Real-time audio/video communication method for use on the internet and device therefor

A communication method used by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) connecting sending and receiving terminals in real-time in an Internet communications system in which the ISP is connected between the sending and receiving terminals, the method comprising:

• checking whether or not the receiving terminal is connected to the Internet through a subscriber's database to create a homepage in which a network connection status of the receiving terminal is indicated;
• registering the ISP Internet Protocol (IP) address if the receiving terminal is not connected, and registering an IP address assigned to the receiving terminal if the receiving terminal is connected;
• initiating a communication start-up protocol to connect the sending terminal with a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and at the same time calling a telephone number of the corresponding receiving terminal if an IP address registered in the created homepage is decoded and called by a web-browser of the sending terminal;
• and
• connecting a receiving terminal and a digital communications channel to transmit a standard video/audio protocol to the receiving terminal if video/audio communication is requested from the sending terminal during the telephone call.

An internet communication system enabling communication between a sending device and a receiving device, said system comprising:

• an ISP connected to said sending and receiving devices and operable to determine whether said receiving device is in a state whereby it can receive a communication from said sending device via the internet, and further operable to register an IP address of said receiving device if said receiving device can receive said communication from said sending device and register an IP address of said ISP if said receiving device cannot receive said communication from said sending device;
• said system further comprising:
• a homepage controllable by said receiving device and said ISP, wherein the homepage comprises connection status information of said receiving device and is accessible by said sending device, and
• if said ISP has registered the IP address of the receiving device, a connection is immediately established between the receiving device and the sending device so the sending device can transmit said communication to said receiving device, and
• if the ISP has registered the IP address of the ISP, and said sending device has indicated within the homepage that a connection to the receiving device is desired, the ISP requests a connection with said receiving device, then
• only if the receiving device responds to said request indicating that a connection is desired, a connection is established between the receiving device and the sending device so the sending device can transmit said communication to said receiving device.

A method for conducting real-time communication between sending and receiving terminals in a communications system in which an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is connected between the sending and receiving terminals, the method comprising:

• determining if the receiving terminal has an established communication channel with the ISP;
• creating a homepage at the ISP operable to indicate a connection status of the receiving terminal based on a result of said determining;
• maintaining, in said homepage, an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the ISP if the receiving terminal does not have an established communication channel with the ISP, and maintaining an IP address assigned to the receiving terminal if the receiving terminal does have an established communication channel with the ISP;
• establishing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection between the sending terminal and the ISP;
• and
• initiating a telephone call by using the IP address that is registered in the created homepage, wherein the telephone call is a VoIP call directly between the sending terminal and the receiving terminal if the IP address of the receiving terminal is maintained in the homepage, and the telephone call is between the ISP and a regular telephone associated with the receiving terminal if the IP address of the ISP is maintained in the homepage.