Voice internet transmission system

Abstract

A voice Internet transmission system which enables a person to have a conversation via the Internet without having to use a computer at either end of the conversation, and without incurring long distance telephone charges regardless of the distance between those having the conversation. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus consists of two non-Internet capable devices being enabled to connect to the Internet and either in duplex or simplex mode transmit packets of Internet formatted data comprising digitized, compressed and encrypted conversation between the devices. In other words, a person can pick up an ordinary telephone and converse with another person, regardless of the distance between them, without incurring long distance telephone charges. No special telephone is required, nor is a computer running special software. The apparatus which makes this possible is a system of Internet access nodes or VoiceEngines. These local Internet VoiceEngines provide digitized, compressed, and encrypted duplex or simplex Internet voice/sound communication services.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An audio transmission system for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, said system comprising: 
 at least one originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;    at least one originating audio engine means for receiving the analog signal via the first switched telephone network, digitizing said signal, compressing the signal, encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet using an Internet protocol such that the message is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the signal via the Internet;    at least one receiving audio engine means for receiving the at least one Internet packet transmitted by the originating audio engine means, de-encapsulating the at least one Internet packet to retrieve the signal, de-compressing the signal, converting the signal back to an analog form, and transmitting the analog signal via a second switched telephone network; and    at least one receiving telephone means for receiving the analog signal via the second switched telephone network.    
     
     
         2 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one originating telephone means and the at least one receiving telephone means are telephones designed to bi-directionally communicate audio information via a switched telephone network in a duplex or simplex mode.  
     
     
         3 . The system as defined in  claim 2  wherein the at least one originating telephone means and the at least one receiving telephone means are telephones which are incapable of encapsulating an analog signal within Internet packets suitable for transmission via the Internet in accordance with an Internet protocol.  
     
     
         4 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one originating and the at least one receiving telephone means are located at remote distances from each other such that long distance telephone rates would apply for a direct call between them.  
     
     
         5 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one originating audio engine means has at least one audio port coupled by an audio port thread to the first switched telephone network.  
     
     
         6 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one receiving audio engine means has at least one audio port coupled by a audio port thread to the second switched telephone network.  
     
     
         7 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one originating audio engine means has an audio port coupled by an audio port thread to an Internet interface which is coupled to the Internet via a dedicated connection.  
     
     
         8 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one receiving audio engine means has an audio port coupled by an audio port thread to an Internet interface which is coupled to the Internet via a dedicated connection.  
     
     
         9 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one originating telephone means and the at least one receiving telephone means are selected from the group consisting of a switched telephone network telephone, a cellular telephone, and a cable telephone.  
     
     
         10 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one originating audio engine means and the at least one receiving audio engine means are functionally interchangeable.  
     
     
         11 . The system as defined in  claim 10  wherein there are a plurality of originating and receiving audio engine means distributed at various dedicated Internet sites.  
     
     
         12 . The system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the at least one originating and the at least one receiving audio engine means are comprised of: 
 at least one audio port having at least one audio port thread, said at least one audio port thread providing access to a switched telephone network, and having at least a second audio port threat for providing access to an Internet interface means; and  
 an audio processing means for processing a plurality of first signals received via the switched telephone network and for processing a plurality of second signals received via the Internet in order to prepare the plurality of first signals for transmission via the Internet, and in order to prepare the plurality of second signals for transmission via the switched telephone network; and  
 a main audio engine process operating in audio engine memory which coordinates operation of said audio engine means components.  
 
     
     
         13 . The system as defined in  claim 12  wherein the audio processing means comprises a digital signal processor capable of digitizing an analog signal received via the switched telephone network and compressing the digitized signal for transmission via the Internet.  
     
     
         14 . The system as defined in  claim 13  wherein the audio processing means comprises a digital signal processor capable of de-compressing a digitized signal received via the Internet and converting the digitized signal to an analog signal for transmission via the switched telephone network.  
     
     
         15 . The system as defined in  claim 14  wherein said audio engine means is a computer executing a multitasking operating system.  
     
     
         16 . The system as defined in  claim 15  wherein said multitasking operating system is selected from the group of operating systems such as Windows NT, UNIX and variations of UNIX.  
     
     
         17 . An audio transmission system for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, said system comprising: 
 at least one originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;    at least one originating audio engine means for receiving the analog signal via the first switched telephone network, digitizing said signal, compressing the signal, encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet using an Internet protocol such that the message is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the signal via the Internet; and    a receiving computer means for receiving the at least one Internet packet transmitted by the originating audio engine means, de-encapsulating the at least one Internet packet to retrieve the signal, de-compressing the signal, converting the signal back to an analog signal, and playing the analog signal.    
     
     
         18 . An audio transmission system for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, said system comprising: 
 an originating computer means for processing an analog signal by digitizing said signal, compressing the signal, encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet using an Internet protocol such that the message is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the signal via the Internet;    at least one receiving audio engine means for receiving the at least one Internet packet transmitted by the originating audio engine means, de-encapsulating the at least one Internet packet to retrieve the signal, de-compressing the signal, and converting the signal back to an analog signal, and transmitting the analog signal via a second switched telephone network; and    at least one receiving telephone means for receiving the analog signal via the second switched telephone network.    
     
     
         19 . A system for transmitting information via the Internet using communication devices which do not transmit information using Internet communication protocols, said system comprising: 
 at least one originating communication means for transmitting non-Internet encapsulated data via a first switched telephone network;    at least one originating Internet translation engine means for receiving the non-Internet encapsulated data via the switched telephone network, encapsulating said data into Internet packets using an Internet protocol such that said data is suitable for transmission via the Internet, and transmitting the Internet packets via the Internet;    at least one receiving Internet engine means for receiving the Internet packets transmitted by the originating Internet translation engine means, de-encapsulating the Internet packet, and transmitting the non-Internet data via a second switched telephone network; and    at least one receiving communication means for receiving said data via the second switched telephone network.    
     
     
         20 . The system as defined in  claim 19  wherein the at least one originating communication means and the at least one receiving communication means are selected from non-Internet protocol transmission devices designed to simultaneously transmit and receive data via a switched telephone network.  
     
     
         21 . The system as defined in  claim 20  wherein the at least one originating communication means and the at least one receiving communication means are telephones.  
     
     
         22 . The system as defined in  claim 19  wherein the at least one originating communication means and the at least one receiving communication means are located at remote distances from each other such that long distance telephone rates would apply for a direct telephone call between them.  
     
     
         23 . The system as defined in  claim 19  wherein the at least one originating Internet translation engine means and the at least one receiving Internet translation engine means are functionally interchangeable.  
     
     
         24 . The system as defined in  claim 19  wherein there are a plurality of originating and receiving Internet translation engines distributed at various dedicated Internet connection sites.  
     
     
         25 . The system as defined in  claim 19  wherein the at least one originating Internet translation engine means comprises a digital signal processor capable of digitizing an analog signal received via the switched telephone network and compressing the digitized signal for transmission via the Internet.  
     
     
         26 . The system as defined in  claim 25  wherein the at least one receiving Internet translation means comprises a digital signal processor capable of de-compressing a digitized signal received via the Internet and converting the digitized signal to an analog signal for transmission via the switched telephone network.  
     
     
         27 . A method for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;    b) providing an originating audio engine means for receiving the signal via the first switched telephone network and transmitting the signal via the Internet;    c) providing a receiving audio engine means for receiving the signal via the Internet and transmitting the signal via a second switched telephone network; and    d) providing a receiving telephone means for receiving the signal via the second switched telephone network.    
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 27  wherein the step of providing an originating audio engine means for receiving the signal via the first switched telephone network and transmitting the signal via the Internet comprises the more specific step of initiating a main audio engine process, said process including the steps of: 
 a) initializing all audio engine means hardware including audio engine means receive hardware;  
 b) activating an audio engine means receive event loop which provides an event notification signal when a signal is being received;  
 c) waiting for the event notification signal;  
 d) verifying that the audio engine means hardware is not malfunctioning when the event notification signal is received; and  
 e) disabling malfunctioning audio engine means hardware if verification of the audio engine means hardware fails.  
 
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 28  wherein the step of activating the audio engine receive loop which provides an event notification signal indicating a signal is being received from the switched telephone network and is to be transmitted via the Internet includes the further steps of: 
 a) verifying that the signal being received is coming from an authorized audio engine subscriber;  
 b) obtaining at least one number for the receiving telephone from the originating telephone;  
 c) digitizing the signal;  
 d) compressing the signal;  
 e) encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet such that the signal can be transmitted via the Internet; and  
 f) transmitting the signal via the Internet to a receiving audio engine means.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein the method comprises the additional step of encrypting the signal before transmitting the signal via the Internet.  
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 30  wherein the step of verifying that the signal being received is from an authorized audio engine subscriber includes the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a telephone number of the originating telephone means;  
 b) comparing the telephone number of the originating telephone means to a predefined list of authorized audio engine subscribers; and  
 c) requesting a password from the subscriber if the telephone number of the originating telephone means is not on the predefined list, such that audio engine subscribers can use the system from any switched telephone network location.  
 
     
     
         32 . The method as defined in  claim 31  wherein the step of obtaining the telephone number of the originating telephone means is determined using automatic number identification (ANI) or DTMF signals.  
     
     
         33 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein the step of obtaining at least one number for a receiving telephone means includes the step of prompting a subscriber at the originating telephone means for additional numbers of receiving telephones such that the signal may be transmitted to a plurality of different receiving telephone means simultaneously.  
     
     
         34 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein the step of encrypting the signal comprises the more specific step of encrypting the signal using an RSA encryption algorithm to protect the confidentiality of the signal.  
     
     
         35 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein the step of encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet such that the signal can be transmitted via the Internet includes the step of encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet which is prepared in accordance with an accepted Internet protocol.  
     
     
         36 . The method as defined in  claim 35  wherein the step of encapsulating the signal within at least one Internet packet prepared in accordance with an accepted Internet protocol comprises the more specific step of using Transport Connect Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).  
     
     
         37 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein the step of transmitting the signal via the Internet to a receiving audio engine means includes the further step of determining which receiving audio engine means should receive the signal by locating a receiving audio engine means which is preferably a local telephone call from the destination telephone means.  
     
     
         38 . The method as defined in  claim 37  wherein the step of locating a receiving audio engine means which is preferably a local telephone call from the receiving telephone means comprises the additional step of location an audio engine means which can make the least expensive long distance telephone call to the receiving telephone means if no receiving audio engine means can be located which is a local telephone call from the receiving telephone means.  
     
     
         39 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein the step of providing a receiving audio engine means for transmitting the signal from the receiving audio engine means to the receiving telephone means via the second switched telephone network comprises the more specific step of initiating a main audio engine process, said process including the steps of: 
 a) initializing all audio engine means hardware including audio engine means transmission hardware;  
 b) activating an audio engine send event loop which provides an event notification signal when a signal is to be transmitted;  
 c) waiting for the event notification signal;  
 d) verifying that the audio engine means hardware is not malfunctioning when the event notification signal is received; and  
 e) disabling malfunctioning audio engine means hardware if verification of the hardware fails.  
 
     
     
         40 . The method as defined in  claim 39  wherein the step of activating the audio engine send event loop which provides an event notification signal indicating a signal is to be transmitted from the receiving audio engine means to the receiving telephone means via the switched telephone network includes the further steps of: 
 a) verifying that the signal being received via the Internet is coming from an authorized audio engine subscriber;  
 b) reassembling the at least one Internet packet into the signal;  
 c) obtaining at least one receiving telephone number from the signal;  
 d) opening a connection to the receiving telephone means via the second switched telephone network;  
 e) decrypting the signal if the connection to the receiving telephone means is successful; and  
 f) transmitting the signal to the receiving telephone means.  
 
     
     
         41 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein the step of obtaining at least one receiving telephone number from the originating telephone means includes the further step of obtaining a plurality of numbers for receiving telephone means provided by the subscriber at the originating telephone means such that the signal is transmitted simultaneously to all the receiving telephone means whose telephone numbers are provided by the subscriber.  
     
     
         42 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein the step of obtaining at least one receiving telephone number from the originating telephone means includes the further step of pre-programming the originating audio engine means such that the signal is transmitted to a plurality of receiving telephone means whose telephone numbers have been previously provided to the originating audio engine means.  
     
     
         43 . The method as defined in  claim 27  wherein the steps of providing a receiving audio engine means for receiving the signal via the Internet and transmitting the signal via a second switched telephone network to a receiving telephone means via the second switched telephone network includes the further step of redirecting the signal from the receiving telephone means to a new receiving telephone means when the system is directed to reroute signal temporarily to a new receiving telephone means.  
     
     
         44 . The method as defined in  claim 27  wherein the step of providing an originating telephone means for transmitting a signal via a first switched telephone network and providing an originating audio engine means for receiving the signal via the first switched telephone network and transmitting the signal via the Internet comprises the further step of creating a virtual telephone means such that a subscriber using the originating telephone means calls a mapped telephone number of the originating audio engine means and the receiving audio engine means automatically transmits all signals transmitted to the mapped telephone number to a predefined receiving telephone means via the Internet.  
     
     
         45 . A method for transmitting data from a device which transmits data via a switched telephone network, but which does not encapsulate data within Internet packets for transmission via the Internet, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an originating communication means which communicates via a first switched telephone network;    b) providing a transmitting Internet engine means for receiving data from the originating communication means via the first switched telephone network and for transmitting said data;    c) providing a receiving Internet engine means for receiving the data from the Internet and for transmitting said data via a second switched telephone network; and    d) providing a receiving communication means which typically communicates via the second switched telephone network, and receiving the data from the receiving Internet engine means.    
     
     
         46 . The method as defined in step  45  wherein the step of transmitting the data via the Internet includes the step of encapsulating the data within at least one Internet packet in accordance with an Internet protocol such that the signal can be transmitted via the Internet.  
     
     
         47 . A method for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an originating telephone means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via a first switched telephone network;    b) providing an originating audio engine means for receiving the signal via the first switched telephone network and transmitting the signal via the Internet; and    c) providing a receiving computer means for receiving the signal via the Internet and audibly playing the signal.    
     
     
         48 . A method for transmitting voice/sound via the Internet, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an originating computer means for transmitting an analog signal representing sound via the Internet;    b) providing a receiving audio engine means for receiving the signal via the Internet and transmitting the signal via a switched telephone network; and    c) providing a receiving telephone means for receiving the signal via the switched telephone network.