System for interconnecting standard telephony communications equipment to internet protocol networks

Abstract

A system for linking standard telephony communications with internet protocols. Standard telephony equipment, such as a telephone, can communicate using the internet without special adapters or the like. A network of Internet servers may be connected to the Internet and telephony communications system, enabling telephony communications equipment access to the Internet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A telephony system comprising: 
 a server comprising a receiving mechanism for receiving a telephony destination code representing a telephony destination address, an assigning mechanism for assigning an Internet protocol packet destination address corresponding to said telephony destination address, and a communications mechanism for packetizing and forwarding payload data to an Internet protocol router.    
     
     
         2 . The telephony system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for receiving a telephony destination code comprises a mechanism for receiving a PSTN destination telephone number.  
     
     
         3 . The telephony system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism for receiving a telephony destination code comprises a mechanism for receiving a PBX destination telephone number.  
     
     
         4 . A communications management system for transmitting payload data from an originating standard dial-out telephony communications equipment, said system comprising: 
 an Internet server coupled to receive call initiation requests from said standard dial-out telephony communications equipment, said Internet server comprising an IP protocol interface to an Internet host and a mechanism for converting a received telephony destination code to an IP address.    
     
     
         5 . The communications management system according to  claim 4 , wherein said payload data comprises voice data, and said standard dial-out telephony communications equipment comprises an analog telephone.  
     
     
         6 . The communications management system according to  claim 4 , wherein said payload data comprises voice data, and said standard dial-out telephony communications equipment comprises a digital telephone.  
     
     
         7 . The communications management system according to  claim 6 , wherein said digital telephone comprises a PBX telephone.  
     
     
         8 . The communications management system according to  claim 4 , wherein said Internet server further comprises a mechanism for determining, from a telephony destination code received by said Internet server from said originating standard dial-out telephony communications equipment, to which of a plurality of other Internet servers said payload data should be forwarded, said Internet server and each of said other Internet servers being interconnected via said Internet.