US 6108329

Summary of U.S. Patent 6,108,329

A review of U.S. Patent 6,108,329 reveals the following details regarding the invention and its legal status.

Title: Telephone apparatus used for computer network telephone system

Assignee: The patent was originally assigned to Sony Corp. As of the latest assignment recorded on March 27, 2017, the current assignee is Ironworks Patents LLC.

Inventors:

• Akimasa Oyama
• Hidekazu Watanabe
• Masahiro Asai
• Kazunori Ozawa
• Nobuhiro Tone

Filing Date: December 6, 1996

Issue Date: August 22, 2000

Abstract:
The patent describes a telephone system where terminals within computer networks are connected via servers to transmit data, including audio, over the Internet. A key feature is that when a call is initiated, the destination terminal receives information about the source terminal from a server. Based on this information, the destination terminal can perform specific actions, such as judging whether the source terminal is a pre-approved caller and consequently deciding whether to connect the call.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

This patent has one independent claim.

• Claim 1: This claim outlines a telephone apparatus that connects to the internet through a telephone network and a server. This server holds a database with information about multiple telephone apparatuses, including their public phone numbers for Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connections and their Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. When a call is made from another telephone, the server sends the caller's information to the receiving telephone. The receiving apparatus can then:
  • Store a list of approved callers.
  • Determine if an incoming call is from the internet (via a modem) or a standard telephone line.
  • If the call is from the internet, it establishes a data connection (PPP).
  • If it's a standard call, it establishes a normal voice connection.
  • Compare the caller's information with its stored list of approved callers to decide whether to connect or disconnect the call.
  • Receive and store an email message from the caller if the user does not answer the call.

A search of the dockets for the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for the year 2026 did not reveal any cases involving U.S. Patent 6,108,329.