At+t Corp.

At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

Bell Telephone Laboratories

Daniel Sheinbein

Barbara Joanne Kittredge

James J Mansell

Leonard S Kelter

William Hoffman

D Mark Parrish

Daniel J Timoney

Chaker T Al Hakim

James C Ehlinger

Saul Daniel Fishman

Walter Paul Zahray

Jerry Allen Robinson

Frank J Androski

Ellen B Feinberg

Nancy Binowski

A system for processing calls with a time division multiplexing (TDM) network and routing the calls via an internet protocol network is disclosed. The system may receive a call from a call originating device. The call may then be routed to a time division multiplexing switch at which call processing is performed to determine routing information for the call. The routing information may then be received at a first VoIP media gateway, and the call may then be routed by the first VoIP media gateway. Once the call is answered, the connection between the time division multiplexing switch and the VoIP media gateway may be terminated to enable the total number of terminations to be reduced, thereby creating a more efficient system.

System for processing a call with a TDM network and routing the call with an IP network

Subscriber calls in a communications network () are handled in accordance with the subscriber's routing plan for either originating and/or terminating calls irrespective of the manner in which such calls originate and terminate. Upon receipt of a call, a query is launched to a database () to obtain a called party routing number for the call destination in accordance with the subscriber's routing plan. Once the called party's routing number is obtained in response to the query, the called party's routing number is mapped a to physical port in the network when the routing number corresponds to a circuit-switched call destination or to an IP address when the called party's routing number corresponds to a packet-based call destination. The call is routed to the call destination in accordance with the mapping.

Technique for providing intelligent features for calls in a communications network independent of network architecture

The present invention is directed to a method of routing a long distance call from a calling party to a called party over a communication network. The call is received at a local switch located in the first geographic region and operated by a service provider that provides telecommunications services to the called party. The dialed number associated with the received call is recognized as being a special number. The special number is formatted as a local number with respect to a calling party's telephone line. A query is sent to a database for routing instructions. A routable number corresponding to the called party's telephone line is received. The called party's telephone line is located in the second geographic region. The call is routed to called party's telephone line over a communication network operated by the service provider. A billing record is created for the call in which an indicator is provided that indicates that the call should be billed at a special call billing rate to the calling or called party.

Method for providing a preferential routing and billing arrangement for a call placed between a calling party and a called party

A distributed communications switching system and its associated telecommunications network infrastructure(10) includes a plurality of interconnected switching systems (12.sub.1, 12.sub.2 and 12.sub.3), some of which may be controlled by another switching system and its associated telecommunications network infrastructure. The switching systems are controlled via at least one switch processing platform (16) that generates generic commands for receipt by the switching systems in response to signaling messages received by the SPP. A fabric application interface (19) couples the switching systems to the switch processing platform for distributing generic commands to and from the appropriate switching system and for translating the generic commands into native commands (or vice versa) for execution by the switching system. The fabric application interface also translates signals received at the switching system into generic commands for receipt by the switch processing platform. The ability of the fabric application interface to distribute generic commands to and from the switching systems and to communicate signals received at the switching systems allows the switch processing platform to exercise call control for each switching system regardless of the nature of the call processed thereby, allowing greater flexibility and cost-effective use of application software (both service control and basic call control), and other associated telecommunications network infrastructure such as service circuit equipment.

Distributed network control and fabric application interface

A telephone system is disclosed for providing customized telephone services. A called customer can screen calls incoming to his station based on the identity of the calling line. The calling line's identity is forwarded to the switching office containing the called customer's screening memory. The memory is interrogated to ascertain the call disposition based on information priorly put in the memory by the called customer. Selective call waiting, selective call forwarding, priority ringing, and many other customized services are contemplated.

Method and apparatus for screening telephone calls

A telephone switching system is disclosed with facilities for processing interoffice callback information over a common channel interoffice signaling system (4) between program controlled call processors (21, 34) in call originating and terminating offices (1, 2) upon encountering a called station busy condition. The terminating office call processor (34) is equipped to examine the busy-idle status of the called station (5) by consulting its supervisory memory (46) and by directed called station line scanning and then to enable an automatic call retry only after it is determined that the called station has become idle. Each of the call processors (21, 34) includes an originating register-callback register (47) for storing callback information comprising the calling and called station identities originating office identity, a callback code dialed from a calling station (3), a mark to specify the callback mode of register operation, a line recheck time delay and a time limit on the callback service. Automatic callback is effected in one arrangement by transferring the callback information from the originating to terminating office, ascertaining when the called station becomes idle, and then making a terminating-to-originating office call in an attempt to complete call connections between the calling and called stations. Another arrangement bypasses the terminating-to-originating office call and retransfers the callback information to the originating office for enabling it to initiate the call retry.

Interoffice callback arrangement

Growing community of inventors

Elizabeth, NJ, United States of America

Daniel Sheinbein