Telephone service via packet-switched networking

• US 8,553,681 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Patrick E., Farris, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIYAMI, ABDULLAH A
• Application Number:
  US12/705,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20100150142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/351, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/395.2, 370/395.21, 370/259, 379/219, 379/220.1, 379/221.02, 379/221.14, 379/900
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/902 Auto-switch for an incoming voice data, or fax telephone call, e.g. comp/fax/tel

Abstract

A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet 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, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice 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 telephone station to computer or computer to telephone station.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an off-hook condition of a calling station, the calling station associated with a telephone number of the calling station;

subsequent to detecting the off-hook condition, receiving dialed digits from the calling station, the dialed digits indicating a call request and a telephone number of a called party;

providing a request to a routing database, the request including at least a portion of the telephone number of the called party;

receiving in response to the request an identity of a gateway to the called party;

sending a first signaling message over a packet-switched network to the gateway using the identity of the gateway, the first signaling message including the telephone number of the called party;

receiving the first signaling message at the gateway;

formulating an SS7 signaling message in response to the first signaling message, the SS7 signaling message including the telephone number of the calling station and the telephone number of the called party;

sending the SS7 signaling message from the gateway over a connection to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) system;

receiving at the gateway over the connection to the PSTN system an indication that the called party is at least one of busy or available;

when the indication received at the gateway indicates that the calling party is busy, sending a second signaling message from the gateway over the packet-switched network indicating the called party is busy;

when the indication received at the gateway indicates that the called party is available, sending a third signaling message from the gateway over the packet-switched network indicating the called party is available;

recording billing information associated with the call request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dialed digits include a unique identifier indicating that the call request be routed over the packet-switched network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is one of a prefix code, an off-hook condition or a PIN number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the billing information is associated with the calling station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the billing information includes billing on at least one of a flat rate basis or a timed basis.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet-switched network includes the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the PSTN is part of a Local Exchange Carrier network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity of the gateway includes an IP address of the gateway.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to detecting the off-hook condition and prior to receiving dialed digits from the calling station, providing dial tone to the calling station.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the request at an address database;

translating the at least a portion of the telephone number of the called party into a network address of the gateway;

providing the network address of the gateway to the called party as the identity of the gateway.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a voice communication between the calling station and the called party via the packet-switched network.

12. A method comprising:

detecting an off-hook condition of a calling station;

subsequent to detecting the off-hook condition, providing dial tone to the calling station;

receiving dialed digits from the calling station, the dialed digits indicating a call request and a telephone number of a called party;

providing a request to a routing database, the request including the telephone number of the called party;

receiving in response to the request an address of a called party computing device associated with the telephone number of the called party;

sending a first signaling message over a packet-switched network to the called party using the address of the called party computing device, the first signaling message including the a telephone number of the calling station;

establishing a voice communication between the calling station and the called party via the packet-switched network.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

recording billing information associated with the call request.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the billing information is associated with the calling station.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the billing information includes billing on at least one of a flat rate basis or a timed basis.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the dialed digits include a unique identifier indicating that the call request be routed over the packet-switched network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the unique identifier is one of a prefix code, an off-hook condition or a PIN number.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the packet-switched network includes the Internet.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the address of the called party computing device includes an IP address.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the routing database includes a Domain Name System (DNS) service.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the called party is at least one of busy or available;

when the calling party is indicated busy, sending a second signaling message over the packet-switched data network indicating the called party is busy;

when the called party is indicated available, sending a third signaling message over the packet-switched network indicating the called party is available.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the request at the routing database;

translating the at least a portion of the telephone number of the called party into a network address of the called party computing device;

providing the network address of the called party computing device as the address of the called party computing device.