WO2009139652A1

WO2009139652A1 - Apparatus for integrating voice, video and data capabilities into a telephone network

Info

Publication number: WO2009139652A1
Application number: PCT/PH2008/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Jesus A. Suson; Kelvin Chua
Original assignee: Nextix Labs Inc.
Priority date: 2008-05-16
Filing date: 2008-05-16
Publication date: 2009-11-19

Abstract

The present invention relates to a telephone switching apparatus which integrate voice, video and data capabilities into a telephone network transforming the same from a mere call/voice interface into a system or device with enhanced computer capabilities. The present invention allows the apparatus to perform computer functions such as, real-time monitoring and management, CDR analysis with graphical representation, fax management of the telephone switch and other related computing functions.

Description

S P E C I F I C A T I O N

APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATING VOICE, VIDEO AND DATA CAPABILITIES INTO A TELEPHONE NETWORK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to telephony and telephone systems, but more particularly to an apparatus for integrating voice, video and data capabilities into a telephone network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The telephone is the most common and personal device used in the everyday lives of people around the world. Practically everyone now has a phone regardless of age, gender, or race. Furthermore, more telephone products are manufactured and bought everyday than computers or laptops. Because of the telephone's accessibility and versatility, telephone systems would also be the easiest and most convenient computing platform. Such telephone systems when enhanced and incorporated with computer intelligence will enable an ordinary telephone to possess data and voice processing capabilities of a computer. However, inspite of the fact that telephones have been around for a long time, the same remain to be "DUMB" devices capable only of the basic call/voice interfaces and very limited other functions . Attempts have been made to provide enhancements and intelligence to conventional telephone systems as shown in the prior art more specifically in US Patent No. 7,177,411. US Patent 7,177,411 relates to a system for telephone services and more specifically to a system for implementing telephone services on one or more telephone installations, and having several telephone terminals managed by one or more PABXs. The prior art teaches a telephone system wherein existing private automatic branch exchanges (PABX) are integrated with a computer telephone integration (CTI) server through a control interface to provide the PABX some kind of remote management wherein other services may be supplemented to the existing services provided by the PABX.

The features of the prior art still do not provide for the possibility of transforming any telephone module or system into a mini-computer. The transformation of a telephone system by incorporating computer intelligence would allow the device to perform computer functions such as, real-time remote monitoring and management, CDR analysis with graphical representation, fax management of the telephone switch and other related functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the aforementioned limitations and technical problems of present day telephone systems and devices, the present invention provides for an apparatus for integrating voice, video and data capabilities into a telephone network and transforming the same from a mere call/voice interface into a system or device with enhanced computer capabilities. The herein apparatus of the present invention comprising means for processing incoming and outgoing call traffic and converting these call traffic into digital signals, a memory controlling means for controlling applications hosted by the apparatus, a means for controlling the internet and data connectivity of the apparatus, a means for controlling and managing USB devices connected to the apparatus, an interface means used for expanding the capability of the apparatus by allowing the connection of other devices and circuit boards to the apparatus, a plurality of port interfaces for connecting the apparatus to the public switch telephone network (PSTN) , and a control bus for performing signal transmission between the components of the switching apparatus .

Still, another object of the present invention is to further provide an apparatus that allows telephone systems to perform functions such as, real-time remote monitoring and management, CDR analysis with graphical representation, fax management of the telephone switch and other related functions.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon a reading of the ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a telephone network including the enhanced telephone switching apparatus of the present invention and a plurality of telephone and computer peripherals.

Figure 2 is the block diagram of the switching apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention relates to telecommunications and computer network application. More particularly, the present invention relates to an enhanced telephone switching apparatus for integrating voice and video capabilities in a telephone network. Hereinafter, the system of the present invention shall be described according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and by referring to the accompanying description and drawings. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention and to the drawings is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claim. The present invention for an enhanced telephone switching apparatus has been designed to operate in a combined telecommunication and computing environment, particularly in public switch telephone networks (PSTN) , mobile communications telephone networks (MCTN) , Wide Area Networks (WAN) including intranet and internet facilities, Local Area Networks, etc. In particular, the enhanced telephone switching apparatus has been integrated with computing capabilities thereby transforming any telephone modules connected to said switching apparatus into computer-like devices.

The enhanced telephone switching apparatus of the present invention having been integrated with management and control processing commands in order for telephone modules to possess voice, data and video capabilities of a computer, thus all voice, data and video transactions are indefinitely captured for real time and future analysis. Examples of the capabilities that ordinary telephone modules will be able to possess include, but not limited to, call monitoring, blind transfer, call retrieval, call recording, direct inward system access, fax transmit/receive/management, voicemail to email transmission and various other functions . The enhanced telephone switching apparatus of the present invention as illustrated in the drawings, is only an illustration of a suitable computer-telephony environment and not intended to suggest limitation to the scope of the functionality of the present invention. It also should not be interpreted as being dependent to the combination of network configurations and components illustrated in the drawings.

The present invention is operational with other general computer-telecommunication systems environment. The following computer-telecommunications systems environment and configuration may be suitable for use with the enhanced telephone switching apparatus including but not limited to personal computers, server computers, laptops, tablet PCs, handheld computers, communication devices such as PBX/PABX, DTMF phones, mobile phones, IP phones and PDAs, and networked PCs, microcomputers, NAS/SAN, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments including any of the above systems or devices and the like. As shown in Figure 1, a telephone network is shown comprising of a telephone switching apparatus, designated with reference numeral 10, coupled with plurality of DTMF phones 11, IP phones 12 over a LAN 13, facsimile 14, WiFi phone 15, mobile phone 16, and a server 17. The telephone switching apparatus 10 routes and switches call traffic of these phones over PSTN or MCTN 18 and the Internet 19. Said apparatus 10 is preferably further connected with an enhanced computer telephony server 20 via a computing network 21. The server 17 is connected to the switching apparatus 10 preferably through a LAN interface. This server 17 is utilized for on-site administration and being programmed with limited administration capability. While the computer telephony server 20 manages the switching apparatus 10 in cases where information and/or control signals, i.e. software applications or computer programs applications, including but not limited to telephony, monitoring, storage management and embedded database systems, are needed to be uploaded or downloaded to and from said apparatus 10. It also integrates the apparatus 10 with computer functionalities and capabilities to be able to provide an array of computer-telephone capabilities to the computer and telephone modules coupled to said switching apparatus. Said computer telephony server 20 may be connected to the switching apparatus 10 through LAN, RS232 connection, WiFi, Wimax, or remotely connected through WAN, PSTN or Internet. Said server 20 may run either on a personal computer, a handheld PDA, a table notebook computer or a laptop.

Referring to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the telephone switching apparatus 10, being embedded with a Linux-based Operating System (OS Linux) , comprising of the components Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 22 or a multipurpose processor (arm, x86, amd64), a memory controller 23, a LAN/WAN controller 24, a USB controller 25, a General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) port 26 or other types of I/O peripheral ports, a plurality of port interfaces 27, and a data/control bus 28 connecting each of the components of the said telephone switching apparatus 10. The processor 22 performs analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion of the incoming and outgoing call traffic to and from the apparatus 10. The digital signals processed by the processor 22 is utilized for real time call monitoring, voice and video conferencing switchboard operator and call data record analysis. These processed signals are also stored and transported to the computer telephony server 20 for analysis for future requirements.

The memory controller 23 is being used for the control of various applications and features hosted in the apparatus 10. The LAN/WAN controller 24 controls the internet and data connectivity of the apparatus 10, while the USB controller 25 performs management and control of the USB devices connected to the apparatus 10.

Said GPIO interface 26 or other types of I/O ports including but not limited to RS232, USB, PS/2 and display port is used for connecting other devices to the apparatus 10 such as LCD panels, transducers, etc. which expand the capabilities of the apparatus 10.

The plurality of port interfaces 27 supports different telephone signaling interfaces such as FXO/FXS, El/Tl, MFCR2/PRI/BRI which are used to connect the apparatus 10 with a plurality of networks 18, such as to PSTN and MCTN, and the computer telephony server 20. It is also used to connect the apparatus 10 with other computing and telephone networks for its incoming and outgoing calls or services. These interfaces 27 also support WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, 3G, and 3.5G signaling interfaces to connect said apparatus 10 to its coupled telephone and computer devices. A plurality of this apparatus can also be interfaced into a single switching apparatus 10 increasing its capacity particularly the number of its port interfaces 27. W

The control bus 28 performs signal transmission between the processor 22, the controllers 23, 24 and 25, the GPIO port 26 and the PSTN connection through the port interfaces 27.

5 Operation of the enhanced capabilities of the switching apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention, including but not limited to the following examples, will now be described in detail.

1. Call Monitoring

10 Assuming a telephone conversation is trying to be established by a caller, using an ordinary telephone connected to the PSTN 18, with one of the DTMF telephone 11 connected to the apparatus 10, upon receipt of the request for connection through an

15 external port interface 27, the DSP processor 22, in real time, will received the analog signals associated with the call and converted these signals into digital signals wherein information such as time, date and length of call, the calling parties (telephone numbers

20 will be sufficient) and the actual conversation will be easily captured by the switching apparatus 10 and saved to its internal memory.

After the telephone call, the information that has been processed and saved in the switching apparatus 10 25 may be acquired if needed, by just dialing a certain key-in number from the telephone 11, the telephone switch 10 through the processor 22, upon identification of the request for the acquisition of the telephone call information, will provide this information through means predetermined in the apparatus 10. This means may include email, transmission report to the server 17 or through the telephone speaker where the information is conveyed by the apparatus 10, thus giving the ordinary telephone a computer capability.

2. Fax integration

In instances where a facsimile document is needed to be received by the switching apparatus 10, the facsimile document will be received by the switching apparatus 10 through the DSP 22 which will processed the document into a digital format, preferably as a picture file (in tiff format) , and will be saved in the internal memory of the apparatus. The intended recipient can get hold of the document through the server 17. While if a document is needed to be transmitted to a fax machine connected to the PSTN 18, a computer connected to the apparatus through a port interface 27 or through the LAN 19, the computer could simply send the document to the apparatus 10 together with the information of the intended recipient and the apparatus 10 will be the one to transmit the document to the intended receiving fax machine.

Additional advantages and modifications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art in view of these teachings. The present invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative contrivances, and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A telephone switching apparatus integrated with computer-telephone ca coupled with a plurality of wired and wireless computer and telephone modules and a computer-telephony server connected to the switching apparatus via a communications network, the telephone switching apparatus comprising: means for processing incoming and outgoing call traffic and converting these call traffic into digital signals; a memory controlling means for controlling applications hosted by the apparatus; a means for controlling the internet and data connectivity of the apparatus; a means for controlling and managing USB devices connected to the apparatus; a plurality of port interfaces for connecting the apparatus to the public switch telephone network (PSTN); and a control bus for performing signal transmission between the components of the switching apparatus.

2. A telephone switching apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising of an interface means used for expanding the capability of the apparatus by allowing the connection of other devices and circuit boards to the apparatus .

3. A telephone switching apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for processing incoming and outgoing call traffic comprising of an analog-to- digital and digital-to-analog signal converter.

4. A telephone switching apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said digital signals are being formatted into readable information.

5. A telephone switching apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 4, wherein said information being acquired from the apparatus through electronic mail.

6. A telephone switching apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 4, wherein said information being acquired from the apparatus through the telephone speaker.

7. A telephone switching apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 4, wherein said information being acquired from the apparatus through the server.