Internet Protocol (IP) address exchange service
Internet Protocol addresses are exchanged between parties to a telephone call. A network server queries a telecommunications switch for the Internet Protocol addresses. Once the Internet Protocol addresses are known, the Internet Protocol addresses may then be shared between parties to the call.
1. A method, comprising:
processing a telephone call from a calling number to a called number;
suspending processing of the telephone call at a network server prior to termination at the called number;
querying a telecommunications switch for the calling number;
retrieving, from the telecommunications switch, a calling party's Internet Protocol address associated with the calling number;
querying the telecommunications switch for the called number;
retrieving, from the telecommunications switch, a called party's Internet Protocol address associated with the called number;
resuming processing of the telephone call at the network server;
sending the calling party's Internet Protocol address over a data network from the network server to the called party's Internet Protocol address; and
sending the called party's Internet Protocol address over the data network from the network server to the calling party's Internet Protocol address.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising terminating the telephone call at the called number.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising querying the telecommunications switch for a day and time of the telephone call.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining the calling number is unlisted.
5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising declining to exchange the called party's Internet Protocol address.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining caller identification information is blocked.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising declining to exchange the called party's Internet Protocol address.
8. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
processing a telephone call from a calling number to a called number;
suspending processing of the telephone call at a network server prior to termination at the called number;
querying a telecommunications switch for the calling number;
retrieving, from the telecommunications switch, a calling party's Internet Protocol address associated with the calling number;
querying the telecommunications switch for the called number;
retrieving, from the telecommunications switch, a called party's Internet Protocol address associated with the called number;
resuming processing of the telephone call at the network server;
sending the calling party's Internet Protocol address over a data network from the network server to the called party's Internet Protocol address; and
sending the called party's Internet Protocol address over the data network from the network server to the calling party's Internet Protocol address.
9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise terminating the telephone call at the called number.
10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise querying the telecommunications switch for a day and time of the telephone call.
11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the calling number is unlisted.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise declining to exchange the called party's Internet Protocol address.
13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining caller identification information is blocked.
14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise declining to exchange the called party's Internet Protocol address.
15. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
processing a telephone call from a calling number to a network server serving a called number;
suspending processing of the telephone call at the network server prior to termination at the called number;
querying a telecommunications switch for the calling number;
retrieving a calling party's Internet Protocol address from the telecommunications switch, the calling party's Internet Protocol address being associated with the calling number;
querying the telecommunications switch for the called number;
retrieving a called party's Internet Protocol address from the telecommunications switch, the called party's Internet Protocol address being associated with the called number;
resuming processing of the telephone call at the network server;
terminating the telephone call at the called number;
sending the calling party's Internet Protocol address during the telephone call as a packet of data over a data network from the network server to a called party's communications device associated with the called party's Internet Protocol address; and
sending the called party's Internet Protocol address during the telephone call over the data network from the network server to a calling party's communications device associated with the calling party's Internet Protocol address.
16. The memory according to claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise terminating the telephone call at the called number.
17. The memory according to claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise querying the telecommunications switch for a day and time of the telephone call.
18. The memory according to claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the calling number is unlisted.
19. The memory according to claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise declining to exchange the called party's Internet Protocol address.
20. The memory according to claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining caller identification information is blocked; and
declining to exchange the called party's Internet Protocol address.