Tandem access controller within the public switched telephone network
First Claim
1. A method of using control criteria to route a communication between a user with access to a voice over IP (VOIP) communication network, and a called party with access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising:
- receiving at a controller a signaling message indicating a communication from the user via the VOIP network;
using information in the signaling message to retrieve control criteria from a database, where the control criteria has been authenticated and derived from selections previously made by said user via a web server; and
using the control criteria to route the communication from the controller to the called party via a PSTN tandem switch that is separate from a central office switch without traversing any intervening switches between the controller and the PSTN tandem switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a tandem access controller (TAC) coupled to a PSTN, where the TAC allows a subscriber to set-up and make changes to the configuration of his/her phone line or other communications device. Such changes include selective call forwarding. The TAC is controlled by the subscriber using the web. The TAC is coupled internally to the PSTN in a local service area and is outside the subscriber'"'"'s central office. 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. 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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of using control criteria to route a communication between a user with access to a voice over IP (VOIP) communication network, and a called party with access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising:
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receiving at a controller a signaling message indicating a communication from the user via the VOIP network; using information in the signaling message to retrieve control criteria from a database, where the control criteria has been authenticated and derived from selections previously made by said user via a web server; and using the control criteria to route the communication from the controller to the called party via a PSTN tandem switch that is separate from a central office switch without traversing any intervening switches between the controller and the PSTN tandem switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification