Patent ID: 8780169

Claim:
A first videophone ( 10 ), configured to perform, after issuing or receiving a call request to or from a second videophone ( 11 ) having a predetermined phone number, a simultaneous exchange of video images ( 14 ) with the second videophone ( 11 ) through an internet network ( 12 ), whereby the first videophone ( 10 ) is configured to transmit and receive video images ( 14 ) to and from the second videophone ( 11 ) through the internet network ( 12 ) thereby enabling said simultaneous exchange of video images ( 14 ), the first videophone ( 10 ) comprising: (a) a data storage unit ( 39 ), housed within the first videophone ( 10 ) and operatively connected to the same, whereby the data storage unit ( 39 ) is configured to store information acquired by the simultaneous exchange of video images ( 14 ), information corresponding to the first videophone and a plurality of other videophones, and also store a plurality of phone numbers which identify the first videophone ( 10 ) and other videophones; and (b) a controller ( 37 ), configured to establish an interconnection with the second videophone ( 11 ), over the internet network ( 12 ), by using the information stored in the data storage unit ( 39 ) upon issuing or receiving a call request to or from the second videophone ( 11 ) having the predetermined phone number to thereby make a subsequent phone call to the second videophone ( 11 ); and (c) a wireless internet card ( 36 ), operatively connected to said first videophone ( 10 ), which enables the first videophone ( 10 ) to transmit and receive visual images ( 14 ) over the internet network ( 12 ) to and from the second videophone ( 11 ); and (d) a microprocessor ( 38 ), operatively connected to the wireless internet card ( 36 ), the data storage unit ( 39 ), and the controller ( 37 ), where said microprocessor ( 38 ) is configured to enable the simultaneous exchange of video images ( 14 ) by querying the data storage unit ( 39 ) for information about the first videophone ( 10 ) and the second videophone ( 11 ), enable the controller ( 37 ) to establish an interconnection between the first videophone ( 10 ) and the second videophone ( 11 ), and enable the wireless internet card ( 36 ) to transmit visual images ( 14 ) through the internet network ( 14 ) by and between the first videophone ( 10 ) and second videophone ( 11 ); wherein said first videophone ( 10 ) is further configured to be compatible with and connectable to a land line network ( 13 ), whereby audio communications ( 15 ) by and between the first videophone ( 10 ) and second videophone ( 11 ) are conducted over said land line network ( 13 ) and not over the internet network ( 12 ), wherein the land line network ( 13 ) is exclusively for audio communications and the internet network ( 12 ) is exclusively for simultaneous exchange of video images ( 14 ).