Method and system for routing calls from a standard telephone device to a voice over internet protocol network

• US 20010028642A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edge Access, Inc. (Florida)
• Original Assignee: Edge Access, Inc. (Florida)
• Inventors: Veschi, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/122 where the PSTN/ISDN access is used as an access to networks other than PSTN/ISDN access arrangements to networks other than PSTN/ISDN H04M7/0066; access arrangements to public data networks H04L12/2856

Abstract

The invention enables accessing and using a Voice over Internet Protocol network, and can use a standard telephone to automatically access a VoIP network. A first aspect of the invention uses an auto dialer to transmit digits, such as a network access number, an account number and a PIN, which remain unchanged from call to call made through a given network service provider. A second aspect of the invention provides a speed dial feature for placing VoIP telephone calls. Speed dial numbers are recorded in a VoIP service provider'"'"'s database on a server, which is accessible through the Internet from a personal computer (PC) or a conventional telephone. A third aspect of the invention enables callers to complete calls from conventional telephones to personal computers connected to the Internet. The VoIP network detects a flag such as leading “0,” determines that the call recipient station is a personal computer, looks up the IP address of the PC and routes the call to the PC.

Claims

1. A system for making VoIP network calls that requires entering repetitive strings of digits in addition to a conventional telephone number, comprising

an auto dialer;

a memory to store strings of digits; and

a central processing unit.

2. The system of

claim 1

wherein said auto dialer can be automatically programmed by connecting to a server.

3. The system of

claim 1

wherein said auto dialer can be used as a conventional telephone to access existing non VoIP networks.

4. The system of

claim 1

wherein said string of digits is automatically modified when a new telephone number is entered.

5. The system of

claim 1

wherein said central processing unit has interrupt driven logic enabling it to respond to input signals.

6. A method of making a VOIP network call by entering only the telephone number of the destination party as in a normal telephone call, comprising the steps of:

activating a communication device;

entering a telephone number;

confirming said telephone number should be routed to a VoIP network;

auto dialing a network access number;

waiting for a connection to establish;

auto dialing an account number;

waiting for a confirmation;

auto dialing a Personal Identification Number (PIN);

waiting for a confirmation; and

auto dialing the entered telephone number.

7. The method of

claim 6

wherein the steps can be programmed by another computer.

8. The method of

claim 6

wherein activating a communication device is picking up a hand set.

9. The method of

claim 6

wherein said telephone number is a conventional eleven digit long distance number.

10. The method of

claim 6

wherein said confirming said telephone number is checking and determining if the call being made should be routed to a VoIP service provider or to an existing telephone carrier.

11. A method of making a VOIP network call from a telephone to a electronic device, comprising the steps of:

entering a number associated with said electronic device;

determining the IP address of said electronic device;

establishing a communication link between said telephone and said electronic device; and

converting the analog call to digital data.

12. The method of

claim 11

wherein said electronic device is a computer.

13. The method of

claim 11

further comprising of accessing a VOIP network.

14. The method of

claim 11

wherein said IP address is retrieved from a database on a network.

15. The method of

claim 11

wherein said number contains a flag indicating that said number is that of a computer.

16. A method of making a VOIP network call using speed dial, comprising the steps of:

entering a speed dial number;

accessing a network;

determining the telephone number of said speed dial number; and

dialing the said telephone number.

17. The method of

claim 16

further comprising of entering a character that serves as a flag for speed dial.

18. The method of

claim 16

wherein said telephone number is determined by looking up the speed dial number on a database stored on a server.

19. The method of

claim 16

wherein said telephone number is determined by looking up the speed dial number on a database stored in the telephone.

20. The method of

claim 18

wherein said database can modified by a computer accessing a database through a website.

21. The method of

claim 18

wherein said database can modified by a telephone accessing a database.