Apparatus and method for local intercept and service of long-distance calls
First Claim
1. A method for locally intercepting a long-distance call, comprising:
- a) accessing a first telephony-centric network server;
b) initiating the long-distance call;
c) prior to completing the long-distance call, allowing a caller to prescribe a voicemail message;
d) routing the voicemail message over a data network, the data network employing a packet-switched communications protocol, to a second telephony-centric network server that corresponds to a recipient of the long-distance call; and
e) delivering the voicemail message to the recipient rather than completing the long-distance call.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for locally intercepting and servicing a long-distance call, prior to incurring charges associated with routing of the long-distance call over a corresponding long-distance carrier channel. A caller is immediately given the option to send a voicemail message to a recipient rather than completing the long-distance call. If the caller so chooses, the voicemail is recorded locally, the call is terminated, and the voicemail message is subsequently transmitted to the recipient via a data-centric network. The apparatus includes a telephony-centric network server and a message router. The telephony-centric network server detects initiation of the long-distance call, it intercepts the long-distance call, and it transmits the voicemail message over the data-centric network. The message router is coupled to the telephony-centric network server. The message router forwards the voicemail message over the data-centric network to a recipient. The voicemail message is delivered to the recipient from a corresponding local telephone switch.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A method for locally intercepting a long-distance call, comprising:
-
a) accessing a first telephony-centric network server;
b) initiating the long-distance call;
c) prior to completing the long-distance call, allowing a caller to prescribe a voicemail message;
d) routing the voicemail message over a data network, the data network employing a packet-switched communications protocol, to a second telephony-centric network server that corresponds to a recipient of the long-distance call; and
e) delivering the voicemail message to the recipient rather than completing the long-distance call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
i) establishing a connection from an originating device through its corresponding local telephone switch to the telephony-centric network server.
-
-
3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said establishing is initiated automatically as a result of direct provisioning.
-
4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said establishing is initiated as a result of the caller providing a PIC code to the corresponding local telephone switch.
-
5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said establishing is initiated as a result of the caller dialing a telephone number.
-
6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the originating device is a telephone.
-
7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the originating device is a computer.
-
8. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said allowing comprises:
-
i) playing an audio message that prompts the caller to select either to complete the long-distance call or to prescribe the voicemail message;
ii) if the caller selects to prescribe the voicemail message, recording the voicemail message;
iii) storing the voicemail message in the first telephony-centric network server for subsequent delivery; and
iv) terminating the connection provided by said establishing.
-
-
9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said allowing further comprises:
v) prior to said playing, providing faux ringback audio to the caller.
-
10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the voicemail message is stored as a .vox file.
-
11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said routing comprises:
-
i) retrieving the voicemail message;
ii) converting the voicemail message into data packets that are compatible with the data network;
iii) transmitting the data packets over the data network to a data network server;
iv) within the data network server, selecting the second telephony-centric network server based upon a telephone number provided by said initiating; and
v) forwarding the data packets to the second telephony-centric network server.
-
-
12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the data network is the internet.
-
13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said transmitting is accomplished using TCP/IP protocol.
-
14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said delivering comprises:
-
i) causing a local telephone switch to establish a connection with a receiving device, the receiving device corresponding with the recipient; and
ii) playing the voicemail message over the established connection.
-
-
15. An apparatus for locally intercepting a long-distance call for the purpose of allowing a caller to prescribe a voicemail message rather than completing the long-distance call, the apparatus comprising:
-
a telephony-centric network server, configured to detect initiation of the long-distance call, to intercept the long-distance call prior to transmission over a telephony-centric network, and to transmit the voicemail message over a data-centric network, said data-centric network providing for packet-switched communications; and
a message router, coupled to said telephony-centric network server, configured to forward the voicemail message over said data-centric network to a recipient, wherein the voicemail message is delivered to said recipient from a corresponding local telephone switch. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A long-distance call interception apparatus, comprising:
-
a telephony-centric network server, for locally intercepting and servicing a long-distance call, said telephony-centric network sever comprising;
call intercept logic, for allowing a caller to prescribe a voicemail message in lieu of completing said long-distance call over a telephony-centric network; and
a call controller, coupled to said call intercept logic, for translating said voicemail message into data packets, and for transmitting said data packets over a data-centric network rather than said telephony-centric network; and
a message router, coupled to said telephony-centric network server, configured to receive said data packets and to route said data packets over said data-centric network such that a receiving local telephone switch is caused to deliver said voicemail message to a receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. An apparatus for locally servicing a long-distance call, the long-distance call being initiated from a calling device that has accessed a telephony-centric network server, comprising:
-
call intercept logic, for allowing a caller to generate a voicemail message over the calling device for delivery to a receiving device, wherein said voicemail message is generated and delivered instead of completing the long-distance call over a telephony-centric network;
voicemail storage elements, coupled to said call intercept logic, for temporarily storing said voicemail message along with a telephone number corresponding to said receiving device;
a call controller, coupled to said voicemail storage elements, for retrieving said voicemail message and for translating said voicemail message into data packets; and
a data-centric network, coupled to said call controller, for transmitting said data packets such that said voicemail message is delivered to said receiving device by a local telephone switch, wherein said data-centric network provides for packet-switched communications, and wherein said data-centric network is employed in lieu of said telephony-centric network for delivery of said voicemail message. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
-
Specification