Method and apparatus for selecting an internet/PSTN changeover server for a packet based phone call

US6628760B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ITXC, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mojtaba Mirashrafi · Portland, US
• John D. Elliott · Lake Forest Park, US
• Michael F. Buondonno · Beaverton, US
• Kenneth L. Keeler · Hillsboro, US
• Keith A. Pirkl · Vancouver, US
• Al J. Simon · Hillsboro, US
• George L. Taylor · Tigard, US
• Mark D. Zuber · Duvall, US
• Jeffrey B. Sponaugle · Hillsboro, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 30, 2001
• Grant date: Sep 30, 2003
• Expiry date: Jan 23, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S379/908
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing a voice call to a PSTN extension on behalf of a networked client computer, and routing the voice call off of the network, is provided. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services for facilitating establishment of the voice call to the PSTN extension, and an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions. The set of communication services include services for soliciting inputs from one or more other apparatuses on one or more operating characteristics associated with the establishment and support of the voice call to the PSTN extension, and selecting one of the solicited apparatuses to place the voice call to the PSTN extension.