Method and Apparatus for Interfacing a Public Switched Telephone Network and an Internet Protocol Network for Multi-Media Communication

• US 20060251056A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centre One
• Original Assignee: Centre One
• Inventors: Feuer, Donald S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 Details of gateway equipment

Abstract

A real-time interface between the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and an Internet Protocol (IP) network provides voice to data and data to voice conversion between the PSTN and the IP network in a seamless process. The interface, a central communication network, performs Class 5 switching between the PSTN and the IP network, besides providing enhanced services. Receiving a call, the central communication network simultaneously routes the call to a plurality of preprogrammed numbers on the PSTN and on the IP network. The central communication network provides call screening, takes voice messages and converts them to e-mail messages, takes e-mail or facsimile messages and converts them to voice messages. Communication between a PSTN phone on a local PSTN, a computer hooked up to the IP network, a phone hooked up to the IP network by a gateway, a private branch exchange (PBX) on a local PSTN, a wireless communication system with pagers and/or cell phones hooked up to a local PSTN, and facsimile machines on a local PSTN, for example, is provided by the central communication network. Through the central communication network, a computer hooked up to the IP network can exchange voice messages and facsimile messages with a PSTN connected device and conduct conference calling with a plurality of PSTN devices.

Claims

1. A method of routing a real-time voice communication call, the method comprising:

assigning a destination address to a subscriber, the destination address including an internet protocol address and a base phone number;

receiving a real-time voice communication call corresponding to the destination address; and

automatically routing the received call to a destination selected from the group consisting of the internet protocol address and the base phone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time voice communication call is received from a device connected to a public switched telephone network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time voice communication call is received from a device connected to the internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the received call is routed to the base phone number through a public switched telephone network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the received call is routed to the internet protocol address through the internet.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the received call is routed to the internet protocol address through the internet without utilizing a public switched telephone network.

7. A system for routing a real-time voice communication call, the system comprising:

gate interface circuitry adapted for connection to the internet;

a computer control including a database of subscribers and corresponding destination addresses, each destination address including an internet protocol address and a base phone number; and

a class 5 switch coupled with both the gate interface circuitry and the computer control, the class 5 switch operable to-

couple with a public switched telephone network,

receive a real-time voice communication call corresponding to the destination address, and

automatically route the received call to a destination selected from the group consisting of the internet protocol address and the base phone number.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the real-time voice communication call is received from a device connected to the public switched telephone network.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the real-time voice communication call is received from a device connected to the internet.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the class 5 switch routes the received call to the base phone number through the public switched telephone network.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the class 5 switch routes the received call to the internet protocol address through the internet.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the class 5 switch routes the received call to the internet protocol address through the internet without utilizing the public switched telephone network.