Portable VoIP service access module
View Patent ↗A voice over IP (VoIP) softphone access module (VSAM) comprises a softphone client installed on a portable memory device (PMD). The softphone client is installed in its own read-only partition. The softphone client is adapted to autorun from the PMD when the PMD is connected to a computing device and to load an instance of the softphone client in the volatile memory of the computing device. When used with a computing device comprising a duplex audio system with analog-to-digital conversion and an Internet connection, the VSAM permits a VoIP service subscriber to send and receive VoIP telephone calls through a VoIP service provider gateway. The VSAM may be associated with an activation code that when sent to the VoIP service provider gateway associates a user with pre-paid softphone usage credits. Alternatively, the softphone client is installed on CD.
1. A portable telephony device, comprising:
a portable memory device having a universal serial bus (′USB) interface to facilitate communication with a computing device when the USB interface is coupled to the computing device; and
instructions stored on the portable memory device, wherein the instructions are executable by the computing device to automatically run softphone software at the computing device when the portable memory device is coupled to the computing device, wherein the softphone software stops running at the computing device when the portable memory device is uncoupled from the computing device, and wherein the softphone software is executable to:
send and receive voice communications via a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP);
store a telephone directory file on the portable memory device;
store user preference information on the portable memory device; and
send data to a service provider gateway, wherein the data associates the portable telephony device with a service provider account record.
2. The portable telephony device of claim 1 , wherein the softphone software is executable to load the telephone directory file to the computing device automatically.
3. The portable telephony device of claim 1 , wherein the softphone software is executable to load the user preference information to the computing device.
4. The portable telephony device of claim 1 , wherein automatically running the softphone software comprises loading an instance of the softphone software into volatile memory of the computing device.
5. The portable telephony device of claim 4 , wherein stopping running of the softphone software comprises removing the instance of the softphone software from the volatile memory.
6. The portable telephony device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a duplex audio system.
7. The portable telephony device of claim 1 , wherein the softphone software is executable to maintain a call log.
8. The portable telephony device of claim 1 , wherein the portable memory device comprises a read-only memory portion and a read/write memory portion.
9. The portable telephony device of claim 1 , wherein the service provider account record is associated with service credits.
10. A method comprising:
loading an instance of a softphone client from a portable memory device to a computing system automatically when the portable memory device is coupled to the computing system;
sending data to a service provider device to associate the instance of the softphone client with a user account record; and
sending and receiving data related to voice communications via the service provider device using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the computing system is selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a personal data assistant.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising reading or writing a telephone directory file at the portable memory device.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising reading or writing a user preference file at the portable memory device.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising writing data to a call log file.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the user account record is associated with usage credits.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the voice communications terminate at a public switch telephone network device.
17. A method comprising:
receiving data from an instance of a softphone client via a computing system, wherein the softphone client is stored at a portable memory device and wherein the instance of the softphone client is automatically loaded to the computing system when the portable memory device is coupled to the computing system;
associating the instance of the softphone client with a user account record based on the received data; and
tracking usage credits associated with the user account record, wherein the usage credits are related to voice communications sent via the instance of the softphone client.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising permitting voice communications via a service provider gateway based on the received data.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising authenticating a user of the instance of the softphone client based on identifying information sent from the computing system.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving identification information via the instance of the softphone client, and determining whether the identification information matches information associated with the user account record.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising sending a prompt to the computing system.
22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising not permitting voice communications from the instance of the softphone client via a service provider gateway when the identification information does not match information associated with the user account record.
23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising permitting voice communications from the instance of the softphone client via a service provider gateway when the identification information matches information associated with the user account record.
24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the received data includes network location information related to the computing device.
25. The method of claim 17 , wherein the received data includes an activation code.
26. A voice over internet protocol service access module (VSAM) comprising:
a portable memory device, wherein the portable memory device is adapted to operate when installed in a computing device comprising a duplex audio system;
a softphone client stored on the portable memory device, the softphone client comprising instructions for:
auto-running the softphone client upon detection of the portable memory device by the computing device; and
performing the functions of a plain old telephone; and
a read/write memory to store a user file maintained by the softphone client, wherein the user profile associates the softphone client with a user account at a service provider device.
27. The VSAM of claim 26 , wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a personal data assistant.
28. The VSAM of claim 26 , wherein the user file maintained by the softphone client in the read/write memory includes a telephone directory file.
29. The VSAM of claim 26 , wherein the user file maintained byte softphone client in the read/write memory includes a user preference file.
30. The VSAM of claim 26 , wherein the user file maintained by the softphone client in the read/write memory comprises a telephone conversation recording.