Method and apparatus for establishing and facilitating a direct quality voice call to a telephone extension on behalf of a client computer

• US 6,304,637 B1
• Filed: 03/14/1997
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITXC IP Holdings SARL (Tata Sons Pvt Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ITXC INCORPORATED (Tata Sons Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Pirkl, Keith A, Pawlak, Ken, Mirashrafi, Mojtaba, Zuber, Mark D., Elliott, John D., Keeler, Kenneth L., Taylor, George L., Simon, Al J., Buondonno, Michael F., Sponaugle, Jeffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/818,321
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 370/356, 370/351, 370/352, 370/389, 370/401, 370/466, 370/70.1, 370/265, 370/410, 379/268, 379/269, 379/270, 379/272, 379/273, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.17, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/93.08, 379/93.09, 379/100.15, 379/210-212, 379/221, 379/223, 379/243, 379/260, 379/265, 379/900, 379/901, 379/902, 379/338, 379/343, 455/423, 455/450, 455/452, 455/455
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2236 Quality of speech transmission monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1285 Details of finding and selecting a gateway for a particular call
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

An apparatus is comprised of a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services for establishing and supporting a direct quality voice call to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, and an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions. In particular, the set of communication services include services for establishing and facilitating the voice call to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer, and services for causing a direct connection to be established between the client computer and the apparatus.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services on said computer system for establishing and facilitating a voice call to a PSTN extension on behalf of a client computer, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system via a varying plurality of network nodes of a data network, wherein the communication services include services for newly establishing a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish and facilitate said voice call through said previously established variable data network connection and said newly established first direct PSTN connection, and services for conditionally causing, at a later time during the voice call, a second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continue to facilitate said voice call through said newly established replacement second direct PSTN connection and said second earliest established first direct PSTN connection instead, wherein the services for conditionally causing the replacement second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system, include services for monitoring quality of the voice call between the client computer and the PSTN extension while the voice call is being facilitated through said earliest established variable data network connection and the second earliest established first direct PSTN connection, and services for notifying the client computer when the quality of the voice call drops below a predetermined quality threshold while the voice call is being facilitated through said earliest established variable data network connection and the second earliest established first direct PSTN connection; and

an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the services for conditionally causing the replacement second direct PSTN connection be newly established between the client computer and the computer system, include services for causing the replacement second direct PSTN connection to be newly established responsive to the receipt of a confirmation from the user of the client computer confirming that the replacement second direct PSTN connection should be established, while the voice call is being facilitated through said earliest established variable data network connection and the second earliest established first direct PSTN connection.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the services for conditionally causing the replacement second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system, further include services for prompting a user of the client computer for confirmation with respect to the establishment of the replacement second direct PSTN connection between the client computer and the computer system.

4. A computer system comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services on said computer system for establishing and facilitating a voice call to a PSTN extension on behalf of a client computer, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system via a varying plurality of network nodes of a data network, wherein the communication services include services for newly establishing a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish and facilitate said voice call through said previously established variable data network connection and said newly established first direct PSTN connection,

services for conditionally causing, at a later time during the voice call, a second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continue to facilitate said voice call through said newly established replacement second direct PSTN connection and said second earliest established first direct PSTN connection instead, and

services for providing the client computer with software to newly establish the replacement second direct PSTN connection from the client computer to the computer system; and

an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the software is equipped with a PSTN extension of the computer system.

6. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the software is equipped to automatically terminate a current telephony connection of the client computer, and establish the replacement second direct PSTN connection from the client computer to the computer system.

7. A computer system comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services on said computer system for establishing and facilitating a voice call to a PSTN extension on behalf of a client computer, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system via a varying plurality of network nodes of a data network, wherein the communication services include services for newly establishing a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish and facilitate said voice call through said previously established variable data network connection and said newly established first direct PSTN connection, services for conditionally causing, at a later time during the voice call, a second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continue to facilitate said voice call through said newly established replacement second direct PSTN connection and said second earliest established first direct PSTN connection instead, and

services for prompting a user of the client computer to confirm whether the replacement second direct PSTN connection should be newly established, while the voice call is being facilitated through said earliest established variable data network connection and the second earliest established first direct PSTN connection, before causing said replacement second direct PSTN connection between the client computer and the computer system to be established; and

an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions.

8. A computer system comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services on said computer system for establishing and facilitating a voice call to a PSTN extension on behalf of a client computer, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system via a varying plurality of network nodes of a data network, wherein the communication services include services for newly establishing a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish and facilitate said voice call through said previously established variable data network connection and said newly established first direct PSTN connection, and services for conditionally causing, at a later time during the voice call and in response to an instruction from another computer system communicatively coupled to the computer system, a second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continue to facilitate said voice call through said newly established replacement second direct PSTN connection and said second earliest established first direct PSTN connection instead; and

an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instruction.

9. A computer system comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services on said computer system for establishing and facilitating a voice call to a PSTN extension on behalf of a client computer, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system via a varying plurality of network nodes of a data network, wherein the communication services include services for newly establishing a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish and facilitate said voice call through said previously established variable data network connection and said newly established first direct PSTN connection, and services for conditionally causing, at a later time during the voice call and responsive to a request from a user of the client computer, a second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continue to facilitate said voice call through said newly established replacement second direct PSTN connection and said second earliest established first direct PSTN connection instead; and

an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instruction.

10. In a computer system, a method for establishing and facilitating a voice call from a client computer to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system through a varying plurality of network nodes of a data network, the method comprising:

newly establishing by the computer system a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish the voice call;

bridging the voice call between the PSTN extension and the client computer through said previously established variable data network connection and said newly established first direct PSTN connection;

providing to the client computer software equipped to automatically and newly establish a replacement second direct PSTN connection between the client computer and the computer system; and

conditionally causing, at a later time during the voice call, the replacement second direct PSTN connection to be established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continuing to bridge the voice call through said newly established replacement second direct PSTN connection and said second earliest established first direct PSTN connection.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the provided software is equipped to:

automatically terminate a current telephony connection of the client computer; and

newly establish the replacement second direct PSTN connection from the client computer to the computer system, the software being also equipped with a PSTN extension of the computer system.

12. In a computer system, a method for establishing and facilitating a voice call from a client computer to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system through a varying plurality of network nodes of a data network, the method comprising:

newly establishing by the computer system a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish the voice call;

bridging the voice call between the PSTN extension and the client computer through said previously established variable data network connection and said newly established first direct PSTN connection; and

conditionally causing, at a later time during the voice call and responsive to receipt of an instruction from another computer system, a replacement second direct PSTN connection to be established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continuing to bridge the voice call through said newly established replacement second direct PSTN connection and said second earliest established first direct PSTN connection.

13. In a computer system, a method for establishing and facilitating a voice call from a client computer to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system through a varying plurality of network nodes of a data network, the method comprising:

newly establishing by the computer system a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish the voice call;

bridging the voice call between the PSTN extension and the client computer through said previously established variable data network connection and said newly established first direct PSTN connection; and

conditionally causing, at a later time during the voice call in response to an instruction from a user of the client computer, a replacement second direct PSTN connection to be established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continuing to bridge the voice call through said newly established replacement second direct PSTN connection and said second earliest established first direct PSTN connection.

14. An article of manufacture comprising:

a recordable medium having recorded thereon a plurality of programming instructions for use to program a computer system to equip the computer system with a plurality of communication services to enable the computer system to be able to establish and facilitate a voice call from a client computer to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system through a varying plurality of nodes of a data network, the communication services including services to enable the computer system to be able to newly establish a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish and facilitate the voice call through the previously established variable data network connection and the newly established first direct PSTN connection, and to be able to conditionally cause, at a later time during the call, a second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system and continue to facilitate the voice call through the newly established second direct PSTN connection and the second earliest established first direct PSTN connection instead. and services that enable the computer system to be able to provide to the client computer software equipped to establish the replacement second direct PSTN connection.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein the provided software is equipped with a PSTN extension of the computer system.

16. The article of claim 14, wherein the provided software is equipped to automatically terminate a current telephony connection of the client computer, and newly establish the replacement second direct PSTN connection between the client computer and the computer system.

17. An article of manufacture comprising:

a recordable medium having recorded thereon a plurality of programming instructions for use to program a computer system to equip the computer system with a plurality of communication services to enable the computer system to be able to establish and facilitate a voice call from a client computer to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system through a varying plurality of nodes of a data network, the communication services including services to enable the computer system to be able to newly establish a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish and facilitate the voice call through the previously established variable data network connection and the newly established first direct PSTN connection, and to be able to conditionally cause, at a later time during the call and responsive to an instruction of another computer system, a second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system, and continue to facilitate the voice call through the newly established second direct PSTN connection and the second earliest established first direct PSTN connection instead.

18. An article of manufacture comprising:

a recordable medium having recorded thereon a plurality of programming instructions for use to program a computer system to equip the computer system with a plurality of communication services to enable the computer system to be able to establish and facilitate a voice call from a client computer to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, the client computer being already communicatively connected to the computer system through a varying plurality of nodes of a data network, the communication services including services to enable the computer system to be able to newly establish a first direct PSTN connection from the computer system to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer to establish and facilitate the voice call through the previously established variable data network connection and the newly established first direct PSTN connection, and to be able to conditionally cause, at a later time during the call and responsive to a request of a user of the client computer, a second direct PSTN connection to be newly established between the client computer and the computer system to replace the earliest established variable data network connection between the client computer and the computer system, and continue to facilitate the voice call through the newly established second direct PSTN connection and the second earliest established first direct PSTN connection instead.