Dual-mode device for voice communication
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsTaavet Hinrikus, Gareth O'Loughlin, Liz Rice, Max Melchior
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A terminal for use in a voice communications system includes a base station and at least one handset arranged to communicate wirelessly with the base station. The base station includes a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network, the base station being arranged to selectively establish a packet data call from the first interface and a public switched telephone call from the second interface.
Claims20
A terminal for use in a voice communications system comprising:
- a base station configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one handset, the base station comprising:
- a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network;
- and
- a storage device configured to store contact information comprising contacts;
- and
- the base station configured to receive a selection of a contact stored in the storage device from the at least one handset, and to selectively establish a packet data call from said first interface or a public switched telephone call from said second interface for the selected contact based on characteristics of the call being established, and said packet data call comprising voice over internet protocol (VOIP) packets.
A terminal for use in a voice communications system comprising:
- a base station configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one handset, the base station comprising:
- a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network, said base station configured to selectively establish a packet data call from said first interface or a public switched telephone call from said second interface based on user input received from the at least one handset;
- a microprocessor configured to execute embedded client software to establish said packet data call, encode speech information as packet data for transmission from said first interface, and decode speech information from packet data received at said first interface, said packet data call comprising voice over internet protocol (VOIP) packets.
A terminal for use in a voice communications system comprising:
- a base station;
- and
- at least one handset arranged to communicate wirelessly with said base station;
- wherein the base station comprises a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network;
- wherein said base station comprises a storage device for storing contact information which is transmitted to the base station from a contact server connected to said packet data network;
- the handset has a user interface for selecting contacts from the contact information;
- and
- the base station is arranged to selectively establish one of a packet data call from said first interface and a public switched telephone call from said second interface based on preferences of a user for a selected contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.