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AssigneeAvaya Technology Corp.
InventorsSerafim Maroulis, Mahendra Pratap, Dennis W. Specht
Estimating the term…
Improved methods for providing a voice communications path over the internet. According to a first embodiment, a first PBX coupled to a first internet gateway device determines whether or not a second PBX has access to a second internet gateway device and, if so, the second PBX sends the IP (internet protocol) address of the second internet gateway device to the first PBX, and the first PBX sends the IP address of the first internet gateway device to the second PBX, over the PSTN (public switched telephone network) and/or over a network signalling channel. The first and second internet gateway devices then set up a voice communications path over the internet between the first and second PBXes.
A method for providing a voice communications path over an internet, including the steps of:
A method of providing a voice communications path over an internet for use with a system that includes a first Private Branch Exchange (PBX) coupled to a first internet gateway device and to a first POTS (plain old telephone set) telephone, wherein the first PBX is equipped to establish a communications path with a second PBX over at least one of a PSTN (public switched telephone network) and a network signalling channel, and wherein the second PBX is coupled to a second POTS telephone, the method CHARACTERIZED BY the steps of:
A method for providing a communications path between a first POTS (plain old telephone set) telephone and a second POTS telephone over an internet, the method for use with a system that includes a first Private Branch Exchange (PBX) coupled to a first internet gateway device and to the first POTS telephone, wherein the first PBX is equipped to establish a communications path with a second PBX over at least one of a PSTN (public switched telephone network) and a network signalling channel, and wherein the second PBX is coupled to the second POTS telephone;
A method of providing a voice communication path between a first Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and a second PBX, comprising:
A method of providing a voice communication path between a first Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and a second PBX, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services: services where the data services network provides a telephone…
Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres: in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
Arrangements providing connection between exchanges: provisions for signalling
Telephonic communications: internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony
Term ended 12 Sep 2016 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to communications technology, and more particularly to techniques for placing telephone calls over the internet.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram showing an illustrative operational environment for the invention.
FIGS. 2A-2D together comprise a software flowchart setting forth an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
Refer to FIG. 1, which is a hardware configuration setting forth an illustrative operational environment for the invention. A first POTS telephone 101 and a first gateway 109 are coupled to a first PBX 103. The first PBX 103 is equipped to establish a communications pathway over PSTN 113 (public switched telephone network), and/or over network signaling channel 115. The first gateway 109 is equipped to establish a communications pathway over internet 117. A second POTS telephone 107 and a second gateway 111 are coupled to a second PBX 105. The second PBX 105 is equipped to establish a communications pathway over PSTN 113 and/or network signaling channel 115, and the second gateway is equipped to establish a communications pathway over internet 117.
Although FIG. 1 shows a first POTS telephone 101 and a second POTS telephone 107, this is for purposes of illustration, it being understood that other types of endpoint devices could be used instead of, or in addition to, first POTS telephone 101 and/or second POTS telephone 107. Examples of such endpoint devices are facsimile (fax) machines, video conferencing equipment, DTMF (dual-tone, multi-frequency) telephones, and/or various other types of devices which are capable of interfacing with a PBX (private branch exchange).
Conventional, well-known devices may be used to implement first PBX 103, second PBX 105, PSTN 113, network signaling channel 115, and internet 117. First gateway 109 and/or second gateway 111 may be implemented using any of a variety of personal computing devices, such as, for example, a personal computer (PC) equipped with a 386 processor or better (i.e., 486, Pentium, 586, etc.).