Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 1 of 22 PageID #: 4548
`Case 6:12—cv—00799—JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 1 of 22 Page|D #: 4548
`
`EXHIBIT G
`
`EXHIBIT G
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 2 of 22 PageID #: 4549
`I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006243373Bl
`US 6,243,373 Bl
`Jun.5,2001
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Turock
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`IMPLEMENTING A COMPUTER NETWORK/
`INTERNET TELEPHONE SYSTEM
`
`Cerf, V., et al. "A Protocol for Packet Network Intercom(cid:173)
`munication." IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol.
`COM-22. No. 5, May 1974.*
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: David L. Turock, Westfield, NJ (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Telecom Internet Ltd., Gerrard's
`Crossing (GB)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/548,323
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 1, 1995
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.7 ........................... H04L 12/66; H04L 12/28;
`H04M 1/64
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................ 370/352; 370/401; 379/88.17
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 379/220, 221,
`379/207, 112, 113, 114, 88, 67, 100.15,
`100, 90.01, 93.09, 93.01; 370/351, 450,
`389, 392, 352, 485, 458, 404, 401, 394,
`747; 395/200.01, 200.02, 200.03
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,630,262 * 12/1986 Callens ................................. 370/474
`4,771,425 * 9/1988 Baran et al.
`......................... 370/458
`4,866,704 * 9/1989 Bergman .............................. 370/452
`5,115,431 * 5/1992 Williams .............................. 370/394
`5,483,589 * 1/1996 Ishida et al. ......................... 379/220
`5,526,353 * 6/1996 Henley et al. ....................... 370/392
`5,594,784 * 1/1997 Velius ..................................... 379/88
`5,608,786 * 3/1997 Gordon ................................ 379/100
`5,726,984 * 3/1998 Kubler et al. ........................ 370/348
`5,764,741 * 6/1998 Barak ................................... 379/114
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Yang, C., "RFC 1789: INETPhone-Telephone Services and
`Servers on Internet." Apr. 1995. <http://ds.internic.net/rfc/
`rfc1789.txt>(Feb. 12, 1997).*
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`Primary Examiner-Wellington Chin
`Assistant Examiner-Steven Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Darby & Darby
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and apparatus are provided for communicating
`audio information over a computer network. A standard
`telephone connected to the public switched telephone net(cid:173)
`work (PSTN) may be used to communicate with any other
`PSTN-connected telephone, where a computer network,
`such as the Internet, is the transmission facility instead of
`conventional telephone transmission facilities, such as the
`interexchange or intralata facilities. In addition to telephone(cid:173)
`telephone communication, telephone-computer and
`computer-telephone communication is also possible. The
`originator of a conversation (calling party) dials the number
`of an access port for the computer network. The call is
`routed to a central office switching system which is con(cid:173)
`nected to the PSTN and then to the access port which is a
`specialized computer system (ITS node). The caller trans(cid:173)
`mits the number of the desired party (the called party) to the
`specialized computer system (ITS node) which interfaces
`between the telephone switching system and the computer
`network. The specialized computer system (ITS node)
`receives the number of the called party and establishes a
`two-way, fill duplex communications link via the computer
`network to a corresponding remote access port or special(cid:173)
`ized computer system (ITS node) in the vicinity of the called
`party. This specialized computer system (ITS node) at the
`receiving end is connected to the local PSTN in the region
`of the called party, and uses the local PSTN to connect the
`call to the called party. Once the call is answered at the
`called party, the calling and called party may communicate
`as if the call had been established using the conventional
`telephone system.
`
`24 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`~ Class5
`
`Central
`Office
`
`202
`
`208
`
`Location A
`
`Location B
`
`205 /
`
`PSTN
`
`210
`
`Class 5
`Central
`Office
`
`Specialized
`Switch with
`VoiceDSP
`
`(5)
`
`212
`
`06
`
`~ 204
`
`Office
`PBX/PABX
`
`1/E1 Specialized
`Switch with
`VoiceDSP
`
`218
`
`216
`
`(7)
`
`214
`
`G
`I
`0
`b
`a
`I
`
`n
`t
`e
`r
`n
`e
`t
`
`(6)
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 3 of 22 PageID #: 4550
`
`US 6,243,373 Bl
`Page 2
`
`OIBER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Weinstein, C., et al. "Experience with Speech Communica(cid:173)
`tion in Packet Networks." IEEE Journal on Selected Areas
`in Communications, vol. SAC-1, No. 6, Dec. 1983.*
`Baran, P., "On Distributed Communications Networks."
`IEEE Transactions on Communications Systems, manu(cid:173)
`script received Oct. 1963, Mar. 1964. *
`Aras. C., et al. "Real-Time Communication in Pack(cid:173)
`et-Switched Networks." Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 82,
`No. 1, Jan. 1994.*
`"Dialing without dollars" by Fred Hapgood, Inc. vol. 17, No.
`4, p. 8, Journal code : INO, Jul. 1995.*
`.
`"Internet phone calls are cheap but limited", New Media
`Markets, Newsletter, Feb. 23, 1995.*
`"Internet's international phone calls are cheap but limited",
`Telecom markets, Newsletter, Mar. 2, 1995.*
`"Internet phone saves 50% on long distance", 411 Newslet(cid:173)
`ter, vol. 17, No. 15, Aug. 5, 1996.*
`
`" ,
`
`"Internet access: Internet phone-to-phone technology now a
`reality ... ",EDGE publishing, Aug. 12, 1996.*
`"Internet telephony seems to be evolving fast
`Computergram International, No. 2980, Aug. 19, 1996.*
`"Competition heats up in Internet phone call wars", News(cid:173)
`bytes News network, Jun. 2, 1995.*
`"VocalTec Telephony Gateway", posted on the Internet,
`viewd on Jan. 15, 1997. *
`"Netspeak corporation introduces Web Phone, ... ",Internet,
`Mar. 18, 1996.*
`"Phone Service Via the Internet May Slash Rates", The
`Washington Post, by Mike Mills, p. A4, Aug. 11, 1996. *
`Clifford et al, Experience with Speech Communication in
`Packet Networks, IEEE, p. 963-978, 1983. *
`Yang, INETPhone, RFC, pp. 1-6, Apr. 1995.*
`W09620553, Gordon, Unified message and Long distance
`communication system, Apr. 7, 1996.*
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 4 of 22 PageID #: 4551
`
`FIG. I
`PRIOR ART
`
`Terminal
`Server
`
`LAN B
`
`LAN A
`
`110
`
`PSTN
`
`Personal
`Computer
`
`-------.....
`LAN C -----
`~
`
`130
`
`100
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~Ul
`
`~ = ?
`N c c
`'"""'
`
`'Jl =-~
`~ .....
`'"""' 0 .....,
`'"""' c
`
`e
`
`rJ'J.
`O'I
`'N
`.i;;..
`~
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 5 of 22 PageID #: 4552
`
`200
`
`\
`
`20~
`
`(1)
`
`Location A
`
`Location B
`
`20~
`
`(11)
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Class5
`Central
`Office
`
`(2)
`
`PSTN
`
`Class 5
`Central
`(3) Office
`
`Specialized M I
`
`f\
`
`G
`~
`
`Switch with
`(4) Voice DSP
`
`(5)
`
`208
`
`210
`
`\....212
`
`I
`·206
`
`I b
`
`a
`I
`
`I
`I
`
`(10)
`
`PSTN
`
`·Class 5
`Central
`(9) Office
`
`Specialized
`Switch with
`(8) Voice DSP
`
`(7)
`
`I cs>
`
`-
`n
`t
`e
`r
`n
`e
`t
`
`220
`
`(
`
`218
`
`-{216
`
`2,D I
`
`Class 5
`Central
`Office
`
`222
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~
`......
`~
`
`= ......
`
`~
`=
`?
`~Ul
`
`N c c
`'"""'
`
`~
`
`'Jl =-~
`.....
`N
`0 .....,
`'"""' c
`
`e
`rJ'l
`-..a-..
`N
`.i;;..
`~
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 6 of 22 PageID #: 4553
`
`FIG. 3
`
`(1)
`
`Central
`Office
`
`PSTN
`
`(2)
`
`Class 5
`Central
`(3) Off ice
`
`Specialized
`Switch with
`(4) Voice DSP
`
`(5)
`
`~ Class5
`
`202
`
`208
`
`210
`
`212
`
`Location A
`
`Location B
`
`205 /
`
`~ Office
`
`204
`
`218
`
`PBX/PABX
`
`1/E1 Specialized
`Switch with
`Voice DSP
`
`216
`
`(7)
`
`214
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~Ul
`
`~ = ?
`N c c
`'"""'
`
`'Jl =-~
`~ .....
`
`~
`0 .....,
`'"""' c
`
`e
`
`rJ'J.
`O'I
`'N
`.i;;..
`~
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`r\
`I , r I
`
`b
`a
`I
`
`I <s>
`
`e
`r
`n
`e
`
`ti
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 7 of 22 PageID #: 4554
`
`FIG. 4
`
`'(1) Class 5
`
`Central
`Office
`
`202
`
`208
`
`PSTN
`
`(2)
`
`Class 5
`Central
`Office
`
`Specialized
`Switch with
`(4) Voice DSP
`
`(5)
`
`210
`
`212
`
`206
`
`d
`
`b
`a
`I
`
`I <&>
`
`I
`
`Location A
`
`Location B
`
`300__/
`
`n
`t
`e
`r
`n
`e
`t
`
`(7)
`
`204~
`
`Headset
`
`252 r
`f Speakerj
`~
`~ .
`Microphone ~ ~
`() Multimedia
`21AJ
`Persona/
`Computer
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~Ul
`
`~ = ?
`N c c
`'"""'
`
`'Jl =-~
`~ .....
`
`.i;;..
`0 .....,
`'"""' c
`
`e
`rJ"J.
`-..a-..
`N
`.i;;..
`~
`~
`-....l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 8 of 22 PageID #: 4555
`
`FIG. 5
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`ITS Node
`
`506 ....
`
`I Least-cost routing (LCR)t-z- 514
`-;iQ-------r-5is l
`
`(214
`
`Remote
`ITS Node
`
`I
`
`~Ul
`
`~ = ?
`N c c
`""""
`
`'Jl =-~
`~ .....
`Ul
`0 .....,
`"""" c
`
`e
`
`rJ'J.
`O'I
`'N
`~
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`l5§J
`I
`rr-1
`r-1- CAM
`LQM 1-1TIRM1---IETHER--t-1 INTER-1 ~
`
`NET
`
`NET
`
`I
`5~
`-------------:::r
`516
`512
`
`11-1
`
`-
`
`- TIRM
`~8
`r--~
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 9 of 22 PageID #: 4556
`
`Fl G. 6A
`
`ICM receives inbound call
`indication from TNIM
`
`602
`
`ICM Answers Call
`
`04
`
`ICM collects telef hone number input
`
`606
`
`ICM calls LCR with digits collected
`receives ITS Node address as result
`
`608
`
`610
`
`622
`
`ICM dials call through TNIM 1--612
`
`614
`7
`ICM connects inbound and outbound calls thru TNIM
`
`I
`
`ICM passes to CW the call set up data and a request to
`establish a connection through the Internet to remote nod1
`
`I
`
`ICM receives established connection from CIM:
`
`624
`ICM waits for remote ICM dial completion~ 6 26
`
`A
`
`618
`
`~Release both calls
`
`620
`
`A
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~Ul
`
`~ = ?
`N c c
`'"""'
`
`'Jl =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`O'I
`0 .....,
`'"""' c
`
`e
`
`rJ'J.
`O'I
`'N
`~
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 10 of 22 PageID #: 4557
`
`FIG. 6 B
`
`A
`A~~~~~~""T-~~~~~~~~~~~~.--~~~~~
`
`ICM samples voice through Voice Resource
`
`628
`
`ICM receives voice data from 1------.
`remote ICM throm!h TIRM
`
`ICM send bang up message t 1
`remote ICM through TIRM
`
`638
`
`644
`
`630
`
`no
`
`If compression on, invoke VCM
`632
`If quality monitor on, invoke CQM1~
`634
`
`I
`
`ICM sends message to remote ICM through TIRM
`
`636
`
`If compression on, invoke VCM
`
`I
`
`If quality monitor on, invoke CQM
`
`ICM sends voice data to Voice Resource
`
`650
`652
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~Ul
`
`~ = ?
`N c c
`'"""'
`
`'Jl =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`-..J
`0 .....,
`'"""' c
`
`e
`rJ'J.
`-..a-..
`N
`~
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 11 of 22 PageID #: 4558
`
`ICM receives established connection, call set up
`data and number to dial from CAM
`
`702
`
`ICM dials call l"'-70 8
`
`FIG. 7
`
`ICM sends dial completion message
`to the remote ICM
`
`710
`
`644
`
`ICM samples voice through Voice Resource
`
`628
`
`638
`
`ICM receives voice data from----.
`remote ICM throu2h TIRM
`
`ICM send hang up message t,
`remote ICM through TIRM
`
`I
`
`630
`no
`632
`LI H compression on, invoke VCM
`634
`LI If quality monito~ on, invoke CQMI
`
`I
`
`640
`
`no
`
`648
`
`\... 642
`
`If compression on, invoke VCM
`
`I
`
`ICM sends message to remote ICM through TIRM
`>
`
`I
`
`650
`
`If quality monitor on, invoke CQM
`
`636
`
`652
`
`ICM sends voice data to Voice Resource
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~
`?
`~Ul
`
`N c c
`'"""'
`
`'Jl =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`00
`0 .....,
`'"""' c
`
`e
`rJ'J.
`-..a-..
`N
`~
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 12 of 22 PageID #: 4559
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.5,2001
`
`Sheet 9of10
`
`US 6,243,373 Bl
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Receive connection request with destination
`ITS Node address from ICM
`
`802
`
`Establish connection through Internet
`to CAM on the remote node
`
`804
`
`812
`
`-:::::.--1 Return Connect Failure
`to ICM
`
`yes
`
`Send call setup information to CAM
`including the number to dial
`
`......._ 80 8
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Receive connection request
`from remote Cll\1
`
`850
`
`(852
`
`Establish connection through Internet
`to CIM on the remote node
`
`860
`
`Receive call setup data
`including the number to dia\
`
`856
`
`Send call setup information and the
`number to dial to the ICM
`
`r-...._959
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 13 of 22 PageID #: 4560
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Receive message
`
`902
`
`Local ICM
`
`RemoteTIRM
`
`Receive voice data or hangup
`indication from remote TIRM
`
`912
`
`Receive voice data or hangu
`indication from ICM
`
`906
`
`Validate header information
`including sequence number, etc.
`
`Pass message to ICM module
`
`914
`
`916
`
`-918
`
`Prepend header information
`including sequence number, etc.
`and send data to remote TIRM
`
`910
`
`920
`
`Disconnect Internet connection
`
`Disconnect Internet connection
`
`d •
`\JJ.
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`~Ul
`
`~ = ?
`N c c
`'"""'
`
`'Jl =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`'"""' c
`0 .....,
`'"""' c
`
`e
`
`rJ'J.
`O'I
`'N
`~
`~
`""-l
`~
`~
`lo-"
`
`

`
`Case 6:12-cv-00799-JRG Document 153-4 Filed 04/24/14 Page 14 of 22 PageID #: 4561
`
`US 6,243,373 Bl
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`IMPLEMENTING A COMPUTER NETWORK/
`INTERNET TELEPHONE SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention generally relates to the field of
`telecommunications. More specifically, the present inven(cid:173)
`tion concerns a method and apparatus for transmitting
`telephone calls to or from a standard telephone set using a
`computer network such as the Internet.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Communication systems for transmitting telephone calls
`have become an integral, indispensable part of everyday life.
`The first roots of telephony were planted in 1876 with the
`invention of the first practical telephone by Alexander
`Graham Bell. As the number of calling stations or customer
`lines (telephones) in the system began to grow, the wiring
`system interconnecting the telephones became extremely
`complicated and unwieldy. One solution to this problem was
`the introduction of switching systems. Each customer line
`terminated in a local switching system commonly referred to
`as a central office (CO). The central office then performed
`the task of connecting each of the telephone lines it served
`to a corresponding telephone line in order to complete a call.
`If the two parties to a call were serviced by the same central
`office, then the connection could be completed by the same
`central office without having to resort to other portions of the
`telecommunications network. If the call required connection
`to a telephone line serviced by a distant central office, then
`a connection between the central offices was carried out
`using a trunk, i.e., a connection between two central offices.
`As the number of central offices increased, higher level
`switching was required to perform the interconnections 35
`between central offices. Essentially, each central office was
`treated as a line to a higher level switching system for
`switching traffic between the central offices. In this manner,
`a call from a first subscriber at one location to a second
`subscriber at a distant location is routed from the first 40
`subscriber to the central office servicing the first subscriber.
`The call is then routed from the first subscriber's central
`office to a higher level switching office and on to the second
`subscriber's central office. From the second subscriber's
`central office, the call is finally routed to the second sub- 45
`scriber.
`Each switching system or central office includes equip(cid:173)
`ment for providing signalling, control and switching func(cid:173)
`tions. The signalling equipment monitors the activity of the
`various lines connected to the central office and forwards 50
`control information associated with each line to the control
`equipment. The control equipment receives the control
`information and establishes the appropriate connections by
`way of the switching equipment. The switching equipment
`is functionally a crosspoint matrix for completing connec- 55
`tions between selected input lines and selected output lines.
`Prior to the introduction of digital switching systems, a
`number of crossbar switches were used to implement the
`crosspoint matrix. More recently, digital switching systems,
`such as the AT&T SESS, have been used in place of 60
`mechanical or electromechanical switching systems. The
`essentials of digital telephone switching systems, as well as
`digital telephony in general, are described in John Bellamy,
`Digital Telephony (John Wiley & Sons 1991), the contents
`of which are incorporated herein by reference.
`Recently, the volume of telephone traffic between central
`offices has been growing more rapidly than local telephone
`
`5
`
`2
`traffic. As a result, so called "T-carriers" have evolved as a
`cost efficient method of transmission between central offices.
`T-carriers, such as Tl, TlC, TlD, T2, T3 and T4, are all
`digital carriers which require the conversion of analog
`telephone signals into digital format before they are trans(cid:173)
`mitted over the carrier to the remote end. The most common
`type of T-carrier is the Tl, and as such will be used in the
`present specification. At the remote end, the digital signals
`are converted back into analog format and routed through
`the telephone system. The transmission of digital signals
`10 over the Tl carrier may be accomplished using time division
`multiplexing (TDM) wherein a high bandwidth communi(cid:173)
`cations link, such as a 1.544 Mbit/S Tl carrier, is divided
`into a number of lower bandwidth communication channels,
`such as 64 Kbit/S channels. Each 64 Kbit channel is
`15 assigned a time slot of the Tl carrier. In this way, the high
`bandwidth Tl carrier is periodically available for a restricted
`portion of time, enough for each channel to transmit at an
`effective rate of 64 Kbit/S.
`Telephone customers are charged for their usage of the
`20 telephone network, with such charges typically being pro(cid:173)
`portional to the amount of time used and the distance from
`the calling party to the called party. Thus, calls placed over
`long distances will usually cost more than calls placed over
`shorter distances. Additionally, local calls which do not
`25 involve higher level switching or routing within the system
`are oftentimes charged at a fiat rate independent of the actual
`customer usage. To a lesser extent, fiat rate charges may be
`established for long distance calls. This may be accom(cid:173)
`plished by way of a "leased line" wherein the customer
`30 leases a dedicated communications link from one location to
`another. For a fixed fee, the customer is able to place calls
`between the two locations. The number of calls the customer
`is able to place is then limited by the bandwidth of the leased
`line or communications link.
`Another type of fiat rate service is Wide Area Telephone
`Service (WATS) wherein a customer selects a certain geo(cid:173)
`graphic area for either receiving or transmitting calls. A fiat
`rate is charged for this type of telephone service, depending
`on the size of the selected area and whether full time WATS
`service or measured time WATS service, i.e., a certain
`number of hours per month, is selected.
`For the average customer, WATS service or leased line
`service is economically impractical, since such services are
`only cost effective for high volume users such as corpora(cid:173)
`tions and other institutions. Thus, the average customer is
`relegated to paying for telephone service on a per minute or
`per usage basis and is not able to enjoy the benefits of fiat
`rate telephone usage.
`An alternative to telephone communication is data com(cid:173)
`munication using computer technology. One way of data
`communication between computers is by way of modem.
`Specifically, a modem is used to transmit information or data
`from one computer to another computer similarly equipped
`with a modem. However, the transmission medium for
`modem communication is again the telephone network.
`Thus, there is effectively no real economic benefit. More
`recently, as the number of computers in use has increased,
`computer networks have been used to interconnect large
`numbers of computers in order to provide data communi(cid:173)
`cation. Although access to the computer networks is by way
`of the telephone system, the access point to the computer
`network for most users is often a local call which is usually
`charged at a fiat rate. The interconnection and routing of data
`once it has reached the computer network is typically by way
`65 of lower cost lines, such as leased lines, since there is now
`sufficient traffic to justify the cost associated with a leased
`line.
`
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`US 6,243,373 Bl
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`5
`
`3
`The Internet computer network in use today had its
`beginnings more than twenty years ago as a government
`project. Originally, the computer network was referred to as
`ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network)
`and was constructed by identifying a small group of loca-
`tions or cites across the United States that would function as
`network hubs. Each hub was directly connected to each
`other hub over a dedicated leased line running at 56 Kbps.
`In this way, all the sites were connected to each other by way
`of high speed carriers and locally connected using the local 10
`telephone network to other terminal sites not having a direct
`connection to any other site. The resulting configuration was
`in effect, a national computer network.
`As the network expanded, there was a significant increase
`in the number of additional terminal sites locally connected 15
`to a network site, which site was itself interconnected to
`other sites. The number of major hubs remained relatively
`constant while the terminal sites connected to them began to
`function as intermediate satellites for providing network
`access to other sites. In effect, a "tree" type network evolved. 20
`Moreover, connections to countries other than the United
`States were established, thereby creating an international or
`world wide network. As the size of the network increased
`the amount of data traffic also increased. This increase i~
`traffic was the impetus for an increase in the bandwidth or 25
`capacity of the communications medium interconnecting the
`various hubs of the network. Today, in order to accommo(cid:173)
`date the increased traffic, fiber optic links are the primary
`communications link for most, if not all, of the intercon(cid:173)
`nections among the network hubs. Satellite locations inter- 30
`face to the hubs primarily via fiber optic or Tl telephone
`link. Similarly, end users connected to the satellite locations
`are connected by way of modems or Tl lines. Currently,
`network control and operation is primarily administered by
`private or commercial organizations, as opposed to direct 35
`government involvement.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a typical segment 100 of the Internet
`network topology. Each individual connection to the Internet
`is made through a router (not shown), such as part no. Cisco
`4000 available from Cisco of Menlo Park, Calif. or part no. 40
`8230 available from New Bridge of Herndon, Va. The router
`insulates local area networks (LAN) at specific sites from
`the numerous data packets being sent across the Internet
`which are of no interest to the particular LAN. For example,
`if a connection is established over the Internet from LAN 45
`110 to LAN 120, any information exchanged between LAN
`110 and LAN 120 is probably of no interest to LAN 130. The
`router thus prevents such information from reaching LAN
`130. Conversely, if LAN 120 desires to transmit information
`to LAN 130, the router is sufficiently intelligent to allow this 50
`information to reach LAN 130 by way of the LAN 140 to
`which LAN 130 is connected.
`The communications protocols used by computers on the
`Internet to communicate information include TCP
`(Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram 55
`Protocol). TCP is a connection-oriented protocol that pro(cid:173)
`vides a reliable data path between two communicating
`entities. In contrast, UDP is a connectionless protocol that
`does not guarantee delivery of messages. Although mes(cid:173)
`sages are typically delivered successfully in UDP, this may 60
`not be the case in the event of network failure or congestion.
`Both the TCP and UDP protocols are built on top of a lower
`layer protocol known as the IP (Internet Protocol). IP is used
`to format and route TCP and UDP messages. TCP/IP and
`UDP/IP have become worldwide de facto standards for 65
`interprocess communication and provide the underlying
`transport mechanism in use on the Internet. A detailed
`
`4
`description of the principles and protocol of TCP/IP com(cid:173)
`munication is set forth in Douglas E. Comer, Internetwork(cid:173)
`ing with TCP/JP Volume 1 Principle Protocols and
`Architecture, (Prentice Hall 1991).
`Computer networks such as the Internet, which are
`capable of transmitting generic data or information between
`locations, have been used to transmit audio information
`between computers. At the transmitting computer, a person's
`voice may be digitized using an analog to digital (ND)
`converter and transmitted to the receiving location where it
`is passed through a digital to analog (DIA) converter and
`presented as audio. This type of audio connectivity is
`arguably similar to fiat rate telephony, in that audio infor(cid:173)
`mation may be transmitted from one location to another by
`way of a high bandwidth, fiat rate communications medium.
`However, this type of computer telephony system suffers
`from several major disadvantages. First, the system is lim(cid:173)
`ited to only those customers who have access to the Internet.
`While Internet access has now widely proliferated, it has not
`reached the near universal accessibility of POTS ("Plain Old
`Telephone Service") service. Such a system is utterly useless
`if it is desired to communicate with someone who does not
`have access to the Internet.
`Second, such systems provide only half duplex
`communication, viz., that information can only be transmit(cid:173)
`ted in one direction at any given point in time. There is no
`simultaneous, two way transfer of information. Third, user
`access to such a system is only by way of a computer, which
`is still significantly more expensive than a telephone. Fourth,
`user access is extremely inconvenient in comparison with
`corded, cordless, portable, mobile or cellular telephones, in
`that access may only be provided at a location where a
`computer is physically located. Fifth, communication with a
`particular individual may only be made by addressing the
`information to their computer network address, not to their
`standard telephone number.
`While attempts have been made to remedy some of these
`deficiencies, the resulting systems are still inadequate. For
`example, the "Internet Phone" device available from
`VocalTec of Northvale, N.J., is a computer-based Windows
`device which provides full duplex audio connectivity across
`the Internet. However, the system is extremely cumbersome
`and impractical to use and also suffers from several disad(cid:173)
`vantages. Specifically, the Internet Phone does not use
`standard telephone numbers to address individuals; it
`requires a computer at both transmitting and receiving ends;
`and both transmitting and receiving locations must call in to
`establish a connection between the two parties. More impor(cid:173)
`tant however, the system does not allow spontaneous com(cid:173)
`munication since the communication sessions must be
`scheduled in advance. Each potential receiving end must
`state their time availability and specify a computer or
`machine location where they may be reached.
`
`OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a method
`and apparatus capable of efficiently communicating audio
`information over a computer network.
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a method
`and apparatus capable of efficiently communicating audio
`information over a computer network which is able to
`transmit the information at essentially a fiat rate or charge.
`It is an additional object of the present invention to
`provide a method and apparatus capable of communicating
`audio information over a computer network between users
`who do not have direct access to the computer network.
`
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`US 6,243,373 Bl
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`5
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`method and apparatus capable of communicating audio
`information over a computer network in full duplex format.
`It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
`a method and apparatus capable of communicating audio 5
`information over a computer network without requiring the
`use of a computer at the user location.
`It is an additional object of the present invention to
`provide a method and apparatus capable of communicating
`audio information over a computer network without requir- 10
`ing that the user be located at a computer location.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`method and apparatus capable of communicating audio
`information over a computer network using standard user
`telephone numbers to direct the information transmitted.
`
`6
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of
`the computer network telephone transmission system
`according to the present invention illustrating telephone to
`telephone communication;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of
`the computer network telephone transmission system
`according to the present invention illustrating telephone to
`computer communication;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a specialized computer
`system (ITS node) according to the present invention which
`interfaces the PSTN to a computer network;
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the inbound call opera(cid:173)
`tion of the specialized computer system (ITS node) of FIG.
`15 5;
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the outbound call opera(cid:173)
`tion of the specialized computer system (ITS node) of FIG.
`5;
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`According to the present invention, a novel method and
`apparatus are provided for communicating audio informa(cid:173)
`tion over a computer network. The present invention allows
`anyone with a standard telephone connected to the public
`switched telephone network (PSTN) to communicate with
`any other telephone, using a computer network, such as the
`Internet, as the transmission facility in lieu of conventional
`telephone transmission facilities, such as the interexchange
`or intralata facilities.
`In using an illustrative embodiment of the present,
`invention, the originator of a conversation (calling party)
`dials the number of an access port of the present system. The 30
`call is routed to a central office switching system which is
`connected to the PSTN. When the connection to the access
`port is established, a specialized computer system (ITS
`node) at the access port signals the user to transmit the
`number of the party that is to be called (the called party). The
`specialized computer system (ITS node) interfaces between
`the telephone switching system and a computer network,
`such as the Internet. The specialized computer system (ITS
`node) receives the number of the called party and establishes
`a two-way, full duplex communications link via the com(cid:173)
`puter network to a corresponding specialized computer
`system (ITS node) at an access port in the vicinity of the
`called party. This specialized computer system (ITS node) at
`the receiving end is connected to the local PSTN in the
`region of the called party, and uses the local PSTN to 45
`connect the call to the called party. Once the call is answered
`at the called party, the calling and called party may com(cid:173)
`municate as if the call had been established using the
`conventional telephone system.
`Since the access ports are connected over the computer
`network, even if the call is over long distances, the user
`would only have to pay for the local calls to the access ports,
`as well as the reduced or fiat rate cost for use of the computer
`network.
`
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the Cal