Digital browser phone

Abstract

A telephone system wherein all the functions of a digital telephone can be accessed and implemented on a personal computer alone, thereby eliminating the need for a telephone set. By means of the computer display and mouse, keyboard or other input/output command devices, a user accesses and implement all digital telephone functions without the physical telephone set, the personal computer also providing the audio function. A graphical representation of a telephone set or other telephone-related form is provided on the computer display and accessed by the mouse, keyboard or other command device, this being accomplished by a computer program providing graphical interface implementation. A significant advantage of the system is computer access to and utilization of digital telephone functions from a remote location with communication via Internet, LAN, WAN, RAS or other mediums.

1 . A communication system comprising:
 at least one telephone switching mechanism;   at least one computing device including software configured to display a virtual telephone;   a phone server configured to couple the telephone switching mechanism and the at least one computing device;   a digital phone emulation interface, configured to provide a digital connection between the at least one telephone switching mechanism and the at least one computing device;   an application program interface configured to develop a command set from signals provided by the digital phone emulation interface, the command set configured to communicate with the software of the at least one computing device; and   logic to convert between a synchronous and an asynchronous link.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the application program interface includes a plurality of features found on digital telephones including dial, transfer, conference, hold, display information, multiple appearances, redial, message waiting indication, disconnect call, hook switch control, handset, speaker and microphone. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the synchronous link connects the at least one telephone switching mechanism and the digital phone emulation interface. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the asynchronous link connects the logic and the at least one computing device, the logic located within the phone server. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one telephone switching mechanism is a PBX. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the digital phone emulation interface connects voice information to a voice packetization mechanism for delivery over a computer link. 
   
   
       7 . A communication system comprising:
 at least one telephone switching mechanism;   at least one computing device including software configured to display a virtual telephone;   a mouse coupled to the at least one computing device, the mouse configured to provide access to a plurality of features of the virtual telephone;   at least one phone server including a digital phone emulation interface, an application interface and logic;   first and second control objects operatively connected via a first and a second socket thread, the first and second socket thread configured to transmit packetized light events and display information; and   an event thread operatively connected with the first control object, the event thread configured to transmit events from the application program interface to the first control object.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the first control object translates events for use on the at least one computing device and transmits commands to the application program interface. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the second control object translates mouse clicks and key strokes from the at least one computing device into commands. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the commands are subsequently packetized by the second socket thread. 
   
   
       11 . A method of communication comprising:
 selecting a feature on a virtual phone;   notifying a client control object of the selection;   allowing a client's socket thread to transmit the selection to a server;   building a packet and sending the packet to the server via a socket command;   receiving the packet at the server's socket thread and unpacketizing the command;   issuing a command from a server to an application program interface;   passing the command from the application program interface to a digital phone emulation interface; and   sending the command to at least one telephone switching mechanism over a synchronous digital data link.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the step of selecting involves a client key press transaction. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the step of selecting involves a hook state transaction. 
   
   
       14 . A computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:
 display a virtual telephone;   send a light update data packet from a switching mechanism over a digital data link to an application program interface;   receive the light update data packet via an event generated by the digital phone emulation interface and passed through by an application program interface;   pass the light update data packet from an event thread to a control object;   packetize the light update data packet and transmit the packet to a client;   receive and unpacketize the light update data packet; and   display a new light state on the virtual telephone.   
   
   
       15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14  wherein the digital phone emulation interface is configured to communicate with software configured to display the virtual telephone. 
   
   
       16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14  wherein the virtual telephone includes a plurality of features including dial, transfer, conference, hold, display information, multiple appearances, redial, message waiting indication, disconnect call, hook switch control, handset, speaker and microphone. 
   
   
       17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14  wherein the virtual phone is located on at least one computing device, the computing device being accessible from a remote location. 
   
   
       18 . A method comprising:
 displaying a virtual telephone;   sending a light update data packet from a switching mechanism over a digital data link to a digital phone emulation interface;   receiving the light update data packet via an event generated by the digital phone emulation interface and passed through by an application program interface;   passing the light update data packet from an event thread to a control object;   packetizing the light update data packet and transmitting the packet to a client;   receiving and unpacketizing the light update data packet; and   displaying a new light state on the virtual telephone.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising;
 activating one of a plurality of features with a mouse click.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said packetizing is performed using a TCP/IP thread.