Network telephone system and methods therefor

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention includes a telephony interface, a network interface and a local area network (LAN). The telephony interface provides connectivity between one or more netphones and an external telephone network such as a PSTN telephone system. The network interface provides connectivity between one or more computers and an external computer network such as the Internet. The local area network provides interconnectivity between the netphone(s), the computer(s), the telephony interface and the network interface. In some embodiments, there may be two or more netphones which can communicate with each other internally via the LAN, in addition to communicating with the external telephone network. Similarly, there may be two or more computers that can also communicate with each other internally via the same LAN, in addition to the external computer network. By combining both the internal and external connectivity needs of both the netphone(s) and computer(s), the entry cost of installing both the netphone(s) and the computer(s) is dramatically lowered. In addition, once the network infrastructure has been installed, the existing netphone(s) and computer(s) can be very easily relocated within the network, and new netphone(s) and computer(s) can be added to the network with minimal changes to the network.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . A method for configuring an accessory device which is coupled to a distributed-directory network, the method comprising:
 pre-assigning an accessory phone number for the accessory device;   checking for conflict of the pre-assigned accessory phone number by broadcasting a phone number tryout command over the distributed-directory network, and   if there is no conflict of the pre-assigned accessory phone number then:
 assigning the accessory phone number to the accessory device; and 
 updating a phone directory of a network phone coupled to the distributed-directory network with the newly-assigned accessory phone number. 
   
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 19  and the method further comprise selecting and broadcasting an accessory type command over the distributed-directory network. 
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the accessory device is associated with the network phone and wherein the accessory device is one of a facsimile device, an audio device, and a video device. 
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the accessory device is one of a phone line device, a digital attendant, and a truck line device and wherein the method further comprise receiving a phone directory at the accessory device over the distributed-directory network. 
   
   
       23 . A method for selectively paging from a first network phone to at least one other network phone coupled to a distributed-directory network, the method comprising:
 entering at least one phone number associated with at least one other corresponding network phone at a first network phone, wherein the at least one phone number is selected from an updated phone directory of the first network phone; and   sending a paging command to the at least one other network phone over the distributed-directory network.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the at least one other network phone belong to a group of network phones. 
   
   
       25 . A method for establishing a conference bridge useful in association with at least two network phones interconnected by a distributed-directory network, the method comprising:
 selecting a conference bridge number for establishing a conference bridge for at least two network phones over the distributed-directory network; and   sending the conference bridge phone number to the at least two network phones over the distributed-directory network, wherein the at least two network phones each include an updated phone directory.   
   
   
       26 . The method recited in  claim 25  further comprising:
 selecting a conference bridge password; and   sending the conference bridge password to the at least two of the at least two network phones over the network.   
   
   
       27 . The method recited in  claim 26  further comprising sending a bridge conference request to a digital attendant. 
   
   
       28 . A method for using a remote network phone to make a phone call over a distributed-directory network, the method comprising:
 entering a remote phone number of a remote network phone at a first network phone;   selecting a phone control mode at the first network phone;   sending a password from the first network phone to the remote network phone thereby establishing control of the remote network phone; and   sending a destination phone number from the first network phone to the remote network phone.