Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-20
2004-09-07
Ho, Duc (Department: 2665)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Combined circuit switching and packet switching
C370S261000, C370S356000, C379S093010, C379S210010, C379S114210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06788674
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications and, in particular to a method and apparatus for establishing a collect call originated through a packet based network.
2. Background Information
Numerous advances have recently been made in the area of telecommunications. In particular, the field of Internet telephony has emerged as a viable technology that continues to evolve at a startling rate. Such evolution is forcing traditional telecommunications practices to be supplemented and even replaced by new Internet-centric communications paradigms.
For example, various products on the market provide individuals with the ability to participate in voice communication with one another using a personal computer equipped with a communication protocol known as Voice over IP (VOIP), where the IP refers to the well-known Internet protocol. The Internet Protocol (IP) is a protocol utilized throughout the Internet to interleave and transmit data packets so as to best utilize the available bandwidth at any given time. VOIP is a term used to describe a set of services for managing the delivery of voice information using the Internet protocol. That is, the Internet provides the “switching” architecture for the system, while each computer acts as the “handset”, or the audio interface for the caller/callee.
The recent proliferation of personal computers and Internet-accessible appliances has brought about the desire to integrate both function and features of the Internet with that of the PSTN (publicly switched telephone network). U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,087, titled “Method and Apparatus for Establishing a Voice Call to a PSTN Extension for a Networked Client Computer” (having a common assignee with the present application) addresses the need for bridging functionality of Internet and packet based devices with that of conventional PSTN handsets. Accordingly, a user of a networked computer can place a voice, call to a PSTN extension (equipped with merely a conventional handset) rather than being limited to placing a voice call to only VOIP equipped hardware. Although this goes a long way towards integrating the VOIP functionality of the Internet with the PSTN, further integration remains desirable.
More specifically, despite the progress made to date in integrating the two communication networks, some desirable features currently available through traditional telephone communication networks remain conspicuously absent from Internet telephony. One such feature missing from Internet telephony is the ability for a calling party to initiate an Internet based call to a callee with the callee being assessed any communication charges associated with such a call.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4933966 (1990-06-01), Hird et al.
patent: 5818836 (1998-10-01), DuVal
patent: 5943399 (1999-08-01), Bannister et al.
patent: 5995608 (1999-11-01), Detampel et al.
patent: 6026087 (2000-02-01), Mirashrafi et al.
patent: 6148067 (2000-11-01), Leipow
patent: 6175619 (2001-01-01), DeSimone
patent: 6188756 (2001-02-01), Mashinsky
patent: 6307928 (2001-10-01), Yamasaki
patent: 6377576 (2002-04-01), Zwick et al.
patent: 6430282 (2002-08-01), Bannister et al.
patent: 6563914 (2003-05-01), Sammon et al.
patent: 6564261 (2003-05-01), Gudjonsson et al.
patent: 2001/0026609 (2001-10-01), Weinstein et al.
Karamchedu Murali
Sponaugle Jeffrey B.
Ho Duc
ITXC Inc.
Kaplan & Gilman LLP
Molinari Michael J
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for establishing a collect call... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for establishing a collect call..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for establishing a collect call... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3222838