Systems and methods for integrating analog voice service and derived pots voice service in a digital subscriber line environment

• US 20040066929A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voice Integration Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Paradyne Corporation (Dasan Networks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thoenes, Ed, Bremer, Gordon, Scott, Bob, Chapman, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for integrating analog voice service and derived POTS voice service in a DSL environment are provided. One embodiment is a system comprising: a first communication path for carrying plain old telephone service (POTS) voice signals between a telephone-type device and a subscriber line of a telephone network; a second communication path for carrying derived POTS voice signals between the telephone-type device and the subscriber line; and a switching mechanism configured to switch the telephone-type device between the first communication path and the second communication path.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first communication path for carrying plain old telephone service (POTS) voice signals between a telephone-type device and a subscriber line of a telephone network;

a second communication path for carrying derived POTS voice signals between the telephone-type device and the subscriber line; and

a switching mechanism configured to switch the telephone-type device between the first communication path and the second communication path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the derived POTS voice signals are formatted according to one of a voice over DSL (VODSL) protocol, a voice over internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) protocol, a constant bit rate (CBR) protocol, a variable bit rate real time (VBR-RT) protocol, and a variable bit rate—

non real time (VBR-NRT) protocol.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism is adapted to detect a ring signal on the first communication path.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism comprises a data access arrangement that integrates control of the first communication path and the second communication path.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism is adapted to detect an off-hook signal on the first communication path and in response to receiving the off-hook signal, automatically enable the telephone-type device to communicate via the second communication path.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to monitor the first communication path for an incoming baseband POTS ring while a derived POTS voice call is active via the second communication path.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising logic configured to integrate analog voice services provided via the first communication path and derived POTS voice services provided via the second communication path.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the logic is further configured to provide custom local area signaling system (CLASS) services to a user of the telephone-type device via the first communication path while the derived POTS voice call is active via the second communication path.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the CLASS services comprise at least one of calling number identification, calling number screening, voice messaging, conferencing, quality of service selection, call waiting, call-on-hold, and automatic call-back.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising logic configured to generate a ring notification signal to be provided to the telephone-type device during the derived POTS voice call that is active via the second communication channel.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising logic configured to:

enable the user to manually place the derived POTS voice call on hold; and

activate the incoming baseband POTS call voice call via the first communication path.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the derived POTS voice call is placed on hold via one of a hook-flash signal and a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signal.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising logic configured to automatically place the derived POTS voice call on hold.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising logic configured to enable the user to manually switch between the derived POTS voice call and the POTS voice call.

15. The system of claim 6, further comprising logic configured to establish a voice mail call with a caller associated with the incoming baseband POTS ring.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein the voice mail call is routed to an external system attached to the system.

17. The system of claim 6, wherein the voice mail call is routed to the telephone network.

18. The system of claim 6, further comprising logic configured to determine a caller identification number associated with the incoming baseband POTS signal.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising logic configured to store the caller identification number.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising logic configured to enable the user of the telephone-type device to initiate a call to the caller identification number.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the call to the caller identification number is initiated as a derived POTS voice call via the second communication path.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising logic configured to compare the calling identification number to a list of calling identification numbers stored in a memory.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising logic configured to initiate a call to the calling identification number if the calling identification number is in the list of calling identification numbers.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the list comprises a “

caller pays”

list.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interactive voice response system for interacting with the user of the telephone-type device.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism is further configured to detect an off-hook signal provided by the telephone-type device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to automatically initiate a derived POTS voice call via the second communication path when the off-hook signal is detected.

28. The system of claim 6, further comprising logic configured to conference the incoming baseband POTS call with the active derived POTS voice call.

29. A method for integrating derived telephone voice service and plain old telephone service (POTS) in a digital subscriber line environment, the method comprising the steps of:

electrically connecting to a telephone-type device and a subscriber line; and

switching communication with the telephone-type device and the subscriber line between plain old telephone service (POTS) and derived POTS voice service.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a derived POTS voice call between the telephone-type device and the subscriber line;

detecting an incoming baseband (POTS) ring while the derived POTS voice call is active; and

in response to detecting the incoming baseband pots ring, integrating POTS services with the derived POTS voice call.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the derived POTS voice service involves one of a voice over DSL (VODSL) protocol, a voice over internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) protocol, a constant bit rate (CBR) protocol, a variable bit rate—

real time (VBR-RT) protocol, and a variable bit rate—

non real time (VBR-NRT).

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the POTS services comprise custom local area signaling system (CLASS) services.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the CLASS services comprise at least one of calling number identification, calling number screening, voice messaging, conferencing, quality of service selection, call waiting, call-on-hold, and automatic call-back.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing a ring notification signal to the telephone-type device.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

placing the derived POTS voice call on hold; and

activating the incoming baseband POTS voice call.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of placing the derived POTS voice call on hold involves receiving one of a hook-flash signal and a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signal.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of automatically placing the derived POTS voice call on hold.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of switching the telephone-type device between the derived POTS voice call and the incoming baseband POTS voice call.

39. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of establishing a voice mail call with a caller associated with the incoming baseband POTS ring.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of establishing a voice mail call involves routing the caller to a voice mail service provider.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of establishing a voice mail call involves routing the caller to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

42. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of determining a caller identification number associated with the incoming baseband POTS signal.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of storing the caller identification number.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of initiating a call to the caller identification number.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the call to the caller identification number is initiated as a derived POTS voice call.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of comparing the calling identification number to a list of calling identification numbers.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of initiating a call to the calling identification number if the calling identification number is in the list of calling identification numbers.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the list comprises a “

caller pays”

list.

49. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing an interactive voice response system for interacting with the user of the telephone-type device.

50. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of detecting an off-hook signal.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising the step of automatically initiating a derived POTS voice call via the second communication path when the off-hook signal is detected.

52. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of conferencing the voice call with the active derived POTS voice call.

53. A system comprising:

a first communication path for carrying plain old telephone service (POTS) voice signals between a telephone and a digital subscriber line (DSL) in the local loop of a telephone network;

a second communication path for carrying derived POTS voice signals between the telephone and the DSL; and

a means for switching the telephone-type device between the first communication path and the second communication path.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the derived POTS voice signals are formatted according to one of a voice over DSL (VODSL) protocol, a voice over internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) protocol, a constant bit rate (CBR) protocol, a variable bit rate real time (VBR-RT) protocol, and a variable bit rate—

non real time (VBR-NRT) protocol.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the means for switching comprises a means for detecting a ring signal.

56. The system of claim 53, further comprising a means for detecting a ring signal on the first communication path.

57. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

a means for detecting an off-hook signal on the first communication path; and

a means for automatically enabling the telephone to communicate via the second communication path when the off-hook signal is detected.

58. The system of claim 53, wherein the means for switching monitors the first communication path for an incoming baseband POTS ring while a derived POTS voice call is active via the second communication path.

59. The system of claim 58, further comprising a means for integrating analog voice services provided via the first communication path and derived POTS voice services provided via the second communication path.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the analog voice services comprise custom local area signaling system (CLASS) services.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the analog voice services comprise at least one of calling number identification, calling number screening, voice messaging, conferencing, quality of service selection, call waiting, call-on-hold, and automatic call-back.

62. The system of claim 58, further comprising a means for generating a ring notification signal to be provided to the telephone-type device during the derived POTS voice call that is active via the second communication channel.

63. The system of claim 62, further comprising:

a means for enabling the user to manually place the derived POTS voice call on hold; and

a means for activating the incoming baseband POTS call voice call via the first communication path.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the derived POTS voice call is placed on hold via one of a hook-flash signal and a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signal.

65. The system of claim 62, further comprising a means for automatically placing the derived POTS voice call on hold.

66. The system of claim 65, further comprising a means for enabling the user to manually switch between the derived POTS voice call and the POTS voice call.

67. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for establishing a voice mail call with a caller associated with the incoming baseband POTS ring.

68. The system of claim 58, wherein the voice mail call is routed to an external system attached to the system.

69. The system of claim 58, wherein the voice mail call is routed to the telephone network.

70. The system of claim 58, further comprising a means for determining a caller identification number associated with the incoming baseband POTS signal.

71. The system of claim 70, further comprising a means for storing the caller identification number.

72. The system of claim 71, further comprising a means for enabling the user of the telephone-type device to initiate a call to the caller identification number.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the call to the caller identification number is initiated as a derived POTS voice, call via the second communication path.

74. The system of claim 70, further comprising a means for comparing the calling identification number to a list of calling identification numbers stored in a memory.

75. The system of claim 74, further a means for initiating a call to the calling identification number if the calling identification number is in the list of calling identification numbers.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the list comprises a “

caller pays”

list.

77. The system of claim 53, further comprising a means for detecting an off-hook signal provided by the telephone-type device.

78. The system of claim 77, further comprising a means for automatically initiating a derived POTS voice call via the second communication path when the off-hook signal is detected.

79. The system of claim 58, further comprising a means for conferencing the incoming baseband POTS call with the active derived POTS voice call.

80. A method for offering voice services to a subscriber in a digital subscriber line (DSL) environment, the method comprising the steps of:

offering at least one of analog voice service and derived POTS voice service to a subscriber via a subscriber line; and

offering a voice channel selection service to the subscriber whereby the subscriber may select which of the at least one of analog voice service and derived POTS voice service to utilize for a voice call.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the step of offering at least one of analog voice service and derived POTS voice service to a subscriber via a subscriber line comprises the step of offering both the analog voice service and the derived POTS voice service to the subscriber.

82. The method of claim 80, further comprising the step of receiving compensation from the subscriber for the voice channel selection service.

83. The method of claim 80, wherein the derived POTS voice service involves one of a voice over DSL (VODSL) protocol, a voice over Internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) protocol, a constant bit rate (CBR) protocol, a variable bit rate—

real time (VBR-RT) protocol, and a variable bit rate—

non real time (VBR-NRT).

84. The method of claim 80, wherein one of the at least one of analog voice service and derived POTS voice service and the voice service selection service are offered by a first service provider and the other of the at least one of analog voice service and derived POTS voice service is offered by a second service provider.

85. The method of claim 84, further comprising the step of establishing a business relationship with the second service provider related to the voice service selection service.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein the business relationship specifies a relative compensation scheme between the first service provider and the second service provider.

87. The method of claim 84, further comprising the step of receiving compensation from the second service provider for offering the voice channel selection service to the subscriber and thereby enabling the subscriber to utilize the voice service offered by the second service provider for the voice call.

88. The method of claim 80, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to determine that there is an incoming POTS call during an active derived POTS voice call.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the voice channel selection service further enables the incoming POTS call to be processed in one of a plurality of ways.

90. The method of claim 80, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to receive analog voice services during an active derived POTS voice call.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the analog voice services received during the active derived POTS voice call include custom local area signaling system (CLASS) services.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the CLASS services comprise at least one of calling number identification, calling number screening, voice messaging, conferencing, quality of service selection, call waiting, call-on-hold, and automatic call-back.

93. The method of claim 80, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to place an active derived POTS voice call on hold and activate an incoming baseband POTS voice call.

94. The method of claim 80, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to switch between a derived POTS voice call and a baseband POTS voice call.

95. The method of claim 80, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to receive analog voice mail service during an active derived POTS voice call.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the voice mail service is provided at the customer premise.

97. The method of claim 80, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to determine a caller identification number associated with an incoming baseband POTS call during an active derived POTS voice call.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to automatically initiate a voice call to the caller identification number.

99. The method of claim 97, wherein the voice call to the caller identification number comprises another derived POTS voice call.

100. The method of claim 97, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to screen the incoming baseband POTS call based on the caller identification number.

101. The method of claim 80, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to conference an baseband POTS call with a derived POTS voice call.

102. The method of claim 80, wherein the voice channel selection service enables the subscriber to automatically initiate derived POTS voice call.