System and method for servicing calls originating via the Internet

A method, comprising:

• receiving, via a routing number corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of service options, a call request from a call origination station via the Internet, where the call request includes a debit account identifier;
• validating the call request based on the debit account identifier;
• establishing, via the Internet and based on the particular service option, a communications link between the call origination station and a telephony server via a switch, where at least part of the communications link between the call origination station and the switch is through an Internet Protocol (IP) link;
• initiating a telephony link between the telephony server and a call termination station, via the switch, based on the particular service option, where the call origination station and the call termination station are different devices;
• and
• coupling, via the switch, the IP communications link to the telephony link.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, via a toll free telephone number corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of service options, a call request from a call origination station via the Internet;
• establishing, via the Internet and based on the particular service option, a communications link between the call origination station and a telephony server via a switch, where at least part of the communications link between the call origination station and the switch is through an Internet Protocol (IP) link;
• initiating a telephony link between the telephony server and a call termination station, via the switch, based on the particular service option, where the call origination station and the call termination station are different devices;
• establishing, via the switch and an internet telephony gateway, a coupling between the communications link and the telephony link, where the internet telephony gateway is connected between the call origination station and the switch through the IP link;
• transmitting, via the coupling, packet data from the call origination station to the internet telephony gateway;
• converting, by the internet telephony gateway, the packet data transmitted from the call origination station to form telephony signals;
• transmitting, via the coupling, the formed telephony signals to the call termination station;
• converting telephony signals transmitted from the call termination station to form packet data;
• and
• transmitting, via the coupling, the formed packet data to the call origination station.

A method, comprising:

• providing a user interface to a first device, the user interface including a number of service options associated with placing a call from the first device to a different, second device, where the service options comprise a calling card option and an operator services option and where the first device is coupled to a packet switched network and the second device is coupled to a public switched telephone network;
• receiving a routing number corresponding to a particular one of the service options based on input from the first device via the user interface;
• initiating, via the packet switched network and based on the particular service option, communications link between the first device and a telephony server, via a switch, based on the received input, where at least part of the communications link between the first device and the switch is through the packet switched network;
• initiating, based on the particular service option, a telephony link between the telephony server and the second device via the switch, where the telephony link is through the public switched telephone network;
• and
• coupling the communications link to the telephony link for a duration of the call.

A system for processing a call within a telecommunications system, comprising:

• a server to:
• provide, via a packet switched network, a user interface to a call origination station, the user interface including information relating to a plurality of service options,
• receive, via the packet switched network, an input from the call origination station, the input corresponding to a request to make a call corresponding to a particular one of the plurality of service options, and
• forward the input to a processing platform;
• and
• the processing platform to:
• receive the input from the server,
• determine, based on the particular service option, whether to approve the request,
• establish, via the packet switched network, communications link between the call origination station and a telephony server, via a switch, when the request is approved, where at least part of the communications link between the call origination station and the switch is through a packet switched communications link within the packet switched network,
• initiate a telephony link, via a public switched telephone network, between the telephony server and a call termination station, via the switch, when the request is approved, where the call origination station and the call termination station are different devices;
• and
• couple, via the switch, the packet switched communications link to the telephony link for a duration of the call.

A system for servicing a call request within a telecommunications system, comprising:

• a first system to:
• receive, via a routing number corresponding to a particular service option of a plurality of service options, a call request from a user device via the Internet, and
• forward the call request;
• and
• a second system coupled to the first system, the second system to:
• receive the call request from the first system,
• determine, based on the particular service option, whether to validate the call request,
• establish, via the Internet, a communications link from the user device to an Internet telephony system, via the switch, when the call request is validated, where at least part of the communications link between the user device and the switch is through an Internet Protocol (IP) link,
• establish, via the switch, a telephony link from the Internet telephony system to a call termination device via a public switched telephone network, where the user device and the call termination device are different devices, and
• couple, via the switch, the IP communications link to the telephony link for a duration of a call established between the user device and the call termination device.