Method and apparatus for providing endpoint and access independent virtual numbers

• US 20070091878A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Application Number:
  US11/240,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20070091878A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2596 Translation of addresses of the same type other than IP, e.g. translation from MAC to MAC addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling subscribers using any access technology and endpoint equipment to subscribe to VoIP network services and to use the advanced features provided by VoIP networks to receive incoming calls are disclosed. The present method enables subscribers to use a virtual number, which they can associate with any existing phone lines that they have already subscribed to, including traditional PSTN telephone lines, mobile phone lines, or even IP based phone lines. For example, subscribers can set up an advanced feature so that calls to this virtual phone number can be forwarded to the subscriber'"'"'s phones serially or in parallel depending on the preferences of the subscriber and the identity of the incoming caller. All advanced features associated with VoIP services can be made available to subscribers through these virtual numbers.

Claims

1. A method for providing a virtual number in a communication network, comprising:

assigning the virtual number in said communication network to a subscriber, where said subscriber has no Voice over Intemet Protocol (VoIP) endpoint capability; and

associating the virtual number with at least one telephony endpoint phone number provided by said subscriber for receiving an incoming call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network or a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said virtual number is used to receive said incoming call to said subscriber independent of a type of access network used by said subscriber or a type of endpoint used by said subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating comprises:

configuring said at least one telephony endpoint phone number and corresponding service logics to be associated with the virtual number in said communication network; and

forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number to said at least one telephony endpoint phone number according to said service logics.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said service logics are configured by said subscriber to be stored in an Application Server (AS) in said communication network.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said incoming call to the virtual number is forwarded by a Call Control Element (CCE) to said at least one telephony endpoint phone number.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said service logics comprise at least one of:

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number simultaneously to all of said at least one telephony endpoint phone number;

or

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number serially to each of said at least one telephony endpoint phone number in an order specified by said subscriber;

or

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number based on a time of day preference, or a day of week preference specified by said subscriber.

8. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing a virtual number in a communication network, comprising:

assigning the virtual number in said communication network to a subscriber, where said subscriber has no Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) endpoint capability; and

associating the virtual number with at least one telephony endpoint phone number provided by said subscriber for receiving an incoming call.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network or a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said virtual number is used to receive said incoming call to said subscriber independent of a type of access network used by said subscriber or a type of endpoint used by said subscriber.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said associating comprises:

configuring said at least one telephony endpoint phone number and corresponding service logics to be associated with the virtual number in said communication network; and

forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number to said at least one telephony endpoint phone number according to said service logics.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said service logics are configured by said subscriber to be stored in an Application Server (AS) in said communication network.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said incoming call to the virtual number is forwarded by a Call Control Element (CCE) to said at least one telephony endpoint phone number.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said service logics comprise at least one of:

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number simultaneously to all of said at least one telephony endpoint phone number;

or

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number serially to each of said at least one telephony endpoint phone number in an order specified by said subscriber;

or

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number based on a time of day preference, or a day of week preference specified by said subscriber.

15. An apparatus for providing a virtual number in a communication network, comprising:

means for assigning the virtual number in said communication network to a subscriber, where said subscriber has no Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) endpoint capability; and

means for associating the virtual number with at least one telephony endpoint phone number provided by said subscriber for receiving an incoming call.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network or a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said virtual number is used to receive said incoming call to said subscriber independent of a type of access network used by said subscriber or a type of endpoint used by said subscriber.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said associating means comprises:

means for configuring said at least one telephony endpoint phone number and corresponding service logics to be associated with the virtual number in said communication network; and

means for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number to said at least one telephony endpoint phone number according to said service logics.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said service logics are configured by said subscriber to be stored in an Application Server (AS) in said communication network.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said service logics comprise at least one of:

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number simultaneously to all of said at least one telephony endpoint phone number;

or

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number serially to each of said at least one telephony endpoint phone number in an order specified by said subscriber;

or

service logics for forwarding said incoming call to the virtual number based on a time of day preference, or a day of week preference specified by said subscriber.