Personal gateway for originating and terminating telephone calls

• US 20060239252A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sabse Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Voifi Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Patel, Yogesh, Kantak, Vinay, Bhatia, Sabeer
• Granted Patent: US 9,106,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• 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 7/125 Details of gateway equipment

Abstract

A system, method and software product connects a call from an internet protocol (IP) phone and a telephone apparatus connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) using a personal gateway configured within a network group. A call from a user of the IP phone is answered and the user is authenticated. A destination number for the telephone apparatus is received from the user. A list of personal gateways is created based upon the destination number. The list is prioritized based upon least cost routing. A highest priority personal gateway that is available is determined using the prioritized list. The highest priority personal gateway that is available is instructed to dial the destination number using a PSTN interface. The IP phone connects with the telephone apparatus to make the call. The call terminates and associated resources are freed if either the IP phone or the telephone apparatus hangs-up.

Claims

1. A personal gateway for connecting a call between an internet protocol (IP) phone and a telephone apparatus connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), comprising:

at least one PSTN interface connected to a PSTN line;

an internet interface connected to the Internet; and

gateway software operable to connect a call between the IP phone and the telephone apparatus based upon least cost routing.

2. The personal gateway of claim 1, the gateway software operating to accept a call from the Internet and connecting the call to the PSTN.

3. The personal gateway of claim 1, the gateway software operating to accept a call from the PSTN and connecting the call to the Internet.

4. The personal gateway of claim 1, the gateway software operating to join a network group of personal gateways.

5. The personal gateway of claim 4, wherein each network group operates as a private telecommunication network.

6. The personal gateway of claim 4, wherein the network group is a public group that does not require authentication for use.

7. The personal gateway of claim 1, the gateway software being easy to configure and operate.

8. A personal gateway for providing voice call connectivity between a first apparatus connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a second apparatus connected to a PSTN, comprising:

at least one PSTN interface connected to a PSTN line;

an internet interface connected to the Internet; and

gateway software operable to connect a voice call between the first apparatus and the second apparatus via the Internet and a second personal gateway of a network group.

9. The personal gateway of claim 8, wherein the second personal gateway is selected based upon least cost routing and availability.

10. The personal gateway of claim 8, wherein the second personal gateway is selected based upon least cost routing, availability and call quality.

11. A method for connecting a call from an internet protocol (IP) phone to a telephone apparatus connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) using a personal gateway configured within a network group, comprising:

answering a call from a user of the IP phone;

authenticating the user;

receiving, from the user, a destination number for the telephone apparatus;

creating a list of personal gateways based upon the destination number;

prioritizing the list based upon least cost routing;

determining, using the prioritized list, a highest priority personal gateway that is available;

instructing the highest priority personal gateway that is available to dial the destination number using a PSTN interface;

connecting the IP phone with the telephone apparatus to make the call; and

terminating the call and freeing associated resources if either the IP phone or the telephone apparatus hangs-up.

12. A software product comprising instructions, stored on computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, perform steps for connecting a call from an internet protocol (IP) phone to a telephone apparatus connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) using a personal gateway configured within a network group, comprising:

instructions for answering a call from a user of the IP phone;

instructions for authenticating the user;

instructions for receiving, from the user, a destination number for the telephone apparatus;

instructions for creating a list of personal gateways based upon the destination number;

instructions for prioritizing the list based upon least cost routing;

instructions for determining, using the prioritized list, a highest priority personal gateway that is available;

instructions for instructing the highest priority personal gateway that is available to dial the destination number using a PSTN interface;

instructions for connecting the IP phone with the telephone apparatus to make the call; and

instructions for terminating the call and freeing associated resources if either the IP phone or the telephone apparatus hangs-up.

13. A method for connecting calls between a first and a second apparatus connected to one or more public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) using a personal gateway configured within a network group, comprising:

answering a call made by a first user of the first apparatus connected to the PSTN;

authenticating the user;

receiving, from the user, a destination number for the second apparatus connected to a PSTN;

creating a list of personal gateways based upon the destination number;

prioritizing the list based upon least cost routing;

determining, using the prioritized list, a highest priority personal gateway that is available;

instructing the highest priority personal gateway that is available to dial the destination number using a PSTN interface;

connecting the first apparatus with the second apparatus to make the call; and

terminating the call and freeing associated resources if either the first or second apparatus hangs-up.

14. A software product comprising instructions, stored on computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, perform steps for connecting calls between a first and a second apparatus connected to one or more public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) using a personal gateway configured within a network group, comprising:

instructions for answering a call made by a first user of the first apparatus connected to the PSTN;

instructions for authenticating the user;

instructions for receiving, from the user, a destination number for the second apparatus connected to a PSTN;

instructions for creating a list of personal gateways based upon the destination number;

instructions for prioritizing the list based upon least cost routing;

instructions for determining, using the prioritized list, a highest priority personal gateway that is available;

instructions for instructing the highest priority personal gateway that is available to dial the destination number using a PSTN interface;

instructions for connecting the first apparatus with the second apparatus to make the call; and

instructions for terminating the call and freeing associated resources if either the first or second apparatus hangs-up.