Selective processing of calls using alternative network telephony

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for selective processing of calls using alternative network telephony. Called party data is received indicating a destination to which a calling party using a local telephone equipment desires to place a call. It is determined transparently to the calling party whether the called party data satisfies a first criteria for completing calls via alternative network telephony. The call is completed using alternative network telephony if it is determined that the called party data satisfies the first criteria. The call is completed via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) if it is determined that the called party data does not satisfy the first criteria.

1 . A method for selective processing of calls using alternative network telephony, comprising: 
 receiving called party data indicating a destination to which a calling party using a local telephone equipment desires to place a call;    determining transparently to the calling party whether the called party data satisfies a first criteria for completing calls via alternative network telephony;    completing the call using alternative network telephony if it is determined that the called party data satisfies said first criteria; and    completing the call via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) if it is determined that the called party data does not satisfy said first criteria;    whereby the call is completed either using alternative network telephony or via the PSTN automatically and transparently to the calling party depending on whether or not the called party data satisfies said first criteria.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein completing the call via the PSTN comprises acting as a proxy for the calling party.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein acting as a proxy for the calling party comprises: 
 establishing a connection to the destination via the PSTN on behalf of the calling party;    receiving outgoing audio data from the calling party; and    relaying the outgoing audio data to the destination via the PSTN.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 receiving from the destination via the PSTN incoming audio data; and    relaying the incoming audio data to the calling party via the local telephone equipment.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein acting as a proxy for the calling party comprises: 
 establishing a connection to the destination via the PSTN on behalf of the calling party;    receiving from the destination via the PSTN incoming audio data; and    relaying the incoming audio data to the calling party via the local telephone equipment.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein completing the call via alternative network telephony comprises: 
 receiving outgoing audio data at a first local node;    encoding the outgoing audio data at the first local node;    providing the encoded outgoing audio data to local telephone wiring connected to the first local node;    receiving the encoded outgoing audio data at a second local node connected to the local telephone wiring;    decoding the encoded outgoing audio data; and    using alternative network telephony to send the decoded outgoing audio data to the destination.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein encoding comprises frequency encoding.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein frequency encoding comprises frequency modulation.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein frequency encoding comprises using the outgoing audio data to frequency modulate a carrier wave.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the carrier wave has a frequency outside the normal range of incoming and outgoing audio data handled by the system.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein completing the call via alternative network telephony comprises: 
 receiving outgoing audio data at a first local node;    shifting the outgoing audio data up in frequency at the first local node by a first frequency shift;    providing the frequency shifted outgoing audio data to local telephone wiring connected to the first local node;    receiving the frequency shifted outgoing audio data at a second local node connected to the local telephone wiring;    downshifting the frequency shifted outgoing audio data in frequency by the first frequency shift; and    using alternative network telephony to send the downshifted outgoing audio data to the destination.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising establishing an alternative network telephony connection to the destination.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1   1 , further comprising providing a filter to prevent frequency shifted audio signals placed on the local telephone wiring from being passed to the PSTN.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 receiving at the second node, via alternative network telephony, incoming audio data from the destination;    frequency shifting the incoming audio data in frequency by a second frequency shift;    providing the frequency shifted incoming audio data to the local telephone wiring;    receiving the frequency shifted incoming audio data at the first node;    downshifting the frequency shifted incoming audio data by the second frequency shift; and    providing the downshifted incoming audio data to the calling party via the local telephone equipment.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first frequency shift is the same as the second frequency shift.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein completing the call via the PSTN comprises: 
 receiving outgoing audio data at a first local node;    shifting the outgoing audio data up in frequency at the first local node by a first frequency shift;    providing the frequency shifted outgoing audio data to local telephone wiring connected to the first local node;    receiving the frequency shifted outgoing audio data at a second local node connected to the local telephone wiring;    downshifting the frequency shifted outgoing audio data in frequency by the first frequency shift; and    sending the downshifted outgoing audio data to the destination via the PSTN.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising establishing a connection with the destination via the PSTN.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first criteria comprises whether a call to the destination via the PSTN would be a toll call.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first criteria comprises whether the call is one to a destination with respect to which regulations require that special service requirements be met.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first criteria comprises whether the call is to a particular destination.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first criteria comprises whether the call is to 9-1-1 emergency service.  
   
   
       22 . A system for selective processing of calls using alternative network telephony for a telephone equipment associated with local telephone wiring, comprising: 
 an alternative network telephony call processing system having a first connection to the local telephone wiring and a second connection to an alternative network, the call processing system comprising a processor configured to: 
 receive called party data indicating a destination to which a calling party using a local telephone equipment desires to place a call;  
 determine transparently to the calling party whether the called party data satisfies a first criteria for completing calls via alternative network telephony;  
 complete the call via the alternative network using alternative network telephony if it is determined that the called party data satisfies said first criteria; and  
 complete the call via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) if it is determined that the called party data does not satisfy said first criteria;  
   whereby the call is completed either using alternative network telephony or via the PSTN automatically and transparently to the calling party depending on whether or not the called party data satisfies said first criteria.    
   
   
       23 . An alternative network call processing system for selective processing of calls using alternative network telephony for a telephone equipment associated with local telephone wiring, comprising: 
 a first connection to the local telephone wiring;    a second connection to an alternative network;    a call processing system frequency shifter configured to receive via the first connection and downshift frequency shifted audio data in frequency by the same amount by which it had been shifted up in frequency prior to being received by the alternative network call processing system; and    a processor configured to: 
 receive called party data indicating a destination to which a calling party using a local telephone equipment desires to place a call;  
 determine transparently to the calling party whether the called party data satisfies a first criteria for completing calls via alternative network telephony;  
 complete the call via the alternative network using alternative network telephony if it is determined that the called party data satisfies said first criteria; and  
 complete the call via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) if it is determined that the called party data does not satisfy said first criteria;  
   whereby the call is completed either using alternative network telephony or via the PSTN automatically and transparently to the calling party depending on whether or not the called party data satisfies said first criteria.    
   
   
       24 . The alternative network call processing system of  claim 23 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive downshifted outgoing audio data from the call processing system frequency shifter and send the outgoing audio data to the destination via alternative network telephony in the case of a call to be completed via alternative network telephony and via the PSTN in the case of a call to be completed via the PSTN.  
   
   
       25 . The alternative network call processing system of  claim 23 , wherein the call processing system is further configured to: 
 receive incoming audio data from the destination;    modify the incoming audio data; and    provide the modified incoming audio data to the local telephone wiring.    
   
   
       26 . The alternative network call processing system of  claim 25 , wherein the call processing system comprises a call processing system frequency shifter configured to shift received incoming audio data up in frequency by a prescribed frequency shift prior to the frequency shifted incoming audio data being provided to the local telephone wiring.