Method And System For Communicating Across Telephone And Data Networks

Abstract

A method and system for communicating across telephone and data networks are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises receiving a first call from a first user phone that converts the first call from a format of a first local phone network to a first digital call. The first digital call is transmitted over a large area data network. The first digital call is converted to a format of a second local phone network to generate a second call. The second call is transmitted to a second user phone over the second local phone network. A real-time bi-directional voice communication session is established between the first user phone and the second user phone.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising: 
 providing a local phone number to a first user phone connected to a first local phone network, the local phone number usable to call a second user phone connected to a second local phone network, wherein the local phone number is not a second user phone's phone number;    receiving a first call from the first user phone dialing the local phone number that converts the first call from a format of the first local phone network to a first digital call;    transmitting the first digital call over a large area data network;    converting the first digital call to a format of a second local phone network to generate a second call;    transmitting the second call to a second user phone over the second local phone network; and    establishing a real-time bi-directional voice communication session between the first user phone and the second user phone.    
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 initiating the voice communication session by selecting an URL that links to a server on the large area data network, the server executing instructions to initiate the first call.    
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a caller having access to the first user phone with a first phone number to reach the second user phone.  
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a callee having access to the second user phone with a second phone number to reach the first user phone.  
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , further comprising providing the first user phone with the second phone number via a caller ID system, and providing the second user phone with a first phone number via the caller ID system.  
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , further comprising initiating subsequent voice communication sessions by dialing the first phone number.  
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 initiating the voice communication session by receiving an initial call on a local access number from the first user phone;    receiving a second user phone number from the first user phone; and    providing a caller having access to the first user phone with a second phone number for reaching the second user phone.    
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein the second phone number is provided to the caller via a message, the message including an e-mail or an SMS.  
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the voice communication session is established according to rules established by a caller having access to the first user phone.  
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the voice communication session is established according to rules established by a callee having access to the second user phone.  
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the local phone number is provided to the second user phone as caller ID information.  
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the local phone number is determined by using a geographic assignment process.  
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting the first user phone to a voicemail system of the second phone user when the first user phone is not approved to make calls to the second user phone.  
     
     
         14 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform: 
 providing a local phone number to a first user phone connected to a first local phone network, the local phone number usable to call a second user phone connected to a second local phone network, wherein the local phone number is not a second user phone's phone number;    receiving a first call from the first user phone dialing the local phone number that converts the first call from a format of the first local phone network to a first digital call;    transmitting the first digital call over a large area data network;    converting the first digital call to a format of a second local phone network to generate a second call;    transmitting the second call to a second user phone over the second local phone network; and    establishing a real-time bi-directional voice communication session between the first user phone and the second user phone.    
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , having stored thereon-additional instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform: 
 initiating the voice communication session by selecting an URL that links to a server on the large area data network, the server executing instructions to initiate the first call.    
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , having stored thereon-additional instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform providing a caller having access to the first user phone with a first phone number to reach the second user phone.  
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , having stored thereon-additional instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform providing a callee having access to the second user phone with a second phone number to reach the first user phone.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , having stored thereon-additional instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform providing the first user phone with the second phone number via a caller ID system, and providing the second user phone with the first phone number via the caller ID system.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , having stored thereon-additional instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform initiating subsequent voice communication sessions by dialing the first phone number.  
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , having stored thereon-additional instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform: 
 initiating the voice communication session by receiving an initial call on a local access number from the first user phone;    receiving a second user phone number from the first user phone; and    providing a caller having access to the first user phone with a second phone number for reaching the second user phone.    
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein a second phone number is provided to the caller via a message, the message including an e-mail or an SMS.  
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the voice communication session is established according to rules established by a caller having access to the first user phone.  
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the voice communication session is established according to rules established by a callee having access to the second user phone.  
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the local phone number is provided to the second user phone as caller ID information.  
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the local phone number is determined by using a geographic assignment process.  
     
     
         26 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , having stored thereon-additional instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform connecting the first user phone to a voicemail system of the second phone user when the first user phone is not approved to make calls to the second user phone.