Abstract:
A network telephone system includes a distributed network with a connected network call processor with access to a memory or data storage to form a central database. A plurality of network telephones are connected to the network that have user specific records provided at the central database. The telephones have a display for displaying the information stored in the central database. The telephones have at least one key for assisting in access to the data displayed on the display or for selecting data, changing the display and/or actuating a telephone function based on the status of the display. A network device (personal computer) is connected to the network telephone system and includes a web browser software interface interfacing with the network call processor and central database for managing at least a portion of the central database to add or remove names, data, telephone numbers and otherwise change the contents of the database and access the data via the key of a network telephone or by using the web browser.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to telephone systems and more particularly to private branch exchange (PBX) systems and distributed telephone network systems such as networks with a component connected to the public telephone system and network connections to user network telephone units. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Telephone systems are known which provide a common interface between a plurality of users and a public telephone network. These systems have been referred to as PBX systems. A typical PBX system includes a central box with line cards providing connections to assigned lines of a public telephone network. The central box is connected by wires such as twisted pair wires to individual telephone units. The connection from the central box to the telephone units may be by way of analogue or digital signals. More recently, digital signals are sent by the central unit to the phone units. The digital signals include voice data as well as control and messaging data. The units typically include a simple handset as well as a speaker for paging, intercom type communications and speaker phone applications. Typically the base unit also includes a microphone. The handset is a typical handset providing a speaker and a microphone. 
     Telephone systems using distributed networks, such as local area networks (LANs) are also generally known. With these systems, a distributed network is provided, such as CSMA/CD (see IEEE 802.3) generally known as Ethernet. A telephone network system is provided with a central box having line cards connected to the distributed network as well as network devices connected to the network. The network devices include network telephones with, for example, a base unit with a speaker and a microphone and a handset (with a speaker and a microphone). Data packets are sent over the network between network devices. A network control processor or network call processor (NCP) may be used to monitor and control the access to the public telephone network. Features specific to the user may be established with the NCP. 
     Digital PBX systems are known which include a display associated with the PBX telephone unit and which have keys allowing entry of data into the system via the PBX telephone unit. This allows for the storage of frequently called numbers (speed dial numbers) and other user specific information (name of the user associated with the PBX telephone unit etc.). Such systems are notoriously difficult to program and reconfigure for different users. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a network telephone system which has a central database accessible by devices connected to a network including network telephones as well as other network devices (such as computers) and wherein data may be entered for individual users via a software graphical interface (e.g., a web browser based interface) on a network device and wherein the data can then be accessed on the user&#39;s network telephone. 
     According to the invention, a network telephone system is provided comprising a distributed network with a network call processor with access to a memory or data storage to form a central database. The call processor is connected to the network. A plurality of network telephones are connected to the network. The network telephones have user specific records provided at the central database. The telephones have a display for displaying the information stored in the central database including user specific records and optionally system information. The telephones have at least one key for assisting in access to the data displayed on the display or for selecting data, changing the display and/or actuating a telephone function based on the status of the display. Network devices are also connected to the network telephone system and include a web browser software interface supported by (interfacing with) the network call processor and central database and resident on the network device for managing at least a portion of the central database. Particularly, the web browser is used to manage a user&#39;s data on the central database to add or remove names, data, telephone numbers and otherwise change the contents of the database. The user subsequently may access the data via the key of a network telephone and the display of the network telephone. By using the web browser to manage the information in the central database, the user establishes the content of the information that is accessed through the key(s) and display of the network telephone. 
     The fundamental idea of the invention is to provide a web browser based interface to set up and manage user information (e.g., frequently called names and phone numbers, voice data prompts for different voice mail situations, etc.). This managed data or information, such as a list of numbers, is displayable and accessible via the display (e.g. a liquid crystal display—LCD) on the user&#39;s network telephone. The combination of features allows for a process including allowing the user to use the web browser interface to add and remove names/numbers from the list. The user presses a button on the phone that will display several lines of the personal directory (the number of lines based on the number that can be displayed on the LCD). Other buttons on the phone will allow the user to navigate (via scrolling or jumping) to a particular name on the list (e.g., keys associated with the display regions—soft keys—or number keys with letters, to jump among letters in the list). Another button allows the user to dial a selected number or highlighted number. 
     The personal directory information is stored in user specific records in the central database on the call processing server. This personal information is made available in addition to the company-wide information that the control processor server also has in the central database. 
     A further aspect of the invention is to provide a network telephone method or process including providing a network with a network control processor server, data storage and connected network telephones. Preferably a line card interface is also provided, linking the telephone network to the public telephone network. The process includes establishing a network telephone user database using the data storage. A network software interface is established on the network device (preferably on any connected network device wherein such is desirable) with a graphical user interface, which interface is supported by the central call processor server and can acces the central database. The data is then accessed by the user through the software interface for changing the user data or updating such data. The user then can access selected portions of the changed user data at the display of the network telephone device by use of one or more keys at the telephone device. The function of at least some of the keys is set by the content of the display. Specifically, soft keys or regions of the display change and the function of the keys near to the display or associated with a portion of the display change along with the change in the display. 
     The web based interface can be used to browse the list, select an entry and dial that number via the web browser mechanism (particularly using the telephone application program interface—TAPI). 
     The described preferred embodiment includes the network as a distributed network, namely Ethernet (CSMA/CD/IEEE802.3) with telephone units and/or computer units provided as network devices connected together via a hub/router or switch and with a server or similar device connected to the network as well. A line interface unit provides a line card connecting an outside line to the network. The line interface sends packets through the network corresponding to data received at the outside or public telephone line. The network call processor is connected to the network for controlling communications between the telephone network devices. 
     The network call processor may be provided as a stand alone unit with a chassis and a hard drive. The memory may be provided in a different format as well (RAM etc.). The network call processor may also be a card provided in a network telephone system chassis, the same chassis or box as the line interface with line card. In the alternative, the network call processor may be a card which is connected to the server. In such a situation, the network call processor may have its own hard drive or may use the hard drive of the associated server. 
     The preferred embodiment further provides network telephones with a further Ethernet type connection for connecting a computer via the telephone. As described further herein, the arrangement establishes two collision domains, one on the telephone network side of the telephone and another collision domain on the other side of the telephone. The network telephone device forwards packets directed to the computer and processes packets directed to the telephone device. Other telephone network arrangements can also be provided. 
     The invention can also be practiced with other types of networks including networks using a wireless connection (IR, radio frequencies etc.) as some part of the link or interconnection of networking devices. Further, the system can be used without a line card connecting to public lines. In this case, the numbers of other users of the network are monitored. The network can include LANs as well as wide area networks (WANs) and the Internet. 
     The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a system diagram showing system features according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing features of the network processor, particularly a telephone network call processor; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing features of a network telephone device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram describing features according to the process of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing an example of a web browser software interface used at a network device; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cutaway top view showing a display with softkey display regions for keys of a network telephone. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention comprises a network telephone system generally designated  1 . The system includes a network call processor (NCP)  4 . The NCP  4  is a network control processor that monitors the network system  1 . 
     The telephone system  1  is provided as part of a digital distributed network (e.g., a LAN) Ethernet network  18 . The network comprises network media (such as twisted pair of various types and categories, cable, infrared, wireless etc.). The preferred embodiment includes twisted pair wiring connected via a hub/router or switch. The network  1  may be established using network software (NOVELL, WINDOWS NT, etc.) run on a server  47  for communication between computers  42  and other network devices  20 ,  44  and  46 . 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a network telephone system with network telephone devices  20  (e.g. many telephones  20  for many users at a facility). In the embodiment shown the NCP  4  is provided in a network telephone system chassis  10  that provides power through power bus  12  and provides a network connection through the Ethernet network bus  14 . The NCP  4  is connected to the Ethernet network bus  14  and the power bus  12 . The system network card  16  provides a connection  17  from the NCP  4  to the Ethernet network  18 . The network telephones  20  are connected to the Ethernet network  18  as network devices. A line card  22  is also connected to the power bus  12  and Ethernet bus  14 . The line card  22  is connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN or other data network)  30  as shown at  24 . Other line cards such as a digital line card  26  may also be provided (e.g., a Ti line). The digital line card  26  is also connected to the public phone network or other data network  30  as shown at  28 . The digital line card  26  is connected to bus  14  and may also be directly connected to the Ethernet network  18  as shown at  32 . The NCP  4  may also be connected directly to the Ethernet network as shown at  38 . 
     The particular arrangement shown is not critical to the system of the invention. Any of the units shown in the network telephone system chassis  10  may be provided separately or in combination with other network devices. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  system data storage  40  is provided connected to the NCP  4 . The system data storage  40  can also be provided separately, for example in a network server  47  (see  FIG. 2 ) or in combination with other network devices. The NCP  4  may be connected to multiple data storage facilities. The NCP  4  may be a stand alone unit or it may be in the same chassis as cards  16 ,  26  and  22 , or NCP  4  may be provided with the server  47 . 
     Various network devices can be connected to the Ethernet network  18 . These include the network telephones  20 , computers  42  and other network devices designated  44 . A network device in the form of a local pager  46  may be connected to the Ethernet network  18  to send a radio frequency signal to a local pager device  48 . The public telephone network  30  is connected to a cellular network  50  which communicates with mobile phones such as mobile phone  52 , other phones connected to the public network and other services (e.g., wide area paging). Although specific examples are given, various connections may be made to local area networks and to wide area networks. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the NCP  4  includes a processor  56  which is connected to system data storage  40 . The processor  56  monitors telephone network traffic and other network features. The processor cooperates to establish conference calls and establishes system user data. The processor  56  may also monitor other network functions or may receive packets from other network control devices relating to network functions such as status, errors, faults etc. 
     The NCP  4  may have a direct connection  38  to the Ethernet network  18  via MAC device  62  and physical interface  64 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . As an alternative to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the NCP  4  may be directly connected to a server  47  which itself is connected to the Ethernet network  18 . The data storage  40  may be connected to the server. 
       FIG. 3  shows features of a network telephone unit  20 . The network telephone  20  includes a packet controller  60  for receiving packets, sending packets and forwarding packets received from the network  1  to an associated network device  42 , when the packet is addressed to the associated device  42 . The device  20  may be used such that two different collision domains (using CSMA/CD) are established, one at the side of the computer system  42  and one at the network  1  (this is explained in application Ser. Nos. 09/204,102; 09//203,542; and 09/204,107, which are hereby incorporated by reference). The network telephones may be provided as described in U.S. Application Ser. No. 09/204,102; and/or U.S. application Ser. No. 09//203,542; and/or U.S. application Ser. No. 09/204,107. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the network telephone  20  includes a base unit with handset. Basic function keys (numbers etc.) may be provided. The network telephone  20  has a connection to the Ethernet type network  18  discussed above. Each unit  20  has at least a MAC device  62  connecting the unit via a physical interface  64  to the network  18 . Preferably another MAC device  66  is provided connecting the unit via physical interface  68  to an associated network device  42 , such as a network interface card of a computer system. Packets are sent and received over the network  18  and packets are sent and forwarded to the computer system  42  via the packet controller  60  from the network  18  or packets are forwarded from the computer system  42  via the packet controller  60  to the network  18 . A memory  70  is provided whereby packets can be queued as shown at  72  for play out, for mixing or some other memory functions can be provided. A local input  74  in the form of a microphone is provided in the handset with an analog to digital converter device  76  providing the local input to the packet controller  60 . At the output side a digital to analog converter device  78  converts packets to audio signals which are amplified at amplifier  80  and produced at local output (speaker)  82 . The network telephone  20  includes input/output control circuitry  84  for controlling a display  94  as well as for receiving input signals from keys such as keys  86 ,  88  and  90  via connection circuitry  92 . A display  94  is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD). The packet controller  60  may include a timer, a digital signal processor (DSP), a processor (e.g., an ARM processor), a direct memory access (DMA) controller, control circuitry, an address table, and a memory controller coupled to each other by a signal bus. The DSP is in electrical communication with the A/D device  78  via a signal path and in electrical communication with D/A device  78  via a signal path. The memory controller is in electrical communication with the memory  70  by signal lines. The DMA controller is in electrical communication with the MAC devices  62 ,  66  by signal lines. The address table stores addresses that are of importance to the network telephone  20 . Examples of such addresses include the address of the other network telephones  20 , an identifier for a conference call, and a general broadcast address. 
     In operation, a network is established with a processor  4  monitoring some network system attributes and receiving signals from other network devices. Calls are initiated by users at the user telephone network devices  20  under the control of the NCP  4 . The NCP  4  establishes a user database with system memory or system data storage facility  40  as indicated at  89  in  FIG. 4 . The data can include system user preferences such as the allocation of actuation key functions on the user&#39;s network telephone unit  20 . The database may include other preferences such as ring tones, speaker phone use, message preferences and other features. The data particularly includes names, addresses and associated telephone numbers. As indicated at  91  in  FIG. 4  the NCP  4  the web browser software interface  100  (e.g., NETSCAPE or MICROSOFT EXPLORER) is established on at least one network device  42  as shown at  91  in  FIG. 4 . The browser software  100  provides access with the network device  42  by entering the NCP/database location in the browser location window or “go to” window  110 , as shown at step  93  in  FIG. 4 . This address is established with respect to the NCP  4  and the data storage. The browser  100  then accesses the web pages (e.g. HTML pages) set up on the system (saved in the central database on storage  40 ). Some of the content is provided with the system while other data entered into the system after installation. Upon accessing the web pages, the user can then enter preferences, enter data, revise data which is provided and revise old data as shown at  95 . This allows the user to add names, telephone numbers, addresses and other information. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example with the display data  102  being associated with internal numbers to the system (extensions). Other groupings of numbers can be provided.  FIG. 6  shows display data  102  for a different category or group. The user can establish categories or the user can provide all of the names/numbers in one list. Internal numbers (extensions) and external public system telephone numbers can be provided. At step  96 , the user can access the data through the network telephone keys and display. The display  94  is shown in  FIG. 6  with the display data  102  shown. The keys  88  are provided allowing the user to take some action with the data (dial the number), scroll or page through the data, etc. Soft key display regions  89  can be used to indicate the present function of the keys  88 . Additionally the data items  102  may be highlighted or an indicator may be displayed to show that the data item is selected to and ready to be slected or actuated with a key  88 . The selection may be done by using scroll up and down keys  86  and  90 . In the example shown, the second item is selected. By pressing the left most button  88  (assigned the select function  89  as shown by the left most soft key) the telephone number for the second data entry  102  is dialed. This is it indicated at step  98   FIG. 4 . 
     The units  20  function like an ordinary PBX type telephone. A telephone call from the outside telephone line is either sent directly to the unit  20  or it is sent to the unit  20  via another network device acting as an operator (this is either with human intervention or an automatic system). The NCP  4  monitors and controls voice packets and sends control packets to the network telephone units  20 . When the user takes the handset into an off hook condition, the packet controller  22  begins receiving voice packets which are queued in a queue  72  and are sent to the speaker  82  after digital signal processing, at the DSP, if necessary. The signal is converted at D/A converter device  78 , it is amplified at the amp  80  before being output at the speaker  82 . The device  20  also provides the ability to engage in a conference call and receive a page or further input from another device connected to the local telephone network  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  the user data  102  may also be accessed through the web browser  100 . The step is indicated at  97  in  FIG. 4 . The user may change the data as indicated above and may also view the details of the data by pressing soft key  104 . Some of the data can be established by an administrator or it may be shiped with the product. Further, the NCP can monitor incoming and outgoing calls to build a user database of numbers. This can be accessed by clicking soft key  108 . The user can dial a selected data entry  102  by clicking the dial soft key  106 . By establishing the appropriate TAPI driver on the network device  42 , clicking on soft key  106  results in the user&#39;s network telephone  20  dialing the number. The step is indicated at  99  in  FIG. 4 . 
     The NCP  4  maintains state information for all devices (network telephones and interface devices cards connected to PC&#39;s attached to the network) in the telephone network. When a call is made from a network telephone  20 , each digit that is pressed is sent to the NCP. The NCP collects the digits and, using an internal dial plan, determines how to route the call (internal call, external call, etc.). In addition, the NCP  4  may be used to record the dialed number and store it in a database in storage  96  where it can be accessed later via the phone&#39;s LCD  94  or via the Web Based interface  100 . 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.