(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0064919 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 22, 2007
`Chen et al.
`
`US 20070064919Al
`
`(54) COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR
`PLACING PHONE CALLS BY USING A
`FIXED DIAL PLAN
`
`(76) Inventors: Zoneson Chen, Cupertino, CA (US);
`Gee-HWan Chuang, Santa Clara, CA
`(Us)
`Correspondence Address:
`ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
`3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
`ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`11/225,082
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 14, 2005
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H04M 1/00
`H04M 3/00
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) US. Cl. ............................... .. 379/355.05; 379/355.01
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A communication method dials phone calls by using ?xed
`numbers and includes the following steps. A phone number
`is receives. A ?rst processing step is performed to transform
`the phone number into a ?rst dialing number. A correct
`PSTN gateWay is selected according to the ?rst dialing
`number. A ?rst detection step is performed to judging
`Whether the ?rst dialing number is matched With a country
`code of the PSTN gateWay. If not matching, a ?nal dialing
`number is generated by adding an lDD of the PSTN gateWay
`to the ?rst dialing number. Otherwise, a country code is
`removed from the ?rst dialing number to generate a second
`dialing number and a ?nal processing step is performed to
`transform the second dialing number to a ?nal dialing
`number. Finally, the ?nal dialing number is sent to the PSTN
`gateWay. A communication apparatus for implementing the
`above method is also disclosed.
`
`Calling party
`
`O0 201
`5 >_<\
`
`,1
`
`Local dial plan
`
`,_ .J
`Telco Switch-l
`
`Called party
`
`00
`
`\
`\
`
`a
`‘d
`Telco Switch-2
`
`E.l64 Telephone Number
`
`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-1
`
`

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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 22, 2007 Sheet 1 0f 7
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`US 2007/0064919 A1
`
`Fig. 1
`
`101
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`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-2
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 22, 2007 Sheet 2 0f 7
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`US 2007/0064919 A1
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`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-3
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 22, 2007 Sheet 3 0f 7
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`US 2007/0064919 A1
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`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-4
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 22, 2007 Sheet 4 0f 7
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`US 2007/0064919 A1
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`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-5
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 22, 2007 Sheet 5 0f 7
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`US 2007/0064919 A1
`
`505
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`504
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`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-6
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 22, 2007 Sheet 6 0f 7
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`US 2007/0064919 A1
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`Receive the
`dialing number
`
`Discard
`
`604
`
`(
`Generate the E164
`telephone number by
`stripping off IDD pre?x-A
`from the string of dialing
`d1g1ts
`
`Discard
`
`607
`
`9
`Generate the 'E. 164 telephone
`number by stripping off
`NDD pre?x-A from the string
`of dialing digits and inserting
`Country code-A in front of the
`rest digits
`
`Generate the E164
`telephone number by
`inserting Country Code-A
`and Area Code-A in front of
`thestring of the dialing
`d1g1ts
`
`Fig. 6
`
`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-7
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 22, 2007 Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 2007/0064919 A1
`
`Receive the E164
`telephone number
`
`701
`
`702
`
`< legth of
`Country code-B
`?
`
`703
`
`==Country
`
`N0
`
`705
`
`9
`Remove Country code-B
`from the E. 164 telephone
`number
`
`706
`
`704
`Z
`Generate the international
`dialing number by inserting
`IDD pre?x-B in front of the
`B164 telephone number
`
`< length of
`Area code-B
`
`Discard
`
`708
`
`9
`Generate the long distance
`dialing number by inserting
`NDD pre?x-B in front of the
`newly generated string of
`digits
`
`-
`F1 g. 7
`
`r)
`
`Generate the local dialing
`number by removing Area
`Code-B the newly generated
`string of digits
`
`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-8
`
`

`
`US 2007/0064919 A1
`
`Mar. 22, 2007
`
`COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR PLACING
`PHONE CALLS BY USING A FIXED DIAL PLAN
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0001]
`[0002] The present invention relates to a communication
`method for placing phone calls by using a ?xed dial plan,
`and more particularly to a communication method that
`provides translation functions betWeen tWo different dial
`plans to alloW a calling party to place phone calls by using
`a particular dial plan, even if the associated telecommuni
`cation sWitch understands a different dial plan.
`
`[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
`
`[0004] FIG. 1 shoWs a schematic diagram of a conven
`tional telecommunication system through Which phone calls
`can be made. When a user Wants to dial a phone call through
`the international telecommunication system, a telephone set
`101 of a calling party is connected to another phone set 103
`of a called party through a public sWitched telephone
`netWork (PSTN) 102. The user at the telephone set 101
`should folloW the local dial plan to place the call to the
`telephone set 102.
`
`[0005] A telecommunication numbering plan is a set of
`rules used by the telecommunication industry to de?ne the
`telephone numbers and hoW to place phone calls. A tele
`phone number is a sequence of decimal digits (0-9) that is
`used to identify the destination in a PSTN. A dial plan
`describes the numbers and pattern of digits that a user dials
`to reach a particular telephone number.
`
`[0006] E.l64 is an ITU-T (International Telecommunica
`tion Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) rec
`ommendation that de?nes the international public telecom
`munication numbering plan. According to E.l64, a
`telephone number structure for a geographic area is:
`
`[0007] 1. Country code4country code is also knoWn as
`Country Calling code and IDD (International Direct Dialing)
`code. It is the national pre?x to be used When dialing to a
`particular country from another country.
`
`[0008] 2. Area codeiarea code is also knoWn as National
`Destination code and NDD (National Direct Dialing) code.
`It usually indicates a speci?c geographical area.
`
`[0009] 3. Subscriber number.
`
`[0010] So We can identify an E.l64 telephone number as:
`country code-area code-subscriber number (“-” is a separa
`tor for easy reading only). Taking ZyXEL headquarters
`phone number (886-3-5783942) as an example, 886 is the
`country code of TaiWan, 3 is the area code of Hsin-Chu, and
`578-3942 is the subscriber number.
`
`[0011] In addition to the format of the telephone numbers,
`E.l64 also de?nes a list of country codes and the interna
`tional dial plan. According to the E164 international dial
`plan, the format of the international dialing number is:
`+country code-area code-subscriber number. The “+” is the
`international call pre?x that is also knoWn as IDD (Interna
`tional Direct Dialing) pre?x. We Will use IDD pre?x in the
`rest of this document. Even though E.l64 recommends 00
`for the IDD pre?x, it is not Well accepted by the telecom
`munication industry. Each numbering plan in a particular
`region or country has its oWn value of IDD pre?x. For
`
`example, 011 is the IDD pre?x de?ned in the North Ameri
`can Numbering Plan. The dialing number is 011-886-3-578
`3942 in order to reach ZyXEL headquarters from the North
`American region (USA, Canada, Bermuda, and many Car
`ibbean nations).
`[0012] E.l64 does not cover the dial plan to place local
`calls and long distance calls. The dial plan for local calls and
`long distance calls is de?ned in the regional or countryWide
`numbering plan. Most of the telecommunication numbering
`plans requires an NDD (National Direct Dialing) pre?x for
`a long distance call, but the value of NND pre?x is not a
`standard either. For example, 1 is the NDD pre?x de?ned in
`North American Numbering Plan and 0 is the NDD pre?x
`de?ned in TaiWan. Taking ZyXEL USA phone number
`(l-7l4-632-0882) as an example, 1 is the country code of
`USA, 714 is the area code of Anaheim in California, and
`632-0882 is the subscriber number. The dialing number is
`632-0882 for a local call and it is l-7l4-632-0882 for a long
`distance call (here, 1 is NDD pre?x not country code).
`[0013] It is usually pretty tough for international travelers
`to ?gure out hoW to make phone calls in a neW region or
`country Without any help. The reason is because the dial plan
`is not a universal standard. One of the possible solutions is
`to standardize the dial plan for all countries. HoWever, it is
`uneasy to achieve this target and the existing telecommuni
`cation sWitches (Telco SWitches) usually understand only
`the regional or countryWide dial plan.
`[0014] It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a
`communication method for placing phone calls by using a
`?xed dial plan, so that a user may alWays place local and
`long distance calls in a familiar manner. The communication
`method of the present invention does not change any exist
`ing dial plan or telecommunication sWitches. In stead, the
`communication method of the present invention is compat
`ible With various kinds of dial plans, and provides a reason
`able and effective Way for everyone to easily place phone
`calls through the local Telco sWitches.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0015] A primary object of the present invention is to
`provide a communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan, so that a user in any region or country
`may place phone calls in a familiar manner.
`
`[0016] To achieve the above and other objects, the com
`munication method for placing phone calls by using a ?xed
`dial plan according to the present invention includes the
`steps of: (1) receiving a dialing number; (2) transforming the
`dialing number into an E.l64 telephone number; (3) trans
`forming the E164 telephone number into a ?nal dialing
`number that is understood by the attached telecommunica
`tion sWitch; and (4) sending the ?nal dialing number to the
`telecommunication sWitch.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0017] The features of the invention believed to be novel
`are set forth With particularity in the appended claims. The
`invention itself hoWever may be best understood by refer
`ence to the folloWing detailed description of the invention,
`Which describes certain exemplary embodiments of the
`invention, taken in conjunction With the accompanying
`draWings in Which:
`
`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-9
`
`

`
`US 2007/0064919 A1
`
`Mar. 22, 2007
`
`[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a conven
`tional telecommunication system;
`
`[0019] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a phone call
`between the calling party and the called party;
`
`[0020] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an intelligent
`apparatus that performs a translation function solely
`between two dial plans;
`
`[0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an SIP
`phone performs a ?rst translation function and a PSTN
`Gateway performs a second translation function; wherein an
`E.l64 telephone number is common to both the SIP phone
`and the PSTN Gateway;
`
`[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the relation
`between a translator, an SIP phone, and a PSTN Gateway;
`
`[0023] FIG. 6 is a ?owchart showing the steps included in
`the ?rst translation function; and
`
`[0024] FIG. 7 is a ?owchart showing the steps included in
`the second translation function.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`[0025] Please refer to FIG. 2 that is a schematic diagram
`showing a phone call made between a calling party and a
`called party. It is usually true that a Telco Switch-1 in FIG.
`2 only understands a dial plan B de?ned in the particular
`region or country where it resides. The present invention
`does not try to change today’s telecommunication infrastruc
`ture such as dial plans and telecommunication switches.
`Instead, the present invention tries to accommodate them
`and make it easier to foreigners to place phone calls via
`Telco Switch-1.
`[0026] FIG. 3 explores the calling party and Telco
`Switch-1 in FIG. 2 further. It illustrates that there exists an
`international traveler who uses an apparatus that is able to
`translate the dialing number based on a dial plan A to the
`dialing number based on the dial plan B. It is assumed that
`the traveler is familiar with the dial planAto place the phone
`calls. In FIG. 3, it looks like it is a single translation function.
`In fact, this single translation is combined by two sub
`translation functions. A language that is common between
`the two sub-translation functions is the E164 telephone
`number that is well accepted by telecommunication industry.
`The ?rst sub-translation function converts the dialing num
`ber based on the dial plan A into the E164 telephone
`number. Then, the second sub-translation function converts
`the E164 telephone number into the dialing number based
`on the dial plan B. In this document, the ?rst sub-translation
`function is referred to as the translation-1 and the second
`sub-translation function is referred to as the translation-2,
`and the combination of the two sub-translation functions is
`referred to as the Translation function.
`
`[0027] Since there are two independent translation func
`tions in the apparatus, it is possible to split the mechanism
`of translation-1 to one device and the mechanism of trans
`lation-2 to another device as shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4,
`Internet 403 is a sample medium between two devices,
`namely, an SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) phone 401 and
`a PSTN Gateway 402. Potentially, the medium could be
`another type of networks. The same is true for the SIP phone
`401 and the PSTN Gateway 402. In FIG. 4, the SIP phone
`
`401 interacts with human beings and performs the transla
`tion-1, and the PSTN Gateway 402 performs the transla
`tion-2 and sends the properly converted dialing number to a
`Telco Switch-1404.
`
`[0028] There are other servers in Internet 403 in order to
`route IP packets and voice messages. Since they are irrel
`evant to the present invention, they are not shown in FIG. 4.
`The telephone number inside the communication messages
`between the SIP phone 401 and the PSTN Gateway 402 is
`in E.l64 format.
`
`[0029] It is also possible to add a server in a network 503
`to perform the translation functions as shown in FIG. 5. For
`simplicity, the server is referred to as the Translator 505 in
`this document. Here is what the Translator 505 can do:
`
`[0030] l. The translator 505 can perform the Translation
`function solely if neither the SIP phone 501 nor the PSTN
`Gateway 502 is able to perform the translation functions.
`
`[0031] 2. The translator 505 can perform the translation-2
`if the SIP phone 501 is able to perform the translation-1 and
`the PSTN Gateway 502 is unable to perform the translation
`2.
`
`[0032] 3. The translator 505 can perform the translation-1
`if the SIP phone 501 is unable to perform the translation-1
`and the PSTN Gateway 502 is able to perform the transla
`tion-2.
`
`[0033] In the present invention, each translation function
`has a corresponding dial plan, and each dial plan has the
`following components needed by either the translation-1 or
`the translation-2: (l) IDD pre?x, (2) NDD pre?x, (3) Coun
`try code, and (4) Area code.
`[0034] In this document, the IDD pre?x of dial planAused
`by the translation-1 is indicated as IDD pre?x-A, and the
`IDD pre?x of dial plan B used by the translation-2 is
`indicated as IDD pre?x-B. Similar codes are de?ned for the
`NDD pre?x, Country code, and Area code.
`
`[0035] Please refer to FIG. 6 that is a ?owchart showing
`the logic ?ow of the translation-1 with dial plan A.
`
`[0036] First, a dialing number, which is a string of digits,
`is received (Step 601). It is assumed that the dialing number
`follows dial plan A. Otherwise, it would fail. Then, it is
`checked whether the dialing number has a length less than
`that of the IDD pre?x-A. If yes, the dialing number is
`discarded (Step 602).
`[0037] If the length of the dialing number is not less than
`that of the IDD pre?x-A, it is then further checked whether
`the string of the dialing digits is the same as the IDD
`pre?x-A (Step 603). If yes, an E.l64 telephone number is
`generated by stripping off the IDD pre?x-A from the dialing
`number. And, the conversion completes (Step 604).
`[0038] Alternatively, if the string of the dialing digits is
`not the same as the IDD pre?x-A, it is checked whether the
`dialing number has a length less than that of the NDD
`pre?x-A (Step 605). If yes, the dialing number is discarded.
`
`[0039] If the length of the dialing number is not less than
`that of the NDD pre?x-A, it is then further checked whether
`the string of the dialing digits is the same as the NDD
`pre?x-A (Step 606). If yes, an E. 164 telephone number is
`generated by stripping off the NDD pre?x-A from the dialing
`
`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-10
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`
`US 2007/0064919 A1
`
`Mar. 22, 2007
`
`number and inserting the Country code-A in front of the rest
`of the digits (Step 607). And, the conversion completes.
`
`[0040] Alternatively, if the string of the dialing digits is
`not the same as the NDD pre?x-A, an E.l64 telephone
`number is generated by inserting the Area code-A in front of
`the dialing digits ?rst, then inserting the Country code-A in
`front of the neWly generated string of digits (Step 608). And
`the conversion completes.
`
`[0041] FIG. 7 is a ?owchart shoWing the logic How of the
`translation-2 With dial plan B.
`
`[0042] First, an E.l64 telephone number is received (Step
`701). Then, check Whether the received E.l64 telephone
`number has a length less than that of the Country code-B
`(Step 702). If yes, the E164 telephone number is discarded.
`
`[0043] Alternatively, if the received E. 164 telephone num
`ber has a length not less than that of the Country code-B,
`then it is further checked Whether the string of the E164
`telephone number is the same as the Country code-B (Step
`703). If not, an international dialing number is generated by
`inserting the IDD pre?x-B in front of the E164 telephone
`number (Step 704). And, the conversion completes.
`
`[0044] Alternatively, if the string of the E164 telephone
`number is the same as the Country code-B, the Country
`code-B is removed from the E164 telephone number (Step
`705).
`[0045] Then, the neW string of digits generated in the Step
`705 is checked to see Whether it has a length less than that
`of the Area code-B (Step 706). If yes, the neWly generated
`string of digits is discarded.
`
`[0046] Alternatively, if the neW string of digits generated
`in the Step 705 has a length not less than that of the Area
`code-B, it is further checked Whether the neWly generated
`string of digits is the same as the Area code-B (Step 707). If
`not, a long distance dialing number is generated by inserting
`the NDD pre?x-B in front of the neWly generated string of
`digits (Step 708). And, the conversion completes.
`[0047] Alternatively, if the neWly generated string of dig
`its is the same as the Area code-B, a local dialing number is
`generated by removing the Area code-B from the neWly
`generated string of digits (Step 709). And, the conversion
`completes.
`
`[0048] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 shoW that the logic of the
`translation-1 and the translation-2 is universal and indepen
`dent from the device Where it resides; and a particular dial
`plan makes the device behave differently from others. For
`the same input (either a dialing number or an E.l64 tele
`phone number) to the translation function (either the trans
`lation-1 or the translation-2), the output could be different if
`the associated dial plan is different. In this case, the method
`to customiZe a device is to con?gure it to the right dial plan.
`
`[0049] Each dial plan has four components, namely, IDD
`pre?x, NDD pre?x, Country code, and Area code. Some
`devices may have tWo dial plans, such as the intelligent
`apparatus in FIG. 3 and the Translator in FIG. 5. They have
`eight (8) components in total to con?gure. Other devices
`may have one dial plan, such as the SIP phone and the PSTN
`GateWay in FIG. 4. In all of the cases, dial plan B is
`pre-con?gured by the service provider. So the end users need
`
`to Worry about at most four components in dial plan A.
`OtherWise, this invention complicates things instead of
`simplifying things.
`[0050] In FIG. 3, the device could be a Wired public
`telephone With pre-con?gured dial plan B; the default for the
`dial plan A is the dial plan B here. A traveler needs only to
`enter the four components of dial plan A. In fact, the traveler
`only needs to remember the Country code and the Area code
`of the dial plan A. The IDD pre?x and NDD pre?x can be
`their personal choice. For example, if the traveler is from
`San Jose, USA, then he/she only needs to remember his/her
`Country code, 1, and the Area code, 408. He/she can choose
`any personal IDD pre?x, such as 1, instead of 011. He/she
`can also choose any NDD pre?x, such as 2, instead of 1. Of
`course, he/ she can select TaiWan’s dial plan instead of North
`American Numbering Plan. Potentially, the device could
`also be a cellular phone With a SIM (Subscriber Identity
`Module) card.
`[0051] In FIG. 4, the PSTN GateWay 502 has the data of
`the pre-con?gured dial plan B. The SIP phone 401 could be
`a personal device carried by its oWner everyWhere. Its oWner
`only needs to con?gure it once. The SIP phone 401 could be
`either Wired or Wireless.
`
`[0052] In FIG. 5, the Translator 505 could be the server to
`perform both translation functions. In this case, it has the
`information about the dial plan B that associates to the PSTN
`GateWay 502. It also has the information about the dial plan
`A that associates to the SIP phone 501. They are pre
`con?gured. So there is no need to con?gure the SIP phone
`501.
`
`[0053] The present invention has been described With
`some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood
`that many changes and modi?cations in the described
`embodiments can be carried out Without departing from the
`scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be
`limited only by the appended claims.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan, in Which at least one communication
`apparatus is used to dial a phone number that is sent to a
`PSTN telecommunication sWitch, comprising the steps of:
`
`(1) using said communication apparatus to dial a tele
`phone number folloWing a ?rst dial plan;
`
`(2) converting the dialing number folloWing the ?rst dial
`plan into an E.l64 telephone number;
`
`(3) converting the E164 telephone number into a dialing
`number folloWing a second dial plan; and
`
`(4) sending the dialing number folloWing the second dial
`plan to a telecommunication sWitch.
`2. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said
`communication apparatus is selected from the group con
`sisting of an SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) phone and a
`mobile phone.
`3. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 1, Wherein the
`converting step (2) is implemented via said communication
`apparatus.
`
`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-11
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`

`
`US 2007/0064919 A1
`
`Mar. 22, 2007
`
`4. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said
`converting step (2) is implemented via a translator.
`5. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 4, Wherein said
`translator is a server connectable to said communication
`apparatus via a network.
`6. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 5, Wherein said
`network is lntemet.
`7. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said
`telephone number folloWing the ?rst dial plan is a sequence
`of decimal digits.
`8. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 1, Wherein the
`telephone number folloWing the ?rst dial plan includes at
`least a ?rst IDD pre?x, a ?rst NDD pre?x, a ?rst Country
`code, and a ?rst Area code; and Wherein said converting step
`(2) further comprises the steps of:
`(a) checking Whether the dialing number folloWing the
`?rst dial plan has a length less than the ?rst IDD pre?x;
`if yes, discarding the dialing number; and if no, going
`to the folloWing step (b);
`(b) checking Whether the dialing number folloWing the
`?rst dial plan has a string of dialing digits the same as
`the IDD pre?x-A; if yes, generating the E164 tele
`phone number by stripping olf the ?rst IDD pre?x from
`the string of dialing digits to complete the conversion;
`and if no, going to the next step (c);
`(c) checking Whether the dialing number folloWing the
`?rst dial plan has a length less than the ?rst NDD
`pre?x; if yes, discarding the dial number; and if no,
`going to the next step (d);
`(d) checking Whether the dialing number folloWing the
`?rst dial plan has a string of dialing digits the same as
`the NDD pre?x-A; if yes, generating the E164 tele
`phone number by stripping oif the ?rst NDD pre?x
`from the string of dialing digits an inserting the ?rst
`Country code in front of the rest digits to complete the
`conversion; and if no, going to the next step (e); and
`(e) generating the E164 telephone number by inserting
`the ?rst Country code and the ?rst Area code in front of
`the string of the dialing digits to complete the conver
`sion.
`
`9. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 1, Wherein the
`converting step (3) is implemented via a PSTN gateWay.
`10. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 1, Wherein the
`converting step (3) is implemented via a translator.
`11. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 10, Wherein said
`translator is a server connectable to said PSTN telecommu
`nication sWitch via a netWork.
`12. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 10, Wherein said
`netWork is lntemet.
`13. The communication method for placing phone calls by
`using a ?xed dial plan as claimed in claim 1, Wherein the
`telephone number folloWing the second dial plan includes at
`least a second IDD pre?x, a second NDD pre?x, a second
`Country code, and a second Area code; and Wherein said
`converting step (3) further comprises the steps of:
`(f) checking Whether the E164 telephone number has a
`length less than that of the second Country code; if yes,
`discarding the E164 telephone number; and if no,
`going to the next step (g);
`(g) checking Whether the E164 telephone number has a
`string of dialing digits the same as the second Country
`code; if no, generating an international dialing number
`by inserting the second IDD pre?x in front of the E164
`telephone number to complete the conversion; and if
`yes, going to the next step (h);
`(h) removing the second Country code from the E164
`telephone number to generate a neW string of digits;
`(i) checking Whether the neW string of digits generated in
`the step (h) has a length less than that of the second
`Area code; if yes, discarding the neWly generated string
`of digits; and if no, going to the next step (i);
`(j) checking Whether the neWly generated string of digits
`is the same as the second Area code; if no, generating
`a long distance dialing number by inserting the second
`NDD pre?x in front of the neWly generated string of
`digits to complete the conversion; and if yes, going to
`the next step (k); and
`(k) generating a local dialing number by removing the
`second Area code from the neWly generated string of
`digits to complete the conversion.
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`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1008-12