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

• US 8,442,032 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kundaje, Vinay, Lytle, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blanton, John
• Application Number:
  US11/240,219
• Time in Patent Office: 2,784 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-357, 370/401
• 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. A method for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls over an internet protocol network, comprising:

receiving a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party telephone number associated with a telephone attached to a circuit-switched public switched telephone network, the direct-dialed voice-band call being associated with a destination number, wherein the calling party telephone number is associated with a telephone bill;

determining if the destination number is served by an internet protocol gateway by searching an internet protocol command center database in communication with an internet protocol gateway serving the calling party telephone number;

routing the direct-dialed voice-band call to the destination number that is served by the internet protocol gateway as a voice-over-Internet protocol telephone call, via a direct link from a local access provider network to an internet protocol gateway that bypasses the public switched telephone network located between the local access provider network and the internet protocol gateway, if the calling party telephone number is registered for a voice-over-internet protocol service and if the destination number of the direct-dialed telephone call is accessible by the voice-over-internet protocol service;

generating a voice-over-internet protocol billing record for a voice-over-internet protocol portion of the direct-dialed voice-band call via a switch in the public switched telephone network; and

adding the voice-over-internet protocol billing record to the telephone bill.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a registration for the calling party telephone number for the voice-over-internet protocol service prior to the calling party placing the direct-dialed telephone call.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

storing a voice-over-internet protocol service registration record for the calling party telephone number.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

storing an allowable destination list, which identifies the destination numbers accessible using the voice-over-internet protocol service, prior to the calling party placing the direct-dialed telephone call.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing the direct-dialed voice-band call to the destination number as a voice-over-Internet protocol telephone call if the calling party telephone number is registered for a voice-over-internet protocol service and the destination number of the direct-dialed telephone call is accessible by the voice-over-internet protocol service comprises:

determining if a voice-over-internet protocol service registration record for the calling party telephone number exists; and

if the voice-over-internet protocol service registration record for the calling party telephone number exists, determining if the destination number of the direct-dialed voice-band call is accessible by the voice-over-internet protocol service.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

if the calling party telephone number is registered for the voice-over-internet protocol service and if the destination number of the direct-dialed voice-band call is accessible by the voice-over-internet protocol service, receiving an indication to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over the internet protocol network, otherwise, receiving an indication to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over the circuit-switched public switched telephone network.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

initiating a billing record for the direct-dialed voice-band call if the indication is to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over the internet protocol network, wherein the billing record is associated with the calling party telephone number.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

routing the direct-dialed voice-band call to the internet protocol network.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving notice of the direct-dialed voice-band call clearing.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

closing the billing record for the direct-dialed voice-band call.

11. A switch for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls over an Internet protocol network, the switch configured to:

receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party telephone number associated with a telephone attached to a circuit-switched public switched telephone network, the direct-dialed voice-band call being associated with a destination number, wherein the calling party telephone number is associated with a telephone bill;

determine if the destination number is served by an internet protocol gateway by searching an internet protocol command center database in communication with an internet protocol gateway serving the calling party telephone number;

route the direct-dialed voice-band call to be routed to the destination number that is served by the internet protocol gateway as a voice-over-Internet protocol telephone call, via a direct link from a local access provider network to an internet protocol gateway that bypasses the public switched telephone network located between the local access provider network and the internet protocol gateway, if the calling party telephone number is registered for a voice-over-internet protocol service and if the destination number of the direct-dialed telephone call is accessible by the voice-over-internet protocol service;

generate a voice-over-internet protocol billing record for a voice-over-internet protocol portion of the direct-dialed voice-band call in the public switched telephone network; and

add the voice-over-internet protocol billing record to the telephone bill.

12. The switch of claim 11, wherein the switch is further configured to:

receive a registration for the calling party telephone number for the voice-over-internet protocol service prior to the calling party placing the direct-dialed telephone call.

13. The switch of claim 12, wherein the switch is further configured to:

store a voice-over-internet protocol service registration record for the calling party telephone number.

14. The switch of claim 12, wherein the switch is further configured to:

store an allowable destination list, which identifies the destination numbers accessible using the voice-over-internet protocol service, prior to the calling party placing the direct-dialed telephone call.