Methods and systems for providing telephony services to fixed and mobile telephonic devices

• US 8,369,311 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Kirchhoff, Leland W., Trandal, David S., Kelley, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Chandrahas
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMEL, JOEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/496,968
• Time in Patent Office: 2,380 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370352-356, 379/93.24, 379/207.12, 455/413
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/127 where the session control protocols comprise SIP and SS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/129 Details of providing call progress tones or announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to telecommunications and in particular to systems and methods for routing telephone calls. A first address, such as a first phone number, can be associated with a telephonic terminal, such as a fixed or mobile phone. Incoming calls to the first address can be routed using an Internet Protocol, such as SIP, or other protocol to the telephonic terminal or to other destinations based on telephonic terminal status and/or based on a user instruction.

Claims

1. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving over a network at a call processing system a first call from a calling party directed to a called party'"'"'s phone address, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes the calling party'"'"'s phone address;

originating a second call from the call processing system to a telephonic device associated with the called party, wherein the telephonic device is coupled to a broadband data connection;

transmitting, while the first call is in progress, a call alert notification regarding the first call, including at least a portion of the signaling information, to a networked computer associated with the called party via a communication channel;

bridging the first call with the second call and the communication channel associated with the networked computer;

providing a greeting to the calling party via the call processing system;

receiving a voice communication from the calling party at the processing system;

streaming at least a first portion of the voice communication via the call processing system in substantially real time to the telephonic device and/or the networked computer while ensuring that sound does not travel back to the calling party from the telephonic device or networked computer associated with the called party to thereby allow the called party to screen the caller call from the telephonic device or networked computer while the calling party is unaware that the call screening is being performed;

providing a first user interface via the telephonic device or networked computer that when a first input is provided by the called party, causes duplex communication to be provided to the telephonic device or networked computer so that the called party can converse with the calling party, wherein the first user interface is provided during the first call enabling the called party to indicate, during that first call, that the duplex communication is to be provided to the telephonic device or networked computer;

determining a current physical location of the called party based at least in part on GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) location information and/or latitude and longitudinal information indicating the called party'"'"'s current geographic location;

identifying an alternate telephonic device and/or an alternate networked computer in geographic proximity with the called party based at least in part on the determined physical location of the called party and a record of phone address destinations associated with the called party; and

providing, during the first call, a second user interface via the telephonic device or networked computer, the second user interface enabling the called party to indicate that the first call is to be transferred to a device different than the telephonic device or the networked computer, and

at least partly in response to receiving an indication from the called party during the first call via the second user interface that the called party wants the first call to be transferred, providing, during the first call, a third user interface enabling the called party to select a call transfer destination from a set of destinations, and

at least partly in response to receiving a selection by the called party of a destination from the set of destinations within a first period of time, the first period of time occurring during the first call, transferring the first call to the destination selected by the called party, and

if the called party does not select the call transfer destination during the first period of time, the first period of time occurring during the first call, causing

at least in part a third call to be originated during the first call to the identified alternate telephonic device and/or the identified alternate networked computer in geographic proximity with the called party.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the network via which the call processing system receives the first call is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call processing system receives a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite message associated with the first call from a SIP proxy.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call processing system transmits a SIP Invite message associated with the first call to a broadband service provider softswitch.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising receiving an indication that the called party provided the first input via a SIP Info message from a softswitch.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising receiving at the call processing system an indication that the called party provided the first input via an Internet protocol message, and in response causing duplex communication to be provided to the telephonic device or networked computer so that the called party can converse with the calling party.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving an indication that the called party provided the first input; and

at least partly in response to receiving the indication that the called party provided the first input, providing an Internet protocol message to a VoIP service provider system and a broadband service provider system.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising receiving an indication that the called party provided the second input via an Internet protocol message.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the telephonic device is a fixed phone.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the telephonic device includes an analog phone and an analog telephone adapter.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the telephonic device sends voice communications over the broadband connection in packets using an Internet protocol.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call processing system communicates with a call session server associated with a carrier when processing the first call.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call processing system communicates with a media gateway associated with a carrier when processing the first call.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first call is a forwarded call.

15. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the called party'"'"'s phone address has been number ported to the call processing system.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the called party'"'"'s phone address is an E.164 telephone number.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the communication channel includes a data network.

18. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the networked computer is a mobile device.

19. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second and/or third call originates over a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.

20. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second and/or third call originates via a wireless mobile switching center.

21. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second call from the call processing system is to a destination phone address which is different than the phone address called by the caller in the first call.

22. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the third call from the call processing system is to a destination phone address which is different than the phone address called by the caller in the first call.

23. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein information included in the call alert notification is displayed on the networked computer associated with the called party.

24. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein information included in the call alert notification is displayed via a client application hosted on the networked computer.

25. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein additional information is collected regarding the first call by querying a caller name database.

26. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein information presented with the call alert includes caller name, calling phone number, caller location, whether the call is private or restricted, and/or the calling device type.

27. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call alert notification causes an audible sound to be played by the networked computer.

28. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the greeting played to the calling party includes a greeting recorded by the called party.

29. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first or second input is a key press generated tone command.

30. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second input includes key presses identifying a first command and the other telephonic device and/or networked computer.

31. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first or second user interface is a voice command user interface.

32. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first or second user interface includes a selection option displayed on the networked computer.

33. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first or second user interface includes a selection option displayed via the wireless telephonic device.

34. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the origination of the third call is a transfer of the second call.

35. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second call is not disconnected until the third call is answered.

36. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the third call conferences with the second call upon answer.

37. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the called party is a registered subscriber of at least a first service offered by the call processing system.

38. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the information related to the call is stored in non-volatile memory on the networked computer associated with the called party and is accessible to the called party when the computer is not connected to the network.

39. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least part of the voice communication of the caller is recorded and stored on the call processing system and is accessible to the called party.

40. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least part of the voice communication of the caller is recorded and stored on the call processing system and is accessible via a telephonic device.

41. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the communication path is opened to the networked computer at least partly in response to the call processing system determining that the computer is online.

42. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the calling party phone address and/or an identifier associated with the calling party'"'"'s phone number is included in a call log associated with the called party.

43. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the call log is accessible via a client application hosted on the networked computer.

44. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the calling party phone address and/or an identifier associated with the calling party'"'"'s phone number is included in an address book record associated with the called party.

45. The method as defined in claim 44, wherein the address book is accessible via a client application hosted on the networked computer.

46. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein call state transitions are displayed on the networked computer.

47. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the caller hears a ringback tone selected by the called party.

48. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the caller is prompted to disclose caller identification information if their caller ID is blocked or restricted.

49. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call processing system is a softswitch.

50. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing an audible notification to the called party via at least one telephonic device while the called party is in communication with the calling party via the at least one telephonic device, wherein the audible notification is not transmitted to the calling party and the audible notification is related to call time remaining in the call party'"'"'s account.

51. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving over a network at a call processing system a first call from a caller directed to a first phone address of a called party, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes a phone address of the caller;

originating a second call to a first telephonic destination coupled to a data network and associated with the called party, wherein signaling information associated with the second call includes an identifier associated with the caller;

providing a first user interface via a first telephonic device associated with the first telephonic destination;

enabling the called party to screen the caller via the first telephonic destination prior to receiving a first input by the called party via the first user interface, the first input causing at least in part full duplex communication between the caller and the called party;

determining a current physical location of the called party based at least in part on GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) location information and/or latitude and longitudinal information indicating the called party'"'"'s current geographic location;

identifying a second telephonic device and/or a networked computer in geographic proximity with the called party based at least in part on the determined physical location of the called party and a record of phone address destinations associated with the called party; and

providing, during the first call, a second user interface via the first telephonic destination, the second user interface enabling the called party to indicate that the first call is to be transferred to a device different than the first telephonic device, and

at least partly in response to receiving an indication from the called party during the first call via the second user interface indicating that the called party wants the first call to be transferred, providing, during the first call, a third user interface enabling the called party to select a call transfer destination from a set of destinations, and

at least partly in response to receiving a selection by the called party of a destination from the set of destinations within a first period of time, the first period of time occurring during the first call, transferring the first call to the destination selected by the called party, and

if the called party does not select the call transfer destination during the first period of time, the first period of time occurring during the first call, using an Internet protocol, at least in part, to cause the caller and the identified second telephonic device and/or the networked computer in geographic proximity with the called party to be connected with full duplex communication.

52. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the network via which the call processing system receives the first call is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.

53. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the call processing system receives a SIP Invite message associated with the first call from a SIP proxy.

54. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the call processing system transmits a SIP Invite message associated with the first call to a broadband service provider softswitch.

55. The method as defined in claim 51, the method further comprising receiving an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic destination via a SIP Info message from a softswitch.

56. The method as defined in claim 51, the method further comprising receiving an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic destination via an Internet protocol message, and at least partly in response, causing caller and the called party to be connected.

57. The method as defined in claim 51, the method further comprising:

receiving over a data network an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic destination; and

at least partly in response to receiving the indication that the called party pressed the key, providing an Internet protocol message to a VoIP service provider system and a broadband service provider system.

58. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the first telephonic destination is a fixed phone.

59. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the first telephonic destination includes an analog phone and an analog telephone adapter.

60. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the first telephonic destination sends voice communications over a broadband connection in packets using an Internet protocol.

61. The method as defined in claim 51, the method further comprising providing a call notification to a networked computer associated with the called party while the first call is in progress.

62. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the call processing system communicates with a call session server associated with a carrier when processing the first call.

63. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the call processing system communicates with a media gateway associated with a carrier when processing the first call.

64. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the first call is a forwarded call.

65. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the first phone address has been number ported to the call processing system.

66. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the first phone address of the called party is an E.164 telephone number.

67. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the second call originates over a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.

68. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the second call originates over a wireless mobile switching center.

69. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the second call from the call processing system is to a destination phone address different than the first phone address called by the caller in the first call.

70. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the called party is a registered subscriber of at least a first service offered by the call processing system.

71. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the caller hears a ringback tone selected by the called party.

72. The method as defined in claim 51, wherein the caller is prompted to disclose identification information if the caller'"'"'s caller ID is blocked or restricted.

73. The method as defined in claim 51, the method further comprising providing an audible notification to the called party via at least one telephonic device while the called party is in communication with the calling party via the at least one telephonic device, wherein the audible notification is not transmitted to the calling party and the audible notification is related to call time.

74. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving over a network at a call processing system a first call from a caller directed to a called party;

providing a greeting to the caller via the call processing system;

receiving a voice communication from the caller at the processing system;

streaming at least a first portion of the voice communication via the call processing system in substantially real time to a first telephonic device having a broadband connection and associated with the called party while ensuring that sound does not travel back to the caller from the first telephonic device to thereby allow the called party to screen the call from the first telephonic device while the caller is unaware that their call is being screened;

determining a current physical location of the called party based at least in part on GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) location information and/or latitude and longitudinal information indicating the called party'"'"'s current geographic location;

identifying a second telephonic device and/or a networked computer in geographic proximity with the called party based at least in part on the determined physical location of the called party and a record of phone address destinations associated with the called party; and

providing, during the first call, a first user interface via the first telephonic device, wherein if the called party provides a first user interface input, the first input is then received at the call processing system using an Internet protocol and indicates that the called party wants to transfer the first call to a device other than the first telephonic device, and

at least partly in response to receiving an indication from the called party during the first call via the first user interface that the called party wants the first call to be transferred, providing, during the first call, a second user interface enabling the called party to select a call transfer destination from a set of destinations, and

at least partly in response to receiving a selection by the called party of a destination from the set of destinations during a first period of time, the first period of time occurring during the first call, transferring the first call to the destination selected by the called party, and

if the called party does not select the call transfer destination from the set of destinations during the first period of time, the first period of time occurring during the first call,

causing, at least in part, full duplex communication between the caller and the identified second telephonic device or the networked computer in geographic proximity with the called party.

75. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the network over which the call processing system receives the first call is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.

76. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the call processing system receives a SIP Invite message associated with the first call from a SIP proxy.

77. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the call processing system transmits a SIP Invite message associated with the first call to a broadband service provider softswitch.

78. The method as defined in claim 74, the method further comprising receiving an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic device via a SIP Info message from a softswitch.

79. The method as defined in claim 74, the method further comprising receiving an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic device via an Internet protocol message, and at least partly in response, causing a call transfer to another communication device to be performed.

80. The method as defined in claim 74, the method further comprising receiving an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic device via an Internet protocol message, and at least partly in response, causing a call conference with another party to be performed.

81. The method as defined in claim 74, the method further comprising:

receiving over a data network an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic device; and

at least partly in response to receiving the indication that the called party pressed the key, providing an Internet protocol message to a VoIP service provider system and a broadband service provider system.

82. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the first telephonic device is a fixed phone.

83. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the first telephonic device includes an analog phone and an analog telephone adapter.

84. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the first telephonic device sends voice communications over a broadband connection in packets using an Internet protocol.

85. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the first call is a forwarded call.

86. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the first phone address has been number ported to the call processing system.

87. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the first phone address is an E.164 telephone number.

88. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the call processing system originates a second call over a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network at least partly in response to an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic device, wherein the key press indication is received using an Internet protocol message.

89. The method as defined in claim 88, wherein a signaling protocol associated with the second call includes SIP signaling.

90. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the Internet protocol is SIP.

91. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the call processing system originates a second call over a wireless mobile switching center at least partly in response to an indication that the called party pressed a key on the first telephonic device, wherein the key press indication is received using an Internet protocol message.

92. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the greeting played to the caller includes a greeting recorded by the called party.

93. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein a first user interface input is a key press generated tone command.

94. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the first user interface includes a voice command input.

95. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the called party is a registered subscriber of at least a first service offered by the call processing system.

96. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein at least part of the voice communication of the caller is recorded and stored on the call processing system and accessible to the called party.

97. The method as defined in claim 96, wherein at least part of the recorded voice communication is accessible via a telephonic device.

98. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the caller hears a ringback tone selected by the called party.

99. The method as defined in claim 74, wherein the caller is prompted to disclose their caller ID if their caller ID is blocked or restricted.

100. The method as defined in claim 74, the method further comprising providing an audible notification to the called party via at least one telephonic device while the called party is in communication with the calling party via the at least one telephonic device, wherein the audible notification is not transmitted to the calling party and the audible notification is related to call time.

101. A system, comprising:

at least one computing device;

program instructions stored in non-transitory memory, that when executed by the at least one computing device, are configured to cause the at system to perform operations comprising;

receiving over a network a first call from a caller directed to a first phone address of a called party, wherein signaling information associated with the first call includes a phone address of the caller;

originating a second call from the call processing system to a first telephonic destination coupled to a data network and associated with the called party, wherein signaling information associated with the second call includes an identifier associated with the caller;

providing a first user interface via a first telephonic device associated with the first telephonic destination;

enabling the called party to screen the caller via the first telephonic destination prior to receiving a first input by the called party via the first user interface, the first input causing at least in part full duplex communication between the caller and the called party;

determining a current physical location of the called party based at least in part on;

GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) location information, and/or

latitude and longitudinal information indicating the called party'"'"'s current geographic location;

identifying a second telephonic device and/or a networked computer in geographic proximity with the called party based at least in part on the determined physical location of the called party and a record of phone address destinations associated with the called party; and

providing, during the first call, a second user interface via the first telephonic device, the second user interface enabling the called party to indicate that the first call is to be transferred to a device different than the first telephonic device, and

at least partly in response to receiving an indication from the called party during the first call via the second user interface indicating that the called party wants the first call to be transferred, providing, during the first call, a third user interface enabling the called party to select a call transfer destination from a set of destinations, and

at least partly in response to receiving a selection by the called party of a destination from the set of destinations within a first period of time, the first period of time occurring during the first call, transferring the first call to the destination selected by the called party, and

if the called party does not select the call transfer destination during the first period of time, the first period of time occurring during the first call, and

causing, at least in part, the caller and the identified second telephonic device and/or the networked computer in geographic proximity with the called party to be connected with full duplex communication.

102. The system as defined in claim 101, wherein the network via which the call processing system receives the first call is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.

103. The system as defined in claim 101, the operations further comprising enabling the called party to screen the caller via the first telephonic destination using a half-duplex connection.