Internet telephone service

• US 6,711,241 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Patrick E., Farris, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/441,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.07, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/220.01, 379/221.08, 379/242, 379/244, 379/265.09, 379/900, 379/902, 379/908, 379/88.16, 370/352, 370/353, 370/392, 370/401, 370/450, 370/458, 370/466
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• 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 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/902 Auto-switch for an incoming voice data, or fax telephone call, e.g. comp/fax/tel

Abstract

A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing. Calls may be made from telephone station to telephone station, from telephone station to computer or computer to telephone station.

Claims

1. A method of real-time interactive voice telecommunication over the Internet comprising the steps of:

initiating placement of a telephone call by inputting to a first communication terminal connected to a first telephone system a series of signals that represents the combination of a called directory number portion and a unique identifier portion, said unique identifier indicative that the call is to be routed through the Internet;

receiving the series of signals input in said initiating step at which a switch in said first telephone system associated with said first communication terminal,

responsive to receipt of said signals, said unique identifier portion initiates the translating of the called directory number portion to an Internet address for an Internet to telephone system gateway capable of serving as a gateway between the Internet and a second telephone system serving said called directory number;

delivering to said second telephone system via said Internet said calling directory number portion; and

establishing through said second telephone system a connection to a second communication terminal identified by said directory number portion.

2. A method according to claim 1 including the step of conducting two way communication between said communication terminals using telephone system protocol signals in said first and second telephone systems and TCP/IP in said first Internet.

3. A method according to claim 1 including the steps of conducting two way communication between said communication terminals using connected circuits through said first and second telephone systems and connectionless virtual circuits through said Internet.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said communication is inputted and outputted at said first and second communication terminals as analog voice.

5. A method according to claim 1 including the steps of:

assembling a packet message addressed to said Internet to telephone system gateway capable of serving as a gateway between the Internet and said second telephone system serving said called directory number and including in said message said called directory number; and

establishing through said second telephone system said connection to said second communication terminal using said directory number delivered in said packet message.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said translating step comprises:

recognizing that said telephone call is to completed through the Internet;

delivering the called directory number to an Internet gateway; and

deriving said Internet address from a database.

7. A method of telecommunication over the Internet comprising the steps of:

inputting to a first communication terminal connected to a first telephone system a series of signals representing the combination of a called directory number portion and a unique identifier portion, for placing a telephone call, said unique identifier portion indicative that the call is to be routed through the Internet;

discerning said unique identifier portion from the called directory number portion in said first telephone system;

responsive to the discerning of said unique identifier portion, translating the called directory number portion to an Internet address for an Internet to telephone system gateway capable of serving as a gateway between the Internet and a second telephone system serving said called directory number portion;

delivering to said second telephone system a connection to a second communication terminal identified by said directory number portion;

attempting to establish through said second telephone system a connection to a second communication terminal identified by said directory number portion;

upon failing to establish said connection to said second communication terminal establishing a connection to a storage associated with said second telephone system;

storing a message for said second communication terminal in said storage; and

subsequently delivering said message to said second communication terminal by connecting said storage to said second communication terminal through said second telephone system.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said delivery of said message to said second communication terminal is initiated from said second communication terminal.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein said delivery of said message to said second communication terminal is initiated from said second telephone system.

10. A method of telecommunication over the Internet comprising the steps of:

initiating a real-time voice interactive telephone call by inputting to a first communication terminal connected to a first telephone system a dialed predesignated prefix followed by a called directory number wherein the predesignated prefix and the called directory number are a continuous series of signals

responsive to said dialed predesignated prefix, translating the called directory number to an Internet address for an Internet to telephone system gateway capable of serving as a gateway between the Internet and a second telephone system serving said called directory number;

delivering to said second telephone system via said called directory number; and

establishing through said second telephone system a connection to a second communication terminal identified by said directory number.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said translating step comprises transmitting said called directory number to a first Internet gateway;

and

accessing an Internet database for the Internet address of the gateway serving the second telephone system; and

said delivering step comprises transmitting the called directory number through the Internet to the gateway identified by the Internet address received from the database.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said establishing step comprises:

connecting the second communication terminal to the addressed gateway; and

completing an end-to-end Internet telephone circuit between the first and second communication terminals.

13. A method of telecommunication over the Internet comprising the steps of:

initiating a real-time voice interactive telephone call by inputting to a first communication terminal connected to a first telephone system a dialed predesignated prefix followed by a called directory number;

responsive to said dialed predesignated prefix, translating the called directory number to an Internet address for an Internet to telephone system gateway capable of serving as a gateway between the Internet and a second telephone system serving said called directory number;

delivering to said second telephone system via said called directory number; and

establishing through said second telephone system a connection to a second communication terminal identified by said directory number, wherein said translating step comprises transmitting said called directory number to a first Internet gateway; and

accessing an Internet database for the Internet address of the gateway serving the second telephone system; and

said delivering step comprises transmitting the called directory number through the Internet to the gateway identified by the Internet address received from the database.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said establishing step comprises:

connecting the second communication terminal to the addressed gateway; and

completing an end-to-end Internet telephone circuit between the first and second communication terminals.