Internet switch box, system and method for internet telephony

Abstract

An Internet switch box connects between a telephone set and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) line, the latter of which is used both for PSTN telephone conversations and for connection to an Internet service provider (ISP). The switch box contains hardware and embedded software for establishing a connection to an ISP and for Internet telephony. When two users, each having an Internet switch box connected to the telephone set, wish to have an Internet telephony conversation, one calls the other over the PSTN. When they agree to an Internet telephony conversation, they signal their Internet switch boxes, by pressing either buttons on the switch boxes or certain keys on the telephone keypads, to switch to Internet telephony. The switch boxes disconnect the PSTN call and connect to their ISPs. Once the switch boxes are on the Internet, they contact each other through a server which supplies Internet protocol (IP) addresses of switch boxes, and the users continue their conversation by Internet telephony. The users can also prearrange to call each other solely by Internet telephony, in which case they do not need to talk to each other over the PSTN.

1 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A method for connecting a first communication apparatus with a second communication apparatus, comprising:
 providing a first address of the first communication apparatus to the second communication apparatus over a secondary network, the first communication apparatus communicating over a primary network as a first connection; and   establishing a second connection between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus over the secondary network using the first address.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  further comprising:
 communicating, via the second connection, information between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus. 
 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53  further comprising:
 disconnecting at least one of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus from the primary network after the second connection is established. 
 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53  further comprising:
 disabling the first connection after the second connection is established. 
 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 53  further comprising:
 providing a second address of the second communication apparatus over the secondary network, 
 wherein the second connection is established using at least one of the first address and the second address. 
 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 53  further comprising:
 providing a second address of the second communication apparatus over the secondary network, 
 wherein the second connection is established using the first address and the second address. 
 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the first communication apparatus is a telephone terminal. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the second communication apparatus is an internet server. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the first address of the first communication apparatus includes identification information. 
     
     
         62 . A communication apparatus comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to:
 provide a first address of a first communication apparatus to a second communication apparatus over a secondary network, 
 the first communication apparatus communicating over a primary network as a first connection; and 
 communicate with the second communication apparatus over the second network via a second connection, the second connection being established using the first address. 
   
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , the processing circuitry being further configured to:
 disconnect the first communication apparatus from the primary network after the second connection is established.   
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , the processing circuitry being further configured to:
 disable the first connection after the second connection is established.   
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , the processing circuitry being further configured to:
 receive a second address of the second communication apparatus over the secondary network; and   transmit the first address of the first communication apparatus over the secondary network.   
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein the second connection is established using the first address and the second address. 
     
     
         67 . A communication apparatus comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to:
 receive a first address of a first communication apparatus over a second network, the first communication apparatus communicating over a primary network as a first connection; and 
 establish communication with the first communication apparatus over the second network via a second connection, the second connection being established using the first address. 
   
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the first address is received from the first communication apparatus. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , the processing circuitry being further configured to:
 disconnect the second communication apparatus from the primary network after the second connection is established.   
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , the processing circuitry being further configured to:
 disable the first connection after the second connection is established.   
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , the processing circuitry being further configured to:
 receive the first address of the first communication apparatus over the secondary network; and   transmit a second address of the second communication apparatus over the secondary network.   
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the second connection is established using the first address and the second address. 
     
     
         73 . A method for communicating with an apparatus comprising:
 providing, via processing circuitry, a first address of a first communication apparatus to a second communication apparatus over a secondary network, the first communication apparatus communicating over a primary network as a first connection; and   communicating, via the processing circuitry, with the second communication apparatus over the second network via a second connection, the second connection being established using the first address.   
     
     
         74 . A method for communicating with an apparatus comprising:
 receiving, via processing circuitry, a first address of a first communication apparatus over a second network, the first communication apparatus communicating over a primary network as a first connection; and   establishing, via the processing circuitry, communication with the first communication apparatus over the second network via a second connection, the second connection being established using the first address.