Architectures for clearing and settlement services between internet telephony clearinghouses
First Claim
1. A method for routing internet telephony calls between gateways of different clearinghouses, comprising the steps of:
- tracking billing of internet telephony calls of first gateways with a first clearinghouse;
tracking billing of internet telephony calls of second gateways with a second clearinghouse;
receiving gateway information comprising a first cost schedule associated with first gateways of the first clearinghouse;
receiving gateway information comprising a second cost schedule associated with second gateways of the second clearinghouse;
storing the received gateway information in a database of a linking clearinghouse prior to a call;
receiving a destination gateway request from a source gateway of the first clearinghouse;
generating a list of available destination gateways of the second clearinghouse based upon the received gateway information;
selecting a destination gateway from the list based on one or more business rules that analyze the second cost schedule; and
completing the call between the source gateway of the first clearinghouse and the selected destination gateway of the second clearinghouse.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for routing voice telephone calls over IP networks as opposed to traditional switched circuit networks. The voice communications during the telephone call are packaged as digital data and access the Internet through gateways. The system supports the linking of a source gateway in a first clearinghouse to a destination gateway in a second clearinghouse. The system further supports the selection of a destination gateway based on factors such as cost, speed of routing, and transmission quality of the voice data. The components of the system are arranged so as to minimize the number of signals sent between clearinghouses in identifying the optimal destination gateway.
84 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for routing internet telephony calls between gateways of different clearinghouses, comprising the steps of:
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tracking billing of internet telephony calls of first gateways with a first clearinghouse; tracking billing of internet telephony calls of second gateways with a second clearinghouse; receiving gateway information comprising a first cost schedule associated with first gateways of the first clearinghouse; receiving gateway information comprising a second cost schedule associated with second gateways of the second clearinghouse; storing the received gateway information in a database of a linking clearinghouse prior to a call; receiving a destination gateway request from a source gateway of the first clearinghouse; generating a list of available destination gateways of the second clearinghouse based upon the received gateway information; selecting a destination gateway from the list based on one or more business rules that analyze the second cost schedule; and completing the call between the source gateway of the first clearinghouse and the selected destination gateway of the second clearinghouse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for routing internet telephony calls between gateways, comprising:
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a first clearinghouse comprising one or more first gateways connected to an IP network; a second clearinghouse comprising one or more second gateways connected to an IP network; and a linking clearinghouse connected to the first and second clearinghouse through an IF network, for receiving gateway information from said first and said second clearinghouses prior to a call that comprises a first cost schedule associated with first gateways of the first clearinghouse and a second cost schedule associated with second gateways of the second clearinghouse, billing of internet telephony calls for the first gateways being tracked by the first clearinghouse and billing of internet telephony calls for the second gateways being tracked by the second clearinghouse, the linking clearinghouse generating a list of available destination gateways based upon the gateway information in response to a call and selecting a destination gateway from the list based on one or more business rules that analyze at least one of the first and second cost schedules. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for muting internet telephony calls between gateways, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first summary call rate plan from a first clearinghouse with a linking clearinghouse; receiving a second summary call rate plan from a second clearinghouse with the linking clearing house; enrolling the linking clearinghouse as a destination gateway in the first clearinghouse; initiating a call in the first clearinghouse; receiving the call with the linking clearinghouse; generating a list of available destination gateways operating under control of the second clearinghouse; selecting a destination gateway from the list based upon the second summary call rate plan; and forwarding the call from the linking clearinghouse to the selected destination gateway of the second clearinghouse. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification