the network telephony servers 150 and 162. When a call arrives at one of the network telephony servers 150 or 162 for any of the registered SEP URLs, the server will forward the call to the appropriate destination. If a data network telephone is moved to a new location, all calls to the associated SEP URL will still be properly routed to that device. In other words, the system in FIG. 2 provides device mobility in the sense that calls will "follow" the data network telephone according to its SIP URL. This is especially useful if the data network telephone 208a-b or 218a is running the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) so that when the location is changed, the IP address is also automatically changed.
An advantage of the system in FIG. 2 is that once the call is established between data network telephones, the data network 206 provides data connectivity for a plurality of data communications channels. For example, the data network telephones 208a and 218a can communicate voice signals as voice-over-data packets on a voice-over-data channel. The data network telephones 208a and 218a can also communicate data (such as PED data) as data packets on a data channel. For example, the data may be communicated to and from the PIDs 210a and/or 220a across links 209a and 219a to the data network telephones 208a and 218a, where data is packetized and depacketized as part of the process for communicating the data packets across the data network 206 and any access networks, such as the Ethernet LAN 212 and the cable network 214. The data channels may be established to communicate data to and from the Internet services 101.
4. The Data Network Telephones The data network telephones 208a-b are preferably telephones that include an
Ethernet communications interface for connection to an Ethernet port. The Ethernet phones in FIG. 2 support the Internet Protocol (IP), using an IP address that is either statically configured or obtained by access to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the data network telephone 208a connected to the local area network 212 in FIG. 2. The data network telephone 208a in FIG. 3 is connected to the network 212 by a network interface 270. The network interface 270 may, for example, be a network interface card, and may be in the form of an integrated circuit. A bus 248 may be used to connect the network interface 270 with a processor 240 and a memory 242. Also connected to the processor are user interface circuitry 260 and three alternative link interfaces to a PED, such as the PED 210a.
A first link interface 248 includes an RS-232 serial connection and associated coupling hardware and mechanisms. The first alternative link interface 248 may, for example, be a docking cradle for a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), in which information can be transferred between the PDA and the data network telephone 208a. The second alternative link interface comprises a first connection 254, such as an RS-232 connection, along with infrared circuitry 250 for converting signals into infrared output and for accepting infrared input. An infrared interface 252 may also be included within the second alternative link interface. The third alternative link interface comprises a first connection 256, such as an RS-232 connection, along with radio-frequency circuitry 258 for converting signals into radio frequency output and for accepting radio frequency input. A radio frequency interface 259 may also be included as part of the third alternative link interface.
The three alternative link interfaces described above are merely examples, and additional means for implementing the link interface between the data network telephone 208a and the PID 210a may also be used. Although three link interfaces are shown in FIG. 3, there may be only one such interface in the data network telephone 208a. More than one link interface may be included to improve flexibility and to provide redundancy in case of failure of one of the link interfaces. The user interface circuitry 260 includes hardware and software components that access the functions of the handset, display, and keypad to provide user input and output resources for functions in the processor 240. The user interface circuitry includes a display interface 262, a keypad interface 264, an audio output interface 265, and an audio input interface 267. The audio input interface 267 may receive voice signals from a microphone or other audio input device and convert the signals to digital voice information. The conversion preferably conforms to the G.711 ITU Standard. Further processing of the digital signal may be performed in the audio input interface 267, such as providing compression (e.g. using G.723.1 standard) or providing noise reduction, although such processing may also be performed in the processor 240. Altematively, the audio input interface 267 may communicate an analog voice signal to the processor 240 for conversion to digital information within the processor 240.
The audio output interface 265 receives digital information representing voice from the processor 240 and converts the information to audible sound, such as through a magnetic speaker. In one embodiment, the audio output interface 265 receives information in the form of G.711, although other processing such as decompression may be performed in the audio output interface 265. Alternatively, the processor 240 may convert digital information to analog voice signals and communicate the analog voice signals to the audio output interface 265. The keypad interface 264 and the display interface 262 include well-known device interfaces and respective signal processing techniques. The user interface circuitry 260 may support other hardware and software interfaces. For example, a videophone implementation might also include a camera and monitor. The data network telephones of the present invention are not limited to telephones or videophones - additional user interface types, for example, such as the ones needed for computer games, are also contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. In addition, some of the features described here, such as the display interface 262, are optional and serve to enhance the functionality of the first data network telephone 208a.
The processor 240 may consist of one or more smaller processing units, including, for example, a programmable digital signal processing engine. In the preferred embodiment, the processor is implemented as a single ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) to improve speed and to economize space. The processor 240 also may include an operating system, and application and communications software to implement the functions of the data network telephone 208a. The operating system may be any suitable commercially available embedded or disk-based operating system, or any proprietary operating system.
The processor 240 includes a media engine 241 and a signaling stack 243 to perform the primary communications and application functions of the data network telephone 208a. The purpose of the signaling stack in the exemplary data network telephone 208a is to set up, manage, and tear down a call. During the setup phase, a user may use the keypad to enter a user identifier to call. Altematively, a PID such as PED
210a may transmit the user identifier of the party across the first link 209a. The signaling stack 243 receives the user entry and formats a request message to send to the user identified by the user identifier to initiate a telephone call. When the request message is sent, the location of the user identified by the user identifier is discovered, communication parameters, such as the supported voice CODEC types are exchanged, and a voice-over-data channel is established. During the management phase, for example, other parties may be invited to the call if needed. During the tear down phase, the call is terminated.
The signaling protocol used in the data network telephone 208a in FIG. 3 is the SIP protocol. In particular, the signaling stack implements a User Agent Client 244 and a User Agent Server 242, in accordance with the SIP protocol. Alternative signaling protocols, such as the ITU-T H.323 protocol, MGCP, MEGACO, and others, may also be used to implement the present invention.
Once the call is set up, the media engine 241 manages the communication over one or more data communications channels using network transport protocols and the network interface 270. The media engine 241 sends and receives data packets having a data payload for carrying data and an indication of the type of data is being transported. The media engine 241 in the data network telephones 208a may sample the voice signals from the audio input 267 (or receive voice samples from the audio input 267), encode the samples, and build data packets on the sending side. On the receiver side, in addition to performing the reverse operations, the media engine also typically manages a receiver buffer to compensate for network jitter. Similar procedures may be performed for other types of data, such as graphical data, or for data used in PED applications such as email, contacts data, calendar data, other non- voice sound data, interactive game data, etc.
The media engine 241 may also include hardware and software components for performing registration functions 247, voice-over-data functions 249, display data functions 251, and keypad output functions 253. The media engine 241 processes data that is received from the network 212, and data to be sent over the network 241.
For data that is received from the network 212, the media engine 241 may determine from the type of data in the packet (such as by examining a packet header) whether packets contain sampled voice signals or other data types. Packets containing sampled voice signals are processed by the voice-over-data function 249. The voice- over-data function 249 preferably conforms to a protocol for formatting voice signals as digital data streams. While any suitable protocol may be used, the media (i.e. the voice signal) is preferably transported via the Real Time Protocol (RTP), which itself is carried inside of UDP (User Datagram Protocol). RTP is described in H. Schulzrinne et al., "RTP: A Transport Protocol for Real-Time Applications," IETF RFC 1889, Jan. 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference. UDP is described in J. Postel, "User Datagram Protocol," IETF RFC 768, Aug. 1980, and IP is described in J. Postel, ed., "Internet Protocol," IETF RFC 791, Sept. 1981, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Packets containing data for use in registering the data network telephone 208a with a network telephony service are processed by the registration function 247. By registering the data network telephone 208a, a user may establish with the network telephony connection server 150 that calls addressed to the user's user identifier may be connected to the data network telephone 208a. Registration may occur when the data network telephone 208a sends a request to register to a service provider host, such as the network telephony connection server 150. The service provider host may respond by setting the user's user identifier to correspond to the telephone identifier of the data network telephone 208a, and by acknowledging the request with a status message to the data network telephone 208a. In one embodiment, a request to register the data network telephone 208a to a default user is automatically sent during power-up of the data network telephone 208a.
Other features may be added to the registration functions 247, or implemented as extensions to the registration functions 247. For example, the first data network telephone 208a may be provisioned to provide selected network telephony services by establishing a data connection with a service provider, requesting the selected services, and receiving data that ensures that the services have been successfully provisioned. Such services may include, for example, caller identification, call forwarding, voice mail and any other services offered by the network telephony service provider to enhance the capabilities of the first data network telephone 208a. One advantage of provisioning functions is that services may be ordered for temporary use in a manner convenient to the user.
Packets containing data for display on a display device of the data network telephone 208a are processed by the display data function 251. The display data function 251 may be used for displaying, for example, the names and user identifiers of other parties to the call, the status of the telephone call, billing information, and other information.
For data to be sent over the data network 212, the media engine 241 formats the data as data packets in accordance with a selected protocol. The selected protocol is preferably a protocol that is supported by data network telephones that will receive the data being transported. The media engine 241 may include a data connection application 245 to perform functions relating to data connections over the data network 206. The data network telephone 208 may include a data connection management protocol (e.g. the hypertext transport protocol, or http) to handle data connections. Altematively, the SEP protocol may be used to establish data connections as well as voice connections. The data connection application 245 may also perform proxy services to permit the PED 108 to establish data connections. The voice-over-data function 249 formats voice samples according to the protocol used by the receiving data network telephone. In one preferred embodiment, the voice over data function 249 formats voice samples as RTP packets. The registration function 247 and the keypad output function 253 may control the transport of data that does not represent voice signals.
The data network telephones 208b and 218a are preferably similar or identical to the data network telephone 208a. For each of the data network telephones 208a-b and 218a, many of the features described in FIG. 3 are optional and their inclusion depends on the services to be offered.
5. The Portable Information Devices (PIDs)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the exemplary PED 210a that can communicate via the link 209a with the data network telephone 208a connected to the LAN 212. The PID 210a may be linked to the data network telephone 208a through a link interface 545. A bus 580 may be used to connect the point-to-point interface 545 with a processor 540, a memory 542, data storage 543, and user interface circuitry 544.
The link interface 545 shown in FIG. 4 illustrates three alternative link interfaces for establishing a link to a data network telephone, such as the data network telephone 208a.
A first link interface 546 includes an RS-232 serial connection and associated coupling hardware mechanisms. The first alternative link interface 546 may, for example, be for coupling with a PDA docking cradle, in which information can be transferred between the PDA and the data network telephone 208a. The second alternative link interface comprises a first connection 548, such as an RS-232 serial connection, along with infrared circuitry 250 for converting signals into infrared output and for accepting infrared input. An infrared interface 552 may also be included within the second alternative link interface. The third alternative link interface comprises a first connection 554, such as an RS-232 connection, along with radio-frequency circuitry 556 for converting signals into radio frequency output and for accepting radio frequency input. A radio frequency interface 558 may also be included as part of the third alternative interface. The radio interface 554/556/558 may be implemented according to the Bluetooth specifications, described at www.bluetooth.com.
The three altemative link interfaces described above are merely exemplary, and additional means for implementing the interface between the PID 210a and the data network telephone 208a may also be utilized. Although three link interfaces are shown in FIG. 4, there may be only one such interface in the PID 210a. More than one link interface may be included to improve flexibility and to provide redundancy in case of failure of one of the link interfaces.
The user interface circuitry 544 includes hardware and software components that provide user input and output resources for functions in the processor 540. The user interface circuitry includes a display output 562, a display input 565, and an additional input/output interface 567.
The display output 562 preferably receives digital information representing graphical data from the processor 540 and converts the information to a graphical display, such as text and/or images, for display on a display screen, for example.
The display input 565 may receive data inputs, such as graphical data inputs, from a user of the PED 210a. The graphical data inputs are preferably entered by the user with a stylus on a pressure-sensitive display screen, and may include text, drawings, or other objects that are capable of being graphically presented. The additional input/output interface 567 allows the user to enter other types of data besides graphical data into the PID 210a. For example, audio data, additional graphical data, or additional input, such as video camera input for example, may be entered through the additional input output interface 567. The data may also include data formatted for operation with particular applications on the PID. For example, email data, calendar data, contacts data, database data, spreadsheets, notes, game data, etc. may also be entered. Touch-sensitive screen buttons are an exemplary method for a user to enter control data into the PID 210a.
The processor 540 may include an operating system, as well as application and communication software, to implement the functions of the PED 210a. The operating system may be any suitable commercially available operating system, or any proprietary operating system. The operating system and software may be stored on data storage 543, in the memory 542, or the may be embedded in the processor 540. Although the processor 540 is shown connected to the data storage 543 through a bus 580, other configurations may also be used. Similarly, the memory 542 may be configured other than as shown in FIG. 4, and may be embedded within the processor 540. The PED 210a is able to send data to and receive data from the data network telephone 208a across a point-to-point link, such as the point-to-point link 209a shown in FIG. 1. A user enters PID data at the display input 565. The graphical data may be processed in the user interface circuitry 544 or it may go directly to the processor 540 or the memory 542. The processor 540 may also perform processing functions, such as compression.
A PID data application may be used to perform functions that may implement the display input, the display output, and the processing functions. For example, a web clippings application 575 may be used to request and receive information from Internet services 101 (shown in FIG. 2) in a format suitable for the PID 210. The information, or clippings are provided by the Internet services 101. The information retrieved as clippings could then be displayed through the display output 562 to enable the user to see a visual representation of the information.
If the user desires to request information from web clippings 103, a periodic request may be set up to make a request at a designated time as long as a link interface to the data network telephone 208 is active. Alternatively, the user may store links (e.g. hot links) and select the hotlinks using the stylus or other user input to request specific information at anytime. The request can be transmitted through one of the point-to-point interfaces 545, allowing the data to be received by the data network telephone 208a. An application in the data network telephone 208a receives the request across the point-to- point link, and the request is prepared for transmission across the data network 206, such as by the media engine 241 shown in FIG. 3. Preferably the request is converted to data packets and is communicated on a data channel across the LAN 212 through the router 228 across the data network 206 to the selected web clipping 103.
The web clipping 103 processes the request using well-known techniques (e.g. http). The requested information is formatted as data packets, preferably in the form of TCP/EP data packets to the data network telephone 208a. The data network telephone 208a may recognize the data packets as related to the previously made request and simply pass the information to the PID 210, or process the data packets.
The link 209a between PID 210a and the first data network telephone 208a can alternatively be implemented as an infrared link using all or parts of a specialized protocol, such as the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol stack, where data is interpreted through the stack between application-layer processes at each end of the link. FIG. 5 is a protocol diagram illustrating the layers of the IrDA protocol stack. An IrDA stack is implemented at each of the connection endpoints of an IrDA link. For example, the first PID 210a and the first data network telephone 208a could each implement an IrDA protocol stack to enable the link 209a. As a second altemative, two PIDs, such as the first PED 210a and the third PID 218a, may each contain an IrDA stack. In the second alternative, the communications between the PIDs and the data network telephones might take place without the assistance of IrDA. For example, IrDa data from the first PID 210a might be transmitted across the link 209a as a serial stream of data to the first data network telephone 208a, which might treat the IrDA data like any other data received from the first PED 210a. The first data network telephone 208a could then assemble the IrDA data into packets, such as TCP/IP packets for transport across the access and data networks to the third data network telephone 218a. The third data network telephone 218a may disassemble the packets and forward the IrDA data (without interpreting the IrDA portions) across the link 219a to the third PED 220a. The third PID 220a could then process the IrDA information received across the networks.
The required layers of an IrDA protocol stack are the physical layer 602, the IrLAP layer 604, the IRLMP layer 606 and the IAS layer 608. The physical layer 602 specifies optical characteristics of the link, encoding of data, and framing for various speeds. The IrLAP (Link Access Protocol) layer 604 establishes the basic reliable connection between the two ends of the link. The IrLMP (Link Management Protocol) layer 606 multiplexes services and applications on the IrLAP connection. The IAS (Information Access Service) layer 608 provides a directory or "yellow pages" of services on an IrDA device. The IrDA protocol also specifies a number of optional protocol layers, these protocol layers being TinyTP 610, IrOBEX 612, IrCOMM 614 and IrLAN 616. TinyTP (Tiny Transport Protocol) 610 adds per-channel flow control to keep traffic over the IrDA link moving smoothly. This important function is required in many cases. IrOBEX (Infrared Object Exchange protocol) 612 provides for the easy transfer of files and other data objects between the IrDA devices at each end of the link. IrCOMM 614 is a serial and parallel port emulation that enables existing applications that use serial and parallel communications to use IrDA without change. IrLAN (Infrared E-ocal Area Network) 616 enables walk-up infrared LAN access for laptops and other devices. The use of the optional layers depends upon the particular application in the IrDA device. The IrDA protocol stack is defined by such standards documents as "IrDA Serial Infrared Physical Layer Link Specification", "IrDA 'IrCOMM' : Serial and Parallel Port Emulation over ER (Wire Replacement)", "IrDA Serial Infrared Link Access Protocol (IrLAP)", "IrDA Infrared Link Management Protocol (IrLMP)", and "IrDA 'Tiny TP': A Flow-Control Mechanism for use with IrLMP", and related specifications published by the IrDA and available at http://www.irda.org/standards/specifications.asp and is incorporated by reference herein.
The IrDA protocol stack can be implemented at just the PID devices at the endpoints with the intermediate phones and networks simply providing a tunnel for the media stream attendant to the infrared links. Since PEDs, such as the Palm PDA, already have an IrDA stack implemented in them to support their infrared link to other devices and the benefits of the IrDA stack are already available. By using the layers of the IrDA protocol stack, the PED applications and the base applications in the phones can be simplified as the IrDA protocol layers take over certain functionalities. For example, the IrOBEX layer in each IrDA protocol stack can be used to transfer text and graphics object files, such as electronic business cards or whiteboard graphics, end-to-end between PED devices connected via data connected data network telephones..
With the IrDA stack being implemented only in the PEDs and not in the phones, only a small level of delay is introduced for stack interpretation by each PED and the connection provided is largely transparent to the applications in the PED devices, i.e. little or no modification to existing user applications in the PIDs is required. This approach may be more suitable for delay sensitive applications, such as interactive games involving the transfer of data between user applications in each PID. It should be noted that the IrDA stack is written for a single infrared point-to- point interface and not for an infrared-to-network-to-infrared interface. As a result, the timers and retransmission schemes implemented in view of the single infrared point-to- point interface may not function properly for the extended network interface. Alternatively, IrDA stacks can be implemented in the phones as well. By implementing IrDA stacks in the phones, the timing of the infrared interface is unaffected by a network delay. Also, additional functions and features can be implemented in the phones. For example, the phones can implement challenge and authentication where the phone requires the user, through the PED, to enter a password or other information to authenticate an authorized user. Similarly, the PID may also be used to transmit commands to the phone and receive status information via the IrDA stack. The approach taken will depend upon the requirements of the design and the particular application.
6. Providing Telephony and Access to Internet Services
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram and protocol stack diagram illustrating an embodiment of the protocol stacks in the first PID 210a and the first data network telephone 208a that support link 209a. In the infrared RS-232 embodiment, the link interface circuitry 545 in the first PED 210a provides the physical layer 656, such as that specified by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA), that connects via link 209a to the link interface circuitry 260 implementing a physical layer 664 in the first data network telephone 208a. The data link layer 654 in the first PID 210a provides data link control for link 209a in transferring data to and from a PED application client 652. Similarly, the first data network telephone 208a includes a data link layer 662 and a base application server 600 that is configured to synchronize connection and other functions with the PID application 652 in the first PID 210a. When PED 210a is activated, either through power-up or through a user input at the user interface 650, the synchronization application client 652 in the PID 210a may send the user's SEP URL across the link 209a to the first data network telephone 208a, where it is received by the synchronization application server 600. The synchronization application server 600 sends the SIP URL received from the PID 210a across connection 230 and the Ethernet LAN 212 through connection 243 to the network telephony connection server 150. The network telephony connection server 150 may store the SIP URL and the IP address of the associated data network telephone 208a in the SIP database 152 so that the SIP URL is listed as being resident at the IP address of the data network telephone 208a. (If the network telephony connection server 150 uses a location server for registration/location tasks, the registration information might instead be stored with such a location server). SQL (Structured Query Language) is preferred for querying the database. Once the PID 210a is registered with the network telephony connection server 150, calls to the SIP URL for PID 210a (or the user of the PID 210a) will be directed to the data network telephone 208a. FIG. 7A is a functional block and protocol stack diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention where a SIP connection is established from the first data network phone 208a to the third data network phone 218a through network connection 230, first access network 212, data network 206, second access network 214 and network connection 236. The routers 228 and 238, and associated connections 232a- b and 234a-b, are not shown to simplify the block diagram representation.
The diagram of FIG. 7 A shows how requests for Internet services can be transmitted and responses to the requests processed in one aspect of the present invention. The PID application 652 in PED 210a is configured to send PID data as input, which in the present context is a request for data, such as a hotlink, or an URL. The request is sent through the user interface 650 through link 209a to base application 660 in the first data network phone 208a. In this embodiment, base application 660 is configured to define data channels for transport to the Internet services 101. The Internet services 101 responds to the request by sending back requested services to the PID 110a. For example, the Internet services may send back data from web clippings 686 to the PID 110a as PED data.
Multiple data channels in SIP may be defined through the Session Description Protocol described in RFC 2327, herein incorporated by reference. Included in a SEP INVITE request for a connection are options for the requested connection that describe the number and type of media streams. Each media stream is described by a "m=" line in the INVITE request. For example, a request for a connection that includes an audio stream and a bidirectional video stream using H.261 might look like this: v=0 o=alice 2890844526 2890844526 IN IP4 host.anywhere.com c=IN IP4 host.anywhere.com m=audio 49170 RTP/AVP 0 a=rtpmap:0 PCMU/8000 m=video 51372 RTP/AVP 31 a=rtpmap:31 H261/90000
TABLE 1.
If the called device includes functionality to receive the connection as described in Table 1, then the called device will respond to the INVITE request with a 200 OK response that includes the same option values. If the called device or party is unable or unwilling to receive such a connection, then it will respond with altemative option values for the connection. See RFC 2543 for further details regarding the negotiation of connection parameters in SIP.
In FIG. 7A, a first data channel for voice data has been negotiated by the base applications 660 in the first data network telephone 208a and the base application 674 in the second data network telephone 218a. In addition, a second data channel for Internet services data has been negotiated by the base application 660 in the first data network telephone 208a and web clippings application 686 in the Internet services 101.
The base applications 660 and 674 transfer voice data between the AUDIO applications, such as applications including G.711 encoders, in each phone via the first data channel. The base application 660 in phone 208a is also configured to send data requests received via link 209a from PID 210a to the Internet services 101 via the second data channel. The Internet services 101 processes the request and provides the requested information over the second data channel.
One advantage of the embodiment in FIG. 7A is that the voice channel is optional. The users may request the data connection to the Internet services 101 while conversing on the phones 208. Altematively, a user may connect to the Internet services 101 independent of any voice connection. FIG. 7B shows an alternative embodiment for providing a data connection from the PID 1 10a to the Internet services 101. The link 209a in FIG. 7B is an RS232 connection. The PID 1 10a includes an IP stack that includes a Point-To-Point client 653. In addition, the telephone 208a includes a PPP server 663. The PID 1 10a may connect directly to the Internet services 101 with its own IP address. One advantage of using the PPP-based connection in FIG. 7B is that even a basic, low-cost PED 110a may perform sophisticated Internet communications because the PPP is widely available at a low cost.
C. Accessing Internet Services Concurrent with Voice Services
FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for transmitting data from an Internet service concurrently with voice services during a telephone conversation. The PID 210a includes a display screen 702, a stylus 700 that a user can use to select a hotlink, or URL address to a Web service. Alternatively, a SYNC button 718 may be used to initiate a series of requests to the Internet services 101.
The display screen 702 is shown as a pressure-sensitive display screen in which the stylus 700 can be used to enter PID data 714 into the first PID 210a. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the PID 210a includes hotlink 706 for accessing prices of selected stocks from the Internet services 101. The stylus is being used to select the hotlink 706 the stock prices.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the hotlink 706 is transmitted across the link 209a to the first data network telephone 208a. When the first data network telephone 208a receives the transmitted hotlink 714, an application within the first data network telephone 208a will place the hotlink 714 into PID data packets for transmission to the Internet services 101 across the access and data networks 212, 206 (and any associated connections and routers). The Internet services then processes the hotlink 714 and responds by sending the requested stock prices in the PID data channel 724 back to the data network telephone 208. The data network telephone 208 transmits the information to the PID 208 for display on the PID display 702.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with presently preferred embodiments of the invention, persons of skill in the art will appreciate that variations may be made without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the access networks shown in FIG. 2 may comprise any other suitable type of local area network or service infrastructure.
In addition, protocols of various types are referenced throughout. While preferred and altemative embodiments may implement selected protocols, any suitable replacement protocol not mentioned, or any function not part of a protocol used to replace a corresponding function from a protocol may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.
This true scope and spirit is defined by the appended claims, interpreted in light of the foregoing.

Claims

WE CLAIM:
1. A system for accessing Internet services on a data network telephony system comprising: a data network to provide data connectivity for a plurality of data communications channels using data transport protocols; at least one Internet service connected to the data network; a data network telephone connected to the data network, the data network telephone operable to communicate a voice signal as voice-over-data packets on a voice- over-data channel, the voice over data channel being one of the plurality of data communications channels on the data network, the data network telephone operable to convert voice-over-data packets communicated on the voice-over-data channel to voice signals; and a portable information device comprising a first graphical user interface and a first data network telephone interface, the first graphical user interface operable to accept and display information from the Internet service, the first data network telephone interface operable to communicate at least one request for Internet services to and from the first data network telephone.
PCT/US2000/026594 1999-09-27 2000-09-27 System and method for accessing an internet server using a portable information device -pda through a data network telephone WO2001024500A1 (en)

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