Apparatus for selectively connecting a telephone to a telephone network or the internet and methods of use

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for selectively providing telephone service that is either PSTN-based on Internet-based using a standard analog telephone circuit. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hardware module and associated software for coupling a personal computer or Internet appliance and a standard analog telephone. The apparatus includes a DTMF interface circuit, a subscriber line interface circuit, a ring detection circuit, and an interface circuit for interfacing with the PC or Internet appliance. The apparatus permits the analog telephone to be toggled between an Internet-based telephone mode and a PSTN-network mode by inputting a predetermined sequence of DTMF digits. In alternative embodiments, the apparatus comprises a processor, modem and optionally, analog telephone circuit, to provide a stand-alone or partially-integrated device capable of selectively switching between PSTN-based and Internet-based telephony services.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for selectively coupling an analog telephone circuit to either a telephone network or an Internet telephony service, the apparatus comprising: 
 an interface adapted to be coupled to a PC;    a jack adapted to be coupled to the telephone network to pass analog signals to the telephone network;    a DTMF interface circuit adapted to be coupled to the analog telephone circuit; and    a switch coupled to the telephone, the switch having a first position wherein the telephone is coupled to the jack and a second position wherein the telephone is coupled to the interface, the switch moving between the first and second positions responsive to detection of a predetermined sequence of DTMF digits through the DTMF interface circuit.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the DTMF interface circuit further comprises a DTMF detection circuit.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a subscriber line interface circuit, the subscriber line interface circuit coupled between the switch and the interface when the switch is in the second position.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a hold circuit coupled between the jack and the interface.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a ring detection circuit coupled between the jack and the interface.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an off-hook detection circuit coupled between the telephone and the interface.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a modem detection circuit coupled between the jack and the interface.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a call-waiting detection circuit coupled between the jack and the interface.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a line detection circuit coupled between the jack and the interface.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the interface further comprises a microcontroller.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising circuitry for digitizing voice signals coupled to the interface.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined sequence of DTMF digits comprises one of the sequences selected from the group consisting of “##”, “* *”, “*#” and “#*”.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the interface is adapted to be coupled to an expansion slot of a PC.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the interface has a PCI or ISA form factor.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the interface comprises a portion of a modem circuit or sound card.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the interface is a serial port, a parallel port, or a Universal Serial Bus port.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the interface comprises a portion of a modem circuit.  
     
     
         18 . A method of selectively coupling an analog telephone circuit to either a telephone network or an Internet telephony service, the method comprising: 
 providing apparatus adapted to be coupled to a PC, an analog telephone circuit, and a telephone network, the apparatus including an interface, a DTMF interface circuit and a switch coupled to the telephone and the DTMF interface circuit, the switch having a first position wherein the telephone is coupled to the telephone network and a second position wherein the telephone is coupled to the interface, the switch responsive to detection of a predetermined sequence of DTMF digits by the DTMF interface circuit;    coupling the apparatus to a PC, an analog telephone circuit, and the telephone network; and    if it is desired to connect to the telephone network, dialing a telephone number while the switch is in the first position;    if it is desired to place an Internet-based telephone call, entering the predetermined sequence of DTMF digits to cause the switch to move to the second position.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising, after entering the predetermined sequence of DTMF digits, launching an Internet-based telephony application on the PC.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising establishing an Internet-based telephone call.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising, during the pendency of an Internet-based telephone call: 
 receiving a call-waiting signal that there is an incoming call on the first telephone network line; and  
 generating a user-perceptible signal responsive to receipt of the call-waiting signal.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 entering the predetermined sequence of DTMF digits to cause the switch to move from the second to the first position; and  
 accepting the incoming call.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the apparatus further comprises a ring detection circuit, the method further comprising during the pendency of an Internet-based telephone call: 
 receiving an incoming call on the telephone network;  
 detecting the incoming call on the telephone network using the ring detection circuit; and  
 generating a user-perceptible signal responsive to an output of the ring detection circuit.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 entering the predetermined sequence of DTMF digits to cause the switch to move from the second to the first position; and  
 accepting the incoming call on the telephone network.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising, during the pendency of the call on the telephone network: 
 entering the predetermined sequence of DTMF digits to cause the switch to move from the first to the second position; and  
 resuming the Internet-based telephone call.  
 
     
     
         26 . A telephone comprising: 
 a jack adapted to be coupled to a telephone network;    an analog telephone circuit;    a microprocessor;    a modem coupled to the microprocessor; and    a switching circuit having a first position wherein the analog telephone circuit is coupled to the jack for transmitting and receiving analog voice signals over the telephone network, and a second position wherein the analog telephone circuit is coupled to the jack through the microprocessor and modem for transmitting digitized voice signals over the Internet.    
     
     
         27 . The telephone of  claim 26  further comprising a digital signal processor.  
     
     
         28 . The telephone of  claim 26  further comprising a coding/decoding circuit.  
     
     
         29 . The telephone of  claim 26  further comprising a subscriber line interface circuit coupled between the analog telephone circuit and the microprocessor.  
     
     
         30 . The telephone of  claim 26  further comprising circuitry for detecting a call waiting signal.  
     
     
         31 . The telephone of  claim 26  further comprising circuitry for detecting a ring signal.  
     
     
         32 . The telephone of  claim 26  further comprising a button, and the switching circuit moves between the first and second positions responsive to actuation of the button.  
     
     
         33 . A method of selectively coupling an analog telephone circuit to either a telephone network or an Internet telephony service, the method comprising: 
 providing apparatus adapted to be coupled to a telephone line, the apparatus including a jack, an analog telephone circuit, a microprocessor, a modem, and a switching circuit, the switching circuit having a first position wherein the analog telephone circuit is coupled to the jack for transmitting and receiving analog voice signals over the telephone network, and a second position wherein the analog telephone circuit is coupled to the jack through the microprocessor and modem for transmitting digitized voice signals over the Internet;    coupling the jack to the telephone line; and    if it is desired to connect to the telephone network, dialing a telephone number while the switching circuit is in the first position;    if it is desired to place an Internet-based telephone call, actuating the switching circuit to cause the switching circuit to move to the second position.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising, after moving the switching circuit to the second position, executing an Internet-based telephony application by the microprocessor.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising establishing an Internet-based telephone call.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising, during the pendency of an Internet-based telephone call: 
 receiving a call-waiting signal that there is an incoming call; and  
 generating a user-perceptible signal responsive to receipt of the call-waiting signal.  
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the telephone further comprises a button coupled to the switching circuit, the method further comprising: 
 actuating the button to cause the switching circuit to move from the second to the first position; and    accepting the incoming call.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising, after accepting the incoming call, actuating the button again to return to the Internet-based telephone call.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising, during the pendency of an Internet-based telephone call: 
 receiving a ring signal that there is an incoming call; and  
 generating a user-perceptible signal responsive to receipt of the ring signal.  
 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the telephone further comprises a button coupled to the switching circuit, the method further comprising: 
 actuating the button to cause the switching circuit to move from the second to the first position; and    accepting the incoming call.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising, after accepting the incoming call, actuating the button again to return to the Internet-based telephone call.  
     
     
         42 . A module for selectively using a telephone to place calls via the Internet or PSTN network, the module comprising: 
 a first jack adapted to be coupled to an analog telephone;    a second jack adapted to be coupled to a telephone network;    a microprocessor;    a modem coupled to the microprocessor; and    a switching circuit having a first position wherein first jack is coupled to the second jack for transmitting and receiving analog voice signals from an analog telephone over the telephone network, and a second position wherein the first jack is coupled to the second jack through the microprocessor and modem for transmitting digitized voice signals over the Internet.    
     
     
         43 . The module of  claim 42  further comprising a digital signal processor.  
     
     
         44 . The module of  claim 42  further comprising a coding/decoding circuit.  
     
     
         45 . The module of  claim 42  further comprising a subscriber line interface circuit coupled between the first jack and the microprocessor.  
     
     
         46 . The module of  claim 42  wherein the modem further comprises circuitry for detecting a call waiting signal.  
     
     
         47 . The module of  claim 42  wherein the modem further circuitry for detecting a ring signal.  
     
     
         48 . The module of  claim 42  further comprising a button, and the switching circuit moves between the first and second positions responsive to actuation of the button.  
     
     
         49 . A method of selectively coupling an analog telephone to either a telephone network or an Internet telephony service, the method comprising: 
 providing apparatus adapted to be coupled to an analog telephone via a first jack and a telephone line via a second jack, a microprocessor, a modem, and a switching circuit, the switching circuit having a first position wherein the first jack is coupled to the second jack for transmitting and receiving analog voice signals from an analog telephone over the telephone network, and a second position wherein the first jack is coupled to the second jack through the microprocessor and modem for transmitting digitized voice signals over the Internet;    coupling the first jack to a telephone;    coupling the second jack to a telephone line; and    if it is desired to place a telephone call using the telephone network, dialing a telephone number while the switching circuit is in the first position; and    if it is desired to place an Internet-based telephone call, actuating the switching circuit to cause the switching circuit to move to the second position.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising, after moving the switching circuit to the second position, executing an Internet-based telephony application by the microprocessor.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising establishing an Internet-based telephone call.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising, during the pendency of an Internet-based telephone call: 
 receiving a call-waiting signal that there is an incoming call; and  
 generating a user-perceptible signal responsive to receipt of the call-waiting signal.  
 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the telephone further comprises a button coupled to the switching circuit, the method further comprising: 
 actuating the button to cause the switching circuit to move from the second to the first position; and    accepting the incoming call.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising, after accepting the incoming call, actuating the button again to return to the Internet-based telephone call.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising, during the pendency of an Internet-based telephone call: 
 receiving a ring signal that there is an incoming call; and  
 generating a user-perceptible signal responsive to receipt of the ring signal.  
 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the telephone further comprises a button coupled to the switching circuit, the method further comprising: 
 actuating the button to cause the switching circuit to move from the second to the first position; and    accepting the incoming call.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  further comprising, after accepting the incoming call, actuating the button again to return to the Internet-based telephone call.