Internet calling system

• US 6,463,051 B1
• Filed: 07/17/1997
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inter-Tel Integrated Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inter-Tel (Delaware) Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Ford, Jeffrey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, RICKY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/895,650
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/403, 370/404, 370/405, 370/406, 370/407, 370/408, 370/409, 370/465, 370/466, 370/521, 379/93.01, 379/93.08, 379/93.09, 379/157, 379/198, 379/220, 379/225, 379/231, 379/234, 709/247, 375/240
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks

Abstract

A system and method for placing long distance calls from a telephone through the Internet and for receiving telephone calls on a telephone from the Internet is disclosed. A phone server bridge circuit associated with a CPU includes an incoming line for receiving dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) telephone numbers and normal voice signals. The received telephone numbers are supplied to a lookup table, which provides an Internet protocol (IP) address corresponding to the dialed number. A digital signal processor receives the Internet provider address and the normal voice signals associated with it and converts this information into Internet packets of digital data signals, including compressed voice signals. The packets of digital data signals then are supplied to a local area network, from which a router directs the Internet packets with compressed voice to the Internet provider associated with the Internet address. At the other end, the information is decompressed; and the dialed number is compared on a lookup table to provide the corresponding local called party telephone number. This telephone number and the decompressed and converted normal or analog voice information then is supplied to a PBX for routing to conventional telephones and keysets. The system therefore functions to permit long distance telephone calls to be placed through the Internet via local telephone lines.

Claims

1. A method for placing a long distance telephone call on an Internet from a telephone including the steps of:

providing a telephone/Internet bridge system;

routing a predetermined conventionally dialed long distance number from a telephone to said bridge system;

character string matching said conventionally dialed long distance number, wherein said number includes at least one wildcard digit, to a corresponding Internet (IP) address by comparing said number with a plurality of dialing pattern entries to establish a match, said match comprising either a direct match or a partial match and said partial match established with a generic pattern;

automatically converting signals for said conventionally dialed long distance number to said corresponding Internet (IP) address;

converting said IP address to packets of digital data signals in said bridge system; and

routing said packets of digital data signals to an Internet connection to establish full duplex communication.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of converting voice signals from said telephone to packets of digital data signals in the form of compressed voice digital data signals.

3. A system for routing a long distance telephone call between a telephone and an Internet via a local area network (LAN) including in combination:

a phone server system having a trunk input for receiving a conventionally dialed long distance phone number and an analog voice signal from said telephone;

a processing unit within said phone server system comprising a lookup table having a plurality of variable length dialing patterns for character string matching said received phone number, wherein said number includes at least one wildcard digit, and a translation component to automatically convert said phone number to an Internet protocol address corresponding to a matched pattern;

a digital signal processor coupled to receive said analog voice signal for converting said analog voice signal to compressed packets of digital data signals;

a local area network circuit coupled to said digital signal processor for supplying said packets of digital data signals to a local area network (LAN); and

a router responsive to said Internet protocol address and coupled to said LAN for routing said packets of digital data signals to an Internet transmission link.