Abstract: The cloud computing VoIP system includes a software as a service (SaaS) site and one or more additional sites. The SaaS site includes a gateway and a call manager and is coupled for communication across an IP network and the PSTN. The call manager includes a media monitoring module, a bypass module, a PSTN control module and a GUI module. The SaaS site handles and controls voice and video calls over the IP network and the PSTN for endpoints at the one or more additional sites. In another embodiment, the cloud computing VoIP system is also coupled to a cellular network and the endpoints include an associated cellular phone. The cloud computing VoIP system also includes a method for falling back to a secondary network, namely the cellular network, when there is insufficient quality on a primary network.

Abstract: A system, method and graphical user interface for determining a speaker's position and a generating a display showing the position of the speaker. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first speakerphone system and a second speakerphone system communicatively coupled to send and receive data. The speakerphone system comprises a display, an input device, a microphone array, a speaker, and a position processing module. The position processing module is coupled to receive acoustic signals from the microphone array. The position processing module uses these acoustic signals to determine a position of the speaker. The position information is then sent to other speakerphone system for presentation on the display.

Abstract: A system for exchanging information for improved call quality includes an exchange engine for switching between networks or communication channels and a monitoring module for determining quality of communication over a network or communication channels and initiating switching in response to poor call quality. The monitoring module may be responsive to input from the user or to call quality as determined for example by statistical measurement. The exchange engine identifies the network or communication channel in use for the current call; determines the call quality for a second network or communication channel not being used for the current call; determines whether call quality of the second network is better than the first network; and switches the current call between a first user and the second user from the first network to the second network if the call quality of the second network is better than the first network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing PBX functionality to a mobile phone includes a private branch exchange having a mobile phone proxy. A call control path is established between the mobile phone and a private branch exchange. The call control path is a direct trunk line, a mobile voice network, an IP data network, a mobile data network or a 4G network. The private branch exchange receives a request to perform the PBX function. The private branch exchange uses the call control path to perform the PBX function.

Abstract: A system and for exchanging information to enable embodiment IP communication comprises a first endpoint corresponding to a first user, a second endpoint corresponding to a second user, and an information exchange (PURLX) unit. The PURLX unit comprises: a processor, a table and a phone URL exchange engine. The processor is configured for communication over the communications channel with a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The table stores information about the first user and the second user including a first association between the first user and one or more endpoint device addresses and a second association between the second user and one or more endpoint device addresses. The table is coupled for communication with the processor. The exchange engine establishes IP communication between the first user and the second user using information from the table.

Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.

Abstract: A system and method for falling back to a secondary network when there is insufficient quality on a primary network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a call manager has a media monitoring module, a bypass module, a PSTN control module and a GUI module. Once a call has been established between endpoints using a primary IP network, the media monitoring module monitors for degradation in call quality. If degradation in call quality is detected, the GUI module presents an interface to the user that allows selection of the secondary network or the primary IP network for continuation of the call. If the user selected the secondary network, the bypass module is activated to transfer the data communication to a secondary network such as a PSTN while the call control continues to be over the primary network.

Abstract: A system and method for using a PSTN as a fallback for the IP media when the IP network cannot pass the media acceptably and while continuing to use the IP network for call control and other features. In one embodiment, a call controller has a media monitoring module, a bypass module and a PSTN control module. Once a call has been established between endpoints using a primary IP network, the media monitoring module monitors for degradation in call quality. If degradation in call quality is detected, the bypass module transfers the data communication to a secondary network such as a PSTN while the call control continues to be over the primary network. The present invention also includes a variety of methods including a method for falling back to a secondary network and a method for dynamically switching between a primary and a secondary network to ensure call quality.

Abstract: A computer system (a method) for exchanging information such as a Universal Resource Locator (URL) or a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) over a communication channel in general and over a telephone communications channel in particular in a unified communications system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a phone URL exchange unit configured to receive a phone URL exchange request from a first endpoint, to determine the URL to be sent and URL encoding method based on the request, to encode the URL into audio data or as a part of the communications control signals using the URL encoding method and to send the encoded data to a second endpoint over the telephone communications channel. The phone URL exchange unit is further configured to receive audio data or the communications control signals embedded with a URL and to decode the received data to reveal the URL.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a speaker's position and a generating a display showing the position of the speaker. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first speakerphone system and a second speakerphone system communicatively coupled to send and receive data. The speakerphone system comprises a display, an input device, a microphone array, a speaker, and a position processing module. The position processing module is coupled to receive acoustic signals from the microphone array. The position processing module uses these acoustic signals to determine a position of the speaker. The position information is then sent to other speakerphone system for presentation on the display. In one embodiment, the position processing module comprises an auto-detection module, a position analysis module, a tracking module and an identity matching module for the detection of sound, the determination of position and transmission of position information over the network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing PBX functionality to a mobile phone includes a private branch exchange having a mobile phone proxy. A call control path is established between the mobile phone and a private branch exchange. The call control path is a direct trunk line, a mobile voice network, an IP data network, a mobile data network or a 4G network. The private branch exchange receives a request to perform the PBX function. The private branch exchange uses the call control path to perform the PBX function.

Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.

Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.

Abstract: A button box provides additional keys that can be used in conjunction with a telephone. In one embodiment, a button box is configured by associating it with a telephone and by programming its keys. When a key on the button box is activated, a key press event is sent from the button box to the associated phone. The phone treats the key press event as if a key on the phone itself had been activated and forwards the event to the voice switch appliance associated with the phone. (Alternatively, the key press event is sent from the button box directly to a voice switch appliance.) The button box's user interface is controlled by a voice switch appliance.

Abstract: The cloud computing VoIP system includes a software as a service (SaaS) site and one or more additional sites. The SaaS site includes a gateway and a call manager and is coupled for communication across an IP network and the PSTN. The call manager includes a media monitoring module, a bypass module, a PSTN control module and a GUI module. The SaaS site handles and controls voice and video calls over the IP network and the PSTN for endpoints at the one or more additional sites. In another embodiment, the cloud computing VoIP system is also coupled to a cellular network and the endpoints include an associated cellular phone. The cloud computing VoIP system also includes a method for falling back to a secondary network, namely the cellular network, when there is insufficient quality on a primary network.

Abstract: A computer system (a method) for exchanging information such as a Universal Resource Locator (URL) or a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) over a communication channel in general and over a telephone communications channel in particular in a unified communications system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a phone URL exchange unit configured to receive a phone URL exchange request from a first endpoint, to determine the URL to be sent and URL encoding method based on the request, to encode the URL into audio data or as a part of the communications control signals using the URL encoding method and to send the encoded data to a second endpoint over the telephone communications channel. The phone URL exchange unit is further configured to receive audio data or the communications control signals embedded with a URL and to decode the received data to reveal the URL.

Abstract: A system and method for falling back to a secondary network when there is insufficient quality on a primary network is disclosed. The present invention uses a PSTN as a fallback for the IP media when the IP network cannot pass the media acceptably and while continuing to use the IP network for call control and other features. In one embodiment, a call manager has a media monitoring module, a bypass module, a PSTN control module and a GUI module. Once a call has been established between endpoints using a primary IP network, the media monitoring module monitors for degradation in call quality. If degradation in call quality is detected, the GUI module presents an interface to the user that allows selection of the secondary network or the primary IP network for continuation of the call. If the user selected the secondary network, the bypass module is activated to transfer the data communication to a secondary network such as a PSTN while the call control continues to be over the primary network.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a speaker's position and a generating a display showing the position of the speaker. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first speakerphone system and a second speakerphone system communicatively coupled to send and receive data. The speakerphone system comprises a display, an input device, a microphone array, a speaker, and a position processing module. The position processing module is coupled to receive acoustic signals from the microphone array. The position processing module uses these acoustic signals to determine a position of the speaker. The position information is then sent to other speakerphone system for presentation on the display. In one embodiment, the position processing module comprises an auto-detection module, a position analysis module, a tracking module and an identity matching module for the detection of sound, the determination of position and transmission of position information over the network.

Abstract: A system and method for falling back to a secondary network when there is insufficient quality on a primary network is disclosed. The present invention uses a PSTN as a fallback for the IP media when the IP network cannot pass the media acceptably and while continuing to use the IP network for call control and other features. In one embodiment, a call controller has a media monitoring module, a bypass module and a PSTN control module. Once a call has been established between endpoints using a primary IP network, the media monitoring module monitors for degradation in call quality. If degradation in call quality is detected, the bypass module is activated to transfer the data communication to a secondary network such as a PSTN while the call control continues to be over the primary network. The present invention also includes a variety of methods including a method for falling back to a secondary network and a method for dynamically switching between a primary and a secondary network to ensure call quality.

Abstract: The number of holes that are opened in a firewall for internet telephony is limited to a first hole used for call control and a second hole used for audio traffic. Fixed destination ports for telephony traffic and call control traffics are created at a destination. Media streams are received at the telephony fixed destination port. The source of each media stream is commanded to provide a unique identifier for each media stream arriving at the destination from each source. Each media stream is identified by a unique identifier provided by the source. The unique identifier for each media stream is communicated to the destination by each source over call control. All telephony traffic is received only at the fixed destination port or telephony and all call control is received only at the fixed destination port for call control.