System and method for providing call-handling services on a data network telephone system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention.
One embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for providing call handling services in a data network telephone system.
The system includes a data network to provide data connectivity for a plurality of data communications channels using data transport protocols.
A data network telephone is connected to the data network.
The data network telephone is operable to communicate a voice signal as voice-over-data packets on a voice-over-data channel.
The voice-over-data channel is one of the plurality of data communications channels on the data network.
The data network telephones are each operable to convert voice-over-data packets communicated on the voice-over-data channel to voice signals.
Also included is a portable information device having a data network telephone interface.
The portable information device is operable to transmit priority information to the data network telephone via the data network telephone interface.
The data network telephone receives the priority information and accesses the priority information in response to the data network telephone receiving a call request across the data network.
A voice communication device for call handling, such as a data network telephone, is also provided.
The voice communication device includes an interface to a data network, a plurality of telephony functions operable to communicate a voice signal as voice-over-data packets on a voice-over-data channel, the voice-over-data channel being one of a plurality of data communications channels supported by the data network.
The telephony functions are operable to convert voice-over-data packets communicated on the voice-over-data channel to voice signals.
The voice communication device also includes a PID interface link to a portable information device to transfer data between the portable information device and the voice communication device