System and method for conference calling with VOIP terminal

• US 20060146793A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia of America Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Benco, David S., True, Sandra Lynn, Sheen, Baoling S., Voight, Kenneth J., Overend, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A method and apparatus for connecting a plurality of called party terminals in a bridged a call session with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calling party terminal. The method includes the VOIP terminal sending called party terminal identifiers identifying each called party terminal to a calling party Service Control Point (SCP), and creating a bridged call session at the SCP connecting the called party terminals and the calling party VOIP terminal. The apparatus includes a system for sending called party terminal identifiers identifying each called party terminal to a calling party Service Control Point (SCP), and creating a bridged call session at the SCP connecting the called party terminals and the calling party VOIP terminal.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a plurality of called party terminals in a bridged call session with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calling party terminal comprising:

the VOIP terminal providing the calling party with means for selecting the called party terminals to be bridged;

the VOIP terminal receiving the called party terminal selections from the calling party;

the VOIP terminal sending called party terminal identifiers identifying each selected called party terminal to a calling party Service Control Point (SCP) ; and

the calling party SCP creating a bridged call session connecting the called party terminals and the calling party VOIP terminal.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the sending step comprises:

combining the called party terminal identifiers into VOIP packets having VOIP call information payloads; and

sending the VOIP packets to the calling party SCP.

3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the called party identifiers are PSTN directory numbers.

4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein the creating step further comprises creating a bridged call session using the PSTN directory numbers.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the calling party SCP is a Switching Center.

6. A system for bridging a plurality of called party terminals in a call session with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calling party terminal comprising:

means for selecting the called party terminals to be bridged;

means for sending called party terminal identifiers identifying each selected called party terminal to a calling party Service Control Point (SCP); and

means for creating a bridged call session connecting the called party terminals and the calling party VOIP terminal.

7. The system defined in claim 6 further comprising:

means for combining the called party terminal identifiers into VOIP packets having VOIP call information payloads; and

means for sending the VOIP packets to the calling party SCP.

8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the called party identifiers are PSTN directory numbers.

9. The system defined in claim 8 wherein the means for creating a bridged call session use the PSTN directory numbers.

10. The system defined in claim 6 wherein the calling party SCP is a Switching Center.

11. A VOIP terminal comprising:

means for selecting the called party terminals to be bridged;

means for sending called party terminal identifiers identifying each selected called party terminal to a calling party Service Control Point (SCP).

12. The VOIP terminal defined in claim 11 further comprising:

means for combining the called party terminal identifiers into VOIP packets having VOIP call information payloads; and

means for sending the VOIP packets to the calling party SCP.

13. The system defined in claim 12 wherein the called party identifiers are PSTN directory numbers.