System for interconnecting circuit-based terminal devices with packet-based terminal devices in a voice communication connection

A method of operating a packet based terminal device addressing system for enabling a calling party using a circuit based terminal device, which is addressable via a telephone number, to initiate a communication connection to a called party who is using a packet-based terminal device, which is addressable via an IP address, comprising the steps of:

• storing data in a memory indicative of a correspondence between at least one IP address assigned to a called party's packet-based term device and a telephone number assigned to said called party's circuit-based terminal device;
• transmitting, in response to a calling party, connected to the Public Telephone Switched Network via a Local Exchange Carrier serving said calling party, dialing the telephone number assigned to said circuit-based terminal device of said called party, said telephone number to a Local Exchange Carrier serving said called party;
• retrieving, in response to receipt of data from said calling party by said Local Exchange Carrier serving said called party and indicative of said called party's telephone number corresponding to said called party's circuit-based terminal device, data from said memory indicative of said IP address assigned to a called party's packet-based terminal device, comprising:
• providing said calling party with a list of said called party's circuit-based terminal devices and said called party's packet-based terminal devices,
• identifying, in response to said calling party selecting one of said called party's circuit-based terminal devices and said called party's packet-based terminal devices, a communication service serving said selected one of said called party's circuit-based terminal devices and said called party's packet-based terminal devices;
• and
• extending a communication connection that exists from said calling party's circuit-based terminal device to said Local Exchange Carrier serving said called party, to said called party's packet-based terminal device.

A packet based terminal device addressing system for enabling a calling party using a circuit based terminal device, which is addressable via a telephone number, to initiate a communication connection to a called party who is using a packet-based terminal device, which is addressable via an IP address, comprising:

• data storage means for storing data in a memory indicative of a correspondence between at least one IP address assigned to a called party's packet-based terminal device and a telephone number assigned to said called party's circuit-based terminal device;
• call origination means, responsive to a calling party, connected to the Public Telephone Switched Network via a Local Exchange Carrier serving said calling party, dialing the telephone number assigned to said circuit-based terminal device of said called party, for transmitting said telephone number to a Local Exchange Carrier serving said called party;
• terminal device location means, responsive to receipt of data from said calling party by said Local Exchange Carrier serving said called party and indicative of said called party's telephone number corresponding to said called party's circuit-based terminal device, for retrieving data from said memory indicative of said IP address assigned to a called party's pa-based terminal device, comprising:
• destination selection means for providing said calling parry with a list of said called party's circuit-based terminal devices and said called party's packet-based terminal devices,
• call routing means, responsive to said calling party selecting one of said called party's circuit-based terminal devices and said called party's packet-based terminal devices, for identifying a communication service serving said selected one of said called party's circuit-based terminal devices and said called party's packet-based terminal devices;
• and
• communication connection means for extending a communication connection that exists from said calling party's circuit-based terminal device to said Local Exchange Carrier serving said called party, to said called party's packet-based terminal device.