Methods and devices for achieving parallel operation between IP and analog phones

An IP bridge phone in a data communications network, the IP bridge phone comprising:

• a phone handset interface adapted to receive a first voice signal from a phone handset and transmit a first mixed voice signal to the phone handset;
• an analog phone interface adapted to receive a second analog voice signal from at least one analog phone and transmit a second mixed voice signal to the at least one analog phone;
• a network interface adapted to receive, from the data communications network, a third voice signal from a call participant and transmit a third mixed voice data;
• a mixing module adapted to:
• generate the first mixed voice signals comprising the first voice signal, the second analog voice signal, and voice data;
• and
• transmit the one or more mixed voice signals to the phone handset, the at least one analog phone, and the call participant;
• wherein the phone handset and at least one analog phone are in parallel communication.

A method of operating an IP bridge phone in a data communications network in parallel with an analog phone, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving voice signals via a plurality interfaces, comprising:
• receiving a first voice signal from a phone handset via a phone handset interface;
• receiving a second voice signal from at least one analog phone via an analog phone interface;
• receiving a third voice signal from the data communications network via a network interface;
• generating a plurality of combined signals from the first voice signal, the second voice signal, and the third voice signal;
• and
• transmitting each of the plurality of combined signals to one of the plurality of interfaces;
• wherein the phone handset and at least one analog phone are in parallel communication.

An IP bridge proxy server in a data communications network, the IP bridge phone comprising:

• a network interface adapted to connect to:
• a call participant accessible via the data communications network;
• an IP phone handset;
• an IP-to-phone media gateway connected to at least one analog phone;
• a mixing module adapted to:
• receive a first voice signal from the phone handset, a second voice signal from the at least one analog phone, and a third voice signal from the call participant;
• generate a plurality of combined signals from the first voice signal, the second voice signal, and the third voice signal;
• and
• transmit the plurality of combined signals to the phone handset, the at least one analog phone, and the call participant;
• wherein the phone handset and at least one analog phone are in parallel communication.

An IP bridge phone in a data communications network, the IP bridge phone comprising:

• a phone handset interface adapted to connect to a phone handset;
• a network interface adapted to connect to:
• a call participant via the data communications network, and
• an IP-to-phone media gateway connected to at least one analog phone;
• and
• a mixing module adapted to:
• receive a first voice signal from the phone handset, a second voice signal from the at least one analog phone, and a third voice signal from the call participant;
• generate a plurality of combined signals from the first voice signal, the second voice signal, and the third voice signal;
• and
• transmit the plurality of combined signals to phone handset, the at least one analog phone, and the call participant;
• wherein the phone handset and at least one analog phone are in parallel communication.

An IP-to-phone media gateway in a data communications network, the gateway comprising:

• an analog phone interface adapted to connect to at least one analog phone;
• a network interface adapted to connect to:
• an IP phone, and
• a call participant via the data communications network, and
• a mixing module adapted to:
• receive a first voice signal from the IP phone, a second voice signal from the at least one analog phone, and a third voice signal from the call participant;
• generate a plurality of combined signals from the first voice signal, the second voice signal, and the third voice signal;
• and
• transmit the plurality of combined signals to IP phone, the at least one analog phone, and the call participant;
• wherein the IP phone and at least one analog phone are in parallel communication.

An IP-PBX in a data communications network, the IP-PBX comprising:

• a network interface adapted to connect to:
• an IP phone,
• an IP-to-phone media gateway connected to at least one analog phone, and
• a call participant via the data communications network, and
• a mixing module adapted to:
• receive a first voice signal from the IP phone, a second voice signal from the at least one analog phone, and a third voice signal from the call participant;
• generate a plurality of combined signals from the first voice signal, the second voice signal, and the third voice signal;
• and
• transmit the plurality of combined signals to IP phone, the at least one analog phone, and the call participant;
• wherein the IP phone and at least one analog phone are in parallel communication.

An Internet Protocol (IP) phone in a data communications network operably coupled to a remote call participant, the IP phone comprising:

• an interface to an analog telephonic connection adapted to operably couple a first phone;
• and
• a mixing module adapted to combine audio signals from the IP phone, the first phone, and the remote call participant;
• wherein the IP phone is adapted to enable audio communication between the remote call participant and the IP phone, the IP phone and the first phone in parallel, and the first phone.