US 10,375,249 B2 · Providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an internet protocol network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). In one implementation, the system includes a computer-controlled switch for connection to a local PSTN, for receiving calls from the IP network and the PSTN, and for routing calls to the PSTN and the IP network; and gate interface circuitry connected to the switch and adapted for connection to the IP network. The gate interface circuitry includes gateway circuitry for interfacing the IP network and PSTN voice circuits, and gatekeeper circuitry for performing address translation, admission control, bandwidth management, and zone management. The switch stores at least one PSTN destination address and at least one IP network destination address for each subscriber. The switch routes an incoming call to any one of the destination addresses stored for the subscriber.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A system for providing a service that facilitates real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) having voice circuits, the system comprising:

a message system communicatively coupled with a switch and the IP network;
gate interface circuitry communicatively coupled with the IP network and the voice circuits of the PSTN;
and
a computer control interfacing with the switch and communicatively coupled with the gate interface circuitry, wherein the computer control is configured to:
store, for at least one subscriber of a plurality of subscribers of the service, at least one destination address on the PSTN and at least one destination address on the IP network;
receive, directly or indirectly via the PSTN, a first call comprising voice data intended for a first subscriber of the service;
and
transmit the first call to the gate interface circuitry,
wherein the gate interface circuitry is configured to:
receive the first call from the switch;
packetize the voice data included in the first call;
and
route the packetized voice data on the IP network to a first device of the first subscriber based on a first stored destination address, and
wherein the message system is configured to:
receive, directly or indirectly from the PSTN via the switch, digital tones;
determine a second subscriber based on the digital tones;
and
transmit, via the IP network, a message to a second device of the second subscriber based on a second stored destination address.

15 more elements

A method of providing a service that facilitates real-time voice communication between devices connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) having voice circuits, the method comprising:

storing, by a computer control interfacing with a switch and communicatively coupled with gate interface circuitry, for at least one subscriber of a plurality of subscribers of the service, at least one destination address on the PSTN and at least one destination address on the IP network;
receiving, by the computer control directly or indirectly via the PSTN, a first call comprising voice data intended for a first subscriber of the service;
transmitting, by the computer control, the first call to the gate interface circuitry;
packetizing, by the gate interface circuitry, the voice data included in the first call;
routing, by the gate interface circuitry, the packetized voice data on the IP network to a first device of the first subscriber based on a first stored destination address;
receiving, by a message system directly or indirectly from the PSTN via the switch, digital tones;
and
transmitting, by the message system via the IP network, a message to the first device of the first subscriber based on the digital tones.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an internet protocol network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network

Life of this patent

Providing real-time voice communication between devices connected to an internet protocol network and devices connected to a public switched telephone network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26