System and method for routing telephone calls over a voice and data network

• US 20050002506A1
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Upland Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Geos Communications IP Holdings, Incorporated (Upland Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cooney, John M., Zalenski, Anthony, Bender, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7268 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system and method for routing a mobile phone call over a voice and data network. A user places a call on a mobile phone to an end destination. The call is then routed to a telecommunications gateway, where the call is converted into a medium that is transferable over the voice and data network. The converted call is then sent over the voice and data network to another PSTN and finally to the end destination.

Claims

1. A method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network to a destination device comprising:

placing a call from a calling device to a telecommunications gateway (TCG);

converting the call at the TCG into a format compatible with the voice and data network;

transferring the converted call to the voice and data network; and

directing the converted call to the destination device via the voice and data network.

2. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 1, wherein placing a call from a calling device to a TCG comprises originating a call from a plain old telephone.

3. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 1, wherein placing a call from a calling device to a TCG comprises originating a call from a mobile device.

4. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 3, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless telephone, a wireless personal data assistance, and a computer having a wireless network interface card.

5. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 3, wherein originating a call from a mobile device further comprises routing the call from the mobile device to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) prior to routing the call to the TCG.

6. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 1, wherein directing the converted call to the destination device via the voice and data network further comprises directing the call from the voice and data network to the destination device via a public switched telephone network.

7. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 1, wherein the voice and data network is the Internet.

8. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 1, the method further comprising making a determination whether the call is authorized prior to converting the telephone call into format compatible with the voice and data network.

9. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 8, wherein making a determination whether the call is authorized comprises:

capturing caller ID data from the calling device;

making a determination whether the caller ID data is authorized; and

in the event the caller ID data is authorized, processing the call from the calling device to the TCG.

10. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 9, wherein processing the call from the calling device to the TCG comprises:

sending a dialing signal to the calling device; and

awaiting a calling code from the calling device.

11. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 9, wherein placing a call from a calling device to a TCG comprises entering a calling code for the destination device and wherein processing the call from the calling device to the TCG comprises using the destination device calling code to call the destination device.

12. A method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network to a destination device comprising:

placing a call from a calling device to a telecommunications gateway (TCG);

making a first determination whether the call is a voice and data network (VDN) call;

in the event the call is a VDN call, converting the call at the TCG into a format compatible with the voice and data network;

transferring the converted call to the voice and data network; and

directing the converted call to the destination device via the voice and data network.

13. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 12, wherein placing a call from a calling device to a TCG comprises originating a call from a plain old telephone.

14. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 12, wherein placing a call from a calling device to a TCG comprises originating a call from a mobile device.

15. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 14, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless telephone, a wireless personal data assistance, and a computer having a wireless network interface card.

16. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 14, wherein originating a call from a mobile device further comprises routing the call from the mobile phone to a public switched telephone network prior to routing the call to the TCG.

17. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 12, wherein directing the converted call to the destination device via the voice and data network further comprises directing the call from the voice and data network to the destination device via a public switched telephone network.

18. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 12, wherein the voice and data network is the Internet.

19. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 12, wherein placing a call from a calling device to a TCG comprises entering a calling code associated with the TCG and wherein making a first determination whether the call is a VDN call comprises:

determining whether a voice and data network (VDN) designator is present in the TCG calling code; and

in the event the VDN designator is present in the TCG calling code, determining that the call is a VDN call.

20. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 19, wherein the VDN designator is a tone produced by pressing the “

#”

key on a telephone keypad.

21. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 20, wherein placing a call from a calling device to a TCG comprises entering a calling code associated with the TCG and wherein making a first determination whether the call is a VDN call comprises:

prompting the calling device for a VDN designator; and

in the event the VDN designator is received, making a determination that the call is a VDN call.

22. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 21, wherein the VDN designator is a tone produced by pressing the “

#”

key on a telephone keypad.

23. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 12, the method further comprising making a second determination whether the call is authorized prior to converting the telephone call into format compatible with the voice and data network.

24. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 23, wherein making a second determination whether the call is authorized comprises:

capturing caller ID data from the calling device;

making a determination whether the caller ID data is authorized; and

in the event the caller ID data is authorized, processing the call from the calling device to the TCG.

25. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 24, wherein processing the call from the calling device to the TCG comprises:

sending a dialing signal to the calling device; and

awaiting a calling code from the calling device.

26. The method for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network of claim 24, wherein placing a call from a calling device to a TCG comprises entering a calling code for the destination device and wherein processing the call from the calling device to the TCG comprises using the calling code to call the destination device.

27. A system for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network to a destination device, the system comprising:

a calling device;

a destination device;

a telecommunications gateway linked to a public switched telephone network and linked to the voice and data network, wherein the telecommunications gateway (TCG) is adapted to;

receive a call from the calling device via the public switched telephone network;

convert the call into a format compatible with the voice and data network;

transfer the converted call to the voice and data network; and

direct the converted call to the destination device via the voice and data network.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the calling device is a plain old telephone.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the calling device is a plain old telephone mobile device.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless telephone, a wireless personal data assistance, and a computer having a wireless network interface card.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the voice and data network is the Internet.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the telecommuncations gateway is further adapated to make a determination whether the call is authorized prior to converting the telephone call into format compatible with the voice and data network.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the telecommuncations gateway is further adapated to:

capture caller ID data from the calling device;

make a determination whether the caller ID data is authorized; and

in the event the caller ID data is authorized, process the call from the calling device to the TCG.

34. A system for routing a telephone call over a voice and data network to a destination device at the request of a calling party, the system comprising:

a calling device;

a destination device;

a public switched telephone network comprising a telecommunications gateway (TCG), wherein the TCG is linked to the public switched network and linked to the voice and data network, wherein the TCG is adapted to;

receive a call from the calling device via the public switched telephone network;

convert the call into a format compatible with the voice and data network;

transfer the converted call to the voice and data network; and

direct the converted call to the destination device via the voice and data network.