Independently switched voice and data calls using a single PSTN line connection

• US 6,407,995 B1
• Filed: 08/14/1997
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Eryilmaz, Erol
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US08/911,119
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/354, 370/356, 370/401, 370/465, 370/237, 370/384, 375/200, 375/222, 379/93.08, 379/211, 379/212, 379/309, 379/93.01, 379/215, 379/93.14, 379/419, 379/93.09, 345/327, 707/164, 348/14.09, 709/228
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2876 Handling of subscriber policies group policies management H04L41/0893
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

A data communication method is disclosed that enables the simultaneous transmission of voice and data over a single Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) line. A party to a data communication connection (hereinafter “the client”) can accept and originate voice calls from and to anywhere on the PSTN while maintaining the data communication with the original destination (hereinafter “the server”). This is accomplished by adding additional functionality at the location of the server and by utilization of existing “Call Forwarding” and “Caller-Id” technology. The server manages voice calls to and from the client while the client and server are engaged in the data communication connection.

Claims

1. A method for call handling comprising the steps of:

establishing a SVD data connection between a first party and a second party, said second party comprising an internet service provider; and

establishing a voice call between the first party and a third party, said first party using Call Forwarding to direct all incoming calls to said second party and said second party using Caller-ID to identify both said first and said third parties;

wherein the voice call and the data call co-exist on a regular voice-band PSTN line between a switching system of said second party and terminal equipment of said first party, and the telephone number of said second party and the telephone number of said third party are different.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein all calls that are incoming to said first party are automatically forwarded to said second party;

and

wherein said second party manages the connection of said voice-call between said first party and said third party.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second party comprises a server independent of the PSTN.

4. A method is set forth in claim 3 wherein, upon initiation of a voice-call from said third party to said first party, said second party:

receives said incoming call from said third party;

determines the identity of the calling party (said third party) and said party being called (said first party); and

establishes a connection between said third party and said first party on the same regular voice-band PSTN connection that is being used for said data-call between said first party and said second party.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing voice calls between a plurality of parties located at the same location as said first party and an equal number of parties located elsewhere.

6. A method for call handling comprising the steps of:

establishing a SVD data connection between a first party and a second party over a regular voice-band PSTN line, said first party using Call Forwarding to direct all incoming calls to said second party and said second party using Caller-ID to identify said first party, said second party comprising an internet service provider; and

for the duration of said SVD data connection, said second party receiving all calls that are incoming to said first party, wherein said second party manages all incoming/outgoing calls to/from said first party by forwarding incoming calls to said first party over the PSTN line on which said SVD data connection is established and by forwarding all outgoing calls of said first party to a destination party over the PSTN line.

7. A method for call handling comprising the steps of:

establishing a data connection between a first party and a second party over a regular voice-band PSTN line, said first party using Call Forwarding to direct all incoming calls to said second party and said second party using Caller-ID to identify said first party, said second party comprising an internet service provider; and

for the duration of said data connection, said second party receiving all calls that are incoming to said first party, wherein said second party manages all incoming/outgoing calls to/from said first party by forwarding all said incoming calls to said first party to an incoming call processor.

8. An internet service provider server for routing voice/data calls to/from an SVD modem via a PSTN, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a transmission from said SVD modem, said transmission having a voice channel and a data channel;

identification means for identifying a party being called from said SVD modem and a party calling said SVD modem, said identification means comprising Caller-ID; and

control means for controlling the routing of voice/data calls to/from said SVD modem via said PSTN based on the identification made by said identification means, said control means comprising Call Forwarding.

9. An internet service provider server for routing voice/data calls to/from a first SVD modem via a PSTN, comprising:

a second SVD modem, coupled to said PSTN, for receiving a transmission from said first SVD modem, said transmission having a voice channel and a data channel;

a first caller identification circuit, coupled to said second SVD modem and to said PSTN, for identifying a party being called from said first SVD modem and a party calling to said first SVD modem, said first caller identification circuit using Caller-ID to perform said identification;

a second caller identification circuit, coupled to said PSTN, said second caller identification circuit using Caller-ID to perform an identification process; and

a controller, coupled to said second caller identification circuit and said second SVD modem, for controlling the routing of voice/data calls to/from said first SVD modem via said PSTN based on the identification made by said first and second caller identification circuits, said controller using Call Forwarding in accomplishing said controlling function.

10. A server as set forth in claim 9, wherein said controller comprises a computer programmed to forward, to said first SVD modem via said second SVD modem, calls directed to said first SVD modem.

11. A server as set forth in claim 10, wherein said computer is further programmed to direct all outgoing calls from said first SVD modem to a destination party as determined by said first caller identification circuit.