Method and System for Processing International Calls Using a Voice Over IP Process

• US 20090245179A1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jing Liu, Xiaolei Qin
• Original Assignee: Jing Liu, Xiaolei Qin
• Inventors: Liu, Jing, Qin, Xiaolei
• Application Number:
  US12/422,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20090245179A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• 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 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• 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: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A method for processing an multi-country international phone call, free from an international toll charge, using a voice over IP (VoIP) call from a first mobile handset to a second handset. The method includes transferring destination number information associated with a destination number within a first country code from the first mobile handset to a data network, which is coupled to a world wide network of computers. In a preferred embodiment, the handset is coupled via cellular network through a data network to the world wide network of computers. The method includes transferring caller number information associated with a caller number within a second country code from the first mobile handset to the data network. In a preferred embodiment, the second country code is different from the second country code. The method includes receiving the destination information at a call server process, which is coupled to the world wide network of computers. The method also includes receiving the caller number information at the call server process. The method initiates a first VoIP phone call using the caller number information from the server process to the first mobile handset. The method initiates a second VoIP phone call using the destination number information from the server process to the second handset. The method also connects the first VoIP phone call to the first mobile handset to the second VoIP phone call to the second handset through the server process. The method also includes exchanging voice information between the first mobile handset and the second handset free from an international toll charge.

Claims

1. A method for processing a voice over IP (VoIP) call from a first mobile handset to a second handset, the method comprising:

transferring destination number information associated with a destination number within a first country code from the first mobile handset to a data network, the data network being coupled to a world wide network of computers;

transferring caller number information associated with a caller number within a second country code from the first mobile handset to the data network, the first country code being different from the second country code;

receiving the destination information at a call server process, the call server process being coupled to the world wide network of computers;

receiving the caller number information at the call server process;

initiating a first VoIP phone call using the caller number information from the server process to the first mobile handset;

initiating a second VoIP phone call using the destination number information from the server process to the second handset;

connecting the first VoIP phone call to the first mobile handset to the second VoIP phone call to the second handset through the server process; and

exchanging voice information between the first mobile handset and the second handset.

2. The method of claim 2 further comprising monitoring a time period associated with the exchange of voice information once the connection between the first mobile handset and the second handset has been established.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising monitoring a time period associated with the exchange of voice information once the connection between the first mobile handset and the second handset has been established;

and associating a total cost with the time period by multiplying the time period with a calling rate for the connection between the first mobile handset and the second handset.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second handset is a selected from a client device, a wired handset, a cellular handset, or a paging unit.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the connecting is a bridging process.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the first VoIP call is a call back process, the call back process being substantially less in costs than a call forward process from the first mobile handset to the second handset using the destination phone number.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the first VoIP call is substantially free from an international toll charge associated with an international phone call from the first mobile handset to the second handset.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the data network comprises an IP network.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the IP network comprises a wired portion and a cellular portion, the cellular portion being coupled to the first mobile handset.

10. A system for processing a voice over IP (VoIP) call from a first mobile handset to a second handset, the system comprising one or more computer readable memories, the one or more computer readable memories including:

one or more codes directed to receiving destination number information associated with a destination number within a first country code from a data network coupled to the first mobile handset, the data network being coupled to a world wide network of computers;

one or more codes directed to receiving caller number information associated with a caller number within a second country code from the data network coupled to the first mobile handset, the first country code being different from the second country code;

one or more codes directed to processing the destination information at a call server process, the call server process being coupled to the world wide network of computers;

one or more codes directed to processing the caller number information at the call server process;

one or more codes directed to initiating a first VoIP phone call using the caller number information from the server process to the first mobile handset;

one or more codes directed to initiating a second VoIP phone call using the destination number information from the server process to the second handset; and

one or codes directed to connecting the first VoIP phone call to the first mobile handset to the second VoIP phone call to the second handset through the server process.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising one or more codes directed to monitoring a time period associated with an exchange of voice information between the first mobile handset and the second handset.

12. A method for processing an multi-country international phone call, free from an international toll charge, using a voice over IP (VoIP) call from a first mobile handset to a second handset, the method comprising:

transferring destination number information associated with a destination number within a first country code from the first mobile handset to a data network, the data network being coupled to a world wide network of computers;

transferring caller number information associated with a caller number within a second country code from the first mobile handset to the data network, the first country code being different from the second country code;

receiving the destination information at a call server process, the call server process being coupled to the world wide network of computers;

receiving the caller number information at the call server process;

initiating a first VoIP phone call using the caller number information from the server process to the first any hand set or client;

initiating a second VoIP phone call using the destination number information from the server process to the second handset;

connecting the first VoIP phone call to the first mobile handset to the second VoIP phone call to the second handset through the server process; and

exchanging voice information between the first mobile handset and the second handset free from an international toll charge.