Tandem access controller within the public switched telephone network

• US 8,718,252 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: j2 Cloud Services, LLC (Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Focal IP, LLC
• Inventors: Wood, Samuel F., Klein, Jerry A., Asprey, Margaret Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): AL AUBAIDI, RASHA S
• Application Number:
  US13/462,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20120236762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.11, 379/224
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/129 Details of providing call progress tones or announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13242 Broadcast, diffusion, multicast, point-to-multipoint (1 : N)
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 : Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 : Traffic distributors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A system that includes a tandem access controller (TAC) coupled to the PSTN, where the TAC allows a subscriber to set-up and change the configuration of the phone line or other communications device, including selective call forwarding, using the web. The TAC is coupled internally to the PSTN in a local service area and is outside the central office of the subscriber. A calling party makes a first call to the subscriber using the subscriber'"'"'s public telephone number. The TAC receives the first call prior to the call reaching the subscriber'"'"'s terminating central office, which in some cases avoids a toll. The TAC then carries out the subscriber'"'"'s instructions for the first call, such as making one or more second calls using telephone numbers different from the subscriber'"'"'s public telephone number. When the second call is answered, the answering phone is connected by the TAC to the caller.

Claims

1. A method of executing control criteria for routing of calls from a first communication network through a second communication network, wherein the second communication network is different from the first communication network, comprising the steps of:

providing a controller with access to at least the first and second communication networks, wherein at least one of the first or second communication networks is a packet network configured to support voice over IP (VOIP), the controller configured to receive signaling messages indicating a first call from the first communication network to an address of a communications device via the second communication network;

retrieving control criteria from a database to which the controller has access, based on the first call, wherein the control criteria is derived from entries previously made via a web server; and

processing the first call by implementing the control criteria to route a second call leg in accordance with the control criteria to the address for the communications device;

facilitating a connection via the controller between the first call and the second call leg, when the call is answered, thereby, establishing an interconnection in accordance with the control criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication network is coupled to a switching facility of a network comprising edge switches for routing calls from and to communications devices within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other edge switches or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the switching facility performs a class 4 switching function.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the switching facility is a tandem switch.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the switching facility employs a signaling transfer point (STP).

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the controller is a tandem access controller (TAC).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein both the first and at least the second communication networks are packet networks configured to support voice over IP (VOIP).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling messages include a VOIP signaling protocol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling messages include the SS7 protocol.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the control criteria include security measures.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the security measures include the prevention of denial of service attacks.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the security measures include no direct access to the gateway.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the security measures include an additional security layer to prevent hacking.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the security measures include VOIP link degradation detection.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the security measures include automatic cutover to the PSTN.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the security measures include conditional call blocking.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the security measures include call logging.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the security measures include authentication of the calling party.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a distributed architecture including one or more subsystems.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a subsystem includes protocol conversion of VOIP voice packets.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a subsystem includes protocol conversion of FAX packets.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein a subsystem includes a digital processing system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the digital processing system performs voice recognition.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the digital processing system provides call progress tones.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the digital processing system performs touchtone detection.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the digital processing system provides voice announcements.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the connection is performed, at least in part, by a subsystem.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the address for the called party includes an IP address.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the address for the called party address includes a telephone number.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the address for the called party includes a character string.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller terminates the first call.