Patent EP0880255A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0880255A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for remote access to a telephone switching system using internet protocol networks
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
•
Filing: 1998-05-20
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2018-05-20
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a communication system for remote access to a telephone switching system, such as a private branch exchange (PBX) switch located at a company's main office, using an Internet Protocol (IP) network, such as the Internet. The system further comprises a voice to IP gateway coupled to the telephone switching system and the IP network, and a computing device, such as a personal computer, capable of connecting to and communicating with the IP network. By communicating through the IP network and the gateway with the telephone switching system, the computing device gains access to functions supported by the switch, thus providing a remote user of the system with a virtual main office desktop environment.
Inventors
- 👤 David Ward
- 👤 John Marshall
- 👤 Cuthbert Cheung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42314; H04M3/4234; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A communication system comprising: an Internet Protocol (IP) network; a telephone switching system; a gateway coupled to the telephone switching system and the IP network,
for receiving and transmitting signals between the telephone switching system and the IP
network; a computing device capable of connecting to and communicating with
the IP network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the computing device
communicates with the telephone switching system through the IP network and the
gateway, to obtain access to functions supported by the switching system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A communication system according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the IP network
is either the Internet or an intranet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A communication system according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the computing
device connects to the IP network either through a local public switched telephone
network (PSTN), or through a local Internet Service provider (ISP), or a combination
thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A communication system according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the IP network
is an intranet and wherein the computing device either connects to the intranet through
the Internet, or connects to the intranet through a local public switched telephone
network (PSTN), or a combination thereof, or connects directly to the intranet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A communication system according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the gateway is
a voice to Internet Protocol (IP) gateway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A communication system according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the telephone
switching system is either a private branch exchange (PBX) switch or is a Centrex
switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A communication system according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the computing
device is either a personal computer or an intelligent telephone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communication system according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the computing
device further comprises an audio signal processor and an audio transducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communication system according to claim 9, wherein the audio signal
processor is a sound card and the audio transducer is a headset.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A communication system according to claim 9, wherein the audio signal
processor has echo cancellation capability and the audio transducer is a microphone and
speakers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of providing remote access to a telephone switching system through
an Internet Protocol (IP) network, said method comprising the steps of: providing a gateway coupled to the telephone switching system and the
IP network, for receiving and transmitting signals between the telephone switching
system and the IP network; providing a computing device capable of connecting to and
communicating with the IP network; connecting the computing device to the IP network; using the computing device to communicate with the telephone
switching system through the IP network and the gateway, to obtain access to functions
supported by the switching system.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of providing a virtual main office desktop environment for a remote
user of a main office resources, said method comprising the steps of: providing a gateway coupled to a telephone switching system of the main
office and to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, for receiving and transmitting signals
between the telephone switching system and the IP network; providing the remote user with a computing device capable of
connecting to and communicating with the IP network; connecting the computing device to the IP network at an arbitrary
location geographically remote from the main office; communicating with the telephone switching system of the main office
through the IP network and the gateway, to obtain remote access to functions supported
by the telephone switching system and to other main office resources, thus creating the
virtual main office desktop environment for the remote user.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to any of claims 12-13, wherein the IP network is either the
Internet or an intranet.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to any of claims 12-14, wherein the gateway is a voice to
Internet Protocol (IP) network.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
16 words
A method according to any of claims 12-15, wherein the computing device is a
personal computer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any of claims 12-16, wherein the computing device
further comprises an audio signal processor and an audio transducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.