Google Inc. v. Rockstar Consortium US LP et al

Filing 134

MOTION for Issuance of Letters Rogatory to the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, Canada for Nortel Networks Corporation, Jean-Pierre Fortin, Angela de Wilton, Jaspreet Harit, Yee-Ning Chan, Brian Finlay Beaton, Bruce Dale Stalkie, Mitch A. Brisebois, Laura A. Mahan, Paul Michael Brennan, Brian Cruickshank, and John Eric Lumsden filed by Google Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A to Google's Notice of Unopposed Motion and Motion for Issuance of Letter Rogatory, # 2 Declaration of Kristin J. Madigan In Support of Google's Unopposed Motion for Issuance of Letter Rogatory, # 3 Exhibit 1, # 4 Exhibit 2, # 5 Exhibit 3, # 6 Exhibit 4, # 7 Exhibit 5, # 8 Exhibit 6, # 9 Exhibit 7, # 10 Exhibit 8, # 11 Exhibit 9, # 12 Exhibit 10, # 13 Exhibit 11, # 14 Exhibit 12, # 15 Exhibit 13, # 16 Exhibit 14, # 17 Exhibit 15, # 18 Exhibit 16, # 19 Exhibit 17, # 20 Exhibit 18, # 21 Exhibit 19, # 22 Exhibit 20, # 23 Exhibit 21, # 24 Proposed Order)(Curran, Patrick) (Filed on 9/29/2014) Modified on 9/30/2014 (cpS, COURT STAFF).

EXHIBIT 16

US006853713B1

(12) United States Patent

(10) Patent N0.:

Fobert et al.

(54)

US 6,853,713 B1

(45) Date of Patent:

Feb. 8, 2005

CLIENT-SERVER NETWORK FOR

EP

0829995 A2

3/1998

MANAGING INTERNET PROTOCOL VOICE

EP

0 844 799 A2

5/1998

H04M/3/38

PACKETS

W0

2/1999

........... .. G06F/3/00

WO 99/05590

.......... .. H04M/3/00

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

(75) Inventors: Joseph Fobert, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Srivallipuranandan Navaratnam,

DuXbury, David, Backhouse, Rob, Head, Mike, et al., “Call

Durham, NC (US); Patrick James
Dagert, Raleigh, NC (US); Steve John

nications Engineering, vol. 18, pp. 165—173, Oct. 1999,

McKinnon, Cary, NC (US)

XP—000877997.

Centres in BT UK Customer Service,” British Telecommu

Kagata, Shun, “‘Number Display’ Changes the World of
Telecommunications,” NTT RevieW, vol. 10, No. 2, pp.
20—25, Mar. 1998, XP—000740447.

(73) Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent

(CA)
(*)

Notice:

ZellWeger, Polle T., Terry, Douglas B., and SWinehart,

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35

Applications,” Washington, IEEE Comp. Soc. Press, US,

U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

vol. Conf. 2, Santa Clara, pp. 160—168, Mar. 1988,

Daniel C., “An OvervieW of the Etherphone System and its
XP—000617541.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/466,619
(22) Filed:

* cited by examiner

Dec. 17, 1999

Primary Examiner—F an Tsang

(51)

Int. Cl.7 ............................................... .. H04M 1/56

(52)

US. Cl. .......................... .. 379/142.17; 379/373.01;

(58)

Field of Search ..................... .. 379/373.01, 142.17,

370/356

379/20101, 88.19, 88.21, 93.01, 88.17,
100.05, 88.2, 88.14; 370/356
(56)

References Cited
*

7/1996 Robinson et al. ...... .. 379/88.25
9/1997 Bannister et al. ......... .. 379/201

5,875,239 A *

2/1999 Koralewski et al.

5,946,381 A

8/1999

*

379/142.15

Danne et al. ........ .. 379/142.07

5,946,386 A

*

6,141,341

*

10/2000

6,243,448 B1 *

6/2001

6,282,269 B1 *

8/2001 BoWater et al.

A

8/1999 Rogers et al. ..

6,539,077 B1 * 3/2003
6,636,596 B1 * 10/2003

Jones et al.

.....

379/265.09
. . . . . . ..

Corbett et al. .... ..

A1

*

9/2002

370/352

.. 379/93.35

.. 379/88.17

Ranalli et al. ........... .. 379/67.1
Gallant et al. ....... .. 379/220.01

2001/0043687 A1 * 11/2001 TidWell et al. ..
2002/0122072

Selker

.. ... .. ... ..

379/110.01
. . . ..

345/834

2002/0147696 A1 * 10/2002 Acker et al. ................. .. 707/1

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
DE

19644210 A1

4/1997

.......... .. H04M/3/42

24

12
CALL
SERVER

VOICE
MAIL

STORAGE
DEV ICE

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—WithroW & Terranova,
PLLC

(57)

ABSTRACT

Aclient-server netWork for managing internet protocol voice
data packets includes a client terminal, for receiving internet
protocol voice data packets; a graphical display, for con
veying information to a client terminal user; a client terminal

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,533,102 A
5,668,862 A

Assistant Examiner—Olisa AnWah

1811

controller, for controlling the client terminal; a terminal
proXy server, responsive to the internet protocol voice data

packets, for sending synchronized signals to the client
terminal and the client terminal controller to notify a client
terminal user of the voice data packets, the client terminal

controller, in response to the synchronized signal, adapted to
retrieve information about the incoming caller and convey
the information to the client terminal user on the graphical

display; and a graphical user interface, displayed on the

graphical display, for receiving instructions from the client
terminal user, the client terminal controller, in response to
instructions received from the user through the graphical
user interface, adapted to perform at least one data manipu
lation task on the voice data packets.

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets

U.S. Patent

m

US 6,853,713 B1

8,

Q.
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(.5 3.5m9.5» “20.

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U.S. Patent

Feb. 8,2005

Sheet 6 0f 11

.340

Em>w

H

US 6,853,713 B1

U.S. Patent

Feb. 8,2005

cALL SERVER
NOTT Fl ES TPS
OF INcoMING
cALL

Sheet 9 0f 11

US 6,853,713 B1

{40

50

l

TPs
SIGNALS

-

/
,

cALL SERvER

T?ssE'iol'l??

‘"42

To CONNECT

SIMULTANEOUS

SIGNALS TO

i7

CLIENT TERMINAL

V

'

44

TPS SIGNALS

OLIENT

TERMINAL

TERMINAL CONTROLLER

'ggllggtlggl

PERFORMS QUERY To —(>@

ADDRESS BOOK 1 LDAP

i

'

OF CALL STATUS

/““’

TERMINAL CONTROLLER

B

PROMPTS uSER _vIA
GUI To MANAGE

,

INCOMING cALL

(ANSWERNOICEMAIL. _9©
MONITOR. IGNORE)

l

/48

TERMINAL coNTROLLER

INSTRucTS TPS

Y

To RESPOND;
CONNECT OR NOT

l N

54

STOP NOTIFYING
CLIENT TERMINAL /
DON'T SIGNAL
CALL SERVER

52
/

Fig .9

U.S. Patent

Feb. 8,2005

Sheet 10 0f 11

US 6,853,713 B1

TERMINAL

CONTROLLER
RECEIVES LDAP

56

REPLY-DISPLAY
CALLER INFOR

MATIQN

58..__-

UPDATE

ADDRESS
BOOK

No

——-c®

Yes

TERMINAL
6O "4‘

CONTROLLER
UP DATES
ADDRESS

800K

FiqJO

U.S. Patent

Feb. 8,2005

Ki)

Sheet 11 0f 11

US 6,853,713 B1

._____l

TERMINAL

62 \ CONTROLLER
TRANSFERS
CALL TO
voIcE MAIL

54

6\

MESSAGE

TPS SENDS

NOTIFYING
CLIENT
TERMINAL

STATUS
SIGNAL 'ro
TERMINAL
CONTROLLER

TPS CONNECTS
SPEECH PATH

CONTROLLER

TO CLIENT

TERMINAL/MUTE

TPS
68 N ESTABLISHES
CONFERENCE
CALL WITH
VOICE MAIL
'

l
7° *4

r,’

MAIL

TPS STOPS
\

5

72

M3822?

TPS JOINS

VOICE MAIL

CONFERENCE
CALL

TERMINAL

r74

H76

seuns SIGNAL

T0 TPS TO

ANSWER CALL

TPS SENDS
SIGNAL To
CALL SERVER
To DROP
VOICE MNL
FROM

CONFERENCE

__78

US 6,853,713 B1
1

2

CLIENT-SERVER NETWORK FOR
MANAGING INTERNET PROTOCOL VOICE
PACKETS

information for the user and through a graphical user inter
face responsive to the user, the client terminal controller
performs at least one call management task on the incoming

voice data packets.
This invention results from the further realiZation that a
voice mail message can be monitored in real time and even

TECHNICAL FIELD

interrupted as the message is being left by a caller by
establishing a conference call With the voice mail storage
device and the caller and dropping the voice mail storage

This invention relates generally to internet telephony, and
more particularly to an internet telephony netWork for

managing voice packet data.

10

BACKGROUND ART

Internet Protocol (IP) telephony is the process of convert
ing voice into data packets for transmission on a data
netWork such as a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet 15

Protocol (TCP/IP) or similar type netWork. The advantage of
IP telephony over conventional, dedicated line telephone
netWorks is that instead of relying on a physical telephone
link and an associated telephone number identifying that

aging IP voice data packets. There is a client terminal for
receiving IP voice data packets from a caller and a graphical
display for conveying information to a client terminal user.
A client terminal controller controls the client terminal. A
terminal proxy server, responsive to internet protocol control

data packets, simultaneously sends synchroniZed signal to
the client terminal to and the client terminal controller to
notify a client terminal user of the incoming voice data
packets. The client terminal controller, in response to the
terminal proxy server, retrieves information about the
incoming caller and conveys the information to the client
terminal user on the graphical display. A graphical user

physical link to establish a connection, an IP address directs

the call to the appropriate IP device. Moreover, although

compatible With the existing Publicly SWitched Telephone
NetWork (PSTN) such that local IP telephony netWorks can
receive calls from the PSTN accompanied by the proper

conversion device, IP telephony takes advantage of existing

device from the call should the user Wish to ansWer the call.
The invention features a client-server netWork for man

interface is provided for receiving instructions from the
25

data netWorks such that long distance telephone calls can be
made over the internet Without incurring long distance

charges.

client terminal user. The client terminal controller, in
response to the instructions received from the user through
the graphical user interface, performs at least one call

management task on the incoming voice data packets.

Accordingly, IP telephony, particularly in business
applications, has become increasingly popular, and tele
phones have been expressly designed for use With internet
protocol. Conventional telephones, With the assistance of a
station gateWay that converts the voice signals to data
packets, can also communicate using internet protocol.
Some IP telephone sets provide a small graphical display for
the user’s bene?t, hoWever, many do not. Therefore, the

The client-server netWork can include a database from

Which the client terminal controller retrieves the informa
tion. The database can include an address book database or

the database can include a LightWeight Directory Access
Protocol server. The client terminal can include an IP
35

telephone, a set top box or a personal computer. The client
terminal can also include an IP gateWay, for converting voice

amount of information available to a user to identify the

data packets to voice signals and a telephone for receiving
the voice signals. The graphical display can include a

person calling before the user takes the call is very limited.

television screen or a computer screen display.

Typical telephone appliance displays provide at most a
telephone number of the calling party and identify on Which
line the incoming call is received. Moreover, the information

40

available to a user (if any) With respect to the incoming call
is extremely limited partially due to the reduced, even lack
of, graphical display, but even more so due to the limited

intelligence these IP telephony devices have, further limiting

45

the type, amount and manner in Which the information can

be displayed.

device, establishing a speech path betWeen the client termi

Accordingly, because IP telephony is limited in the

nal and the voice mail storage device or dropping the voice
mail storage device from the conference.

amount of information that can be conveyed to a user

regarding a caller, management of calls, e.g. taking a call,

The invention features still further a method of automati

sending a call to voice mail, and even ignoring a call, is not

effectively accomplished. Indeed, even With caller ID
readily available making it possible to determine Who is
calling or being sent to voice mail, there is no Way to
monitor the remotely located voice mail to listen to the
message as it is being left by the caller.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention results from the realiZation that a
truly effective client server IP netWork for managing voice
packet data can be achieved in Which a terminal proxy
server, in response to an incoming IP telephone call, simul

taneously sends synchroniZed signals to a client terminal and
to a client terminal controller notifying a user of the incom

ing call. The client terminal controller, in response thereto,
retrieves information about the incoming caller, displays the

The present invention also features a method of monitor
ing a voice mail message. The method includes sending an
incoming telephone call addressed to a client terminal to a
voice mail storage device and establishing a conference call
betWeen the client terminal and the voice mail storage
device.
The method can include muting the conference call
betWeen the client terminal and the voice mail storage

55

cally updating an address book database. The method
includes determining from an incoming telephone call the
address of the incoming telephone call and searching a
lightWeight directory access protocol server for information

corresponding to the address of the incoming telephone call,
retrieving from the lightWeight directory access protocol
server the information corresponding to the address of the

incoming telephone call and doWnloading the retrieved
information to an address book database.

The method can further include searching the address
book database for information corresponding to the address

of origin prior to searching the lightWeight directory access
protocol server. The lightWeight directory access protocol
65 server can be located Within a data netWork.

The invention also features a client-server netWork for

managing IP voice data packets. There is a client terminal

US 6,853,713 B1
3

4

for receiving IP voice data packets from a caller and a

to originate, ansWer and manage telephone calls from a

graphical display for conveying information to a client

personal computer, automatically access a LightWeight
Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server to automatically

terminal user. A client terminal controller controls the client
terminal and a terminal proxy server, responsive to internet

update an address book database, and monitor and screen
voice mail messages While they are being recorded, as Well
as interrupt voice mail messages to speak With the caller.
There is shoWn in FIG. 1 a netWork generally designated

protocol control data packets, sends a signal to the client
terminal controller to notify a client terminal user of the

incoming voice data packets. The client terminal controller,
in response the terminal proxy server, retrieves information
about the incoming caller and conveys the information to the
client terminal user on the graphical display. A graphical

10 for managing voice packet data according to the present
invention. NetWork 10 can generally include a call server 12,

for sending and receiving telephone calls to and from

user interface is provided for receiving instructions from the
client terminal user. The client terminal controller, in

netWork 10, and a terminal proxy server (TPS) 14 for
controlling both call server 12 and a client terminal 16.
Client terminal 16 can include, for example, an internet

response to the instructions received from the user through
the graphical user interface, performs at least one call

management task on the incoming voice data packets.
It is therefore an object off the present invention to
provide a novel, effective client-server netWork for manag

15

can communicate using internet protocol. Also included
Within netWork 10 is a client terminal controller 18 that
communicates directly With TPS 14 to control and manage

ing voice data packets.
An object of the invention having been stated hereinabove
Which is achieved in Whole or in part by the present
invention, other objects Will become evident as the descrip
tion proceeds When taken in connection With the accompa
nying draWings as best described hereinbeloW.

voice data packets, not shoWn, Within netWork 10. As Will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art, TPS 14 is adapted
to communicate With client terminals 16 having varying

intelligence that operate on protocol types ranging from
stimulus (least intelligent, e.g., stationary gateWay) to func

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram generally depicting
the client server netWork for managing internet protocol
voice data packets according to the present invention;

tional (most intelligent, e.g., personal computer).
25

to a user through a graphical user interface 22 regarding an

incoming call. Graphical user interface 22 receives instruc
tions from a user for managing the incoming IP voice data

packet telephone call. Graphical display 20, for example, a
computer monitor for a personal computer or a television

screen used in conjunction With a television set top box, is

nal;
35

telephone calls Without going to the telephone. Client ter

computer;
40

minal controller 18 is also in communication With a data
netWork 24 such as the internet.
In operation, call server 12 receives an incoming tele

phone message, the call set-up signaling comprised of
control data packets, and translates the message into H.323
protocol. The H.323 protocol message contains a directory

includes a television set;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram, similar to FIG. 4, of another
embodiment of the present invention in Which the client

coupled to an intelligent device (e.g., the personal computer
or the set top box) thereby providing graphical user interface
capability and permitting much more information to be
conveyed to a user. This alloWs a user to effectively manage

terminal includes an internet protocol telephone and the
client terminal controller is incorporated Within a personal
FIG. 5 is a block diagram, similar to FIG. 4, of another
embodiment of the present invention in Which the client
terminal includes a television set top box and the display

In communication With client terminal controller 18 is a

graphical display 20 Which graphically conveys information

FIG. 2 is a block diagram, similar to FIG. 1, in Which a
client terminal controller and an address book are integrated
With the terminal proxy server;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram, similar to FIG. 2, in Which a
client terminal controller, a display, a graphical user inter
face and an address book are integrated into a client termi
FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of FIG. 1 of an
embodiment of the present invention in Which a client

protocol (IP) telephone, a cable television set top box having
telephony capability, or a personal computer, each of Which

45

terminal includes an internet protocol gateWay and a con

ventional telephone;

number and an address number for TPS 14. TPS 14 receives
the H.323 protocol message from call server 12 and trans
lates the message to a suitable application protocol, such as,

to manage incoming voice data packets according to the

for example UNISTIM, available from Nortel NetWorks,
Saint John Canada and MEGACO (Media GateWay Control
Protocol), Which is an industry standard protocol, available
from the Internet Engineering Task Force (an industry

present invention;

cooperative) just to name a couple, Which contains the

FIG. 7 is a representation of the graphical user interface
through Which a user instructs the client terminal controller

FIG. 8 is a representation, similar to FIG. 7, of an address

book address that can be automatically updated through a
LightWeight Data Access Protocol server;
FIG. 9 is a How chart generally demonstrating the opera
tion of the client server according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a How chart demonstrating the automatic

address of client terminal 16 as Well as other client
terminals, not shoWn. At the same time that TPS 14 converts
and sends the message to client terminal 16, TPS 14 converts
55 and sends a simultaneous message, typically in another

protocol such as Remote Method Invocation (RMI), to client
terminal controller 18. The application protocols above are
utiliZed merely to facilitate communication betWeen TPS 14
and client terminal 16 and betWeen TPS 14 and client
terminal controller 18, as Will be readily apparent to those

address book updating according to the present invention;
and
FIG. 11 is a How chart demonstrating the voice mail

skilled in the art, and therefore should not be vieWed as
limitations to the present invention as any suitable applica

monitoring feature of the client-server netWork according to
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
INVENTION

The netWork according to the present invention provides
the user of an internet protocol telephony device the ability

tion protocols, including vender speci?c protocols, can be
65

utiliZed in accordance With this invention.
TPS 14 sends the converted protocol messages simulta
neously so that client terminal 16 and client terminal con
troller 18 are synchroniZed; that is, there is no delay betWeen

US 6,853,713 B1
5

6

the time When client terminal controller 18 receives the
signal of an incoming call and When client terminal 16
receives the signal. In other Words, as client terminal 16
indicates to a user that there is a telephone call, for example

as personal information 30b Which can be obtained from the

user’s address book database 21 stored Within computer 18a
or from LDAP server 23 via data netWork 24.

Once the user has been noti?ed of the incoming call, the

by ringing, client terminal controller 18 generates graphical

user can choose to perform one or more call management

user interface 22 such as a pop-up WindoW Which appears on

tasks on the incoming call by clicking ANSWER 34a, Which
connects the telephone call to client terminal 16 (FIGS.
1—6), TAKE MESSAGE 34b, Which connects the call to
remote voice mail storage device 25 (FIGS. 1—6), or TAKE

graphical display 20 at the same time.
In response to the message from TPS 14 and based on

sender information contained Within the translated message

(e.g., the sender’s address), client terminal controller 18
retrieves information about the caller, identifying the caller.
The information retrieval can be accomplished by accessing

10

the user’s oWn address book database 21 or by querying a

LightWeight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server 23
via data netWork 24. The user can then manage the incoming 15

call, for example by ansWering the call (connecting the call
to client terminal 16), taking a message (connecting the call

MESSAGE & MONITOR 34c, Which connects the call to
voice mail storage device 25 and conferences the user into
voice mail to monitor the message as it is being left by the
caller.
Graphical user interface 22, in response to client terminal
controller 18, also indicates the status of an incoming call.
For example, if the user has placed an outgoing call, as

directly to a voice mail storage device 25 remote from client

indicated by WindoW 28b, the outgoing call can be placed on
hold to take an incoming call (WindoW 28c) and the status of

terminal 16), taking a message and monitoring the message,
or letting the phone ring until the caller is automatically

respective WindoWs 28b and 28c.

placed into voice mail. The user can also ansWer the call, and
place the neW call or an existing call on hold, or bypass voice

automatically be retrieved from address book database 21

each call is indicated as HELD 36b and ACTIVE 36c Within

Caller information 30a—30d, as shoWn in FIG. 8, can

mail and ignore the call (letting the incoming call ring With
no ansWer.)
Client terminal controller 18 and address book database
21, as shoWn in FIG. 2, can be integrated With TPS 14 While
display 20 and graphical user interface 22 are integrated
With client terminal 16. As shoWn in FIG. 3, hoWever, client

(FIGS. 1—6) When an incoming call is detected. Thus, the
25

user can enter important information 30b, for example
personal caller information, such that screen pop-up com
ments immediately convey information to the user about the
caller. Moreover, for ?rst time callers for Which no infor
mation exists Within address book database 21, the user can

terminal controller 18, display 20, address book database 21

automatically update address book database 21 to add the

and graphical user interface 22 can all be integrated into
client terminal 16.
In one embodiment of the present invention, as shoWn in
FIG. 4, client terminal 16 can include an internet telephone
set, for example an 12004 IP telephone available from Nortel

caller’s information such as information 30a, name 30c, and

NetWorks, Saint John, Canada, and client terminal controller

address 30d retrieved from LDAP server 23 (FIGS. 1—6).
Referring noW to FIG. 9, the signaling operation of
client-server netWork Will be described in greater detail. An
35

incoming IP telephone call signal (a message comprised of

40

a physical layer, an IP layer, a transmission control protocol
layer and an application layer) is ?rst detected by call server
12 (FIGS. 1—6), as described in Block 40. Call server 12
translates the message to H.323 protocol and in turn signals
TPS 14 (FIGS. 1—6). TPS 14, in response to control data

18 can be stored Within the memory of a personal computer

18a. Display 20 comprises a computer screen that displays
graphical user interface 22 Which can, for example, be a
WindoW-based program so that the user can manage the

incoming call, using a data input device such as keyboard
18a‘ to communicate With graphical user interface 22, as
desired.
In another embodiment of the present invention, as shoWn
in FIG. 5, client terminal 16 can include a cable television

set top box having telephony capability, and client terminal

packets contained in the application layer, translates the
message again, and simultaneously sends a UNISTIM pro
tocol signal to client terminal 16 (FIGS. 1—6) and an RMI

protocol signal to client terminal controller 18 (FIGS. 1—6),
45 as described in Block 42, to notify a user that there is an

incoming telephone call.

controller 18 is stored in memory Within cable television set

Client terminal controller 18 determines the address, or

top box 16. Set top box 16 is preferably of the type that

phone number, of the incoming call from the application
layer and queries address book database 21 (FIGS. 1—6),

enables access to data netWork 24 such as the internet and

that includes a data input device such as keyboard 16‘.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, as
shoWn in FIG. 6, client terminal 16 includes a stationary

searching for information corresponding to the address
detected. If no match is found, controller 18 queries LDAP

server database 23 (FIGS. 1—6) via data netWork 24 (FIGS.
1—6), as described in Block 44, to retrieve caller information,

gateWay 16a, Which converts conventional voice signals to
IP voice data packets, and conventional telephone 16b, such
as a touch tone or rotary dial phone.

searching LDAP server 23 for information corresponding to
55

An exemplary representation of graphical user interface
22 as displayed on display screen 20 is shoWn in FIG. 7. For

example, a user might be Working With a desk top applica
tion on personal computer 18a (FIG. 4). When an incoming
telephone call is detected (i.e., the control data packets), call
server 12 (FIGS. 1—6) signals TPS 14 (FIGS. 1—6) Which in
turn signals client terminal controller 18 (FIGS. 1—6). In
response, client terminal controller 18 generates graphical
user interface 22 using the intelligence of personal computer
18a, Which pops up on display 20. Graphical user interface
22 displays pop-up WindoW 28a Which includes information
30a such as the phone number of the incoming caller as Well

the address of the incoming telephone call.
Still referring to FIG. 9, client terminal controller 18, via
graphical user interface 22 (FIGS. 1—7), prompts the user to
respond to the incoming call, as described in Block 46. In
response to the user’s instructions, client terminal controller
18 instructs TPS 14 to connect the incoming call or not, as
described in Block 48. If the user chooses to connect the call
(i.e., ansWer the call, send the call to voice mail or send call

to voice mail and monitor voice mail), TPS 14 signals call
server 12 to connect the call, as described in Block 50, and
65

TPS 14 signals client terminal 16 to stop notifying the user

(e.g., stop phone from ringing), signals client terminal
controller 18 of the status 36 (FIG. 7) of the call and

US 6,853,713 B1
7

8

connects a voice path to client terminal 16 or voice mail

terminal controller 18 sends a signal to TPS 14 to ansWer the

storage device 25 (FIGS. 1—6), as described in Block 52. If
client terminal controller 18 signals TPS 14 not to connect,
TPS 14 signals client terminal 16 to stop notifying the user
and does not signal call server 12 at all, as described in
Block 54.
As discussed above, client terminal controller 18 per

call, as described in Block 74, and TPS 14 sends a signal to
call server 12 to drop voice mail storage device 25 from the
conference, as described in Block 78.
It Will be understood that various details of the invention

may be changed Without departing from the scope of the
invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the
purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of
limitation—the invention being de?ned by the claims.

forms a query to address book database 21 When an incom

ing call is detected. If the callers phone number is not found
in address book database 21, client terminal controller 18

10

What is claimed is:

sends a query to LDAP server 23 Within data netWork 24, as

1. A client-server netWork for managing internet protocol

described in Block 44, FIG. 9. Referring noW to FIG. 10,

voice data packets comprising:
(a) a client terminal, for receiving internet protocol voice

client terminal controller 18 (FIGS. 1—6) receives a reply
from LDAP server 23 (FIGS. 1—6) and displays the caller’s
information on display screen 20 (FIGS. 1—7) via graphical

data packets from a caller;
(b) a graphical display, for conveying information to a

user interface 22 (FIGS. 1—7), as described in Block 56. The

client terminal user;

user can then choose to update address book database 21

(c) a client terminal controller, for controlling the client

(FIGS. 1—7), as described in Block 58 by automatically
doWnloading LDAP reply information into address book

(d) a terminal proXy server, responsive to internet protocol

database 21. If the user chooses to update address book
database 21, client terminal controller 18 doWnloads the neW
information into address book database 21 as described in
block 60. Once the neW information has been added to
address book database 21, the user can manage the incoming
telephone call as discussed above and as described in Block

terminal;
control data packets, for sending synchroniZed signals
to the client terminal and the client terminal controller
to notify a client terminal user of the incoming voice
25

46, FIG. 9.
As discussed above, voice mail storage device 25 (FIGS.
1—6) is typically remote from client terminal 16. Thus, it
typically is not possible to determine Who is being sent to
voice mail or What voice mail message is being left, thereby
preventing call screening of the incoming call. While caller
ID features make it possible to determine Who is calling, it
still has not been possible to monitor the message being left
because voice mail storage device 25 is remote from the
user. HoWever, one aspect of the present invention permits

data packets, the client terminal controller, in response
to a synchroniZed signal, adapted to receive informa
tion about the incoming caller and convey the infor
mation to the client terminal user on the graphical

display; and
(e) a graphical user interface, for receiving instructions
from a client terminal user, the client terminal

controller, in response to the instructions received from
the user through the graphical user interface, adapted to
perform at least one call management task on the voice

data packet.
35

2. The client-server netWork of claim 1 in Which the call

management task includes connecting the voice data packets

a user to not only monitor the voice mail message in real
time as it is being left, but further alloWs a user to interrupt

to one of the client terminal and a voice mail storage device.

the messaging process to take the call.

a database and Wherein the client terminal controller is

As discussed above, client terminal controller 18 (FIGS.
1—6) prompts the user to manage the incoming call, as
described in Block 46, FIG. 9. Referring noW to FIG. 11, the

3. The client-server netWork of claim 1 further including
40

user chooses to send the call to voice mail storage device 25

(FIGS. 1—6) as described in Block 62 and client terminal
controller 18 sends a signal to TPS 14 (FIGS. 1—6) to
connect the call to voice mail, as described in Block 64. TPS

14 connects a speech path to client terminal 16 (FIGS. 1—6)
(e.g., an IP phone) and signals client terminal 16 to mute the
call (so that the caller cannot hear the user monitoring the
call), as described in Block 66. A conference call is then

established With voice mail storage device 25 (FIGS. 1—6)
through call server 12 (FIGS. 1—6), as described in Block 68,
and TPS 14 joins the call as described in Block 70. Once the
user is conferenced into voice mail storage device 25, the

adapted to retrieve the information from the database.
4. The client-server netWork of claim 3 in Which the
database comprises an address book.
5. The client-server netWork of claim 4 in Which the

database comprises a LightWeight Directory Access Proto
45

col server.

6. The client-server netWork of claim 1 in Which the client

terminal comprises an internet protocol telephone.
7. The client server netWork of claim 1 in Which the client
terminal comprises a set top boX.
8. The client server netWork of claim 7 in Which the
graphical display comprises a television screen.
9. The client-server netWork of claim 1 in Which the

graphical display comprises a computer screen display.
10. The client-server netWork of claim 9 in Which the

user monitors voice mail storage device 25 as described in 55 client terminal comprises a personal computer.

Block 72, thereby establishing a three Way call betWeen
client terminal 16, voice mail storage device 25 and the
incoming call, and TPS 14 sends a signal to client terminal
controller 18 to indicate the voice mail monitor status, as
described in Block 74. If the user, via graphical user

interface 22 (FIGS. 1—6), chooses to ansWer the call, client

11. The client-server netWork of claim 1 in Which the

client terminal comprises an internet protocol gateWay for
converting the voice data packets to voice signals and a

telephone for receiving the voice signals.
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