METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND ROUTING VOICE TELEPHONE CALLS OVER A PACKET SWITCHED COMPUTER NETWORK

• US 20010040885A1
• Filed: 10/13/1995
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Net2Phone, Inc. (IDT Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Net2Phone, Inc. (IDT Corporation)
• Inventors: GOLDBERG, HAROLD J., RAAB, ERIC, JONAS, HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/542,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1285 Details of finding and selecting a gateway for a particular call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 : Signaling in general, in-band signalling

Abstract

A method and system for routing and transmitting voice conversations across a packet switched computer network and a circuit switched public telephone network is provided. Conversion between packet switched computer network protocols and circuit switched telephone network protocols is performed by one or more phone switches which are coupled to the packet switched computer network and the circuit switched telephone network. Routing voice conversations among multiple phone switches coupled to the packet switched computer network is performed by one or more routing servers coupled to the packet switched computer network, or a user'"'"'s local computer.

Claims

1. A system for routing and transmitting voice conversations, said system comprising:

a circuit switched telephone network supporting at least one voice protocol for routing and transmitting voice conversations;

a plurality of telephone sets coupled to said circuit switched telephone network, each of said plurality of telephone sets having a unique telephone number for access through said circuit switched telephone network;

a packet switched computer network supporting a digital data packet protocol;

an audio ready computer coupled to said packet switched computer network, said audio ready computer for converting analog voice signals into said digital data packet protocol and for converting digital data received from said packet switched computer network into analog signals, said audio ready computer generating and forwarding upon user command, via said packet switched computer network, a packetized call connection request comprising a called telephone number; and

at least one phone switch having a network address on said packet switched network and coupled to said circuit switched telephone network, said phone switch for establishing a voice connection to a telephone set identified through its unique telephone number through said circuit switched telephone network and for converting voice information and control information between said digital data packet protocol and said at least one voice protocol,

whereby the audio ready computer establishes a voice connection by forwarding a call request containing a unique telephone number to the phone switch which establishes a voice connection to the called telephone set and converts the protocols between the circuit switched telephone network and the packet switched computer network.

2. The system for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 1

, wherein said audio ready computer further comprises:

a database for mapping telephone area codes and exchanges to said at least one phone switch; and

a selection means for selecting a one of said at least one phone switches based on said database mapping.

3. The system for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 1

, wherein said packetized call connection request further comprises user payment information;

said system for routing and transmitting voice conversations further comprising an authentication means for verifying the user payment information.

4. The system for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 3

, wherein said user payment information comprises a user password.

5. The system for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 3

, wherein said user payment information comprises credit card information.

6. The system for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 1

, wherein said packet switched computer network is the Internet.

8. The method for establishing and transmitting a voice conversation of claim (5) wherein steps (c) and (g) further comprise the step of compressing the voice input before transmission across said packet switched computer network;

and steps (e) and (i) further comprise the step of decompressing the compressed voice input.

7. A method for establishing and transmitting a voice conversation between an audio ready computer coupled to a packet switched computer network and a telephone set coupled to a circuit switched telephone network, said method utilizing a phone switch coupled to said circuit switched telephone network and said packet switched computer network, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a call connection request packet containing a telephone number identifying the telephone set from said audio ready computer to said phone switch;

(b) establishing a voice connection between said phone switch and said telephone set through said circuit switched telephone network;

(c) transmitting, in a digital packet protocol format, voice input received by said audio ready computer during said voice conversation to said phone switch via said packet switched computer network;

(d) transmitting, in a telephone voice and control information protocol format, voice input received by said telephone set during said voice conversation to said phone switch via said circuit switched telephone network;

(e) converting the digital packet formatted voice input received at said phone switch to a telephone voice and control information protocol;

(f) transmitting said converted information from step (e) to said telephone set via said circuit switched telephone network;

(g) converting the telephone voice and control information formatted voice input received at said phone switch to a digital packet protocol;

(h) transmitting said converted information from step (g) to said audio ready computer via said packet switched computer network; and

(i) reconstructing the digital packet in formation received by said audio ready computer into an analog signal,

whereby said phone switch is used to bridge the voice conversation between the circuit switched telephone network protocol and the packet switched computer network protocol.

9. The method for establishing and transmitting voice conversation of

claim 7

further comprising the steps of:

selecting said phone switch from a plurality of phone switches coupled to said packet switched network, said selection based on a database matching telephone numbers to said phone switches.

10. The method of establishing and transmitting a voice conversation of

claim 7

further comprising the steps of:

transmitting user payment information within the call connection request; and

verifying the user payment information before establishing the voice connection of step (b).

11. A system for routing and transmitting voice conversations, said system comprising:

a circuit switched telephone network supporting at least one voice protocol for routing and transmitting voice conversations;

a telephone set coupled to said circuit switched telephone network;

a packet switched computer network supporting a digital data packet protocol;

an audio ready computer coupled to said packet switched computer network, said audio ready computer for converting analog voice signals into said digital data packet protocol and for converting digital data received from said packet switched computer network into analog signals, said audio ready computer generating a packetized call connection request upon user command;

at least one phone switch having a network address on said packet switched network and coupled to said circuit switched telephone network, said phone switch for establishing a voice connection through said circuit switched telephone network and for converting voice information and control information between said digital data packet protocol and said at least one voice protocol; and

a routing server coupled to said packet switched computer network, said routing server for selecting a selected phone switch from said at least one phone switch upon receipt of said packetized call connection request from said audio ready computer, said routing server returning the network address of said selected phone switch to said audio ready computer,

whereby said audio ready computer establishes a voice conversation by requesting the routing server to return the network address of a selected phone switch, said audio ready computer transmits all further control and voice data to said network address of said selected phone switch.

12. The system for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 11

, wherein said packetized call connection request further comprises a user password, said system for routing and transmitting voice conversations further comprising an authentication means for verifying the user password with a system database.

13. The system for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 11

wherein said digital data packet protocol includes a connectionless transport layer protocol, said transmission of said digitized voice signals over said packet switched computer network utilizing said connectionless transport layer protocol.

14. The system for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 13

wherein said connectionless transport layer protocol is the User Datagram Protocol.

15. A method for establishing and transmitting a voice conversation between an audio ready computer coupled to a packet switched computer network and a telephone set coupled to a circuit switched telephone network, said method utilizing a routing server coupled to said packet switched computer network and a plurality of phone switches coupled to said circuit switched telephone network and said packet switched computer network, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a call connection request packet containing a telephone number identifying the telephone set from said audio ready computer to said routing server;

(b) selecting a phone switch from said plurality of phone switches upon receipt of said call connection request packet from said audio ready computer;

(c) transmitting an authorized call connection request packet containing the network address of the selected phone switch from said router to said audio ready computer;

(d) transmitting the authorized call connection request packet to the selected phone switch from said audio ready computer;

(e) establishing a voice connection between said selected phone switch and said telephone set through said circuit switched telephone network;

(f) transmitting, in a digital packet protocol format, voice input received by said audio ready computer during said voice conversation to said selected phone switch via said packet switched computer network;

(g) transmitting, in a telephone voice and control information protocol format, voice input received by said telephone set during said voice conversation to said selected phone switch via said circuit switched telephone network;

(h) converting the digital packet formatted voice input received at said selected phone switch to a telephone voice and control information protocol;

(i) transmitting said converted information from step (h) to said telephone set via said circuit switched telephone network;

(j) converting the telephone voice and control information formatted voice input received at said selected phone switch to a digital packet protocol; and

(k) transmitting said converted information from step (j) to said audio ready computer via said packet switched computer network,

whereby said selected phone switch is used to bridge the voice conversation between the circuit switched telephone network protocol and the packet switched computer network protocol.

16. A system for routing and transmitting a voice conversation between a first telephone set and a second telephone set over a packet switched computer network supporting a digital data packet protocol including voice and call set-up information, said system comprising:

A first circuit-switched telephone network coupled to said first telephone set, said first circuit-switched telephone network supporting at least one voice protocol including voice and call set-up information;

a second circuit switched telephone network coupled to said second telephone set, said second circuit switched telephone network supporting at least one voice protocol including voice and call set-up information;

a first phone switch coupled to said first circuit switched telephone network and a second phone switch coupled to said circuit switched telephone network, said first and second phone switches each coupled to said packet switched computer network and each having a unique network address on said packet switched network, said first and second phone switches each for converting between voice and call set-up information from said first and second circuit switched telephone networks, respectfully, and said digital data packet protocol, said first phone switch further for generating and transmitting a call connection request over said packet switched computer network upon receiving a touch tone request from said first telephone set, said second phone switch further for establishing a call setup over said circuit switched telephone network to said second telephone set upon receipt of said call connection request from first phone switch,

whereby a first user accesses said first phone switch to generate a call request over said packet switched computer network to said second phone switch, said second phone switch then establishes a call to said second telephone set, said first and second phone switches then converting and transmitting voice information received between said telephone sets and said packet switched computer network.

17. A system for routing and transmitting a voice conversation between a first telephone set and a second telephone set over a packet switched computer network supporting a digital data packet protocol including voice and call set-up information, said system comprising:

a plurality of circuit switched telephone networks each supporting at least one voice protocol including voice and call set-up information;

plurality of telephone sets coupled to said plurality of circuit switched telephone networks;

a plurality of phone switches each coupled to said packet switched network and at least one of said circuit switched telephone networks, said plurality of phone switches each having a unique network address on said packet switched network, said plurality of phone switches each for converting voice and call set-up information between said at least one voice protocol and said digital data packet protocol, at least one originating phone switch of said plurality of phone switches capable of generating a call connection request including a called telephone number upon receiving a touch tone request from one of said plurality of telephone sets; and

a routing server coupled to said packet switched computer network, said routing server for selecting a selected phone switch from said plurality of phone switches upon receipt of said call connection request from said originating phone switch, said routing server returning a network address of the selected phone switch to said originating phone switch,

whereby a user accesses a first phone switch through a first telephone set coupled to a first circuit switched telephone network and enters a destination telephone number using touch-tone keys, said first phone switch then transmits a call connection request containing said destination telephone number to said routing server which selects a second phone switch based on routing considerations, said second phone switch connects to a second destination telephone set via a second circuit switched telephone network, said first and second phone switches then communicate directly through said packet switched computer network coupling said first and said second telephone sets.

18. A method for routing and transmitting a voice conversation between a first telephone set and a second telephone set over a packet switched computer network, said method utilizing a routing server coupled to said packet switched computer network and a plurality of phone switches coupled to said packet switched computer network, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) accessing a first phone switch from said first telephone set;

(b) generating dialing information corresponding to a telephone number for said second telephone set from said first telephone set;

(c) said first phone switch detecting said dialing information;

(d) transmitting a call connection request packet containing the telephone number from said first phone switch to said routing server;

(e) said routing server selecting a phone switch from said plurality of phone switches upon receipt of said call connection request packet from said first phone switch;

(f) transmitting an authorized call connect-on request packet containing the network address of the selected phone switch from said routing server to said first phone switch;

(g) transmitting the authorized call connection request packet to the selected phone switch from said first phone switch;

(h) establishing a voice connection between said selected phone switch and said second telephone set through a circuit switched telephone network coupling said selected phone switch and said second telephone set;

(i) converting the telephone voice and control formatted voice and control information received at said first phone switch and said selected phone switch to a digital packet protocol and forwarding said converted digital packet voice and control information between said first and said selected phone switches over said packet switched computer network; and

(j) transmitting said converted information from step (i) between said first phone switch and said selected phone switch via said packet switched computer network,

whereby said first phone switch and said .elected phone switch are used to bridge the voice conversation between said first telephone set and said second telephone set across the packet switched computer network.

19. The method for routing and transmitting voice conversations of

claim 18

wherein said dialing information comprises touch tones.