Method and apparatus for optimizing telephony communications

• US 20090097472A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Afzal Hossain
• Original Assignee: Afzal Hossain
• Inventors: Hossain, Afzal
• Application Number:
  US11/973,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20090097472A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5691 Access to open networks; Ingress point selection, e.g. ISP selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/74 Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2227 Quality of service monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network

Abstract

There is provided a method and apparatus for determining and optimizing a transmission route for a phone call. The phone call may be either local or long distance. For a local phone call the voice data is transmitted via known local methods. For a long distance phone call, middleware determines an optimal internet terminal service provider for carrying or transmitting the voice data. The middleware determines optimal internet terminal service provider by performing a comparative analysis of several internet terminal service providers according to cost and transmission quality.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting voice data from at least one source phone, wherein said at least one source phone does not include a direct inward dialing number from a local phone company, to at least one destination phone, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a locality of said at least one destination phone;

determining data bit rate of said voice data;

routing said voice data to either a local public telephone switch network or an internet gateway responsive to the steps of determining locality and determining voice data bit rate;

determining an optimal transmission route wherein said voice data is routed to said internet gateway; and

transmitting said voice data through said optimal transmission route.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of selecting at least one internet telephony service provider.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of selecting at least one long distance service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of optimizing the cost of said at least one phone call, which further includes the steps of determining the cost of transmitting said voice data through at least one internet telephony service provider and at least one long distance service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of optimizing the cost of said at least one phone call, which further includes the steps of determining the cost of transmitting said voice data through a plurality of internet telephony service providers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of optimizing the cost of said at least one phone call, which further includes the steps of determining the cost of transmitting said voice data through a plurality of long distance service providers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of optimizing the quality of transmission of said at least one phone call.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of determining the cost of said at least one phone call for a plurality of transmission routes, the step of determining the quality of transmission of said at least one phone call for said plurality of transmission routes and the step of performing a comparative analysis of said optimal cost and said optimal quality of transmission for said plurality of transmission routes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of entering data indicative of a destination phone further includes the step of remotely accessing the source phone from a remote phone.

10. A method of transmitting voice data from at least one source phone, wherein said at least one source phone does not include a direct inward dialing, to at least one destination phone, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a locality of said at least one destination phone;

routing said voice data to a local public telephone switch network when said locality is local, and routing said voice data to an internet gateway when said locality is long distance;

determining an optimal transmission route when said voice data is routed to said internet gateway; and

transmitting said voice data through said optimal transmission route.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of selecting at least one internet telephony service provider.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of selecting at least one long distance service provider.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of optimizing the cost of said at least one phone call, which further includes the steps of determining the cost of transmitting said voice data through at least one internet telephony service provider and at least one long distance service provider.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of optimizing the cost of said at least one phone call, which further includes the steps of determining the cost of transmitting said voice data through a plurality of internet telephony service providers.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of optimizing the cost of said at least one phone call, which further includes the steps of determining the cost of transmitting said voice data through a plurality of long distance service providers.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of optimizing the quality of transmission of said at least one phone call.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining an optimal transmission route for said voice data further includes the step of determining the cost of said at least one phone call for a plurality of transmission routes, the step of determining the quality of transmission of said at least one phone call for said plurality of transmission routes and the step of performing a comparative analysis of said optimal cost and said optimal quality of transmission for said plurality of transmission routes.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of entering data indicative of a destination phone further includes the step of remotely accessing the source phone from a remote phone.

19. An adapter for routing voice data from at least one local phone, wherein said at least one local phone does not include a direct inward dialing number, for at least one phone call to a destination phone, said adapter comprising:

at least one telephone access port for communicating with said at least one local phone;

at least one telephone outbound access port for communicating with a local public switched telephone network;

at least one internet access port for communicating with an internet gateway; and

adapter software which includes;

detection means for detecting the locality of said destination phone;

routing means which routs said voice data to said local public switched telephone network when said locality is local relative to said local phone, and which routs said voice data to said at least one internet access port when said locality is long distance relative to said local phone.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said at least one adapter further includes a second internet port which is interfaced with an internet gateway, wherein said second internet port communicates with a personal computer.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said adapter software further includes remote access means which allows a user to make a phone call through said at least one adapter from a remote location.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said remote access means further includes interactive voice response means for entering a phone number indicative of said phone call by voice signals.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said remote access means further includes an electronic response means for entering a phone number indicative of said phone call through electronic signals.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said at least one adapter further includes storage means for storing voice data on an unanswered incoming phone call.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said at least one adapter further includes storage means for storing voice data for a two-way phone call exchange.

26. An adapter for routing voice data from at least one local phone, wherein said at least one local phone does not include a direct inward dialing number, for at least one phone call to a destination phone, said adapter comprising:

at least one telephone access port for communicating with said at least one local phone;

at least one telephone outbound access port for communicating with a local public switched telephone network;

at least one internet access port for communicating with an internet gateway; and

adapter software which includes;

voice data bit rate detection means for detecting voice data bit rate on an outbound call;

data bit rate routing means which routs said voice data through said internet gateway when said voice data bit rate is greater than a predetermined rate;

locality detection means for detecting the locality of said destination phone;

routing means which routs said voice data to said local public switched telephone network when said locality is local relative to said local phone and said voice data bit rate is not greater than said predetermined rate, and which routs said voice data to said at least one internet access port when said locality is long distance relative to said local phone or when said voice data bit rate is greater than said predetermined rate.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said at least one adapter further includes a second internet port which is interfaced with an internet gateway, wherein said second internet port communicates with a personal computer.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said adapter software further includes remote access means which allows a user to make a phone call through said at least one adapter from a remote location.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said remote access means further includes interactive voice response means for entering a phone number indicative of said phone call by voice signals.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said remote access means further includes an electronic response means for entering a phone number indicative of said phone call through electronic signals.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said at least one adapter further includes storage means for storing voice data on an unanswered incoming phone call.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said at least one adapter further includes storage means for storing voice data for a two-way phone call exchange.

33. A server for routing voice data between at least one local phone, wherein said at least one local phone does not include a direct inward dialing number, and a destination phone, said server comprising:

local phone interface means which communicates said at least one local phone with said server through an internet gateway;

telecommunication system interface means which interfaces said server to a telecommunication system network; and

server software which includes;

cost determination means for determining the cost of transmitting voice data from said local phone to said destination phone over a plurality of transmission routes in said telecommunication system network;

quality determination means for determining the quality of said plurality of transmission routes; and

optimization selection means for selecting one of said plurality of transmission routes responsive to said cost determination and said quality determination.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said optimization selection means further includes an algorithm which performs a comparative analysis of said cost determination and said quality determination of transmission for said plurality of transmission routes.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said optimization selection means further includes cost determinations means for comparing the cost of transmission of said at least one phone call for a plurality of internet telephony service providers.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said server further includes accounting means for determining the billing information for said at least one phone call.

37. A server for routing voice data between at least one local phone, wherein said at least one local phone does not include a direct inward dialing number, and a destination phone, said server comprising:

local phone interface means which communicates said at least one local phone with said server through an internet gateway;

telecommunication system interface means which interfaces said server to a telecommunication system network; and

server software which includes;

cost determination means for determining the cost of transmitting voice data from said local phone to said destination phone over a plurality of transmission routes in said telecommunication system network; and

optimization selection means for selecting one of said plurality of transmission routes responsive to said cost determination.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said optimization selection means further includes an algorithm which performs a comparative analysis of said cost determination and said quality determination of transmission for said plurality of transmission routes.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said optimization selection means further includes cost determinations means for comparing the cost of transmission of said at least one phone call for a plurality of internet telephony service providers.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said server further includes accounting means for determining the billing information for said at least one phone call.

41. A telephone system which presents an apparatus for sending voice data from at least one local source phone to a destination phone, wherein said at least one local source phone does not include a direct inward dialing number from a local phone company, said telephone system comprising:

an adapter for routing voice data from said at least one local source phone, said telephone system comprising;

at least one adapter having at least one telephone access port for communicating with said at least one local source phone, at least one telephone outbound access port for communicating with a local public switched telephone network, and at least one internet access port for communicating with an internet gateway;

said at least one adapter further including adapter software which includes;

locality detection means for detecting the locality of a destination phone;

routing means which routs said voice data to said local public switched telephone network when said locality is local relative to said local phone, and which routs said voice data to said at least one internet access port when said locality is long distance relative to said at least one local source phone.

a server for routing voice data between said at least one local source phone and a destination phone, said server comprising;

local phone interface means which communicates said at least one local source phone with said server through an internet gateway;

telecommunication system interface means which interfaces said server to a telecommunication system network; and

server software which includes;

cost determination means for determining the cost of transmitting voice data from said at least one local source phone to said destination phone over a plurality of transmission routes in said telecommunication system network;

quality determination means for determining the quality of said plurality of transmission routes; and

optimization selection means for selecting one of said plurality of transmission routes responsive to said cost determination and said quality determination.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said adapter software further includes remote access means which allows a user to make a phone call through said at least one adapter from a remote location.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said remote access means further includes interactive voice response means for entering a phone number indicative of said phone call by voice signals.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said remote access means further includes an electronic response means for entering a phone number indicative of said phone call through electronic signals.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said at least one adapter further includes storage means for storing voice data on an unanswered incoming phone call.

46. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said at least one adapter further includes storage means for storing voice data for a two-way phone call exchange.

47. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said optimization selection means further includes an algorithm which performs a comparative analysis of said cost determination and said quality determination of transmission for said plurality of transmission routes.

48. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said optimization selection means further includes cost determinations means for comparing the cost of transmission of said at least one phone call for a plurality of internet telephony service providers.

49. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said server further includes accounting means for determining the billing information for said at least one phone call.

50. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said server further includes remote injection software means for injecting configuration data into said at least one adapter.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein said configuration data includes routing data to further define voice data flow between said local public switched telephone network and said internet gateway.

52. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said adapter software further includes software requesting means for requesting configuration from said server.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said configuration data includes routing data to further define voice data flow between said local public switched telephone network and said internet gateway

54. A method of receiving voice data through an internet gateway, said method comprising:

interfacing a source phone with an adapter having at least one internet gateway access port, wherein said source phone does not require a direct inward dialing number;

interfacing said at least one internet gateway access port with a telecommunications network via a server;

detecting said long distance phone call by software within said adapter;

prompting said server to access said telecommunications network and receive said voice data; and

routing said voice data from said server to said local phone through said at least one internet gateway access port.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the step of prompting said server further includes the step of detecting voice data having a bit rate above a predetermined threshold.

56. An adapter for routing voice data from a source phone for at least one phone call to a destination phone, said adapter comprising:

at least one telephone access port for communicating with said source phone;

at least one telephone outbound access port for communicating said source phone with a local public switched telephone network;

at least one internet access port for communicating said source phone with an internet gateway; and

adapter software which includes;

detection means for detecting the locality of said destination phone and for detecting whether said at least one phone call is to an emergency calling number;

routing means which routs said voice data to said local public switched telephone network when said locality is local relative to said source phone or when said at least one phone call is to said emergency calling number, and which routs said voice data to said at least one internet access port when said locality is long distance relative to said source phone.

57. The adapter of claim 56, wherein said detection means further includes means for determining the voice bit data rate of said voice data.

58. The adapter of claim 57, wherein said routing means routs said voice data to said at least one internet access port when said voice data is greater than a predetermined bit rate.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said adapter software further includes remote access means which allows a user to make a phone call through said at least one adapter from a remote location.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein said remote access means further includes interactive voice response means for entering a phone number indicative of said phone call by voice signals.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein said remote access means further includes an electronic response means for entering a phone number indicative of said phone call through electronic signals.

62. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said at least one adapter further includes storage means for storing voice data on an unanswered incoming phone call.