Communication network

• US 6,643,283 B2
• Filed: 08/12/1998
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Derks, Frank P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYUN, SOON D
• Application Number:
  US09/132,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/356, 370/401, 370/353, 370/354, 370/410, 370/522
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6481 Speech, voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6486 Signalling Protocols

Abstract

A communication network including a first terminal is disclosed that is arranged for communication with a second terminal via a packet switched network. The first terminal is connected via a first gateway to the packet switched network, and the second terminal is connected via a second gateway to the packet switched network. The first gateway is arranged to receiving information from the second terminal that is to be connected without answering the call of the first terminal. This prevents calling costs from being incurred when transferring the information of the terminal to be called. The gateways may wait in answering the call of the first terminal until the second terminal has answered the call.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a first gateway; and

a first terminal coupled via a dial-up network to the gateway, the terminal includes a controller for dialing the first gateway and providing an identification of a second terminal connectable to the first gateway via a second gateway, the identification providing data for making a call to the second terminal,

wherein the first gateway receives the identification of the second terminal without answering the call initiated by the first terminal by using numbering/addressing information and attempts to contact second gateway via the Internet,

wherein after a predetermined period/number of unsuccessful attempts to contact the second gateway via the Internet, the first gateway contacts the second gateway via PSTN to request that the second gateway connect to the Internet, and

wherein the second gateway does not answer the PSTN attempted call from the first gateway, but reads numbering/address data that identifies the first gateway, and the second gateway contacts the first gateway via the Internet.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first gateway establishes communication with the second terminal via the second gateway, and answers the call of the first terminal only after contact with the second terminal has been established.

7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first gateway attempts to contact the second gateway via the Internet using an ISDN set up message.

8. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein after the predetermined period/number of unsuccessful attempts to reach the second gateway, the first gateway contacts the second gateway via PSTN, then the first gateway disconnects the PSTN connection with the second gateway in favor of an Internet connection with the second gateway.

3. A source gateway comprising:

an interface for receiving from a first terminal an identification of a second terminal to be contacted by said source gateway, the identification providing data for making a call to the second terminal via a second destination gateway;

wherein the source gateway receives the identification of the second terminal to be contacted without answering the call from the first terminal until a connection between the destination gateway and the second terminal is established,

wherein in a first instance the source gateway attempts to contact the destination gateway via the Internet, and after a predetermined period/number of attempts, the source gateway attempts to contact the destination gateway via PSTN, and

wherein the destination gateway does not answer the PSTN attempted call from the source gateway, but reads numbering/address data that identifies the source gateway, and the destination gateway contacts the source gateway via the Internet.

4. The source gateway according to claim 3, wherein after the source gateway establishes communication with the second terminal via the destination gateway, the source gateway answers the call of the first terminal.

9. The source gateway according to claim 3, wherein in the first instance the source gateway attempts to contact the destination gateway via the Internet using an ISDN set up message.

10. The source gateway according to claim 3, wherein after the predetermined period/number of unsuccessful attempts to reach the destination gateway, the source gateway contacts the destination gateway via PSTN, said source gateway then disconnects the contact with the destination gateway via PSTN in favor of an Internet connection with the destination gateway.

5. A Communication method comprising the steps of:

dialing a first gateway from a first terminal via a dial up network,

providing an identification of a second terminal connectable to the first gateway via a second gateway; and

receiving the identification of the second terminal by the first gateway without answering the call from the first terminal until a connection between the first gateway and the second terminal is established via the second gateway;

if attempts to contact the second gateway are unsuccessful via the Internet, contacting the second gateway via PSTN,

wherein once the second gateway has been contacted via PSTN, the first gateway disconnects the PSTN connection in favor of an Internet connection with the second gateway, and

wherein the contact of the second gateway by the first gateway via PSTN does not include said second gateway answering the call, wherein said second gateway reads numbering/address data contained in the PSTN message and identifies and contacts the first gateway via the Internet.

6. A Communication method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of establishing communication with the second terminal;

and answering the call of the first terminal after the second terminal has been contacted.

11. The method according to claim 5, further comprising that the attempt to connect the first gateway with the second terminal via the second gateway is first performed via an ISDN set up message.