Automatic backup trunking for voice over the internet
First Claim
1. A method for routing a telephone call, comprising:
- receiving a destination number (DN) for said call;
based on said DN, determining whether a connection is possible through an intranet;
where an intranet connection is possible, routing said call through said intranet;
where an intranet connection is not possible, determining if an internet connection is possible;
and where an intranet connection is not possible and an internet connection is possible, routing said call through said internet preferentially to routing said call through a switched telephone network; and
where neither an internet nor an intranet connection is possible, routing said call through said switched telephone network.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To reduce telephone toll costs to a user, a PBX preferentially establishes a call to a destination number (DN) over a WAN or the internet. The PBX determines the available connection types available by querying look-up tables for the particular DN. If no alternatives to the PSTN are available, the call is routed over the PSTN. Where a WAN or internet connection is available, the call is then routed over this alternative service. If the Quality of Service (QoS) over the computer network connection falls below a specified threshold, a second parallel connection is made over the PSTN and the call is then transferred to the PSTN. The user is notified of this change in service. During the PSTN connection, the PBX polls the alternative service and, upon the QoS rising above a specified threshold, the call is then routed back to the alternative service and the PSTN connection is torn down. The user is again notified of this change in service.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for routing a telephone call, comprising:
-
receiving a destination number (DN) for said call;
based on said DN, determining whether a connection is possible through an intranet;
where an intranet connection is possible, routing said call through said intranet;
where an intranet connection is not possible, determining if an internet connection is possible;
and where an intranet connection is not possible and an internet connection is possible, routing said call through said internet preferentially to routing said call through a switched telephone network; and
where neither an internet nor an intranet connection is possible, routing said call through said switched telephone network.
-
-
2. A method for routing a telephone call, comprising:
-
receiving a destination number (DN) for said call;
based on said DN, determining whether a connection is possible through a computer network;
where a computer network connection is not possible, routing said call through a switched telephone network;
where said call is routed on a path through said switched telephone network and a computer network connection becomes possible, (i) monitoring for a period of silence on said switched telephone network path and (ii) during a period of silence, switching said call from said switched telephone network path to said computer network connection and tearing down said switched telephone network path. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A switch for routing a telephone call comprising;
-
means for receiving a destination number (DN) for said call;
means for, based on said DN, determining whether a connection is possible through a computer network;
means for, where a computer network connection is not possible, routing said call through a switched telephone network and for, where said call is routed on a path through said switched telephone network and a computer network connection becomes possible, (i) monitoring for a period of silence on said switched telephone network path and (ii) during a period of silence, switching said call from said switched telephone network path to said computer network connection and tearing down said switched telephone network path. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. A switch for routing a telephone call from a calling station to a called station, comprising:
-
means for receiving a destination number (DN) for said call;
means for, based on said DN, determining whether a connection is possible through an intranet;
means for, where an intranet connection is possible, routing said call through said intranet;
means for, where an intranet connection is not possible, determining if an internet connection is possible;
means for, where an intranet connection is not possible and an internet connection is possible, routing said call through said internet preferentially to routing said call through a switched telephone network; and
means for, where neither an internet nor an intranet connection is possible, routing said call through said switched telephone network.
-
-
10. A method for routing telephone calls, comprising:
-
receiving a destination number (DN) for each of a plurality of calls;
based on a DN for each call, determining whether a connection is possible through an intranet;
where, for a first call, an intranet connection is possible routing said call through said intranet;
where, for a second call, an intranet connection is not possible, determining if an internet connection is possible;
where, for said second call, an internet connection is possible, routing said second call through said internet preferentially to routing said second call through a switched telephone network; and
where, for a third call, an intranet connection is not possible, determining if an internet connection is possible;
where, for said third call, an internet connection is not possible, routing said third call through said switched telephone network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
where, for said second call, said internet connection becomes no longer viable, (i) sending an alert notification to a calling station and a called station associated with said second call and (ii) switching said second call from said internet to a switched telephone network.
-
-
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said switched telephone network comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
-
13. A switch for routing a telephone call, comprising:
-
means for receiving a destination number (DN) for each of a plurality of calls;
means for, based on a DN for each call, determining whether a connection is possible through an intranet; and
for, for a given call for which an intranet connection is not possible, determining if an internet connection is possible;
means for, (i) where, for a first call, an intranet connection is possible, routing said call through said intranet;
(ii) where, for a second call, an intranet connection is not possible and an internet connection is possible, routing said second call through said internet; and
(iii) where, for a third call, neither an intranet connection nor an internet connection is possible, routing said third call through a switched telephone network.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
means for, where for said second call, said internet connection becomes no longer viable, (i) sending an alert notification to a calling station and a called station associated with said second call and (ii) switching said second call from said internet to a switched telephone network.
-
-
15. The switch of claim 14 wherein said switched telephone network comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Specification