Telephone communication
First Claim
1. A system for establishing a telephone connection between a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being associated with a subscription in a first home telephone network in which the first terminal is identified by means of a first network identity, and the second terminal being associated with a subscription in a second home telephone network in which the second terminal is identified by means of a second network identity, characterized in that the system comprises:
- a host resource comprising one or more memory storage areas and one or more processors, adapted to, with the one or more processors, route a call from the first terminal to the second terminal based on a first unique combination of the first network identity and a first common telephone number in the first home telephone network dialed by the first terminal, the first common telephone number being adapted to be shared among a first group of users in the first home telephone network,wherein the first unique combination of the first common telephone number and the first network identity is established by;
receiving an initial dialing instruction from the second terminal, the initial dialing instruction containing data uniquely identifying the first terminal,receiving user data specifying the second network identity,deriving the first network identity based on the initial dialing instruction,allocating the first common telephone number based on the first and second network identities and any first common telephone numbers previously allocated to the first terminal and/or the second terminal in such a manner that a combination of the first network identity, the first common telephone number and the second network identity becomes unique,storing an entry representing the first unique combination, andsending a service invitation message to the first terminal, the service invitation message including data specifying an identity of the second terminal and the first common telephone number,wherein the allocation of the first common telephone number comprises;
an investigation of whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the second terminal,an investigation of whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the first terminal,if no previously stored entry exists in respect of either the first terminal and the second terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated by an arbitrary selection of one number from a predefined pool of telephone numbers in the first network,if there exists at least one stored entry in respect of the second terminal however there exists no stored entry in respect of the first terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated to a number which is identical to an already stored first common telephone number, andif there exists at least one previously stored entry in respect of each of the first and the second terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated to an adjoining number, incrementally or decrementally, of an already stored first common telephone number in respect of the first terminal;
a first interface node connecting the first home telephone network to at least one interconnecting network, anda second interface node connecting the second home telephone network to at least one of the at least one interconnecting network, whereinat least one of the at least one interconnecting network is represented by a packet switched network, and each of the a first and second interface nodes is adapted to handle telephone traffic over packet switched networks.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telephone connection is established between a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is presumed to be associated with a subscription in a first home telephone network in which the terminal is identified by a first network identity. Correspondingly, the second terminal is presumed to be associated with a subscription in a second home telephone network in which the second terminal is identified by a second network identity. A host resource routes a call from the first terminal to the second terminal based on a combination of the first network identity and a first common telephone number in the first home telephone network dialed by the first terminal. The first common telephone number is selected such that it is unique and is adapted to be shared among a group of users in the first home telephone network.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for establishing a telephone connection between a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being associated with a subscription in a first home telephone network in which the first terminal is identified by means of a first network identity, and the second terminal being associated with a subscription in a second home telephone network in which the second terminal is identified by means of a second network identity, characterized in that the system comprises:
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a host resource comprising one or more memory storage areas and one or more processors, adapted to, with the one or more processors, route a call from the first terminal to the second terminal based on a first unique combination of the first network identity and a first common telephone number in the first home telephone network dialed by the first terminal, the first common telephone number being adapted to be shared among a first group of users in the first home telephone network, wherein the first unique combination of the first common telephone number and the first network identity is established by; receiving an initial dialing instruction from the second terminal, the initial dialing instruction containing data uniquely identifying the first terminal, receiving user data specifying the second network identity, deriving the first network identity based on the initial dialing instruction, allocating the first common telephone number based on the first and second network identities and any first common telephone numbers previously allocated to the first terminal and/or the second terminal in such a manner that a combination of the first network identity, the first common telephone number and the second network identity becomes unique, storing an entry representing the first unique combination, and sending a service invitation message to the first terminal, the service invitation message including data specifying an identity of the second terminal and the first common telephone number, wherein the allocation of the first common telephone number comprises; an investigation of whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the second terminal, an investigation of whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the first terminal, if no previously stored entry exists in respect of either the first terminal and the second terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated by an arbitrary selection of one number from a predefined pool of telephone numbers in the first network, if there exists at least one stored entry in respect of the second terminal however there exists no stored entry in respect of the first terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated to a number which is identical to an already stored first common telephone number, and if there exists at least one previously stored entry in respect of each of the first and the second terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated to an adjoining number, incrementally or decrementally, of an already stored first common telephone number in respect of the first terminal; a first interface node connecting the first home telephone network to at least one interconnecting network, and a second interface node connecting the second home telephone network to at least one of the at least one interconnecting network, wherein at least one of the at least one interconnecting network is represented by a packet switched network, and each of the a first and second interface nodes is adapted to handle telephone traffic over packet switched networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of establishing a telephone connection between a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being associated with a subscription in a first home telephone network in which the first terminal is identified by means of a first network identity and the second terminal being associated with a second home telephone network in which the second terminal is identified by means of a second network identity, characterized by
receiving a dialing code from the first terminal, the dialing code identifying a first common telephone number in the first home telephone network, the first common telephone number being adapted to be shared among a first group of users in the first home telephone network, receiving user data specifying the first network identity, and routing a call from the first terminal to the second terminal based on a first unique combination of the first common telephone number and the first network identity, wherein the first unique combination of the first common telephone number and the first network identity is established by: -
receiving an initial dialing instruction from the second terminal, the initial dialing instruction containing data uniquely identifying the first terminal, receiving user data specifying the second network identity, deriving the first network identity based on the initial dialing instruction, allocating the first common telephone number based on the first and second network identities and any first common telephone numbers previously allocated to the first terminal and/or the second terminal in such a manner that a combination of the first network identity, the first common telephone number and the second network identity becomes unique, storing an entry representing the first unique combination, and sending a service invitation message to the first terminal, the service invitation message including data specifying an identity of the second terminal and the first common telephone number; wherein the allocation of the first common telephone number comprises; investigating whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the second terminal, investigating whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the first terminal, if no previously stored entry exists in respect of either the first terminal and the second terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated by arbitrarily selecting one number from a predefined pool of telephone numbers in the first network, if there exists at least one stored entry in respect of the second terminal however there exists no stored entry in respect of the first terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated to a number being identical to an already stored first common telephone number, if there exists at least one previously stored entry in respect of each of the first and the second terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated to a number adjoining, incrementally or decrementally, an already stored first common telephone number in respect of the first terminal; and setting up a bi-directional primary connection between the first terminal and the second terminal provided that a call-accept message is generated by the second terminal, wherein the primary connection is established via at least on interconnecting network of packet switched type. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product for establishing a telephone connection between a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being associated with a subscription in a first home telephone network in which the first terminal is identified by a first network identity, and the second terminal being associated with a subscription in a second home telephone network in which the second terminal is identified by a second network identity, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
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an executable portion configured to route a call from the first terminal to the second terminal based on a first unique combination of the first network identity and a first common telephone number in the first home telephone network dialed by the first terminal, the first common telephone number being adapted to be shared among a first group of users in the first home telephone network, wherein the first unique combination of the first common telephone number and the first network identity is established by; receiving an initial dialing instruction from the second terminal, the initial dialing instruction containing data uniquely identifying the first terminal, receiving user data specifying the second network identity, deriving the first network identity based on the initial dialing instruction, allocating the first common telephone number based on the first and second network identities and any first common telephone numbers previously allocated to the first terminal and/or the second terminal in such a manner that a combination of the first network identity, the first common telephone number and the second network identity becomes unique, storing an entry representing the first unique combination, and sending a service invitation message to the first terminal, the service invitation message including data specifying an identity of the second terminal and the first common telephone number, wherein the allocation of the first common telephone number comprises; an investigation of whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the second terminal, an investigation of whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the first terminal, if no previously stored entry exists in respect of either the first terminal and the second terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated by an arbitrary selection of one number from a predefined pool of telephone numbers in the first network, if there exists at least one stored entry in respect of the second terminal however there exists no stored entry in respect of the first terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated to a number which is identical to an already stored first common telephone number, and if there exists at least one previously stored entry in respect of each of the first and the second terminal, the first common telephone number is allocated to an adjoining number, incrementally or decrementally, of an already stored first common telephone number in respect of the first terminal; an executable portion configured to connect the first home telephone network to at least one interconnecting network, and an executable portion configured to connect the second home telephone network to at least one of the at least one interconnecting network, wherein at least one of the at least one interconnecting network is represented by a packet switched network, and each of the a first and second interface nodes is adapted to handle telephone traffic over packet switched networks.
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12. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon for establishing a telephone connection between a first terminal and a second terminal the first terminal being associated with a subscription in a first home telephone network in which the first terminal is identified by a first network identity, and the second terminal being associated with a subscription in a second home telephone network in which the second terminal is identified by a second network identity, where the program is to make a computer at least:
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route a call from the first terminal to the second terminal based on a first unique combination of the first network identity and a first common telephone number in the first home telephone network dialed by the first terminal the first common telephone number being adapted to be shared among a first group of users in the first home telephone network, wherein the first unique combination of the first common telephone number and the first network identity is established by; receiving an initial dialing instruction from the second terminal, the initial dialing instruction containing data uniquely identifying the first terminal, receiving user data specifying the second network identity, deriving the first network identity based on the initial dialing instruction, allocating the first common telephone number based on the first and second network identities and any first common telephone numbers previously allocated to the first terminal and/or the second terminal in such a manner that a combination of the first network identity, the first common telephone number and the second network identity becomes unique, storing an entry representing the first unique combination, and sending a service invitation message to the first terminal, the service invitation message including data specifying an identity of the second terminal and the first common telephone number, wherein the allocation of the first common telephone number comprises; an investigation of whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the second terminal, an investigation of whether there exists an already stored entry in respect of the first terminal, if no previously stored entry exists in respect of either the first terminal and the second terminal the first common telephone number is allocated by an arbitrary selection of one number from a predefined pool of telephone numbers in the first network, if there exists at least one stored entry in respect of the second terminal however there exists no stored entry in respect of the first terminal the first common telephone number is allocated to a number which is identical to an already stored first common telephone number, and if there exists at least one previously stored entry in respect of each of the first and the second terminal the first common telephone number is allocated to an adjoining number, incrementally or decrementally, of an already stored first common telephone number in respect of the first terminal; connect the first home telephone network to at least one interconnecting network and, connect the second home telephone network to at least one of the at least one interconnecting network, wherein at least one of the at least one interconnecting network is represented by a packet switched network, and each of the a first and second interface nodes is adapted to handle telephone traffic over packet switched networks.
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Specification