Internet telephone service

• US 6,438,218 B1
• Filed: 04/18/1996
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartholomew, Dale L., Flaherty, Stephen J., Farris, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/634,543
• Time in Patent Office: 2,315 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/380, 370/389, 370/392, 370/396, 370/401, 370/404, 370/427, 370/435, 370/450, 370/465, 370/485, 379/90.1, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.09, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/67.1, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.03, 379/265.09, 379/900, 379/904
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A public switched telephone network utilizing program controlled switching systems controlled by common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) and preferably an advanced intelligent network (AIN) CCIS network is arranged in an architecture to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment and without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service. Billing may be accomplished on a per call basis. The calls may be inter and intra LATA, region or state and may be nationwide. Usage is made of CCIS signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing. Calls may be made from telephone station to telephone station, from voice capable computer to voice capable computer, or from telephone to computer or computer to telephone.

Claims

1. A method of communicating via plural communication networks comprising:

a switched telecommunications network having interconnected central office switching systems and having subscriber lines connected to said central office switching systems providing connection between terminals connected to said subscriber lines, each of said central office switching systems responding to a service request on a subscriber line connected thereto to selectively provide a communication connection between the requesting line and another selected subscriber line through the connected central office switching system or through the connected central office switching system and at least one other central office switching system;

a separate control network for said switched telecommunications network comprising a common channel interoffice signaling network including signal transfer points connected to said central office switching systems through signal switching points via links between said signal switching points and signal transfer points;

a global information system termed Internet that is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the Internet Protocol (IP);

said method comprising the steps of;

responsive to a request from a first subscriber line connected to a first of said central office switching systems to establish voice communication through the Internet with a second subscriber line connected to a second of said central office switching systems, signaling through said control network to establish that said second subscriber line is not busy;

upon establishing that said second subscriber line is not busy, holding said second subscriber line and signaling through said control network to notify said first of said central office switching systems that said second subscriber line is available and that a processor is associated with said second of said central office switching systems;

obtaining a globally unique Internet address for a processor associated with at least one of said central office switching systems;

using said address to establish a virtual connection through the Internet from said first of said central office switching systems to said second of said central office switching systems; and

conducting a voice communication through said first subscriber line through the Internet and through said second subscriber line.

2. A method according to claim 1 including the steps of obtaining an Internet address for said processor associated with said second of said central office switching systems and signaling said address through said control network to said second of said central office switching systems, and using said address in establishing said virtual connection through said internetwork from said first of said central office switching systems to said second of said central office switching systems.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said processor associated with said second of said central office switching systems is connected to said second subscriber line as customer premises equipment.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said request is made with a telephone station connected to said first subscriber line.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said request is made with a processor connected to said first subscriber line.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said processor is the processor for which said address is obtained.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the establishment of said voice communication includes the steps of:

transmitting an analog voice signal over said first subscriber line to said first of said central office switching systems;

converting said analog voice signal to a first digital voice signal in said one of said central office switching systems;

converting said first digital voice signal to a second packetized digital voice signal; and

delivering said second packetized digital voice signal to the Internet in TCP/IP format.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the establishment of said voice communication includes the steps of:

receiving said second packetized digital voice signal from the Internet in TCP/IP format;

converting said second packetized digital voice signal from the Internet in TCP/IP format to a third digital voice signal and delivering said third digital voice signal to said second of said central office switching systems;

converting said third digital voice signal to an analog voice signal and delivering said analog voice signal from said second of said central office switching systems to said second subscriber line.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said first and third digital voice signals are in DS0 format.

10. A communications network comprising:

a switched telecommunications network having interconnected central office switching systems and having subscriber lines connected to said central office switching systems providing connection between terminals connected to said subscriber lines, each of said central office switching systems responding to a service request on a subscriber line connected thereto to selectively provide a communication connection between the requesting line and another selected subscriber line through the connected central office switching system or through the connected central office switching system and at least one other central office switching system;

a separate control network for said switched telecommunications network comprising a common channel interoffice signaling network including signal transfer points connected to said central office switching systems through signal switching points via links between said signal switching points and signal transfer points;

a global information system termed Internet that is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the Internet Protocol (IP);

at least a pair of said central office switching systems having connected thereto an Internet module, said central office switching systems providing selective connection between said modules and the subscriber lines connected to each of said pair of switching systems;

each of said Internet modules having associated therewith a domain name service server and a dynamic host configuration protocol server and a processor having router and packet assembler and disassembler capabilities;

said Internet modules being linked to signal transfer points in said control network whereby in response to control signals a virtual connection is established from a customer premises terminal connected to one of said subscriber lines through the central office switching system connected to one of said Internet modules through said Internet module through the Internet to the other of said Internet modules through the switching system connected to said other Internet module through a subscriber line connected to said switching system connected to said other Internet module to a customer premises terminal connected to said subscriber line connected to said last named switching system to provide voice communication between said customer premises.

11. A communications network comprising:

a switched telecommunications network having interconnected central office switching systems and having subscriber lines connected to said central office switching systems providing connection between terminals connected to said subscriber lines, each of said central office switching systems responding to a service request on a subscriber line connected thereto to selectively provide a communication connection between the requesting line and another selected subscriber line through the connected central office switching system or through the connected central office switching system and at least one other central office switching system;

a separate control network for said switched telecommunications network comprising a common channel interoffice signaling network including signal transfer points connected to said central office switching systems through signal switching points via links between said signal switching points and signal transfer points;

a global information system termed Internet that is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the Internet Protocol (IP);

at least a pair of said central office switching systems having connected thereto an Internet module, said central office switching systems providing selective connection between said modules and the subscriber lines connected to each of said pair of switching systems;

each of said Internet modules including a processor;

said Internet modules being linked to signal transfer points in said control network whereby in response to control signals a virtual connection is established from a customer premises terminal connected to one of said subscriber lines through the central office switching system connected to one of said Internet modules through said Internet module through the Internet to the other of said Internet modules through the switching system connected to said other Internet module through a subscriber line connected said switching system connected to said other Internet module to a customer premises terminal connected to said subscriber line connected to said last named switching system to provide voice communication between said customer premises.

12. A communications network according to claim 11 wherein said customer premises terminals are telephone stations.

13. A communications network according to claim 11 wherein said customer premises terminals are computers.

14. A communications network according to claim 11 wherein said Internet modules provide domain name translations and provide temporary Internet addresses used in establishing said virtual connection.

15. A communications network according to claim 11 wherein at least one of said Internet modules provides conversion of a digital signal at a first bps rate from the central office switching system connected to that Internet module to packets at a lower bps rate in TCP/IP format which are transmitted through the Internet.

16. A communications network according to claim 15 wherein the other of said Internet modules provides conversion of packets at said lower bps rate in TCP/IP format received from the Internet to a digital signal at a higher bps rate which are transmitted to said central office switching system connected to that Internet module.

17. A communications network comprising:

a switched telecommunications network having interconnected central office switching systems and having subscriber lines connected to said central office switching systems providing connection between terminals connected to said subscriber lines, each of said central office switching systems responding to a service request on a subscriber line connected thereto to selectively provide a communication connection between the requesting line and another selected subscriber line through the connected central office switching system or through the connected central office switching system and at least one other central office switching system;

a separate control network for said switched telecommunications network comprising a common channel interoffice signaling network including signal transfer points connected to said central office switching systems through signal switching points via links between said signal switching points and signal transfer points;

a global information system termed Internet that is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the Internet Protocol (IP);

at least a pair of said central office switching systems having connected thereto an Internet module, said central office switching systems providing selective connection between said modules and the subscriber lines connected to each of said pair of central office switching systems;

each of said Internet modules including a processor;

said Internet modules being linked to signal transfer points in said control network;

connections between said customer premise terminals connected to subscriber lines and their respective central office switching systems being established responsive to signals via said control network whereby a virtual connection is established from a customer premises terminal connected to one of said subscriber lines through the central office switching system connected to one of said Internet modules through said Internet module through the Internet to the other of said Internet modules through the central office switching system connected to said other Internet module through a subscriber line connected to said central office switching system connected to said other Internet module and to a customer premises terminal connected to said subscriber line connected to said last named central office switching system to provide voice communication between said customer premises.

18. A communications network according to claim 17 wherein said customer premises terminals are telephone stations.

19. A communications network according to claim 17 wherein said customer premises terminals are computers.

20. A communications network according to claim 17 wherein said Internet modules provide domain name translations and provide temporary Internet addresses used in establishing said virtual connection.

21. A communications network according to claim 17 wherein at least one of said Internet modules provides conversion of a digital signal at a first bps rate from the central office switching system connected to that Internet module to packets at a lower bps rate in TCP/IP format which are transmitted through the Internet.

22. A communications network according to claim 21 wherein the other of said Internet modules provides conversion of packets at said lower bps rate in TCP/IP format received from the Internet to a digital signal at a higher bps rate which is transmitted to said central office switching system connected to that Internet module.