Telephonic communications – Plural exchange network or interconnection – With interexchange network routing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-20
2001-09-18
Hong, Harry S. (Department: 2742)
Telephonic communications
Plural exchange network or interconnection
With interexchange network routing
C370S356000, C370S401000, C379S900000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292553
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a technique for routing a telephone call (voice, facsimile, or voice band data) over an Internet Protocol (IP) network based on one or more attributes associated with the call.
BACKGROUND ART
Presently, some Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSPs) now offer “Voice over the Internet” telephony service. Subscribers of such telephony service typically initiate a telephone call for routing over the Internet by first dialing a local access number to gain access to a gateway maintained by the ITSP. After reaching the gateway, the subscriber making the call then enters the necessary verification information, such as an account number and/or Personal Identification Number (PIN), as well as the destination number of the called party. Following verification, the gateway converts the voice call received from the subscriber into an Internet Protocol (IP) call and then routes the call over the Internet to a destination gateway serving the called party. The destination gateway converts the IP call back to a voice call for routing to the called party.
The above-described method for completing voice calls over the Internet suffers from the disadvantage of requiring the calling subscriber to dial the local gateway number first, and thereafter dial the actual destination number. Such “multi-stage” dialing is inconvenient. Moreover, the need for multi-stage dialing to complete calls over the Internet necessitates manual intervention for facsimile service, and other types of calls that normally make use of single stage dialing.
Thus, there is a need for a technique for enabling a customer to enjoy voice over Internet telephony service without requiring multi-stage dialing.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention provides Internet telephony service (i.e., the routing of voice, fax and/or voice band calls over the an IP Network) in accordance with at least one attribute associated with the call. The method of the invention commences upon receipt of a call at a network from a subscriber. Upon receipt of the call, the network accesses a database to determine if there is a record identified by at least one attribute associated with the call. If there is an associated record, the network determines whether the record contains routing instructions specifying IP Network call routing for that call, and if so, the network then routes the call over the IP Network. The term “IP network” means a network that may include the public Internet, one or more private IP networks (sometimes referred to as intranets), or any combination thereof.
The call attribute identifying the database record may comprise all or at least a portion of the originating telephone number of the calling party (as obtained by ANI). Typically, each Internet telephony subscriber will have an associated database record identified by the subscriber's telephone number that specifies IP Network routing for calls originating from that subscriber. Thus, the network accesses the record from the database by matching the subscriber's number to the record identified by that number.
Instead of the originating number, the call attribute identifying the database record could comprise all, or at least a portion of the dialed destination number of the called party. In this way, the network matches the database record by comparing all or a portion of the destination number to locate the record having such an identifier.
Alternatively, the record-identifying attribute could comprise a Carrier Identification Code (CIC) dialed either explicitly, or implicitly, by the calling party. In this way, the network matches the database record by comparing the CIC to the database record having such an identifier. Thus, based on the CIC, the network can determine from the routing instructions in the matching database record whether the call should enjoy IP Network routing.
Indeed, a predefined trunkgroup designation could be used such that all calls carried by a trunkgroup to the network are given IP Network routing. This arrangement could exist when an IXC receives calls from a business over a “private line” or dedicated trunkgroup with the intention of providing IP Network routing. In this way, the network matches the trunkgroup record by comparing the trunkgroup characteristics to the database record having such an identifier. Thus, based on the incoming trunkgroup, the network can determine from the routing instructions in the matching database record whether the call should enjoy IP Network routing.
Indeed, the call attribute may comprise a combination of any two or more of the following: (1) all or part of the originating number, (2), all or party of the destination number (3), the CIC, and (4) at least one trunkgroup characteristic. For example, the combination of a prescribed CIC and all or part of a destination number within a prescribed range of numbers could identify a corresponding record whose routing instruction would trigger routing of a call over the IP Network. Likewise, the combination of all or part of an originating number associated with an Internet telephony subscriber, and all or part of a destination number within a prescribed range of numbers could also identify a corresponding database record whose routing instruction would trigger routing of a call over the IP Network.
By determining IP network call routing in accordance with one or more call attributes, the invention achieves IP Network call routing via single stage dialing, an advantage not achieved by the prior art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4577066 (1986-03-01), Bimonte et al.
Now allowed Application Furman 15-1-5, filed with the US Patent Office on Dec. 23, 1997, Serial No. 08/997086 entitled, Method For Validation of Electronic Transactions.
Now allowed Application Mayer 5, filed with the US Patent Office on Jun. 23, 1995, Serial No. 08/494610 entitled, Method And Apparatus For Establishing Voice Connections Over Internet-Like Networks.
Fellingham Paul J.
Gilboy Christopher P.
AT&T Corp.
Hong Harry S.
Levy Robert B.
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