PH12018000091A1 - A wireless communication device for extending calls to mobile communcation devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a converged communication device that extends the wireless home phone service beyond the confines of the home to smartphones and other smart devices. The converged communication device includes a docking station, a handset, and a tablet computer to which a software phone application is installed. The software phone application can also be installed in other smart devices, such as smartphones and other tablet computers, to turn such devices into extensions that can make and receive calls from the wireless home phone service beyond the confines of the home through the Internet. The docking station includes a gateway switch that allows routing of calls to and from extensions. The docking station also includes an IP router that allows it to use Dynamic Domain Name System (DONS) or Network Address Translation (NAT) traversal techniques so that smart devices to which the software phone application is installed can find the IP address of the docking station when the tablet computer or other smart devices having Internet access are used outside the home.

Description

For a call from subscriber's home to a registered smart device 28 outside o the subscriber's home as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the call from the wireless = handset 12 is sent via Wi-Fi 23 to the router 18. The router 18 forwards the data packets to the VoIP gateway 19. The VoIP gateway 19 sends the data back to the router 18 which forwards the data to the cellular network interface 22. The cellular - network interface 22 converts the digital signal into a suitable signal to be sent to ~ the internet 24 via PLMN data 20b. The registered smart device 28 communicates he with the DDNS server 25 to retrieve the IP address of the VolP gateway 19. The = call to the registered smart device 28 is progressed via the Internet 24. This use by case also applies when another registered smart device within the home is used in = place of the wireless handset (for easy reference, see the number of arrowheads 1-8).

For a call from a registered smart device 28 outside to subscriber's home as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the registered smart device 28 connects with the

DDNS server 25 to retrieve the IP address of the VoIP gateway 19. The call from the registered smart device 28 is sent to the Internet 24. The cellular network interface 22 receives the data via PLMN data 20b and sends it to the router 18.

The router 18 forwards the digital signal to the VolP gateway 19. The VolP gateway 19 sends the data packets to the router 18 which forwards them to the wireless handset 12 through Wi-Fi 23. The wireless handset 12 receives the data packets and the call is progressed. This use case also applies when the receiving party is using the tablet computer 13 or another registered smart device that is within the subscriber's home and is wirelessly connected to the docking station (for easy reference, see the number of arrowheads 1-8).

In the above use cases, a DDNS client 15 reports the IP address of the

VoIP gateway 19 to the DDNS server 25. Also in the above use cases, the docking station 11 has a Local Area Network (LAN) port 30 to which a VoIP phone 31 or a computer 32 can be connected such that they can take the place of a registered smart device 28.

To extend landline voice service to another smart device, VoIP softphone 14 is downloaded in that smart device. VoIP softphone 14 gets its configuration information from the provisioning server 27. The provisioning server 27 has a database of configuration settings for the VolP softphone 14 to know as to which fd

VoIP gateway 19 it should communicate with. »

Referring to the block diagram as shown in FIG. 3 and the use cases as = shown in FIGS. 4 to 10, a notification server 26 pushes calls and messages to the LL

VoIP softphone 14 regardless of whether the VoIP softphone 14 is active or not at = the time when the call or message was sent. = i.

“ eo -..

SPECIFICATION ©. | L. i os

J

A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR EXTENDING CALLS TO = © =

MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES / 0

K =

FIELD OF THE INVENTION _

The invention relates to the field of communication devices, apd more pect particularly to converged communication devices. py

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ht

With the proliferation of cellular network technologies like 3G, 4G and LTE, - telecommunication companies are offering their customers wireless home phone service - a service that allows customers to have access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) without a physical telephone line, through a telephone device that connects to the cellular network, also called public land mobile network (PLMN).

Telcos provide their customers one of two kinds of devices. One device looks like a home wireless router that contains the necessary electronics to connect to a cellular network, and has a telephone jack for which a regular wired telephone can be plugged in. The second device looks like a regular telephone without the wires, and has the electronics to connect to a cellular network directly.

By offering this kind of service, telcos are able to expand their customer base by providing telephone services to customers instantly, without having to run cables for each prospective customer, for as long as the customer is within the range of their cellular base station.

But because the device is designed to be a tabletop device, end-users will not be able to carry the device around with them like a mobile phone. End users will only be able to receive or make calls through the device when they are near it.

Thus, in order to increase people’s interest in wireless home phones, there is a need to add the aspect of mobility into the service. It is desirable to have a wireless home phone device that appears and functions like a traditional landline telephone device, but has the accessibility and flexibility of a mobile phone, allowing users to make and receive calls via the wireless home phone service fos using their smartphones and tablet computers even when outside the home. =

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION -

The primary object therefore of the present invention is to remedy the - aforementioned limitation by providing a converged communication device that = extends the wireless home phone service beyond the confines of the home to ~ smartphones and other smart devices. The present invention includes a handset, boot a tablet computer, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) softphone and a docking = station. The docking station connects wirelessly to the cellular network and is also = wirelessly connected to the tablet computer. The handset is also connected to the = dock either by wire or wirelessly. The docking station communicates with the tablet computer and smart devices that have the VoIP softphone installed such that the capability of making and receiving calls via the wireless home phone service is extended to the tablet computer and smart devices. Moreover, the calls can be transferred from the handset to the tablet computer or any other smart device and vice-versa. With the present invention, it is possible to use the tablet computer to make and receive calls via the wireless home phone service regardless of the tablet computer's docking state. Another object of this invention is to provide a converged communication device that is durable and convenient to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TABLES AND DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the converged communication device embodying the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the docking station together with the supporting components and the network environment;

FIG. 3A is a table of all call scenarios made possible by the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a call from PSTN to a registered smart device outside the subscriber's home;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a call from a registered smart device outside the subscriber's home to PSTN;

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a call from PSTN to subscriber's home;

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a call from subscriber's home to ~

PSTN; 5

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a call from handset to tablet = computer within the subscriber's home:

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a call from subscriber's home to a i registered smart device outside; and _

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a call from a registered smart device outside to subscriber's home. i oo

DESCRIPTION OF DOCKING STATION COMPONENTS

Cellular Network Interface Receives/ftransmits voice and data signals to/from the public land mobile network (PLMN).

Wide Area Network (WAN) | Connection point for Internet sources via RJ45

Port connector

Forwards data packets along the network

Local Area Network (LAN) Connection point for VolP phone or computer

Port

VoIP Gateway Handles call setup, interconnection and teardown

DDNS Client Software that regularly reports to the DDNS server the global IP address of the dock

Wi-Fi Enables the dock to wirelessly connect to peripheral devices in the computer network

FXS Port Port that receives/transmits the analog telephone signals

DESCRIPTION OF DOCK'S PERIPHERAL COMPONENTS

Wireless Handset A fully-functional wireless telephone that can

— make or receive calls from a telephone exchange ow or switching system such as the dock =

Wired Handset A fully functional analog telephone that can make - or receive calls by plugging it to an FXS port = -

Tablet Computer A portable computer in tablet form capable of - fat running a software phone B =

DESCRIPTION OF SUPPORTING COMPONENTS -

These components may not be physically part of the device itself but they play important roles in the functionality of the device. In the converged communication device of the present invention, the DDNS server is a key element in the solution as it helps establish the connection between the VoIP gateway and VolP softphones. Meanwhile, the provisioning server is included to provide a hassle-free way of configuring the device. The notification server enables incoming calls and messages to be received even when the VoIP softphone in the registered smart device is not active at the time of sending.

Dynamic Domain Name Accepts and stores the |P address of VoIP

System (DDNS) server gateway to enable the registered smart device to locate the VoIP gateway

Provisioning server Stores configuration information to be retrieved by the VoIP softphone for its initial registration

Notification server Pushes messages and calls to the VoIP softphone, regardless of whether the VolP softphone in the registered smart device is active or not at the time when the call or message was sent

=

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION =”

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals designate the = same part throughout, there is shown in the drawings particularly in FIG. 1, a in converged communication device generally designated as 10, that extends the - wireless home phone service beyond the confines of the home to smartphones = and other smart devices. The converged communication device 10 includes a docking station 11, a handset 12, a tablet computer 13 and, shown in FIG. 3, a Foor

VoIP softphone 14. In FIG. 3, the docking station 11 connects to PLMN 20a and i 20b, and is connected to the handset by wire 29 or wirelessly 12, and wirelessly to o the tablet computer 13. The docking station 11 communicates with the tablet = computer 13 that has the VoIP softphone 14 installed such that the capability of making and receiving calls via the wireless home phone service is extended beyond the confines of the home to the tablet computer 13 or to a registered smart device 28. Since the tablet computer 13 and registered smart device 28 have the the VoIP softphone 14 installed, it is possible to make and receive calls via the wireless home phone service. The docking state of the tablet computer 13 does not affect its ability to make and receive calls.

The docking station 11 integrates the functions of cellular network interface 22, router 18 and VoIP gateway 19.

The docking station 11 has a Wide Area Network (WAN) port 16 that serves as an alternate source for Internet connectivity via RJ45 connector. The docking station 11 is designed in such a way that it can accommodate the wireless handset 12 or wired handset 29, and tablet computer 13 on their respective docking areas at the same time.

In use cases:

For a call from PSTN to a registered smart device outside the subscriber's home as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the call from an analog phone 23 connects to

PSTN 21, interconnects with PLMN 20a, enters the cellular network interface module 22 that receives the voice signal and converts it into a digital signal suitable for processing by the VoIP gateway 19. Configuration setting is done in the VoIP gateway 19 such that the registered smart device 28 is the device that accepts an incoming call. The VoIP gateway 19 receives the digital signal from the cellular network interface module 22, converts it into data packets and sends these

[Eo data packets to the router 18. The router 18 forwards the data packets back to the IN cellular network interface 22. It then converts the digital data into a suitable signal - to be sent to the Internet 24 via PLMN data 20b. PLMN data 20b refers to the = means by which Internet access is delivered to the subscriber through the cellular network. The registered smart device 28 communicates with the Dynamic Domain w@

Name System (DDNS) server 25 to retrieve the Internet Protocol (IP) address of pos the VoIP gateway 19. The call to the registered smart device 28 is progressed via the Internet 24 (for easy reference, see the number of arrowheads 1-11). fo

The above use case is very similar to the case where the origin of the call is @ from a mobile phone 34, and the destination of the call is a registered smart device = 28 outside the subscriber's home. Using FIG. 4 as reference, the starting point is a mobile phone 34 connecting to PLMN voice 20a. From that point onwards, the flow is the same.

For a call from a registered smart device outside the subscriber's home to

PSTN as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the registered smart device 28 communicates with the DDNS server 25 to retrieve the IP address of the VoIP gateway 19. The call, in the form of a VolP call, from the registered smart device 28 is sent to the

Internet 24. The cellular network interface 22 receives the VoIP data via PLMN data 20b and sends it to the router 18. The router 18 forwards the VoIP data to the

VoIP gateway 19. Configuration setting is done in the VoIP gateway 19 such that an external analog phone 33 is the device that accepts an incoming call. The VoIP gateway 19 sends the VoIP data back to the cellular network interface module 22.

The cellular network interface module 22 converts the VoIP data into voice signal : to be received by analog phone 33 through an interconnection between PSTN 21 and PLMN voice 20a (for easy reference, see the number of arrowheads 1-11).

The above use case is very similar to the case where the origin of the call is a registered smart device 28 outside the subscriber's home and the destination of the call is a mobile phone 34. Using FIG. 5 as reference, the starting point up to

PLMN voice 20a are the same. From PLMN voice 20a, the voice signal is received by a mobile device 34 directly.

For a call from PSTN to subscriber's home as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the call from analog phone 23 connects to PSTN 21, interconnects with PLMN voice 20a, enters the cellular network interface module 22 that receives the voice signal fo and converts it into a digital signal suitable for processing by the VoIP gateway 19. =

The VolP gateway 19 is configured to assign which device should accept an = incoming call. In this case, the wireless handset 12, wired handset 29 and tablet © computer 13 are assigned as the devices that simultaneously accept the incoming i call. The VoIP gateway 19 converts the digital signals into data packets and sends = them to the router 18. The router 18 receives these data packets and sends them = to the wireless handset 12 and tablet computer 13 with software phone 14, - operating as one, via Wi-Fi 23 and the call is progressed (for easy reference, see = the number of arrowheads 1-5). Also, the VoIP gateway 19 directly sends the = digital signals through the FXS port 17 which delivers analog signals to the wired LI handset 29.

For a call from subscriber's home to PSTN as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the call from the wireless handset 12 or tablet computer 13 with software phone 14 is sent via Wi-Fi 23 to the router 18 to the VoIP gateway 19. The router 18 sends the 16 data packets to the VolP gateway 19 which then sends the digital signal to the cellular network interface 22. The cellular network interface module 22 converts the digital signal into voice signal to be received by analog phone 23 through

PSTN 21 interconnected with PLMN voice 20a (for easy reference, see the number of arrowheads 1-7).

In the above use case, the device in the subscriber's home originating the call can be the wired handset 29. In which case, the voice signal is carried from the wired handset 29 to the VoIP gateway 19 via the FXS port 17. From the VoIP gateway 19 up to analog phone 23, the flow is the same.

For a call from wireless handset 12 to tablet computer 13 within the subscriber's home as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the call from the wireless handset 12 is sent via Wi-Fi 23 to the router 18 to the VoIP gateway 19. The router 18 forwards the data packets to the VoIP gateway 19. The VoIP gateway 19 sends a response whether or not the call is possible. When such call is possible, connection between the wireless handset 12 and tablet computer 13 is established via Wi-Fi 23 and the call is progressed. This use case also applies to smartphones and other smart devices when the said devices are within the home and are wirelessly connected to the docking station (for easy reference, see the number of arrowheads 1-6).

Claims (7)

ee ——————————— TENN, ZY, iN © © Ns WE CLAIM: N° < . ce ov i

1. A converged communication device comprising: LC a docking station that is connected to a telecommunications netwgrk; ot a telephone handset that is connected to said docking station/by wire or = wirelessly; and ~ a tablet computer that contains a software phone appli¢ation and is wirelessly connected also to said docking station characterized in that: o said docking station includes a cellular network interface module that = allows it to wirelessly connect to the telecommunications network; i said docking station includes a gateway switch that converts calls from the wireless home phone service to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and allows the docking station to route calls to and from extensions, such as handset, tablet computer, and other smart devices that were made extensions; said docking station further includes an Internet Protocol (IP) router that allows the docking station to use Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS) or Network Address Translation (NAT) traversal techniques so that smart devices to which the software phone application is installed can find the IP address of the docking station when the tablet computer or other smart devices having Internet access are used outside the home; and said software phone application that is installed in said tablet computer can also be installed in other smart devices, such as smartphones and other tablet computers, to turn such devices into extensions of the wireless home phone service that can make and receive calls beyond the confines of the home through the Internet.

2. The converged communication device of claim 1, wherein said docking station uses a wireless means to bridge a call originating from the handset or tablet computer to a cellular network, and vice versa.

3. The converged communication device of claim 1, wherein said gateway switch of said docking station facilitates the exchange of calls between i extensions, such as handset, tablet computer, and other smart devices to - which the software phone application is installed. fe 0

4. The converged communication device of claim 1, wherein said IP router - reports the IP address of the gateway switch to a DDNS server so that the ee software phone application can find the IP address of the docking station. fr

5. The converged communication device of claim 1, wherein said docking = station has the configuration information for each of the extensions, and © forwards said configuration information to a provisioning server. °

6. The converged communication device of claim 5, wherein said configuration information stored in the provisioning server is retrieved by said software phone application to allow it to be identified as an extension 16 by the gateway switch.

7. The converged communication device of claim 1, wherein said docking station includes a Wide Area Network (WAN) port that enables alternate connection to the Internet in addition to the built-in cellular network interface.

ro

1. As to the issue of LACK OF NOVELTY of claim 1 with respect to = the cited prior art (D1 - US20130155170 A1): = For clarity purposes and to further traverse the Examiner’s findings, we have tabulated in the = diagram below all the elements found in the present invention shown in the 1¥ column to compare it — with the claims of the cited prior art D1 (as shown in the 3" column), and on the 4" column are = response to the Examiner’s finding allegedly cited in the description of D1, as follows: foi Present D1 Response To Examiner's Findings A ew invention 2 2 2 = En Docking Yes, cited in Yes, cited in = > : : 3 Station Claim 1 as prior | Claim 1 — fh Sle ~ oat art o Handset Yes, cited in Yes, cited in I. Claim 1 as prior | Claim 19 i. R ™ ad Tablet Yes, cited in Not cited in Cited by D1 as client device 130. In Par 19 of D1, client Claim 1 as prior | any of the device 130 is merely part of an exemplanf network art claims environment. D1 does not claim that 1804s an element of the invention. Connected to | Yes, cited in Yes, cited in Telecoms Claimsland2 | Claim 4 Network Gateway Yes, cited in Yes, cited in Instead of “gateway switch”, D1 uses the words Switch Claim 1 Claim 2 “routing the first call through the docking station to the one or more POTS phones...” VolP Yes, cited in Not cited in Cited as a possible component of 130 (Par 24). Par 19 Softphone Claim 1 any of the explains that 130 is merely part of an exemplary claims network environment, and Par 24 further enumerates possible client devices, and identifies what they may have. D1 does not claim that the client device and VolP Softphone are elements of the invention. Router Yes, cited in Not cited in Cited as 800. Par 43 mentions that a router/switch is Claim 1 any of the an example of what may be part of the docking claims station. D1 does not claim that a router is an element of the invention. WAN Port Yes, cited in D1 does not explicitly use the words “WAN Port” but

CL ————————— EE — [ oo Claim 7 Claim 11 claim 11 of D1 mentions “receiving incoming data - from ... a broadband access network” which is poi technically equivalent to a “WAN Port”. = Jom i COMMENTS: 0 In the above table, two elements mentioned in the claim of the invention are not found in the - claims of the cited D1, namely VoIP softphone and router.

The following paragraphs explain why these N two elements are crucial in achieving the primary function of the invention which is to extend the Zh landline voice service beyond the confines of the home via smartphones. = Router Lo Mentioned in Claims 1 and 4, the present invention includes a router that allows wired and wireless routing of data packets along the network.

Included in the router is a component called DDNS client - mentioned in the detailed description, page 6, from line 13 onwards.

The DDNS client reports the IP address of the VoIP gateway to the DDNS server.

This reporting of the IP address is vital in establishing a communication link between the docking station and tablet computer (or smartphones) when such smart devices are used outside the confines of the home.

VolP Softphone Mentioned in Claim 1, a VoIP Softphone application is pre-installed in the tablet computer of the converged communication device, but said application can also be installed in other smart devices, such as smartphones and other tablet computers.

When installed in smart devices, the software phone turns these devices into landline extensions that can make and receive landline calls through the Internet.

In the present invention, the software phone application does not require the smart device to be docked in the docking station for the landline voice service to be extended to the smart devices.

Once a smart device became a landline extension through the installation of the software phone application, such smart device can already make and receive calls via the landline even when outside the home as long as it has Internet access.

Furthermore, the present invention is different as compared with the cited prior cited art US20130155170 Al (D1) in terms of function, method and result: The present invention’s primary function, as mentioned in claim 1, is to extend the wireless home phone service to smart devices such that calls can be made or received outside the confines of the home.

Note that calls work in both directions - calls can be made or received.

The cited prior art (D1), however, doesn’t claim to be able to perform this function, nor does it have the elements to be able to perform such function.

Instead, the cited prior art (D1) proposed a docking station that allows the user to receive calls from multiple sources including two mobile phones, landline/PSTN ee os and VolP, and have the calls routed to one or more Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) phones or - cordless phones. Although mentioned in the descriptions of drawings, note that D1, using D1 - alone, does not claim to be able to perform the call function in reverse - from POTS phones or po cordless phones to the multiple sources. Moreover, the POTS phones and cordless phones are 2 devices that can only operate within close proximity to the docking station, and therefore pres effectively only within the confines of the home. = The present invention’s method for achieving its primary function is by means of combining the iy functions of a cellular network interface module, a VolP gateway, a router, a VolP softphone, a 3 source of Internet connectivity, a tablet computer and techniques for traversing data networks. = The result of the combination of which, where each component is essential, is the ability to extend = a call from/to the wireless home phone service to/from a smartphone which may be outside the o confines of a home. Whereas, the cited prior art (D1) performs a different function and therefore, has a different method and result. Wherefore, the subject invention is therefore considered novel in so far as (D1) is concerned, since not all the elements/components of the former are found in the latter as palpably explained above and further shown in the above comparison table. And since it does not form part of the prior art D1, the present invention has a degree of the required “ NOVELTY” in accordance with Sec. 23 of the IP Code, and considering the fact that both the present invention and D1 addresses different solutions to solve their different problems, they could co-exist as such. This should merit the withdrawal for lack of novelty of the invention for claims 1-7.

2. As to the issue of LACK OF INVENTIVE STEP with respect to the with respect to the cited prior art (D1 - US20130155170 A1): Granting that the present invention’s novelty over D1 has been raised in the above paragraphs as refuted, the inventive step of the present invention over D1 is also established under Section 26 of RA 8293, in view of the additional features cited below considered to be a “non-obvious” activity as such: Adding a router function into the docking station - This enables the docking station to report the IP address of its VoIP gateway to an external DDNS server so that the VolP gateway can be discovered by and connected to a tablet computer or smart phone outside the confines of the home network. Adding a VoIP software phone as part of the device - By adding a VoIP software phone pre- installed in the tablet computer which is a detachable component of the device, the present invention’s primary function of extending the landline to a smart device outside the confines of the home network, is achieved by the device “out-of-the-box” whereby making the present invention a device rather than a system. Modifying the cited prior art (D1 - US20130155170 A1), by placing the above features would fod

— render this D1 “unsatisfactory for its intended purpose/ principle of operation”. The intended bod purpose of D1 is to have a docking station that allows the user to receive calls from multiple i, sources including two mobile phones, landline/PSTN and VolP, and have the calls routed to one or = more Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) phones or cordless phones, and this POTS phones and cordless phones are devices that can only operate within close proximity to the docking station, ) and therefore effectively only within the confines of the home.

And not the ability to extend a call ~ from/to the wireless home phone service to/from a smartphone which may be outside the = confines of a home of which our invention teaches, and addresses for achieving its primary i. function by means of combining the functions of a cellular network interface module, a VoIP gateway, a router, a VolP softphone, a source of Internet connectivity, a tablet computer and es techniques for traversing data networks. =