Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Multiple network interconnecting
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-31
2001-06-26
Lim, Krisna (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Multiple network interconnecting
C709S250000, C455S557000, C455S428000, C370S259000, C370S902000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253249
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to networked computing devices, and more particularly to a method and devices for bridging data and telephone networks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, telephone calls have been routed through the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) to interconnect subscribers wishing to speak with each other.
More recently, data networks have become commonly used to exchange data between interconnected computing devices. The best known example of such a network is the public internet.
In the presence of a data network and the PSTN, the desire to bridge traffic on one network to the other has been recognized, For example, the PSTN is often used to provide access to the data network.
Similarly, the use of a data network to carry voice traffic has also been recognized. Accordingly, computer applications that allow end-users to establish voice connections using a data network are known.
Additionally, the use of a data network to transparently carry calls between end-users on the PSTN is also known. This is often done to avoid toll charges associated with the PSTN.
Finally, the bridging of calls originating with a caller on the telephone network and an end-user at a data network has also been recognized. This form of bridging is often performed as a matter of convenience, and is often used when a telephone connection is not available to the end-user resulting, for example, from the end-user's use of the telephone line to establish a connection to the data network.
Devices used for this latter form of bridging are, for example, disclosed in PCT patent publication no. WO 97/20424. However, such bridging assumes that the data network offers sufficient capacity in order to carry call data. In reality, a data network, such as the public internet is often congested and therefore cannot adequately be used to carry voice traffic.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and devices for bridging calls across networks that allow users to the flexibility of maintaining high quality call connections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a telephone call from a telephone network to a user proximate a computing device interconnected with a data network, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving an indicator of the call at a gateway in communication with the data network and the telephone network; dispatching a notification of the call from the gateway for the computing device; c) bridging the call from the telephone network to the computing device using the data network, to form a bridged call that enables the user to communicate with the call using the computing device; and d) in response to a specified condition, forwarding the call to a telephone line interconnected with the telephone network, after step c).
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a telephone network to data network gateway comprising: a processor; a telephone network interface in communication with the processor and the telephone network; a data network interface in communication with the processor and the data network; persistent storage memory in communication with the processor, the persistent storage memory storing processor executable instructions adapting the gateway to: a) receive a telephone network call at the telephone network interface; b) dispatch a notification of the call from the data network interface to a computing device over the data network; c) cause the call to be bridged from the telephone network to the computing device using the data network, to form a bridged call enabling a user at the computing device to communicate with the call using the computing device; and d) in response to a specified condition, cause the call to be forwarded to a telephone line interconnected with the telephone network, after the call has been bridged.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating an end-user computing device interconnected with a data network, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving an indicator of an incoming call at a telephone network over the data network; b) communicating with the call at the telephone network by way of the data network using a voice telephony application; and c) in response to a specified condition, notifying the gateway to forward the call to a telephone line interconnected with the telephone network, after step b)
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a computing device comprising: a processor; a data network interface in communication with the processor and the data network; persistent storage memory in communication with the processor, the persistent storage memory comprising processor readable instructions adapting the device to: a) receive a notification of a call at the telephone network, at the data network interface; b) communicate with the call at the telephone network by way of the data network using a voice telephony application; and c) in response to a specified condition, transmit an indicator to the gateway to transfer the call to a telephone interconnected with the telephone network, after communications with the call.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a data network to telephone network gateway comprising: a) means for receiving an indicator of the call at a gateway in communication with the data network and the telephone network; b) means for dispatching a notification of the call from the gateway for the computing device; c) means for bridging the call from the telephone network to the computing device using the data network, to form a bridged call that enables the user to communicate with the call using the computing device; and d) means for forwarding the call to a telephone line interconnected with the telephone network in response to a specified condition.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable medium storing computer software that when loaded by a gateway comprising a telephone network interface, adapts the gateway to: a) receive an indicator of the call at the gateway computer at the telephone network adaptor; b) dispatch a notification of the call from the gateway computer for a computing device interconnected with a data network; c) cause the call to be bridged from the telephone network to the computing device using the data network, to form a bridged call that enables a user at the computing device to communicate with the call using the computing device; and d) in response to a specified condition, cause the call to be forwarded to a telephone line interconnected with the telephone network, after causing the call to be bridged.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of processing a call comprising the steps of: a) bridging the call between a telephone network and a computing device in communication with a data network, at a gateway in communication with the data network and the telephone network, to form a bridged call that enables a user to communicate with the call using the computing device; and b) in response to a specified condition, forwarding the call to a telephone line interconnected with the telephone network, after step a)
REFERENCES:
patent: 4644468 (1987-02-01), Doster et al.
patent: 4771425 (1988-09-01), Baran et al.
patent: 4969184 (1990-11-01), Gordon et al.
patent: 4995074 (1991-02-01), Goldman et al.
patent: 5363431 (1994-11-01), Schull et al.
patent: 5434906 (1995-07-01), Robinson
patent: 5533110 (1996-07-01), Pinard et al.
patent: 5557105 (1996-09-01), Baum et al.
patent: 5604737 (1997-02-01), Iwami et al.
patent: 5608786 (1997-03-01), Gordon
patent: 5610910 (1997-03-01), Foscaneanu et al.
patent: 5625676 (1997-04-01), Greco et al.
patent: 5805587 (1998-09-01), Norris et al.
patent: 5999965 (1999-12-01), Kelly
patent: 6026296 (2000-02-01), Sanders, III et al.
patent: 6138011 (2000-10-0
Lim Krisna
Nortel Networks Limited
LandOfFree
Method and devices for bridging data and telephone networks 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 devices for bridging data and telephone networks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and devices for bridging data and telephone networks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2493549