WO2001067717A2

WO2001067717A2 - Phone system for network and method for providing internetphone service using the phone system

Info

Publication number: WO2001067717A2
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000258
Authority: WO
Inventors: Suk-Ju Ko; Keon-Soon Hwang
Original assignee: Ko Suk Ju; Hwang Keon Soon
Priority date: 2000-03-09
Filing date: 2001-02-21
Publication date: 2001-09-13
Also published as: WO2001067717A3; KR100427859B1; KR20010087981A; AU3616501A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a telephone system for network and method for providing internet phone services using said system. The purpose of the present invention is to solve the inconveniences of sending and receiving voice using a mike and a speaker connected to a sound card and dialing using a mouse or a keypad. The present invention comprises controlling means for controlling a telephone set consisting of dial buttons, a hook switch, a handset, etc.; connecting means for connecting the telephone set with external devices; and controlling software operating in connection with said controlling means.

Description

PHONE SYSTEM FOR NETWORK AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INTERNETPHONE SERVICE USING THE PHONE SYSTEM

Technical Field The present invention relates to a telephone system for a network and method for providing internet phone services using the same which can soh e the inconveniences of sending and receiving voice using a mike and a speaker connected to a sound card and dialing using a mouse or a keypad.

Background Art

Internet phones are referred to as telephones which allow PC owners having the same system to make telephone-like calls by connecting a PC having software for using internet phones, a speaker, a mike, and a sound card to the internet. They are being rapidly distributed since they have been introduced by Vocaltec. Israel, on February. 1995.

The basic principles of internet phones are the technology of converting analog data like sound into digial data, or vice versa, which enables telephone-like calls. That is. it is possible to make phone calls at a low cost, not via general telephone lines, but via the internet, i.e.. a global network. However, such an internet phone has the following problems.

First, both sides wanting a telephone call must be connected to the internet. This is a small matter for an internet private line user, but it is impossible for a person using a modem and a telephone line to be in the state of being connected to the internet all the time. Thus, recently, the method of connecting between a PC and a general telephone or between general telephones by interconnecting the internet and a public switched telephone network(PSTN) is being introduced.

Second, call quality is lower as compared to a pulblic switched network. That is. an internet phones uses a sound card of a computer, said sound card is originally used for the purpose of music reproduction and sound source control. Therefore, the frequency bandwidth wider than that of voice communication is used, and accordingly a howling phenomenon is occurred to thus reduce call quality in voice communication.

Third, it is inconvenient to use internet phones. As described abo\ e. users can make a phone call only b\ holding a mike in their hands after mounting a speaker, mike. etc. to a sound card, under the control of the software controlling the sound card. This makes the older generation feel uncomfortable in using internet phones. To overcome this problem, recently, the users use internet services by using a headset integrally formed with a mike, speaker, and the like. But. also in this case, the headset must be

• mounted to a computer as an individual part, the inconveniences of users unfamiliar with the headset are not solved. Fourth, in order to use internet phones, users must start a web browser, search and go into the internet address of an internet phone service provider, and press a dial button by using a mouse or a keypad. Thus, it is inconvenient for novice users or the older generation unfamiliar with computers.

Disclosure of Invention

It is. therefore, a first object of the present invention to allow all people to use an internet phone without discomfort b\ providing a telephone of the same type as a general telephone.

It is a second object of the present invention to minimize a how ling phenomenon occurring in use of a sound card. i It is a third object of the present invention to allow users to easih use an internet phone by making them directly connected to the internet only by picking up the handset of the phone although they do not connect to the internet individually.

To achieve the above object, there is provided a telephone system for a network and method for providing internet phone services using the same, which includes: a telephone set consisting of dial buttons, a hook switch, a handset, and the like: a controlling unit for controlling the telephone set. a connecting unit for connecting the telephone set w ith external devices; and control software operating in communication w ith the controlling unit of the telephone set. The telephone set includes dial buttons, a hook sw itch, a handset, etc. like a general PSTN telephone, and additionally includes a connection module for connecting with external devices. The controlling unit transfers signals generated from the hook switch and the dial button to the control software, and translates and transfers signals and data transferred from the control software and the external device. The external device is the one including a memory, a CPU. an input device, an output device, and the like, which must have the device for processing voice data, such as a sound card or sound module. The external device of the present invention is not limited to a physically external device, but may be an external device in the meaning that it is separated from the telephone set. The control software drives a general purpose program for using the internet phone of the external device, such as an internet connection program or web browser, and stores information inputted by a user, upon receipt of signals from the hook switch or dial button of the telephone set. This program may be installed to the inside of the telephone set as necessan . Brief Description of Drawings

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a telephone system according to a first embodiment of the present invention:

Figure 2 is a view illustrating the configuration of a telephone s\ stem according to a second embodiment of the present invention: and

Figure 3 is a view illustrating the configuration of a method for

iding internet phone services according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a telephone system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which shows the connection of computer and a telephone including: a telephone set consisting of dial buttons, a hook switch, a handset, and the like; a controlling unit: a keyboard connector for connecting the keyboard of the computer thereto: and a keyboard jack connected to the ke\ board connector of the computer.

The computer is the one having a sound card. The transmitter of the telephone is connected to the line-in or mike terminal of the computer sound card, and the receiver of the telephone is connected to the line-out or speaker terminal of the computer sound card. In addition, the computer is loaded with software constructed to be drh en b\ signal generation according to the operation of the hook switch of the telephone, a LAN card or modem for interned connection, and a web browser.

Therefore, if a user picks up the handset of the telephone in order to use internet phone services, the hook switch is operated to generate signals and transmit them to the controlling unit of the telephone. The controlling unit transfers the command to drive the control software installed at the computer to the computer. The control software driven by the above command connects to the serv er of a certain internet phone service provider by operating the web browser installed at the computer and entering the URL of the internet phone service prov ider in the URL input w indow of the web browser. The user having connected to the server of the internet phone service provider in this way enters the information requested by the service provider, such as an authentication procedure, and thereafter enters the telephone number of the other party to which the user wants to make a phone call by operating the dial button of the- telephone. Thusly. when the user enters the telephone number by operating the dial button, it is made possible to make a phone call by transmitting the button number to the server of the service provider.

In the

e process, once the user enters its ID and password, they may be memorized by the control software, and then automatically inputted when the server of the internet phone service provider requests the ID and password. In this case, the user can use the internet phone as if he or she made a phone call by using a general PSTN telephone.

Figure 2 is a view illustrating the configuration of a telephone system according to a second embodiment of the present inv ention, in which the apparatus having a CPU. a memory, an LO device, and network connection equipment is formed integralh with dial buttons, a hook switch, and a handset in place of a general computer. The network connection equipment may be a modem or LAN card. In thie embodiment, a mimimum of client software and control software for connecting to an internet phone service provider are installed.

Therefore, when the user picks up the handset of this apparatus, a hook signal is generated to be transmitted to the CPU. The CPU tries to connect to the server of a designated internet phone service prov ider by driving the web browser according to the transmitted signal. If the connection to the server of the internet phone service provider is made, the user transmits previously inputted user information or newh inputted user information. After user authentication, it is made possible to use internet phone services by pressing the dial button.

Figure 3 is a view illustrating the configuration of a method for prov iding internet phone services according to the first embodiment of the present invention. When the user picks up the handset of this apparatus, a signal generated from the hook switch is transmitted to the CPU. The CPU connects to the server of an internet phone service provider by driving the web browser according to the transmitted signal. The server of the internet phone service provider makes user authentication upon receipt of data of a user authentication unit recorded in the telephone, and then originates a call connection sound. After checking a dial tone, the user receives this signal from the internet phone service server when dialing is made, connects to the PSTN network of the desired party via a gateway, and then transmits a telephone number, thus achieving a call connection.

According to the present invention, all users can use internet phones without discomfort, and can make phone calls with a clear tone quality because a howling phenomenon is minimized. Also, even novice users can use the internet phone

directh connecting to the internet only by operating the handset and dial button of the telephone, threby making it possible to use internet phone services conveniently.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A telephone system for a network comprising: a telephone set consisting of dial buttons, a hook switch, a handset, and the like; controlling means for controlling the telephone set: connecting means for connecting the telephone set with external dev ices; and control software operating in communication w ith the controlling means of the telephone set.

2. The telephone s stem according to claim 1 . wherein the external device is a personal computer.

3. The telephone sv stem according to claim 1. wherein the control software has a storage unit for storing a URL and user information and automaticallv entering them.

4. A telephone system for a network, comprising: a telephone set consisting of dial buttons, a hook switch, a handset, and the like; controlling means for controlling the telephone set; connecting means for connecting the telephone set with external dev ices; a voice processing unit for processing voice data in communication with the handset: network connecting means for connecting the telephone set bv the network: a web browser operating in connection w ith the network connecting means: a characeter input unit attached to the telephone set for inputting characters: and a storage unit for storing data generated from the telephone set and the character input unit.

5. A method for providing internet phone services, comprising the steps of: picking up the handset of a telephone set by a user; transmitting a signal generated from a hook sw itch to a CPU: connecting to the server of an internet phone serv ice provider bv driving client software according to the transmitted signal by the CPU: reqeusting the CPU of the telephone set to make user authentication bv the connected server: operating the dial unit of the telephone set bv the authentificd user; and transmittinsz a signal uenerated from the dial unit to a PSTN network.