Protocol converter
The invention provides a system, method and apparatus for connecting a target telephone with Voice Mail System in a network comprising Centrex or other TDM telephones and VoIP (or SIP) type telephones. The invention provides a system for the connection of a target telephone with a Voice Mail System in a network using a protocol converter that is connectable to a PSTN network and an IP network and a voice mail system. The converter may comprise instructions; computer memory and a processor. The converter converts message signals between SIP signals and SMDI signals as may be required and then directs the message signals to a target telephone, which may be through an IP Gateway. The system may further comprise a management console or an end office facility. An Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers may also be provided with the system.
1 . A system for directing messages between a target telephone and a Voice Mail System in a network comprising:
a protocol converter that:
i) is connected to a PSTN network and an IP network and a voice mail system;
ii) comprises computer readable instructions; computer memory and a processor; and
iii) converts an SMDI message to an SIP message and directs the SIP message to the target telephone.
2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a VoIP Gateway.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a management console.
4 . The system of claim 1 further comprising an end office facility.
5 . The system of claim 1 further comprising an Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers.
6 . An apparatus for directing messages between a target telephone and a Voice Mail System comprising:
(a) interfaces for connecting the apparatus to a PSTN network, an IP network and a Voice Mail System;
(b) computer readable instructions to convert an SMDI message to an SIP message and direct the SIP message to the target telephone;
(c) computer memory; and
(d) a processor.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a management console.
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an IP Gateway.
9 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least one interface comprises an RS-232 serial connector.
10 . The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers.
11 . A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a computerized method for delivering a message associated with a Voice Message System to a target telephone comprising:
(a) routing an SMDI message associated with a telephone call forwarded in conjunction with a target telephone to a Voice Message System;
(b) routing an SMDI message associated with the telephone call to a Protocol Converter;
(c) converting the SMDI message, using the Protocol Converter, to an SIP message when the target telephone is an SIP Phone; and
(d) directing the SIP message to the target telephone when the target telephone is an SIP Phone.
12 . The medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises an Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers.
13 . The medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises routing converted messages through an IP Gateway to the target telephone.
14 . In a network wherein telephone calls are forwarded to a Voice Message System, a method for routing messages to a target telephone, comprising:
(a) routing an SMDI message associated with the forwarded call to a Protocol Converter;
(b) converting the SMDI message, using the Protocol Converter, to an SIP message when the target telephone is an SIP Phone; and
(c) directing the SIP message to the target telephone.
15 . The method of claim 16 further comprising routing an SMDI message associated with a telephone call forwarded in conjunction with the target telephone to a Voice Message System;
16 . A set of application program interfaces embodied on a computer readable medium for execution on a computer in conjunction with an application program that routes an SMDI message associated with a telephone call forwarded in conjunction with a called target telephone to a Voice Message System, comprising:
(a) a first interface that receives an SMDI message input from a Voice Message System;
(b) a second interface that converts an SMDI message to an SIP message; and
(c) a third interface that routes an SIP message or an SMDI message to the target telephone.
17 . The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising: a fourth interface for receiving input from a softswitch proxy.
18 . The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising: a fifth interface for receiving input from a PSTN Network.
19 . The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising: a sixth interface for receiving input from a management console.
20 . The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising: a seventh interface for receiving input from an IP Network Gateway.
21 . The set of application program interfaces of claim 16 further comprising: an eighth interface for input from an Electronic Numbering facility comprising phone numbers convertible between PSTN numbers and SIP numbers.