Method and Apparatus for Interfacing a Public Switched Telephone Network and an Internet Protocol Network for Multi-Media Communication
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of routing a real-time voice communication call, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for routing a real-time voice communication call, the system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification