Abstract:
A method for controlling an IP phone and an application program for the same are disclosed. The application program is installed in a computer for connecting the computer and a proximal IP phone via a wired or wireless network. A subscriber sends data and commands to the proximal IP phone via application programs in the computer for controlling the proximal IP phone. The computer establishes connection with a remote phone via an expanded function of the proximal IP phone controlled by the application program.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention generally relates to an IP phone, in particular, the present invention relates to a method for controlling an IP phone. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Telephones have been an important and general means of communication in everyday life. 
     In recent years, as the Internet becomes popular, it has great impact on communication methods. Compare to landline telecom infrastructures, the Internet has the advantages of wider communication coverage. Voice calls between places in distance which previously requires multiple transfers via landlines now can be connected by the Internet promptly and directly. 
     As mentioned above, voice call application programs such as Skype are developed taking advantages of the Internet. Skype is a well-known application program used on a computer. A subscriber establishes voice call connection to a subscriber on the other end with computer having headphones and microphone via the Internet. An IP (Internet Protocol) phone is used for establishing voice calls precisely and quickly. In addition, subscribers are charged according to general internet service rate instead of expensive long distance phone rate. 
     Yet, the above application program has a defect. Subscribers have to power on the computer and execute the application program for establishing voice calls via the Internet. If receiving subscriber does not power on the computer or execute the application program, the status of the receiving subscriber is displayed as off line in the application program of the dialing subscriber and the voice call connection cannot be established. Thus, the dialing subscriber has to dial out to the receiving subscriber via a landline phone in order to request the receiving subscriber to power on the computer and execute the application program for establishing a free Internet voice call. Accordingly, the dialing subscriber saves cost generated from using landline telephone but the subscriber may find the steps inconvenient and complicated. 
     In view of this, an innovative telecom device, i.e. an IP phone, is developed in the market. An IP Phone is a device independent of a computer and can operate without a computer, where the Internet replaces the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for establishing a voice call with a remote IP Phone. Thus, subscribers do not need to change the dialing out process and are allowed to save telephone cost effectively. 
     Generally speaking, an IP Phone is more convenient to operate than a computer. Yet, there are subscribers who prefer to dial out IP voice calls with computers than using an independent IP phone. Therefore, it is desirable to integrate the IP Phone function into a computer. 
     For example, the US published patent application US20080137643 disclosed an Accessing Call Control Functions from An Associated Device. According to the US patent application, the connection between a computer and an IP Phone is established, and functions executed on the IP phone are provided to the computer. Next, the computer sends a first message to the IP Phone for controlling the IP Phone function to generate a voice call to a remote subscriber. Next, the IP Phone converts the first message to a second message sent to the remote subscriber for reminding the remote subscriber of the incoming call. 
     Though, the method disclosed in the US patent application makes it more convenient to make a voice call via an IP phone by controlling the IP phone with a computer. The computer is only configured to perform the function defined in the IP Phone. The powerful computing power of the computer is not optimized, nor is the connection between the computer and the IP Phone fully utilized. In view of this, it is desirable in the market to provide an innovative control method for a computer in order to make an IP phone more convenient to use and further effectively expand the functions of an IP Phone. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of the present invention is to provide a control method for an IP phone and an application program for the same, wherein the data is transferred between the computer and the proximal IP phone via the application program and functions of the proximal IP phone is expanded in order to make it more convenient to establish connection of voice calls between the proximal IP phone and the remote phone. 
     In order to achieve the above goal, an application program of the present invention is installed in a computer for connecting the computer to a proximal IP phone via wireless Internet connection. A subscriber sends data and commands via the application program in the computer for controlling the proximal IP phone and expanding functions of the proximal IP phone controlled by the application program. 
     Compare to prior art, the present invention provide advantages such as searching proximal IP phones in the neighborhood of the computer available for establishing connection and performing control. Thus, a subscriber uses computer to dial out and send text message to a remote phone with the proximal IP phone. Further, the application program installed in the computer is used for transferring data and expanding functions of the proximal IP phone so as to perform expanded functions of the low cost proximal IP phone with general functions and the additional cost for purchasing extra required hardware for expanding functions is saved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
       The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an architecture diagram of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of an IP phone of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic diagram of a GUI of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In cooperation with attached drawings, the technical contents and detailed description of the present invention are described thereinafter according to a preferable embodiment, being not used to limit its executing scope. Any equivalent variation and modification made according to appended claims is all covered by the claims claimed by the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is an architecture diagram of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. The method and the application program of the present invention are mainly used between a computer  1  and a proximal IP phone  2 . The computer  1  and the proximal IP phone  2  are connected within the same local area network. The proximal IP phone  2  is used for establishing voice call with a remote phone  3 , wherein the remote phone  3  can be another IP phone or a landline telephone. If the remote phone  3  is another IP phone, the proximal IP phone  2  establishes voice call connection with the remote phone  3  via the Internet. If the remote phone  3  is a landline telephone, the proximal IP phone  2  is connected to the PSTN via a Gateway and establishes voice call connection with and the remote phone  3  via the PSTN. 
     The application program  10  is installed in the computer  1 . The computer  1  searches for available proximal IP phones  2 ,  2 ′ in the neighborhood by executing the application program  10 . If a proximal IP phone  2  corresponding to the application program  10  and is not controlled by other computers among the proximal IP phones  2 ,  2 ′ exists, the computer  1  is allowed to establish connection with the proximal IP phone  2 . 
     Next, the computer  1  inter-transfers data and commands with the proximal IP phone  2  (for example the data D 1 , the first control command C 1  and the disconnect control command C 2  etc. in the diagram) in order to perform functions such as Click-To-Dial and Computer Telephony Integrated (CTI). It should be noted that the application program  10  can be downloaded from the Internet, or saved in a recordable recording medium in a computer. The method of the present invention is performed following the application program  10  is transferred to, installed in and executed by the computer  1 . The method access to and install the application program  10  is not limited to the embodiment. 
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of an IP phone of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. The proximal IP phone  2  comprises a transmitter  21 , a LCD screen  22  and an operation panel  23 . The operation panel  23  can further comprises a plurality of Busy Lamp Field (BLF) keys  231  and a plurality of operation keys  232  (for example number keys, direction keys and menu keys etc.). As mentioned above, each of the proximal IP phones  2 ,  2 ′ is located in the same office or using the same local area network and supports multiple wiring configurations. After setting up, the plurality of BLF keys  231  of the proximal IP phone  2  can be used for monitor current status of each extension (for example the proximal IP phone  2 ′). In addition, the proximal IP phone  2  is operated with the plurality of operation keys  232 , such as establishing connection to the Internet, configuring address books, editing text message and dialing out voice calls. 
       FIG. 2B  is a schematic diagram of a GUI of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. After the application program  10  is executed by the computer  1 , a Graphical User Interface (GUI) web page  101  is displayed on a computer screen  11  of the computer  1 . The display content of the GUI web page  101  is based on the hardware configuration of the corresponding proximal IP phone  2  connected to the computer  1 . 
     In  FIG. 2B , the display content of the GUI web page  101  includes a plurality of virtual keys, which comprise a plurality of virtual BLF keys  1011 , a plurality of virtual operation keys  1012  and a plurality of virtual expansion keys  1013  etc but is not limited thereto. The plurality of virtual BLF keys  1011  perform functions corresponding the functions of the BLF keys  231  of the proximal IP phone  2 . The plurality of virtual operation key  1012  perform functions corresponding the functions of the operation keys  232  of the proximal IP phone  2 . The plurality of virtual expansion key  1013  perform functions corresponding to the undefined functions of the proximal IP phone  2  (detailed in the following). Thus, the computer  1  can easily control the proximal IP phone  2  via friendly operation interface, the GUI web page  101 , and a large display of the computer screen  11 . 
     It should be noted that when the computer  1  controls the proximal IP phone  2 , the application program  10  can be used for expanding hardware functions of the proximal IP phone  2 . For example, if the proximal IP phone  2  is a low cost device having basic functions and does not have enough BLF keys  231 , or does not have BLF keys  231  which is inconvenient in field application. Under the circumstance, the plurality of virtual BLF keys  1011  on the GUI web page  101  can simulate the function as additional BLF keys  231  and add additional virtual BLF keys  231  to the IP phone. 
     In another example, if the operation panel  23  of the proximal IP phone  2  is too simple to meet subscriber demands and does not have enough the operation keys  232 , the functions performed by an IP phone is accordingly limited which is inconvenient to subscribers. Sometimes, the functions of the proximal IP phone  2  cannot be performed at the same time. Or subscribers have to purchase additional hardware devices for using functions of the undefined operation keys  232 . In the present invention, the plurality of virtual expansion keys  1013  can be associated with corresponding undefined function and save additional hardware cost for subscribers via setting up at the GUI web page  101 . Further, if subscribers consider the operation keys  232  of the proximal IP phone  2  is too small to operate, subscribers can set up internal configuration of the proximal IP phone  2  at the GUI web page  101  displayed on the large screen of the computer screen  11 , such as editing address books, or setting up block lists. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. First, the application program  10  is installed and executed by computer  1  (step S 30 ). Next, the computer  1  searches for available proximal IP phones in the neighborhood via executing the application program  10  (step S 32 ). After step S 32 , the computer  1  determines if a corresponding application program  10  exists, and a proximal IP phone  2  not corresponding to other computers exists in the neighborhood of the computer (step S 34 ). If not, the computer  1  cannot control any proximal IP phone and the present invention cannot be implemented. 
     Following the step S 34 , if yes, the computer loptionally inputs an identification password of the proximal IP phone  2  depending on the desirable functions to operate on the proximal IP phone  2  (step S 36 ). The above step is not mandatory. Upon passing the password identification, the computer  1  establishes connection to the proximal IP phone  2  via a local area network (step S 38 ). Next, the application program  10  provides the GUI web page  101  on the computer  1  (step S 40 ). Subscribers can operation on the GUI web page  101  to inter-transfer data D 1  between the computer  1  and the proximal IP phone  2  (step S 42 ). Next, the computer  1  transfers the first control command C 1  to the proximal IP phone  2  according to the content of the data D 1  (step S 44 ). 
     The data D 1  can be telephone number data of the remote phone  3  which the computer  1  desires to establish connection with. The data D 1  can be retrieved from emails or address books of email accounts (for example Outlook email accounts) in the computer  1 , or retrieved from web pages after the computer  1  or the proximal IP phone  2  is connected to the Internet, or retrieved by subscriber inputs with the operation keys  232  or the virtual operation keys  1012 . The data D 1  is inter-transferable between different sources and is not limited thereto. 
     For example, in the step S 42 , if the computer  1  only transfers the telephone number data to the proximal IP phone  2 , which refers to that the subscriber desires to dialing out a voice call. Accordingly, in the step S 44 , the computer  1  transfers a telephone dialing out command to the proximal IP phone  2 . The proximal IP phone  2  receives the telephone dialing out command, and uses the telephone number data to dial out a voice call to the remote phone  3  referred by the telephone number data via the Internet or PSTN. Thus, the function of Click-To-Dial is accomplished. 
     Further, the data D 1  can also comprises text message data written by subscribers or fetched from the Internet in addition to the telephone number data. Accordingly, when the computer  1  transfers the data D 1  to the proximal IP phone  2  in the step S 42 , which refers to that the subscriber desires to send a text message, the computer  1  transfers a text message sending command to the proximal IP phone  2  in the step S 44 . The proximal IP phone  2  receives the text message sending command, and uses telephone number data recorded in the data D 1  to send the text message data to the remote phone  3  referred by the telephone number data via the Internet or PSTN. 
     It should be noted that when a subscriber operates on the proximal IP phone  2 , the subscriber also can fetch the data D 1  from the computer  1  via the proximal IP phone  2  and dials out telephone or sends text message from the proximal IP phone  2  according to the content of the data D 1 . 
     After the step S 44 , the proximal IP phone  2  establishes connection to the remote phone  3  via the Internet or PSTN and the remote phone  3  (step S 46 ). Next, the computer  1  establishes connection to the remote phone  3  via the proximal IP phone  2  (step S 48 ). Thus, a subscriber can monitor and perform management on connection status between the proximal IP phone  2  and the remote phone  3  via the computer  1  and perform operations according to the connection status. 
     Lastly, the computer  1  transfers a disconnect control command C 2  to the proximal IP phone  2  (step S 50 ). Thus, the proximal IP phone  2  disconnects the connection to the remote phone  3  according to the disconnect control command C 2  (step S 52 ). 
     As the skilled person will appreciate, various changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is intended to include all such variations, modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in the accompanying claims.