Optimum routing of calls over the public switched telephone network and the internet

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said telephone network is a private network, and the step of establishing the connection in accordance with procedures of the prior art comprises the step of establishing a private network connection in accordance with procedures of the prior art for private network connections.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said Internet connection is established over a private Internet Protocol network.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of establishing an Internet connection comprises the step of: checking that a call identifier returned in the acknowledgment message is the same as a call identifier sent in the IAM.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: selecting an IP address in the switch transmitting said IAM; selecting a different IP address in the switch transmitting said acknowledgment message; and changing to said different IP address in the switch transmitting said IAM.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said interoffice signaling network is a CCS7 network.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 , wherein said subscribers need not be provided with Internet service.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said originating and terminating switches is a toll access switch.

Claim 10

In an originating network access switch, apparatus for controlling the establishment of a voice connection to a terminating network access switch, wherein both network access switches have access to a telephone network and the Internet, comprising: means for accessing an interoffice signaling network; means for establishing a voice connection to said telephone network; means for establishing a connection to the Internet; processor means for controlling transmission of messages over said interoffice signaling network, for receiving messages from said interoffice signaling network, and for controlling said means for establishing a connection in said originating network access switch; said processor means, operative under program control for: responsive to receipt of a request to establish a telephone connection for a call which can be established over the telephone network or the Internet, determining whether to establish the connection using a telephone network, or using the Internet; wherein determining comprises determining based on the relative traffic states of the Internet and the telephone network, or based on dialed caller input, or based on caller class of service; if a decision is made to establish the connection using the telephone network, establishing the connection in accordance with procedures of the prior art; if a decision is made to establish the connection using the Internet, controlling transmission of an initial address message over said interoffice signaling network to the terminating access switch, the IAM (initial address message), including an Internet Protocol address of the network access switch; responsive to receipt of an acknowledgment message from said terminating access switch, said acknowledgment message comprising an IP (Internet Protocol) address of said terminating access switch over said interoffice signaling network, controlling the establishment of an Internet connection for carrying voice signals between said originating network access switch and said terminating network access switch, using said IP addresses; and confirming establishment of said connection by controlling transmission of another interoffice signaling message to said terminating access switch.

Claim 11

In an originating network access switch, apparatus for controlling the establishment of a voice connection to a terminating network access switch, wherein both network access switches have access to a telephone network and the Internet, comprising: means for accessing an interoffice signaling network; means for establishing a voice connection to said telephone network; means for establishing a connection to the Internet; processor means for controlling transmission of messages over said interoffice signaling network, for receiving messages from said interoffice signaling network, and for controlling said means for establishing a connection in said originating network access switch; said processor means, operative under program control for: responsive to receipt of a request to establish a telephone connection for a call which can be established over the telephone network or the Internet, determining whether to establish the connection using a telephone network, or using the Internet; wherein determining comprises determining based on the relative traffic states of the Internet and the telephone network, or based on dialed caller input, or based on caller class of service; if a decision is made to establish the connection using the telephone network, establishing the connection in accordance with procedures of the prior art; if a decision is made to establish the connection using the Internet, controlling transmission of an initial address message over said interoffice signaling network to the terminating access switch, the IAM (initial address message), including an Internet Protocol address of the network access switch; responsive to receipt of an acknowledgment message from said terminating access switch, said acknowledgment message comprising an IP (Internet Protocol) address of said terminating access switch over said interoffice signaling network, controlling the establishment of an Internet connection for carrying voice signals between said originating network access switch and said terminating network access switch, using said IP addresses; and confirming establishment of said connection by controlling transmission of another interoffice signaling message to said terminating access switch.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for accessing an interoffice signaling network comprises means for accessing a CCS7 network.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for establishing a voice connection to said telephone network comprises means for establishing a connection to a private telephone network.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a subscriber making said request to establish a telephone connection need not be provided with Internet service.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said network access switch comprising said apparatus is a toll access switch.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining step further comprises the step of determining based on dialed caller input.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining step further comprises the step of determining based on caller class of service.

Claim 20

In an originating network access switch, apparatus for controlling the establishment of a voice connection to a terminating network access switch, wherein both network access switches have access to a telephone network and the Internet, comprising: means for accessing an interoffice signaling network; means for establishing a voice connection to said telephone network; means for establishing a connection to the Internet; processor means for controlling transmission of messages over said interoffice signaling network, for receiving messages from said interoffice signaling network, and for controlling said means for establishing a connection in said originating network access switch; said processor means, operative under program control for: responsive to receipt of a request to establish a telephone connection for a call which can be established over the telephone network or the Internet, determining whether to establish the connection using a telephone network, or using the Internet; wherein the determining comprises based on the relative traffic states of the Internet and the telephone network; if a decision is made to establish the connection using the telephone network, establishing the connection in accordance with procedures of the prior art; if a decision is made to establish the connection using the Internet, controlling transmission of an initial address message over said interoffice signaling network to the terminating access switch, the IAM (initial address message), including an Internet Protocol address of the network access switch; responsive to receipt of an acknowledgment message from said terminating access switch, said acknowledgment message comprising an IP (Internet Protocol) address of said terminating access switch over said interoffice signaling network, controlling the establishment of an Internet connection for carrying voice signals between said originating network access switch and said terminating network access switch, using said IP addresses; and confirming establishment of said connection by controlling transmission of another interoffice signaling message to said terminating access switch.

Claim 21

In an originating network access switch, apparatus for controlling the establishment of a voice connection to a terminating network access switch, wherein both network access switches have access to a telephone network and the Internet, comprising: means for accessing an interoffice signaling network; means for establishing a voice connection to said telephone network; means for establishing a connection to the Internet; processor means for controlling transmission of messages over said interoffice signaling network, for receiving messages from said interoffice signaling network, and for controlling said means for establishing a connection in said originating network access switch; said processor means, operative under program control for: responsive to receipt of a request to establish a telephone connection for a call which can be established over the telephone network or the Internet, determining whether to establish the connection using a telephone network, or using the Internet; wherein the determining comprises based on the relative traffic states of the Internet and the telephone network; if a decision is made to establish the connection using the telephone network, establishing the connection in accordance with procedures of the prior art; if a decision is made to establish the connection using the Internet, controlling transmission of an initial address message over said interoffice signaling network to the terminating access switch, the IAM (initial address message), including an Internet Protocol address of the network access switch; responsive to receipt of an acknowledgment message from said terminating access switch, said acknowledgment message comprising an IP (Internet Protocol) address of said terminating access switch over said interoffice signaling network, controlling the establishment of an Internet connection for carrying voice signals between said originating network access switch and said terminating network access switch, using said IP addresses; and confirming establishment of said connection by controlling transmission of another interoffice signaling message to said terminating access switch.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said determining further comprises determining based on caller input.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said determining further comprises determining based on caller class of service.