Network telephony appliance and system for inter/intranet telephony

Abstract

A network appliance ( 100 ) is provided having a network controller subsystem ( 110 ) for coupling the appliance ( 100 ) to a data network for providing and receiving data packets to and from a packet data network. A digital signal processing subsystem ( 120 ) is coupled to the network controller subsystem ( 110 ). A signal conversion subsystem ( 130 ) is coupled to the digital signal processing subsystem ( 120 ) and a user interface subsystem ( 160 ) is coupled to both the signal conversion subsystem ( 130 ) and the digital signal processing subsystem ( 120 ). The digital signal processing subsystem ( 120 ) operates under the control of a computer program which is capable of detecting incoming calls, initiating call sessions, and preferably, implementing advanced telephony features.

1 . A network appliance for providing packetized data over a packet data network, comprising:
 a network controller subsystem coupled to said packet data network;   a digital signal processing subsystem coupled to said network controller subsystem, the digital signal processing subsystem further comprising a computer program for detecting incoming calls and initiating call sessions;   a signal conversion subsystem coupled to said digital signal processing subsystem; and   a user interface subsystem coupled to both the signal conversion subsystem and said digital signal processing subsystem.   
     
     
         2 . The network appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein said digital signal processing subsystem comprises a digital signal processor (DSP) and one or more memory devices coupled to said digital signal processor. 
     
     
         3 . The network appliance according to  claim 2 , wherein said computer program implements the Session Initiation Protocol for detecting and initiating call sessions and performing call session control. 
     
     
         4 . The network appliance according to  claim 3 , wherein a unique SIP address is associated with the appliance, said address being stored in at least one of said memory devices. 
     
     
         5 . The network appliance according to  claim 4 , wherein the packetized data includes audio data and wherein the user interface subsystem comprises:
 a handset comprising an input device, a microphone and a speaker; and   a display device.   
     
     
         6 . The network appliance according to  claim 5 , wherein said computer program implements a monitor feature, wherein on detection of a call directed to the appliance from a caller, a call session is automatically initiated with said microphone enabled and said speaker disabled during the call session. 
     
     
         7 . The network appliance of  claim 6 , wherein identifying criteria of at least one approved caller is stored in at least one of said memory devices and wherein said digital signal processor receives identifying criteria from the caller and activates the monitor feature only if the received identifying criteria matches at least one of the stored identifying criteria of said at least one predetermined approved caller. 
     
     
         8 . The network appliance of  claim 7 , wherein said identifying criteria are selected from the group including name, SIP address and password. 
     
     
         9 . The network appliance according to  claim 3 , wherein the computer program implements a call forwarding feature, wherein at least one forwarding SIP address is stored in at least one of said memory devices, at least one of said forwarding SIP addresses being selectable by a user via said user interface subsystem, and wherein on detection of a call directed to the appliance from a caller, said call is redirected to the selected forwarding SIP address. 
     
     
         10 . The network appliance according to  claim 9 , wherein said call forwarding feature is activated for a predetermined time in response to an input from the user. 
     
     
         11 . The network appliance according to  claim 9 , further comprising a sensor coupled to said appliance for detecting the absence of a human being, wherein said call forwarding feature is activated in response to a signal from said sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The network appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface subsystem includes an output device and wherein the computer program implements a streaming media mode wherein streaming data is received from the network and is converted to perceptable signals provided to said output device. 
     
     
         13 . The network appliance according to  claim 12  wherein the output device includes a speaker and wherein when no call session is in progress streaming data is received from the network and is converted to audio signals provided to said speaker. 
     
     
         14 . The network appliance according to  claim 13  wherein the program reverts out of streaming media mode in the event a new call session is initiated. 
     
     
         15 . The network appliance according to  claim 12  wherein the output device includes a speaker and wherein streaming data is selectively received from the network and is converted to audio signals provided to said speaker. 
     
     
         16 . The network appliance according to  claim 12  wherein the streaming data is received from the network and is selectively forwarded to another device during a call session where the data is convertable to perceptable signals by said device. 
     
     
         17 . The network appliance according to  claim 12  wherein the output device includes a video display and wherein streaming data includes streaming video data which is selectively received from the network and is converted to video signals provided to said display. 
     
     
         18 . The network appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface subsystem includes a display device and wherein the digital signal processor detects the SIP address of callers and stores a plurality of caller SIP addresses in at least one of said memory devices, said plurality of caller SIP addresses being displayable on said display device and selectable in response to an input from the user interface subsystem. 
     
     
         19 . The network appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the user interface subsystem includes a display device and wherein the digital signal processor stores a plurality of called SIP addresses in said memory device, said called SIP addresses corresponding to the address of successfully initiated call sessions and being displayable on said display device and selectable in response to an input from the user interface subsystem. 
     
     
         20 . The network appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein said network controller subsystem comprises an Ethernet controller and a service filter.