MXPA99000936A - Telephonic systems for communication over computer networks - Google Patents

Abstract

Telephonic systems for communication over computer networks (8) comprise telephonic devices (70, 72)with means for symbol entry and programmable electronic devices (74) allowing the telephonic devices (70, 72) to conduct audio and other forms of communication over computer networks (8) upon entry of appropriate symbols through the means for symbol entry on the telephonic devices (70, 72).

Description

TELEPHONE SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATION ON COMPUTER NETWORKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to systems for communicating over computer networks and, more particularly, to systems that allow telephone communication over computer networks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE Computer networks that interconnect a large number of computers belonging to different users are proliferating at an accelerated rate like never before. An extremely popular and well-known network is the Internet, which links many hundreds of thousands of computers belonging to almost as many businessmen, educational institutions, government agencies, and individuals. There has been a lot of interest lately in the use of the Internet and other computer networks to conduct long distance telephone conversations. The advantage of using computer networks in this way includes avoiding the use of the conventional long distance telephone network, and incurring charges from the telephone company.

These efforts have commonly included the use of a software package that is installed on a personal computer (PC) equipped with a sound card, microphone and speakers that allow the personal computer to produce audible sounds, such as audible sounds on CDs. ROM (read-only memory of compact disks), which are placed on disk drives of CD-ROMs in certain personal computers. The software package allows a first user of a personal computer to use the sound card, the microphone, and the speakers, such as the equivalent of a telephone, sound card, microphone, and speakers either receiving the voice of the first user for transmission to a second user with whom the first user is conversing, or to transmit the second user's voice to the first user. Some versions of this software allow only half of the double use, or in other words, each person who converses can either speak, or listen, but not both simultaneously, but the most recent versions allow full double use, equivalent to Conventional telephone communications where people who talk can talk and listen simultaneously. This software includes the "Internet Phone" produced by VocalTec, Inc., of Northvale, New Jersey, the "Web Talk" produced by Quarterdeck Corp. of Santa Monica, California and the "WebPhone" produced by NetSpeak Corporation of Boca Raton, Florida . The audio signal in the appropriate digital form that travels over the Internet from a personal computer is normally introduced to the Internet just like any other digital data through a local Internet Service Provider (ISP). The appropriate digital form will be in groups of digital information known as packets, each packet containing both the data representing the audio signal, and the control information that tells the Internet what to do with the packet. Since these Internet Service Providers exist globally as "gateways" to the Internet, people with personal computers that connect to the Internet can conduct telephone conversations at no additional cost over the access charges they pay to their Internet Service Provider. Internet. Due to the poor voice quality, delays, and lost connections experienced during Internet conversations, special servers have been installed or installed on many Internet Service Providers to handle the increase in Internet traffic due to Internet voice communications. A call back provider and the Internet, the International Discount Telecommunications Corp. (IDT) of Hackensack, New Jersey, has demonstrated a prototype that ostensibly allows a personal computer anywhere in the world that has enough memory, a microphone, speakers, a sound card, and an account with the International Discount Telecommunications Corp., connect to a telephone in the United States of America. Despite the rapid advances and improvements in Internet telephony, many disadvantages remain. Participants in any of these conversations all require a personal computer to conduct a conversation, all personal computers must be connected to the Internet to start the conversation, and all personal computers must have the same Internet telephony software, since none of software packages that are currently marketed, is compatible with no other package. The prototype of the International Discount Telecommunications Corp. requires a personal computer with a line of peripherals for a conversation to occur. In addition, sound cards and speakers as well as insufficient memory of the personal computer cause communication problems. For example, frequent volume adjustment to the speakers at both ends of the communication link is necessary to obtain audible communication and control of background noises. The present invention eliminates or makes substantial progress in overcoming these disadvantages.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a telephone device which connects directly to the Internet or another computer network without the presence of a personal computer between the telephone device and the computer network. In a first embodiment of the invention, the telephone device comprises a custom designed telephone connected with hardened wire with a microcontroller. The custom-designed phone is equipped with a separate alphabetic keyboard, "as well as a numeric keypad. The microcontroller is programmed to respond to the telephone number dialing of the alphabetic guest address, which is analogous to the address of an email ( e-mail), or its equivalent, a number that is known as the Internet Protocol (IP) address, the telephone number of the party that is called over the Internet, thus causing the called party's telephone rings, then the called party picks up the telephone and can start the telephone conversation The called party's telephone is of the same design as the telephone. calling party's telephone The two custom-designed telephones are constantly connected to the Internet through the Internet Service Provider of each party and therefore are not ordinarily available for traditional use A second embodiment of the invention differs from the first mode in which the microcontroller is not integral with the telephone, but is contained in an electronic box plugged into the telephone, but separated from it. This mode allows the use of a telephone that only differs from a conventional telephone by the presence of a separate alphabetical keyboard. This telephone can be disconnected from the system and used as a conventional telephone, in contrast to the custom designed telephone that is included in the first embodiment of the invention. A third embodiment of the invention includes the use of conventional telephones, Central Change (centrex), Private Branch Change (pbx), or a PC-based switching system (pcex), and the Internet. In this mode, a person speaking can use a telephone to call a Central Change, a Private Branch Change, or a PC-based switching system connected to the Internet. The call goes through the Internet to a second Central Change, Private Branch Change, or PC-based switching system, which completes the call through the regular telephone lines. A fourth embodiment of the invention is similar to the first embodiment of the invention, in which a custom-designed telephone connected by hardened wiring to a microcontroller is described. However, the microcontroller is programmed so that the telephone does not always need to be connected to the Internet to make and receive telephone calls over the Internet and can be used, in this way, as an ordinary telephone when calls are not being made over the Internet. . The microcontroller is programmed so that when a call is initiated over the Internet by dialing the telephone number of a called telephone, the alphabetic guest address or the Internet Protocol address of the calling telephone, and the alphabetic guest address or the Internet Protocol address of the called telephone, the calling telephone first calls over conventional telephone lines, transmitting the alphabetic address or Internet Protocol address of the calling telephone to the calling telephone and then hangs up. Then, the telephone that is called, which has a microcontroller that is programmed in a way compatible with that of the calling telephone, dials the alphabetic guest address or the Internet Protocol address of the calling telephone, while the calling telephone dials the alphabetic guest address or the Internet Protocol address of the calling telephone that is called, resulting in the two telephones being connected to the Internet only when a voice conversation occurs between the owners of the telephones. A fifth embodiment of the invention differs from the fourth embodiment of the invention, in that a device or devices that can send and / or receive data in addition to an audio signal on the Internet, are incorporated within the telephone. It is an objective of this invention to conduct voice conversations on computer networks without the use of computers. It is another object of this invention to initiate voice conversations over computer networks despite the absence of any initial work connection between the devices used for voice conversations and computer networks. It is still another objective of this invention to standardize voice communication over computer networks, so that incompatible equipment does not prevent that communication. It is still another object of this invention to provide devices that can facilitate voice communications and other forms of communication. data simultaneously on computer networks. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, after consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following description of the preferred embodiments, which are proposed only by way of illustration and of example, but which should not be understood in any way limiting the invention described and claimed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the fourth embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the fifth embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES For a more detailed description of the invention in its different modalities, given only by way of example and should not be understood as limiting the invention in any way, we refer to the drawings. Figure 1 represents the first embodiment of the invention. In this modality, a first telephone 2 and a second telephone 4 are of the same design, each containing a microcontroller 6 that allows the first telephone 2 and the second telephone 4, make and receive telephone calls over the Internet 8 or any other network of computer and a separate alphabetic keyboard, as well as a numeric one. (It should be understood that a conventional telephone number keypad may be used in combination with a separate alphabetic keyboard, although the presence of multiple letters on the numbers on this numeric keypad may be redundant and possibly confusing to the user.) Alternatively, each telephone can have a conventional telephone number pad and extra selection keys such as, for example only, "change", "control", or "alt", to select among the multiple letters that are shown on some of the numbers in the conventional telephone numeric keypad. (You could also use a conventional telephone number keypad, without using the keys without the letters to select the letters.) The first telephone 2 connects to the Internet 8 through a conventional first telephone line 7 and the Service Provider of Internet 10 of the part that owns the first telephone 2 and the second telephone 4 connects to Internet 8 through a second conventional telephone line 9 and the Internet Service Provider 12 of the party that owns the second telephone 4. As an example of the operation of the invention, if the party that owns the first telephone 2 wishes to call the party that owns the second telephone 4, the party that owns the first telephone would preferably dial the alphabetic symbols corresponding to the alphabetic guest address of the second telephone 4 or the numerical equivalent of the alphabetic address of the guest, a number corresponding to the address of the Pr otocolo of the Internet of the second telephone 4. The use of an alphabetic guest address would be the most convenient to connect a call to those Internet users whose Internet Protocol addresses for their phones are located dynamically each time they connect to the Internet . The use of an Internet Protocol address is a convenient viable alternative to connect a call to those Internet users who have permanent Internet Protocol addresses for their phones. A typical alphabetic guest address, which is analogous to an e-mail address, can be [email protected]. If this were an e-mail address, the address would mean that jones is a user on a computer called Johnson in the Domain Name System (DNS) domain, which is called com. (The Internet is subdivided into administrative units that contain groups of participating computers called domains.) Analogously, since we are dealing with a telephone that is the guest, instead of a computer, the address means that Jones is a user in a phone that is called Johnson in the Internet domain that is called com.

The Internet Protocol address, which is the numerical equivalent of the alphabetic guest address, is typically expressed in point annotation. For example, 198.95.262.38 is a typical Internet Protocol address. Of course, microcontroller 6 could be programmed to respond without the use of points or the points could be replaced by using the "*" key on the typical touch tone telephone keypad. It should be noted that an Internet Protocol address identifies a network interface over a guest. In this way, if a guest, in our case, a telephone, has two or more network interfaces (see the fifth embodiment of the invention below), the guest will have a different Internet Protocol address for each network interface. Each Internet Protocol address, as currently assigned by the authorities responsible for assigning these addresses on the Internet, is a 32-bit binary number written as 4 fields, 8 bits each, separated by dots. (The typical Internet Protocol address given above is the decimal equivalent of the binary address.) Due to the absolute number of devices that connect to the Internet, the available addresses are decreasing. Any extension of the Internet Protocol address assignment system to cover additional addresses, either the IPng (Next Generation Internet Protocol), also known as IPv6 (Internet Protocol, Version 6), or another subsequent scheme which is base in numbers, it can be easily accommodated by the invention as described herein. In any case, the microcontroller 6 of the first telephone 2 is programmed to send a signal 14, which is replaced by the Internet Service Provider 10 of the party that owns the first telephone 2 and the Internet Service Provider 12 from the party that owns the second telephone 4 to the second telephone 4, causing the second telephone 4 to ring. The owner of the second telephone 4 can then pick up the second telephone 4 and can start a conversation between the owner of the first telephone 2 and the owner of the second telephone 4. Signal 14 travels over the Internet 8 using the series of TCP / IP protocols (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) for the transmission of data over the Internet. Because the type of communication that is ordinarily to be performed by the invention described herein is simple, text, audiovisual, or visual voice communication, where everything is transmitted in the real-time mode since the data can easily suffer if corrupted in the transmission, you can use those protocols in the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol series that do not perform an extensive error check on the packets that were sent, instead of those more appropriate for data where visual and mathematical accuracy is a critical consideration. In this way, the microcontroller 6 of the 2.4 telephones can use the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which causes the data to flow in the Internet without error verification, to transmit the voice Instead of the more conventional Transmission Control Protocol, "which provides such error verification, this will allow a more efficient transmission of the voice by the described invention than would be possible if the conventional personal computers using the Transmission Control Protocol for transmitting the voice The embodiment of the invention described in Figure 1, however, requires that the first telephone 2 and the second telephone 4 are "dedicated" telephones constantly connected to the Internet 8 and therefore both not available for use with the conventional telephone network, unless they are connected to the telephone network over the lines of the Integr Services Digital Network ados (ISDN, for its acronym in English), which could possibly allow each telephone to be used to call over conventional telephone lines, even when they are also connected to the Internet. In Figure 2, a second embodiment of the invention is shown. A first telephone 20 and a second telephone 24 are connected to the Internet 8. The first telephone 20 has an electronic box 28 that is connected to it, the electronic box 28 containing a microcontroller 6. The second telephone 24 has an electronic box 32 that is connects thereto, the electronic box 32 containing a microcontroller 6. In a similar manner to Figure 1, the first telephone 20 is connected to the Internet 8 through a conventional telephone line 25 and the Internet Service Provider 40 of the party. which owns the first telephone 20 and the second telephone 24 is connected to the Internet 8 through a second conventional telephone line 33 and the Internet Service Provider 42 of the party that owns the second telephone 24. The functionality of the microcontroller 6 is identical to that described in connection with Figure 1. However, its typical location has changed from the internal part of the telephones 2 , 4 which are shown in Figure 1, to the external part of the telephones 20, 24 shown in Figure 2, and the separate electronic boxes 28, 32 internal. The telephones 20, 24 have the alphabetic and numeric keyboards or, alternatively, a conventional telephone number keypad with extra selection keys, as described for the telephones 2, 4 shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, you can place the alphabetic keyboard or the extra selection keys in the separate electronic boxes 28, 32. Finally, the operation of the invention, after the party that owns the first telephone 20 marks the alphabetic guest address or the address of the Protocol of the Internet of the second telephone 24, would be the same as that described in Figure 1, after the party that owns the first telephone 20 marks the alphabetic guest address or the Internet Protocol address of the second telephone 24. The advantage of the modality which is shown in Figure 2 on that shown in Figure 1, is that you can disconnect the phones 20, 24 from their electronic boxes 28, 32, and used as conventional telephones that communicate over the conventional telephone network, since they have at least one numeric keypad. The telephones 2, 4 shown in Figure 1, on the other hand, can not be used in an ordinary manner as conventional telephones since these are constantly connected to the Internet. Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a first conventional telephone 50 and a second conventional telephone 52 can make and receive telephone calls over the Internet 8. This is possible because the first telephone 50 and the second telephone 52 are connected to the telephone switching equipment 54 which is connected ~ to Internet 8, instead of the conventional telephone network.

This telephone switching equipment can be in the form of a central change 56, a private branch change 58, or a PC-based switching system 60. This telephone switching system 54 will work in a manner analogous to that found in the conventional telephone network, but it will be connecting the subscriber's phones that are connected to the Internet 8 with each other. As an example of the operation of the invention, in accordance with this embodiment, if the party that owns the first telephone 50 wishes to call the party that owns the second telephone 52, the party that owns the first telephone 50 will simply dial the telephone number of the party that owns the second telephone 52. Then, the signal 64 produced by the first telephone 50, instead of traveling only over the conventional telephone lines, will first travel over the conventional telephone lines 68 to the switching equipment telephone 54, which may be either central hub switching equipment 56, private branch exchange switching equipment 58, or switching equipment of the PC-based switching system 60, connected on one side to the first telephone 50 through the conventional telephone lines 68 and on the other side to the Internet 8. This switching equipment 54 will replace the signal 64 through s of the Internet 8 so that it receives a second configuration of switching equipment 54, which again can be either the central switching switching equipment 56, the private branch change switching equipment 58, or the switching equipment of the PC-based switching system 60, which is connected on one side to the Internet 8 and on the other side, through the conventional telephone lines 69, to the second telephone 52. The second configuration of the switching equipment 54 replaces the signal 64 through the conventional telephone lines 69 to the second telephone 52. When the second telephone 52 receives the signal 64 it sounds, and the party that owns the second telephone 52 can pick up the receiver and can start a conversation. This third embodiment of the invention allows the use of completely conventional telephones and switching equipment to talk about the Internet, but requires that the switching equipment be connected to the Internet. Figure 4 shows the fourth embodiment of the invention. Analogously to the first modality shown in Figure 1, there is a first telephone 70 and a second telephone 72 that connects to the Internet 8 and can make and receive calls over the Internet 8. Each telephone 70, 72 is designed to the measurement and contains a microcontroller 7. Each telephone has a numerical, as well as an alphabetic keyboard or, alternatively, a conventional telephone numeric keypad with extra selection keys as described above in connection with the telephones 2, 4 shown in Figure 1. Analogously to Figure 1, the first telephone 70 is connected to Internet 8 through a first conventional telephone line 75 and the Internet Service Provider 76 of the owner of the first telephone 70 and the second telephone 72 is connected to Internet 8 through a second conventional telephone line 77 and the Internet Service Provider 78 of the owner of the second telephone 72. However, unlike the modality of Figure 1, the telephones 70, 72 do not always need to connect to the Internet 8, but also can be used for calls over conventional telephone lines without the use of the lines of the Integral Services Digital Network, due to the method by which when the Internet telephone calls are connected. To demonstrate this method of operation, we consider a concrete example. If the owner of the first telephone 70 wishes to make a call over the Internet 8 to the owner of the second telephone 72, the owner of the first telephone 70 would dial the alphabetic guest address or the Internet Protocol address., of the second telephone 72, immediately followed by the regular telephone number of the second telephone 72. Of course, the order to mark the different addresses alphabetical guests or Internet Protocol, is given only by way of example and can be varied depending on the programming of the microcontroller 74. The microcontroller 74 would be programmed in the first telephone 70 to respond to the dialing of the alphabetic guest addresses or the Internet Protocol and the telephone number by means of transmitting, over the conventional telephone lines 80 that connect the two telephones 70, 72, the alphabetic guest address or the Internet Protocol address 82 of the first telephone 70 to the second telephone 72. The first telephone 70 would then terminate the connection with the second telephone 72. The second telephone 72 would then dial the alphabetic guest address or of the Internet Protocol of the first telephone 70, ~ provoking or a connection to the first telephone 70 via the Internet Service Provider 78 of the owner of the second telephone 72 and the Internet Service Provider 76 of the owner of the first telephone 70. While the second telephone 72 is dialing the alphabetic guest address or the Internet protocol of the first telephone 70, the first telephone 70 is dialing the alphabetic host address or Internet Protocol of the second telephone 72, causing a connection to the second telephone 72 through the Internet Service Provider 76 of the owner of the first telephone 70 and the Internet Service Provider 78 of the owner of the second telephone 72. (It should be understood that the "handshake" or the process by which the two 70, 72 telephones are connected to each other, may occur through numerous methods well known to those skilled in the art. For example, after the initial transmission of the alphabetic guest address or the Internet Protocol address 82 of the first telephone 70 to the second telephone 72 over the conventional telephone lines 80, it may be necessary that only one of the first telephone 70 or the second telephone 72 will dial the alphabetic host address or the Internet Protocol address of the other telephone so that the 70, 72 telephone connects with one another over the Internet.) In this way, the two 70, 72 telephones have been connected to the Internet 8 through the special dialing sequence in the first telephone 70 and by the special subsequent calling sequence that was previously described, and only connect to the Internet 8 to conduct a telephone conversation by means of the special dialing sequence in one of the telephones 70 , 72 that was specified above. If a regular telephone number is dialed, the telephones 70, 72 will react like a conventional telephone, placing the call over the conventional telephone lines 80. This mode allows in this way that the telephones 70, 72 make and receive calls over the Internet 8 when is desired, or if the Internet 8 is very busy, or for some reason is not suitable for communication, over the conventional telephone lines 80. The fifth embodiment of the invention differs from the fourth embodiment of the invention in the telephones that are used .

These telephones 80, one of which is shown in Figure 5, differs from the telephones 70, 72 shown in Figure 4 as they incorporate a device or devices 82 that can send or receive or to send and receive data. on the Internet in addition to the audio data and in that they have added functionality on that described for the telephones 70, 72 and thus require a microprocessor 84 that is programmed to perform these additional functions. These 80 telephones will work, as did the telephones 70, 72 in the fourth embodiment of the invention, to establish a telephone conversation between the owners of the telephones. However, once one of these conversations is established, one or the other of the speakers may wish to use the device or devices 82 on the telephone, to send non-voice data, to the other person speaking. Of course, in such a case, the device or devices 82 in the two telephones involved must be compatible to send or receive, as required, the desired data. This device or devices 82 may include, but is not limited to, facsimile transmission devices, including devices that can process color facsimiles or even three-dimensional facsimiles that creates a laser beam, mathematically measuring solid objects, devices that can send or receive live or recorded videos with or without an accompanying sound track, devices that can send or receive static photographs, and screens of all types to visually display text or graphic data. Since, as explained above, any of these devices 82 must each have a separate Internet Protocol address, the Internet Protocol address of the device 82 called to receive data will be entered before that transmission is made. For example, suppose that the owner of a first telephone 80, which has a device 82 comprising a color facsimile transmission device, wishes to send a color fax to a second telephone 80 'having a device 82' comprising a color facsimile receiver device. The owner of the first telephone 80 would enter the Internet Protocol address or, equivalently, the alphabetic host address of the device 82 'on the keypad of the first telephone and this would cause the microcontroller 84 to establish a connection over the Internet to the device 82'. . The color facsimile could then be sent from the device 82 to the device 82 ', while the owners of the two 80', 80 'phones are conversing, as long as the telephone lines to the respective Internet Service Providers of the owners of the telephones. two 80, 80 'telephones, accommodate this simultaneous transfer of data. It should be understood, of course, that the telephones included in the fifth embodiment of the invention can be used to transmit data other than audio communication, even in the absence of a telephone conversation. This would be done by following a process completely analogous to that described in the fourth embodiment of the invention to initiate a telephone call, except that the Internet Protocol addresses or the alphabetic guest addresses of the devices to be sent or used would be used. receive or to send and receive, in place of the addresses of the Internet Protocol or the addresses alphabetic guests of the telephones into which those devices are incorporated to send or receive or to send and receive. It should be understood that all references to the Internet herein are intended to be exemplary only, as this invention will allow telephone communications over other computer networks besides the Internet, such as, for example, only Bitnet, local area networks (LANs), and wide area networks (WANs) by analogous methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. It should also be understood that music or other sounds, as well as the human voice, can be transmitted over the telephone devices contemplated herein, just as conventional telephones can transmit a variety of sounds. It should be further understood that when we have referred to conventional telephone lines connecting the telephones in any of the above modes to either an Internet Service Provider or the telephone switching equipment, these conventional telephone lines may include high capacity, such as, for example, an IT line, a line that mainly carries cable television, or a line of the Integrated Services Digital Network, which will allow many telephones to be connected to the Internet Service Provider 10 or to the switching equipment on a high capacity line. This can be done as long as a server in the network, which is a dedicated computer, or another equivalent device, acts as an interface between the high-capacity line and individual phones. Finally, they should be understand all references to a microcontroller as exemplary only, since any programmable electronic device will serve the purpose contemplated by this invention in an equally effective manner. Although modalities have been described herein Preferred, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various modifications, changes, or alterations may be made to the invention disclosed and described herein, without departing from the scope or its equivalent, as claimed in the appended claims.

For example, it can be easily imagined that one of the telephone devices described herein can be connected to more than one computer network simultaneously after the proper programming of its misro-controller or that the telephone switching equipment which described in connection with Figure 3 can be connected to, and allow communication in more than one computer network simultaneously. Anyone with ordinary experience in the art will easily come up with other modifications, too numerous to mention.

Claims (50)

1. A telephone device that connects to at least one computer network comprising: means to enter at least one symbol; and an electronic device, the electronic device being programmed so that upon introduction of the at least one symbol, the electronic device causes a connection to be established on one of the at least one computer network with another telephone device connected to that network. computer, the connection being suitable for communication, which includes at least audio communication, between the telephone device and the other telephone device.

2. A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the means for introducing the at least one symbol comprises: a. a numeric keypad; and b. an alphabetic keyboard.

3. A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the means for introducing the at least one symbol comprises: a. an alphanumeric keyboard with at least one letter that is located on at least one key on the keyboard, where a number is located; and b. at least one selection key to select at least one letter on at least one key of the keyboard.

4. A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a microcontroller.

5. A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is contained within a module removably attached to a remnant of the electronic device.

6. A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein at least one computer network comprises the Internet.

7. A telephone device according to claim 5, wherein the connection of the telephone device to the Internet is achieved through an Internet service provider.

A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the connection of the telephone device to the at least one computer network must be continuous, despite the absence of a communication being conducted over the telephone device.

9. A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the audio communication comprises the voice communication.

10. A telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the audio communication comprises the complete double communication.

11. A telephone system that connects to at least one computer network comprising: at least two telephone devices; and at least two sets of switching equipment, each set of at least two sets of telephone switching equipment being connected to at least one of the at least two telephone devices and to the at least one computer network, each set of at least two sets of telephone switching equipment being able to connect at least two telephone devices of the at least two telephone devices through the at least one computer network, whereby communication can be conducted, comprising at least audio communication, between at least two telephone devices.

A telephone system according to claim 11, wherein a set of telephone switching equipment of the at least two sets of telephone switching equipment comprises the central switching equipment.

13. A telephone system according to claim 11, wherein a set of telephone switching equipment of the at least two sets of telephone switching equipment comprises the private branch exchange switching equipment.

14. A telephone system according to claim 11, wherein a set of equipment of 5 telephone switching of the at least two sets of telephone switching equipment comprises the switching equipment of the PC-based switching system.

15. A telephone system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one network of 10 computer understands the Internet.

16. A telephone system according to claim 11, wherein the audio communication comprises the voice communication.

17. A telephone system according to claim 11, wherein the audio communication comprises the complete double communication, fe

18. A telephone system that connects to at least one computer network comprising: at least two telephone devices that HE 20 connect at least one computer network so that communication can be conducted, comprising at least audio communication, between at least two telephone devices.

19. A telephone system according to claim 18, wherein each telephone device of the at least two telephone devices comprises: a means for the entry of at least one symbol; And an electronic device, the electronic device being programmed so that upon introduction of the at least one symbol, the electronic device causes a connection to be established on one of the at least one computer network with another telephone device connected to that network. computer, the connection being suitable for communication, which includes at least audio communication, between the telephone device and the other telephone device.

20. A telephone system according to claim 19, wherein the means for introducing the at least one symbol comprises: a. a numeric keypad; and b. an alphabetic keyboard.

21. A telephone system according to claim 19, wherein the means for introducing the at least one symbol comprises: a. an alphanumeric keyboard with at least one letter that is located on at least one key on the keyboard, where a number is located; and b. at least one selection key to select at least one letter on at least one key of the keyboard.

22. A telephone system according to claim 19, wherein the electronic device comprises a microcontroller.

23. A telephone system according to claim 19, wherein each of the at least two telephone devices further comprises a module removably attached to a remnant of the telephone device, the electronic device being contained within the module.

24. A telephone system according to claim 23, wherein the means for introducing the at least one symbol comprises: a. a numeric keypad; and b. an alphabetic keyboard.

25. A telephone system according to claim 23, wherein the means for introducing the at least one symbol comprises: a. an alphanumeric keyboard with at least one letter that is located on at least one key on the keyboard, where a number is located; and b. at least one selection key to select at least one letter on at least one key of the keyboard.

26. A telephone system according to claim 24, wherein the alphabetic keyboard is placed in the module.

27. A telephone system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one selection key is placed in the module.

28. A telephone system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one computer network comprises the Internet.

29. A telephone system according to claim 28, wherein the connection of the at least two telephone devices to the Internet is achieved through the at least one Internet service provider.

30. A telephone system according to claim 18, wherein the connection of the at least two telephone devices to the at least one computer network, must be continuous, in spite of the absence of a communication that is being conducted over the at least two telephone devices.

31. A telephone system according to claim 18, where audio communication comprises voice communication.

32. A telephone system according to claim 18, wherein the audio communication comprises complete double communication.

33. A telephone device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than audio communication, on at least one computer network.

34. A telephone device according to claim 33, wherein the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving the communication, comprises means for the transmission, reception, or transmission and reception of facsimile.

35. A telephone device according to claim 33, wherein the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving the communication comprises means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving visual data.

36. A telephone device according to claim 33, wherein the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving the communication, comprises means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving textual data.

37. A telephone system that is connected to at least one computer network comprising at least two telephone devices as claimed in claim 33, which is connected to the at least one computer network so that at least one audio communication between at least two telephone devices.

38. A telephone system according to claim 37, wherein the at least one computer network comprises the Internet.

39. A method for establishing the connection between the telephone device and the other telephone device over the Internet, as claimed in claim 6, which comprises the steps of: an owner of the telephone device that enters the at least one symbol in the means for introducing at least one symbol comprised within the telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising an alphabetic guest address of the other telephone device; and the telephone device that connects to the other telephone device over the Internet using the alphabetic guest address of the other telephone device.

40. A method for establishing the connection between the telephone device and the other telephone device over the Internet, as claimed in claim 6, which comprises the steps of: a telephone device owner who enters the at least one symbol in the means for introducing at least one symbol comprised within the telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising an Internet Protocol address of the other telephone device; and the telephone device that connects to the other telephone device over the Internet using the Internet Protocol address of the other telephone device.

41. A method for establishing the connection between the telephone device and the other telephone device over the Internet, as claimed in claim 6, which comprises the steps of: an owner of the telephone device that enters the at least one symbol in the means for introducing at least one symbol comprised within the telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising: an Internet Protocol address of the telephone device; an Internet Protocol address of the other telephone device; and a telephone number of the other telephone device; the telephone device that connects over conventional telephone lines to the other telephone device, using the telephone number of the other telephone device. the telephone device that transmits the Internet Protocol address of the telephone device to the other telephone device over the conventional telephone lines; the telephone device terminating the connection over the conventional telephone lines to the other telephone device; the telephone device that connects to the other telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the other telephone device; and the other telephone device that connects to the telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the telephone device.

42. A method for establishing the connection between the telephone device and the other telephone device over the Internet, as claimed in claim 6, which comprises the steps of: an owner of the telephone device that enters the at least one symbol in the means for introducing at least one symbol comprised within the telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising: an Internet Protocol address of the telephone device; an alphabetic guest address of the other telephone device; and a telephone number of the other telephone device; the telephone device that connects over conventional telephone lines to the other telephone device, using the telephone number of the other telephone device; the telephone device that transmits the Internet Protocol address of the telephone device to the other telephone device over the conventional telephone lines; the telephone device terminating the connection over the conventional telephone lines to the other telephone device; the telephone device that connects to the other telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetic guest address of the other telephone device; and the other telephone device that connects to the telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the telephone device.

43. A method for establishing the connection between the telephone device and the other telephone device over the Internet, as claimed in claim 6, which comprises the steps of: an owner of the telephone device that enters the at least one symbol in the means for introducing at least one symbol comprised within the telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising: an alphabetic host address of the telephone device; an Internet Protocol address of the other telephone device; and a telephone number of the other telephone device; the telephone device that connects over conventional telephone lines to the other telephone device, using the telephone number of the other telephone device; the telephone device that transmits the alphabetic guest address of the telephone device to the other telephone device over the conventional telephone lines; the telephone device terminating the connection over the conventional telephone lines to the other telephone device; the telephone device that connects to the other telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the other telephone device; and the other telephone device that connects to the telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetic host address of the telephone device.

44. A method for establishing the connection between the telephone device and the other telephone device over the Internet, as claimed in claim 6, which comprises the steps of: an owner of the telephone device that enters the at least one symbol in the means for introducing at least one symbol comprised within the telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising: an alphabetic host address of the telephone device; an alphabetic guest address of the other telephone device; and a telephone number of the other telephone device; the telephone device that connects over conventional telephone lines to the other telephone device, using the telephone number of the other telephone device; the telephone device that transmits the alphabetic guest address of the telephone device to the other telephone device over the conventional telephone lines; the telephone device terminating the connection over the conventional telephone lines to the other telephone device; the telephone device that connects to the other telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetic guest address of the other telephone device; and the other telephone device that connects to the telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetic host address of the telephone device.

45. A method for establishing communication between a first and a second telephone device of the at least two telephone devices over the Internet, as claimed in claim 38, comprising the steps of: an owner of the first telephone device that enters the telephone when less a symbol in the means for the introduction of the at least one symbol comprised within the first telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising an Internet Protocol address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication that does not be the audio communication included within the second telephone device; and the first telephone device that connects to the second telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second device. telephone.

46. A method for establishing communication between a first and a second telephone device of the at least two telephone devices over the Internet, as claimed in claim 38, comprising the steps of: an owner of the first telephone device that enters the telephone. at least one symbol in the means for the introduction of the at least one symbol comprised within the first telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising an alphabetical host address of the means to send »receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and the first telephone device that connects to the second telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetical host address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device.

47. A method for establishing communication between a first and a second telephone device of the at least two telephone devices over the Internet, as claimed in claim 38, comprising the steps of: an owner of the first telephone device that enters the telephone. at least one symbol in the means for the introduction of the at least one symbol comprised within the first telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising: an Internet Protocol address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication included within the first telephone device; an Internet Protocol address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and a telephone number of the second telephone device; the first telephone device that connects over conventional telephone lines to the second telephone device, using the telephone number of the second telephone device; the first telephone device that transmits the address of the Internet Protocol of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first telephone device to the second telephone device over the conventional telephone lines; the first telephone device terminating the connection over the conventional telephone lines to the second telephone device; the first telephone device that connects to the second telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and the second telephone device that connects to the first telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first device. telephone.

48. A method for establishing communication between a first and a second telephone device of the at least two telephone devices over the Internet, as claimed in claim 38, comprising the steps of: an owner of the first telephone device that enters the telephone. at least one symbol in the means for the introduction of the at least one symbol comprised within the first telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising: an Internet Protocol address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication included in the first telephone device; an alphabetic host address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and a telephone number of the second telephone device; the first telephone device that connects over conventional telephone lines to the second telephone device, using the telephone number of the second telephone device; the first telephone device that transmits the address of the Internet Protocol of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first telephone device to the second telephone device over the conventional telephone lines; the first telephone device terminating the connection over the conventional telephone lines to the second telephone device; the first telephone device that connects to the second telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetic host address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and the second telephone device that connects to the first telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first device. telephone.

49. A method for establishing communication between a first and a second telephone device of the at least two telephone devices over the Internet, as claimed in claim 38, comprising the steps of: an owner of the first telephone device that introduces the at least one symbol in the means for the introduction of at least one symbol comprised within the first device. telephone, the at least one symbol comprising: an alphabetic host address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first telephone device; an Internet Protocol address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and a telephone number of the second telephone device; the first telephone device that connects over conventional telephone lines to the second telephone device, using the telephone number of the second telephone device; the first telephone device that transmits the alphabetic host address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first telephone device to the second telephone device over the telephone lines. conventional the first telephone device terminating the connection over the conventional telephone lines to the second telephone device; the first telephone device that connects to the second telephone device over the Internet, using the Internet Protocol address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and the second telephone device that connects to the first telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetical host address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first telephone device.

50. A method for establishing communication between a first and a second telephone device of the at least two telephone devices over the Internet, as claimed in claim 38, comprising the steps of: an owner of the first telephone device that enters the telephone. at least one symbol in the means for the introduction of the at least one symbol comprised within the first telephone device, the at least one symbol comprising: an alphabetic host address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication that does not be the audio communication included within the first telephone device; an alphabetic host address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and a telephone number of the second telephone device; the first telephone device that connects over conventional telephone lines to the second telephone device, using the telephone number of the second telephone device; the first telephone device that transmits the alphabetic host address of the means for sending, receiving, or for sending and receiving a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first telephone device to the second telephone device over the conventional telephone lines; the first telephone device terminating the connection over the conventional telephone lines to the second telephone device; the first telephone device that connects to the second telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetic host address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the second telephone device; and the second telephone device that connects to the first telephone device over the Internet, using the alphabetical host address of the means to send, receive, or to send and receive a communication other than the audio communication comprised within the first telephone device.