(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0218748 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Nov. 4, 2004
`Fisher
`
`US 20040218748A1
`
`(54)
`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING
`AND USING TELEPHONE CALL ROUTING
`RULES
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/466,690, ?led on Apr.
`30, 2003.
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Stephen Fisher, MorristoWn, NJ (US)
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`Correspondence Address:
`AT&T CORP.
`PO. BOX 4110
`MIDDLETOWN, NJ 07748 (US)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`App1_ No;
`
`10/746,786
`
`Filed;
`
`Dec, 23, 2003
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.7 ........................ .. H04M 7/00; H04M 15/00;
`H04L 12/66
`US. Cl. ............. .. 379/221.01; 379/114.02; 370/352
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(52)
`(57)
`A method and system for providing and using telephone call
`routing rules provides customer premises equipment
`adapted to intelligently and automatically identify a routing
`path associated With a telephone call and to route the
`telephone call to the identi?ed routing path.
`
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`address and downloa ded routing rules
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`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 1
`
`

`

`Nov. 4, 2004 Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 2004/0218748 A1
`
`Patent Application Publication
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`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 2
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 4, 2004 Sheet 2 0f 4
`
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`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 4, 2004 Sheet 3 0f 4
`
`US 2004/0218748 A1
`
`g5)
`
`/
`
`Enroll Customer
`
`/' 302
`
`Discover CPE
`
`/- 304
`
`ls CPE
`Associated with
`Subscribing
`Customer ?
`
`/‘ 308
`
`/_ 310
`
`Determine Calling Plan
`i
`Generate Routing Rules
`i
`Establish Secure Link to CPE /' 311
`i
`Provide Routing Rules to CPE / 312
`i
`Receive Telephone Call / 314
`i
`Identify Called Telephone
`Number Characteristics
`i
`Compare Called Telephone /— 318
`Number Characteristics
`with Routing Rules to
`Select Network
`(see FIG. 4)
`-
`i‘
`Route Telephone Call to
`Selected Network
`
`/' 316
`
`/' 320
`
`FIG. 3
`
`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 4, 2004 Sheet 4 0f 4
`
`US 2004/0218748 A1
`
`Telephone Number
`Characteristics Match First
`Telephone Number
`
`Charactenstices ?
`
`Does First
`(g'aepg‘mgagg'g
`volgp gouting
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`Selection ,2
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`Charactenstlg '
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`Select Next Telephone
`Number Characteristic
`from Routing Rules
`
`Do Called
`Telephone Number
`Characteristics Match Next
`Telephone Number
`Characteristices ?
`
`Last
`Telephone Number
`Characteristlcs ?
`
`f- 406
`Route Telephone Call
`to VoIP Network
`
`'’
`
`/- 408
`Route Telphone Call _, V
`to PSTN Network
`
`[- 412
`_ Route Telephone Call a
`to Default Network
`
`416
`
`Y
`
`Does
`Telephone Call
`Catagory Have a
`vo|p Routing
`Selection ?
`
`f- 418
`Route Telephone Call
`to VolP Network +
`
`f- 420
`Route Telphone Call _>
`to PSTN Network
`r 424
`
`_ Route Telephone Call
`to Default Network a
`
`FIG. 4 5
`
`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 5
`
`

`

`US 2004/0218748 A1
`
`Nov. 4, 2004
`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AND
`USING TELEPHONE CALL ROUTING RULES
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application claims the bene?t under 35 U.S.C.
`§119(e) of US. Provisional Application No. 60/466,690
`?led Apr. 30, 2003, Which is incorporated herein by refer
`ence in its entirety.
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH
`[0002] Not Applicable
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`[0003] This invention relates generally to telephony and,
`more particularly, to systems and methods for identifying a
`routing path associated With a telephone call.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0004] Conventionally, a user having access to both a
`public sWitched telephone netWork (PSTN) and a voice over
`Internet protocol (VoIP) netWork manually selects a netWork
`Within Which to direct a telephone call. As the charges
`incurred from using either netWork are a function of a
`location of originating equipment, for example, a caller
`telephone, and a location of destination equipment, for
`example, a called telephone, the user does not alWays know
`Which netWork Will provide the loWest cost. Therefore, the
`user often makes the Wrong routing decision, resulting in
`higher cost to the user than could otherWise be achieved.
`
`[0005] It Would, therefore, be desirable to overcome the
`aforesaid and other disadvantages.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0006] The present invention provides an automatic and
`intelligent routing of a telephone call to a selected one of the
`public sWitched telephone netWork (PSTN) and a voice over
`Internet Protocol (VoIP) netWork based upon predetermined
`routing rules. While the invention is shoWn and described in
`conjunction With the PSTN netWork and the VoIP netWork,
`it Will be understood that the invention applies equally Well
`to any combination of tWo or more netWorks, either tele
`phone netWorks presently knoWn, or telephone netWorks
`developed in the future.
`
`[0007] In accordance With the present invention, a method
`of routing a telephone call includes generating routing rules
`having one or more telephone call categories, one or more
`respective telephone number characteristics, and one or
`more respective routing selections, and providing the rout
`ing rules to customer premises equipment (CPE) adapted to
`route the telephone call to a routing path according the
`routing rules. In one particular embodiment, the routing
`rules are provided to the CPE over an Internet connection.
`
`[0008] In accordance With another aspect of the present
`invention, a method of connecting a telephone call includes
`identifying called telephone number characteristics associ
`ated With the telephone call, comparing the called telephone
`number characteristics With routing rules to provide a rout
`ing selection, and routing the telephone call to a selected one
`of a public sWitched telephone netWork (PSTN) and a voice
`
`over Internet protocol (VoIP) netWork according to the
`routing selection. In one particular arrangement, the identi
`fying, the comparing, and the routing are provided by
`customer premises equipment (CPE).
`[0009] In accordance With another aspect of the present
`invention, a system for routing a telephone call includes
`routing rules having one or more telephone call categories,
`one or more respective telephone number characteristics,
`and one or more respective routing selections, and customer
`premises equipment (CPE), Wherein the CPE is adapted to
`route the telephone call to a routing path according to the
`routing rules.
`[0010] In accordance With another aspect of the present
`invention, a system for routing a telephone call includes
`routing rules having one or more telephone call categories,
`one or more respective selected telephone number charac
`teristics, and one or more respective routing selections. The
`system also includes a telephony interface adapted to receive
`a telephone call having a called telephone number, a dialing
`rules engine coupled to the telephony interface for analyZing
`the telephone call and selecting a routing path associated
`With the routing rules, a ?rst gateWay coupled to the routing
`processor and adapted to route the telephone call to the
`PSTN according to the selected routing path, and a second
`gateWay coupled to the routing processor and adapted to
`route the telephone call to the VoIP netWork according to the
`selected routing path.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0011] The foregoing features of the invention, as Well as
`the invention itself may be more fully understood from the
`folloWing detailed description of the draWings, in Which:
`
`[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for providing
`and using call routing rules to route telephone calls to a
`selected one of a public sWitched telephone netWork (PSTN)
`and a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) netWork;
`
`[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portion of the system
`of FIG. 1;
`
`[0014] FIG. 3 is a How chart shoWing a method for
`providing and using the call routing rules in accordance With
`the system of FIG. 1; and
`
`[0015] FIG. 4 is a How chart shoWing a portion of the
`method of FIG. 3.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`[0016] Before describing the method and system of the
`present invention, some introductory concepts and terminol
`ogy are explained. As used herein, the term “network” is
`used to describe any computer or telephone interconnection
`that carries voice (audio), video, or data. NetWorks include
`but are not limited to a public sWitched telephone netWork
`(PSTN), a private branch exchange (PBX) telephone net
`Work, the Internet including the World Wide Web (WWW), and
`a local area netWork (LAN), for example a LAN having an
`Ethernet structure.
`
`[0017] It is Well knoWn that the public sWitched telephone
`netWork (PSTN) can provide connection services to connect
`tWo or more telephones in a telephone call. A telephone call
`includes a signaling portion and a real-time portion. The
`
`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 6
`
`

`

`US 2004/0218748 A1
`
`Nov. 4, 2004
`
`signaling portion is used to connect the telephone call, for
`example, to ring a telephone, and the real-time portion is
`used to convey a communication, for example, a voice
`communication. The real-time portion is typically referred
`to as media. The media in a voice communication includes
`only voice signals.
`
`[0018] It Will, hoWever, be recogniZed that the PSTN is not
`the only type of netWork that can carry telephone calls. For
`example, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) is a protocol
`that alloWs voice communications to be carried on a netWork
`capable of Internet protocol (IP) communications, for
`example, the Internet. Signals Within VoIP can have signal
`ing and real-time portions having functions similar to those
`described above. For example, VoIP includes signals capable
`of ringing an Internet telephone or otherWise alerting an
`Internet-connected personal computer (PC), and also signals
`adapted to indicate that the Internet telephone or the PC has
`been ansWered. VoIP can also include real-time voice sig
`nals.
`
`[0019] As used herein, a “telephone call” refers to a
`communication having the signaling portion and the real
`time portion, Which is carried on any type of netWork, for
`example the PSTN netWork. As used herein, a “telephone
`call netWor ” refers to any netWork capable of transporting
`a signaling portion and a real-time portion associated With a
`telephone call, Wherein the real-time portion includes a
`voice communication, and Wherein the telephone call net
`Works include but are not limited to, the PSTN, the Internet,
`and an intranet.
`
`[0020] As used herein, “routing” refers to a selection of
`one netWork from among tWo or more netWorks Within
`Which to direct a telephone call. Routing provides selection
`of a “routing path,” or a “route” Which, as used herein, refers
`to the one selected netWork. Therefore, it Will be understood
`that, as used herein, the routing path does not necessarily
`correspond to an entire connection path betWeen a source of
`a telephone call and a destination of a telephone call.
`
`[0021] Referring noW to FIG. 1, an exemplary system 100
`for providing and using call routing rules in accordance With
`the present invention alloWs call routing rules to be doWn
`loaded to and used by a customer premises equipment (CPE)
`124 in order to intelligently and automatically route tele
`phone calls to one or the other of the PSTN 112 and a VoIP
`netWork, for example, the Internet 106.
`
`[0022] The exemplary system 100 includes a provisioning
`Web site 102 and a management system 104 coupled to an
`Internet protocol (IP) backbone 108 Within the Internet 106.
`The IP backbone 108 is coupled to the CPE 124 via an
`Internet service provider (ISP) 110. The CPE can also be
`coupled to the PSTN 112 and to an intranet, for example a
`corporate intranet 140.
`
`[0023] The CPE 124 includes a CPE dialing rules engine
`128 Which can be coupled to the Internet 106 and to the
`corporate internet 140 via a ?rst gateWay 132 adapted to
`provide VoIP communications, netWork address translation
`(NAT), and ?reWall provisions. The CPE 124 can include
`security provisions 138 associated With the coupling to the
`Internet 106 and the corporate intranet 140, for example
`Internet protocol security IPSec and virtual private netWork
`(VPN). Associated With the security provisions 138, the CPE
`124 can include a secure management agent 142 and a
`
`con?guration manger 146 having a doWnload agent. The
`secure management agent 142 can interact With the security
`provisions 138, providing different security provisions as
`desired. The con?guration manager 144 can provision and/
`or store con?guration information associated With the CPE
`124, for example a CPE identi?er code that can be used by
`the management system 104 in order to identify the CPE
`124, and for another example, routing rules as in Table 1
`described more fully beloW. The CPE 124 can also be
`coupled through a second gateWay 126 to the PSTN 112.
`
`[0024] The CPE 124 can also include an interface 130 for
`receiving signals from analog telephones (black phones),
`from ISDN telephones, and from a private branch exchange
`(PBX). The CPE 124 can also include an interface 134 for
`receiving signals from IP telephones, and an interface 136
`for receiving signals from Wireless telephones. While the
`interface 136 is shoWn to include provisions for IEEE 802.11
`format, in other embodiments, provisions for another Wire
`less format can be provided.
`[0025] Operation of the system 100 can be described using
`communication pathWays 1-5 shoWn in FIG. 1 as dashed
`lines. It Will be understood that the communication path
`Ways 1-5 as shoWn represent communications betWeen
`elements of FIG. 1 and do not necessarily represent cou
`plings over Which the communications occur.
`[0026] Along the communication pathWay 1, Which can be
`provided through the Internet 106, the provisioning Web site
`102 can be accessed, for example With a personal computer
`(PC) 150. The provisioning Web site 102 can provide to the
`PC 150, for example, a registration Web page to a user (not
`shoWn), With Which the user can register the CPE 124 for
`services. The provisioning Web site can also, for example,
`provide a login screen to the user.
`[0027] Once registered, the provisioning Web site 102
`provides, along the communication pathWay 2, Which can be
`provided through the Internet 106, information indicating to
`the management system 104 that the CPE 124 is registered,
`and the management system can provide services to the CPE
`124.
`[0028] Along the pathWay 3, Which can be provided
`through the Internet 106, the management system 104 can
`arrange secure communications betWeen the management
`system 104 and the CPE 124, establishing for example,
`IPSec communications or and/or VPN communications.
`[0029] Along the pathWay 4, Which can be provided
`through the Internet 106, the management system can pro
`vide the services to the CPE 124, for example the routing
`rules as in Table 1. The services are further described in
`conjunction With FIGS. 3 and 4. HoWever, let it suf?ce here
`to say that the management system can provide a routing
`table (e.g., Table 1 beloW) having routing rules and associ
`ated routing paths doWnloaded to the CPE 124 and used (via
`pathWay 5, Which can be provided Within the CPE 124) by
`the CPE dialing rules engine 128. The routing rules and
`associated routing paths can be used by the CPE 124 to
`identify telephone number characteristics of telephone calls
`received With the interfaces 130, 134, 136. The CPE can
`route a telephone call according to the routing rules, to a
`selected one of the PSTN 112 and the Internet 106, for
`example, as a VoIP telephone call.
`[0030] Exemplary routing rules are shoWn in Table 1. As
`shoWn, the routing rules can include a mapping of telephone
`
`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 7
`
`

`

`US 2004/0218748 A1
`
`Nov. 4, 2004
`
`number characteristics With routing selections. The tele
`phone number characteristics, here merely designated as
`A-Z for convenience, can include, but are not limited to,
`selected area codes (for example, 1617 as the ?rst four
`digits), selected exchanges (for example 871 as the ?fth
`through the seventh digits When preceded by 1 as the ?rst
`digit), selected complete number sequences (for example
`911 as the entire telephone number), and selected country
`codes (for example 011 as the ?rst three digits). For
`example, in Table 1, a telephone number characteristic “A”
`can correspond to 1617 as the ?rst four digits. The routing
`selections shoWn in Table 1 include, but are not limited to,
`the PSTN 112 and the Internet 106 as VoIP.
`
`[0031] The routing rules can also include a listing of
`telephone call categories. As shoWn in Table 1, the telephone
`call categories include, but are not limited to, a local PSTN
`destination category, a local toll PSTN destination category,
`a long distance PSTN destination category, an international
`PSTN destination category, a local VoIP destination cat
`egory, a local toll VoIP destination category, a long distance
`VoIP destination category, an international VoIP destination
`category, an intra-site destination category, a local intra
`company PSTN destination category, a local toll intra
`company PSTN destination category, a long distance intra
`company PSTN destination category, an international intra
`company PSTN destination category, a local intra-company
`VoIP destination category, a local toll intra-company VoIP
`destination category, a long distance intra-company VoIP
`destination category, an international intra-company VoIP
`destination category, a local partner PSTN destination cat
`egory, a local toll partner PSTN destination category, a long
`distance partner PSTN destination category, a long distance
`partner PSTN destination category, and international partner
`PSTN destination category, a local partner VoIP destination
`category, a local toll partner VoIP destination category, a
`long distance partner VoIP destination category, and an
`international partner VoIP destination category. Each of the
`above telephone call categories is Well knoWn to one of
`ordinary skill in the art. As indicated in Table 1, the routing
`selections and corresponding telephone number character
`istics can be associated With respective telephone call cat
`egories.
`
`TABLE 1
`
`Telephone
`Number
`Characteristics Telephone Call Categories
`
`Routing
`Selections
`
`A
`B
`C
`D
`E
`F
`G
`H
`I
`J
`K
`L
`
`M
`
`N
`O
`P
`
`local PSTN destination
`local toll PSTN destination
`long distance PSTN destination
`international PSTN destination
`local VoIP destination
`local toll VoIP destination
`long distance VoIP destination
`international VoIP destination
`intra-site destination
`local intra-company PSTN destination
`local toll intra-company PSTN destination
`long distance intra-company PSTN
`destination
`international intra-company PSTN
`destination
`local intra-company VoIP destination
`local toll intra-company VoIP destination
`long distance intra-company VoIP
`
`PSTN
`PSTN
`PSTN
`PSTN
`VoIP
`VoIP
`VoIP
`VoIP
`VoIP
`PSTN
`PSTN
`PSTN
`
`PSTN
`
`VoIP
`VoIP
`VoIP
`
`TABLE 1-continued
`
`Telephone
`Number
`Characteristics Telephone Call Categories
`
`Routing
`Selections
`
`Q
`R
`S
`T
`U
`V
`W
`X
`Y
`Z
`
`destination
`international intra-company VoIP destination VoIP
`local partner PSTN destination
`PSTN
`local toll partner PSTN destination
`PSTN
`long distance partner PSTN destination
`PSTN
`long distance partner PSTN destination
`PSTN
`international partner PSTN destination
`PSTN
`local partner VoIP destination
`VoIP
`local toll partner VoIP destination
`VoIP
`long distance partner VoIP destination
`VoIP
`international partner VoIP destination
`VoIP
`
`[0032] In one particular embodiment, the routing rules, for
`example the routing rules of Table 1, can provide different
`routing selections at different times of day. For example, late
`at night long distance calls can be routed to the PSTN, and
`during the day the long distance calls can be routed to the
`VoIP netWork.
`
`[0033] In one particular embodiment, the routing rules,
`can be selected to reduce calling cost to the user. In another
`embodiment, the routing rules can be selected to provide the
`most reliable telephone calls to the user. The most reliable
`telephone call can be determined, for example, in accor
`dance With one or more of a netWork availability and a
`netWork bandWidth. In another embodiment, the routing
`rules can be selected to reduce calling cost to a service
`provider, for example a VoIP service provider.
`[0034] The routing rules (e.g., Table 1) provided from the
`management system 104 to the CPE 124 can be different for
`different CPEs at different locations. As is knoWn, telephone
`calling plans associated With the PSTN vary greatly from
`place to place. Therefore, at a ?rst location it may be
`desirable to route a telephone call having a particular
`telephone number to the PSTN if the PSTN route is inex
`pensive When compared With the VoIP route as originated
`from the ?rst location. HoWever, at a second location, it may
`be desirable to route a telephone call having the same
`telephone number to the Internet as a VoIP call if the PSTN
`route is expensive When compared With the VoIP route as
`originated from the second location.
`
`[0035] As is also knoWn, at a particular location, a cus
`tomer can often select one of a variety of calling plans, each
`usually having a different cost structure. For example, the
`customer can elect to have a calling plan With free long
`distance calls.
`
`[0036] As is also knoWn, a particular calling plan associ
`ated With a PSTN customer can change from time to time.
`For example, a PSTN telephone provider can change the
`price per minute for local calls. Therefore, the management
`system 124 is adapted to doWnload updated routing rules to
`the CPE 124 accordingly.
`
`[0037] It should be appreciated that the CPE 124 can be
`provided in a variety of forms. For example, the CPE 124
`can be a computer having telephony interfaces, and some of
`the elements Within the CPE 124 can be softWare elements
`having associated softWare code. For another example, the
`CPE 124 can be an instrument in Which one or more of the
`
`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 8
`
`

`

`US 2004/0218748 A1
`
`Nov. 4, 2004
`
`elements Within the CPE 124 are implemented as ?rmware
`associated With one or more embedded processors. For yet
`another example, the CPE 124 can be an instrument in Which
`one or more of the elements Within the CPE 124 are
`implemented as hardWare elements, for example, as ?eld
`programmable gate arrays, masked gate arrays, or custom
`masked circuits.
`[0038] While the PC 150 is shoWn for registering the CPE
`124 With the provisioning Web site 102, in other embodi
`ment, the CPE 124 is able to directly register itself For
`example, the CPE 124 can include a graphical user interface
`(GUI) for alloWing a user to register the CPE 124 With the
`provisioning Web site 102. Also, in other embodiments, the
`provisioning Web site 102 and the management system 104
`are combined into a single registration and management
`system.
`[0039] Referring noW to FIG. 2, a CPE dialing rules
`engine 202 is coupled to a con?guration manager 210. The
`CPE dialing rules engine 202 can be the same as or similar
`to the CPE dialing rules engine 128 of FIG. 1 and the
`con?guration manager 210 can be same as or similar to the
`con?guration manager 144 of FIG. 1.
`[0040] The CPE dialing rules engine 202 includes a tele
`phone number characteristic detector 204 adapted to receive
`a telephone call having a called telephone number and to
`identify digits in the called telephone number. The CPE
`dialing rules engine 202 also includes a comparison proces
`sor 206 adapted to compare the called telephone number
`digits With routing rules 212, and a routing processor 208
`adapted to route the telephone call to a selected one of the
`PSTN gateWay 126 (FIG. 1) and the VoIP gateWay 132
`(FIG. 1) according to the routing rules 212.
`[0041] The con?guration manger 210 includes the routing
`rules 212, having telephone number characteristics 212a,
`telephone call categories 212b, and routing selections 212c.
`Exemplary telephone number characteristics, telephone
`calls categories, and routing selections are shoWn in Table 1.
`[0042] In operation, the CPE dialing rules engine 202
`receives a telephone call having a called telephone number
`from an interface, for example With one of the interfaces
`130, 134, 136 of FIG. 1. The telephone number character
`istic detector 204 identi?es digits Within the called telephone
`number and the comparison processor 206 compares the
`digits Within the telephone number characteristics 212a to
`identify a match. If a match if found, a respective one of the
`routing selections 212c directs the routing processor 208 to
`route the telephone call to a selected one of the PSTN
`gateWay 126 and the VoIP gateWay 132 for transmission to
`the PSTN or the Internet accordingly.
`[0043] Referring noW to FIG. 3, a process associated With
`the system 100 of FIG. 1 begins at step 302, Where a CPE,
`for example the CPE 124 of FIG. 1, is enrolled to receive
`services, for example, With the PC 150 and the provisioning
`Web site 102 of FIG. 1. Once the CPE 124 is enrolled, the
`process continues to step 304, Where the CPE 124 is
`discovered, i.e., the CPE 124 is electronically recogniZed by
`the management system 104 (FIG. 1). At step 306, the
`management system 104 determines if the CPE 124 is
`subscribed. If the CPE 124 is subscribed, the process con
`tinues to step 308.
`[0044] At step 308, the management system 104 identi?es
`a telephone calling plan associated With the customer. As
`
`described above, the calling plan can be different from place
`to place and from time to time and the customer also can
`often select from among a variety of calling plans.
`[0045] At step 310, the management system 104 generates
`routing rules, for example routing rules as shoWn in Table 1,
`and upon establishing a secure link to the CPE 124 in step
`311, for example With the security provisions 138 (FIG. 1),
`the management system 104 doWnloads the routing rules to
`the CPE 124, Which are provided at step 312 to the con
`?guration manager 144 (FIG. 1).
`[0046] At step 314 a telephone call is received by the CPE
`124 from the one of the analog telephones, one of the ISDN
`telephones, the PBX, one of the IP telephones, or one of the
`Wireless telephones, all shoWn in FIG. 1.
`[0047] At step 316, the called telephone number of the
`telephone call is analyZed by the telephone number charac
`teristic detector 204 (FIG. 2) to identify telephone number
`characteristics, Which are then compared at step 318 by the
`comparison processor 206 (FIG. 2) With telephone number
`characteristics 212a (FIG. 2) provided in the routing rules
`212 (FIG. 2). If a match is found, the telephone call is routed
`at step 320 according to the routing rules 212, to a netWork
`mapped to the matched telephone number characteristic in
`the routing rules 212, Which can be a selected one of the
`PSTN and the Internet. As described above, the routing at
`step 320 provides a selection of a netWork, but does not
`necessarily form of an entire routing path, generating a
`connection betWeen a source and a destination of the tele
`phone call. HoWever, in other embodiments, the routing at
`step 320 provides the entire routing path, generating a
`connection betWeen a source and a destination of the tele
`phone call.
`[0048] Referring noW to FIG. 4, a matching process 400
`associated With step 320 of FIG. 3, begins at step 402 Where
`the called telephone number is compared With a ?rst tele
`phone number characteristic in the routing rules, for
`example With the characteristic A of Table 1. If a match is
`determined, the process continues to step 404, Where it is
`determined Whether the matched telephone number charac
`teristic maps to a VoIP routing selection. If the matched
`telephone number characteristic maps to a VoIP routing
`selection, at step 406, the telephone call is routed to the VoIP
`netWork, i.e., to the Internet.
`[0049] At step 404, if the matched telephone number
`characteristic does not map to the VoIP routing selection
`then the process continues to step 408 Where the telephone
`call is routed to the PSTN netWork.
`
`[0050] At step 402, if the called telephone number does
`not match With a ?rst telephone number characteristic in the
`routing rules, then the process continues to step 410, Where
`a decision is made as to Whether the ?rst telephone number
`characteristic in the routing rules is the only or the last
`telephone number characteristic in the routing rules. If so,
`the process continues to step 412, Where the telephone call
`is routed to a default netWork, Which can be pre-selected to
`be either one of the PSTN or the VoIP netWork.
`
`[0051] At step 410, if the ?rst telephone number charac
`teristic in the routing rules is not the only or the last
`telephone number characteristic in the routing rules, then the
`process continues to step 412, Where the next telephone
`number characteristic in the routing rules is selected, for
`
`AT&T, Exh. 1006, p. 9
`
`

`

`US 2004/0218748 A1
`
`Nov. 4, 2004
`
`example, the characteristic B of Table 1. At step 414, the
`called telephone number is compared With a neXt telephone
`number characteristic in the routing rules. If a match is
`determined, the process continues to step 416, Where it is
`determined Whether the matched telephone number charac
`teristic maps to a VoIP routing selection. If the matched
`telephone number characteristic maps to a VoIP routing
`selection, at step 418, the telephone call is routed to the VoIP
`network, i.e., to the Internet.
`
`[0052] If at step 416, the matched telephone number
`characteristic does not map to the VoIP routing selection
`then the process continues to step 420 Where the telephone
`call is routed to the PSTN netWork.
`
`[0053] At step 414, if the called telephone number does
`not match With the selected neXt telephone number charac
`teristic in the routing rules, then the process continues to step
`422, Where a decision is made as to Whether the selected
`telephone number characteristic in the routing rules is the
`last telephone number characteristic in the routing rules.
`
`[0054] If at step 422, the selected telephone number char
`acteristic in the routing rules is not the last telephone number
`characteristic in the routing rules, then the process continues
`to step 412, and the process loops among steps 412, 414, and
`422 until either a matching telephone number characteristic
`is identi?ed at step 414, or the last telephone number
`characteristic is found at step 422.
`
`[0055] If at step 422, the selected telephone number char
`acteristic in the routing rules is the last telephone number
`characteristic in the routing rules, then the process continues
`to step 424, and the telephone call is routed to the default
`netWork.
`
`[0056] While the process of FIG. 4 describes one linear
`method of searching through the routing rules to ?nd a
`matching telephone number characteristic, it Will b