Patent ID: 7995556

Claim:
A gateway for using non-IP digital PBX telephone handsets with an IP call controller, comprising: (a) one or more handset ports for coupling to one or more non-IP digital PBX telephone handsets; (b) an IP port for coupling to an IP network device; and (c) a protocol translator circuit that (i) translates non-IP digital PBX telephone call control signals received at a handset port directly into IP telephone call control signals for an IP telephone call controller and delivers them to the IP port; and (ii) translates IP telephone call control signals received at the IP port from an IP telephone call controller directly into non-IP digital PBX telephone call control signals and delivers them to the one or more handset ports; and wherein the gateway is further configured to automatically determine the type of handsets coupled to each handset port by, for each handset port, receiving a signal corresponding to a coupled handset; transmitting information identifying the handset to a remote IP server via the IP port; and receiving, from the server, programming information to cause the gateway to work with the handset.