Communication networks in which an application server and multiple directory numbers are used to provide internet protocol like features to time division multiplexed phone lines

• US 20080075263A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Levine, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,565,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1013 Network architectures, gateways, control or user entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0037 involving call modelling techniques, e.g. modifications to the basic call state model [BCSM]

Abstract

A communication network includes a switching system, an application server, and a softswitch that communicatively couples the application server to the switching system. The switching system is configured to detect a first call to a primary directory number associated with a phone line and to forward the first call to the application server. The application server is configured to instruct the softswitch to generate a second call to a RingMaster directory number associated with the phone line. And the softswitch is configured to bridge the first and second calls responsive to detection of a communication path completion to the phone line.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication network, comprising:

detecting a first call to a primary directory number associated with a phone line;

forwarding the first call to an application server;

generating a second call from the application server to a RingMaster directory number associated with the phone line;

detecting a communication path completion to the phone line; and

bridging the first call and the second call responsive to detection of the communication path completion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the first call to the application server comprises:

routing the first call to the application server without power ringing the phone line associated with the primary and RingMaster directory numbers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the second call from the application server to the RingMaster directory number comprises:

power ringing the phone line associated with the primary and RingMaster directory numbers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the second call from the application server to the RingMaster directory number comprises:

sending a query to a Signal Control Point (SCP) to determine how to process the second call;

determining at the SCP that calls to the RingMaster directory number are terminated at the phone line associated with the RingMaster directory number; and

terminating the second call to the phone line associated with the primary and RingMaster directory numbers responsive to the determination that calls to the second directory number are terminated at the phone line associated with the RingMaster directory number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the first call to the application server comprises:

sending a query to a Signal Control Point (SCP) to determine how to process the first call;

determining at the SCP that the primary directory number has an Internet Protocol (IP) overlay feature associated therewith; and

forwarding the first call to the application server responsive to the determination that the primary directory number has an IP overlay feature associated therewith.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating call termination features on a computer associated with the phone line via the application server.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the call termination features comprise displaying calling name and/or number, call forwarding, call forwarding to voice mail, recording the call instance in a call log, and/or processing incoming calls based on a defined profile.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the first call to the application server comprises:

forwarding the first call to a Voice over Network (VoN) number associated with the phone line.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the second call from the application server to the RingMaster directory number associated with the phone line comprises:

using a directory number associated with a calling party associated with the first call as a calling number associated with the second call from the application server to the RingMaster directory number.

10. A computer program product comprising computer-readable program code embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

11. A method of operating a communication network, comprising:

initiating a call via a computer associated with a first phone line to a second phone line;

detecting the call initiation at an application server;

establishing a call between the application server and the first phone line;

generating a call between the application server and the second phone line; and

bridging the call between the application server and the first phone line and the call between the application server and the second phone line so as to create a call between the first phone line and the second phone line.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first phone line has a primary directory number and a RingMaster directory number associated therewith such that calls to the primary directory number are forwarded to the application server and calls to the RingMaster directory number are terminated to the first phone line, and wherein establishing the call between the application server and the first phone line comprises:

generating a call from the application server to the RingMaster directory number.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the call from the application server to the RingMaster directory number comprises:

sending a query to a Signal Control Point (SCP) to determine how to process the call from the application server to the RingMaster directory number;

determining at the SCP that calls to the RingMaster directory number are terminated at the first phone line, which is associated with the Ringmaster directory number; and

terminating the call from the application server to the Ringmaster directory number to the first phone line responsive to the determination that calls to the RingMaster directory number are terminated at the first phone line.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein generating the call between the application server and the second phone line comprises:

generating the call between the application server and the second phone line responsive to establishing the call between the application server and the first phone line.

15. A computer program product comprising computer-readable program code embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the method of claim 11.

16. A communication network, comprising:

a switching system;

an application server; and

a softswitch that communicatively couples the application server to the switching system;

wherein the switching system is configured to detect a first call to a primary directory number associated with a phone line and to forward the first call to the application server, the application server is configured to instruct the softswitch to generate a second call to a RingMaster directory number associated with the phone line, and the softswitch is configured to bridge the first and second calls responsive to detection of a communication path completion to the phone line.

17. The communication network of claim 16, wherein the phone line is a first phone line, and wherein the application server is further configured to detect a call that is initiated by a computer associated with the first phone line to a second phone line, to instruct the softswitch to establish a call with the first phone line, to instruct the softswitch to generate a call to the second phone line, and the softswitch is configured to bridge the call between the application server and the first phone line and the call between the application server and the second phone line so as to create a call between the first phone line and the second phone line.

18. The communication network of claim 17, further comprising:

a Signal Control Point (SCP) that is communicatively coupled to the switching system and is configured determine that calls to the primary directory number are forwarded to the application server if the primary directory number has an Internet Protocol (IP) overlay feature associated therewith, and that calls to the RingMaster directory number are terminated at the first phone line associated therewith responsive to queries from the switching system.

19. The communication network of claim 17, further comprising:

a user interface server that is connected between the computer associated with the first phone line and the application server that is configured to provide a user interface via which a user can initiate the call to the second phone line.

20. The communication network of claim 17, wherein the application server is further configured to instruct the softswitch to generate the call to the second phone line responsive to establishing the call between the application server and the first phone line;

and

wherein the softswitch is further configured to bridge the call between the application server and the first phone line and the call between the application server and the second phone line responsive to detection of a communication path completion to the second phone line.