Opinion ID: 210343
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Verizon's patents

Text: Three Verizon patents are relevant to this appeal: the '574, '711, and '880 patents. These patents do not claim the invention of the internet telephone; rather the basic purpose of the '574 and '711 patents (which share a specification) is to provide a server for enhanced name translation, which can be useful in implementing an internet telephone but is not limited to that purpose. The specification describes how the invention enhances the existing Domain Name System (DNS), which translates domain names (such as www. fedcir.gov) into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. The invention enhances that system by allowing for a greater number of translations, including translations to and from telephone numbers. The invention is said to be particularly advantageous for processing of voice telephone communications through the [internet]. '711 patent col.6, ll.48-50. The specification describes how users can use their computers' speakers and microphones to conduct conversations where the voice signals are carried in digital form through the internet. The '880 patent describes a localized wireless gateway system that allows wireless telephones to register with the system and make calls. '880 patent abstract. According to the specification, cordless or wireless telephones can be registered with base station transceivers, which are then connected to the internet and the gateway. Id. col. 4 ll. 6-17. For simplicity we limit our description to the claims and defenses presently at issue in this appeal. Verizon asserted the following claims of the '574, '711, and '880 patents: Claim 27 of the '574 patent depends on claim 26. Claims 26 and 27 state: 26. A method comprising: receiving a name translation request at a server coupled to a public packet data network; translating a name included in the request into a destination telephone number associated with a name included in the request; and transmitting a reply containing both the destination telephone number and a packet data network address of a telephone gateway coupled between the public packet data network and a telephone network through the public packet data network to a calling device. 26. A method as in claim 26, wherein the address is an Internet Protocol address. Claim 20 of the '711 patent depends on claim 15. Claims 15 and 20 state: 15. A method comprising: receiving a name translation request at a server coupled to a public packet data network; executing a conditional analysis in response to the name translation request; if the conditional analysis produces a first result, translating a name included in the name translation request into a first destination address; if the conditional analysis produces a second result, translating the name included in the name translation request into a second destination address; and transmitting a response message containing the first or the second destination address to a calling device for use in establishing communication at least partially through the public packet data network. 20. A method as in claim 15, wherein: the first and second destination address includes a numeric Internet Protocol address; and the second destination address further includes information relating to call routing via a public switched telephone network. Claims 1 and 6-8 of the '880 patent, state: 1. A method comprising: registering a wireless telephone terminal in a localized wireless gateway system; transmitting registration data identifying the gateway system from the localized wireless gateway system to a home location register database through a public packet data communication network; receiving a request from a calling computer coupled to the public packet data communication network for a call to the wireless telephone terminal; in response to the request, accessing the home location register database and obtaining a packet data address for the localized wireless gateway system; using the address to set up a voice communication through the public packet data communication network and the localized wireless gateway system between the calling computer and the wireless telephone terminal. 6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the public packet data communication network is a packet switched network. 7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the packet switched network comprises a system of interlinked data networks using TCP/IP protocol. 8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the system of interlinked data networks comprises the Internet.