Vonage Network, LLC

Vonage Business Limited

Xconnect Global Networks Limited

Vonage America Inc.

Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.a.

Vonage Newworks, LLC

Xc Technology Holdings Limited

Baruch Sterman

Tzahi Efrati

Yariv Trabelsi

David Mark Schwartz

Eli Katz

Chakrapani Gorrepati

Itay Bianco

Sagie Machlin

Ido Mintz

Geoffrey Langos

Guy Fighel

Jaya Meghani

Arthur Wilton

Andrew Bucko

Bryan Stokes

Stephen Hudek

David Schwartz

Yariv Travelsi

A method and apparatus for call handling control comprises receiving, from a first device, call handling information directed towards a second device, wherein a call is currently established between the first device and the second device and transmitting the call handling information to the second device, wherein the call handling information comprises feature activation instructions for the second device.

Method and apparatus for call handling control

In one of its aspects the technology disclosed herein concerns an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony communication system () comprising a location server (()) and a call server (). The location server (()) is configured to obtain a first virtual identifier associated with a first telephony visit associated with a customer account to a first physical location and to obtain a second virtual identifier associated with a second telephony visit associated with the customer account to a second physical location. The location server (()) is configured to obtain the first virtual identifier and the second virtual identifier in coordination with an emergency answering service (). The call server () is configured to provide the emergency answering service () with an appropriate one of the first virtual identifier and the second virtual identifier in accordance with whichever of the first physical location and the second location is an emergency location from which an emergency call associated with the customer account is placed.

Virtual identifier for emergency call handling

Systems and methods of establishing a communications channel between a first telephony device and a second telephony device obtain information about the capabilities of various data network elements that can be used to establish the communications channel. The information about the elements is used to select a combination of elements that are used to establish the communications channel. A communications channel may also be monitored while it is in use. If the requirements for the channel change, the communications channel may also be changed accordingly. If any of the elements become incapable of providing the required level of service or functionality for a communications channel, the element may be removed from the communications channel.

Systems and methods of routing IP telephony data packet communications

A method for telephony includes receiving at an Internet telephony service provider a subscriber request to place a call to a telephone number. A cache associated with the internet telephony service provider is queried to check if the cache holds a record for the telephone number. If the cache holds the record, the record is obtained. If the cache does not hold the record, a request is sent to a database server that maintains a database of records associating endpoint user terminal telephone numbers of subscribers with respective packet network addresses of the endpoint user terminal. The call is placed to the endpoint user terminal telephone number via a public switched telephone network while the request is sent to the database server to retrieve the packet network address of the endpoint user terminal to which calls to the telephone number should be placed.

Efficient address caching for packet telephony services

Systems and methods performed by an IP telephony device or an element of an IP telephony system mask the data contained in data packets bearing the media of an IP telephony communication to prevent an Internet service provider from identifying the data packets as carrying the media of an IP telephony communication. The systems and methods can also modify the size of data packets and/or modify the data transfer rate of a stream of data packets bearing the media of an IP telephony communication to prevent an Internet service provider from identifying the stream of data packets as bearing the media of an IP telephony communication.

Systems and methods of modifying data packets used in IP telephony communications

Systems and methods of recommending that two people form a link on a social networking system uses activities conducted by a first person on a telephony system to determine the names of individuals and businesses that the first person has communicated with through the telephony system. This list of names and individuals is then compared to the names of individuals and businesses that are members of the social networking system. If the first person is communicating with individuals or businesses who are members of the social networking system, a recommendation that they form a link on the social networking system is issued to one or both parties.

Systems and methods for integrating information from voice over internet protocol systems and social networking systems

When a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) telephone call is being conducted by a mobile telephony device, measurements of at least one condition that exists for the mobile telephone device during the VOIP telephone call are taken during the duration of the telephone call. The measurements could be taken periodically as the VOIP telephone call progresses. The measured condition is one that could affect the perceived quality of the VOIP telephone call. The measurements of the at least one condition are recorded against the telephone call for later use and analysis. The recorded information may be analyzed to determine how to modify a setting of the mobile telephony device to improve the quality of VOIP telephone calls conducted with the mobile telephony device.

Systems and methods of monitoring call quality

Systems and methods of preventing an Internet service provider from identifying a stream of data packets as carrying a voice over Internet protocol telephony communication can make use of encryption techniques to prevent the Internet service provider from examining the content of the data packets. Also, multiple communications channels may be established between a telephony device and elements of an IP telephony system. A stream of data packets bearing the media of an IP telephony communication is then separated into sub-streams, and each sub-stream is sent through a different one of the communications channels. This prevents an Internet service provider from identifying a stream of data packets as bearing the media of an IP telephony communication based on a pattern in the data traffic.

Systems and methods for communicating a stream of data packets via multiple communications channels

Systems and methods for determining quality measures for communication paths that can be used to conduct telephony communications determine and record quality measures for each of a plurality of paths during different times of the day and different days of the week. This information is used to determine and record measures of how the quality of each path varies over predetermined periods of time. When it is necessary to select a path for the setup of a new telephony communication, information regarding the anticipated quality of different potential paths, and information regarding how that quality is expected to vary over the duration of the telephony communication are used to select a path for the telephony communication.

Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a forwarding termination service. The forwarding termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The forwarding termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.

Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to mobile telephony devices

When a mobile telephony device is conducting a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) telephone call via a data network, and the mobile telephone device transitions from a first wireless data connection to a second wireless data connection, signaling between the mobile telephone device and a media relay inform the media relay how to address data packets bearing the media of the call after the transition has occurred. In some embodiments, the mobile telephone device establishes multiple simultaneous wireless data connections, and the mobile telephony device switches the media of the call between the wireless data connections depending on the quality of the wireless data connections.

Systems and methods for handoff of a mobile telephone call in a VOIP environment

Systems and methods of recommending that two people form a link on a social networking system use information drawn from contact lists or address books that are maintained by a social networking system for the two people. The information drawn from the contact lists is compared to information in a cross-reference database maintained by a telephony system to obtain alternate identifiers for the individuals and businesses listed in the contact lists and address books maintained by the social networking system. If some of these alternate identifiers match between the two people, there is a chance that the two people are acquainted, or at least are acquainted with the same people. In that instance, a recommendation that they form a link on the social networking system is issued to one or both parties.

When an incoming communication is directed to a telephony device that is capable of conducting an IP based communication via an IP telephony system and a cellular-based communication via a mobile telephony service provider, the communication is initially setup as a cellular-based communication via the mobile telephony service provider. At the same time, an IP-based communication channel is setup between the telephony device and an IP telephony system. Once the IB-based communication channel is available, the communication is transitioned from the cellular-based communication channel to the IP based communication channel.

Growing community of inventors

Efrat, Israel

Baruch Sterman