Communication device supporting both internet and public switched telephone network telephony
A voice communication device, supporting both Internet and public switched telephone network telephony, performs call session hand off between Internet and public switched telephone networks. Hand off, with or without user confirmation, may be half or full duplex, yielding common and differing incoming and outgoing call session pathways. In addition to mid-call hand offs, hand off may also be performed as part of the call session setup. Information regarding the destination network is exchanged on the network from which the hand off will occur. Voice communication devices are each configured with a plurality of communication interfaces including a public switched telephone network interface and an Internet interface. Basic full-duplex operations include immediate and mid-call hand offs between the public switched telephone network and Internet. Mixed pathway communication and handoffs using partly Internet and partly public switched telephone network are also contemplated.
1. A voice communication device that communicates with a receiving device via Internet and a public switched telephone network, the receiving device having a telephone number and an Internet identifier, the voice communication device comprising:
a first interface that supports communication via the public switched telephone network (PSTN);
a second interface that supports communication via the Internet;
processing circuitry to:
establish communication with the receiving device via the first interface;
send a request signal via the first interface to the receiving device during setup of a PSTN call and prior to delivery of a ring signal to either one of the voice communication device and the receiving device, the request signal including a request for the Internet identifier of the receiving device;
receive, from the receiving device during setup of a PSTN call and prior to delivery of a ring signal to either one of the voice communication device and the receiving device, a response to the request signal including communication capabilities of the receiving device;
based on the communication capabilities of the receiving device:
drop the communication established via the first interface; and
establish a voice call with the receiving device via the second interface using the Internet identifier of the receiving device.
2. The voice communication device of claim 1 , wherein the Internet identifier comprising an Internet address.
3. The voice communication device of claim 1 , wherein the Internet identifier comprising an Internet handle that is used to retrieve an Internet address.
4. The voice communication device of claim 1 , wherein the request signal comprising caller identification information.
5. The voice communication device of claim 1 , wherein the request signal comprising an audible modulation signal.
6. The voice communication device of claim 5 , wherein the audible modulation comprising an Internet identifier associated with the second interface.
7. A voice communication device, coupled to Internet and a public switched telephone network that communicates with a receiving device, the voice communication device comprising:
a plurality of communication interfaces comprising a public switched telephone network (PSTN) interface coupled to the PSTN and an Internet interface; and
processing circuitry to:
attempt to verify an Internet identifier of the receiving device;
in response to a failure of the verification attempt, establish a voice call with the receiving device via the PSTN interface;
receive, prior to delivery of a ring signal, the Internet identifier of the receiving device during setup of the voice call via the PSTN interface; and
hand off the voice call from the PSTN interface to the Internet interface, using the Internet identifier of the receiving device, to continue the voice call.
8. The voice communication device of claim 7 , wherein the hand off occurs based on user input.
9. The voice communication device of claim 8 , wherein the user input comprising authorization.
10. The voice communication device of claim 8 , wherein the user input comprising a hand off request.
11. The voice communication device of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuitry prompts for the hand off request.
12. The voice communication device of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry performs voice pathway analysis.
13. The voice communication device of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry considers link cost before performing the hand off.
14. A voice communication device that communicates with a remote device, the voice communication device comprising:
a plurality of communication interfaces, the plurality of communication interfaces comprising an Internet interface and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) interface;
processing circuitry communicatively coupled with the plurality of communication interfaces;
the processing circuitry to:
set up a voice call with the remote device via the PSTN interface;
receive, prior to receipt of a ring signal, an inquiry via the PSTN interface regarding communication capabilities from the remote device;
in response to receiving the inquiry, exchange, via the PSTN interface and prior to receipt of a ring signal, electronic information for setting up an Internet voice communication; and
switch the voice call from the PSTN interface to the Internet interface to support a continuing call session.
15. The voice communication device of claim 14 , wherein the remote device, using the information for setting up an Internet voice communication, cooperates with the processing circuitry to switch the voice call.
16. The voice communication device of claim 14 , wherein the information for setting up an Internet voice communication comprising a network identifier.
17. The voice communication device of claim 16 , wherein the network identifier comprising a handle.
18. The voice communication device of claim 16 , wherein the network identifier comprising a telephone number.
19. The voice communication device of claim 16 , wherein the network identifier comprising an Internet address.