| 摘要 |
<p>An IP-number router/gateway (50, 50a, 50b, and 50c) is disclosed, which functions as a distributed hierarchical name-matching and conversion global directory service database that enables mapping (16, 12, 33, 31, and 29) between telephone numbers (22) and IP addresses (18), telephone numbers (22) and device names (14), telephone numbers (22) and personal user names (28), and device names (14) and personal user names (28). The IP-number router/gateway (50, 50a, 50b and 50c) also functions as a router or gateway between the Internet (10 and 202) and telephone networks (20, 206, 208 and 210). Consequently, telephone numbers (22, 24 and 26) can be used as virtual IP addresses for supporting data communications between the Internet (10 and 202) and the telephone networks (20, 206, 208 and 210).</p> |
