Portable VoIP Service Access Module

Abstract

A voice over IP (V0IP) softphone access module (VSAM) comprises a softphone client installed on a portable memory device (PMD). The softphone client is installed in its own read-only partition. The softphone client is adapted to autorun from the PMD when the PMD is connected to a computing device and to load an instance of the softphone client in the volatile memory of the computing device. When used with a computing device comprising a duplex audio system with analog-to-digital conversion and an Internet connection, the VSAM permits a VoIP service subscriber to send and receive VoIP telephone calls through a VoIP service provider gateway. The VSAM may be associated with an activation code that when sent to the VoIP service provider gateway associates a user with pro-paid softphone usage credits. Alternatively, the softphone client is installed on CD.

1 . A voice over IP service access module (VSAM) comprising: 
 an audio transducer adapted to convert a first analog audio signal to a first digital signal; and    an actuator adapted to convert a second digital signal to a second analog audio signal; a portable memory device, wherein the portable memory device comprises a read-only memory partition, and wherein the portable memory device is adapted to operate when installed in a computing device comprising a universal serial bus and random access memory (RAM);    a softphone client stored in the read-only memory partition and comprising instructions for:    upon detection of the portable memory device by the computing device, installing the instructions in the RAM;    auto-running the instructions; and    controlling the first and second digital signals to perform the functions of a plain old telephone.    
   
   
       2 . The VSAM of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer and a personal data assistant.  
   
   
       3 . The VSAM of  claim 1 , wherein the portable memory device further comprises read/write memory and wherein the computer instructions further comprise instructions for: 
 reading and writing a telephone directory file to the read/write memory;    reading and writing a user preference file to the read/write memory; and recording a telephone conversation and saving the recording as a file in the read/write memory.    
   
   
       4 . The VSAM of  claim 1  further comprising a keypad adapted to send a selected an alphanumeric character to the softphone client, wherein the softphone client further comprises instructions for: 
 receiving the alphanumeric character; and    converting the alphanumeric character into telephone signaling tones.