EXHIBIT 1001
`
`EXHIBIT 100 1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`United States Patent
`[19]
`[11] Patent Number:
`6,108,704
`
`Hutton et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`USUUGIUS704A
`
`[54]
`
`POINT-TU-I’OINT INTERNET PROTOCOL
`
`O'I'IIER PUBLICAI'IUNS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Glenn W. HIJUUII. Miami; Shane 11-
`Mnttawny, Roea Raton; Craig 3-
`Stnekland,‘lamarac,all Ufna‘
`*
`'
`*2
`‘
`t
`'
`:
`'.
`3
`[7 I ASS‘Q’M NUS” 'k ('"rpw't'on’ BO“ Ram’
`llla'
`[2]] Appl. No.: 08,633,115
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 25, 1995
`
`[51]
`
`Int. (:1.7
`
`[52] U.S. CI.
`
`one!r 13/33; soar 15m
`
`709/227; 709304
`
`['58]
`
`[56]
`
`395,200.01, 300-02:
`Field of Search
`39520009. 20011. 200.15, 200. 34, 200.35,
`200.47, 200.48, 200.57, 200.58, 200.75;
`709,904, 205, 21?, 218, 227, 228, 235
`
`References Cited
`
`.
`
`U.S. PNI‘EN'l‘ DOCUMEN'I‘S
`I’
`3/19): Fenner '
`5’095’48“
`9f1992 Perlman et al. .
`5,150,360
`”/1992 Riddle A
`5,160,931
`4f1993 Dmte el 3],
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`1224395 Q1993 Wocstct at,
`5,291,554
`3.!1994 Morales.
`5,309,433
`5f1994 Cidon ela|..
`5301437
`5/1994 Perm“ el 31- -
`5321313
`(”r1994 MCMmC" Cl al. '
`5,357,571
`[fl/1994 Banwarl 1
`5,400,335
`3/1995 Yamada .
`5,425,028
`6f1995 Britten el al. .
`5,430,709
`"#1995 Galloway .
`5,430,727
`7f 1995 Callon A
`
`,
`
`(List continued on next page)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`A2 0445402
`”/1991
`European Pal. Off. 1
`A2 0556012
`8f1993
`European Pal. Off. 1
`W0 (11219054
`1011992 WIPO ,
`
`December & Randall, "The World Wide Web Unleased,
`”Samw Publishing, Indianapolis, IN, Dec. 1994, pp. 3—24.
`I-Ieylighen, “WorldWideWeb:
`a distributed hypermedia
`
`paradigm for global networking,” IEEEXINSPEC Database..
`Updates and Addams; (1960—19950 Doc.# 134618: Pro-
`ceedings SHARE Spring Conference, pp. 355—368, Apr.
`1994.
`,
`_
`.
`,
`,
`Internenvorkmg wm‘r TCP/IP, vol. 1, Second Edition, Prin—
`eiples, Protocols, and Architecture, by Douglas E. Comer;
`1991; table of contents, pp. 173, 17719, 3117333.
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`Primary Examiner—Mark H. Rlnehart
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Kudirka 8; Jobse, LLP
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`A point-to-point Internet protocol exchanges Internet Pro-
`tocol (IP) addresses between processing units to establish a
`point—to—point communication link between the processing
`units through the Internet, A first point—to—point Internet
`protocol
`includes the steps of (a) storing in a database a
`respective IP address 01' a set ol‘ processing units that have
`an on—line status with respect to the Internet; (1)) transmitting
`a query from a first processing unit to a connection server to
`determine the on—line status of a second processing unit; and
`(c) retrieving the IP address of the second unit from the
`database using the connection server,
`in response to the
`determination of a positive on—line status of the second
`processing unit, for establishing a point—to—point communi—
`cation link between the first and second processing units
`through the Internet. A second point-to-point Internet pro-
`tocol includes the steps of (a) transmitting an Li-rnail signal,
`including a first IP address, from a first processing unit; (b)
`processing the E—mail signal through the Internet to deliver
`the E—rnai] signal
`to a second processing unit; and (c)
`transmitting a second IP address to the first processing unit
`for establishing a point—to—poinl communication link
`between the first and second processing units through the
`Internet.
`
`44 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`J. um-
`mmmrmr WIEB’ETDBDYDEO;
`
`
`I'
`_
`G€r£RnE m : Mt. mum
`thnenwm mun-n MBA '
`mew mu: 1: cmnfimmua in a
`mum PsoDEsenouir
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`i.
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`.
`..
`mum thinning...» an .d‘
`«want Margaret» Sml
`"meme-wet
`m {mu THF Fmafifim unmet
`mammary LEM: a ma spa-M no
`a murmuwb u."
`
` III-$3 "ID” REE-Mt.
`sum
`
`_.Iifiiil'nr sés'iumniyeesmn
`sect-nu w museums-«1mm /
`YCI YR mmuvmumm ulY In
`11: First IIHQJJX‘JVG mrtnm
`MIYFMEY
`_.......
`....__ .2
`man! on H mm unmet
`1'
`tertfitficsemwauww
`.
`
`uWamMuNt
`“laden 1 rom- m Wm tut-am I
`commentat- tnnmrmm me
`r-Rsv moisten: manna wrs
`
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`music; up mm ”n mmnm
`
`nominee:
`I
`
`
`
`
`
`.
`
`*
`
`—M
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 001
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 001
`
`

`

`6,108,704
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,434,797
`5,442,533
`5.452296
`5,455,854
`5,457,503
`5,463,625
`5,459,500
`5,479,411
`5,517,494
`5,524.110
`5,524,254
`5,526,489
`5,533.110
`5,544,303
`
`711995
`819995
`979 993
`1011995
`10/1995
`1011.993
`1]!1 995
`12/1995
`511996
`fill 996
`1511996
`6/1996
`77’1996
`811996
`
`_
`
`.
`
`Burris .
`Perkins cl 0].
`Shimizu .
`Dills cl all.
`Robins .
`Yasrcbi .
`Salter et al. .
`Klein .
`Green .
`Dannccls cl a]. .
`Morgan el al.
`Nilakanlan :1 3L .
`Pinard at a]. .
`Mlaoteaux el al. .
`
`5,545,582
`5,531.552
`5,508,736
`5,740,231
`
`8,9996 Bruckmeyer el :1].
`12f1996 Civanlar el al.
`311997 GOIdon .
`411993 Calm el al. 1
`
`.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`370.8915
`
`VocalTBC Internal Phone (’I‘M) Varsion 2.5, www.cux.5m-
`u.cdu/class/rnisfiBSfi/pwplefslort/phu111225.exc.
`Weinberg, Netscape Conference and Cooltalk Meeting
`Room, www.q5.com.
`Gull, Re: Getting IP address of PPP—oonnected Mac,
`<jgull4l304951[K1535001@pm01291 l .dialip.mich.ncl>.
`Gull,
`Re:
`Inlernci
`Phone
`for
`Mad,
`>jgullil704950116450001@)prn049~28,(lialip.mich.net>.
`
`395,500
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 002
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 002
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`6,108,704
`
`
`
`mm>mmw..:<S_mn_On_
`
`
`
`mm>mmwZOFOMZZOO
`
`0200mm
`
`Oz_mwm_00m_n_
`
`.523
`
`
`
`~ENE
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 003
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 003
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`6,108,704
`
`NN
`
`
`
`>N_m_>m_w._._On_
`
`wozoomwm-m
`
`DZOOmw
`
`02—mww00ma
`
`.523
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`N65H
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`mm>mmm4.52mn_On_
`
`
`
`A._.m.m_DOMMHDmZZOOv
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`AKOPONZZOOV
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`r_._...—.—-——-——-—
`
`.5950
`
`mo_>m_D
`
`._.Dn_z_
`
`m0_>m_o
`
`my
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 004
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 004
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`6,108,704
`
`meE
`
`0200mm
`
`Ozawmoomn.
`
`.523
`
`Oz_wwm00n_
`
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`
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`
`_
`
`kme
`
`OzfimeOn.
`
`.22:
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 005
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 of6
`
`6,108,704
`
`36
`40
`f
`
` ROGER
`
`91.103.001.027
`0343
`C2
`13
`
`
`O IN USE
`
`
`33
`
`42
`
`4‘
`
`50
`
`
`f 36
`
`SHANE
`195.201.00.137
`
`0024
`L1
`O IDLE
`
`13
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 006
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 006
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 5 of6
`
`6,108,704
`
`
`
`START THE POINT-TO—POINT
`INTERNET PROTOCOLS
`
`
`
`
`INITIATE PRIMARY INTERNET
`PROTOCOL
`
`54
`
`56
`
`58
`
`
`
`IS THE CONNECTION SERVER IN A
`RESPONSIVE CONDITION?
`
`
`
` 60
`
`YES
`
`PERFORM PRIMARY
`INTERNET PROTOCOL
`
`NO
`
`INITIATE SECONDARY
`INTERNT PROTOCOL
`
`
`
`62
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`
`
`START THE PRIMARY
`POINT-TO-POINT INTERNET
`
`PROTOCOL
`
`
`
`TIMESTAMP AND STORE E-MAIL
`
`ADRESSES AND IF ADRESSES 0F
`
`
`LOGGED-IN UNITS IN A DATABASE
`
` RECEIVE QUERY FROM FIRST UNIT
`
`
`
`WHETHER A SPECIFIED SECOND
`UNIT IS LOGGED-IN
`
`
`
`
`RETRIEVE IP ADDRESS FROM
`DATABASE IF THE SECOND UNIT IS
`
`LOGGED-IN
`
`
`
`SEND RETRIEVED lP ADRESS TO
`
`
`
`FIRST UNIT TO ESTABLISH POINT-
`TO-POINT CONNECTION
`
`
`
`64
`
`66
`
`68
`
`70
`
`72
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 007
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 6 of6
`
`6,108,704
`
`START THE SECONDARY
`
`POINT-TO POINT INTERNET PROTOCOL
`
`GENERATE AN E-MAIL SIGNAL,
`INCLUDING A SESSION NUMBER AND A
`FIRST IP ADRESS CORRESPONDING TO A
`
`FIRST PROCESSING UNIT
`
`TRANSMIT THE E—MAIL SIGNAL AS A
`<CONNECTREQUEST> SIGNAL
`TO THE INTERNET
`
`
`
`DELIVER THE E-MAIL SIGNAL THROUGH
`THE INTERNET USING A MAIL SERVER TO
`
`A SECOND PROCESSING UNIT
`
`
`
`EXTRACT THE SESSION NUMBER AND
`THE FIRST IP ADRESS FROM THE E-MAIL
`
`SIGNAL
`
`
`
`SEND THE SESSION NUMBER AND A
`SECOND IP ADRESS CORRESPONDING
`TO THE SECOND PROCESSING UNIT TO
`THE FIRST PROCESSING UNIT THROUGH
`THE INTERNET
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`VERIFY THE SESSION NUMBER
`RECEIVED FROM THE SECOND
`PROCESSING UNIT
`
`
`
`
`ESTABLISH A POINT-TO-POINT INTERNET
`COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN THE
`FIRST AND SECOND PROCESSING UNITS
`USING THE FIRST AND SECOND IP
`
`
`ADDRESSES
`
`
`
`
`74
`
`75
`
`78
`
`BO
`
`82
`
`84
`
`86
`
`88
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 008
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 008
`
`

`

`6,108,704
`
`1
`POINT-TO—POINT INTERNET PROTOCOL
`
`BACKGROUND OI" THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`This disclosure relates to network communication
`
`protocols, and in particular to a point-to-point protocol for
`use with the Internet.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`The increased popularity of on—linc services such as
`AMERICA DIN—LINE“, COMPUSERVE®, and other ser—
`vices such as Internet gateways have spuned applications to
`provide multimedia,
`including video and voice clips,
`to
`online users. An example of an online voice clip application
`is VOICE E—MAIL FOR WINCIM and VOICE E—MAIL
`FOR AMERICA ONLINETM, available from Bonzi
`Software, as described in “Simple Utilities Send Voice
`E—Mail ()nline", MUIIFIMEI)IA WORLD, VOL. 2. NO. 9,
`August 1995, p. 52. Using such Voice E—Mail software, a
`user may create an audio message to be sent to a predeter—
`mined E—mait address specified by the user.
`Generally, devices interfacing the to Internet and other
`online services may communicate with each other upon
`establishing respective device addresses. One type of device
`address is the Internet Protocol (IP) address, which acts as
`a pointer to the device associated with the IP address. A
`typical device may have a Serial Line Internet Protocol or
`Point-to-Point Protocol (SLIWPPP) account with a penna-
`nent IP address for receiving e—mail, voicemail, and the like
`over the Internet. E—mail and voicemail is generally intended
`to convey text, audio, etc, with any routing information
`such as an IP address and routing headers generally being
`considered an artifact of the communication, or even gib-
`berish to the recipient.
`Devices such as a host computer or server of a company
`may include multiple modems for connection of users to the
`Internet, with a temporary IP address allocated to each user.
`For example,
`the host computer may have a general IP
`address “XXXXXXXXX”, and each user may be allocated
`a successive IP address of XXX.XXX.XXX.IO,
`XXXXXXXXXJL XXXXXXXXXJZ, etc. Such tem—
`porary IP addresses may be reassigned or recycled to the
`users, for example, as each user is successiver connected to
`an outside party. For example, a host computer of a company
`may support a maximum of 254 IP addresses which are
`pooled and shared between devices connected to the host
`computer.
`Permanent IP addresses of users and devices accessing the
`Internet readily support point—to—point communications of
`voice and video signals over the Internet. For example,
`realtime video teleconferencing has been implemented using
`dedicated IP addresses and mechanisms known as reflectors.
`Due to the dynamic nature of temporary IP addresses of
`some devices accessing the Internet, point—to—point commu—
`nications in realtime of voice and video have been generally
`difficult to attain.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`is disclosed which
`A point—to—point Internet protocol
`exchanges Internet Protocol (IP) addresses between process-
`ing units to establish a point-to-point communication link
`between the processing units through the Internet.
`A first pointitoipoint Internet protocol is disclosed which
`includes the steps of:
`(a) storing in a database a respective IP address of a set of
`pruoessing units that have an on-line status with respect
`to the Internet;
`
`(b) transmitting a query from a first processing unit to a
`connection server to determine the on—tine status of a
`second processing unit; and
`(c) retrieving the IP address of the second unit from the
`database using the connection server, in response to the
`determination ot‘a positive on-line status of the second
`processing unit, for establishing a point-to—point com-
`munication link between the first and second process—
`ing units through the Internet.
`A second point-to—point Internet protocol is disclosed,
`which includes the steps of:
`including a first IP
`(a) transmitting an E-mail signal,
`address, from a first processing unit;
`(b) processing the E—mail signal through the Internet to
`deliver the E—mail signal to a second processing unit;
`and
`
`‘III
`
`15
`
`(c) transmitting a second IP address to the first processing
`unit for establishing a point-lo-point communication
`link between the first and second processing units
`through the Internet.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION 01“ THE. DRAWINGS
`
`The features of the disclosed point-to-poiot Internet pro-
`tocol and system will become more readily apparent and
`may be better understood by referring to the following
`detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the
`present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompa-
`nying drawings, where:
`FIG. I illustrates. in block diagram format, a system for
`the disclosed point-to-point Internet protocol;
`FIG. 2 illustrates,
`in block diagram format, the system
`using a secondary pointitoipoint Internet protocol;
`FIG. 3 illustrates, in block diagram format, the system of
`FIGS. 1—2 with the point-to-point Internet protocol estab-
`lished;
`FIG. 4 is another block diagram of the system of FIGS.
`1—2 with audio communications being conducted;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a display screen for a processing unit;
`FIG. 6 illustrates another display screen for a processing
`unit;
`FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of the initiation of the
`point-to-point Internet protocols;
`FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of the performance of the
`primary point-to-point Internet protocols; and
`FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of the performance of the
`secondary point—to—point Internet protocol.
`l)E.S(TRIP'II()N 01" THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Referring now in specific detail to the drawings, with like
`reference numerals identifying similar or identical elements,
`as shown in FIG. 1,
`the present disclosure describes a
`point-lo-point Internet protocol and system III for using such
`a protocol.
`In an exemplary embodiment, the system It] includes a
`first processing unit 12 for sending at least a voice signal
`from a first user to a second user. The first processing unit
`12 includesa processor 14, a memory 16, an inputdevice 18,
`and an output device 20. The output device 20 includes at
`least one modem capable of, for example, 14.4 khaud
`communications and operatively connected via wired and/or
`wireless communication connections to the Internet. One
`skilled in the art would understand that the input device 18
`may be implemented at least in part by the modem of the
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 009
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 009
`
`

`

`6,108,704
`
`3
`output device 20 to allow input signals from the communi-
`cation connections to be received. The second processing
`unit 22 may have a processor, memory, and input and output
`devices, including at least one modem and associated com—
`munication connections, as described above for the first
`processing unit 12. In an exemplary embodiment, each of
`the processing units 12, 22 may be a WEBPI—IONET’" unit,
`available from NetSpeak Corporation, Boca Raton, Fla.
`capable of operating the disclosed point-to-point Internet
`protocol and system 10, as described herein.
`The first processing unit 12 and the second processing
`unit 22 are operatively connected to the Internet 24 by
`communication devices and software known in the art. The
`processing units 12, 22 may be operatively interconnected
`through the Internet 24 to a connection server 26, and may
`also be operatively connected to a mail server 28 associated
`with the Internet 24.
`
`The connection server 26 includes a processor 30, a timer
`32 for generating timestamps, and a memory such as a
`database 34 for storing, for example, E-mail and Internet
`Protocol (IP) addresses of logged-in units. In an exemplary
`embodiment, the connection server 26 may be a SPARC 5
`server or a SPARC 20 server, available from SUN
`MICROSYSTEMS, INC, Mountain Veiw, Calif. having a
`central processing unit (CPU) as processor 30 operating an
`operating system (05) such as UNIX and providing timing
`operations such as maintaining the timer 32, a hard drive or
`fixed drive as well as dynamic random access memory
`(DRAM) for storing the database 34, and a keyboard and
`display andfor other input and output devices (not shown in
`FIG. 1). The database 34 may be an SQL database available
`from ORACLE or INFOMIX.
`
`In an exemplary embodiment, the mail server 28 may be
`a Post Office Protocol (POP) Version 3 mail server including
`a processor, memory, and stored programs operating in a
`UNIX environment, or alternatively another 03, to process
`E—mail capabilities between processing units and devices
`over the Internet 24.
`
`The first processing unit 12 may operate the disclosed
`point-to-point
`Internet protocol by a computer program
`described hereinbelow in conjunction with FIG. 6, which
`may be implemented from compiled and/or interpreted
`source code in the C++ programming language and which
`may be downloaded to the first processing unit 12 from an
`external computer. The operating computer program may be
`stored in the memory 16, which may include about 8 MB
`RAM andfor a hard or fixed drive having about 8 MB.
`Alternatively, the source code may be implemented in the
`first processing unit 12 as firmware, as an erasable read only
`memory (EPROM), etc. It is Understood that one skilled in
`the art would be able to use programming languages other
`than C++ to implement the disclosed point—to—point Internet
`protocol and system 10.
`The processor 14 receives input commands and data from
`a first user associated with the first processing unit 12
`through the input device 18, which may be an input port
`connected by a wired, optical, or a wireless connection for
`electromagnetic transmissions, or alternatively may be
`transferable storage media, such as floppy disks, magnetic
`tapes, compact disks, or other storage media including the
`input data from the first user.
`The input device 18 may include a user interface (not
`shown) having, for example, at least one button actuated by
`the user to input commands to select from a plurality of
`operating modes to operate the first processing unit 12. In
`alternative embrxliments, the input device 18 may include a
`
`ll]
`
`15
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`4
`keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, and/or a data reading
`device such as a disk drive for receiving the input data from
`input data files stored in storage media such as a floppy disk
`or, for example, an 8 mm storage tape. The input device 18
`may alternatively include connections to other computer
`systems to receive the input commands and data therefrom.
`The first processing unit 12 may include a visual interface
`as the output device 20 for use in conjunction with the input
`device 18 and embodied as one of the screens illustrated by
`the examples shown in FIGS. 54 and discussed below. It is
`also understood that alternative input devices may be used in
`conjunction with alternative output devices to receive com-
`mands and data from the user, such as keyboards, mouse
`devices, and graphical user interfaces (GUI) such as WIN—
`DOWSTM 3.1 available from MICROSOFTTM Corporation
`Redmond, Was. executed by the processor 14 using, for
`example, DOS 5.0. One skilled in the art would understand
`that other operating systems and GUIs, such as 03/2 and
`05,2 WARP, available from IBM CORPORATION, Boca
`Raton, Illa. may be used. Other alternative input devices may
`include microphones and/0r telephone handsets for receiv-
`ing audio voice data and commands, with the first processing
`unit 12 including speech or voice recognition devices, dual
`tone multi-frequency (D’I‘Mli) based devices, andlor soft-
`ware known in the art to accept voice data and commands
`and to operate the first processing unit 12.
`In addition, either of the first processing unit 12 and the
`second processing unit 22 may be implemented in a personal
`digital assistant (FDA) providing modem and LIZ-mail capa-
`bilities and Internet access, with the FDA providing the
`inputt‘output screens for mouse interaction or for touch
`screen activation as shown, for example, in FIGS. 4—5, as a
`combination of the input device I8 and output device 20.
`For clarity of explanation, the illustrative embodiment of
`the disclosed point-to-point Internet protocol and system 10
`is presented as having individual functional blocks, which
`may include functional blocks labelled as "processor" and
`“processing unit“. The functions represented by these blocks
`may be provided through the use of either shared or dedi-
`cated hardware,
`including, but not
`limited to, hardware
`capable of executing software. For example. the functions of
`each of the processors and processing units presented herein
`may be provided by a shared processor or by a plurality of
`individual processors. Moreover, the use of the functional
`blocks with accompanying labels herein is not to be con—
`strued to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing
`software. Illustrative embodiments may include digital sig—
`nal processor (DSP) hardware, such as the KIWLT DSPlt‘) or
`DSP32C, read-only memory (ROM) for storing software
`performing the operations discussed below, and random
`access memory (RAM) for storing DSP results. Very large
`scale integration (V131) hardware embodiments, as well as
`custom VISI circuitry in combination with a general pur-
`pose DSP circuit, may also be provided. Any and all ofthese
`embodiments may be deemed to fall within the meaning of
`the labels for the functional blocks as used herein.
`The processing units 12, 22 are capable of placing calls
`and connecting to other processing uniLs connected to the
`Internet 24, for example, via dialup SLIP/PPP lines. In an
`exemplary embodiment, each processing unit assigns an
`unsigned long session number, for example, a 32bit long
`sequence in a *.ini
`file for each call. Each call may be
`assigned a successive session number in sequence, which
`may be used by the respective processing unit to associate
`the call with one of the SLIPXPPP lines,
`to associate a
`<ConnectOK> response signal with a <ConnectRequest>
`signal, and to allow for multiplexing and demultiplexing of
`inbound and outbound conversations on conference lines.
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 010
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 010
`
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`

`6,108,704
`
`5
`For callee (or called) processing units with fixed IP
`addresses, the caller (or calling) processing unit may open a
`“socket", 1.0. a file handle or address indicating where data
`is to be sent, and transmit a <Call> command to establish
`communication with the callee utilizing, for example, data-
`gram services such as Internet Standard network layering as
`well as transport layering. which may include a Transport
`Control Protocol (PCP) or a User [Jatagram Protocol (UDP)
`on top of the 11’. Typically, a processing unit having a fixed
`IP address may maintain at
`least one open socket and a
`called processing unit waits for a <CalI> command to assign
`the open socket to the incoming signal. Ifall lines are in use,
`the callee processing unit sends a BUSY signal or message
`to the caller processing unit.
`As shown in FIG. 1, the disclosed point—to—point Internet
`protocol and system 10 operate when a callee processing
`unit does not have a fixed or predetermined IP address. In the
`exemplary embodiment and without loss of generality, the
`first processing unit 12 is the caller processing unit and the
`second processing unit 22 is the called processing unit.
`When either of processing units 12, 22 logs on to the
`Internet via a dial-up connection,
`the respective unit
`is
`provided a dynamically allocated IP address by a connection
`service provider.
`Upon the first user initiating the point—to—point Internet
`protocol when the first user is logged on to Internet 24, the
`first processing unit 12 automatically transmits its associated
`E—m ail address and th dynamically allocated IP address to
`the connection server 26. The connection server 26 then
`stores these addresses in the database 34 and timestamps the
`stored addresses using timer 32. The first user operating the
`first processing unit 12 is thus established in the database 34
`as an active on-line party available for com municalion using
`the disclosed point—to—point Internet protocol. Similarly, a
`second user operating the second processing unit 22, upon
`connection to the Internet 24 through a connection service
`provider, is processed by the connection server 26 to be
`established in the database 34 as an active on-line party.
`The connection server 26 may use the timestamps to
`update the status of each processing unit; for exa mplc, after
`2 hours, so that the on-Iine status information stored in the
`database 34 is relatively current. Other predetermined time
`periods, such as a default value 01" 24 hours, may be
`configured by a systems operator.
`The first user with the first processing unit 12 initiates a
`call using, for example, a Send command and/or a command
`to speeddial an NIH stored number, which may be labelled
`[5ND] and [SPI)][N], respectively, by the input device 18
`andr'or the output device 20, such as shown in FIGS. 5—6. In
`response to either the Send or speeddial commands, the first
`processing unit 12 retrieves from memory 16 a stored Il-mail
`address of the callee corresponding to the NT” stored
`number. Alternatively, the first user may directly enter the
`Email address of the callee.
`
`The first processing unit 12 then sends a query, including
`the E-mail address. of the callee, to the connection server 26.
`The connection server 26 then searches the database 34 to
`determine whether the callee is logged-in by finding any
`stored information corresponding to the callce’s E—mail
`address indicating that the callee is active and online. If the
`callee is active and on-line, the connection server 26 then
`performs the primary point-to-point Internet protocol; i.e.
`the IP address of the callee is retrieved from the database 34
`and sent to the first processing unit 12. The first processing
`unit 12 may then directly establish the point—to—point Inter—
`net communications with the callee using the IP address of
`the callee.
`
`11]
`
`15
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`6
`If the callee is not on-line when the connection server 26
`determines the callce’s status.
`the connection server 26
`sends an OFF—LINE signal or message to the first processing
`unit 12. The first processing unit 12 may also display a
`message such as “(.‘alled Party 011-Line“ to the first user.
`When a user logs olI or goes off—line from the Internet 24,
`the connection server 26 updates the status of the user in the
`database 34;
`for example, by removing the user’s
`information, or by flagging the user as being oil-line. The
`connection server 26 may be instructed to update the user’s
`information in the database 34 by an elf—tine message, such
`as a data packet, sent automatically from the processing unit
`ot‘ the user prior to being disconnected from the connection
`server 26. Accordingly, an oil-line user is effectively dis-
`abled from making anti/or receiving point-to-point Internet
`communications.
`
`As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the disclosed secondary point—
`to-point Internet protocol may be used as an alternative to
`the primary point-to-point
`Internet protocol described
`above, for example, if the connection server 26 is non-
`rcsponsivc, inoperative, andfor unable to perform the pri—
`mary point—to—point Internet protocol, as a non—responsive
`condition. Alternatively, the disclosed secondary point-1o-
`point Internet protocol may be used independent of the
`primary point—to—point Internet protocol.
`In the disclosed
`secondary point—to—point Internet protocol, the first process—
`ing unit 12 sends a <Conncctchucst> message via E—mail
`over the Internet 24 to the mail server 28. The Li-mail
`including the <ConnectRequest> message may have, for
`example, the subject
`[*wpifXXXXXXXX#nnn,nnn.nnn.nnn#crnailAddr]
`where nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn is the current (i.c.
`temporary or
`permanent) IP address of the first user, and XXXXXXXX is
`a session number, which may be unique and associated with
`the request of the first user to initiate point—lo—point com—
`munication with the second user.
`As described above, the first processing unit 12 may send
`the <ConnectRequest> message in response to an unsuc-
`cessful attempt to perfomt the primary point-to-pcirlt Inter—
`net protocol. Alternatively, the first processing unit 12 may
`send the <Connectchuest> message in response to the first
`user initiating a SEND command or the like.
`After the <(TonnectRequest> message via E-mail is sent,
`the first processing unit 12 opens a socket and waits to detect
`a response from the second processing unit 22. A timeout
`timer, such as timer 32, may be set by the first processing
`unit 12,
`in a manner known in the art,
`to wait for a
`predetermined duration to receive a <(Ionnect()K> signal.
`The processor 14 of the first processing unit 12 may cause
`the output device 20 to output a Ring signal to the user, such
`as an audible ringing sound, about every 3 seconds. For
`example, the processor 14 may output a *.wav file, which
`may be labelled RING.WAV, which is processed by the
`output device 20 to output an audible ringing sound.
`The mail server 28 then polls the second processing unit
`22, for example, every 3—5 seconds, to deliver the l:'.-mail.
`Generally, the second processing unit 22 checks the incom-
`ing lines, for example, at regular intervaLs to wait for and to
`detect incoming E—mail from the mail server 28 through the
`Internet 24.
`Typically, for sending Li-mail to users having associated
`processing units operatively connected to a host computer or
`server operating an Internet gateway, E—Mail for a specific
`user may be sent over the Internet 24 and directed to the
`permanent IP address or the SLIP/'PPP account designation
`of the host computer, which then assigns a temporary IP
`address to the processing unit of the specified user for
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 011
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1001 - Page 011
`
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`

`6,108,704
`
`7
`properly routing the E-mail. The E-mail signal may include
`a name or other designation such as a username which
`identifies the specific user regardless of the processing unit
`assigned to the user; that is, the host computer may track and
`store the specific device where a specific user is assigned or
`logged on, independent of the IP address system, and so the
`host computer may switch the Email signal to the device of
`the specific user. At that time, a temporary IP address may
`be generated or assigned to the specific user and device.
`Upon detecting and/or receiving the incoming E-mail
`signal from the first processing unit 12, the second process-
`ing unit 22 may assign or may be assigned a temporary IP
`address. Therefore, the delivery of the E—mail through the
`Internet 24 provides the second processing unit 22 with a
`session number as well as IP addresses of both the first
`processing unit 12 and the second processing unit 22.
`Point—to—point communication may then be established by
`the processing units 12, 22. For example, the second pro—
`cessing unit 22 may process the Email signal to extract the
`<ConnectRequest> message, including the IP address of the
`first processing unit 12 and the session number. The second
`processing unit 22 may then open a socket and generate a
`<ConnectUK> response signal, which includes the tempo-
`rary IP address of the semnd processing unit 22 as well as
`the session number.
`The second processing unit 22 sends the <CounectOK>
`signal directly over the Internet 24 to the IP address of the
`first processing unit 12 without processing by the mail server
`28, and a timeout timer of the second processing unit 22 may
`be set to wait and detect a <Call> signal expected from the
`first processing unit 12.
`Realtime point—to—point communication of audio signals
`over the Internet 24, as well as video and voicemail, may
`thus he established and supported without requiring perma-
`nent IP addresses to be assigned to either of the users or
`processing units 12, 22. For the duration of the realtime
`point—to—point link, the relative permanence ofthe current IP
`addresses of the processing units 12, 22 is sufficient, whether
`the current IP addresses were perntanent (ire. predetermined
`or preassignccl) or temporary (i.e. assigned upon initiation of
`the point—to—point communication).
`In the exemplary embodiment, a first user operating the
`first processing unit 12 is not required to be notified by the
`first processing unit 1