DISTRIBUTED VOICE NETWORK

• US 20100008345A1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gerald Lebizay
• Inventors: Lebizay, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation

Abstract

A method and apparatus that receives an IP packet and encapsulates the packet with an IP header. Further, time-domain multiplexed voice data is received and converted into VoIP packets. Still further, Signaling System 7 (SS7) compliant signals are decoded. The decoded SS7 signals are received and encapsulated prior to transmission to a telephony device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request, from a first telephony device, to invite a second telephony device identified by a telephone number to participate in a voice-over-IP telephony session;

relating the telephone number to an IP address associated with the telephone number;

sending an invitation to the IP address;

receiving a response to the invitation; and

modifying and forwarding the response to the first telephony device, such that the modified response contains a first IP header including a first IP address of the first telephony device and a second IP header including a second IP address of the first telephony device, wherein the first IP address indicates a point of connection of the first telephony device to a network, and wherein the second IP address is generated as a result of registration of the first telephony device with a voice home agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein relating the telephone number to an IP address comprises accessing a database to determine an IP address of a voice home agent serving the second telephony device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the invitation is compliant with a session initiation protocol (SIP).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an IP packet containing data representing a voice; and

forwarding the IP packet to the first telephony device using a third IP header including a third IP address, and a fourth IP header including a fourth IP address;

wherein the third IP address indicates a point of connection of the first telephony device to a network, and wherein the fourth IP address is generated as a result of registration of the first telephony device with a voice home agent.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an IP packet containing data representing a voice; and

sending the IP packet to a voice home agent serving the second telephony device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first telephony device changed its point of connection to the network; and

redefining the first IP address to identify the changed point of connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IP address identifies a radio network services node coupled to an 802.16e-compliant network that includes an access point to which the first telephony device communicates.

8. A machine-accessible medium that provides instructions, which when accessed, cause the machine to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a request, from a first telephony device, to invite a second telephony device identified by a particular telephone number to participate in a voice-over-IP telephony session;

relating the telephone number to an IP address associated with the telephone number;

sending an invitation to the IP address;

receiving a response to the invitation; and

modifying and forwarding the response to the first telephony device, such that the modified response contains a first IP header including a first IP address of the first telephony device and a second IP header including a second IP address of the first telephony device, wherein the first IP address indicates a point of connection of the first telephony device to a network, and wherein the second IP address is generated as a result of registration of the first telephony device with a voice home agent.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein relating the telephone number to an IP address comprises accessing a database to determine an IP address of a voice home agent serving the second telephony device.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the invitation is compliant with session initiation protocol (SIP).

11. The medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an IP packet containing data representing a voice; and

forwarding the IP packet to the first telephony device using a third IP header including a third IP address, and a fourth IP header including a fourth IP address;

wherein the third IP address indicates a point of connection of the first telephony device to a network, and wherein the fourth IP address is generated as a result of registration of the first telephony device with a voice home agent.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an IP packet containing data representing a voice; and

sending the IP packet to a voice home agent serving the second telephony device.

13. The medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the first telephony device changed its point of connection to the network; and

redefining the first IP address to identify the changed point of connection.

14. The medium of claim 8, wherein the first IP address identifies a radio network services node coupled to an 802.16e-compliant network that includes an access point to which the first telephony device communicates.

15. A method comprising:

receiving an IP packet and prepending the packet with an IP header;

receiving time-domain multiplexed voice data and converting the data into VoIP packets;

measuring duration of at least one of receiving the IP packet and receiving the time-domain multiplexed voice data to produce measurements, and relating the measurements to a user account;

decoding Signaling System 7 (SS7) compliant signals to generate decoded SS7 signals;

receiving the decoded SS7 signals and passing the decoded SS7 transmission to a telephony device; and

receiving the VoIP packets and passing the VoIP packets for transmission to the telephony device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of receiving the IP packet, receiving the time-domain multiplexed voice data, decoding the Signaling System 7, receiving the decoded SS7, and receiving the VoIP packets is performed by a microprocessor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the IP packet, receiving the time-domain multiplexed voice data, decoding the Signaling System 7, receiving the decoded SS7, and receiving the VoIP packets are performed by circuitries that communicated with each other via a local area network.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

maintaining a database relating telephone numbers, mobile IP (MIP) addresses, and care-of addresses of mobile telephony devices.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the IP packet contains data representing a voice.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the first telephony device changed its point of connection to the network; and

redefining the first IP address to identify the changed point of connection.