Method and system for customer selected direct dialed voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP)

摘要

A Voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) communications network system that enables direct-dialed (single-stage) access to the Internet Protocol network from the circuit-switched network. Specifically, the VOIP network system includes a VOIP service implemented on a communications system which, after a customer number has been registered for the service, automatically recognizes calls from the registered customer's telephone number and determines if the call can be routed as a VOIP call over the IP network. In embodiments of the present invention, the customer can register for the VOIP service by selecting both a provider and a calling plan or by only selecting a provider. The system can be implemented to handle intra-state, inter-state and international voice-band calls (for example, regular telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and modem initiated calls) using standard circuit-switched telephone lines, cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line and wireless.

主权项

1. A method for routing a direct-dialed voice-band call, comprising:
receiving, by a routing component, the direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party telephone number associated with a telephone in communication with a circuit-switched public switched telephone network, the direct-dialed voice-band call being associated with a destination number; determining, by the routing component, the destination number is served by an internet protocol gateway by searching a database in communication with an internet protocol gateway serving the calling party telephone number; routing, by the routing component, the direct-dialed voice-band call to the destination number that is served by the internet protocol gateway as a voice-over-Internet protocol telephone call, via a direct link from a local access provider network to an internet protocol gateway that bypasses the public switched telephone network located between the local access provider network and the internet protocol gateway, where the calling party telephone number is registered for a voice-over-internet protocol service and where the destination number of the direct-dialed telephone call is accessible by the voice-over-internet protocol service; and initiating, by the routing component, a voice-over-internet protocol billing record to be generated for the direct-dialed voice-band call.