(12) United States Patent
`Scott et al.
`
`US006.760324B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,760,324 B1
`45) Date of Patent:
`Jul. 6, 2004
`
`5
`
`(54) METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER
`PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING
`VOICE OVER THE INTERNET
`COMMUNICATION
`(75) Inventors: Mark Scott, Ashburn, VA (US); Anita
`Cheng, Ashburn, VA (US); Simon Ho,
`Ashburn, VA (US); George Irimescu,
`Etobicoke (CA); Dorel Voineag,
`. AAF: II:
`Toronto (CA), willian Wong,
`Richmond Hill (CA); Min Yao, Falls
`Church, VA (US); Row J. Zadeh,
`Anchorage, KY (US)
`
`5,870,464 A 2/1999 Brewster et al. ............ 379/219
`5,892,822 A 4/1999 Gottlieb et al. ...
`... 379/220
`5,897,613 A 4/1999 Chan ................
`... 704/210
`5,900,000 A 5/1999 Korenshtein ................ 707/200
`5,940,479 A 8/1999 Guy et al. ............... 379/93.01
`(List continued on next page.)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`WO 97/14238 A1
`4/1997
`........... H04L/12/46
`WO 97/23078 A1
`6/1997
`........... H04L/12/56
`WO 97/27692 A1
`7/1997 ........... H04L/12/56
`WO 97/28628 A1
`8/1997
`........... H04L/12/56
`
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(73) Assignee: Array Telecom Corporation, Herndon,
`VA (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`-
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/393,658
`(22) Filed:
`Sep. 10, 1999
`
`-
`-
`-
`Held, G., Voice Over Data Networks, McGraw-Hill Series,
`Copyright 1998.
`-
`-
`(List continued on next page.)
`Primary Examiner—Steven H.D Nguyen
`Assistant Examiner—Phuongchau Ba Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein
`& Fox P.L.L.C.
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method, system, and computer program product that
`provides voice over the Internet communication. A Voice
`over the Internet (VoIP) system includes a gateway server
`that handles calls received from a public switched telephone
`network and a packet-switched network, a routing server,
`and a database server. Messages can be sent between the
`gateway server, routing server, and database server over the
`packet-switched network. A provisioning system is coupled
`to the database server. A management system is also coupled
`to the gateway server, routing server, database server, and
`management system over the packet-switched network. A
`network manager automatically queries a client database to
`determine an update, and sends a message representative of
`the update to at least one of the gateway server, routing
`5,621,727 A 4/1997 Vaudreuil .................... 370/60
`server, database server, and management system over the
`5,742,596 A 4/1998 Baratz et al. ............... 370/356
`: º º
`s º º et al. .......... ;; packet-switched network. Alicensing server supports licens
`2 : * ~ *
`U88? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`-
`5,790,543 A 8/1998 Cloutier ...................... gº ing of the VoIP system.
`5,805,602 A 9/1998 Cloutier et al. ............. 370/516
`5,812,840 A 9/1998 Shwartz ...................... 395/604
`6 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`(51) Int. Cl." ................................................ H04L 12/66
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................... 370/352; 370/401; 379/121.04
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 370/352, 354,
`370/356, 389, 395.52, 493, 400, 401, 399,
`409, 410, 402, 395.61; 709/229, 223, 203,
`204, 227, 248, 220, 230; 707/204, 501;
`379/93.02, 133, 93.03, 93.01, 112.01, 114.01,
`121.06, 121.04; 713/184; 714/4, 16, 3,
`48, 13
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`*
`
`*
`
`2/"
`
`Alanagat
`
`
`
`Provisioning
`System
`266
`
`210
`
`2 “s GU,
`
`39
`
`| Ti
`
`T;
`
`PSTN
`235
`
`Autodiafter
`
`202
`pre- ¥ 203
`paid
`
`(1 call
`
`z?;
`
`Speaker
`Phòng
`
`231
`
`232
`
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`US 6,760,324 B1
`Page 2
`
`
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,940,827 A 8/1999 Hapner et al. ................. 707/8
`5,940,829 A 8/1999 Tsuiki et al. ....
`... 707/10
`5,940,832 A.
`8/1999 Hamada et al. ............. 707/100
`5,953,405 A 9/1999 Miloslavsky ................ 379/265
`6,233,618 B1 * 5/2001 Shannon ..................... 709/229
`6,374,295 B2 *
`4/2002 Farrow et al. .............. 709/223
`6,426,955 B1 *
`7/2002 Gossett Dalton et al. ... 370/401
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`McConnell, B., How to Build an Internet PBX (Apr. 1997),
`<http://www.hellodirect.net/tutorial/ip—phone.htm,
`10
`pages.
`Prosise, J., Programming Windows 95 with MFC, Part VII:
`The Document/ViewArchitecture, 40 pages, Copyright 1995.
`Sheldon, T., Encyclopedia of Networking, McGraw-Hill,
`1998, Table of Contents, pp. 503–543, 959–968 and
`1047–1050.
`
`Anquetil, L-P. et al., “Media Gateway Control Protocol And
`Voice Over IP Gateways,” Alcatel Telecommunications
`Review, pp. 151–157 (Apr.—Jun. 1999).
`Array Series 3000 Users Manual, Array Telecom Corp,
`Entire Manual (Aug. 27, 1999).
`ctyoice IP Telephony, Product Brochure, Comdial, 6 Pages
`(Copy obtained Aug. 1999).
`ctyoice System User’s Manual, Comdial, Entire Manual
`(Jun. 1998).
`Yang, C., INETPhone: Telephone Services and Servers on
`Internet, at http://www.ds.internic.net/rfc/rfc.1789.txt, 6
`pages, (Apr. 1995).
`
`* cited by examiner
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 6,760,324 B1
`
`Phone Gateway
`In Destination City
`
`Destigation
`Phone
`
`internet
`
`Bypass
`the Costly
`PSTN
`
`FIG. 1A
`
`110
`
`i_ocal Phone
`Gateway
`
`Your Call
`
`
`
`
`
`Gateway/PBX
`
`Rhone Phone
`Fax
`Fax
`
`Fax
`
`FIG. 1B
`
`IP Phone
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 6,760,324 B1
`
`200
`
`255
`
`
`
`Management
`System
`250
`
`Database
`Server
`240
`
`GUI
`Tools
`
`Network
`Manager
`270
`
`
`
`
`
`| 2/*
`
`
`
`License Server
`280
`
`(Optional)
`
`Gateway
`Server (NY)
`210
`
`Gateway
`|P Phone sº
`293
`
`Provisioning
`System
`260
`
`D.
`-E.
`
`204
`
`-
`Autodialer
`
`/\
`
`291
`
`292
`
`2 Call
`
`PBX
`
`C /\ C
`201
`
`Speaker
`Phone
`
`20
`
`$ Cali
`
`206
`
`C /\ [...]
`2O2
`
`?º
`
`º
`
`/\
`pre: ) 203
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 6,760,324 B1
`
`
`
`Gateway Server Application Layer
`
`302
`
`Gateway Server Platform
`
`304
`
`Gateway Server Hardware
`
`306
`
`FIG. 3A
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 6,760,324 B1
`
`yeNsgy
`
`SaoIas
`
`9LE
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`AAD
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`eSEOSE
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`
`PETITIONER APPLE INC.
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`EX. 1007-6
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`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1007-6
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 6,760,324 B1
`
`Line Group Manager 350
`
`366
`
`3
`68
`
`".
`
`Telephone Line Group Network Line Group
`
`Telephone
`Line
`362
`
`Network Line
`364
`
`Hardware Device Manager 360
`
`
`
`Net
`
`Support
`377
`
`-
`
`-
`
`* AVN
`
`DSP MIW
`
`Support
`373
`
`F- * — -
`| º; r
`i
`|
`|
`— — — — —
`
`TCP/IP º:
`376
`374
`
`370
`
`DSP Driver
`372
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - * * * * *m' memº ºm mºi º mº 383 5' 39"
`HW 306
`
`
`
`381
`E
`
`NHC
`Card
`
`Windows |
`
`NT
`
`Dialogic AW
`
`
`
`382
`
`Analogic or
`Brooktrout
`DSP
`FW
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 3C
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 6,760,324 B1
`
`240—A
`
`422
`
`DB Access Manager
`
`354
`
`CDR
`Server
`
`Multi-DB Client
`
`430
`
`442
`
`444
`
`446
`
`DB Client
`
`DB Client
`
`DB Client
`
`452
`
`{DB Client
`Server
`
`454
`
`ÞB Client
`Server
`
`456
`
`DB Client
`Server
`
`462
`
`~
`
`Database
`
`FIG. 4
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2004
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 6,760,324 B1
`
`(T) Processor 504
`
`(
`
`)
`
`Main Memory 508
`
`Communication
`Infrastructure
`506
`
`
`
`
`
`Secondary Memory 510
`
`Hard Disk Drive 512
`
`Removable Storage Drive 514
`
`
`
`Interface 520
`
`- p- - -
`
`Removable
`Storage Unit
`518
`
`Removable
`Storage Unit
`522
`
`Communications
`interface 524
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Communications
`Path 526
`
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`US 6,760,324 B1
`
`1
`METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER
`PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING
`VOICE OVER THE INTERNET
`COMMUNICATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`exchange) system 105 places a call originating from phone
`100 over a PSTN to a local originating gateway 110. Note
`gateways 110 and 130 are referred to herein as originating
`and destination gateways for convenience only. In practice,
`full-duplex communication is carried out and either phone
`can originate or receive a call. Also, PBX system 105 is
`programmed to automatically (and selectively) route certain
`calls from phone 100 to gateway 110. In this way, a user can
`dial the destination phone number directly in one step.
`Alternatively, if no PBX or other special preconfiguration at
`a local exchange carrier (LEC) is performed, a two step
`process is used where a user calls gateway 110 directly and
`then in response to a prompt from gateway 110 enters the
`destination phone number of phone 140.
`Next, gateway 110 contacts destination gateway 130 over
`IP network 120. Destination gateway 130 dials the destina
`tion phone number over a PSTN line to the destination
`phone 140. Gateway 110 then packetizes the voice stream
`from the PSTN and routes it over IP network 120 to gateway
`130. Destination gateway 130 converts the data packets into
`a voice stream and sends it over a PSTN line to the called
`party at phone 140. By strategically locating gateways, such
`as gateways 110 and 130, in desired calling areas long
`distance costs are substantially reduced. Indeed, a long
`distance call is essentially replaced by two local phone calls
`and a low cost IP connection.
`c. Shortcomings
`Even though VoIP has created an enormous enthusiasm,
`the implementation and success of VoIP networks has been
`hindered due to at least following four (4) major shortcom
`ings:
`voice jitter caused by unpredictable bottlenecks of the
`Internet;
`unacceptable voice quality due to poor compression tech
`niques;
`absence of advanced applications to offer services such as
`prepaid calling or carrier class global call routing; and
`absence of switching functions such as trunk-to-trunk
`connections and PBX interfaces.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A method, system, and computer program product that
`provides voice over the Internet communication. In one
`embodiment, the present invention is a VoIP system that
`includes a gateway server, a routing server, and a database
`server. The gateway server handles calls received from a
`public switched telephone network and a packet-switched
`network. Messages can be sent between the gateway server,
`routing server, and database server over the packet-switched
`network.
`In addition, a provisioning system is coupled to the
`database server. A management system is also coupled to the
`gateway server, routing server, and database server, over the
`packet-switched network.
`According to one feature, a network manager automati
`cally queries a client database to determine an update, and
`sends a message representative of the update to at least one
`of the gateway server, routing server, database server, and
`management system over the packet-switched network.
`According to another feature of the present invention, a
`licensing server is used to support licensing of the VoIP
`system.
`Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the
`present inventions, as well as the structure and operation of
`the various embodiments of the present invention, are
`described in detail below with reference to the accompany
`ing drawings.
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention pertains to voice over the Internet
`technology.
`2. Related Art
`a. Voice over the Internet
`Worldwide deregulation and packet-switched technology
`have brought dramatic changes to the telecommunications
`industry. Voice communication over packet-switched
`networks, such as, the Internet, is now in demand. Voice
`Over the Internet technology is now available which inte
`grates a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the
`Internet. Voice over the Internet technology is also referred
`to as, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Voice over
`Network (VON), Internet Telephony, and Telephony over
`the Internet. See, e.g., G. Held, Voice over Data Networks,
`Mc-Graw-Hill Series on Computer Communications
`(McGraw-Hill Publ.; 1998), entire book; and T. Sheldon,
`Encyclopedia of Networking, Electronic Edition, (Mcgraw
`Hill Publ.; 1998), pp. 1047–1050. Both of these references
`are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. A
`PSTN is also referred to as a plain old telephone system
`(POTS). A PSTN can include transmission components
`(links), switching components (nodes), and billing facilities.
`See, e.g., Held, chapter 4, “Understanding Voice” and chap
`ter 5, “Telephone Operations,” and Sheldon at pp. 959–968.
`The Internet can be any network or combination of networks
`that support packet-switching. Such a network can include,
`but is not limited to, a network supporting the Internet
`Protocol (IP) and related protocols. See, e.g., Held, chapter
`2, “IP and Related Protocols,” and Sheldon, pp. 503–543.
`VoIP systems allow a call originating from a PSTN to be
`carried over the Internet. In this way, voice traffic can be
`carried over the Internet bypassing more expensive long
`distance carriers. For example, Toll Bypass Carrier services,
`multi-site corporations, and other users use VoIP systems to
`reduce the cost of long distance telephone calls to a fraction
`of one cent per minute.
`Vendors provide a product or family of products to
`support VoIP. For example, Array Telecom Corp. of
`Herndon, Va., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comdial
`Company, has provided an early generation of products that
`provide a multi-location, turn-key solution to VoIP (Array
`Tel Series 1000 and 2000, also called versions 1 and 2). See
`also B. McConnell, How to Build an Internet PBX, http://
`www.hellodirect.net/tutorial/ip-phone.htm, downloaded
`Aug. 16, 1999.
`b. How Voice over IP Telephony Works
`A VoIP system typically relies on gateways to provide an
`interface between PSTN and IP networks. FIGS. 1A and 1B
`illustrate how a call is placed over the Internet. As shown in
`FIG. 1A, a user calls picks up a telephone 100 and dials a
`phone number of a phone 140. The called party at phone 140
`answers. A connection is then established through gateways
`110 and 130 over IP network 120. Voice, fax, and data
`transmission is then carried out between phones 110 and 140
`through this connection. In this way, an expensive long
`distance carrier on a PSTN can be bypassed.
`FIG. 1B shows the operation of a conventional VoIP
`system in greater detail. A local PBX (private branch
`
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated
`herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the
`present invention and, together with the description, further
`serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable
`a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the
`invention.
`In the drawings:
`FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate how a call is generally placed
`over a VoIP system.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of a VoIP system according to one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are diagrams illustrating a gateway
`server used in the VoIP system of FIG. 2 according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a database server used in
`the VoIP system of FIG.2 according to the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is an example computer system in one example
`implementation of the present invention.
`The present invention will now be described with refer
`ence to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like
`reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar
`elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference
`25
`number identifies the drawing in which the reference num
`ber first appears.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`I. Overview and Discussion
`A. Open Standards
`B. Scalability
`C. Voice quality
`D. Central or Distributed Implementation
`E. Built in Debiting Function
`F. Multi Lingual Prompts
`G. Trunk-to-Trunk Connections
`H. Universal Connectivity
`II. Terminology
`III. Voice over the Internet System
`IV. Example Implementation
`I. Overview and Discussion
`The present invention provides a method, system, and
`computer program product for providing voice communica
`tion over the Internet. For convenience, this method, system,
`and/or computer program product according to the present
`invention is also referred to herein as simply a “product” or
`“family of products.”
`The present invention overcomes the above problems in
`conventional VoIP systems. In one embodiment, there are
`five basic components:
`Gateway Server
`Routing Server
`Database Server
`Management System
`Provisioning System
`These components provide a VoIP system which has a
`modular architecture and a scalable configuration. This
`modular design creates an efficient environment for fast and
`effective evolution. New capabilities can be added to the
`system in a fraction of the normal time. This scalable,
`platform accommodates future growth in the number of
`users and other system demands.
`In one example, the present invention provides all of the
`necessary tools to build and operate a large distributed
`
`35
`
`4
`carrier network. The gateway and database servers (Ledger
`and Register) coordinate to perform calling operations. The
`routing server facilitates/coordinates interaction between the
`gateway servers. The management system is used to manage
`and configure the other components. Smaller networks can
`operate with a minimum configuration of only the manage
`ment and gateway servers—the remaining components are
`not required to run such a gateway alone.
`All five servers can run on the same personal computer
`(PC) or on physically separate machines. For example, a
`network could typically include a central management
`server running on the administrator’s PC, a number of
`gateway servers running in various locations and a central
`ized database server shared between them. The servers/PCs
`running the various components do not have to be on the
`same local area network (LAN) as long as they are con
`nected via an IP network.
`A. Open Standards
`The present invention is compatible in an open architec
`ture. For example, industrial grade IBM-compatible work
`stations and servers can be used as a hardware platform.
`Microsoft Windows NT can be the operating software.
`Dialogic voice boards that are globally recognized as the
`leading products can be used. The availability of Dialogic
`voice boards for the majority of countries around the world
`allows an embodiment of the present invention to be dis
`tributed on a global basis to customers. Lucent SX-7300P
`can be used as a CODEC (voice coders and decoders). Its
`acceptability industry-wide combined with high-quality and
`low-bandwidth usage makes it a superior choice. Current
`interoperability voice communication standards: H.323 v2.0
`and the voice coders (G.723.1) associated with the standard
`are also used.
`This implementation is not intended to limit the present
`invention, however, as other types of platforms, operating
`software, voice boards, CODECs, voice communication
`standards, and voice coders can be used, as would be
`apparent to a person skilled in the art given this description.
`Propriety components can also be used instead of or in
`addition to the open standards described herein.
`B. Scalability
`The present invention further has a scalable architecture.
`This allows the system to grow with no limitations to
`thousands of ports regardless of a monolithic or distributed
`implementation. Growth is modular. In one example
`implementation, each gateway server module provides up to
`4 or more digital boards of T1, T1 PRI, or E1 PRI for easy
`expansion. This advanced design offers 100% availability as
`modules are enabled to share the traffic in an unlikely event
`of a failure of a component. Redundancy of services and
`back up facilities can be built into the design to provide a
`high level of reliance for mission critical applications.
`C. Voice Quality
`One shortfall of VoIP in the early 1990s was the poor
`quality of voice (jittery voice) and the unacceptable latency
`caused by the fluctuating, and at times less than adequate
`bandwidth available through the Internet.
`According to a further feature of the present invention,
`dynamic jitter buffering (DJB) is used to resolve the quality
`of voice over the unpredictable and some time limited
`bandwidth of the Internet. This capability dynamically
`adjusts the size of the voice buffer and eliminates the jitter.
`In addition, the present invention utilizes the resources of
`DSP to support verity of voice improvements. A level of
`quality at or near toll quality is achieved.
`D. Central or Distributed Implementation
`In one example of the present invention, the VoIP system
`is mostly implemented in a distributed fashion to enable low
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`5
`cost long distance calling. As a result the organizations using
`the present invention can form business structures and
`organizations that are just as innovative and distributed as
`the VoIP system. While the business needs of customers are
`different and every changing, they all require systems that
`are infinitely flexible. For this reason, the present invention
`in one example is developed with maximum flexibility in
`mind. The architecture of the system allows for the services
`such as routing, database, and management servers to reside
`on one system location or be distributed to several locations.
`These servers, if connected to the same packet network, will
`operate as if they are all in the same location.
`E. Built in Debiting Function
`Many of the early adoptions of Carrier Class VoIP tech
`nology were in the area of prepaid long distance. Service
`providers were often forced to purchase three (3) major
`components in order to operate their prepaid services. These
`components were:
`a telephone switch to receive and terminate calls on a
`trunk to trunk basis;
`a prepaid application server to conduct registry, PIN
`number generation and validation and account debiting
`functions; and
`a limited voice over IP gateway to benefit from the cost
`savings that this technology offers.
`The present invention can support all of the above prepaid
`functions in a gateway architecture and offer them to users
`(such as customers) at no additional charge.
`F. Multi Lingual Prompts
`When the present invention is deployed as a network of
`gateways around the globe, some of the applications (and
`servers) can be centralized in one location for ease of
`operation and savings. Alternatively, the applications (and
`servers) may be distributes throughout a network. Either
`way this allocation of servers is effected by end users which
`come from many different backgrounds and nationalities. In
`order to provide the best customer service possible, one
`embodiment of the present invention uses a full Interactive
`Voice Response (IVR) system in gateways with multi
`language prompts. This enables the VoIP system of the
`present invention to speak the language of its users and
`therefore generate more business or traffic.
`G. Trunk-to-Trunk Connections
`According to a further feature, the VoIP system of the
`present invention provides VoIP technology even to users
`(such as businesses) who do not have cost effective and
`reliable Internet connections available to them at this time
`but wish to start a prepaid application and move to IP
`transport later. Prior to the present invention, operators of a
`start-up VoIP business (e.g., a prepaid service provider) were
`unable to use any VoIP Gateway to start their prepaid
`business. The present invention provides PSTN trunk to
`PSTN trunk connection (no Internet connections) in the
`same manner as a PSTN switch and offers prepaid services
`at a fraction of cost. This provides an opportunity for prepaid
`service providers to establish their business with 80% cost
`savings.
`H. Universal Connectivity
`The present invention provides a variety of PSTN and
`Packet Network connections including, but not limited to,
`internet, analog PSTN lines, frame relay, PBX extension
`lines, ATM, digital T1 and T1 PRI, private leased lines, and
`digital E1 PRI.
`The present invention is described in terms of this
`example environment. Description in these terms is pro
`vided for convenience only. It is not intended that the
`invention be limited to application in these example envi
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`ronments. In fact, after reading the following description, it
`will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art
`how to implement the invention in alternative environments
`known now or developed in the future.
`II. Terminology
`To more clearly delineate the present invention, an effort
`is made throughout the specification to adhere to the fol
`lowing term definitions as consistently as possible.
`The terms “packet-switched network” and “Internet” are
`used interchangeably to refer to any network that performs
`packet switching including, but not limited to, a network that
`supports a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and/or an
`Internet Protocol (IP). The terms “packet-switched network”
`and “Internet” are not intended to limit the size of a network,
`and can include, but are not limited, to a wide area network
`(WAN), middle-area.or campus wide network, or local area
`network (LAN), or combinations of networks.
`The term “traffic” refers to voice, facsimile, video,
`multimedia, digital information, or other data that can be
`sent between telephony terminal equipment and/or network
`terminal equipment.
`III. Voice Over the Internet System
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of a VoIP system 200 according to an
`embodiment of the present invention. VoIP system 200,
`among other things, allows traffic (e.g., voice or fax data)
`originating on a circuit-switched network to be carried over
`a packet-switched network. In particular, VoIP system 200
`acts as a bridge between a public switch telephone network
`205 and an IP network 215.
`Such voice and data traffic can originate at any type of
`terminal equipment at PSTN 205. For example, a call can be
`placed on an ordinary telephone 201 or 202. A call can be
`placed from an ordinary telephone 203 using a prepaid
`service and autodialer 204. Calls can also originate from a
`speaker or conference-type phone 206 through a private
`branch exchange (PBX) 207. Such calls can terminate at an
`IP phone 293 or an ordinary telephone 291, 292. These
`examples are not intended to limit the present invention. As
`will be apparent to a person skilled in the art given this
`description, any type of computer or telephone equipment
`can be used to originate and terminate voice calls over the
`VoIP system 200.
`VoIP system 200 includes gateway servers 210, 220,
`database server(s) 240, routing server(s) 230, management
`system 250, provisional system 260, network manager 270,
`and license server 280. Each of these components can be
`interconnected over the IP network 215, as shown in FIG. 2.
`In one embodiment, provisional system 260 is coupled to
`database server 240. Provisional system 260 is controlled by
`graphical user interface (GUI) tools 265. Similarly, man
`agement system 250 is controlled by graphical user interface
`tools 255. A relational database such as a SQL database 245
`is further coupled to database server 240.
`VoIP system 200 is designed to allow voice and fax traffic
`to be carried over IP network 215. Voice and fax traffic
`received from PSTN 205 is coupled through gateway servers
`210 and 220 over IP network 215. In addition to providing
`simple call termination, VoIP system 200 provides a host of
`enhanced features that enable IP telephony capabilities to be
`used in a number of different applications. For example,
`since IP telephony typically results in much lower telecom
`munications costs, and can be used between two branch
`offices to reduce costs. This reduced cost can instead be used
`to resell long-distance service to end-users. Another appli
`cation is to enable IP telephony terminals, such as multime
`dia PCs running Microsoft NetMeeting software, to access
`traditional services, such as a call center. By combining IP
`
`PETITIONER APPLE INC. EX. 1007-12
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`

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`US 6,760,324 B1
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`telephony with other technologies, such as the World Wide
`Web (WWW), integrated WWW call centers are possible.
`VoIP system 200 makes these applications possible by acting
`as a “gateway” between traditional telecommunication net
`works (PSTN 205) and systems, and a packet switch net
`work (IP network 215) and systems.
`In one example implementation, there are two main parts
`to VoIP system 200: a software part and a hardware platform.
`An overview of each of the components of VoIP system
`200 is now provided. Further descriptions with respect to an
`example implementation is provided below in Section IV.
`Gateway server 210 (and gateway server 220) are coupled
`between PSTN 205 and IP network 215. Gateway server 210
`can be coupled to any number of telephone lines 362 and
`network lines 364.
`Gateway server 210 includes, in one embodiment, both
`software and hardware components. For example, as shown
`in FIGS. 3a–3c, gateway server 210 includes a gateway
`server application layer 302, gateway server platform 304
`(software), and gateway server hardware 306. Gateway
`application layer 302 includes higher level application ser
`vices 310. For example, these application layer services can
`include gateway service 311, common services 312, auto
`forward services 313, other services 314, higher level ser
`vices 315, and abstract services 316. In one example imple
`mentation where the software is written in an object-oriented
`program language such as C", each of the higher applica
`tion layer services 310 accesses lower-level modules (also
`called objects) through a session manager application pro
`gramming interface (API) 320.
`Gateway server platform 304 includes session manager
`330. Session manager 330 includes rule engine 332. Session
`manager 330 creates and manages sessions 340,341,342. In
`general, any number of sessions can be managed, depending
`on the resources of the gateway server 210. Each session
`corresponds to a voice call carried over gateway server 210.
`Information in a session 340, 341 or 342 can be further
`handled by lower level line group manager 350, routing
`manager 352, database access manager 354, media manager
`356, and call rating manager 358. Routing manager 352 is
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`further coupled to a subsystem 351. Database access man
`ager 354 is also coupled to a subsystem 353. For example,
`subsystem 351 can be any cache memory or other storage
`device for storing routing information. Subsystem 353 can
`be a relational or nonrelational database.
`Line group manager 350 coordinates communication
`between the telephone line side and network line side of
`gateway server 210 for a particular session or call. In this
`way, the higher application layer services 310 and session
`manager API 320 can be transparent to any particular
`protocols required by a telephone line or a network line.
`Conversion module 367 then converts a telephone line
`group to a line group. Conversion module 368 converts a
`network line group to a line group. In this way, line group
`manager 350 manages line groups without regard to whether
`a line group is a particular telephone line or network line.
`That is, the type of line is transparent to the line group
`manager 350 and any other higher-level application ser
`vices.
`Hardware device manager 360 is the module or object
`responsible for managing the connectivity of gateway server
`210 to traditional telecommunication devices and to con
`ventional internet-related networking components. Thus,
`hardware device manager 360 coordinates with different
`respective modules or drivers to control telephony and
`network components. For example, as shown in FIG. 3c,
`gateway server hardware 306 can include a NIC card 381 as
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`part of a Windows NT compatible platform. NIC card 381 is
`further supported by gateway server software 304 compo
`ments to coordinate information sent to hardware device
`manager 360. In particular, a TCP/IP stac