Integrating telephone lines with packet connections
First Claim
1. A method for routing calls to a terminal adapter supporting a plurality of telephony terminals via a telephony line or through a packet network, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a telephony switch, an incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals;
establishing, via the telephony switch, the incoming call with the terminal adapter via the telephony line when a first condition is present;
establishing, via the telephony switch, the incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals through the packet network when a second condition is present, wherein the terminal adapter will establish a connection with one of the telephony terminals to complete the incoming call;
providing instructions to the telephony switch to route the incoming call based on the first and second conditions, the instructions provided via a service node associated with the telephony switch and a gateway, which couples the telephony switch to the packet network; and
providing instructions to the gateway to assist in establishing incoming calls through the packet network when the second condition exists, the instructions provided via a service node.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an effective technique for routing calls to one or more telephony terminals through a traditional telephony line as well as via a packet network. A terminal adapter is provided at a customer premise and supports multiple telephony terminals, which may be associated with the same or different directory numbers. For incoming calls, the telephony switch will determine whether to route the call over the traditional telephony line or through the packet network to the terminal adapter, which will facilitate the connection with one or more of the telephony terminals. The incoming calls can be routed to a specific telephony terminal based on incoming call indicia. The terminal adapter can initiate outgoing calls from the supported telephony terminals over the traditional telephony line or via the packet network to the telephony switch. Whether incoming or outgoing calls are routed through the telephony line or the packet network depends on system configuration and existing conditions.
54 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for routing calls to a terminal adapter supporting a plurality of telephony terminals via a telephony line or through a packet network, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a telephony switch, an incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals; establishing, via the telephony switch, the incoming call with the terminal adapter via the telephony line when a first condition is present; establishing, via the telephony switch, the incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals through the packet network when a second condition is present, wherein the terminal adapter will establish a connection with one of the telephony terminals to complete the incoming call; providing instructions to the telephony switch to route the incoming call based on the first and second conditions, the instructions provided via a service node associated with the telephony switch and a gateway, which couples the telephony switch to the packet network; and providing instructions to the gateway to assist in establishing incoming calls through the packet network when the second condition exists, the instructions provided via a service node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for routing calls to a terminal adapter supporting a plurality of telephony terminals via a telephony line or through a packet network, the system comprising:
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a telephony switch adapted to; receive an incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals; establish the incoming call with the terminal adapter via the telephony line when a first condition is present; and establish the incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals through the packet network when a second condition is present, wherein the terminal adapter will establish a connection with one of the telephony terminals to complete the incoming call; and a service node associated with the telephony switch and a gateway, which couples the telephony switch to the packet network, the service node adapted to; a) provide instructions to the telephony switch to route the incoming call based on the first and second conditions; and b) provide instructions to the gateway to assist in establishing incoming calls through the packet network when the second condition exists. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for routing calls to a terminal adapter supporting a plurality of telephony terminals via a telephony line or through a packet network, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a telephony switch, an incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals; connecting, via the telephony switch, the incoming call with the terminal adapter via the telephony line when a first condition is present; and connecting, via the telephony switch, the incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals through the packet network when a second condition is present, wherein the terminal adapter will establish a connection with one of the telephony terminals to complete the incoming call, wherein when the first condition is present, the connection is through a telephony network, the telephone switch, and the terminal adapter to one of the telephony terminals, and wherein when the second condition is present, the connection comprises a first connection between the telephony switch and a telephony network, a second connection between the telephony switch and a gateway which couples the telephony switch to the packet network, and bidirectional voice over packet sessions between the gateway and the terminal adapter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for routing calls to a terminal adapter supporting a plurality of telephony terminals via a telephony line or through a packet network, the system comprising a telephony switch adapted to:
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a) receive an incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals; b) establish the incoming call with the terminal adapter via the telephony line when a first condition is present; and c) establish the incoming call intended for one of the telephony terminals through the packet network when a second condition is present, wherein the terminal adapter will establish a connection with one of the telephony terminals to complete the incoming call, wherein when the first condition is present, the connection is through the telephony line, the telephone switch, and the terminal adapter to one of the telephony terminals, and wherein when the second condition is present, the connection comprises a first connection between the telephony switch and a telephony network, a second connection between the telephony switch and a gateway which couples the telephony switch to the packet network, and bidirectional voice over packet sessions between the gateway and the terminal adapter. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification