Providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an internet protocol network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network

• US 10,063,710 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Centre One
• Original Assignee: Centre One
• Inventors: Feuer, Donald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US15/691,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20170366677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370389, 370401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 Details of gateway equipment

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). In one implementation, the system includes a computer-controlled switch for connection to a local PSTN, for receiving calls from the IP network and the PSTN, and for routing calls to the PSTN and the IP network; and gate interface circuitry connected to the switch and adapted for connection to the IP network. The gate interface circuitry includes gateway circuitry for interfacing the IP network and PSTN voice circuits, and gatekeeper circuitry for performing address translation, admission control, bandwidth management, and zone management. The switch stores at least one PSTN destination address and at least one IP network destination address for each subscriber. The switch routes an incoming call to any one of the destination addresses stored for the subscriber.

Claims

1. A system for providing a service that facilitates real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) having voice circuits, the system comprising:

a gate interface circuitry communicatively coupled with the IP network and the voice circuits of the PSTN, wherein the gate interface circuitry is configured to;

receive, via the IP network, a first call from a first device intended for a first subscriber of the service, wherein the first call comprises packetized voice data, and

depacketize the packetized voice data;

a voice response unit communicatively coupled with the gate interface circuitry and configured to;

receive the depacketized voice data from the gate interface circuitry, and

convert the depacketized voice data to digital tones; and

a computer control interfacing with a switch and communicatively coupled with the gate interface circuitry and the voice response unit, wherein the computer control is configured to;

store, for at least one subscriber of a plurality of subscribers of the service, at least one destination address on the PSTN and at least one destination address on the IP network, and

control the switch to route the first call on the PSTN, using the converted digital tones, to a second device of the first subscriber based on a first stored destination address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the gate interface circuitry is further configured to:

receive, from the PSTN, a second call comprising PSTN voice information, wherein the second call is intended for a second subscriber of the service,

packetize the PSTN voice information into a digital format for transmission over the IP network, and

route the second call on the IP network to a third device of the second subscriber based on a second stored destination address.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a message system communicatively coupled with the IP network and the computer control, and configured to:

receive a voices message; and

convert the voice message to a text message.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the message system is further configured to:

receive a facsimile message; and

convert the facsimile message to a text message.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the message system is further configured to:

receive an e-mail message; and

convert the e-mail message to a voice message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises at least one of a computer or a telephone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a multi-media software configured to packetize voice signals into a digital format for transmission over the IP network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to perform Class 5 switching of incoming calls.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the gate interface circuitry is further configured to route the first call on the IP network to a fourth device of the first subscriber based on a third stored destination address.

10. A method of providing a service that facilitates real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) having voice circuits, the method comprising:

storing, by a computer control interfacing with a switch for at least one subscriber of a plurality of subscribers of the service, at least one destination address on the PSTN and at least one destination address on the IP network;

receiving, by a gate interface circuitry, a first call from a first device intended for a first subscriber of the service via the IP network, wherein the first call comprises packetized voice data, wherein the gate interface circuitry is communicatively coupled with the IP network and the voice circuits of the PSTN;

depacketizing, by the gate interface circuitry, the packetized voice data;

converting, by a voice response unit, the depacketized voice data to digital tones;

controlling, by the computer control, the switch to route the first call on the PSTN, using the digital tones, to a second device of the first subscriber based on a first stored destination address.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by the gate interface circuitry, a second call via the PSTN, wherein the second call is intended for a second subscriber of the service and comprises PSTN digital voice data;

packetizing, by the gate interface circuitry, the PSTN digital voice data into a digital format for transmission over the IP network; and

routing the second call on the IP network to a third device of the second subscriber based on a second stored destination address.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by a second device of the second subscriber, the second call comprising the packetized PSTN digital voice data;

depacketizing the packetized PSTN digital voice data to form depacketized voice information; and

providing the depacketized voice information to the second subscriber.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a voice message intended for the first subscriber; and

converting the voice message into an e-mail message for the first subscriber.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an e-mail message intended for the first subscriber; and

converting the e-mail message into a voice message for the first subscriber.