Method and Apparatus for Interfacing a Public Switched Telephone Network and an Internet Protocol Network for Multi-Media Communication

• US 20030095539A1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centre One
• Original Assignee: Centre One
• Inventors: Feuer, Donald S
• Granted Patent: US 7,068,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A real-time interface between the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and an Internet Protocol (IP) network provides voice to data and data to voice conversion between the PSTN and the IP network in a seamless process. The interface, a central communication network, performs Class 5 switching between the PSTN and the IP network, besides providing enhanced services. Receiving a call, the central communication network simultaneously routes the call to a plurality of preprogrammed numbers on the PSTN and on the IP network. The central communication network provides call screening, takes voice messages and converts them to e-mail messages, takes e-mail or facsimile messages and converts them to voice messages. Communication between a PSTN phone on a local PSTN, a computer hooked up to the IP network, a phone hooked up to the IP network by a gateway, a private branch exchange (PBX) on a local PSTN, a wireless communication system with pagers and/or cell phones hooked up to a local PSTN, and facsimile machines on a local PSTN, for example, is provided by the central communication network. Through the central communication network, a computer hooked up to the IP network can exchange voice messages and facsimile messages with a PSTN connected device and conduct conference calling with a plurality of PSTN devices.

Claims

1. A system for providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), comprising:

a computer controlled switch adapted for connection to a local public switched telephone network; and

gate interface circuitry connected to the computer controlled switch and adapted for connection to the IP network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said gate interface circuitry includes gateway circuitry for interfacing between the IP network and the voice circuits of the PSTN, and gatekeeper circuitry for performing address translation, admission control, bandwidth management and zone management between the IP network and the PSTN.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a voice response unit connected between the gate interface circuitry and the switch for receiving voice signals and converting them to digital tones for the switch.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a message system connected to the IP network and the switch.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said message system receives voice messages and converts them to e-mail messages.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said message system receives facsimile messages and converts them to e-mail messages.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said message system receives e-mail messages and converts them to voice messages.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the devices connected to the IP network are computers or telephones with a gateway circuitry interface.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the computers connected to the IP network include multi-media software for packetizing voice signals into a digital format for transmission over the IP network.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer controlled switch receives incoming calls from the IP network or the PSTN and routes the incoming calls to the PSTN or IP network.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said computer controlled switch receives an incoming call from the IP network or the PSTN and simultaneously routes the call to a plurality of pre-designated destinations which may be on the IP network, on the PSTN, or on both the IP network and the PSTN.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said computer controlled switch performs caller identification functions after routing the incoming call.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer controlled switch performs Class 5 switching of incoming calls.

14. A method of providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the steps of the method comprising:

interfacing the digital data signals of the IP network with the voice signals of the PSTN;

interfacing the control signals of the IP network with the PSTN to perform address translation, admission control, bandwidth management and zone management; and

routing calls between the devices connected to the IP network and devices connected to the PSTN.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving voice signals from the IP network and converting them to signals for use by the PSTN.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving voice messages and converting them to e-mail messages.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving facsimile messages and converting them to e-mail messages.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving e-mail messages and converting them to voice messages.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving an incoming call from the IP network or the PSTN network and simultaneously routing the call to a plurality of predesignated destinations which may be on the IP network, on the PSTN network, or on both the IP network and the PSTN network.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising performing caller identification functions after routing the incoming call.