Abstract: A system and method for providing telephone service to a user of a telecommunications device using a data network service provider. The data network service provider has a local service host that is accessible by a local access identifier. A caller uses a telecommunications device to dial the local access identifier to connect to the local service host. In response to a prompt, the caller dials a telephone extension that identifies the callee's telecommunications device. The local service host receives the telephone extension and verifies that the callee is a subscriber. The local service host then retrieves the gateway nearest the callee telecommunications device and opens a voice-over-data channel between the callee and caller gateways. The telephone conversation then proceeds between the callee and caller telecommunications devices over a public switched telephone network connection to the caller gateway, the voice-over-data channel and the PSTN connection to the callee telecommunications device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 29, 2000
Date of Patent:
October 12, 2004
Assignee:
3Com Corporation
Inventors:
Guido M. Schuster, Ikhlaq S. Sidhu, Jerry J. Mahler, Frederick D. Dean, Jacek A. Grabiec