Apparatus for selectively connecting a telephone to a telephone network or the internet and methods of use

A method of selectively coupling an analog telephone circuit to either a telephone network or an Internet telephony service, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus adapted to be coupled to a PC, an analog telephone circuit, and a telephone network, the apparatus including an interface, a DTMF interface circuit and a switch coupled to the telephone and the DTMF interface circuit, the switch having a first position wherein the telephone is coupled to the telephone network and a second position wherein the telephone is coupled to the interface, the switch responsive to detection of a predetermined sequence of DTMF digits by the DTMF interface circuit;
• coupling the apparatus to a PC, an analog telephone circuit, and the telephone network;
• and
• if it is desired to connect to the telephone network, dialing a telephone number while the switch is in the first position;
• if it is desired to place an Internet-based telephone call, entering the predetermined sequence of DTMF digits to cause the switch to move to the second position.

A telephone comprising:

• a jack adapted to be coupled to a telephone network;
• an analog telephone circuit;
• a microprocessor;
• a modem coupled to the microprocessor;
• and
• a switching circuit having a first position wherein the analog telephone circuit is coupled to the jack for transmitting and receiving analog voice signals over the telephone network, and a second position wherein the analog telephone circuit is coupled to the jack through the microprocessor and modem for transmitting digitized voice signals over the Internet.

A method of selectively coupling an analog telephone circuit to either a telephone network or an Internet telephony service, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus adapted to be coupled to a telephone line, the apparatus including a jack, an analog telephone circuit, a microprocessor, a modem, and a switching circuit, the switching circuit having a first position wherein the analog telephone circuit is coupled to the jack for transmitting and receiving analog voice signals over the telephone network, and a second position wherein the analog telephone circuit is coupled to the jack through the microprocessor and modem for transmitting digitized voice signals over the Internet;
• coupling the jack to the telephone line;
• and
• if it is desired to connect to the telephone network, dialing a telephone number while the switching circuit is in the first position;
• if it is desired to place an Internet-based telephone call, actuating the switching circuit to cause the switching circuit to move to the second position.

A module for selectively using a telephone to place calls via the Internet or PSTN network, the module comprising:

• a first jack adapted to be coupled to an analog telephone;
• a second jack adapted to be coupled to a telephone network;
• a microprocessor;
• a modem coupled to the microprocessor;
• and
• a switching circuit having a first position wherein first jack is coupled to the second jack for transmitting and receiving analog voice signals from an analog telephone over the telephone network, and a second position wherein the first jack is coupled to the second jack through the microprocessor and modem for transmitting digitized voice signals over the Internet.

A method of selectively coupling an analog telephone to either a telephone network or an Internet telephony service, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus adapted to be coupled to an analog telephone via a first jack and a telephone line via a second jack, a microprocessor, a modem, and a switching circuit, the switching circuit having a first position wherein the first jack is coupled to the second jack for transmitting and receiving analog voice signals from an analog telephone over the telephone network, and a second position wherein the first jack is coupled to the second jack through the microprocessor and modem for transmitting digitized voice signals over the Internet;
• coupling the first jack to a telephone;
• coupling the second jack to a telephone line;
• and
• if it is desired to place a telephone call using the telephone network, dialing a telephone number while the switching circuit is in the first position;
• and
• if it is desired to place an Internet-based telephone call, actuating the switching circuit to cause the switching circuit to move to the second position.