Method and system for routing calls from a standard telephone device to a voice over internet protocol network

• US 8,488,600 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edge Access, Inc. (Florida)
• Original Assignee: Edge Access, Inc. (Florida)
• Inventors: Veschi, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US12/696,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/122 where the PSTN/ISDN access is used as an access to networks other than PSTN/ISDN access arrangements to networks other than PSTN/ISDN H04M7/0066; access arrangements to public data networks H04L12/2856

Abstract

The invention enables accessing and using a Voice over Internet Protocol network, and can use a standard telephone to automatically access a VoIP network. A first aspect of the invention uses an auto dialer to transmit digits, such as a network access number, an account number and a PIN, which remain unchanged from call to call made through a given network service provider. A second aspect of the invention provides a speed dial feature for placing VoIP telephone calls. Speed dial numbers are recorded in a VoIP service provider'"'"'s database on a server, which is accessible through the Internet from a personal computer (PC) or a conventional telephone. A third aspect of the invention enables callers to complete calls from conventional telephones to personal computers connected to the Internet. The VoIP network detects a flag such as leading “0,” determines that the call recipient station is a personal computer, looks up the IP address of the PC and routes the call to the PC.

Claims

1. A system for making telephone calls using a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) network, the system comprising

an auto dialer;

a memory to store strings of digits; and

a central processing unit, wherein

the system is constructed and adapted to

(a) store in said memory strings of digits corresponding to;

(i) a network access number for said VoIP network, (ii) an account number, and (iii) a Personal Identification Number (PIN);

(b) obtain an conventional telephone number;

(c) determine whether a call associated with said conventional telephone number should be routed to said VoIP network;

(d) based on said determining in (c), when it is determined that said conventional telephone number should be routed to said VoIP network, to;

(d)(1) form a string of digits comprising said network access number, said account number, said PIN, and said conventional telephone number;

(d)(2) auto dial said network access number from said string of digits for said VoIP network;

(d)(3) wait for a connection to be established with said VoIP network;

(d)(4) upon establishment of said connection, auto dial said account number from said string of digits; and

then

(d)(5) wait for a first confirmation; and

then

(d)(6) upon receipt of said first confirmation, to auto dial said PIN from said string of digits; and

then

(d)(7) wait for a second confirmation; and

(d)(8) upon receipt of said second confirmation, auto dial the entered conventional telephone from said string of digits.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said auto dialer can be automatically programmed by connecting to a server.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said auto dialer can be used as a conventional telephone to access existing non VoIP networks.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said string of digits is automatically modified when a new telephone number is entered.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit has interrupt driven logic enabling it to respond to input signals.

6. A method of making a call using a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) network, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) activating a communication device, said communication device having associated therewith;

(i) a network access number for said VoIP network, and (ii) an account number, and (iii) a Personal Identification Number (PIN);

(B) entering a conventional telephone number;

(C) determining whether a call associated with said conventional telephone number should be routed to said VoIP network;

(D) based on said determining in (C), when it is determined that a call associated with said conventional telephone number should be routed to said VoIP network, said communication device;

(D)(1) assembling a string of digits comprising network access number for said VoIP network, and said account number, and said Personal Identification Number (PIN) and said conventional telephone number;

(D)(2) auto dialing said network access number for said VoIP network from said string of digits;

(D)(3) waiting for a connection to establish between said communication device and said VoIP network;

(D)(4) upon establishment of said connection, auto dialing said account number from said string of digits; and

then

(D)(5) said communication device waiting for a first confirmation; and

then

(D)(6) upon receipt of said first confirmation, said communication device auto dialing said PIN from said string of digits; and

then

(D)(7) said communication device waiting for a second confirmation; and

then

(D)(8) upon receipt of said second confirmation, said communication device auto dialing the conventional telephone number from said string of digits.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the steps can be programmed by another computer.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein activating a communication device is picking up a hand set.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said telephone number is a conventional eleven digit long distance number.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said confirming said telephone number is checking and determining if the call being made should be routed to a VoIP service provider or to an existing telephone carrier.

11. A method comprising:

(A) associating with a communication device;

(i) a network access number for a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) network, (ii) account information;

(B) entering a conventional telephone number associated with a destination party;

(C) when it is determined that a call associated with said telephone number should be routed to said VoIP network;

(C)(1) auto dialing said network access number for said VoIP network;

(C)(2) waiting for establishment of a connection between said communication device and said VoIP network;

(C)(3) upon establishment of said connection, automatically providing said account information; and

then

(C)(4) upon confirmation of said account information, said communication device auto dialing the conventional telephone number entered in (B).

12. The method of claim 11 wherein automatically providing said account information in (C)(3) comprises auto dialing at least some of said account information.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said account information comprises an account number and wherein said step of automatically providing said account information in (C)(3) comprises automatically providing said account number.