System and method for placing a call using a local access number shared by multiple users

• US 8,615,005 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sabse Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sabse Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Arnaud, Jrme
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PARTHKUMAR
• Application Number:
  US12/249,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20100091761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 370/354, 370/329, 455/428, 455/435.2, 455/426.1, 455/420, 709/249, 726/12, 379/93.17, 704/275
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

The present document describes a method and system for placing a call through an Internet Protocol (IP) network, from a contact voice interface device for use by a contact user located in a first geographical area, to a subscribed voice interface device for use by a subscribed user located in a second geographical area, each geographical area defined by an area in which a local call can be made. The method comprises: assigning a local access phone number to the first geographical area; the contact user initiating a first leg of the call, from the contact voice interface device to a first IP switch, by dialing the local access phone number using the contact voice interface device; the contact user providing an identity of the subscribed voice interface device to which the call is to be completed; transmitting the identity from the first IP switch to a second IP switch via the IP network, the second IP switch associated with the identity of the subscribed voice interface device provided; the second IP switch establishing a second leg of the call at a local calling rate to the subscribed voice interface; and bridging the first leg of the call to the second leg of the call through the IP network, thereby completing the call from the contact voice interface device to the subscribed voice interface device through the IP network.

Claims

1. A method for placing a call through an Internet Protocol (IP) network, from a contact voice interface device located in a first geographical area, to a subscribed voice interface device located in a second geographical area, each geographical area defined by an area in which a local call can be made via a PSTN, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first IP switch connected to both the PSTN and the IP network and assigned to the first geographical area, a first leg of the call from the contact voice interface device to a local access phone number assigned to the first IP switch, wherein the first IP switch is remotely located from the contact voice interface device;

subsequently receiving, at the first IP switch from the contact voice interface device, a first identity defining the subscribed voice interface device to which the call is to be completed, the first identity being different from a second identity defining the contact voice interface device;

prompting for the second identity using a first prompt;

transmitting, via the IP network, the first identity from the first IP switch to a second IP switch connected to the PSTN and assigned to the second geographical area, the second IP switch associated with the first identity;

the second IP switch establishing a second leg of the call at a local calling rate to the subscribed voice interface, wherein establishing a second leg of the call comprises prompting the first identity with a second prompt to accept and/or refuse an establishment of the call; and

bridging the first leg of the call to the second leg of the call through the IP network, thereby completing the call from the contact voice interface device to the subscribed voice interface device through the IP network;

wherein upon receiving a refuse notification in response to the second prompt, further displaying a third prompt to choose from a plurality of options comprising;

transferring the call to a personal voice recording system, terminating the call, and storing the second identity in a list of contacts for which further calls are to be refused.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the call is completed upon receiving the accept of the establishment of the call.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the first identity defining the subscribed voice interface device comprises one of:

a username of a subscribed user, any type of telephone network phone number, a VoIP number, a world type number, and a subscribed user personal identity code.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising billing charges to a subscribed user account, the charges being associated with costs of performing at least one of:

the initiating of the first leg of the call;

the establishing of the second leg of the call; and

the bridging of the first leg of the call to the second leg of the call via the IP network.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the second leg of the call comprises a connection through a second telephone network in the second geographical area.

6. The method as in claim 5, further comprising the second IP switch switching the second leg of the call from the second telephone network to the IP network.

7. The method as in claim 5, wherein the first IP switch switches the first leg of the call from the first telephone network, to a given URL which points to a bridge server accessible via the IP network.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein the second IP switch switches the second leg of the call from the second telephone network, to the given URL which points to the bridge server, the bridge server thereby linking the first and second legs of the call.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the transmitting the first identity defining the subscribed voice interface device from the first IP switch to the second IP switch comprises:

transmitting the first identity to the bridge server; and

the bridge server sending a command to the second IP switch to establish the second leg of the call to the subscribed voice interface device associated with the first identity.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the transmitting the first identity from the first IP switch to the second IP switch further comprises:

the bridge server accessing a database to find an address of the second IP switch associated with the first identity, the database comprising a correspondence between the address and a plurality of identities of subscribed voice interface devices for use by a plurality of subscribed users located in the second geographical area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving, at the first IP switch from the contact voice interface device comprises:

receiving a third identity, different from the first and second identities, and defining the subscribed user to which the call is to be completed; and

accessing at least one database, using a processor in communication with an application server, to determine the first identity associated with the third identity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first identity associated with the third identity comprises a plurality of first identities, each defining a separate one of a plurality of subscribed user devices each associated with the same subscribed user.

13. A system for placing a call through an Internet Protocol (IP) network, from a contact voice interface device for use by a contact user located in a first geographical area, to a subscribed voice interface device for use by a subscribed user located in a second geographical area, each one of the first and second geographical areas being defined by an area in which a local call can be made, the system comprising:

a first IP switch, being remotely located from and locally accessible to the contact voice interface device, for establishing a first leg of the call upon receiving, from the contact voice interface device, a first identity defining the subscribed voice interface device, the first identity being different from a second identity defining the contact voice interface device, and the first IP switch having access to both the PSTN and the IP network, the first leg of the call being established by the contact voice interface device dialing a local access phone number assigned to the first IP switch and the first geographical area, wherein the first identity is received subsequent to the first leg of the call being established;

a second IP switch connected to both the PTSN and the IP network, for establishing a second leg of the call at a local calling rate, to the subscribed voice interface device, upon receiving the first identity defining the subscribed voice interface device from the first IP switch and the IP network;

a bridge server accessible via the IP network, for bridging the first leg of the call to the second leg of the call through the IP network thereby completing the call from the contact voice interface device to the subscribed voice interface device, and

a prompting device for prompting the second identity with a first prompt to provide the second identity, and prompting the first identity with a second prompt to accept and/or refuse establishment of the call,

wherein upon receiving a refuse notification in response to the second prompt, the prompting device further for displaying a third prompt to choose from a plurality of options comprising;

transferring the call to a personal voice recording system, terminating the call, and storing the second identity in a list of contacts for which further calls are to be refused.

14. The system as in claim 13, wherein the bridge server further comprises:

a database comprising a correspondence between the second IP switch and a plurality of identities of subscribed voice interface devices for use by a plurality of subscribed users; and

an application coupled to the database, the application being configured for;

accessing the database to retrieve the second IP switch corresponding to the first identity; and

sending a command to the second IP switch, the command instructing the second IP switch to establish the second leg of the call to the subscribed voice interface device associated with the first identity; and

enabling the bridging of the first leg of the call to the second leg of the call upon the subscribed voice interface device choosing to accept the completion of the call from the second identity.

15. The system as in claim 14, wherein the application is further configured for one of:

terminating the completion of the call upon receiving a command to refuse the completion of the call from the contact voice interface device;

transferring the call for completion to the personal voice recording device upon the subscribed user choosing to transfer the call; and

sending the second identity for storage to the database upon the subscribed user choosing to refuse the completion of the call and to mark the second identity as a blocked contact.

16. A system for completing a call through an Internet Protocol (IP) network, from a first IP switch being locally accessible by a contact voice interface device for use by a contact user located in a first geographical area, to a second IP switch having local access to a subscribed voice interface device for use by a subscribed user located in a second geographical area, the system comprising:

a computer operating as a server and having access to the IP network;

a database coupled with the computer, the database comprising a correspondence between the second IP switch and a first identity defining the subscribed voice interface device, the first identity being different from a second identity defining the contact voice interface device; and

an application installed on the computer and coupled to the database, the application having machine readable instructions that when executed by a processor of the computer operate to;

upon a first leg of the call being established from the contact voice interface device to the first IP switch by the contact voice interface device dialing a local access phone number assigned to the first geographical area, subsequently receiving the first identity defining the subscribed voice interface device to which the call is to be completed from the contact voice interface device, wherein the first IP switch is remotely located from the contact voice interface device;

determining from the database the second IP switch corresponding to the first identity received;

prompting the second identity with a first prompt to provide the second identity;

transferring the first identity to the second IP switch to enable the second IP switch to establish a second leg of the call, at a local calling rate, to the subscribed voice interface device associated with the first identity;

prompting the first identity with a second prompt to accept and/or refuse establishment of the call; and

establishing a communication over the IP network, to both the first IP switch and the second IP switch, thereby linking the first leg of the call to the second leg of the call and completing the call when receiving an accept notification in response to the second prompt;

wherein upon receiving a refuse notification in response to the second prompt, further displaying a third prompt to choose from a plurality of options comprising;

transferring the call to a personal voice recording system, terminating the call, and storing the second identity in a list of contacts for which further calls are to be refused.

17. The system as in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of computers for running servers in communication with each other via the IP network, each one of the computers for running servers having a respective database and a respective application for performing any one of:

the receiving the first identity defining the subscribed voice interface device;

the determining the second IP switch;

the transferring the first identity; and

the establishing a communication.