Protocol converter

• US 20070087730A1
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Pearson, Larry, Walter, Edward, Diroo, Yolius, Adams, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/251,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087730A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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

Abstract

The invention provides a system, method and apparatus for connecting a target telephone with Voice Mail System in a network comprising Centrex or other TDM telephones and VoIP (or SIP) type telephones. The invention provides a system for the connection of a target telephone with a Voice Mail System in a network using a protocol converter that is connectable to a PSTN network and an IP network and a voice mail system. The converter may comprise instructions; computer memory and a processor. The converter converts message signals between SIP signals and SMDI signals as may be required and then directs the message signals to a target telephone, which may be through an IP Gateway. The system may further comprise a management console or an end office facility. An Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers may also be provided with the system.

Claims

1. A system for directing messages between a target telephone and a Voice Mail System in a network comprising:

a protocol converter that;

i) is connected to a PSTN network and an IP network and a voice mail system;

ii) comprises computer readable instructions;

computer memory and a processor; and

iii) converts an SMDI message to an SIP message and directs the SIP message to the target telephone.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a VoIP Gateway.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a management console.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an end office facility.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers.

6. An apparatus for directing messages between a target telephone and a Voice Mail System comprising:

(a) interfaces for connecting the apparatus to a PSTN network, an IP network and a Voice Mail System;

(b) computer readable instructions to convert an SMDI message to an SIP message and direct the SIP message to the target telephone;

(c) computer memory; and

(d) a processor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a management console.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an IP Gateway.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least one interface comprises an RS-232 serial connector.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers.

11. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a computerized method for delivering a message associated with a Voice Message System to a target telephone comprising:

(a) routing an SMDI message associated with a telephone call forwarded in conjunction with a target telephone to a Voice Message System;

(b) routing an SMDI message associated with the telephone call to a Protocol Converter;

(c) converting the SMDI message, using the Protocol Converter, to an SIP message when the target telephone is an SIP Phone; and

(d) directing the SIP message to the target telephone when the target telephone is an SIP Phone.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises an Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises routing converted messages through an IP Gateway to the target telephone.

14. In a network wherein telephone calls are forwarded to a Voice Message System, a method for routing messages to a target telephone, comprising:

(a) routing an SMDI message associated with the forwarded call to a Protocol Converter;

(b) converting the SMDI message, using the Protocol Converter, to an SIP message when the target telephone is an SIP Phone; and

(c) directing the SIP message to the target telephone.

16. A set of application program interfaces embodied on a computer readable medium for execution on a computer in conjunction with an application program that routes an SMDI message associated with a telephone call forwarded in conjunction with a called target telephone to a Voice Message System, comprising:

(a) a first interface that receives an SMDI message input from a Voice Message System;

(b) a second interface that converts an SMDI message to an SIP message; and

(c) a third interface that routes an SIP message or an SMDI message to the target telephone.

15. The method of claim 16 further comprising routing an SMDI message associated with a telephone call forwarded in conjunction with the target telephone to a Voice Message System;

17. The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising:

a fourth interface for receiving input from a softswitch proxy.

18. The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising:

a fifth interface for receiving input from a PSTN Network.

19. The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising:

a sixth interface for receiving input from a management console.

20. The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising:

a seventh interface for receiving input from an IP Network Gateway.

21. The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising:

an eighth interface for input from an Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers.