Digital cable network telephone service provider supporting premises wireless networks

A communication infrastructure comprising:

• a public switched telephony network;
• an Internet network;
• a cable network;
• a head end system communicatively coupled to the public switched telephony network, to the cable network and to the Internet network;
• and
• the head end system operable to bridge calls between the public switched telephony network and the Internet network, between the cable network and the Internet network, and between the cable network and the public switched telephony network.

A communication infrastructure that extends into a home, the communication infrastructure comprising:

• a public switched telephony network;
• an Internet network;
• a head end system communicatively coupled to both the public switched telephony network and to the Internet network;
• a cable network communicatively coupled to the head end system and that extends into the home;
• a first wireless access point communicatively coupled to the Internet network outside of the home;
• a second wireless access point communicatively coupled to the cable network within the home;
• a mobile terminal having a wireless transceiver that communicatively couples with the first wireless access point when the mobile terminal is outside the home, and communicatively couples with the second wireless access point when the mobile terminal is inside the home;
• the mobile terminal having a telephone number associated with the public switched telephony network;
• and
• the head end system supporting address mapping that enables communication to the mobile terminal using the telephone number via both of the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point.

A method for operating a communication infrastructure that includes a cable network, a head end system that communicatively couples to the cable network, to the Internet, and to the public switched telephone network, and a plurality of cable modem circuits that communicatively couple to the cable network, the method comprising:

• the head end system receiving a call bridging request from a telephone device of a subscriber having a telephone number associated with both the head end system and the public switched telephony network;
• the head end system interacting with the telephone device to verify authorization of the telephone device to bridge a call between the Internet network and the public switched telephony network network;
• and
• the head end system bridging a call between the Internet network and the public switched telephony network for the telephone device.

A method for operating a communication infrastructure that includes a cable network, a head end system that communicatively couples to the cable network, to the Internet, and to the public switched telephone network, and a plurality of cable modem circuits that communicatively couple to the cable network, the method comprising:

• the head end system bridging a first call between the public switched telephony network and the Internet network;
• the head end system bridging a second call between the cable network and the Internet network;
• and
• the head end system bridging a third call between the cable network and the public switched telephony network.

A method for operating a communication infrastructure that includes a cable network, a head end system that communicatively couples to the cable network, to the Internet, and to the public switched telephone network, a first wireless access point communicatively coupled to the Internet network outside of a home, and a second wireless access point communicatively coupled to the cable network within the home, the method comprising:

• the head end system delivering a call to a mobile terminal via the first wireless access point when the mobile terminal is outside the home;
• the head end system delivering the call to the second wireless access point when the mobile terminal is inside the home;
• and
• the head end system supporting address mapping that enables communication to the mobile terminal using as single telephone number via both of the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point.