Methods and apparatus for originating voice calls

• US 6,430,282 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Edwards, Russell A., Govindarajan, Rangaprasad, Bannister, Cecil H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/652,659
• Time in Patent Office: 2,261 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/69, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/90.01, 379/93.09, 379/100.15, 379/211, 379/215, 379/258-265, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/147.07, 379/201.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/224, 379/225, 379/265.01, 379/265.09, 379/266.04
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/00 Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4935 Connection initiated by DAS system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 : Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13334 : Key telephone systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

In methods and apparatus for originating a voice call between first and second voice terminals, a voice call request is received at a data service node, the voice call request identifying the first voice terminal. A call origination request is transmitted from the data service node to a telecommunication switch, the call origination request identifying the first and second voice terminals. The telecommunications switch originates one call from the telecommunications switch to the second voice terminal and another call front the telecommunications switch to the first voice terminal. The telecommunications switch then connects the one call to the other call to connect the first voice terminal to the second voice terminal. The methods and apparatus are particularly useful in connection with advertising on the World Wide Web and in connection with international calling services.

Claims

1. A method for originating a voice call between a first voice terminal and a second voice terminal, the method comprising:

sending a voice call request from a data terminal to a data service node, the voice call request identifying the first voice terminal;

transmitting a call origination request from the data service node to a telecommunications switch, the call origination request identifying the first and second voice terminals;

in response to the call origination request received from the data service node, originating at the telecommunications switch one call from the telecommunications switch to the second voice terminal and another call from the telecommunications switch to the first voice terminal; and

connecting the one call to the other call at the telecommunications switch to connect the first voice terminal to the second voice terminal;

wherein a first data service node forwards the voice call request to a second data service node, the first data service node selects the second data service node based on predetermined criteria, and the second data service node transmits the call origination request to the telecommunications switch.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined criteria includes the first voice terminal identifier.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria includes time of day.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria includes network traffic load.

5. A data service system, comprising:

a plurality of data service nodes for connection to a data network and a plurality of telecommunications switches, each data service node being connected to a respective telecommunications switch, each data service node comprising;

means for receiving voice call requests comprising respective first voice terminal identifiers from data terminals connected to the data network and from other data service nodes connected to the data network, the first voice terminal identifiers identifying respective first voice terminals associated with respective data terminals;

means for forwarding selected voice call requests to selected other data service nodes, said other data service nodes being selected based on predetermined criteria; and

means for transmitting to the telecommunications switch call origination requests in response to selected voice call requests including voice call requests forwarded from other data service nodes, each said call origination request comprising the first voice terminal identifier of the selected voice call request and a second voice terminal identifier, the second voice terminal identifier identifying a second voice terminal associated with the data service node; and

each telecommunications switch comprising;

means responsive to a call origination request received from a data service node for originating one call from the telecommunications switch to a second voice terminal and another call from the telecommunications switch to the first voice terminal the first and second voice terminals being identified in the call origination request; and

means for connecting the one call to the other call to connect the first voice terminal to the second voice terminal.

6. The data service node as claimed in claim 5 where said predetermined criteria includes the first voice terminal identifiers in said voice call requests.

7. The data service node as claimed in claim 5 where said predetermined criteria includes time of day.

8. The data service node as claimed in claim 5 where said predetermined criteria includes network traffic load.

9. A data service node for connection to a data network to provide a data service, the data service node comprising:

means for receiving voice call requests comprising respective first voice terminal identifiers from data terminals connected to the data network and from other data service nodes connected to the data network, the first voice terminal identifiers identifying respective first voice terminals associated with respective data terminals;

means for forwarding selected voice call requests to selected other data service nodes, said other data service nodes being selected based on predetermined criteria; and

means for transmitting to a telecommunications switch call origination requests in response to selected voice call requests including voice call requests forwarded from other data service nodes, each said call origination request comprising the first voice terminal identifier of the selected voice call request and a second voice terminal identifier identifying a second voice terminal associated with the data service node.

10. The data service node as claimed in claim 9 where said predetermined criteria includes the first voice terminal identifiers in said voice call requests.

11. The data service node as claimed in claim 9 where said predetermined criteria includes time of day.

12. The data service node as claimed in claim 9 where said predetermined criteria includes network traffic load.