Abstract: A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing.

Abstract: Methods for compressing data including methods for compressing highly randomized data are disclosed. Nibble encode, distribution encode, and direct bit encode methods are disclosed for compressing data which is not highly randomized. A randomized data compression routine is also disclosed and is very effective for compressing data which is highly randomized. All of the compression methods disclosed operate on a bit level and accordingly are insensitive to the nature or origination of the data sought to be compressed. Accordingly, the methods of the present invention are universally applicable to any form of data regardless of its source of origination.