Telephone Network Interface Bridge Between Data Telephony Networks and Dedicated Connection Telephony Networks

• US 20080049731A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan Kikinis
• Original Assignee: Dan Kikinis
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/64 Distributing or queueing

Abstract

A computerized telephony bridge unit has a Data Network Telephony (DNT) Port and a Connection Oriented/Switched Telephony (COST) trunk port, each associated with circuitry for receiving a placing calls in the data format required by connected networks. The bridge unit further comprises conversion circuitry for converting data dynamically between network protocols compatible with each connected network. Control routines executable on the computerized bridge unit are adapted to receive a first call from one of the COST and DNT networks, to place a call associated with the received call on the network other than the network on which the call is received, and to dynamically convert data between a call connected at one port and a call connected at the other port. The data network can be the Internet, and the COST network can be any publicly or privately switched dedicated-connection-oriented telephone network. Association between calls between two otherwise incompatible networks can be by a locally-stored lookup table, by negotiation with a caller, or by retrieval of data from incoming calls. Methods for practicing the invention are taught in the disclosure.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method for implementing an Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT) communication center, comprising steps of:

(a) forming a communication center of one or more agent stations, each agent station having a Data Network Telephony (DNT) interface having a port connected to the Internet capable of transmitting IPNT calls, and each DNT interface having an IP address;

(b) connecting a computerized bridge unit to the Internet by a data network port and associated circuitry for receiving and placing IPNT calls on the Internet, the bridge unit having a trunk-line port and associated circuitry for receiving and placing Connection Oriented/Switched Telephony (COST) telephone calls on a COST network, conversion circuitry for converting data dynamically between IPNT and COST telephone calls, and control routines for receiving a first call from one of the COST and Internet networks, to place a call associated with the received call on the network other than the network on which the call is received, and to dynamically convert data between the associated calls;

(c) receiving a COST call at the bridge unit placed by a caller on the POTS network using a COST number;

(d) associating the COST call with the IP address of the DNT interface at one of the one or more agent stations;

(e) placing an IPNT call to the IP address; and

(f) dynamically converting data at the bridge between the COST call and the associated IPNT call, thereby effectively connecting the COST caller with an agent at the agent station.