U.S. patent application number 12/154707 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for method and system of supporting abbreviated dialing between affiliated phones wherein at least one phone is associated with a non-affiliated network.
This patent application is currently assigned to SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.. Invention is credited to Carol Gruchala, Wayne Heinmiller, Robert Michalski, Louis M. Morales, Dianna Tillks.
Application Number | 20080273526 12/154707 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37419133 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080273526 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Michalski; Robert ; et
al. |
November 6, 2008 |
Method and system of supporting abbreviated dialing between
affiliated phones wherein at least one phone is associated with a
non-affiliated network
Abstract
A method and system of supporting abbreviated dialing between
phones include determining dialing by a first phone of an
abbreviated number associated with a second phone. The first phone
is in a circuit-switched network associated with a Centrex system
and the second phone is in an Internet Protocol (IP)
packet-switched network disassociated from the Centrex system. The
phones in the circuit-switched network are associated with the
Centrex system. The Centrex system supports abbreviated dialing
between phones associated with the Centrex system. A routing number
for a phone call from the first phone to the second phone is
determined as a function of the abbreviated number. The routing
number includes IP addressing sufficient to support routing of the
phone call through the packet-switched network to the second phone
such as if both phones were associated with the Centrex system.
Inventors: |
Michalski; Robert;
(Algonquin, IL) ; Heinmiller; Wayne; (Elgln,
IL) ; Tillks; Dianna; (Palatine, IL) ;
Gruchala; Carol; (Naperville, IL) ; Morales; Louis
M.; (Whittier, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Assignee: |
SBC Knowledge Ventures,
L.P.
Reno
NV
|
Family ID: |
37419133 |
Appl. No.: |
12/154707 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11128820 |
May 13, 2005 |
7379449 |
|
|
12154707 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 15/00 20130101;
H04M 15/41 20130101; H04M 2215/0164 20130101; H04M 2215/0152
20130101; H04M 3/44 20130101; H04M 15/80 20130101; H04M 15/43
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/352 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/66 20060101
H04L012/66 |
Claims
1. A method of supporting abbreviated dialing between phones, the
method comprising: determining dialing by a first phone of an
abbreviated number associated with a second phone, wherein the
first phone is in a circuit-switched network associated with a
Centrex system and the second phone is in an Internet Protocol (IP)
packet-switched network disassociated from the Centrex system,
wherein phones in the circuit-switched network are associated with
the Centrex system, wherein the Centrex system supports abbreviated
dialing between phones associated with the Centrex system; and
determining a routing number for a phone call from the first phone
to the second phone as a function of the abbreviated number, the
routing number including IP addressing sufficient to support
routing of the phone call through the packet-switched network to
the second phone such as if both phones were associated with the
Centrex system.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: billing the phone call
as if the phone call was routed between the same network and not
between different networks.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining the phone
call to be between different networks prior to determining the
routing number.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein: the circuit-switched network is a
TDM network.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising: packetizing signals
associated with the phone call from non-IP based signals to support
IP based phone calls.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein: the packet-switched network is a
VoIP network.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: routing the phone call
between the phones as a function of the routing number.
8. A system of supporting abbreviated dialing between phone lines,
wherein a first one of the phone lines is in a circuit-switched
network and a second one of the phone lines is in an Internet
Protocol (IP) packet-switched network, the system comprising: a
Centrex system which supports abbreviated dialing between phone
lines associated with the Centrex system, wherein phone lines in
the circuit-switched network are associated with the Centrex system
and phone lines in the packet-switched network are disassociated
from the Centrex system; a control point associated with the
Centrex system and configured for determining dialing from the
first phone line of an abbreviated number associated with the
second phone line, wherein the control point is further configured
for determining a routing number for a phone call from the first
phone line to the second phone line as a function of the
abbreviated number, the routing number including IP addressing
sufficient to support routing of the phone call through the
packet-switched network to the second phone line such as if both
phone lines were associated with the Centrex system.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the control point is further
configured for determining billing for the phone call as if the
phone call was routed between the same network.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the circuit-switched network is a
TDM network.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the control point is further
configured for packetizing signals associated with the phone call
from non-IP based signals to IP signals so as to support IP based
phone calls.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the circuit-switched network is a
TDM network and the packet-switched network is a VoIP network.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the control point is further
configured for routing the phone call between the phones as a
function of the routing number.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/128,820, filed May 13, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,379,449;
the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The present disclosure relates to methods and systems of
supporting abbreviated dialing between affiliated phones wherein at
least one of the phones is associated with a non-affiliated
network.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] With the availability of new technology, customers may be
looking for ways to migrate some of their Centrex lines over to
VoIP platforms. One problem which arises as phones are moved over
to VoIP platforms is the loss of Centrex services between the
migrated and non-migrated phones. Accordingly, a need exists to
allow Centrex customers who have moved some of their lines over to
the VoIP platform to retain Centrex functionality on those lines,
such as to support abbreviated dialing between the lines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a system of supporting phone services
between affiliated phones in accordance with one non-limiting
aspect of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0007] The present disclosure discloses a method of supporting
abbreviated dialing between phones. The method includes determining
dialing by a first phone of an abbreviated number associated with a
second phone. The first phone is in a circuit-switched network
associated with a Centrex system and the second phone is in an
Internet Protocol (IP) packet-switched network disassociated from
the Centrex system. Phones in the circuit-switched network are
associated with the Centrex system. The Centrex system supports
abbreviated dialing between phones associated with the Centrex
system. The method further includes determining a routing number
for a phone call from the first phone to the second phone as a
function of the abbreviated number. The routing number includes IP
addressing sufficient to support routing of the phone call through
the packet-switched network to the second phone such as if both
phones were associated with the Centrex system.
[0008] The present disclosure discloses a system of supporting
abbreviated dialing between phone lines. A first one of the phone
lines is in a circuit-switched network and a second one of the
phone lines is in an IP packet-switched network. The system
includes a Centrex system which supports abbreviated dialing
between phone lines associated with the Centrex system. Phone lines
in the circuit-switched network are associated with the Centrex
system and phone lines in the packet-switched network are
disassociated from the Centrex system. The system further includes
a control point associated with the Centrex system. The control
point is configured for determining dialing from the first phone
line of an abbreviated number associated with the second phone
line. The control point is further configured for determining a
routing number for a phone call from the first phone line to the
second phone line as a function of the abbreviated number, the
routing number including IP addressing sufficient to support
routing of the phone call through the packet-switched network to
the second phone line such as if both phone lines were associated
with the Centrex system.
[0009] One non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure relates to
a method of supporting abbreviated dialing between affiliated
phones in an environment where at least one of the phones is
associated with a non-affiliated network. The method may include
determining dialing of an abbreviated number from an affiliated
phone and determining a routing number as a function of the
abbreviated number. The abbreviated number may be associated with
an affiliated phone of the non-affiliated network. The routing
number may be associated with the non-affiliated network and
sufficient to support routing of a phone call between the
affiliated phones.
[0010] The method may include billing the phone call as if the
phone call was routed between affiliated networks and not between
non-affiliated networks.
[0011] The method may include determining the phone call to be
between affiliated phones prior to determining the routing number,
such as if the phones are associated with a common Centrex
system.
[0012] The method may include determining the phone call to be
between non-affiliated networks prior to determining the routing
number, such as if the phones are connected to different Centrex
systems, if the phones are connected to networks provided by
different service providers, or if one of the phones is connected
to a TDM network and the other phone is connected to or reached
through an IP network.
[0013] The method may include determining the routing number to
support routing the phone call through an IP based network so as to
support IP based phone calls, and optionally, packetizing signals
associated with the phone call from non-IP based signals to support
IP based phone calls.
[0014] The method may include routing the phone call between the
affiliated phones as a function of the routing number.
[0015] Another non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure
relates to a system of supporting abbreviated dialing. The system
may include at least two affiliated phones and a control point
configured for determining dialing of an abbreviated number. At
least one of the phones may be associated with a non-affiliated
network and the abbreviated number may be associated with a phone
call between the phones such that the control point may be
configured for determining a routing number as a function of the
abbreviated number to support routing of a phone call between the
phones.
[0016] The control point may be configured for determining billing
for the phone call as if the phone call was routed between
affiliated networks and not between non-affiliated networks.
[0017] The control point may be configured for determining the
phone call to be between affiliated phones prior to determining the
routing number if the phones are associated with a common Centrex
system, such as if the phones are connected to different Centrex
systems, if the phones are connected to networks provided by
different service providers, or if one of the phones is connected
to a TDM network and the other phone is connected to or reached
through an IP network.
[0018] The control point may be configured for determining the
routing number to support routing the phone call through an IP
based network so as to support IP based phone calls.
[0019] The control point may be configured for packetizing signals
associated with the phone call from non-IP based signals to signals
to IP based affiliated phone so as to support IP based phone calls.
The control point may be configured for generating the non-IP based
signals from a TDM based phone and receiving the IP based signals
with a VoIP based phone.
[0020] The control point may be configured for routing the phone
call between the affiliated phones as a function of the routing
number.
[0021] The above features and advantages, along with other features
and advantages of the present disclosure, are readily apparent from
the following detailed description of the present disclosure when
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 of supporting phone services
between affiliated phones 14 and 16 in accordance with one
non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure. System 10 generally
relates to an environment wherein phone calls between affiliated
phones 14 and 16 must be completed between an affiliated network 20
and at least one non-affiliated network 18, i.e. networks 18 and 20
that may be provided by different service providers and/or
associated with different operating systems.
[0023] Networks 18 and 20 may be wireline and/or wireless networks,
or some combination thereof. For example, the present disclosure
contemplates supporting calls communicated through terrestrial or
extraterrestrial wireless configurations and through the inclusion
of any number of other features, such as with soft switches, signal
transfer points (STPs), signal service points (SSPs), service nodes
(SNs), service package applications (SPAs), wireless cells, mobile
switching centers (MSCs), home location registers (HLRs), visitor
location registers (VLRs), server offices, server switches, feature
servers, application program interfaces (APIs), and the like.
[0024] Networks 18 and 20, for the purposes of the present
disclosure, may be considered as non-affiliated networks if the
they are supported by different services providers. Likewise,
networks 18 and 20 may be considered as non-affiliated networks,
even if the networks are supported by the same service provider, if
they are associated with different operation systems, such as if
one network is a time or frequency division multiplexed (TDM, FDM)
network and the other is an Internet Protocol (IP) or other packet
switching based network, and/or if one network is a associated with
a Centrex system and the other is associated with a different
Centrex system or none at all.
[0025] The affiliations may be determined as a function of service
providers, system configuration, and other dichotomies which
distinguish between the networks. For example, networks 18 and 20
may be considered as non-affiliated networks if charges, fees, or
other costs are typically incurred or associated with routing calls
through the non-affiliated network. Accordingly, the present
disclosure fully contemplates any number of configurations and
means for determining whether networks 18 and 20 are affiliated or
non-affiliated.
[0026] System 10 further requires phones 14 and 16 to be
affiliated, i.e. with each other and at least one of networks 18
and 20. The affiliation of phones 14 and 16 may be determined in a
manner similar to the affiliation of networks 18 and 20. For
example, phones 14 and 16 may be affiliated if they are associated
with a common Centrex system, a common service provider, and/or a
common account. Unlike networks 18 and 20, however, phones 14 and
16 may be affiliated if they have different operating
characteristics or parameters, such as if one of the phones is a
TDM or FDM phone and the other phone is an IP phone.
[0027] A control point 22 may be associated with the affiliated
network 20 and phones 14 and 16 and configured to support the
operation thereof. For example, control point 22 may be central
office (CO), service control point (SCP), integrated service
control point (ISCP), or any other device or system configured to
support call routing between phones 14 and 16. In particular,
control point 22 may be configured to support Centrex and other
similar call management operations. The phones may be located at
remote locations and the control point may be configured to provide
Centrex based services between the remotely located phones. For
example, phones 14 and 16 may be associated with a Centrex customer
having remotely located offices.
[0028] The Centrex operations may be distinct from typical phone
services, as one having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate.
The Centrex services may include any number of services or custom
services, including intercom communicating, call forwarding, call
transferring, toll restricting, least cost routing, call holding,
abbreviated dialing, and the like. The Centrex operations and
services described by the present disclosure are intended to relate
to any number of operations and services and the systems,
applications, or features required to support them. Of course, the
present disclosure fully contemplates any number of other services
and is not intended to be limited to the foregoing.
[0029] System 10 may include any number of features, exchanges,
switches, networks and other parameters to facilitate servicing
calls between the phones. Of course, the present disclosure fully
contemplates any number of components and is not intended to be
limited to the foregoing. Rather, the foregoing is intended to
represent one of a number of configurations suitable for supporting
operations in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0030] Control point 22 may be configured to determine a routing
number to facilitate routing a phone call associated therewith. In
more detail, a user may dial an abbreviated number associated with
the second phone into the first phone, such as if phones 14 and 16
are associated with a common Centrex system that supports
abbreviated dialing. Control point 22 may include a lookup table,
database, or other feature configured to determine the routing
number as a function the abbreviated number. The routing number may
be one or more numbers associated with supporting routing of the
phone call through non-affiliated network 18.
[0031] For example, non-affiliated network 18 may be associated
with an IP network. Control point 22 may be configured to determine
a routing number or other addressing sufficient for relaying the
call through soft-switches and other IP based devices associated
with non-affiliated network 18. Control point 22 may initiate a
local number portability (LNP) inquiry to determine a local routing
number (LRN) associated with completing a call. The LRN may include
any number of digits and configurations, which for the exemplary
purposes may correspond with a ten-digit number comprising an area
code, city code, and destinations code, associated with the dialed
extension, such as 847-727-2019. The LRN may correspond with number
plan areas (NPAs), such as the North American number plan area
(NPA-NXX), or any number of other number plan areas, such as those
associated with international dialing.
[0032] Of course, the present disclosure contemplates control point
22 being configured to determine any number of routing numbers and
to support any number of operations associated with completing the
call through the non-affiliated network. For example, if the
dialing phone is TDM based and the dialed phone is IP based, the
control point may be configured to packetize the signals associated
therewith and to provide sufficient addressing so as to facilitate
transporting the signals over a non-affiliated IP network for
receipt by the IP based phone. In this manner, the present
disclosure is able to support abbreviated dialing between
affiliated phones of non-affiliated networks, i.e., between a TDM
and IP network.
[0033] Control point 22 may be configured to bill calls routed
between the phones as if the calls were made over an affiliated
network or through a common Centrex system. For example, if phones
14 and 16 are associated with a Centrex system, calls between the
phones may be billed according to billing parameters associated
with the Centrex system, even if the signaling outside of the
Centrex system is performed. This may be advantageous in supporting
customers having a Centrex system with some phones being supported
over TDM networks and some phones being supported over IP networks,
which is a common problem when customers migrate from TDM phones to
IP phones.
[0034] While embodiments of the present disclosure have been
illustrated and described, it is not intended that these
embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the
present disclosure. Rather, the words used in the specification are
words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood
that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *