Internet telephone service

• US 6,069,890 A
• Filed: 06/26/1996
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Patrick E., Farris, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/670,908
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/380, 370/389, 370/392, 370/396, 370/401, 370/404, 370/427, 370/435, 370/450, 370/465, 370/485, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.09, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/902 Auto-switch for an incoming voice data, or fax telephone call, e.g. comp/fax/tel

Abstract

A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing. Calls may be made from telephone station to telephone station, from telephone station to computer or computer to telephone station.

Claims

1. A method of real-time interactive voice telecommunication over the Internet comprising the steps of:

initiating a telephone call by inputting to a first communication terminal connected to a first telephone system having a common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) network a called directory number with a unique identifier said unique identifier indicative that the call is to be routed through the Internet;

receiving the information input in said initiating step at a switch in said first telephone system associated with said first communication terminal and, responsive to the unique identifier, translating the called directory number to an Internet address for an Internet to telephone system gateway capable of serving as a gateway between the Internet and a second telephone system serving said called directory number;

delivering to said second telephone system via said Internet and said gateway said called directory number;

establishing through said second telephone system a connection between said gateway and a second communication terminal identified by said directory number;

signaling the establishment of said connection between said gateway and said second communication terminal to said CCIS network in said first telephone system;

establishing through said first telephone system a connection between said first communication terminal and a second gateway between the Internet and said first telephone system whereby a communication link is established from said first communication terminal to said second communication terminal through said first telephone system, said Internet, and said second telephone system.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said link comprises a connected link through said first and second telephone systems and a connectionless virtual link through said Internet.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said link transports two way digitized voice signals which are inputted and outputted from said first and second communication terminals as analog sound.

4. A method of telecommunication over the Internet comprising the steps of:

inputting to a first communication terminal connected to a first telephone system having a common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) network a called directory number and a unique identifier for placing a telephone call, said unique identifier indicative that the call is to be routed through the Internet;

responsive to the unique identifier, translating the called directory number to an Internet address for a first Internet to telephone system gateway capable of serving as a gateway between the Internet and a second telephone system serving said called directory number and having a common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) network;

delivering to said CCIS network in said second telephone system said called directory number and determining if a second communication terminal identified by said directory number is available;

upon determining that said second communication terminal is not available, using said CCIS network in said second telephone system to deliver to said first gateway a signal indicating that said second communication terminal is not available;

responsive to said last named signal delivering through the Internet to a second gateway between said Internet and said first telephone system a signal indicating that said second communication terminal is not available;

establishing a connection between said first communication terminal and a first storage associated with said first telephone system;

storing a message for said second communication terminal in said first storage;

delivering said message from said first storage via said Internet to a second storage associated with said second telephone system; and

delivering said message from said second storage to said second communication terminal by connecting said second storage to said second communication terminal through said second telephone system.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said step of delivery said message to said second communication terminal is initiated from said second communication terminal.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein said step of delivery said message to said second communication terminal is initiated from said second telephone system.

7. In a wide area communications network comprising:

a first telecommunication network having trunked central office switching systems connected to subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals and including signal switching points and at least one signal transfer point for selectively providing switched communications between said subscriber lines;

a second telecommunication network having trunked central office switching systems connected to subscriber lines connected to subscriber premises terminals for selectively providing switched communications between said subscriber lines;

a controller associated with said first telecommunication network and arranged separately from said central office switching systems in said network and being connected to at least said signal switching points connected to said central office switching systems through at least one signal transfer point arranged to convey control data to effect communications, said controller storing processing and routing data;

each said central office switching system in said first telecommunication network providing selective communications between subscriber lines and a first centralized message processing and storage system for handling multiple different types of message information;

said first and second telecommunication networks being connected through first and second gateway routers to the Internet;

said first gateway router connected to said first telecommunication network having a signal transfer point associated therewith and connected to said controller;

a method comprising;

ascertaining through said signal switching points and at least one signal transfer point in said first telecommunication network and through said gateway routers and said Internet the availability of a designated subscriber premises terminal in said second telecommunication network;

upon establishing the unavailability of said designated subscriber premises terminal through said Internet forwarding to said centralized message processing and storage system message information of a first type addressed to said designated subscriber premises terminal and storing said message information in said centralized message processing and storage system;

subsequently establishing a link between said centralized message processing and storage system through said gateway routers and said Internet to said designated subscriber premises terminal; and

forwarding to said designated subscriber premises terminal through said gateway routers and said Internet said message information;

wherein said ascertaining step includes the steps of identifying said designated subscriber premises terminal by telephone directory number, translating said directory number to the Internet address of said second gateway router, transmitting to said second gateway router through said Internet said directory number, using said directory number in said second telecommunications network to establish the availability of said designated subscriber premises terminal identified by said directory number, and signaling through said second gateway router to said first gateway router a response to said availability inquiry.