Method and apparatus for placing a long distance call based on a virtual phone number
First Claim
1. A method of establishing a communications link, comprising:
- receiving a virtual telephone number at a first intermediate point from an originating point, the first intermediate point being operatively connected to a data network; and
transmitting a call setup request over the data network that includes a second intermediate point, wherein the call setup request includes the virtual telephone number or its equivalent, and wherein information in the call setup request allows the second intermediate point to establish a communications link to a destination point that corresponds to the virtual telephone number.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing the cost of long distance phone calls is disclosed. Accordingly, an originating phone network is operatively connected to a first intermediate point, and a receiving phone network is operatively connected to a second intermediate point. Each intermediate point is operatively connected to communicate via a data network. Users on the originating and destination phone networks may communicate based on virtual numbers. The virtual number is preferably within the local calling area of the originating phone network. The first and second intermediate points route calls to any geographic location, regardless of distance, over the data network based on the virtual number. This provides the advantage of allowing a user on the originating phone network to access a user at a distant location for a price that is substantially similar to the price of a local call.
196 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of establishing a communications link, comprising:
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receiving a virtual telephone number at a first intermediate point from an originating point, the first intermediate point being operatively connected to a data network; and transmitting a call setup request over the data network that includes a second intermediate point, wherein the call setup request includes the virtual telephone number or its equivalent, and wherein information in the call setup request allows the second intermediate point to establish a communications link to a destination point that corresponds to the virtual telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for establishing a communications link, comprising:
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means for receiving a virtual telephone number at a first intermediate point from an originating point, the first intermediate point being operatively connected to a data network; and means for transmitting a call setup request over the data network from the first intermediate point to a second intermediate point, wherein the call setup request includes the virtual telephone number or its equivalent, and wherein information in the call setup request allows the second intermediate point to establish a communications link to a destination point that corresponds to the virtual telephone number.
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10. A system for establishing a communications link, comprising:
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an intermediate point routing table that includes information linking virtual telephone numbers to the identities of intermediate points capable of establishing communications links to destination points associated with the virtual telephone numbers; and a first intermediate point that receives a virtual telephone number from an originating point, and that transmits a call setup request to a second intermediate point, wherein the call setup request includes the virtual telephone number or its equivalent, and wherein the intermediate point routing table, the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point are all coupled to a data network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification