Computing device supporting bridging between a packet switched network and the public switched telephone network
First Claim
1. A computing device for use in bridging a first call between a first telephony device and a second telephony device and a second call from a third telephony device, the computing device comprising:
- processing circuitry that operates in both a call bridging mode and a call end-point mode;
a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry;
a first interface communicatively coupling the processing circuitry to the first telephony device via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and pursuant to a first voice format;
a second interface communicatively coupling the processing circuitry to the second telephony device via an Internet network and pursuant to a second voice format;
the processing circuitry, in the call end-point mode, supports the second call by maintaining a first communication pathway between the user interface and the third telephony device; and
the processing circuitry, in the call bridging mode, provides a second communication pathway between the first telephony device and the second telephony device by translating first call information of the first call received via the first interface to the second voice format for delivery to the second telephony device, and translating second call information of the first call received via the second interface to the first voice format for delivery first telephony device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bridging computing device includes processing circuitry communicatively coupled to a user interface, a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) interface, a packet data network interface. To service an incoming call, the processing circuitry obtains and executes bridging instructions that establish a pathway between the PSTN and packet data network interfaces. With such pathway, a call between a PSTN telephony device and an Internet telephony device can be established and maintained via the bridging computing device. Call conferences may also be set up via the bridging computing device, e.g., between pluralities of Internet telephony devices with or without the participation of a PSTN telephony device. Calls may be initiated by a PSTN telephony device to an Internet telephony device, or by an Internet telephony device to a PSTN telephony device.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computing device for use in bridging a first call between a first telephony device and a second telephony device and a second call from a third telephony device, the computing device comprising:
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processing circuitry that operates in both a call bridging mode and a call end-point mode;
a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry;
a first interface communicatively coupling the processing circuitry to the first telephony device via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and pursuant to a first voice format;
a second interface communicatively coupling the processing circuitry to the second telephony device via an Internet network and pursuant to a second voice format;
the processing circuitry, in the call end-point mode, supports the second call by maintaining a first communication pathway between the user interface and the third telephony device; and
the processing circuitry, in the call bridging mode, provides a second communication pathway between the first telephony device and the second telephony device by translating first call information of the first call received via the first interface to the second voice format for delivery to the second telephony device, and translating second call information of the first call received via the second interface to the first voice format for delivery first telephony device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a telephony infrastructure supporting a call between a first telephony device and a second telephony device, a computing device comprising:
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bridging circuitry;
a first interface communicatively coupling the bridging circuitry to the first telephony device via to a public switched telephone network and pursuant to a first voice format;
a second interface communicatively coupling the bridging circuitry to the second telephony device via an Internet network and pursuant to a second voice format; and
the bridging circuitry provides a call pathway between the first telephony device and the second telephony device by translating first call information received via the first interface to the second voice format for delivery to the second telephony device, and by translating second call information received via the second interface to the first voice format for delivery to the first telephony device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computing device comprising:
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a user interface;
processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the user interface;
a first interface communicatively coupling the processing circuitry to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN);
a second interface communicatively coupling the processing circuitry to an Internet network; and
the processing circuitry selectively bridges calls between the first interface and the second interface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a telephony infrastructure supporting a call between a first telephony device and a second telephony device, a method performed by a computing device having a first interface and a second interface, the first interface communicatively coupled to a public switched telephone network, the second interface communicatively coupled to an Internet network, the method comprising:
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receiving first voice signals in a first voice format generated by the first telephony device via the first interface;
receiving second voice signals in a second voice format generated by the second telephony device via the second interface;
translating the first voice signals received from the first voice format to the second voice format;
translating the second voice signals received from the second voice format to the first voice format;
delivering the first voice signals in the second voice format to the second telephony device via the second interface; and
delivering the second voice signals in the first voice format to the first telephony device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification