Controller for the intelligent interconnection of two communication networks, and method of use for same

• US 9,386,158 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2015
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US14/737,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 caller ID based call routing feature. A processing system in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) receives first identifying information for identifying the source of a telephone call and associates additional information stored in a memory with the first identifying information. The additional information may then be transmitted to the subscriber via the Internet for display. Another feature is a branch calling feature where the subscriber may program a processing system within the PSTN to forward an incoming call to two or more end units (e.g., telephones) simultaneously. If the call at an end unit is answered, answer supervision signaling is transmitted back to the processing system which then terminates all other calls. The processing system then connects the calling party to the subscriber. The branch calling may be made for any combination of local, long distance, and cellular telephone numbers.

Claims

1. A method of routing calls from a first network to a second network, comprising:

receiving at a controlling device connected to a tandem switch, a first information relating to a call from a first user connected to the first network, the call being directed to a second user connected to the second network, wherein said receiving takes place prior to the second user answering the call;

generating by the controlling device a second information, wherein the second information is a function of at least one control criteria available to the controlling device; and

using the second information to process the call from the controlling device through the second network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling device enables a communication path between the first user on the first network and the second user on the second network.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first network and the second network operate on disparate communications protocols.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one control criteria has been previously made available to the controlling device.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the control criteria is provided to the controlling device through an Internet connection.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one control criteria has been previously provided to the controlling device by either the first user or the second user.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one control criteria has been previously provided to the controlling device by a service provider operating either the first network or the second network.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the call is not terminated unless the second user answers the call.

9. A method of routing calls from a first network to a second network, comprising:

receiving, at a controlling device connected to a tandem switch within a PSTN network, a first information relating to a first call leg of a call from a first user connected to the first network, the call being directed to a second user connected to the second network, wherein the first information is received at the controlling device prior to reaching an end office in the PSTN network;

generating by the controlling device a second information relating to a second call leg of the call, wherein the second information is a function of at least one control criteria available to the controlling device; and

using the second information to process the call from the controlling device through the second network.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the call is not terminated unless the second user answers the call.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the first network and the second network operate on disparate communications protocols.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one control criteria has been previously made available to the controlling device.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the control criteria is provided to the controlling device through an Internet connection.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one control criteria has been previously provided to the controlling device by either the first user or the second user.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one control criteria has been previously provided to the controlling device by a service provider operating either the first network or the second network.