Devices, softwares and methods for handing off live calls between legs of CSV and VOX modalities

• US 7,003,298 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jagadeesan, Ramanathan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US10/086,673
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 455/442, 455/426.1, 455/445, 455/436, 370352-356, 370/465, 370331-333
• US Class Current: 455/442
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

Devices, softwares methods hand off a live call from an original leg of a first modality (such as Circuit Switched Voice) to an alternate leg of another modality (such as Voice over Internet Protocol). An original leg of a call is established using the first modality. Then the alternate leg of the call is established using the second modality, while the first leg is still established. Then the call is handed off from the original leg to the alternate leg, while the connection is active.

Claims

1. A wireless telephone device comprising:

a physical component for wireless communication; and

a processor coupled with the physical component, in which the processor is adapted to establish an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

transfer data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

exchange a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

receive an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identifies a handoff device;

make a handoff call to the handoff device responsive to receiving the address signal;

establish from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

then transfer data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

2. The device of claim 1, in which the processor is further adapted to:

couple the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

3. The device of claim 1, in which the processor is further adapted to:

tear down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

4. The device of claim 1,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

5. The device of claim 1, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

6. The device of claim 1, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

7. The device of claim 1, in which the processor is further adapted to:

access a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

8. A network switch comprising:

a network interface for coupling to a network; and

a processor coupled with the network interface, in which the processor is adapted to establish an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

transfer data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

exchange a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

receive an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identifies a handoff device;

make a handoff call to the handoff device responsive to receiving the address signal;

establish from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

then transfer data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

9. The network switch of claim 8, in which the processor is further adapted to:

couple the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

10. The network switch of claim 8, in which the processor is further adapted to:

tear down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

11. The network switch of claim 8,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

12. The network switch of claim 8, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

13. The network switch of claim 8, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

14. The network switch of claim 8, in which the processor is further adapted to:

access a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

15. The network switch of claim 8, in which the processor is further adapted to:

receive data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

combine the data received from the original leg and from the alternate leg to form a combined data stream of a single one of the CSV and VoX modalities.

16. The network switch of claim 15, in which the processor is further adapted to:

convert the data received from one of the original leg and the alternate leg to be of the other one of the CSV and VoX modalities prior to combining.

17. The network switch of claim 15, in which the processor is further adapted to:

determine a difference in delay between transferring data along the original leg and the alternate leg; and

adjusting a delay in one of the original leg and the alternate leg according to the difference.

18. The network switch of claim 8, in which the processor is further adapted to:

receive data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

analyze the exchange of data to detect a silent period to determine when to begin transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

19. A device comprising:

a network interface for coupling to a network; and

a processor coupled with the network interface, in which the processor is adapted to establish an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

transfer data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

exchange a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

transmit an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identifies a handoff device;

receive a handoff call at the handoff device;

establish from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

then transfer data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

20. The device of claim 19, in which the processor is further adapted to:

couple the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

21. The device of claim 19, in which the processor is further adapted to:

tear down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

22. The device of claim 19, in which the processor is further adapted to:

receive an identity code about the original leg; and

use the identity code for coupling the voice channel with the alternate leg.

23. The device of claim 19,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

24. The device of claim 19, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

25. The device of claim 19, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

26. The device of claim 19, in which the processor is further adapted to:

access a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

27. The device of claim 19, in which the processor is further adapted to:

receive data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

combine the data received from the original leg and from the alternate leg to form a combined data stream of a single one of the CSV and VoX modalities.

28. The device of claim 27, in which the processor is further adapted to:

convert the data received from one of the original leg and the alternate leg to be of the other one of the CSV and VoX modalities prior to combining.

29. The device of claim 27, in which the processor is further adapted to:

determine a difference in delay between transferring data along the original leg and the alternate leg; and

adjust a delay in one of the original leg and the alternate leg according to the difference.

30. The device of claim 19, in which the processor is further adapted to:

receive data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

analyze the exchange of data to detect a silent period to determine when to begin transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

31. A device comprising:

means for establishing an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

means for transferring data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

means for exchanging a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

means for receiving an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identifies a handoff device;

means for making a handoff call to the handoff device responsive to receiving the address signal;

means for establishing from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

means for then transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

32. The device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for coupling the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

33. The device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for tearing down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

34. The device of claim 31,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

35. The device of claim 31, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

36. The device of claim 31, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

37. The device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for accessing a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

38. The device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

means for combining the data received from the original leg and from the alternate leg to form a combined data stream of a single one of the CSV and VoX modalities.

39. The device of claim 38, further comprising:

means for converting the data received from one of the original leg and the alternate leg to be of the other one of the CSV and VoX modalities prior to combining.

40. The device of claim 38, further comprising:

means for determining a difference in delay between transferring data along the original leg and the alternate leg; and

means for adjusting a delay in one of the original leg and the alternate leg according to the difference.

41. The device of claim 31, further comprising:

means for receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

means for analyzing the exchange of data to detect a silent period to determine when to begin transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

42. A device comprising:

means for establishing an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

means for transferring data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

means for exchanging a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

means for transmitting an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identifies a handoff device;

means for receiving a handoff call at the handoff device;

means for establishing from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

means for then transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

43. The device of claim 42, further comprising:

means for coupling the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

44. The device of claim 42, further comprising:

means for tearing down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

45. The device of claim 42, further comprising:

means for receiving an identity code about the original leg; and

means for using the identity code for coupling the voice channel with the alternate leg.

46. The device of claim 42,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

47. The device of claim 46 in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

48. The device of claim 46, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

49. The device of claim 46, further comprising:

means for accessing a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

50. The device of claim 42, further comprising:

means for receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

means for combining the data received from the original leg and from the alternate leg to form a combined data stream of a single one of the CSV and VoX modalities.

51. The device of claim 50, further comprising:

means for converting the data received from one of the original leg and the alternate leg to be of the other one of the CSV and VoX modalities prior to combining.

52. The device of claim 50, further comprising:

means for determining a difference in delay between transferring data along the original leg and the alternate leg; and

means for adjusting a delay in one of the original leg and the alternate leg according to the difference.

53. The device of claim 42, further comprising:

means for receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

means for analyzing the exchange of data to detect a silent period to determine when to begin transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

54. An article comprising:

a storage medium, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon, in which when the instructions are executed by at least one device, they result in;

establishing an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

transferring data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

exchanging a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

receiving an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identifies a handoff device;

making a handoff call to the handoff device responsive to receiving the address signal;

establishing from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

then transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

55. The article of claim 54, in which the instructions further result in:

coupling the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

56. The article of claim 54, in which the instructions further result in:

tearing down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

57. The article of claim 54,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

58. The article of claim 57, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

59. The article of claim 57, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

60. The article of claim 57, in which the instructions further result in:

accessing a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

61. The article of claim 54, in which the instructions further result in:

receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

combining the data received from the original leg and from the alternate leg to form a combined data stream of a single one of the CSV and VoX modalities.

62. The article of claim 61, in which the instructions further result in:

converting the data received from one of the original leg and the alternate leg to be of the other one of the CSV and VoX modalities prior to combining.

63. The article of claim 61, in which the instructions further result in:

determining a difference in delay between transferring data along the original leg and the alternate leg; and

adjusting a delay in one of the original leg and the alternate leg according to the difference.

64. The article of claim 54, in which the instructions further result in:

receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

analyzing the exchange of data to detect a silent period to determine when to begin transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

70. The article of claim 60, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

71. The article of claim 60, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

72. The article of claim 60, in which the instructions further result in:

accessing a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

65. An article comprising:

a storage medium, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon, in which when the instructions are executed by at least one device, they result in;

establishing an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

transferring data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

exchanging a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

transmitting an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identifies a handoff device;

receiving a handoff call at the handoff device;

establishing from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

then transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

66. The article of claim 65, in which the instructions further result in:

coupling the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

67. The article of claim 65, in which the instructions further result in:

tearing down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

68. The article of claim 65, in which the instructions further result in:

receiving an identity code about the original leg; and

using the identity code for coupling the voice channel with the alternate leg.

69. The article of claim 65,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

73. The article of claim 65, in which the instructions further result in:

receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

combining the data received from the original leg and from the alternate leg to form a combined data stream of a single one of the CSV and VoX modalities.

74. The article of claim 73, in which the instructions further result in:

converting the data received from one of the original leg and the alternate leg to be of the other one of the CSV and VoX modalities prior to combining.

75. The article of claim 73, in which the instructions further result in:

determining a difference in delay between transferring data along the original leg and the alternate leg; and

adjusting a delay in one of the original leg and the alternate leg according to the difference.

76. The article of claim 65, in which the instructions further result in:

receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

analyzing the exchange of data to detect a silent period to determine when to begin transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

77. A method comprising:

establishing an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

transferring data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

exchanging a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

receiving an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identifies a handoff device;

making a handoff call to the handoff device responsive to receiving the address signal;

establishing from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

then transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

78. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

coupling the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

79. The method of claim 77, further comprising

tearing down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

80. The method of claim 77,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

81. The method of claim 80, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

82. The method of claim 80, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

83. The method of claim 80, further comprising:

accessing a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

84. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

combining the data received from the original leg and from the alternate leg to form a combined data stream of a single one of the CSV and VoX modalities.

85. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

converting the data received from one of the original leg and the alternate leg to be of the other one of the CSV and VoX modalities prior to combining.

86. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

determining a difference in delay between transferring data along the original leg and the alternate leg; and

adjusting a delay in one of the original leg and the alternate leg according to the difference.

87. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

analyzing the exchange of data to detect a silent period to determine when to begin transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

88. A method comprising:

establishing an original leg of a telephone call connection using one of a CSV modality and a VoX modality;

transferring data of a voice conversation between the original leg and a voice channel that terminates in one of a speaker and a microphone pursuant to the telephone call connection;

exchanging a modality handoff signal after transferring voice data over the original leg, wherein exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed over the original leg;

transmitting an address signal encoding an access address, wherein the access address identities a handoff device;

receiving a handoff call at the handoff device;

establishing from the handoff call an alternate leg of the telephone call connection using the other one of the two modalities while the original leg is still established; and

then transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg pursuant to the telephone call connection.

89. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

coupling the alternate leg with the voice channel for transferring data between them.

90. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

tearing down the original leg while transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.

91. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

receiving an identity code about the original leg; and

using the identity code for coupling the voice channel with the alternate leg.

92. The method of claim 88,

in which the address signal is received responsive to exchanging the modality handoff signal.

93. The method of claim 92, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it over the original leg.

94. The method of claim 92, in which

exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by receiving it over the original leg.

95. The method of claim 92, further comprising:

accessing a registration server to learn a first address; and

in which exchanging the modality handoff signal is performed by transmitting it to the first address.

96. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

combining the data received from the original leg and from the alternate leg to form a combined data stream of a single one of the CSV and VoX modalities.

97. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

converting the data received from one of the original leg and the alternate leg to be of the other one of the CSV and VoX modalities prior to combining.

98. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

determining a difference in delay between transferring data along the original leg and the alternate leg; and

adjusting a delay in one of the original leg and the alternate leg according to the difference.

99. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

receiving data from both the original leg and the alternate leg; and

analyzing the exchange of data to detect a silent period to determine when to begin transferring data of the voice conversation between the voice channel and the alternate leg.