Call routing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for routing a telephone call to a data network, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a memory for storing a category of telephone numbers representing telephone calls to be placed over a data network in packet switched format; and
(b) processing means for accepting a dialed telephone call, for determining whether said call is within said category, and for routing said call to said data network if so.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A networking system includes telephone switches and data network gateways for routing calls either over the public telephone network or over the packet switched data network. A router examines initiated calls and selects either the telephone network or a data network for completing the call. A Network Operations Center (NOC) monitors the performance of plural gateways, and updates routing information in the router and/or in the gateways, which may be used for future calls.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. Apparatus for routing a telephone call to a data network, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a memory for storing a category of telephone numbers representing telephone calls to be placed over a data network in packet switched format; and
(b) processing means for accepting a dialed telephone call, for determining whether said call is within said category, and for routing said call to said data network if so. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for routing telephone calls, comprising the steps of:
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(a) examining a received telephone number to ascertain whether a particular property is present;
(b) if so, routing the call to an originating gateway, and if not, routing the call to a telephone switch; and
(c) if said call is routed to said originating gateway, examining the telephone number again to determine to which of a plurality of terminating gateways said call should be routed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of completing a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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(a) examining a dialed number associated with a call prior to said call reaching a telephone switch;
(b) if said number is within a predetermined class of numbers, conveying said telephone call to a first remotely located telephone switch over a data network; and
(c) if said number is not within said predetermined class of numbers, conveying said telephone call to a second remotely located telephone switch over a telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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- 12. A network for completing telephone calls, the network comprising a router connected directly to a calling telephone, the router being programmed to separate long distance calls from local calls, the router further being programmed to transmit some of said long distance calls and all of said local calls over a circuit switching network, and the remainder of said long distance calls over a packet switching network.
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16. An operations center for evaluating performance and effectuating routing decisions comprising;
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(a) data gathering means for gathering call metrics regarding calls completed through a plurality of gateways; and
(b) means for transmitting information derived from said metrics to (1) a router, said router connected to a calling telephone and also connected to a data network and a telephony network, and (2) a gateway, connected to said router and to said data network. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for routing a telephone call over a data network comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a dialed number by a router;
(b) parking the dialed number at the router;
(c) transmitting the dialed number from the router to an originating gateway;
(d) parking the dialed number at the originating gateway;
(e) finding an optimum terminating gateway to accept said call over said data network;
(f) sending the dialed number from the first gateway to a second gateway over said data network; and
(g) connecting the call to a terminal identified by the dialed number. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for routing a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a dialed number by a router;
(b) parking the dialed number at the router;
(c) determining if the caller is authorized;
(d) if the caller is authorized, sending the dialed number from the router to a first gateway;
(e) parking the dialed number by the first gateway;
(f) sending the dialed number from the first gateway to a second gateway; and
(g) connecting the call to a terminal identified by the dialed number. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. Apparatus for completing calls over either a Public Switched Telephone Network or a Data Network, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for receiving a telephone number from a terminal, (b) means for storing said telephone number, and for acquiring and storing said number;
(c) means for substituting a different number for said telephone number if said telephone number is within a predetermined class of numbers;
(d) means responsive to said means for substituting for establishing a call from said apparatus to a second apparatus at said substituted different number using out of band signaling, and (e) means responsive to said establishing means for transmitting said dialed number in band to said second apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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- 34. Apparatus for processing dialed numbers and conveying them to a network to complete calls, the apparatus comprising transmitting said dialed number to the network using in band signaling if the dialed number represents a long distance call, and transmitting the dialed number to the network using out of band signaling if the dialed number represents a local call.
Specification