Method And Apparatus For Adapting A Phone For Use In Network Voice Operations

Abstract

An interface is provided between a conventional telephone and a conventional computer configured for network voice applications including a sound card and modem. The interface allows for use of the telephone during network voice applications such as IP telephony and voice chat. When the telephone is not used, the interface allows for sound to be input and output via the computer sound card and conventional computer microphone and speakers. When the telephone is picked up off-hook, the interface senses the off-hook state, causes the computer sound card to be connected to the telephone instead of the conventional microphone and speakers, and allows for network voice applications to be conducted using the telephone. Various alternative embodiments of the invention allow for signaling of the telephone hook state to software resident on the PC for controlling network voice applications, for sensing DTMF signals in accordance with keypad entries on the telephone to control initiation of phone calls and voice chat sessions, for generating dial tones and busy signals, or other sounds and/or voice messages, in accordance with the telephone hook state and the telephone line status, and for permitting the telephone to be controllably connected to the PSTN for making standard PSTN calls in addition to calls involving network voice applications.

1 . An interface for a telephone and a computer, comprising: 
 a first switch that selectively couples the telephone to the computer, the first switch being operable in accordance with a control signal;    a hook detector that is coupled to the telephone and the first switch and generates the control signal in accordance with a hook state of the telephone;    a level shifter that is coupled between the first switch and the telephone and converts first sound signals originating from the computer into second sound signals for generating sound by the telephone when the first switch couples the telephone to the computer; and    a voice input that is coupled between the first switch and the telephone and converts third sound signals originating from the telephone into fourth sound signals for reception by the computer when the first switch couples the telephone to the computer.    
   
   
       2 . An interface according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a signal generator that generates a hook signal in accordance with the hook state of the telephone for reception by the computer.    
   
   
       3 . An interface according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 software in the computer that causes sounds to be played at the telephone via the first sound signals in response to the hook signal.    
   
   
       4 . An interface according to  claim 3 , further comprising a media file accessible to the software that contains data corresponding to the sounds.  
   
   
       5 . An interface according to  claim 4 , wherein the media file is a .WAV file.  
   
   
       6 . An interface according to  claim 3 , wherein the sounds comprise a message.  
   
   
       7 . An interface according to  claim 3 , wherein the sounds comprise a dial tone.  
   
   
       8 . An interface according to  claim 3 , wherein the sounds comprise a busy signal.  
   
   
       9 . An interface according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second switch that selectively couples the telephone to a telephone network in accordance with a signal from the computer.    
   
   
       10 . An interface according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 software in the computer that detects keys pressed at the telephone by analyzing the fourth sound signals, and generates the signal in response to one or more predetermined keys being pressed.    
   
   
       11 . An interface according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 software in the computer, the software including: 
 a keypad monitor that detects keys pressed at the telephone by analyzing the fourth sound signals; and  
 a call controller that receives the detected keys and causes a VoIP call to be initiated to a phone number associated with the detected keys.  
   
   
   
       12 . An interface according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a lookup table in the computer having one or more entries, each of the entries including a first data field representing a sequence of one or more telephone key presses and a second data field representing an associated phone number; and    software in the computer, the software including: 
 a keypad monitor that detects keys pressed at the telephone by analyzing the fourth sound signals; and  
 a call controller that receives the detected keys and causes a determined one of the associated phone numbers to be dialed in accordance with the lookup table.  
   
   
   
       13 . An interface according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 additional software in the computer that allows a user to add and change the entries.    
   
   
       14 . A method for using a telephone with a computer, comprising: 
 generating a control signal in accordance with a hook state of the telephone;    selectively coupling the telephone to a computer in accordance with the control signal using a first switch;    converting first sound signals originating from the computer into second sound signals for generating sound by the telephone when the first switch couples the telephone to the computer;    converting third sound signals originating from the telephone into fourth sound signals for reception by the computer when the first switch couples the telephone to the computer; and    receiving data corresponding to the fourth sound signals at the computer.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 generating a hook signal in accordance with the hook state of the telephone for reception by the computer; and    causing sounds to be played at the telephone via the first sound signals in response to the hook signal.    
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 detecting, at the computer, keys pressed at the telephone by analyzing the fourth sound signals;    generating a signal via the first sound signals in response to one or more predetermined keys being pressed; and    selectively coupling the telephone to a telephone network in response to the signal from the computer.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 detecting, at the computer, keys pressed at the telephone by analyzing the fourth sound signals; and    causing, at the computer, a VoIP call to be initiated to a phone number associated with the detected keys.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 storing a lookup table in the computer having one or more entries, each of the entries including a first data field representing a sequence of one or more telephone key presses and a second data field representing an associated phone number;    detecting, at the computer, keys pressed at the telephone by analyzing the fourth sound signals; and    causing, at the computer, a determined one of the associated phone numbers to be dialed in accordance with the lookup table.    
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for use in network voice operations, the apparatus comprising: 
 a computer;    a modem;    a telephone; and    a telephone interface that selectively couples the telephone to the computer in accordance with a hook state of the telephone, the telephone interface causing audio signals to be converted and exchanged between the computer and telephone during network voice operations using the modem when the hook state indicates that the telephone is in an off-hook state,    wherein one or more of the computer, modem, telephone and telephone interface are integrated in the same device.    
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 software in the computer, the software including: 
 a keypad monitor that detects keys pressed at the telephone by analyzing converted audio signals originating from the telephone; and  
 a call controller that receives the detected keys and causes a VoIP call to be initiated to a phone number associated with the detected keys.