Method and system for customer selected direct dialed voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP)

• US 7,046,658 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kundaje, Vinay, Lytle, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEW, KEVIN D
• Application Number:
  US09/599,947
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/401, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/353
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks

Abstract

A Voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) communications network system that enables direct-dialed (single-stage) access to the Internet Protocol (IP) network from the circuit-switched network. Specifically, the VOIP network system includes a VOIP service implemented on a communications system which, after a customer number has been registered for the service, automatically recognizes calls from the registered customer'"'"'s telephone number and determines if the call can be routed as a VOIP call over the IP network. In embodiments of the present invention, the customer can register for the VOIP service by selecting both a provider (PIC) and a calling plan or by only selecting a provider. The system can be implemented to handle intra-state, inter-state and international voice-band calls (for example, regular telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and modem initiated calls) using standard circuit-switched telephone lines, cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) and wireless.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first voice-band switch; and

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) call; and

the first voice-band switch being further configured, if the database contains information that the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is only registered for non-single-stage VOIP services or if the database contains information that the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is registered for the single-stage VOIP service and the destination number of the direct-dialed voice-band call is inaccessible by the VOIP service, to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a circuit-switched call; and

to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call for routing as a circuit-switched call if the direct-dialed voice-band call is designated as a circuit-switched call.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a first voice-band switch;

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch; and

a provisioning system configured to automatically provision and maintain the network apparatus;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) call; and

the provisioning system including

a network provisioning platform (NPP) configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party, to generate at least one order for the calling party'"'"'s VOIP service, to store the at least one order for the calling party telephone numbers VOIP service, to manage the interaction between a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and a billed telephone number, and to update a plurality of service records to compensate for numbering plan changes;

a billing system coupled to the NPP, the billing system being configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, and to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC); and

a customer service message system (CSMS) coupled to the NPP, the CSMS being configured to synchronize between the first voice-band switch and the database which is configured to store calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information;

the NPP being further configured to synchronize changes in the network system and the billing system due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the CSMS is further configured to administer in the database at least one of a country code field, a destination telephone number field, and a destination code field.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a first voice-band switch;

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) call;

wherein the first voice-band switch is further configured to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call using the VOIP service when the direct-dialed voice-band call is designated as a VOIP call;

wherein the first voice-band switch is an electronic switching system (ESS) originating assist switch (OAS), the database is a universal subscriber data structure (USDS) and the first voice-band switch is communicatively linked to an IP gateway;

a second voice-band switch coupled to the first voice-band switch, wherein the second voice-band switch is configured to receive the automatically routed direct-dialed voice-band call from the first voice-band switch to forward the direct-dialed voice-band call for transmission as a VOIP call, and to open a billing record for the VOIP call;

wherein the first voice-band switch is further configured, if the database contains information that the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is only registered for non-single-stage VOIP services or if the database contains information that the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is registered for the single-stage VOIP service and the destination number of the direct-dialed voice-band call is inaccessible by the VOIP service to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a circuit-switched call; and

to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call for routing as a circuit-switched call if the direct-dialed voice-band call is designated as a circuit-switched call;

a provisioning system configured to automatically provision and maintain the network apparatus;

a network provisioning platform (NPP) configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party, to generate at least one order for the calling party'"'"'s VOIP service, to store the at least one order for the calling party'"'"'s VOIP service, to manage the interaction between a billed telephone number and a calling party'"'"'s telephone number, and to update a plurality of calling party records to compensate for numbering plan changes;

a billing system coupled to the NPP, wherein the billing system is configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, and to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC); and

a customer service message system (CSMS) coupled to the NPP, wherein the CSMS is configured to synchronize between the first voice-band switch and the database which is configured to store calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information;

wherein the NPP is further configured to synchronize changes in the network system and the billing system due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the CSMS is further configured to administer in the database at least one of a country code field, a destination telephone number field, and a destination code field.

6. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic switching system (ESS) originating assist switch (OAS), the OAS being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number, the direct-dialed voice-band call being associated with a destination telephone number, to determine whether to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over an Internet protocol (IP) network or a circuit-switched network, and, if it is determined to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over the IP network, the OAS is configured to transmit the direct-dialed voice-band call to the IP network, or, if it is determined to continue to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over the circuit-switched network, the OAS is configured to transmit the direct-dialed voice-band call to the circuit switched network; and

an universal subscriber data structure (USDS) coupled to the ESS OAS, the USDS being configured to store service information on a plurality of calling party telephone numbers, to store information on which destination telephone numbers are accessible using a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service, to receive the calling party/s telephone number and the destination telephone number of the direct-dialed voice-band call from the OAS, to determine if the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is registered for the VOIP service, and, if the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is registered for the VOIP service, to determine if the destination telephone number is accessible using the VOIP service, and to return a partial routing instruction and service information to the OAS.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

an ESS handoff assist switch (HAS) coupled to the OAS, wherein the HAS is configured to receive the direct-dialed voice-band call and to route the direct-dialed voice-band call to the VOIP network if the calling party'"'"'s telephone number is registered for the VOIP service.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a provisioning system configured to automatically provision and maintain the network apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a network provisioning platform (NPP) configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party, to generate at least one order for the calling party'"'"'s VOIP service, to store the at least one order for the calling party'"'"'s VOIP service, to manage the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, to update a plurality of calling party records to compensate for numbering plan changes, and to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone numbers VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes;

a billing system coupled to the NPP, wherein the billing system is configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, and to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC); and

a customer service message system (CSMS) coupled to the NPP, wherein the CSMS is configured to synchronize between the first voice-band switch and a database configured to store calling party telephone numbers, USOC information and destination number information.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the CSMS is further configured to administer a country code field which is stored in the database.

11. A system for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an Internet protocol (IP) network, the system comprising:

a network provisioning component configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party telephone number, to generate at least one order record for the calling party telephone numbers VOIP service, to store the at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to manage the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, and to update the at least one order record to compensate for numbering plan changes;

a billing system component coupled to the network provisioning component, the billing system component being configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC); and

a customer service message system (CSMS) component coupled to the network provisioning component, the CSMS component being configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between at least one telecommunications switch and a database, which stores calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information;

the network provisioning component being further configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes; and

the CSMS component being further configured to administer a country code field which is stored in the database.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a first voice-band switch; and

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) call.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first voice-band switch is further configured to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call using the VOIP service when the direct-dialed voice-band call is designated as a VOIP call.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first voice-band switch is an electronic switching system (ESS) originating assist switch (OAS), the database is a universal subscriber data structure (USDS) and the first voice-band switch is communicatively linked to an IP gateway.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first voice-band switch is further configure to open a billing record for the VOIP call.

16. A system for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an Internet protocol (IP) network, the system comprising:

a network provisioning component configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party telephone number, to generate at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to store the at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to manage the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, and to update the at least one order record to compensate for numbering plan changes;

a billing system component coupled to the network provisioning component, the billing system component being configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC);

a customer service message system (CSMS) component coupled to the network provisioning component, the CSMS component being configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone numbers VOIP service, between at least one telecommunications switch and a database, which stores calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information;

a first voice-band switch;

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch;

the network provisioning component being further configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) call;

the first voice-band switch being further configured to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call using the VOIP service when the direct-dialed voice-band call is designated as a VOIP call;

the first voice-band switch being an electronic switching system (ESS) originating assist switch (OAS), the database being a universal subscriber data structure (USDS) and the first voice-band switch is communicatively linked to an IP gateway; and

the first voice-band switch being further configured to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call as a circuit-switched call if the direct-dialed voice-band call is to be routed as a circuit-switched call.

17. A system for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an Internet protocol (IP) network, the system comprising:

a network provisioning component configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party telephone number, to generate at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to store the at least one order record for the calling party telephone numbers VOIP service, to manage the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, and to update the at least one order record to compensate for numbering plan changes;

a billing system component coupled to the network provisioning component, the billing system component being configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC);

a customer service message system (CSMS) component coupled to the network provisioning component, the CSMS component being configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between at least one telecommunications switch and a database, which stores calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information;

a first voice-band switch;

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch;

a second voice-band switch coupled to the first voice-band switch, wherein, if the direct-dialed voice-band call is being routed as a VOIP call, the second voice-band switch Is configured to receive the direct-dialed voice-band call from the first voice-band switch, open a billing record for the VOIP call, and to forward the direct-dialed voice-band call for transmission as a VOIP call;

the network provisioning component being further configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a VOIP call;

the first voice-band switch being further configured to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call using the VOIP service when the direct-dialed voice-band call is designated as a VOIP call; and

the first voice-band switch being an electronic switching system (ESS) originating assist switch (OAS), the database being a universal subscriber data structure (USDS) and the first voice-band switch is communicatively linked to an IP gateway.

18. A system for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an Internet protocol (IP) network, the system comprising,

a network provisioning component configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party telephone number, to generate at least one order record for the calling party telephone numbers VOIP service, to store the at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to manage the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, and to update the at least one order record to compensate for numbering plan changes;

a billing system component coupled to the network provisioning component, the billing system component being configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC);

a customer service message system (CSMS) component coupled to the network provisioning component, the CSMS component being configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between at least one telecommunications switch and a database, which stores calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information;

a first voice-band switch;

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch;

a provisioning system configured to automatically provision and maintain the network apparatus;

the network provisioning component being further configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a VOIP call;

the first voice-band switch being further configured to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call using the VOIP service when the direct-dialed voice-band call is designated as a VOIP call; and

the first voice-band switch being an electronic switching system (ESS) originating assist switch (OAS), the database is a universal subscriber data structure (USDS) and the first voice-band switch is communicatively linked to an IP gateway.

19. A system for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an Internet protocol (IP) network, the system comprising:

a network provisioning component configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party telephone number, to generate at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to store the at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to manage the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, and to update the at least one order record to compensate for numbering plan changes;

a billing system component coupled to the network provisioning component, the billing system component being configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC);

a customer service message system (CSMS) component coupled to the network provisioning component, the CSMS component being configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between at least one telecommunications switch and a database, which stores calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information;

a first voice-band switch;

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch;

the network provisioning component being further configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a VOIP call;

the first voice-band switch being further configured to open a billing record for the VOIP call; and

the first voice-band switch being an electronic switching system (ESS) originating assist switch (OAS), the second voice-band switch being an ESS handoff assist switch (HAS) and the database being a universal subscriber data structure (USDS).

20. A system for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an Internet protocol (IP) network, the system comprising:

a network provisioning component configured to receive a voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service registration for the calling party telephone number, to generate at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to store the at least one order record for the calling party telephone number'"'"'s VOIP service, to manage the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, and to update the at least one order record to compensate for numbering plan changes;

a billing system component coupled to the network provisioning component, the billing system component being configured to maintain at least one calling party'"'"'s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, to create bills based on usage, a terminating access ID and a calling plan uniform service order code (USOC);

a customer service message system (CSMS) component coupled to the network provisioning component, the CSMS component being configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone numbers VOIP service, between at least one telecommunications switch and a database, which stores calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information;

a first voice-band switch;

a database coupled to the first voice-band switch;

the network provisioning component being further configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone numbers VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes;

the first voice-band switch being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party'"'"'s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed-voice-band call as a VOIP call;

the first voice-band switch being further configured to open a billing record for the VOIP call; and

the first voice-band switch being further configured to automatically route the direct-dialed voice-band call as a circuit switched call if the direct-dialed voice-band call is to be routed as a circuit switched call.