Tandem access controller within the public switched telephone network

A method of modifying a telephone subscriber's outbound calling capabilities via a web server, wherein an outbound call is routed via a communication network comprising central office switches to connect subscribers and switching facilities to connect one central office switch to another or to connect to other switching facilities, the method utilizing a, controlling device coupled to at least one of the switching facilities, to allow a subscriber calling access to multiple geographic areas, comprising the steps of:

• providing a subscriber access to the web server in communication with the controlling device, whereby a subscriber can access the controlling device, via the web server to select at least one capability including a click to dial operation to be applied by said controlling device to an outgoing call;
• placing a call to said controlling device coupled to at least one of said switching facilities, wherein the call is received by the controlling device, prior to the call reaching a terminating central office, the controlling device receiving the call and associating the call with the click to dial calling capability selected via the web server by the subscriber;
• and
• placing a call from a calling party to a called party by the controller in accordance with the click to dial capability, wherein the subscriber is other than one of the calling party and the called party.

A telephone system for use with at least two communication networks wherein at least a first network is a packet network provisioned for voice over IP (VOIP) and the second network is coupled to at least one of switching facilities of a network comprising edge switches for routing calls from and to subscribers within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other edge switches or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas, the telephone system comprising:

• a controlling device coupled to said switching facility via the second network, said controlling device being accessible by a web server for receiving calling capabilities selected by at least one subscriber, wherein the subscriber is other than at least one of the calling party and the called party, and the calling capabilities to be applied to at least one telephone call to be routed through said at least one of the switching facilities;
• said controlling device being within a local service area with respect to said at least one of the calling party and the called party of at least one telephone call;
• said controlling device being configured to receive a first call, by a calling party, to a first telephone number, prior to the first call reaching a terminating edge switch, intended for the called party;
• said controlling device being configured to place a second call to said called party using a second telephone number different from said first telephone number;
• and
• said controlling device causing a communications path to be completed between said called party and said calling party after said called party has answered said second call.

A telephone system for use with at least two communication networks, wherein at least a first network is a packet network provisioned for voice over IP (VOIP) and the second network is coupled to at least one switching facility of a network comprising edge switches for routing calls from and to subscribers within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other edge switches or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas, wherein calls from a calling party to a called party are routed across the packet network and the second network, the telephone system comprising:

• a controlling device coupled to at least one of the switching facilities of the second network and the packet network, the controlling device receiving a call request from a communication device of a calling party;
• access to the controlling device, by a web server for the entering of calling capabilities selected by one or more subscribers, wherein the subscriber is other than one of the calling and the called parties, the calling capabilities to be applied by the controlling device to the call request, wherein the at least one calling capability is previously configured by the subscriber;
• and
• wherein the controlling device, initiates a call according to the at least one calling capability via the switching facility to the communication device of a called party and causes the coupling of the calling party and the called party when the call is answered.

A method of executing user control criteria for routing of calls between a calling party initiating a call via a first communication network and a called party receiving the call via a second communication network, wherein the second communication network is different from the first communication network, comprising the steps of:

• providing a controller with access to at least the first and second communication networks, wherein at least one of the first or second networks is a packet network configured to support voice over IP (VOIP), the controller configured to receive signaling messages indicating a first call from the calling party via the first communication network to an address of the called party via the second communication network;
• retrieving the user control criteria from a database to which the controller has access, based on the first call, wherein the control criteria is based on entries previously made by a user into a packet data network, and where the user is other than one of the calling and called parties;
• and processing the first call by implementing the user control criteria to route the first call in accordance with the user control criteria to the address for the called party;
• facilitating a connection via the controller between the calling party and the called party, when the called party answers, thereby, establishing an interconnection in accordance with the user control criteria.

A method for user provisioning relating to routing of calls over telecommunications networks, via user interactions with a web server coupled to a controller wherein the controller is configured for access to at least two of the telecommunication networks, wherein at least the first telecommunication network is a packet network provisioned for voice over IP (VOW) and the second telecommunication network is coupled to at least one of switching facilities of a telecommunication network comprising edge switches for routing calls from and to users within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other edge switches or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas, comprising:

• providing access to the user, via the web server, for viewing of features and charges relating to the calls;
• facilitating sign up by users for making calls over the telecommunication networks by receiving personal data entered by the users through the web server, wherein the users are other than one of the called and calling parties;
• enabling the user to designate control criteria through the web server;
• processing the control criteria via a server into provisioning data, and storing data relating to the processing in a database;
• receiving a call initiated by a calling party at the controller;
• utilizing information associated with the call to retrieve provisioning data previously stored;
• and
• routing the call, using the provisioning data, across at least one of the telecommunication networks.