Systems and methods for connecting a packet-based call to a conventional telephone network

• US 20090028063A1
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Actiontec Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Actiontec Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Chang, Dean, Sarte, Carlo
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0063 where the network is a peer-to-peer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for allowing an packet-based call made to a first identifier to dial a phone number within a telephone network. The method comprises sending a data packet from the packet-based call to a gateway device that can communicate with the telephone network. The data packet comprises the first identifier. The gateway device finds the phone number corresponding to the first identifier using a lookup table accessible to the gateway device. The gateway device then dials the phone number and transfers the data packet to the phone number.

Claims

1. A method for having a first packet-based call made to a personal identifier dial a first phone number within a telephone network, the method comprising:

forwarding the packet-based call to a first proxy identifier within a plurality of proxy identifiers that are visible to an Internet network, wherein the plurality of proxy identifiers are associated with a gateway device that can communicate with the telephone network;

analyzing, at the gateway device, a data packet of the packet-based call sent through the Internet network, wherein the data packet comprises a digital payload and a header, the header comprising the personal identifier;

finding the first phone number corresponding to the personal identifier using a lookup table accessible to the gateway device;

dialing the first phone number using the gateway device; and

transferring the data packet to the first phone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first phone number is a complete public switch telephone network (PSTN) phone number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the complete phone number comprises a main phone number and a telephone extension.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first phone number is a PBX telephone extension.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital payload comprises voice data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway device receives the data packet from a computer connected to the gateway device, wherein the computer is capable of receiving data packets from the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lookup table comprises a mapping of a plurality of personal identifiers to a plurality of phone numbers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the finding step comprises locating the personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers and obtaining the corresponding first phone number through the mapping.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the personal identifier cannot be found in the plurality of personal identifiers and no first phone number can be obtained, the method further comprising the step of terminating the first packet-based call or routing the first packet-based call to a messaging system.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the mapping comprises a one-to-one correspondence of each personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers to each phone number in the plurality of phone numbers.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone network is a PBX system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone network is an IP PBX system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone network is a PSTN system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the dialing step comprises making a SkypeOut call to the first phone number.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the gateway device further comprises an FXO port and the dialing step comprises sending information from the FXO port to a FXS port of the PSTN system.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the dialing step comprises sending information over a T1/E1 bus or an Ethernet LAN connection to a telephone service provider.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone network is a mobile telephone system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the dialing step comprises making a SkypeOut call to the first phone number.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the gateway device comprises a wireless communications module and wherein the dialing step comprises wirelessly sending information to the mobile telephone system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless communications module is a CDMA or GSM module.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the dialing step comprises sending information over a T1/E1 bus or an Ethernet LAN connection to a mobile telephone service provider.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring step comprises converting the digital payload into analog data using a digital-to-analog converter.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway device is a VoSKY Exchange device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the lookup table is stored in the gateway device.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the first packet-based call is sent through a peer-to-peer Internet network.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway device can receive a plurality of packet-based calls simultaneously, the first packed-based call included in the plurality of packet-based calls.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein a second packet-based call in the plurality of packet-based calls is forwarded to a second proxy identifier in the plurality of proxy identifiers.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the dialing step comprises dialing the first phone number using a SIP protocol.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway device comprises a LAN Ethernet connection.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the LAN Ethernet connection uses a SIP protocol.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the first packet-based call is generated by a computer.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the first packet-based call is generated by a SkypeIn call.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the first packet-based call is a Skype call, the personal identifier is a first Skype identifier, and the first proxy identifier is a second Skype identifier.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the first packet-based call is made from a public packet-based call service.

52. The method of claim 9, wherein the mapping comprises a one-to-one correspondence of each personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers to each phone number in the plurality of phone numbers.

35. A method for having a packet-based call made to a personal identifier dial a first phone number within a PBX system, the method comprising:

forwarding the packet-based call to a first proxy identifier within a plurality of proxy identifiers that are visible to an Internet network, wherein the plurality of proxy identifiers are associated with a gateway device that can communicate with the telephone network;

analyzing, at the gateway device, a data packet of the packet-based call sent through the Internet network, wherein the data packet comprises a digital payload and a header, the header comprising the personal identifier;

finding the first phone number corresponding to the personal identifier using a lookup table accessible to the gateway device;

dialing the first phone number using the gateway device;

converting the digital payload to an analog form; and

transferring the data packet to the first phone number.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first phone number is a telephone extension.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the gateway device receives the data packet from a computer connected to the gateway device, wherein the computer is capable of receiving data packets from the Internet.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the lookup table comprises a mapping of a plurality of personal identifiers to a plurality of phone numbers.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the finding step comprises locating the personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers and obtaining the corresponding first phone number through the mapping.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the personal identifier cannot be found in the plurality of personal identifiers and no first phone number can be obtained, the method further comprising the step of terminating the packet-based call or routing the packet-based call to a messaging system.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the mapping comprises a one-to-one correspondence of each personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers to each phone number in the plurality of phone numbers.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the converting step is achieved using a digital-to-analog converter.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein the transferring step comprises only transferring the analog payload to the PBX system.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the packet-based call is sent through a peer-to-peer Internet network.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the packet-based call is a Skype call, the personal identifier is a first Skype identifier, and the first proxy identifier is a second Skype identifier.

46. A method for having a packet-based call made to a personal identifier dial a first phone number within an IP PBX system, the method comprising:

forwarding the packet-based call to a first proxy identifier within a plurality of proxy identifiers that are visible to an Internet network, wherein the plurality of proxy identifiers are associated with a gateway device that can communicate with the telephone network;

analyzing, at the gateway device, a data packet of the packet-based call sent through the Internet network, wherein the data packet comprises a digital payload and a header, the header comprising the personal identifier;

finding the first phone number corresponding to the personal identifier using a lookup table accessible to the gateway device;

dialing the first phone number using the gateway device; and

transferring the data packet to the first phone number.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the first phone number is a telephone extension.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the gateway device receives the data packet from a computer connected to the gateway device, wherein the computer is capable of receiving data packets from the Internet.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the lookup table comprises a mapping of a plurality of personal identifiers to a plurality of phone numbers.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the finding step comprises locating the personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers and obtaining the corresponding first phone number through the mapping.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the personal identifier cannot be found in the plurality of personal identifiers and no first phone number can be obtained, the method further comprising the step of terminating the packet-based call or routing the packet-based call to a messaging system.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein the packet-based call is sent through a peer-to-peer Internet network.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein the packet-based call is a Skype call, the personal identifier is a first Skype identifier, and the first proxy identifier is a second Skype identifier.

55. A method for having a packet-based call made to a personal identifier dial a first phone number within a PSTN system, the method comprising:

forwarding the packet-based call to a first proxy identifier within a plurality of proxy identifiers that are visible to an Internet network, wherein the plurality of proxy identifiers are associated with a gateway device that can communicate with the telephone network;

analyzing, at the gateway device, a data packet of the packet-based call sent through the Internet network, wherein the data packet comprises a digital payload and a header, the header comprising the personal identifier;

finding the first phone number corresponding to the personal identifier using a lookup table accessible to the gateway device;

dialing the first phone number using the gateway device;

converting the digital payload into analog form; and

transferring the data packet to the first phone number.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the gateway device receives the data packet from a computer connected to the gateway device, wherein the computer is capable of receiving data packets from the Internet.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the lookup table comprises a mapping of a plurality of personal identifiers to a plurality of phone numbers.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the finding step comprises locating the personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers and obtaining the corresponding first phone number through the mapping.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the personal identifier cannot be found in the plurality of personal identifiers and no first phone number can be obtained, the method further comprising the step of terminating the packet-based call or routing the packet-based call to a messaging system.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the mapping comprises a one-to-one correspondence of each personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers to each phone number in the plurality of phone numbers.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein the dialing step comprises making a SkypeOut call to the first phone number.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein the gateway device further comprises a FXO port and the dialing step comprises sending information from the FXO port to a FXS port of the PSTN system.

63. The method of claim 55, wherein the dialing step comprises sending information over a T1/E1 bus or an Ethernet LAN connection to a telephone service provider.

64. The method of claim 55, wherein the lookup table is stored in the gateway device.

65. The method of claim 55, wherein the PSTN is capable of processing digital payloads and the converting step is not necessary.

66. The method of claim 55, wherein the transferring step comprises only transferring the analog payload to the PBX system.

67. The method of claim 55, wherein the packet-based call is sent through a peer-to-peer Internet network.

68. The method of claim 55, wherein the dialing step comprises dialing the first phone number using a SIP protocol.

69. The method of claim 55, wherein the packet-based call is a Skype call, the personal identifier is a first Skype identifier, and the first proxy identifier is a second Skype identifier.

70. A method for having a packet-based call made to a personal identifier dial a first phone number within a mobile telephone system, the method comprising:

forwarding the packet-based call to a first proxy identifier within a plurality of proxy identifiers that are visible to an Internet network, wherein the plurality of proxy identifiers are associated with a gateway device that can communicate with the telephone network;

analyzing, at the gateway device, a data packet of the packet-based call sent through the Internet network, wherein the data packet comprises a digital payload and a header, the header comprising the personal identifier;

finding the first phone number corresponding to the personal identifier using a lookup table accessible to the gateway device;

dialing the first phone number using the gateway device; and

transferring the data packet to the first phone number.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the gateway device receives the data packet from a computer connected to the gateway device, wherein the computer is capable of receiving data packets from the Internet.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the lookup table comprises a mapping of a plurality of personal identifiers to a plurality of phone numbers.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the finding step comprises locating the personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers and obtaining the corresponding first phone number through the mapping.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein the personal identifier cannot be found in the plurality of personal identifiers and no first phone number can be obtained, the method further comprising the step of terminating the packet-based call or routing the packet-based call to a messaging system.

75. The method of claim 72, wherein the mapping comprises a one-to-one correspondence of each personal identifier in the plurality of personal identifiers to each phone number in the plurality of phone numbers.

76. The method of claim 70, wherein the dialing step comprises making a SkypeOut call to the first phone number.

77. The method of claim 70, wherein the gateway device comprises a wireless communications module and wherein the dialing step comprises wirelessly sending information to the mobile telephone system.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the wireless communications module is a CDMA or GSM module.

79. The method of claim 70, wherein the dialing step comprises sending information over a T1/E1 bus or an Ethernet LAN connection to a mobile telephone service provider.

80. The method of claim 70, wherein the lookup table is stored in the gateway device.

81. The method of claim 70, wherein the packet-based call is sent through a peer-to-peer Internet network.

82. The method of claim 70, wherein the dialing step comprises dialing the first phone number using a SIP protocol.

83. The method of claim 70, wherein the packet-based call is a Skype call, the personal identifier is a first Skype identifier, and the first proxy identifier is a second Skype identifier.

84. A method for having a packet-based call made to a personal identifier dial a first phone number within a telephone network, the method comprising:

sending a data packet from the packet-based call through an Internet network to a gateway device that can communicate with the telephone network, wherein the data packet comprises the personal identifier;

finding the first phone number corresponding to the personal identifier using a lookup table accessible to the gateway device;

dialing the first phone number using the gateway device; and

transferring the data packet to the first phone number.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the gateway device has a proxy identifier and the personal identifier is set to forward calls to the proxy identifier.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein the packet-based call is sent through a peer-to-peer Internet network.

87. The method of claim 84, wherein the packet-based call is a Skype call, and the personal identifier is a Skype identifier.

88. A system that allows a packet-based call made to a personal identifier to dial a first phone number within a telephone network, the system comprising:

the telephone network; and

a gateway device, the gateway device comprising;

a lookup table that maps the personal identifier to the first phone number;

a proxy identifier within a plurality of proxy identifiers that are visible to an Internet network, wherein the personal identifier is set to forward calls to the proxy identifier;

a plurality of input ports having a first input port capable of accessing the Internet network; and

a plurality of output ports having a first output port capable of communication with the telephone network.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein the gateway device is a VoSKY Exchange device.

90. The system of claim 88, wherein the first input port is a USB port, wireless communications module, or a data cable.

91. The system of claim 88, wherein the first input port is connected to an electronic device capable of receiving the data packet from the Internet.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the electronic device is a computer.

93. The system of claim 88, the gateway device further comprising a digital-to-analog converter.

94. The system of claim 88, wherein the telephone system is a PBX system or an IP PBX system.

95. The system of claim 88, wherein the telephone system is a PSTN system.

96. The system of claim 95, wherein the first output port is capable of accessing the Internet.

97. The system of claim 95, wherein the first output port is a FXO port that is connected to a FXS port of the PSTN system.

98. The system of claim 95, wherein the first output port communicates directly with the PSTN system.

99. The system of claim 88, wherein the telephone system is a mobile telephone system.

100. The system of claim 99, wherein the first output port is capable of accessing the Internet.

101. The system of claim 99, wherein the first output port communicates directly with the mobile telephone network.

102. The system of claim 101, wherein the first output wirelessly communicates with the mobile telephone network.

103. The system of claim 88, wherein the first output port is a phone port, wireless communications module, or a data cable.

104. The system of claim 88, wherein the packet-based call is a Skype call, the personal identifier is a first Skype identifier, and the proxy identifier is a second Skype identifier.

105. The method of claim 88, wherein the packet-based call is sent through a peer-to-peer Internet network.