Telephone service via packet-switched networking
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- detecting an off-hook condition of a calling station, the calling station associated with a telephone number of the calling station;
subsequent to detecting the off-hook condition, receiving dialed digits from the calling station, the dialed digits indicating a call request and a telephone number of a called party;
providing a request to a routing database, the request including at least a portion of the telephone number of the called party;
receiving in response to the request an identity of a gateway to the called party;
sending a first signaling message over a packet-switched network to the gateway using the identity of the gateway, the first signaling message including the telephone number of the called party;
receiving the first signaling message at the gateway;
formulating an SS7 signaling message in response to the first signaling message, the SS7 signaling message including the telephone number of the calling station and the telephone number of the called party;
sending the SS7 signaling message from the gateway over a connection to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) system;
receiving at the gateway over the connection to the PSTN system an indication that the called party is at least one of busy or available;
when the indication received at the gateway indicates that the calling party is busy, sending a second signaling message from the gateway over the packet-switched network indicating the called party is busy;
when the indication received at the gateway indicates that the called party is available, sending a third signaling message from the gateway over the packet-switched network indicating the called party is available;
recording billing information associated with the call request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing. Calls may be made from telephone station to telephone station, from telephone station to computer or computer to telephone station.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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detecting an off-hook condition of a calling station, the calling station associated with a telephone number of the calling station; subsequent to detecting the off-hook condition, receiving dialed digits from the calling station, the dialed digits indicating a call request and a telephone number of a called party; providing a request to a routing database, the request including at least a portion of the telephone number of the called party; receiving in response to the request an identity of a gateway to the called party; sending a first signaling message over a packet-switched network to the gateway using the identity of the gateway, the first signaling message including the telephone number of the called party; receiving the first signaling message at the gateway;
formulating an SS7 signaling message in response to the first signaling message, the SS7 signaling message including the telephone number of the calling station and the telephone number of the called party;sending the SS7 signaling message from the gateway over a connection to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) system; receiving at the gateway over the connection to the PSTN system an indication that the called party is at least one of busy or available; when the indication received at the gateway indicates that the calling party is busy, sending a second signaling message from the gateway over the packet-switched network indicating the called party is busy; when the indication received at the gateway indicates that the called party is available, sending a third signaling message from the gateway over the packet-switched network indicating the called party is available; recording billing information associated with the call request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
- detecting an off-hook condition of a calling station;
subsequent to detecting the off-hook condition, providing dial tone to the calling station;receiving dialed digits from the calling station, the dialed digits indicating a call request and a telephone number of a called party; providing a request to a routing database, the request including the telephone number of the called party; receiving in response to the request an address of a called party computing device associated with the telephone number of the called party; sending a first signaling message over a packet-switched network to the called party using the address of the called party computing device, the first signaling message including the a telephone number of the calling station; establishing a voice communication between the calling station and the called party via the packet-switched network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- detecting an off-hook condition of a calling station;
Specification