WO2004015969A1

WO2004015969A1 - System and method for telephone call reorigination

Info

Publication number: WO2004015969A1
Application number: PCT/CA2003/001210
Authority: WO
Inventors: Panelli Leonardo
Original assignee: Panelli Leonardo
Priority date: 2002-08-09
Filing date: 2003-08-08
Publication date: 2004-02-19
Also published as: AU2003257317A1; CA2436756A1

Abstract

A transparent call reorigination process whereby a telephone call between an origin and destination can be routed as a two-leg call through a third point. A call controller captures the destination dialing input from the subscriber at the origin telephone and communicates that to a call reorigination service provider via a separate data network. The provider dials and connects two telephone call legs, one from the provider premises back to the origin and one from the provider to the destination. These two legs are connected through the provider's premises and equipment, yielding a connection between origin and destination. The system operates transparently to the subscriber, without the delays or inconveniences of previously known reorigination methods.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TELEPHONE CALL REORIGINATION

This invention relates to telecommunications systems, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for the transparent reorigination of telephone calls on a switched network.

BACKGROUND

Deregulation and technological change have resulted in significant cost efficiencies and price decreases in the long distance telephone service market over the past number of years. The development of Internet telephony has also allowed some users to decrease their long distance costs, although the availability of appropriate Internet capacity at both ends of a potential telephone call limits the applicability or utility of Internet telephony at this time.

Costs have dropped more in certain long distance markets than others. This may be attributable to regulatory climates, competitive factors between long distance providers, or other technological or other factors. For example, long distance telephone rates have dropped significantly more in the North American long distance market than in other countries, thus making it relatively costly for people in those other areas to make long distance telephone calls in comparison to those in deregulated or otherwise affected markets in which the long distance rates have dropped significantly. In certain areas it is even the case that the telecommunications companies' rates vary greatly within or between certain regions of a particular country and in, for example, outlying areas consumers are subjected to considerably higher rates where there is less competition.

One method for a potential recipient of long distance calls from such areas where long distance rates remain relatively high to lessen or remove the financial burden to potential callers is to provide a toll-free telephone number which might be obtained by the recipient from the local telephone company in those regions or countries of interest, and thus to allow the potential callers to reverse the charges to the recipient rather than having to pay for the call themselves. This is primarily applicable to businesses however and has limited applicability to individuals, wishing to contact friends or relatives for example. The owner of the toll-free number still ends up paying the higher long distance rates.

Another method of avoiding higher long distance rates is obviously for the potential call recipient, if they live in an area with lower outgoing long distance rates, to always originate the telephone calls. For example, if an individual in a country having high long distance rates wishes to speak with a relative in Canada or the United States, tlie relative in Canada or the United States can always make the telephone calls, at the lower North American long distance rates. This method obviously also has significant practical disadvantages however. It also does not address at all the possibiUty or opportunity to allow a person in one high-cost long distance calling area to potentially call another high-cost calling area and enjoy any cost savings. It also creates the impracticality that the person, in the given example, in North America must always be the one to make the telephone calls and as such the usability or enjoyment of such calls is limited to the recipient of those calls.

Another method which has developed and in the area of which the present invention lies, is that of call reorigination. The basic concept of call reorigination is that of the example above of an individual in a low-cost calling area receiving calls from a friend or relative in another higher-cost area, where the person in the higher-cost area calls the lower-cost location and the person answering the phone basically takes down the number and says "I'll call you back", and by calling back from their end enjoys the long distance rates of their provider. Most long distance providers in these lower costs markets, and particularly North America, are able to provide even international long distance calling service at significant discounts in comparison to telephone service providers in other regions. Another method is effectively referred to as a "call-back" system - a customer in a foreign country sets up an account with a reorigination provider and is given a specific DID access number (for example if the provider was in the U.S. this might be a U.S. DID number). This DID access number is actually just a telephone number, generally in the reorigination country, which the customer calls when they would like to place an international telephone call. The call to the DID access number is not answered, but it does initiate the reorigination by triggering an immediate call-back to that foreign customer from the reorigination country. In operation then, the foreign customer dials the international number, hangs up after a number of rings and waits to be called. Once they are called back and receive a U.S. or reorigination country dial tone, they are able to input the destination foreign telephone number which they wish to call for subsequent connection. This mputting of the international telephone number is usually performed by way of DTMF or "touch tone" dialing. Although tone dialing is the primary means of mputting the necessary information, primarily due to the relatively smaller expense to the reorigination provider, some reorigination companies also allow the destination number to be inputted via a voice recognition system or at a last resort by an actual operator, but these are less frequently used due to the substantially added expense involved in these methods. As soon as the international destination telephone number has been inputted by the customer, the reorigination call, which as been placed to the customer from the reorigination operator, is put on hold and a call to the destination telephone number is placed, also originated from the reorigination country. As soon as the outbound call is placed, both outbound telephone calls are linked with one another and the foreign consumer is able to speak with their destination party at a substantially less expensive cost than if they had dialed directly.

One of the limitations of this type of a traditional 'call-back' system is the operational complexity for the end user. The end user either needs to call to the service provider and physically provide their details and then the details of the number they wish to call by speaking to an operator, or alternatively needs to enter subscription numbers or other identifying data by way of the telephone keypad or the like. Even where a DID number is used as described above, the user needs to first dial that number, then wait for a call-back, and then dial the actual destination number to which they wish to speak. The operational complexity of this type of a system may actually dissuade people from trying or using the service.

The service provider in this case also needs to have equipment available which can receive data transmitted from different types of telephone systems in potentially different areas of the world, which makes the infrastructure cost of operating such a venture higher as well, since it is not possible to simply install equipment capable of receiving typical North American DTMF signals as instructions from the subscriber since the customer may be in a part of the world which uses rotary dial phones or some other type of a system, all of which need to in some fashion be accommodated.

Another issue with traditional call back schemes is that they have in fact been ruled illegal in many jurisdictions, since the call back system effectively ends up using the infrastructure of a local telecommunications company without them being paid anytl ing for its use in terms of the carriage of long distance calls, since the outbound telephone calls are typically made over a public network and the reorigination switch recognizes the call co-ordinates without even needing to pick up the telephone call, which results in no toll being generated for the local provider.

The advent of the Internet ands its wide availability has allowed another method of originating call-back calls. Providers can accept instructions regarding a telephone call to be initiated via a web site. Again, the subscriber visits the provider's web site and needs to enter their subscriber number and/or security data, along with the particulars of the telephone call including origin and destination telephone numbers or coordinates, and their requested call is then processed in the same fashion. The information received from the web site is sent to the switching hardware and. again two telephone calls are initiated and connected. While the advent of the web site call initiation method alters the method of initiating a reoriginated telephone call such as this, it still does not remove the extra steps and complexity from the process which would be necessary to encourage widespread adoption of call reorigination services in the user base of people who are anything more than very occasional users of long distance. For example, the extra steps needed are still too significant to make this type of service palatable to larger individual or corporate users who wish to be able to just pick up the telephone, so to speak, and dial a call as they always have. It would be preferable to provide a method of access to call-back services which did not require the user to do anything more than they were required to do to direct dial a long distance telephone call via their local telephone company, namely to pick up the telephone and dial the destination telephone number and the necessary long distance or country codes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a system and method for transparent telephone call reorigination, which will allow a user of the system or method to dial telephone calls to be reoriginated from a subscriber device or telephone set, just as they would dial a local telephone call or a direct long distance call through their local telephone service provider. Elimination of the use of any specific extra dialing codes or any steps beyond that which would normally be used to direct dial a long distance telephone call will increase the likelihood of adoption of a service such as is proposed.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a system and method of transparent telephone call reorigination which, in addition to allowing a user to dial a telephone call for reoriginationi as they would dial any regular telephone call through their local system, further simplifies the operation of the system and method and decreases the load on local telecommunications networks by transmitting the destination co-ordinates or other user parameters of a requested telephone call to be reoriginated to a reorigination provider's reorigination station using a separate data network, rather than sending such information over the local telecommunications network from the subscriber telephone or origin terrninal. It is specifically contemplated that such computer network might be the Internet, although it will be understood that other data networks could also be used to communicate between a particular origin terminal and the reorigination provider without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is further contemplated that the system and method of the present invention would employ the use of a call controller which would either be integrated into the user interface or subscriber telephone at the origin terminal or as a stand alone unit which could be connected to the local telecommunications network between the user interface or internal telephone system of the customer and the outside telephone network access. That call controller can also be operatively connected to the necessary data network so that it can communicate with the reorigination stations in question, as necessary, without the need to communicate with the reorigination stations by instigation or initiation of a separate telephone call using the local telecommunications network. The call controller would be used to trigger the reorigination sequence over the data network.

It is the further object of the present invention to improve the overall quality of a reoriginated telephone call by removing at least one "leg" from the connection or reorigination of a typical long distance telephone call.

The invention, a method of reorigination of telephone calls between an origin terrninal and a destination terminal through an intermediate reorigination station, accomplishes its objectives as follows. An origin terminal is connected to a local telecommunications network as well as a data network and includes a user interface capable of making and receiving telephone calls via said local telecommunications network. The reorigination station is connected to the same data network or an interrelated data network such that it can receive data signals from the origin terminal. The reorigination station also contains switching equipment capable of originating telephone calls to each of the origin terminal and the destination terminal. In the first stage of the method of the present invention, a user at the origin terminal enters the dialing co-ordinates for their desired destination terminal. This means that they effectively dial the telephone number that they wish to reach. The origin terminal captures these dialing co-ordinates and transmits a call trigger for a telephone call which is to be reoriginated through an intermediate reorigination station, from the origin terminal to the reorigination station in question. The call trigger would be a data signal which could adequately identify the origin terminal for the purpose of originating a telephone call from the reorigination station back to the origin terminal, and would also include the dialing co-ordinates of the destination terminal such that the reorigination station could also originate a telephone call to the destination terminal.

When a reorigination station receives such a call trigger, it will originate a first telephone call from the reorigination station back to the origin teiminal. This telephone call is the first leg. The reorigination station will then also coincidentally or subsequently originate a second telephone call from the reorigination station to the destination terminal, which telephone call is the second leg. The final step in the process of reorigmating this telephone call through the reorigination station is the reorigination station hardware comiecting the first leg and the second leg to yield a reoriginated telephone call connected between the origin terminal and the destination terminal.

The data network which is used could be any network capable of receiving or transmitting data between the origin terminal and the reorigination station in question. Private or public networks, including the Internet, are particularly contemplated, but it will be understood that any type of computer network capable of enabling this type of network communication between the reorigination station and the origin terminal is contemplated within the scope hereof.

Beyond this most basic embodiment of the method of the present invention, the method of call reorigination outlined herein is enhanced when the origin terminal includes a call controller. The call controller is a purpose-built hardware and software combination which will enable the reorigination method of the present invention. The call controller would be connected to each of the local telecommunications network, the data network and the user interface of the origin terminal. The call controller is capable of communicating with the user interface without engaging the connection of a local telecommunications network to the user interface unless desired. Similarly, the call controller would be capable of communicating with the local telecommunications network without necessarily engaging the local telecommunications network to the user interface unless desired. The call controller would, however, be capable of connecting the user interface to the local telecommunications network connection when desired. In an alternative embodiment, where voice-over data capability is added, the call controller could also be capable of connecting the user interface to the data network.

Typically, the user interface which is contemplated at the origin terrninal could take a couple of different forms. In a very basic embodiment, the user interface might be a telephone of residential or commercial premise, and the call controller could either integrated into the telephone or be a separate hardware piece which could be added between the telephone and the local telecommunications network connection on site.

It is also, however, contemplated that a call controller in accordance with the present invention could be used with more complex PBX-type commercial systems, and in different embodiments the call controller might be located either inside or outside of the PBX switch. Again, the call controller could theoretically even be integrated into the PBX switch or can be a separate hardware unit.

Typically, in the practice of the method of the present invention, the call controller would receive co-ordinates from the user interface in advance of connecting the user interface to the local telecommunications network. Upon receipt of a dialing coordinate, in accordance with this method, the call controller would transmit the call trigger signal to a desired reorigination station. A call trigger signal as outlined above would simply contain enough data to facilitate the completion of the reorigination of the desired telephone call in accordance with the present invention. Once the call trigger has been transmitted the call controller to the reorigination station, the call controller can receive an incoming first leg telephone call on the local telecommunications network connection and will connect that first leg telephone call to the user interface without user intervention. Ideally, then, what this would comprise would be a user picking up their telephone, dialing the number they wished to reach, and hearing the phone ring in their ear as the first leg telephone call is connected, firstly with the user interface and secondly with the second leg call through the reorigination station to the destination terminal.

The call controller could be capable of communicating with more than one reorigination station, which would increase flexibility of the system insofar as different reorigination service providers could be used or other types of call routing and business plans could be incorporated. The call controller in this method could even select the reorigination station to which to route a call trigger based upon the dialing co-ordinates of the destination terminal or the other contents of the call trigger data. Alternatively, the system could also provide for the manual selection of the reorigination station to which the user would wish to route a particular call trigger at the user interface.

One of the flexibilities of the system of the present invention is that the call controller can be made capable of determining which telephone calls from the origin terminal need to be reoriginated, based upon the dialing co-ordinates. For example, when someone picks up the user interface telephone and dials a local call, this does not need to be reoriginated and the call controller can recognize this from the dialing co- ordinates and will only reoriginate those telephone calls which it is determined should be reoriginated, and will facilitate the direct completion of any other calls via the local telecommunications network by effectively directly connecting the user interface to the local telecommunications circuit. The call controller might contain some present reorigination parameters for these types of determinations which could optionally be automatically or manually be programmed from time to time. The system might also accommodate a manual override of the reorigination parameters of the call controller. The call controller of the system and method of the present invention could incorporate additional redundance and protection by being designed such that where the call controller might fail, the user interface would become directly connected to the local telecommunications network, allowing the seamless continued direct dialing of telephone calls either locally or on a toll basis from the user interface via the local telecommunications network without the use of a reorigination station. Similarly, where the transmission of a particular call trigger to a reorigination station failed, the call controller, upon detection of the failure of the transmission of the trigger, can facilitate the direct dialing of the telephone call, again via the local telecommunications network circuit and connect that call directly to the user interface of the origin terminal. In a case where more than one reorigination station is available, the call controller might even be programmed to reroute a call trigger where the transmission of a call trigger to a particular reorigination station fails.

On another level, it is also contemplated that in the method of the present invention the user interface of the origin terminal might also be capable of making or receiving telephone calls on the data network, and this might be a further reorigination option available to a user of the method of the present invention.

In addition to the method of the present invention, there is also disclosed a system for the placement reoriginated telephone calls, the system comprising at least one origin terminal, said origin teπninal being connected to a local telecommunications network, wherein said origin terminal has a user interface through which a user could input the dialing co-ordinates for a desired destination terminal, and through which telephone calls can be originated or received via a local telecommunications network.

The next element of the system of the present invention is at least one reorigination station having the capability to originate telephone calls to the origin terminal and the destination terminal. The reorigination station would be operatively connected for communication with the origin terminals of the system of the present invention by a data network whereby call trigger data can be transmitted by the origin terminals to the reorigination stations. Upon entry by a user at the user interface of the origin terminal of the dialing co-ordinates of a destination terminal to which it is desired to connect a telephone call, the origin teiminal can transmit a call trigger to the at least one reorigination station, which call trigger identifies the origin terminal and contains the destination terminal dialing co-ordinates.

Where the reorigination station of the system receives a call trigger, it will originate a first telephone call from the reorigination station to the origin terminal for connection to the user interface, which telephone call is the first leg. It will coincidentally or subsequently also originate a second telephone call from the reorigination station to the destination terminal, which second telephone call is the called the second leg. Finally, the first leg and second leg will be connected by the switching equipment of the reorigination station to yield a reoriginated telephone call connecting the origin terminal and the destination terrninal through the reorigination station.

The user interface, or telephone as the case may be, can remain in an off-hook mode from the time of entry of the user of the destination terminal dialing co-ordinates to the time of completion of the reoriginated telephone call, and no user intervention will be required once the destination dialing co-ordinates have been entered. This is a significant advantage of the present system over the prior art call-back methods.

As outlined with respect to the method above, the system of the present invention could be practiced with one or more than one reorigination stations as well as one or more than one origin terminals which could in that fashion be linked in a large originating network.

As outlined above with respect to the method of the present invention, a call controller could be incorporated in or connected to the origin terminal to facilitate the functionality and practice of the present method. The capabilities and functionality of that call controller are outlined further elsewhere herein.

The specific call controller of the present invention is also disclosed. The call controller as outlined further herein is operatively connected to the telecommunications. network, the data network and the user interface of the origin terminal and will, by its software and hardware functionality, facilitate the practice of the method of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, prefened embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labelled with like numbers, and where:

Figure 1 is a sample drawing of the connectivity panel of a call controller in one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of one basic embodiment of the system of the present invention wherein the origin terminal is a simple telephone;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the apparatus and system of the present invention wherein the origin terminal is a PBX system; and

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the embodiment of Figure 3 in which the reorigination of atypical telephone call is demonstrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:

Origin Terminal:

The origin terminal, which is effectively the location or hardware used by a user at the origin of a telephone call which it is desired to be reoriginated, can take many forms. At least two different typologies can be considered, one of which is very simply and the other of which is more complex, but which offers additional potential benefits and functionality.

In a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the user interface might be a simple telephone. In a residential setting, a telephone in a home, for example, could be the user interface which is used by a person in the home to make a telephone call. The method by which a user in that case would enter the dialing coordinates for a call to he completed would be to simply, generally speaking, enter them on the keypad of the telephone and they would be relayed by DTMF signals or otherwise to the CO switch for processing, in typical conventional telephone methods. The user interface and origin terminal in this case would be modified in the method of the present invention by inclusion or incorporation of a call controller either directly into the telephone or alternatively as a separate hardware unit which could be attached between the telephone and the local telecommunications network. The local telecommunications network, as referred to in this patent, in the situation of a simple home installation, would be the local telephone line entering the house. The call controller could be connected to the local telephone line and could in turn allow for the connection of the telephone or user interface thereto and as such the call controller would be situated between the user interface and the local telecommunications network as required by the method of the present invention.

Figure 2 demonstrates one embodiment of a system of the present invention in which the user interface or origin terminal is a simple residential telephone. Referring to that figure, there is shown a residential telephone, which is the user interface (10), the call controller is shown in that particular figure at (11), connected between the telephone (10) and the outside telephone line (12). The telephone (10) and the call controller (11) together are the origin terminal (13).

Also shown in this figure is the data network connection (14) to the call controller (11). The data network (14) is connected as well to a computer network which allows for communication with the reorigination station (15). In this particular case, a single reorigination station (15) is shown, although as outlined herein it will be understood that more than one reorigination station (15) could be used and a system or method employing any number of reorigination stations is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Also shown in this figure is a destination teπninal (16) and the actual switching equipment ( 17) at the reorigination station (15).

It is specifically contemplated that a second type of origin terminal which would be used and in which the present invention would have particular applicability would be in a PBX environment. In a PBX environment there is a PBX switch located at the customer premises, to which a number of customer telephone extensions or the like could be attached. The customer telephone extensions themselves would, for the purposes of the method of the present invention, constitute the user interface.

The PBX switch is, in turn, connected to the local telecommunications network by a number of incoming telephone lines or customer trunks. It is contemplated in the method of the present invention that a call controller could either be placed inside of the PBX switch and directly be connected to some particular customer extension, or alternatively by providing a call controller for attachment outside of the PBX switch to the customer trunks it would be possible with the proper equipment to offer telephone call reorigination services in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention to the entire PBX system and all extensions thereon. A customer extension would typically be used to dial the dialing co-ordinates of a particular destination terminal for a telephone call that it was desired to connect, which would be dialed over an open circuit to the PBX switch. The PBX switch would in turn either following the dialing of the digits or coincidentally therewith if the customer extension has been connected to an open and active customer trunk line, would result in the dialing of the telephone call in a conventional manner. If a call controller in accordance with that of the present invention was attached to the customer trunks, the call controller could receive the dialing co-ordinates or the internal portion of the desired telephone call through the PBX switch and could then, based upon the dialing co-ordinates of the destination terminal, instigate the necessary reorigination of the telephone call by sending a call trigger packet to a reorigination station. In the PBX environment, the call controller could also be programmed to have a particular priority sequence or usage system in place for particular customer trunks for the reorigination of customer calls in accordance with the present invention. When the incoming first leg of the call is received by the call controller, it can then be passed through on its customer trunk to the PBX switch with the necessary identification data or other information which is required for the PBX switch to connect, in conjunction with the call controller, the proper customer extension with that mcoming first leg call. The reorigination station switcliing equipment will have, at the same time, connected a destination leg to the destination terminal so that when the customer extension, through the PBX and call controller is connected back to the incoming first leg of the telephone call, they will at that point also be connected through to the destination terminal.

In the PBX environment it is also particularly contemplated or can also particularly be illustrated how a scenario in which there is not always-on data network connectivity available can be accommodated. . As outlined herein, one of the data network types that could be used to communicate between the call controller or PBX location and the reorigination station would be an X.25 data network. Regardless of the particular typology of the particular data network in question, if there was an always-on connection available and connected to the call controller and the PBX, the call controller could simply send call trigger packets at will through the data network to the reorigination station. Where it was necessary to either dial a connection to the Internet briefly to send the call trigger packet or alternatively dial a local X.25 dial-up number, the call controller could be programmed to effectively analyze the dialing co- ordinates entered by the customer and, as necessary, intercept an outgoing call and put it on hold, dial a local or toll-free telephone number to an X.25 data access point, and upon connection and authentication of that data call output the necessary ID code and the destination dialing co-ordinates for the call trigger to the reorigination station. The X.25 receiving device which receives this information from the telephone call, either directly or through the data network, formats the data into the necessary call trigger packets for delivery to the reorigination station via the X.25 or other data network and would drop the telephone call made by the call controller. The call controller would then wait for receipt of the incoming call-back, or first leg of the reoriginated telephone call, and answer that call, take the outbound call off of hold and connect those two calls to complete the reoriginated telephone call using seamless automation.

Destination Terminal:

The destination terminal, as is contemplated in the system and method of the present invention, would be any telephone or device capable of receiving a telephone call over a PSTN or other type of communication network from an origin terrninal. The destination terminal might be, then, a telephone, modem, computer device or any other piece of equipment to which telephone calls could be originated by a switch of a reorigination provider. It will be understood that the precise nature of the destination terminal or terminals to be reached using the method of the present invention is not directly material insofar as any destination terminal or destination device to which a publicly switched telephone call can be routed, anywhere in the world, could potentially be the destination terminal in question.

The destination terminals could also be a wireless device, if it was desired to communicate or reoriginate a telephone call to a wireless device in accordance with the method of the present invention.

As will be outlined further below, in addition to being capable of receiving conventionally switched telephone calls, a destination terminal might also be capable of receiving or originating telephone calls over a data network. If the destination terminal was capable of communicating over a data network, the second leg of telephone calls to be reoriginated could be completed from the switching equipment at the reorigination station in question to the destination terminal via the data network and some type of voice-over data protocol, format or the like. It will be understood that both types of communication, namely a destination terminal which is connected to a telecommunications network to which the reorigination station can switch telephone calls as well as a destination terminal which is capable of communicating in a voice-over data format over a data network, are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Local Telecommunications Network:

As will be understood from the remainder hereof and has been discussed herein, the local telecommunications network is still a key element of the method of the present invention. Typically, an origin terminal user interface such as a telephone or the like requires a local telecommunications network connection ("telco") to receive or make telephone calls. In a typical circumstance, the basic embodiment of a user interface such as a consumer telephone or the like basically upon opening a connection to the local telecommunications network sends a series of switching signals to a CO switch located in the telco plant which will receive these signals whether they are tone dial signals such as DTMF tones, or in other places still pulse dial signals or the like. The CO switch then acts upon those instructions or co-ordinates to complete a telephone call and connect that to the local telecommunications network circuit in question.

It will be understood that any type of a local telecommunications network which is capable of making or receiving telephone calls, to outside parties or locations, is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. A publicly switched telephone network (PSTN) is one contemplated local telecommunications network which will be used in most likely most circumstances. However, it will be understood that any other type of local telecommunications network which accomplishes the requirements of the method and apparatus of the present invention, including the ability to receive mcoming telephone calls and potentially in isolated circumstances also make telephone calls on a toll-free or toll basis to a data provider for the purpose of sending a call trigger instruction to a reorigination station, are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Reorigination Station: The reorigination station is the equipment location, basically, of the telephone call reorigination service provider who would be facilitating or offering the method and apparatus of the present invention. A reorigination station would basically need to, on some level, comprise switching equipment which is capable of originating telephone calls from the reorigination station back to an origin terminal as well as from the reorigination station to a destination terminal. As outlined in further detail herein, those telephone call origination capabilities may vary in terms of the type of terminal equipment at the origins and destinations to be served by a particular reorigination station, and it may even include the capabihty to communicate using more than one method or protocol with any particular origin or destination terminal.

In addition to having telephone call origination capabilities, either via telecommunications networks or data networks where voice-over data comrnunication was available, the reorigination station would also need to be connected to a data network mentioned herein for the purpose of communicating with and receiving from call controllers or origin terminals in the system of the present invention call trigger data which will initiate the reorigination of a particular telephone call. As has been outlined elsewhere herein, it is particularly contemplated that one widely available data network which can facilitate connection between origin terminals and reorigination stations is the Internet. It will be understood, however, that any other type of internal or external, public or private network which is capable of allowing communication between the origin terminals in question and the reorigination stations in question is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

In a basic embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, a particular reorigination service provider might have only one reorigination station. It is also foreseeable, however, that the number of reorigination stations employed in the use of the method of the present invention could be more than one. This might be for fault tolerance purposes again, such that if a call trigger fails to be properly completed by a particular reorigination station upon transmission of that trigger from a call controller to the reorigination station in question, the call trigger could then be rerouted to another reorigination station and an alternate switching provider could be used to initiate the requisite legs of the requested reoriginated telephone call. It will be understood that the use of one or more reorigination stations in the practice of the system or method of the present invention is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Data Network:

It is particularly contemplated that a data network used in an optimal configuration of the system or apparatus of the present invention would be a full-time connection to the Internet. Then, by connection of the reorigination station switching equipment to the Internet as well, the connectectivity between the call controller and the reorigination station could be established. It will be understood, however, that where a full-time data network connection were not available, the system could also be modified so that a dial-up Internet connection could be used. It is contemplated that effectively what could be done in that circumstance would be the call controller would, upon receiving an input from a user at the origin terminal indicating a telephone call to be reoriginated, potentially basically put that call or user "on hold" internally, since the call has not at this point yet been connected to the local telecommunications network anyhow, and then a modem or the like inside the call controller could take the telecommunications network line and quickly dial a telephone call whether that was local, toll-free or a toll call, to access the data network and send the call trigger to the reorigination station desired. The modem could then drop that call, the telecommunications line would be free and the first leg of the telephone call as it was reoriginated could come back in then on that telecommunications network line and be connected back to the user interface at the origin terminal, which is still sitting on hold, and this entire process takes place seamlessly. It will be understood that either such implementation, namely a full-time always-on connection to the data network such as the Internet or this type of system which would employ a dial-up Internet connection using the same telecommunications network line which would eventually receive the incoming leg of the reoriginated telephone call, are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various equipment modifications or process refinements could be made to fine-tune or optimize the method or apparatus of the present invention for either of those two implementations, and all such optimizations or modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Another type of data network and signalling which could be used to communicate between the call controller and the reorigination station would be signalling over an X.25 network. This would be of particular applicability or interest in commercial applications where client sites had easy access to local X.25 data networks.

The data network used to connect a particular call controller or origin tei inal with a reorigination switch could also be a combination of different networks; for example where an X.25 data network were used to communicate with the reorigination switch but there was no in-house X.25 link at the customer site, the provider of the reorigination services might provide either locally or on a toll-free basis a telephone number which could be called or a site which could be accessed over the other data network such as the Internet, by a call controller to forward a call trigger through that extra site onto the X.25 network to a reorigination switch.

It will be understood that any blend or type of network communication which has the effect of establishing comrnunication for the transmission of a call trigger between the call controller or origin terrninal of the method or apparatus of the present invention and a reorigination station and its switching equipment, is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. As well, any attendant equipment modifications which are required to accommodate the use of a particular data network or blending of data networks to enable this type of communication to take place will also be contemplated within the scope hereof.

It might also be the case that at the reorigination station itself it is necessary to provide some alternate type of interface between the switching equipment at the reorigination station and the data network. For example, a call-back switch or other type of switching equipment at a reorigination station that was unable to directly receive X.25 data packets, where X.25 connectivity was being used between the origin terminal and the reorigination station site, could have an interface added which would allow for conversion of the X.25 data packets to a readable protocol. For example, some switches typically rely on the receipt of DTMF signals from the local CO. By co-locating a converter with the switch, the converter could capture the call trigger packet and generate the necessary DTMF signal tones to be fed to an analog DID port of the switch. Again, it will be understood that this type of modification is simply a logical extension of the concept and method of the present invention and all such attendant modifications to the method or apparatus of the present invention or equipment on site at the reorigination station are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

In the case where the origin terminal is not always connected to the data network, such as where there is not constant Internet or other data network connectivity available and a modem or other type of dialing means is used to dial a data call on the local telecommunications network and initiate the sending of a call trigger, it will be understood that the connection of the origin terminal to the data network actually takes place over the telecommunications network and that this is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Call Controller:

The system and method of the present invention includes the use of a call controller, which is the key hardware component which enables the conduct of the method of telephone call reorigination of the present invention. The call controller can either be a separate hardware device which can be connected between the local telecommunications network and the origin terminal or user interface of the origin terminal at the origin location, or it will also be understood that a special origin terminal or telephone could be manufactured or designed which would incorporate both the necessary user interface for the handling of telephone calls either witliin or without the scope of the present invention, which would also incorporate directly therein a call controller in accordance with the present invention. It will be understood that both a stand-alone hardware controller as well as a telephone or origin terminal that incorporated or integrated a call controller in accordance with the present invention are contemplated within the scope hereof.

The call controller integrates several components of the system and method of the present invention. Firstly, the call controller connects at the origin terminal or originating location or customer location between the local telecommumcations network (PSTN or otherwise) and the user interface or customer telephone device.

The first key aspect, then, of the call controller of the present invention is that it is placed in the typical telephone circuit between the user interface or user telephone and the local telecommunications network. In the case of a stand-alone hardware call controller in accordance with the present invention, Figure 1 demonstrates one embodiment of the typical connectivity panel which might be included on the rear of a hardware call controller of the present invention separate from the user interface. There is shown a call controller (4) which has on its face, which might be the rear or front of the device or whatever the case may be, a number of different plug-ins or a patch panel to which various cables can be connected for various functions of the device. The items which are pertinent to the general description herein are, firstly the connection (14) for the user interface. The user interface, or user telephone, will be connected to a call controller (4) typically maybe by some type of a cable connection or jack (14) as is shown in this figure.

The next pertinent cable connection or connectivity which is demonstrated in Figure 1 is the connection which is shown at (15) for the local telecommunications network. The outside telephone line would effectively be connected to the call controller (4) at the jack (15). Finally, shown at (6) is the data network connection to which a network cable connected to a local network or other data network, such as the Internet, would be connected. As outlined above, then, the call controller (4) is connected to the local telecommunications network as well as to the user interface and a data network. Also shown in Figure 1 are a plurality of different types of cable connections for different types of computer interfaces such as USB, serial or the like. These are shown at (16). It will be understood that various types of cable connections or connectivity can be comprehended which would accomplish the same goal of connecting the data network in question plus the required connection to the local telecommunications network and the user interface.

The embodiment shown in Figure 1 is simply shown to demonstrate one type of a hardware configuration which might be shown on the exterior of a call controller (4) in accordance with the present invention. In addition to the connectivity options shown in the figure, the call controller (4) would obviously have the necessary circuitry and/or software programmed therein to allow it to conduct its various functions in accordance with the method of the present invention. The call controller might have a flash upgradeable memory or the like contained therein such that firmware upgrades or other software upgrades could easily be installed by connecting the call controller (4) to a computer or other device which could upload the software upgrade. Alternatively, the system of the present invention might also encompass an automatically updated call controller (4) which, by virtue of its data network connection (6), would automatically download or install software or firmware upgrades to the remainder of the call controller hardware (4).

The circuitry or operation of the call controller itself^" would be roughly as follows. When the user interface, in a circumstance where the user interface was a basic telephone set, is activated or, for example, the telephone is picked up, the user at that origin terminal would then dial in the dialing co-ordinates for a destination which they wished to call. The circuitry of the call controller (4) would be designed such that when the user interface was activated, it would not necessarily be immediately connected to the outside telecommunications network line, but rather the call controller would first of all receive from the user interface the dialing co-ordinates for the destination to be called. Once the dialing co-ordinates have been entered by the user, the circuitry of the call controller (4), along with its resident software, could determine the proper method of reoriginating the telephone call in question, if at all. If it was determined by the call controller, upon interpretation of the dialing co- ordinates received, that the call was for example a local call which did not need to be reoriginated, the call controller would typically basically connect the off-hook user interface to the local telecommunications network line and send the dialing coordinates which had already been received from the user interface onto the local telecommunications network for switching. The call controller could be designed such that it could properly pulse dial or tone dial or the like onto the locally switched telecornrnunications network for the purpose of directly connecting either a local non- toll call or alternatively in the circumstance where it was desired to specifically avoid the reorigination of a specific telephone call.

In the case of a telephone call which is to be reoriginated, once the dialing coordinates were entered at the user interface, the call controller (4) could then initiate the reorigination of the telephone call. The reorigination of the telephone call is initiated by the call controller (4) by sending a call trigger signal onto a data network (6), addressed to or to be received by a selected reorigination station separate from the destination terminal. The call trigger would effectively be a data signal sent on the data network to a reorigination station which would contain sufficient information or details of the desired telephone call to be reoriginated to allow the switching equipment at the reorigination station to reoriginate the telephone call in accordance with the user's request.

Once the switching equipment at the reorigination station received a call trigger, the reorigination station equipment would originate a telephone call back to the origin terminal, typically through the local telecommunication network connection, so that the call controller (4) would then receive an incoming first call on the external local telecomrnumcations network interface which could then be connected to the user interface by the call controller (4). This could all be done seamlessly such that the user would notice nothing other than picking up or taking off hook the user interface, dialing the telephone number that they wished to call and the call controller would then interpret the dialing co-ordinates, send the call trigger and reconnect the incoming first leg of the reoriginated telephone call back to the user interface, in a short period of time and without the further intervention of the user. At the same time, the reorigination station switching equipment would also initiate the second leg of the telephone call to the destination terminal from the reorigination station and, once the second leg telephone call had been initiated, the first leg and second leg would be connected by the switching equipment at the reorigination station yielding a two-leg telephone call.

It will be understood that many types of software functions could be built into a call controller such as that shown in Figure 1, and the extended functionality which could be gained from that is all contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

It is also specifically contemplated, as outlined further in other places herein, that a different type of call controller may be manufactured for use in, for example, a single user and single telephone origin terminal environment versus something that was a larger commercial environment such as a system or location with a PBX in place, or some other type of internal switching equipment. Integration of a call controller in accordance with the present invention into either type of system is possible and in either case is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

It will also be understood that in terms of the actual hardware configuration or nature of the call controller that the call controller, as an external hardware item, could actually be a PC with the necessary connections and software installed therein as well, rather than a dedicated external hardware box, and either such implementation is contemplated wilhin the scope of the present invention.

Where the call controller (4) identifies, based on the dialing co-ordinates or input received from the user interface, that a particular telephone call does not need to be reoriginated, the call controller (4) could directly connect the user interface to the local telecommumcations network and the call could be directly dialed. The call controller could also be such that if for some reason there is a hardware failure or circuit failure inside of the call controller, that the user interface and the outside telecommunications network lines are automatically connected in a pass- through fashion such that the system would effectively automatically revert to direct dialing of toll calls, such that if the hardware call controller failed the ability to make long distance calls would not be defeated at the installation, but rather it would simply revert back to regular dialing in the local telecommunications network of any telephone calls to made from the user interface or origin terminal.

Reorigination of Telephone Calls in Accordance with the Present Invention:

Having now endeavoured to summarize the contemplated scope of the various aspects of the system of the present invention, we will now endeavour to further describe or summarize the method of telephone call reorigination of the present invention. As will have been seen from the apparatus descriptions in this section so far, the three key elements of the system of the present invention are an origin terminal from which a user can initiate a telephone call to be originated, a destination terminal to which the user wishes to make a telephone call, and an intermediate reorigination station. The reorigination station would contain call-back switching equipment which is capable of receiving an instruction to initiate the reorigination of a telephone call in accordance with the method of the present invention and connect it back to the origin terminal.

The origin terminal needs to be operatively connected to the local telecommunications network in the location where tlie origin terminal is located, so that the origin terrninal is capable of making and receiving telephone calls on the local telecommunications network, which might be a PSTN network or otherwise. In addition to being connected to a local telecommunications network, the origin terrninal also needs to be connected to a data network such that it can send call trigger packets or call trigger requests in accordance with the method of the present invention to a reorigination station. One or more reorigination stations might be used within the concept of the present invention and each reorigination station will need to be connected to the data network or to a blend of data networks as outlined herein such that it was capable of receiving a call trigger instruction from an origin terminal.

As outlined further hererin, the user interface at the origin terminal might either be a standard telephone, a PBX system or some other type of telecommunications hardware which requires connectivity to a local telecommunications network for the purpose of making telephone calls that might be desired to be reoriginated.

The user interface, such as a telephone or PBX system may have the necessary hardware or software modifications made to its existing circuitry or software to allow for the practice of the method of the present invention, or alternatively an additional component such as a call controller might be added which can be used to provide an interface between the user interface of the origin terminal and the local telecommumcations network and the data network, and can co-ordinate and handle the reorigination of telephone calls in accordance with the present invention seamlessly to the user. It will be understood that either embodiment, specifically the modification of existing hardware or software to accommodate the practice of the method of the present invention or the use of a call controller in conjunction with the remainder of the hardware components at an originating terminal are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

In any event, to instigate the reorigination of a telephone call, the method of the present invention would encompass the following. Firstly, the user would pick up the telephone or otherwise activate the user interface at the origin terminal. As outlined, this would typically mean that they pick up the telephone handset or otherwise engage their telephone such that in a typical environment engaging the user interface would immediately connect them with the local telecommunications network such that any dialing co-ordinates that are entered on the extension would be send to the CO switch. Alternatively, in a PBX environment, picking up a user telephone would at least open a circuit between the extension and the PBX, which would again allow for the dialing of an instruction through to the PBX which in turn can handle that as desired. At the user interface, the user would enter the destination dialing co-ordinates, namely the telephone number or other address which is required to connect a typical telephone call in a standard toll fashion to the destination terminal. Depending on where the destination terminal is located, the dialing co-ordinates might instruct the switch to connect the telephone call from anywhere from across the street to halfway around the world. Depending upon toll rules and the like, some or all of these telephone calls may be calls which are desired to be reoriginated in accordance with the present invention.

Once the user picks up or activates the user interface and enters the destination dialing co-ordinates for a telephone call, the origin terminal then can determine whether or not the telephone call is one which should be reoriginated. This can either be done by storing some preprogrammed reorigination rules or parameters in the call controller or in the call control circuitry or aspect of the existing hardware such that, by examining the dialing co-ordinates, the system can determine whether or not a particular telephone call should be reoriginated.

It will also be understood that the system could be set up to automatically reoriginate every telephone call except where there is some manual override or the like entered on the system which stipulates that the call should not be reoriginated in accordance with the method of the present invention. In any event, once it is determined that a particular telephone call should be reoriginated, the next step is to trigger the reorigination of the telephone call.

The reorigination of the telephone call will be triggered by sending a call trigger to a reorigination station. The call controller or other hardware which is connected to the reorigination station via the data network will send a call trigger signal or packet to a reorigination station which will identify the origin terminal as well as the destination dialing co-ordinates. The call trigger itself might be any type of a data packet which can be sent over the particular type of data network which is connected between the origin terminal and the reorigination station. Upon receipt of a call trigger signal or packet, the reorigination station will commence reoriginating the telephone call by dialing a telecommunications network call back to the origin terminal, which first telephone call is the first leg, and at the same time or thereafter dialing a second telephone call from the reorigination station to the destination terminal using the dialing co-ordinates. This second call is the second leg. The first leg and second leg will then be bridged or connected by the switching equipment at the reorigination station, yielding a connected telephone call between the origin terminal and the destination terminal.

The origin terminal will receive the incoming first leg telephone call and will answer that call and connect that back to the user interface. Given that the second leg of the call will subsequently or at the same time be connected to the first leg of the call by the switching equipment of the reorigination station, there is a seamless connection between the origin and destination terminals as far as the user is concerned. The call is rerouted through the reorigination station, but with no additional effort on the part of the user insofar as the system automatically deteimined which call should be reoriginated and initiated the reorigination of the call without any user intervention.

Key to the call controller itself is the ability of the call controller to engage or communicate with the user interface at the origin terminal without automatically connecting the local telecommunications network and vice versa, if desired. The call controller or modified circuitry of the existing hardware can connect the user interface at the origin terminal with the local telecommunications network when desired. What this functionality does is it gives the ability to basically initiate a telephone call and not hang up the telephone and wait for a call back or take any such action which would require further user intervention in the completion of the telephone call. When the user picks up their telephone, basically they will open a connection to the call controller which will receive the dialing co-ordinates and act accordingly based on the dialing co-ordinates to reoriginate the telephone call, and will then basically instantaneously, when the first leg call is incoming on a local telecommunications network, connect that back to the user interface itself such that once the user dials the telephone number in question they will basically in short order be connected on their telephone to the reoriginated telephone call to the destination terrninal through the intermediate reorigination station.

There are various changes or variations which could be made on the method of the present invention to further enhance its applicability or utility to the user. Firstly, the method and apparatus can be adjusted so that the telephone call to be reoriginated will be deteimined by the method or system based upon the dialing co-ordinates entered by the user. The same apparatus could then be used to dial reoriginated telephone calls as well as non-reoriginated telephone calls. Based on the dialing co-ordinates, the system could determine whether or not to send a call trigger and reoriginate the call, or alternatively whether to connect the origin terminal directly to the local telecommunications network and direct dial the call through the local network. Either a system in which all telephone calls from the origin terminal are reoriginated or alternatively this system wherein certain telephone calls only are reoriginated either based upon an automatic determination by the system or method of the present invention, or alternatively where the user could specify by entering a particular code in the dialing co-ordinates or by some other user interface modification whether or not to reoriginate a particular telephone call, are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Another improvement or modification which could be made to the method of the present invention would be to design it such that if for any reason it was not possible to either reach the reorigination station desired or for some other reason complete the telephone call in a reoriginated fashion through tlie intermediate reorigination station, that the system and method would allow for the automatic failover to result in a direct dialed telephone call on the local telecommunications network. The local toll would be incurred, but again the operation would be seamless to the user.

The method could also be enhanced by allowing for the automatic redirection of a failed call trigger to an alternate reorigination station. It may be the case that if a call trigger is not received by a reorigination station to whom it is send, the call controller or the origin terminal could resend the call trigger to an alternate reorigination station which is also operatively connected to the data network to allow for the reorigination of the telephone call in accordance with the method of the present invention where the first desired reorigination station is for some reason not available or incapable at that time of reoriginating the call as required.

In addition to allowing in the method for the optional redirection of a call trigger signal to an alternate reorigination station where, in addition to providing this system with the ability to redirect the call trigger request to an alternate reorigination station where the first reorigination station selected is incapable or unavailable to reoriginate the particular telephone call in question, the method could also be revised such that the reorigination station could be selected either automatically by the call controller or origin terminal, or alternatively by the user again with some type of an override or other user interface modification. For example, it may be the case that a particular reorigination station is able to obtain better toll rates from particular providers than another reorigination station, wit respect to telephone calls directed to a specific region. Reorigination stations may only serve calls to a particular region as well. In any event, it could be easily understood that the call controller or the method or system of the present invention could be designed to accommodate either the automatic selection of the appropriate reorigination station to which to route the call trigger request, or alternatively, to allow the user to specify a particular provider. Again, it will be understood that this type of modification is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention along with any attendant hardware, software or method adjustments required to implement same.

Figures 2 through 4 demonstrate the typical apparatus of the present invention in more detail. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention, which includes as an origin terminal a simple residential or basic telephone set. There is shown at the origin terminal (1) a user interface (2) which is a telephone. The user interface (2) at the origin terminal (1) is connected to a call controller (4) by an internal connection (3). The call controller (4) is connected to this internal user interface (2) potentially by a port (15) or the like, although the specific connectivity of the stand-alone user interface or telephone (2) to the call controller (4) might be varied without departing from the intention hereof.

The call controller (4) is also next connected to the local telecommunications network by a port (14) or the like. The local telecommunications network might be the standard PSTN publicly switched telephone network (10) or the like.

The call controller (4) is also connected to a data network (5). Again, a port or the like (6) is shown, although it will be understood again that various specific methods of connectivity between the data network (5) and the call controller (4) can be contemplated and all are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

There is next shown in that drawing a reorigination station (8) which contains at least one switch (9) which is capable of originating telephone calls to both the origin terminal (1) and the destination teiniinal (11). These calls would be originated in this particular embodiment on the publicly switched telephone network (10). The switch (9) has the capability of originating a telephone call on the PSTN (10) to the origin terminal (1) and a second telephone call on the PSTN (10) to the destination terminal (11) and then bridging or connecting these two calls through the switch (9) to yield a single reoriginated telephone call. There is shown on the switch (9) a port (7) or the like, but again it will be understood that various types of connectivity between the data network (5) and the switch (9) can be contemplated and that any type of connectivity which accomplishes the objective of establishing a data connection between the call controller (4) and the switch (9) is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Also shown is the destination tenninal (11). To quickly illustrate the operation of the invention in reference to this simple embodiment, a user would at the telephone (2) enter dialing co-ordinates which would identify the destination terminal (11). These dialing co-ordinates would be captured by the call controller (4). When the user picks up the telephone (2) to dial these co-ordinates, the call controller (4) will capture this information without first connecting to the PSTN (10). On this basis, the dialing co- ordinates can be captured and handled internally first by the call controller (4) before being sent on to the PSTN (10). Once the call controller (4) has obtained the dialing co-ordinates from the user at the telephone (2) by way of whatever type of connection (3) is established between the call confroller (4) and the telephone (2), the call controller (4) can then determine whether or not the telephone call was one that should be reoriginated in accordance with the method of the present invention and, if that is the case, a call trigger signal can be sent.

Where it is determined or indicated to the call controller or by the call controller (4) that a particular telephone call should be reoriginated, the call controller (4) would send a call trigger to the switch (9) at the reorigination station (8) by way of the data network (5). The call trigger would identify the origin terminal (1) and the destination terminal (11).

Upon receipt of a valid call trigger request, the switch (9) would initiate a first telephone call on the PSTN (10) back to the call controller (4) for eventual connection to the telephone (2). The second telephone call would be initiated by the switch (9) over the PSTN (10) to the destination terminal (11). The switch (9) would finally connect these two telephone calls yielding a single connected reoriginated telephone call between the origin terminal (1) and the destination terminal (11), connected through the intermediate location of the switch (9).

Figure 3 shows one PBX embodiment of the system or apparatus and method of the present invention. The origin terminal (1) which shown in Figure 3 is a PBX system. The PBX switch (20), which would be located in the premises, has a number of extensions which are telephones (12) which are connected to it. They are connected by an internal network (13). Conventionally, by picking up an extension (12) and dialing a telephone call, the call would be first switched through the PBX box (20) and then on to the PSTN (10) if an outside call was desired. PBX-type systems are used typically in commercial applications were internal telephone call handling and switching is also desired. Shown in Figure 3 next is a call controller (4) which is connected between the PBX box (20) and the PSTN (10). The call controller (4) would be connected to the customer trunk lines coming into the PBX switch (20). Also shown in this figure is a separate PSTN connection directly between the PBX switch (20) and the PSTN (10). It will be understood that this might be optional to maintain separately wired trunk connectivity to the PBX switch (20), separate and apart from the call controller (4), and that either the presence or absence of this separate connectivity does not depart from the claimed or intended scope hereof.

Again, shown connected to the call controller (4) are the customer trunk lines to the PSTN (10) as well as a data network connection (5) by way of a port or the like (6) which connects the call controller (4) to the switch (9) which is located at a reorigination station (8). A second reorigination station (8) is also shown for the purpose of illustrating the utility or use of more than one switching station (8) with the method of the present invention. Finally shown again is the destination terminal (11) connected to the PSTN (10).

Figure 4 is intended to further illustrate the handling or reorigination of a telephone call in accordance approximately with the method or embodiment of Figure 3, although only one switching station (8) is shown in Figure 4. To trace the reorigination of a particular telephone call through this figure, a user will pick up an extension (12) on the PBX network at the user premises or origin terminal (1). The extension (12) would allow for the dialing of a particular telephone call by entry of dialing co-ordinates identifying a destination teiminal (11) for the telephone call. The dialing co-ordinates would go from the extension (12) through the internal PBX network and the PBX switch (20) to the call controller (4). The first step of this process, namely entry of the dialing co-ordinates by a user at the extension (12) and the capture thereof by the call controller (4) is illustrated at Step A in Figure 4.

Either the call controller (4) or the PBX switch (20) will effectively place on hold or interrupt the telephone call as initiated by the extension (12) while the call which has been identified as reoriginated. The user will not have to hang up the extension and, in short order, the reoriginated telephone call would be connected back thereto in accordance with the remainder of this process. In any event, following Step A, once the dialing co-ordinates have been entered into the extension (12) by the user and captured by the call controller (4), a call trigger signal will be dispatched from the call controller (4) to the switch (9) at a reorigination station (8) via the data network (5) connection. This is shown at Step B in the figure. The call trigger will typically contain enough information to identify to the switch (9) the extension (12) as well as the destination terminal (11). In more advanced implementations of the system and method of the present invention, the call trigger may include additional information and it will be understood that, as long as this basic information or the requirement to potentially properly connect two legs of the reoriginated telephone call is included within the call trigger, this is all contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

When the switch (9) receives the call trigger request or data packet via the data network (5), the switch (9) can then proceed to actually reoriginate the telephone call in accordance with the remainder of the method of the present invention. Firstly, the switch (9) could originate a telephone call, via the PSTN (10), back to the origin terminal (1). This is shown at Step C in the figure. When the switch (9) initiates this first telephone call back to the origin terminal, this is trie first leg of the telephone call to be reoriginated. This first leg of the telephone call to be reoriginated as shown at Step C, when received back by the call controller (4), can be further handled by connection of the mcoming first leg by the call controller (4) through the PBX switch (20) back to the extension (12) as shown at Step E.

The second step taken by the switch (9) at the reorigination station (8) will be to initiate the second leg of the telephone call to be reoriginated, the second leg rimning from the switch (9) to the destination terminal (11), again via the PSTN (10) or other available network connectivity. The initiation of this second leg of the telephone call is shown at Step D in Figure 4. The switch (9) will then connect the first leg and second leg telephone calls, which are initiated in Steps C and D as shown, the connection or bridging of these two calls being shown on the switch at Step F. At this point, when the two legs have been initiated, connected at the switch (9) and connected back to the extension (12) through the call controller (4), the telephone call has been reoriginated and the user at the extension (12) has an active telephone connection to the destination terminal (11).

It will obviously also be understood that the utility of the present invention is enhanced by the fact that a large number of user terminals can be used within the network of the present invention, as well as a potentially infinite number of destination terminals. Any telephone which is connected to a publicly switched telephone network (10) or similar network which can be integrated into the data network (5) or the other required methods of connectivity between the switch (9) and the destination and origin terminals (11) and (1) respectively, can be used in the present invention. Many telephone installations can each be equipped with a call controller (4) and all of those can use the same switch (9) or reorigination station(s) (8), subject only to the call bridging capacity of the switch (9).

As outlined herein, one of the major capabilities of the method of the present invention is also that where it is determined that the origin terrninal either automatically or by the user that a particular telephone call should or should not be reoriginated in accordance with the method of the present invention, that certain calls which do not need to be reoriginated can also be just as seamlessly completed as before.

Voice-over Data Redundancy:

It is also contemplated that another layer of functionality or redundancy can be added to the system where the origin terminal and/or the destination terminal are capable of conimunicating with the reorigination station in question via the data network rather than via the local telecommunications network. With the attendant modifications to the system, the method of reorigination of the system of the present invention could then include the possibility to redirect certain legs of certain reoriginated telephone calls over the data network rather than the local telecommunications network and costs for the calls could be further lowered and/or simply another layer of redundancy can be added to the system.

For example, if the data network that was being used to communicate between the call controller and the reorigination stations was the Internet or any similar IP protocol network, if the origin terminal and call controller were capable of voice-over IP communication, and there was similar capability added to the reorigination station switching equipment, the first legs of reoriginated telephone calls could either at all times or on selected occasions be routed to the call controller and into the origin terminal and eventually connected with tlie user interface via voice-over data networking channels rather than through the local telecommunications network.

Similarly, if a selected destination terminal was enabled for voice-over IP or similar voice-over data communications and the reorigination station was capable, upon identification or determination that the destination terminal was capable of receiving a voice-over data call, the second leg of a reoriginated telephone call could be handled by the reorigination station through a data network connection rather than an external telecommunications connection to a destination terminal and the second leg of the reoriginated telephone call in question would then be connected via the data network rather than using a telecommunications network connection. This would, again, provide for some additional redundancy if, for some reason, the standard telecommunications switching equipment was unable to reach the destination terminal desired, or alternative again if it was desired to specifically force the origination of the second leg of a reoriginated telephone call via voice-over data communications for the purposes of saving money or for some other reason.

If both the origin terminal and the destination terminal were capable of voice-over data communications by a data network, and the data network might be the same or different for the origin and destination terminal in question, it is also foreseeable that entire telephone calls could be reoriginated with both legs travelling on voice-over data circuits through the data networks rather than through the typical local telecommunication networks. It will be understood that certain equipment modifications or enhancements would need to be made to the switching equipment at the reorigination station or stations in question, as well as to the origin or destination terminals in question, and that all such necessary equipment modifications or enhancements which would be required or would be obvious to one skilled in the art for the purpose of implementing this additional layer of voice-over functionality are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes all of its stated objectives. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: I claim:

1. A method of reorigination of a telephone call between an origin terminal and a destination terminal through an intermediate reorigination station, wherein said origin terminal is connected to a local telecommunications network and a data network and includes a user interface capable of making and receiving telephone calls via said local telecommunications network, and wherein said reorigination station is connected to said data network such that it can receive call trigger signals from said origin terminal, and wherein said reorigination station is capable of originating telephone calls to each of said origin terminal and destination terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

a) at the origin terminal, receiving dialing coordinates for the desired destination teiminal from a user via the user interface;

b) fransnutting a call trigger from the origin terminal to the reorigination station, wherein said call trigger identifies the origin terminal and the dialing coordinates of said destination terminal;

c) upon receipt of a call trigger by said reorigination station,

i) originating a first telephone call from the reorigination station to the origin teiminal, said telephone call being the first leg;

ii) originating a second telephone call from the reorigination station to the destination terminal, said telephone call being the second leg;

iii) connecting said first leg and said second leg through said reorigination station, yielding a reoriginated telephone call connected between the origin terminal and the destination terminal.

2. The method of Claim 1 wherein said origin terminal includes a call controller, wherein said call confroller:

a) is connected to each of the local telecon munications network, the data network and the user interface of the origin terminal;

b) is capable of communicating with said user interface without engaging the connection of the local telecommunications network and the user interface unless desired;

c) is capable of communicating with said local telecommunications network without engaging the connection of the local telecommunications network and the user interface unless desired; and

d) is capable of connecting said user interface to said local telecommumcations network connection when desired.

3. The method of Claim 2 wherein said call controller is integrated into said user interface.

4. The method of Claim 2 wherein said call controller is a separate hardware unit from said user interface.

5. The method of Claim 2 wherein said call controller will receive said dialing coordinates from said user interface without connecting the user interface to the local telecommunications network.

6. The method of Claim 2 wherein the call controller will fransmit the call trigger to the desired reorigination station upon capture of destination terminal dialing co-ordinates from the user interface.

7. The method of Claim 2 wherein said call controller will receive any corning first telephone call and will connect said first leg telephone call to the user interface without user intervention.

8. The method of Claim 2 wherein said call controller is capable of communicating with more than one reorigination station.

9. The method of Claim 8 wherein said call confroller will select the reorigination station to which to route a call trigger based upon the dialing coordinates of the destination terminal.

10. The method of Claim 8 wherein the reorigination station to which to route a particular call trigger can be selected at tlie user interface.

11. The method of Claim 2 wherein said call confroller is capable of determining which telephone calls from the origin terminal are to be reoriginated based upon the dialing coordinates.

12. The method of Claim 11 wherein said call confroller has preset reorigination parameters stored therein for use in the selection of telephone calls to be reoriginated.

13. The method of Claim 12 wherein the user interface can override the preset reorigination parameters.

14. The method of Claim 13 wherein said override is accomplished by altering the dialing coordinates by the inclusion of an override indicator, and wherein said call confroller will then handle said telephone call in accordance with said override indicator.

15. The method of Claim 11 wherein said call confroller will connect said user interface and said local telecommunications network directly where it is determined that the telephone call in question should not be reoriginated.

16. The method of Claim 15 wherein upon direct connection of the user interface and the local telecommunications network, said call confroller will send the captured destination dialing co-ordinates on to the local telecommunications network such that the telephone call which has been determined should not be reoriginated can be switched conventionally on the local telecommunications network.

17. The method of Claim 2 wherein upon failure of said call confroller, said user interface will become directly connected to said local telecommunications network allowing the direct dialing of telephone calls from the user interface via the local telecommumcations network without the use of a reorigination station.

18. The method of Claim 2 wherein upon failure of the fransmission of a call trigger to a reorigination station, said call controller will direct dial the telephone call over the local telecommunications network and connect that call directly to the user interface.

19. The method of Claim 8 wherein upon failure of the fransmission of a call trigger to a reorigination station, said call confroller will resend the call trigger to an alternative reorigination station.

20. The method of Claim 1 wherein said user interface is also capable of making or receiving telephone calls via said data network.

21. The method of Claim 20 wherein said reorigination station is capable of originating telephone calls via said data network.

22. The method of Claim 21 wherein said first leg is connected to said origin terminal via said data network rather than via said local telecommunications network.

23. The method of Claim 21 wherein said second leg is connected to said destination terminal via said data network.

24. The method of Claim 22 wherein said second leg is connected to said destination terminal via said data network.

25. The method of Claim 22 wherein said call confroller determines whether either of the first leg and second leg should be connected either via the data network or the telecommunications network and includes such indication in the call trigger.

26. The method of Claim 25 wherein the user can select the method of origination of either of the first or second legs of the telephone call via the user interface.

27. The method of Claim 25 wherein the method of origination of either of the first or second legs of the telephone call is determined by said call controller based upon the dialing coordinates and preprogrammed reorigination parameters stored within said call confroller.

28. The method of Claim 25 wherein the call trigger contains instructions to the reorigination station regarding the methods of origination to be used for either of the first or second legs of the telephone call.

29. A system for the placement of reoriginated telephone calls, each telephone call being between an origin terminal and a destination terminal, said system comprising: a) At least one origin terminal, said origin terminal being connected to a local telecommunications network, wherein said origin terminal has a user interface through which a user can input the dialing coordinates for a desired destination terminal, and through which telephone calls can be originated or received via said local telecommunications network;

b) At least one reorigination station having the capability to originate telephone calls to said origin terminal and said destination teirninal;

c) A data network connecting said at least one origin terminal and said at least one reorigination station, whereby call trigger data can be transmitted from said at least one origin terminal to at least one said reorigination station;

d) Wherein upon the entry by a user at the user interface of an origin terrninal of the dialing co-ordinates for a destination terrninal to which it is desired to connect a reoriginated telephone call, said origin terminal will fransmit a call trigger to said at least one reorigination station identifying the origin terminal and containing the destination terminal dialing co-ordinates, via a data network;

e) And wherein upon receipt of a call trigger, said at least one reorigination station will:

i) Originate a first telephone call from said reorigination station to the origin terrninal for connection to the user interface, said telephone call being the first leg;

ii) Originate a second telephone call from said at least one reorigination station to the destination terminal, said second telephone call being the second leg; and iii) Connect said first leg and said second leg, yielding a reoriginated telephone call connecting the original terminal and the destination terminal through the reorigination station.

30. The system of Claim 29 wherein said user interface will remain in an off-hook mode from the time of entry by the user of destination terminal dialing coordinates to the time of completion of said reoriginated telephone call.

31. The system of Claim 29 wherein the number of reorigination stations is one.

32. The system of Claim 29 wherein the number of reorigination stations is more than one.

33. The system of Claim 29 wherein said at least one origin terminal further comprises a call controller, wherein said call confroller:

a) is connected to the user interface of the origin terminal, the local telecommunications network and a data network;

b) is capable of communicating with the user interface of the origin terminal without engaging the connection of the local telecommunications network and the user interface unless desired;

c) is capable of communicating with said local telecommunications network without engaging the connection of a local telecommunications network and the user interface unless desired; and

d) is capable of connecting said user interface to said local telecomrnunications network connection when desired.

34. The system of Claim 33 wherein said call confroller is integrated into said user interface.

35. The system of Claim 33 wherein said call confroller is a separate hardware unit from said user interface.

36. The system of Claim 33 wherein said call confroller will receive the dialing co-ordinates from the user interface without first connecting the user interface to the local telecommunications network.

37. The system of Claim 36 wherein the call confroller will fransmit the call trigger to the desired reorigination station upon capture of the destination terminal dialing co-ordinates from said user interface.

38. The system of Claim 32 wherein the number of reorigination stations is more than one, and said call controller will select the reorigination station to which a call trigger is routed based upon the dialing co-ordinates of the destination terminal.

39. The system of Claim 37 wherein the number of reorigination stations is more than one, and wherein the reorigination station to which to route a particular call trigger can be selected by the user at the user interface.

40. The system of Claim 33 wherein said call confroller is capable of deteimining which telephone calls from the origin terminal are to be reoriginated based upon the dialing co-ordinates entered at the user interface.

41. The system of Claim 40 wherein preset reorigination parameters are stored within said call confroller.

42. The system of Claim 41 wherein said user interface can override the preset reorigination parameters.

43. The system of Claim 42 wherein said override is accomplished by altering the dialing co-ordinates for a telephone call by the inclusion of an override indicator, and wherein said call confroller will then handle said telephone call in accordance with said override indicator.

44. The system of Claim 40 wherein said call confroller will connect said user interface and said local telecommunications network directly for the completion of a telephone call without reorigination, where it is determined by the call controller that the telephone call in question should not be reoriginated.

45. The system of Claim 33 wherein upon failure of said call confroller, said user interface will become directly connected to said local telecommunications network allowing the direct dialing of telephone calls from the user interface via the local telecommunications network without the use of a reorigination station.

46. The system of Claim 33 wherein upon failure of the fransmission of a call trigger to a particular reorigination station, said call confroller will direct dial the telephone call to the destination terminal over the local telecommunications network using the dialing co-ordinates and connect that call directly to the user interface.

47. The system of Claim 32 wherein upon failure of the fransmission of a call trigger to a particular reorigination station, said call confroller will resend the call trigger to an alternate reorigination station.

48. The system of Claim 29 wherein at least one origin terminal is also capable of making or receiving telephone calls via said data network.

49. The system of Claim 48 wherein at least one reorigination station is capable of originating telephone calls via said data network.

50. The system of Claim 49 wherein at least on origin terminal is capable of receiving telephone calls via said a data network.

51. The system of Claim 50 wherein said first leg is connected to said origin terminal via said data network rather than via said local telecommunications network.

52. The system of Claim 50 wherein said second leg is connected to said destination terminal via a data network.

53. The system of Claim 33 wherein said call confroller determines whether either of the first leg or second leg can be connected either via said a data network or said local telecommumcations network and includes such indication in the caU trigger.

54. The system of Claim 53 wherein the user can select the method of origination of either of the first or second legs of the telephone call via the user interface.

55. The system of Claim 53 wherein the method of origination of either the first or second legs of the telephone call is determined by said call confroller based upon the dialing co-ordinates and preprogrammed reorigination parameters stored within said call confroller.

56. The system of Claim 53 wherein the call trigger contains instructions to the reorigination station regarding the method of origination to be used for either of the first or second legs of the telephone call, namely whether to originate either the first or second legs of the telephone call by conventional telecommunications circuit or alternatively over a data network.

7. A call controller for use in the reorigination of telephone calls between an origin terminal and a destination terminal through an intermediate reorigination station, wherein said origin terminal is connected to a local telecommunications network and a data network that includes a user interface capable of making and receiving telephone calls via said local telecommunications network, and wherein said reorigination station is connected to said data network such that it can receive call trigger signals from said origin terrninal, and wherein said reorigination station is capable of originating telephone calls to each of said origin terπiinal and destination terminal, said confroller comprising:

a) a user interface connection wherein the user interface of an origin terminal can be connected to said call confroller;

b) a telecommunication service connection whereby said call confroller can be operatively connected to said local telecommunications network;

c) a data network connection whereby said call confroller can be operatively connected to said data network and will then be capable of communication with said reorigination station;

d) wherein said call confroller can communicate with said user interface without connection of the user interface directly to the local telecommunications network, if desired;

e) wherein said call confroller can communicate with said local telecommunications network without direct connection of said local telecornmunications network with the user interface, if desired;

f) wherein upon initiation of the reorigination of a telephone call, i) said call confroller will receive dialing co-ordinates for the desired destination terminal from a user via the user interface and the user interface connection;

ii) upon receipt of dialing co-ordinates for a destination terminal, said call confroller can fransmit a call trigger to said reorigination station, wherein said call trigger identifies the origin terminal and the dialing co-ordinates of the destination teiminal selected by the user, said call trigger being transmitted via the data network;

g) upon origination by the reorigination station of a first leg telephone call from the reorigination station back to the origin terminal, said call confroller will receive said incoming first leg call and connect same to said user interface; and

h) wherein said first leg is connected to a second leg telephone call from the reorigination station to the destination terminal by the reorigination station yielding a reoriginated telephone call connected between the origin terminal and the destination terminal.

58. The call confroller of Claim 57 wherein said call confroller is integrated into said user interface.

59. The call confroller of Claim 57 wherein said call confroller is a separate hardware unit from said user interface.

60. The call confroller of Claim 57 wherein said call confroller will receive said dialing co-ordinates from said user interface without connecting the user interface to the local telecommunications network.

61. The call confroller of Claim 57 wherein said call confroller will transmit the call trigger to the desired reorigination station upon capture of the destination terminal dialing co-ordinates from the user interface.

62. The call confroller of Claim 57 wherein said call confroller will connect any incoming first leg telephone call to the user interface without user intervention.

63. The call confroller of Claim 57 wherein said call confroller is capable of communication with more than one reorigination station.

64. The call confroller of Claim 63 wherein said call confroller will select the reorigination station to which to route a call trigger based upon the dialing coordinates of the destination terminal.

65. The call confroller of Claim 63 wherein said call controller includes a user interface which allows a user to select the reorigination station to which a particular call trigger will be routed.

66. The call confroller of Claim 57 further comprising preset reorigination parameters stored therein, wherein said call confroller will upon receipt of a set of dialing co-ordinates from the user interface determine the routing of the telephone call and will only reoriginate those telephone calls which it is determined should be reoriginated and will allow the direct completion of any other calls via the local telecommunications network.

67. The call confroller of Claim 66 wherein said user interface can override the preset reorigination parameters which are stored in said call confroller.

68. The call confroller of Claim 66 wherein the user interface and the local telecommunications network will be directly connected through the call controller where it is determined that the telephone call in question should not be reoriginated, without user intervention.

69. The call confroller of Claim 57 wherein said user interface connection will become directly connected to said local telecommunications network connection, allowing the direct dialing of telephone calls from the user interface by the local telecommunications network without the use of a reorigination station.

70. The call confroller of Claim 57 wherein upon failure of the fransmission of a call trigger from said call controller to a reorigination station, said call confroller would direct dial the desired telephone call over the local telecommunications network and connect that call directly between the origin terminal and the destination terminal without further user intervention.

71. The call confroller of Claim 63 wherein upon failure of the fransmission of a call trigger to a reorigination station, said call controller will resend the call trigger to an alternative reorigination station.

72. The call confroller of Claim 57 further comprising voice-over data communication capabilities such that calls can be connected between a reorigination station and the user interface via the data network rather than by the local telecommunications network.