Redirecting Telephone Call to Packet-Switched Data Call Via Voicemail

摘要

In embodiments of the disclosed technology, devices and methods for redirecting a telephone call from a public-switched telephone to a packet-switched data network. The phone call is initially received via the public-switched telephone network having a dialed number associated with a hand-held wireless device of a called party. Upon initialization of the phone call, a route is determined from the telecommunications switch to the hand-held wireless device of the called party via a packet-switched network. The bandwidth of the packet-switched network is then detected to determine the ability of the network to handle the call. If the packet-switched network is determined to be capable of handling the call, the call is forwarded over the packet-switched data, thereby reducing or eliminating charges for wireless minutes.

主权项

1. A telecommunications switch, with:
a data connection to a packet-switched network; an electrical connection to a public-switched telephone network via which a phone call is received, said phone call having a dialed number associated with a hand-held wireless device of a called party; a processor executing instructions to determine a route from said telecommunications switch to said hand-held wireless device of said called party via said packet-switched network and where said route is found, to determine bandwidth of said packet-switched network and make a further determination as to the suitability of using said packet-switched network based on a said bandwidth determined and a network type; said processor or a different processor executing instructions to send said call to said hand-held wireless device associated with said called party via one of:
said packet-switched network when said determined bandwidth is sufficient to handle said phone call; orsaid public-switched telephone network when said determined bandwidth is insufficient to handle said phone call.