Cellular-internet communication system and method

• US 20070049245A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steve Lipman
• Original Assignee: Steve Lipman
• Inventors: Lipman, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/210,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049245A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A cellular-Internet (CellNet) communications system, and a corresponding method, provides routing between a cellular telephone-originated call and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The system includes a cellular-Internet switch, where cellular-originated telephone calls are received, the switch routing a cellular call as a VoIP call and an authentication device, where a cellular telephone is assigned an authentication number, and the authentication device provides for billing a user for the VoIP call. Finally, the system includes a billing system, where time spent on the VoIP call is received and the user is billed.

Claims

1. A cellular-Internet communications system, comprising:

a cellular-Internet switch, wherein cellular-originated telephone calls are received;

means for routing the received cellular-originated telephone call as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call;

an authentication device, wherein a cellular telephone is assigned an authentication number, the authentication providing means for billing a user for the VoIP call; and

a billing system, wherein time spent on the VoIP call is received and the user is billed.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for converting a received cellular telephone call into a VoIP call

means for receiving a call from one of a cordless telephone and a wired telephone; and

means for converting the call from the cordless telephone and the wired telephone into the VoIP call.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication device comprises one of a router, a personal computer, a smart card, and a software program.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication device is coupled to the cellular-Internet switch using an Ethernet connection.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular-Internet switch comprises an emergency call module, comprising:

means for recognizing cellular call as an emergency call;

means for locating the cellular telephone making the emergency call; and

means for connecting the cellular call to a nearest emergency service provider.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the billing system, comprises:

a prepaid calling module; and

a bill generation module.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the prepaid calling module, comprises:

a data management module; and

one or more prepaid calling plans.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a call processing module (CPM) coupled to the billing system, the CPM comprising:

means for determining a pre-paid account for the user;

means for timing a length of the VoIP call;

means for indicating an impending pre-paid account zero balance to the user; and

means for terminating the VoIP call when the pre-paid account reaches zero.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the CPM further comprises means for indicating a pre-paid account balance remaining to the user prior to connecting the VoIP call.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication device, comprises:

an authentication register that stores a user-provided authentication number and a retrieved authentication number;

a comparator that determines if the user-provided authentication number matches the retrieved authentication number; and

processor logic that verifies a connection to the authentication device.

11. A cellular-Internet communications system, comprising:

means for receiving a cellular telephone call and converting the received cellular telephone call to a packetized signal capable of transmission over the Internet as a VoIP call;

means coupled to the receiving and converting means for authenticating the received cellular telephone call; and

means for billing a user for the VoIP call.

12. The cellular-Internet communications system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for recognizing the received cellular telephone as an emergency call;

means for locating a user making the received cellular telephone call; and

means for connecting the user to an emergency services center.

13. The cellular-Internet communications system of claim 11, further comprising means for receiving a telephone call from a cordless telephone and converting the received cordless telephone call to a VoIP call.

14. The cellular-Internet telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein the billing means comprises prepaid billing means.

15. A method for placing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call, comprising:

receiving a cellular-originated telephone call;

receiving an authentication number from a user making the cellular-originated telephone call;

verifying the authentication number, and if the authentication number is verified;

routing the cellular-originated telephone call as a VoIP call and transmitting the VoIP call to a destination address.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a billing record for the VoIP call.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the VoIP call is placed as a prepaid calling plan call.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

recognizing a cellular telephone call as an emergency call;

locating the user;

comparing the user location to locations of emergency service centers; and

connecting the user to an appropriate emergency service center.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a telephone call from a cordless telephone;

receiving an authentication number from a user making the cordless telephone call;

verifying the authentication number, and if the authentication number is verified;

converting the cordless telephone call to a VoIP call and transmitting the VoIP call to a destination address.

20. A cellular-Internet communications system, comprising:

means for receiving a cellular telephone call and converting the received cellular telephone call to a packetized signal capable of transmission over the Internet as a VoIP call;

means for authenticating the received cellular telephone call; and

means for billing a user for the VoIP call.

21. The cellular-Internet communications system of claim 20, further comprising means for receiving a telephone call from a cordless telephone and converting the received cordless telephone call to a VoIP call.

22. The cellular-Internet telecommunications system of claim 20, wherein the billing means comprises prepaid billing means.