Method and devices for bridging data and telephone networks

• US 6,253,249 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Belzile, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/144,110
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 709/249, 709/250, 370/259, 370/285, 455/557, 455/428
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• 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

A data network to telephone network gateway (16) and an end-user computing device and method used by these devices are disclosed (26). The gateway (16) is in communication with both a data network (10) and a telephone network (12). The computing device (26) is in communication with the data network (10). The gateway (16) is adapted to receive an indicator of a telephone call and dispatch a notification of the call destined for the computing device (26). As well, the gateway (16) causes the call to be bridged from the telephone network to the computing device over the data network (10), enabling a user at the computing device (26) to communicate with the call using the computing device (26). After the call is bridged, and in response to a specified condition, the gateway (16) causes the call to be forwarded to a telephone line (34) interconnected with the telephone network. The specified condition may include an end-user input, or a detection by the gateway or the computing device that the quality of the bridged call has fallen below an acceptable standard, arising typically from congestion or delays on the data network (10). This allows the end-user to maintain a high quality call connection.

Claims

1. A method of providing a telephone call from a telephone network to a user proximate a computing device interconnected with a data network, said method comprising the steps of:

a. receiving an indicator of said call at a gateway in communication with said data network and said telephone network;

b. dispatching a notification of said call from said gateway for said computing device;

c. bridging said call from said telephone network to said computing device using said data network, to form a bridged call that enables said user to communicate with said call using said computing device; and

d. in response to a specified condition, forwarding said call to a telephone line interconnected with said telephone network, after step c.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said call is received at said gateway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step c. is performed at said gateway.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step c. comprises encoding voice signals associated with said call to form data transmitted across said data network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said condition in step d. comprises sensing quality of said bridged call is below an acceptable threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said specified condition comprises receiving a signal at said gateway from said computing device indicating said call should be forwarded to said telephone line.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said signal is generated at said computing device in response to sensing quality of said bridged call is below an acceptable threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said data is transmitted across said network in packets;

and wherein step d. further comprises the step of monitoring a number of lost packets between said gateway and said computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said network is an internet protocol network.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said signal is generated at said computing device in response to end-user input.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensing is performed at said gateway.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving said message in step c. at said computing device and producing an audible or visual indicator perceptible by said user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said telephone line is in communication with a telephone proximate said computing device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said telephone line is in communication with a voice mail system.

15. A telephone network to data network gateway comprising:

a processor;

a telephone network interface in communication with said processor and said telephone network;

a data network interface in communication with said processor and said data network;

persistent storage memory in communication with said processor, said persistent storage memory storing processor executable instructions adapting said gateway to;

a. receive a telephone network call at said telephone network interface;

b. dispatch a notification of said call from said data network interface to a computing device over said data network;

c. cause said call to be bridged from said telephone network to said computing device using said data network, to form a bridged call enabling a user at said computing device to communicate with said call using said computing device; and

d. in response to a specified condition, cause said call to be forwarded to a telephone line interconnected with said telephone network, after said call has been bridged.

16. A method of operating an end-user computing device interconnected with a data network, said method comprising the steps of:

a. receiving an indicator of an incoming call at a telephone network over said data network;

b. communicating with said call at said telephone network by way of said data network using a voice telephony application; and

c. in response to a specified condition, notifying said gateway to forward said call to a telephone line interconnected with said telephone network, after step b.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of d. producing at least one of an audible and visual indicator perceptible by an end-user at said end-user computing device.

18. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a data network interface in communication with said processor and said data network;

persistent storage memory in communication with said processor, said persistent storage memory comprising processor readable instructions adapting said device to;

a. receive a notification of a call at said telephone network, at said data network interface;

b. communicate with said call at said telephone network by way of said data network using a voice telephony application; and

c. in response to a specified condition, transmit an indicator to said gateway to transfer said call to a telephone interconnected with said telephone network, after communications with said call.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

an audio interface for sampling voice signals at said computing device, and replaying voice signals received from said network, and associated with said call.

20. A data network to telephone network gateway comprising:

a. means for receiving an indicator of said call at a gateway in communication with said data network and said telephone network;

b. means for dispatching a notification of said call from said gateway for said computing device;

c. means for bridging said call from said telephone network to said computing device using said data network, to form a bridged call that enables said user to communicate with said call using said computing device; and

d. means for forwarding said call to a telephone line interconnected with said telephone network in response to a specified condition.

21. A computer readable medium storing computer software that when loaded by a gate way comprising a telephone network interface, adapts said gateway to:

a. receive an indicator of said call at said gateway computer at said telephone network adaptor;

b. dispatch a notification of said call from said gateway computer for a computing device interconnected with a data network;

c. cause said call to be bridged from said telephone network to said computing device using said data network, to form a bridged call that enables a user at said computing device to communicate with said call using said computing device; and

d. in response to a specified condition, cause said call to be forwarded to a telephone line interconnected with said telephone network, after causing said call to be bridged.

22. A method of processing a call comprising the steps of:

a. bridging said call between a telephone network and a computing device in communication with a data network, at a gateway in communication with said data network and said telephone network, to form a bridged call that enables a user to communicate with said call using said computing device; and

b. in response to a specified condition, forwarding said call to a telephone line interconnected with said telephone network, after step a.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein step b. is performed at said gateway.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said condition in step b. comprises sensing quality of said bridged call is below an acceptable threshold.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said specified condition comprises receiving a signal at said gateway from said computing device indicating said call should be forwarded to said telephone line.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said signal is generated at said computing device in response to sensing quality of said bridged call is below an acceptable threshold.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said data is transmitted across said network in packets;

and wherein step d. further comprises the step of monitoring a number of lost packets between said gateway and said computing device.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said signal is generated at said computing device in response to end-user input.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said sensing is performed at said gateway.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving said message in step c. at said computing device and producing an audible or visual indicator perceptible by said user.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein said telephone line is in communication with a telephone proximate said computing device.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein said telephone line is in communication with a voice mail system.