Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for originating voice calls from a data network

US6337858B1 · kind B1 · utility

291Cited by
26References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 10, 1997
Grant dateJan 8, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 10, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2203/5009
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing voice communications between two parties using computer controlled telephony hardware which is separate from the PSTN is described. The voice communications may be voice over Internet or PSTN voice connections, or any combination of the two. The apparatus includes a WEB server, a computer telephony server, a Voice over IP gateway and an operations, administration and maintenance server. The apparatus is suitably installed and operated by a service provider such as an Internet Service Provider. The advantage is unexcelled control over call setup, transfer and conference functions. A further advantage is the rapid, unfettered development of new services without compatibility issues with the PSTN.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.