WO2001063861A1

WO2001063861A1 - Internet phone switching method and internet phone switching system

Info

Publication number: WO2001063861A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/000932
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kwang-Seob Shin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-25
Filing date: 2000-08-21
Publication date: 2001-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2002-08-25
Also published as: AU7454200A; CN1358384A; KR100404137B1; KR20000054413A

Abstract

An Internet switching service method uses an identifier which includes characters to be easily memorized, such as an email address or communications ID, as a unique identifier for phone call, fax transmission, or postal transmission. The Internet switching service method for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet (214) to make an Internet telephone call by using an ID of a receiver are achieved by (a) inputting the ID of a receiver who the subscriber wishes to communicate with, (b) searching a data base (202) where a plurality of IDs and communications address data of the IDs are previously stored, for communications address data corresponding to the IDs, (c) sending the searched communications address data to the subscriber, and (d) the subscriber performing a telephone call, a fascimile transmission or sending a post by using the searched communications address data. Also, the receiver of the post as another subscriber can modify his/her post receiving address registered on the data base by using the Internet switching service system to change his/her address to receive a post. Thus, the subscriber does not need to inform every subscriber who may send posts to him/her of the changed post receiving address.

Description

INTERNET PHONE SWITCHING METHOD AND INTERNET PHONE SWITCHING SYSTEM

Technical Field The present invention relates to an Internet switching service method and an Internet switching service system, and more particularly, to an Internet switching service method which enables telephone communications between users using Internet phones, web phones, or handsets for communications such as wire telephones and mobile telephones, and an Internet switching service system therefor.

Background Art

As a method for telephone communications through the Internet, as shown in FIGS. 1 A through 1C, there are Internet phone methods between computers, between a computer and a telephone, and between telephones.

Referring to FIG. 1A, in a conventional Internet phone method between computers, analog voice signals of a user speaking into a microphone connected to a sound card included in each of computers 102 and 104 at the sender's end are converted into digital voice data by the sound card. Next, the digital voice data is compressed and transmitted in packets to computers 110 and 112 at the receiver's end though the Internet. The voice date in packets is transmitted to the computers 110 and 112 via the Internet 106, sometimes through a directory server 108. The compressed digital voice data is decompressed by the computers 110 and 112 so that digital voice data is obtained. The obtained digital voice data is converted into analog signals and output to a speaker, thus performing Internet phone communications.

Also, referring to FIG. 1 B, according to a conventional Internet phone method between a computer and a telephone, a user accesses the Internet 124 using a computer 122 and has communications with an ordinary telephone 130 through a VoIP gateway 126 installed at a location near the receiver and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 128.

Also, referring to FIG. 1 C, according to a conventional Internet phone method between a telephone and another telephone, telephone communications are performed through an ordinary telephone 142, a local PSTN 144, Internet 146, a local PSTN 148, and an ordinary telephone 150 which are connected in such order. VoIP gateways 145 and 147 for connecting the networks and detecting signals are installed between the local PSTN 144 and the Internet 146, and the Internet 146 and the local PSTN 148, respectively. The VoIP gateways 145 and 147 serve as a gateway between the local PSTNs 144 and 148 and the Internet 146, respectively, and performs conversion of voice signals into digital data, compression of the converted digital data, and conversion of the compressed digital data into packet data which conform to an Internet protocol. Also, the VoIP gateways 145 and 147 decompress digital data received through the Internet 146 and convert the decompressed digital data into voice signals to be used in the PSTNs 144 and 148.

In the above conventional telephone communications methods using the Internet, it is inconvenient for the caller to know and input an IP address or a telephone number of a receiver to make a telephone call. In addition, even if the user knows the IP address or telephone number, since the receiver moves to other places and may use a different computer or telephone, it is not guaranteed that the user can always make telephone communications at the original IP address or telephone number. Also, it is inconvenient that the user must make a telephone call by remembering, or referring to a memo of, a plurality of telephone numbers of a single receiver.

Disclosure of the Invention To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Internet switching service method allowing extraction of a telephone or facsimile number or a post receiving address at which a receiver can receive a telephone call or a post through the Internet by using an ID unique to the receiver. Also, it is another object of the present invention to provide an

Internet switching service method which enables telephone communications through the Internet by the same conventional method by using the ID unique to a receiver when the number of a handset of the receiver has changed or a new number has been added. Also, it is yet another object of the present invention to provide an

Internet switching service method which can receive postal address data corresponding to the ID through the Internet by reading the ID from a predetermined position of a post, on which the ID of the receiver is written, using a text input means. Also, it is still another object of the present invention to provide an

Internet switching service system which enables telephone communications through the Internet by the same conventional method by using the ID unique to a receiver when the number of a handset of the receiver has changed or a new number has been added. Also, it is yet still another object of the present invention to provide an Internet switching service system which can receive postal address data corresponding to the ID through the Internet by reading the ID from a predetermined position of a post, on which the ID of the receiver is written, using a text input means. Accordingly, to achieve the above objects, there is provided an

Internet switching service method comprising the steps of (a) receiving an ID of a receiver which is sent by a subscriber, (b) searching a data base where a plurality of IDs and receiving address data of the IDs are previously stored, for receiving address data corresponding to the IDs, and (c) sending the searched receiving address data to the subscriber. It is preferred in the present invention that the ID is one selected from a group consisting of an email address or a communications ID.

To achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided an Internet switching service method for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet to make an Internet telephone call by using an ID of a receiver, which comprises the steps of (a) inputting the ID of a receiver who the subscriber wishes to communicate with, (b) searching a data base where a plurality of IDs and communications address data of the IDs are previously stored, for communications address data corresponding to the Ids, (c) sending the searched communications address data to the subscriber, and (d) the subscriber performing a telephone call, a facsimile transmission or sending a post by using the searched communications address data.

It is preferred in the present invention that the method further comprises a step of (e) when the telephone call is failed in the step (d), making telephone calls in order using telephone numbers having subsequent priorities.

Also, it is preferred in the present invention that the method further comprises a step of (p-a-1 ), prior to the step (a), receiving at least one communications address data of the subscriber through the Internet and mapping the received communications address data to an ID that the subscriber desires to store the ID and the communications address data mapped to the ID on a predetermined data base.

Also, it is preferred in the present invention that the communications address data is one selected from a group consisting of a telephone number and an IP address.

Also, it is preferred in the present invention that the step of (p-a-1 ) comprises a step of storing information on a computer-telephone integrated server managing telephone communications in each of areas together with communications address data corresponding to the ID on data base. Also, it is preferred in the present invention that the step (d) comprises a step of the subscriber performing telephone communications by using the searched communications address data through a computer- telephone integrated server having a VoIP gateway. To achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided an Internet switching service method for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet to make an Internet telephone call by using an ID of a receiver, which comprises the steps of (a) receiving a voice signal generated as the subscriber speaks the ID of a receiver with whom the subscriber wishes to communicate, (b) extracting the ID from the received voice signal by using a predetermined voice recognition method, (c) transmitting the extracted ID through a web server, (d) searching mapping data base included in a switching service providing server for communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on a computer-telephone integrated server managing an area of a receiver, and (e) transmitting the searched communications address data and the information on the computer-telephone integrated server through the web server.

To achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided an Internet switching service method for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet to make an Internet telephone call by using an ID of a receiver, which comprises the steps of (a) receiving dialing data generated as the subscriber dials the ID of a receiver with whom the subscriber wishes to communicate, (b) extracting the ID by decoding the received dialing data, (c) transmitting the extracted ID through a web server, (d) receiving the ID from a switching service providing server and searching data base for communications address data corresponding to the received ID and information on a computer-telephone integrated server managing an area of a receiver, and (e) transmitting the searched communications address data and the information on the computer-telephone integrated server through the web server.

To achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided an Internet switching service method comprising the steps of (a) a server computer of a post office inputting the ID of a receiver indicated on a predetermined outer portion of a post by using a character input means and transmitting the ID by using a web server included in the post office server computer through the Internet, (b) a switching service server receiving the ID through the Internet, (c) the switching service server searching data base where IDs of subscribers and post receiving address data corresponding to the IDs are previously stored, for post receiving address data corresponding to the received ID, and (d) transmitting the searched post receiving address data to the post office server computer.

To achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided an Internet switching service system for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet to make an Internet telephone call by using the ID of a receiver, which comprises a data base where a plurality of IDs and communications address data corresponding to the IDs are previously stored, and a switching service providing server for receiving an ID of a receiver that the subscriber transmits, searching the data base for communications address data corresponding to the ID, and transmitting the searched communications address data to the subscriber.

It is preferred in the present invention that the switching service providing server comprises a web server connected to the Internet for transmitting and receiving data, a new subscription management portion for receiving subscriber information from a new subscriber through the web server, assigning an ID and password to the new subscriber, and storing the subscπber information in a predetermined data base and managing the stored subscriber information, a subscriber approving portion for receiving the ID and password from a user connected to the web server and checking whether the user is a subscriber, a telephone number registration portion for inputting, adding, deleting and modifying a telephone number at which each subscriber wishes to receive a telephone call, and determining whether there is a change in a telephone number and the priority in telephone connection when the subscriber moves to another place or the telephone number has changed, and a receiver information providing portion for receiving an ID of a receiver and searching the data base and transmitting a number assigned by the receiver among the registered telephone numbers corresponding to the ID of the registered receiver through the web server when a caller tries to make a telephone call to the receiver, requesting input of a telephone number when the caller tries to make a telephone call to one who is not registered, and transmitting the telephone number input according to the request through the web server. Also, it is preferred in the present invention that the system further comprises a computer-telephone integrated server for performing voice guidance so that a subscriber using an ordinary telephone can connect the switching service providing server, receiving an ID of a receiver with whom the subscriber wishes to communicate and transmitting the received ID to the switching service providing server, and performing connection of telephone communications with the receiver according to the function of a predetermined VoIP gateway by using communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of the receiver. Also, it is preferred in the present invention that the computer- telephone integrated server comprises a voice guide portion for providing a voice guide message to a subscriber, a telephone connection requesting portion for requesting the communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of a receiver through the web server and receiving the communications address data and the information on the computer- telephone integrate server, a VoIP gateway for performing telephone communications by using the communications address data corresponding to the ID and the information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of a receiver, and a controller for controlling the voice guide portion to initialize voice guidance for the subscriber and the VoIP gateway to initialize voice communications.

Also, it is preferred in the present invention that the computer- telephone integrated server further comprises a voice recognition portion for receiving a voice signal generated as a subscriber speaks the ID of a receiver with who the subscriber wishes to communicate and extracting the ID from the received voice signal according to a predetermined voice recognition method.

Alternatively, the computer-telephone integrated server comprises a voice guide portion for providing a voice guide message to a subscriber, a decoding portion for decoding dialed data to extract an ID, a telephone connection requesting portion for requesting the communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of a receiver through the web server and receiving the communications address data and the information on the computer-telephone integrate server, a VoIP gateway for performing telephone communications by using the communications address data corresponding to the ID and the information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of a receiver, and a controller for controlling the decoding portion to initialize decoding of the dialed data of the subscriber and the VoIP gateway to initialize voice communications.

To achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided an Internet switching service system comprising a character input apparatus for reading the ID of a post receiver from a predetermined area of the post, a post office server for inputting the ID and transmitting the input ID through the Internet, data base where a plurality of IDs of post receivers and post receiving address data of the IDs are previously stored, and a switching service providing server for receiving the ID of a post receiver, searching the data base for post receiving address data corresponding to the ID, and transmitting the searched post receiving address data to the subscriber.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1A is a view for explaining a conventional Internet phone service method between computers;

FIG. 1 B is a view for explaining a conventional Internet phone service method between a computer and a telephone;

FIG. 1 C is a view for explaining a conventional Internet phone service method between telephones; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an Internet switching service system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a service providing server;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a CTI server adopting a voice recognition function;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a CTI server which can support a telephone handset provided with only English alphabet keys; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of an Internet switching service system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Best mode for carrying out the Invention

Referring to FIG. 2, an Internet switching service system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a data base 202 and a switching service providing server 204. The data base 202 contains a plurality of IDs (identifiers) and communications address data of the IDs. The switching service providing server 204 receives an ID unique to a receiver that a subscriber transmits, searches the data base 202 for communications address data corresponding to the ID, and sends the searched communications address data to the subscriber. The communications address data may include the number of a wired telephone, the number of a facsimile machine, or the number of a mobile phone. Also, when a telephone call through the Internet is made using wired telephones 206 and 210, or mobile phones (MS1 and MS2) 208 and 212, which are referred to as ordinary telephones, gateways for connecting the Internet 214 and PSTNs 216 and 218, or the Internet 214 and wireless networks 220 and 222 including local stations BS1 and BS2 are needed. The Internet switching service system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes computer-telephone integrated servers (CTI servers) 224 and 226 having a VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) function. Also, the CTI servers 224 and 226 are configured to control access to the switching service providing server 204 and to telephone communications. Also, when an ordinary telephone user accesses the Internet switching service system of the present invention, the CTI servers 224 and 226 receive the ID of a receiver who will receive voice guidance and communications or facsimile transmission and send the ID to the switching service providing server 204. The Internet switching service system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used when the computer 228 communicates with another computer 230 through the Internet 214, the wired telephone 206, the facsimile machine 207 or the mobile phone 208 communicates with anotherwired telephone 210, anotherfacsimile machine 211 or another mobile phone 2112 through the Internet 214, and a computer 228 communicates with the wired telephone 210, the facsimile machine 211 or the mobile phone 212 through the Internet 214.

Referring to FIG. 3, the switching service providing server 204 includes a web server 302, a new subscription management portion 304, a telephone number registration portion 306, a subscriber approving portion 308, and a receiver information providing portion 310. Also, referring to FIG. 3, the data base 202 includes a subscriber information data base 202a and a CTI server information data base 202b.

The new subscription management portion 304 receives information on a new subscriber through the web server 302 by the new subscriber connected to the Internet 214 using a computer or a web phone, provides the new subscriber with an ID unique to the new subscriber, and stores and manages the information on the new subscriber on the subscriber information data base 202a. That is, a subscriber inputs his/her communications address data through the Internet 200. The switching service providing server 204 receiving at least one communications address data of the subscriber maps the input communications address data to an ID that the subscriber wants, for example, an e-mail address or a communications ID and stores the ID and the communications address data mapped to the ID on the subscriber information data base 202a. Also, when the subscriber makes a telephone call to a receiver using the wired telephone 206 or the mobile phone 208, or sends a facsimile to the receiver using the facsimile machine 207, one should know where a gateway managing telephone communications in each area is located. Thus, when a subscriber wants to receive a telephone switching service through the wired telephones 206 and 210, the facsimile machines 207 and 211 or the mobile phones 208 and 212, information on the CTI servers 224 and 226 managing telephone communications in each area is preferably stored in the CTI server information data base 202b together with communications address data corresponding to the ID. Here, the communications address data may include wired telephone numbers, facsimile numbers or mobile phone numbers.

The telephone number registration portion 306 inputs, adds, deletes and modifies telephone numbers or facsimile numbers that the subscriber

5 wants to receive, and changes the telephone number and assigns the order of telephone connections when a telephone number for communications has changed, or there is a change in the location of the subscriber.

Next, the subscriber approving portion 308 receives an ID such as an e-mail address and a communications ID and a password from a usero connected to a server through the web server 302 and searches the subscriber information data base 202a to confirm whether the user connected to the server is one of approved subscribers. When the user connected to the server is confirmed to be one of approved subscribers, the subscriber approving portion 308 outputs a signal indicating approval of the5 user to the receiver information providing portion 310.

When the approved subscriber tries to connect to a receiver for telephone communications, the receiver information providing portion 310 receives the ID of the receiver from telephone connection requesting portions 406 and 506 of CTI servers 40 and 50 and searches the subscribero information data base 202a and the CTI server information data base 202b for the number designated by the receiver among the registered numbers corresponding to the telephone ID of the registered receiver and information on the receiver stored at the CTI server and send them through the web server. When there is a connection for telephone communications5 with a person who is not registered, the receiver information providing portion 310 requests the subscriber to input a telephone number of a receiver and transmits the input telephone number through the web server 302.

The switching service providing sever 204 receives the receiver's ID0 that a subscriber transmits, searches the subscriber information data base 202a for communications address data corresponding to the ID, and transmits the searched communications address data to the subscriber.

In the above Internet switching service system, an Internet switching method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, first, at least one communications address data of a subscriber is input through the Internet 200 and the input communications address data is mapped to one ID that a member wants so that the ID and the communications address data mapped to the ID are stored in data base 202.

When a subscriber makes a telephone call to a receiver using the wired telephone or the mobile telephone, or sends a facsimile to the receiver using the facsimile machine, as described above, there should be information about which area a gateway managing telephone communications belongs to. Accordingly, when a subscriber wants to receive a telephone switching service through a wired telephone or a mobile telephone, the information about the CTI server for managing telephone communications in each area is stored on the data base together with communications address data corresponding to the ID.

Next, the subscriber inputs the ID of a receiver who the subscriber wants to communicate with, for example, an e-mail address or communications ID of the receiver. The switching service providing server 204 searches the data base 202 where a plurality of IDs and communications address data of the IDs are previously stored for communications address data corresponding to the ID and sends the searched address data to the subscriber. The subscriber performs telephone communications using the searched communications address data. If the telephone communications fails, it is preferable that telephone communications is performed in order using telephone numbers having next priority.

When the subscriber wants to communicate or send a facsimile through the wired telephones 206 and 210, the mobile phones 208 and 212, or the facsimile machines 207 and 211 , he/she inputs the ID of a receiver who will receive a telephone call or facsimile transmission, for example, an e-mail address or communications ID of the receiver. In this case, the subscriber performs a telephone call using the searched communications address data, for example, a wired telephone number, a facsimile number or a mobile phone number, through a CTI server having a VoIP gateway. If the telephone call fails, it is preferable that telephone communications are performed in order using telephone numbers having subsequent priorities. The CTI servers 224 and 226 may include a voice recognition function. Referring to FIG. 4, the CTI server 40 includes a voice guiding portion 402, a voice recognition portion 404, the telephone requesting portion 406, a web server 408, a VoIP gateway 410, and a controller 412.

In the operation of the CTI server 40 having the above structure, the voice guiding portion 402 provides a subscriber with a voice guidance message. The subscπber speaks the ID of a receiver who the subscriber wants to talk with, such as an e-mail address or communications ID, according to the voice guidance message.

The voice recognition portion 404 receives a voice signal generated as the subscriber speaks the ID of the receiver and extracts the ID from the received voice signal according to a predetermined voice recognition method. A voice recognition technology is adopted and widely used as a guiding method to provide information in some companies, such as banks or security companies. The telephone connection requesting portion 406 requests communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on the CTI server managing the area where the receiver is located by transmitting the extracted ID through the web server 408.

The switching service providing server 204 searches the data base 202 connected thereto for the communications address data corresponding to the ID and the information on the CTI server managing the receiver's area, and transmits the searched data and information through the web server 302.

The telephone connection requesting portion 406 of the CTI server 40 receives the communications address data and the information on the CTI server through the web server 408.

The VoIP gateway 410 performs telephone communications using the communications address data corresponding to the ID and the information of the CTI server managing the area where the receiver is located. The controller 412 controls the voice guiding portion 402 to begin voice guidance for the subscriber and the VoIP gateway 410 to begin voice communications.

Meanwhile, the subscriber can perform telephone communications with a receiver using a telephone handset having alphabet input keys through the Internet. Referring to FIG. 5, the CTI server 50 includes a voice guiding portion 502, a decoding portion 504, a telephone connection requesting portion 506, a web server 508, a VoIP gateway 510, and a controller 512.

In the operation of the CTI server 50, the voice guiding portion 502 provides a voice guidance message to a subscriber. The subscriber dials the ID of a receiver using a telephone handset having alphabet input keys according to the voice guidance message. For example, the telephone handset is provide with 26 English alphabet input buttons, 10 numerical buttons and four special character buttons such as "@", ".", "*", and "#", making a total of 40 buttons. Also, the telephone handset is devised to be capable of converting English alphabet signals input by the subscriber to a combination of the general numbers (0~9) and the special characters that the CTI server 50 can recognize and outputting a signal. The telephone handset can be easily manufactured by one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Thus, e-mail addresses or IDs can be easily input using the above telephone handset.

The decoding portion 504 receives dialing data generated as the subscriber dials the ID of the receiver and decodes the dialing data to extract the ID. The telephone connection requesting portion 506 requests communications address data corresponding to the ID and information of the CTI server managing the area where the receiver is located by transmitting the extracted ID through the web server 508.

The telephone connection requesting portion of the CTI server (not shown) in a receiver's region with the same structure of the CTI server 50 receives the communications address data and the information on the CTI server 50 through the web server.

The VoIP gateway 510 performs telephone communications using the communications address data corresponding to the ID and the information of the CTI server managing the area where the receiver is located. The controller 512 controls the decoding portion 504 to begin decoding of dialing data of the subscriber, and controls the VoIP gateway 510 to begin voice communications.

The CTI servers 224, 226, 40 and 50 perform voice guidance so that a user using any ordinary telephone can access the service providing server 204, receive input of the ID of a receiver who the user wishes to make communications and send the received ID to the service providing server 204, and connect the telephone communications with a receiver according to the function of a predetermined VoIP gateway by using communications address data corresponding to the ID and information of the CTI server managing the area where the receiver is located.

Alternatively, a conventional wired telephone or mobile telephone may be used. That is, since the three English alphabet, including the dot ("."), are assigned to each of nine numeric buttons of the conventional wired telephone or mobile telephone, a subscriber presses numeric buttons (1 , 2, 3, ..., 0) and special function buttons (*, #, etc.) of the conventional telephone based on a predetermined rule. The decoding portion 504 of the CTI server 50 can decode the input dialing data into the English alphabet. For example, input general numerals are processed according to the conventional method. When characters are input, considering that three letters are assigned to each numerical button, to input the first letter, a user presses the asterisk button ("*") and then a numerical button, to input the second letter, presses the sharp button ("#") and then a numerical button, and to input the third letter, presses the asterisk button twice and then a numerical button, so that all letters can be input. Also, a button "." can be used instead of a character "@" for indicating an email address. For example, to input "kim3@shin.co.kr", keys are pressed in the sequence "#, 5, *, *, 4, *, 6, 3, *, 1 , *, *, 7, #, 4, *, *, 4, #, 6, *, 1 , *, *, 2, *, *, 6, *, 1 , #, 5, #, and 7". The decoding portion 504 decodes dialing data generated by dialing according to the above rule to extract the ID.

In the Internet switching service method according to the present invention, since an ID such as an email address or communications ID of a subscriber which is easy to remember is used as the ID for telephone communications, facsimile transmission, or sending a post, when the number of a communications handset or IP address of the subscriber changes, the address for telephone communications, facsimile transmission, or sending a post can be extracted through the Internet without checking the changed number of the handset or facsimile machine when the number of the communications handset or IP address of the subscriber or the location of the subscriber has changed so that a different handset is used for communications. That is, in the Internet switching service method according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, even when the number of the communications handset or IP address of the subscriber has changed or the receiver move to another place so that the handset for communications has changed, the subscriber need not notice the changed telephone number to all others who will make a telephone call to the subscriber by using the Internet switching service system of the present invention. Also, when the subscriber uses ones' email address as the ID for telephone communications, the email address can also be used as the telephone ID.

Referring to FIG. 6, an Internet switching service system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an OCR (optical character reader) apparatus 602, a post office server computer 604, an Internet switching service service providing server 608, data base 610, and a printer 612. The post office server computer 604 and the Internet switching service service providing server 608 are connected through the Internet 606.

In the operation of the Internet switching service system having the above structure according to the present invention, the OCR apparatus 602 which is one of a character input apparatus reads ID_Written such as an email address or communications ID of a receiver of a post manually written or printed on a predetermined position on the post. The ID_Written is preferably written in a predefined area on a post such as an area for inputting a zip code. Since the performance of the character recognition is quite superior these days, the ID_Written can be accurately read without any special problems. The post office server computer 604 receives the ID_Written from the OCR apparatus 602 and transmits the received ID_Written to the Internet switching service server 608 through the Internet 606. The Internet switching service server 608 receiving the ID_Written through the Internet 606 searches the data base 610 where the ID_Written of a subscriber and the post receiving address data corresponding to the ID_Written are previously stored for the post receiving address data corresponding to the received ID_Written. Also, the Internet switching service server 608 transmits the searched post receiving address data (Address_Destination) through the Internet 606 to the post office server computer 604.

The post office server computer 604 outputs the post receiving address data to the printer 612. The printer 612 prints the post receiving address data on the post.

According to the above Internet switching service system, a subscriber can extract the post receiving address data of a receiver through the Internet by using the ID of the receiver. Thus, the subscriber can transmit a post without memorizing the post receiving address of the receiver. Also, the receiver of the post as another subscriber can modify his/her post receiving address registered on the data base by using the Internet switching service system to change his/her address to receive a post. Thus, the subscriber does not need to inform every subscriber who may send posts to him/her of the changed post receiving address. As described above, the Internet switching service system according to the present invention may be realized by a program executed on a personal computer or a server computer. Program codes and code segments constituting the above program can be easily created by computer programmers in the field to which the present invention pertains. Also, the program can be stored on a recording medium which is readable/recordable on a computer. The recording medium includes a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium and a carrier wave medium.

Industrial Applicability The Internet switching service system and method according to the present invention provide subscribers with easy and upgraded communications services through the Internet.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An Internet switching service method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an ID of a receiver which is sent by a subscriber;

(b) searching a data base where a plurality of IDs and receiving address data of the IDs are previously stored, for receiving address data corresponding to the IDs; and

(c) sending the searched receiving address data to the subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving address data is one selected from a group consisting of the number of a wired telephone, the number of a facsimile machine, the number of a mobile phone, an IP address, and a post receiving address.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ID is one selected from a group consisting of an email address or a communications ID.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the ID is one selected from a group consisting of an email address or a communications ID.

5. An Internet switching service method for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet to make an Internet telephone call by using an ID of a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) inputting the ID of a receiver who the subscriber wishes to communicate with;

(b) searching a data base where a plurality of IDs and communications address data of the IDs are previously stored, for communications address data corresponding to the IDs;

(c) sending the searched communications address data to the subscriber; and (d) the subscriber performing a telephone call, a facsimile transmission or sending a post by using the searched communications address data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communications address data is a facsimile number and in the step (d) the subscriber performs a facsimile transmission by using the searched facsimile number.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the ID is one selected from a group consisting of an email address or a communications ID.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of (e) when the telephone call is failed in the step (d), making telephone calls in order using telephone numbers having subsequent priorities.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of (p-a-1 ), prior to the step (a), receiving at least one communications address data of the subscriber through the Internet and mapping the received communications address data to an ID that the subscriber desires to store the ID and the communications address data mapped to the ID on a predetermined data base.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the communications address data is one selected from a group consisting of a telephone number and an IP address.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of (p-a-1 ) comprises a step of storing information on a computer-telephone integrated server managing telephone communications in each of areas together with communications address data corresponding to the ID on data base.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the step (d) comprises a step of the subscriber performing telephone communications by using the searched communications address data through a computer-telephone integrated server having a VoIP gateway.

13. An Internet switching service method for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet to make an Internet telephone call by using an ID of a receiver, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a voice signal generated as the subscriber speaks the

ID of a receiver with whom the subscriber wishes to communicate;

(b) extracting the ID from the received voice signal by using a predetermined voice recognition method;

(c) transmitting the extracted ID through a web server; (d) searching mapping data base included in a switching service providing server for communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on a computer-telephone integrated server managing an area of a receiver; and

(e) transmitting the searched communications address data and the information on the computer-telephone integrated server through the web server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the ID is one selected from the group consisting of an email address and a communications ID.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step (f) of performing telephone communications by using the communications address data and the information on the computer-telephone integrated server managing an area of a receiver received through the web server.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of (g) when the telephone communications are failed in steps (f), performing telephone communications in order by using telephone numbers having subsequent priorities.

17. An Internet switching service method for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet to make an Internet telephone call by using an ID of a receiver, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving dialing data generated as the subscriber dials the ID of a receiver with whom the subscriber wishes to communicate;

(b) extracting the ID by decoding the received dialing data;

(c) transmitting the extracted ID through a web server;

(d) receiving the ID from a switching service providing server and searching data base for communications address data corresponding to the received ID and information on a computer-telephone integrated server managing an area of a receiver; and

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the ID is one selected from the group consisting of an email address and a communications ID.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step (f) of performing telephone communications by using the communications address data and the information on the computer-telephone integrated server managing an area of a receiver received through the web server.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step (g) of when the telephone communications fail in steps (f), performing telephone communications in order by using telephone numbers having subsequent priorities.

21. An Internet switching service method comprising the steps of:

(a) a server computer of a post office inputting the ID of a receiver indicated on a predetermined outer portion of a post by using a character input means and transmitting the ID by using a web server included in the post office server computer through the Internet; (b) a switching service server receiving the ID through the Internet;

(c) the switching service server searching data base where IDs of subscribers and post receiving address data corresponding to the IDs are previously stored, for post receiving address data corresponding to the received ID; and (d) transmitting the searched post receiving address data to the post office server computer.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the ID is one selected from the group consisting of an email address and a communications ID.

23. An Internet switching service system for providing an Internet switching service to a subscriber connected to the Internet to make an Internet telephone call by using the ID of a receiver, the system compπsing: a data base where a plurality of IDs and communications address data corresponding to the IDs are previously stored; and a switching service providing server for receiving an ID of a receiver that the subscriber transmits, searching the data base for communications address data corresponding to the ID, and transmitting the searched communications address data to the subscriber.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the ID is one selected from the group consisting of an email address and a communications ID.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the communications address data is one selected from the group consisting of the number of a wired telephone, the number of a facsimile machine, the number of a mobile phone, and an IP address.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the switching service providing server comprises: a web server connected to the Internet for transmitting and receiving data; a new subscription management portion for receiving subscriber information from a new subscriber through the web server, assigning an ID and password to the new subscriber, and storing the subscriber information in a predetermined data base and managing the stored subscriber information; a subscriber approving portion for receiving the ID and password from a user connected to the web server and checking whether the user is a subscriber; a telephone number registration portion for inputting, adding, deleting and modifying a telephone number at which each subscriber wishes to receive a telephone call, and determining whether there is a change in a telephone number and the priority in telephone connection when the subscriber moves to another place or the telephone number has changed; and a receiver information providing portion for receiving an ID of a receiver and searching the data base and transmitting a number assigned by the receiver among the registered telephone numbers corresponding to the ID of the registered receiver through the web server when a caller tries to make a telephone call to the receiver, requesting input of a telephone number when the caller tries to make a telephone call to one who is not registered, and transmitting the telephone number input according to the request through the web server.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising a computer- telephone integrated server for performing voice guidance so that a subscriber using an ordinary telephone can connect the switching service providing server, receiving an ID of a receiver with whom the subscriber wishes to communicate and transmitting the received ID to the switching service providing server, and performing connection of telephone communications with the receiver according to the function of a predetermined VoIP gateway by using communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of the receiver.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer-telephone integrated server comprises: a voice guide portion for providing a voice guide message to a subscriber; a telephone connection requesting portion for requesting the communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of a receiver through the web server and receiving the communications address data and the information on the computer-telephone integrate server; a VoIP gateway for performing telephone communications by using the communications address data corresponding to the ID and the information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of a receiver; and a controller for controlling the voice guide portion to initialize voice guidance for the subscriber and the VoIP gateway to initialize voice communications.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the computer-telephone integrated server further comprises a voice recognition portion for receiving a voice signal generated as a subscriber speaks the ID of a receiver with who the subscriber wishes to communicate and extracting the ID from the received voice signal according to a predetermined voice recognition method.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer-telephone integrated server comprises: a voice guide portion for providing a voice guide message to a subscriber; a decoding portion for decoding dialed data to extract an ID; a telephone connection requesting portion for requesting the communications address data corresponding to the ID and information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of a receiver through the web server and receiving the communications address data and the information on the computer-telephone integrate server; a VoIP gateway for performing telephone communications by using the communications address data corresponding to the ID and the information on the computer-telephone integrate server managing an area of a receiver; and a controller for controlling the decoding portion to initialize decoding of the dialed data of the subscriber and the VoIP gateway to initialize voice communications.

31. An Internet switching service system comprising: a character input apparatus for reading the ID of a post receiver from a predetermined area of the post; a post office server for inputting the ID and transmitting the input ID through the Internet; data base where a plurality of IDs of post receivers and post receiving address data of the IDs are previously stored; and a switching service providing server for receiving the ID of a post receiver, searching the data base for post receiving address data corresponding to the ID, and transmitting the searched post receiving address data to the subscriber.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the ID of the post receiver is one selected from the group consisting of an email address and a communications ID.

33. The system of claim 31 , further comprising a printer for printing the post receiving address data on the post.