SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VoIP) AND FACSIMILE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (FoIP) CALLING OVER THE INTERNET
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for sending Long distance telephone calls over the Internet utilizes cost and quality of service data to optimize system performance and to minimize the cost of completing the calls. The system utilizes a network of gateways connected to the Internet. The gateways receive calls from various service providers and convert the analog calls into data packets which are then placed onto the Internet. Similarly, the gateways take data packets off the Internet, convert the data packets back into analog format, and provide the analog telephone calls to the same or another service provider. Then system periodically checks the quality of communications between each of the gateways, and uses this information, in combination with cost information, to determine how to route the calls over the Internet. Special addressing protocols can be used by a system embodying the invention to reduce or eliminate unnecessary signaling between gateways as call setup procedures are carried out. The system can also use information about calls that has been recorded in more than one location to determine how much to charge for completing a call.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A method of deciding whether to complete a long distance telephone call between an originating carrier and a destination telephone, comprising:
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determining if completing the telephone call would fulfill contractual obligations owed to a destination carrier capable of completing the telephone call to the destination telephone; and deciding whether to complete the telephone call or to decline the telephone call based on the result of the determining step. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of deciding whether to complete a long distance telephone call between an originating carrier and a destination telephone, comprising:
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determining the cost of completing the telephone call to the destination telephone through a destination carrier; determining the amount that the originating carrier would pay for completion of the telephone call to the destination telephone; determining a profit margin that will result if the telephone call is completed to the destination telephone call; determining if completing the telephone call to the destination telephone would fulfill a contractual obligation owed to the destination carrier; and deciding whether to complete the telephone call or to reject the telephone call based on the determined profit margin and based on whether completing the telephone call would satisfy a contractual obligation owed to the destination carrier. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of deciding whether to complete a telephone call between an originating carrier and a destination telephone, comprising:
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determining an amount that the originating carrier will pay for completion of the telephone call to the destination telephone; determining the cost to complete the telephone call between the originating carrier and the destination telephone; determining a profit margin for completing the telephone call from the originating carrier to the destination telephone; determining if there are business reasons for completing the telephone call between the originating carrier and the destination telephone other than profit; and deciding whether to complete the telephone call between the originating carrier and the destination telephone based on the determined profit margin and based on whether there are business reasons for completing the telephone call other than profit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of deciding whether to complete a telephone call between an originating carrier and a destination telephone, comprising:
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determining an amount that the originating carrier will pay for completion of the telephone call to the destination telephone; determining a first completion cost for completing the telephone call between the originating carrier and the destination telephone through a first destination carrier; determining a second completion cost for completing the telephone call between the originating carrier and the destination telephone through a second destination carrier; determining first and second profit margins for completing the telephone call from the originating carrier to the destination telephone through the first and second destination carriers, respectively; determining if there are business reasons other than profit for completing the telephone call; and deciding whether to complete the telephone call between the originating carrier and the destination telephone through either the first or the second destination carrier based on the determined first and second profit margins and based on whether there are business reasons for completing the telephone call other than profit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification