Packet-Switched Telephony Call Server
AssigneeSkype
InventorsJohn A. Nix, Brian C. Wiles, Jeffrey S. Mumma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for providing packet-switched telephony service. The system provides call control, signaling, and/or delivery of voice, video, and other media in substantially real time. One embodiment of the system includes a call client application on a user device, and a call server located at a packet-switched telephony service provider. The call server is preferably operable to communicate with the call client in a non-native protocol and with the gateway in a native protocol.
Claims47
A method for providing telephony service over a packet switched network, comprising in combination:
- downloading a call client to a user device;
- launching the call client on the user device, wherein the user device is connected to the packet switched network;
- registering the user device with a packet switched telephony service provider (PTSP);
- receiving a call request at the PSTP according to a non-native protocol from the user device, wherein the call request includes a telephone number corresponding to a PSTN subscriber;
- transmitting the call request from the PSTP to a gateway according to a native protocol, wherein the gateway forwards the call request to the PSTN subscriber;
- and
- transmitting an advertisement to the user device based upon the telephone number in the call request.
A method for providing telephony service over a packet switched network, comprising in combination:
- downloading a call client to a user device;
- launching the call client on the user device, wherein the user device is connected to the packet switched network;
- registering the user device with a packet switched telephony service provider (PTSP);
- receiving a call request from the user device, wherein the call request includes a telephone number corresponding to a PSTN subscriber;
- transmitting the call request to a gateway, wherein the gateway forwards the call request to the PSTN subscriber;
- transmitting media between the call client and the gateway according to User Datagram Protocol;
- and
- transmitting an advertisement to the user device based upon the telephone number in the call request.
A method for providing telephony service over the Internet, the method comprising:
- authenticating a user device, wherein the user device operates a telephony client application, and wherein the telephony client application includes a voice codec;
- formatting a call request according to a protocol selected from Basic Encoding Rules (BER) and Packed Encoding Rules (PER), wherein the call request includes a telephone number;
- sending a message through the Internet, wherein the message includes the call request, an IP address, and a port number to transmit data to the user device;
- determining whether the user has a sufficient balance to place a call associated with the call request;
- sending media through the Internet as part of the call;
- transmitting a signal strength indicator as part of call control data for the call periodically from the user device through the Internet to a packet switched telephony service provider;
- and logging information about the call so that a call duration may be determined.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.