System and Method for Facilitating Calls Between Packet-Based Networks

Abstract

A method of facilitating calls includes receiving a message at a mediation server from a first device associated with a first packet-based network, the message relating to a second device associated with a second packet-based network. The method also includes identifying first connection information relating to the first device, where the first connection information includes a set of call receipt rules that relates to a format of packet-based data that is acceptable to the first device. The method also includes sending, in response to the message, second connection information related to the second device from the mediation server to the first device.

1 . A method of facilitating calls, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a mediation server, a message addressed to a first device associated with a first packet-based network, the message sent from a second device associated with a second packet-based network;   identifying first connection information relating to the first device, the first connection information including a set of call receipt rules related to a format of packet-based network data that is acceptable to the first device; and   sending, in response to the message, the first connection information from the mediation server to the second device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing, at the mediation server, the first connection information and second connection information, the first connection information including a unique address for each of a first plurality of devices associated with the first packet-based network and a first set of call receipt rules relating to calls to the first plurality of devices, and the second connection information including a unique address for each of a second plurality of devices associated with the second packet-based network and a second set of call receipt rules relating to calls to the second plurality of devices. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mediation server does not provide call signaling information or call data to the first plurality of devices, the second plurality of devices, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first call receipt rules include a packet-based header rule, an allowable sample size ratio, a network access rule, a real time transport protocol/real time control protocol (RTP/RTCP) rule, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to modify the first connection information at the mediation server from a particular device associated with the first packet-based network;   receiving credentials at the mediation server from the particular device associated with the first packet-based network; and   modifying the first connection information according to commands received at the mediation server from the particular device associated with the first packet-based network.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the credentials received at the mediation server from the particular device associated with the first packet-based network allow access to modify the first connection information, but do not allow access to modify the second connection information. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection information is stored at a first information store associated with the mediation server and second connection information is stored at a second information store associated with the mediation server. 
   
   
       8 . A method of facilitating calls, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a first device associated with a first packet-based network, a request to place a call to a second device associated with a second packet-based network;   identifying connection information relating to the second device, the connection information including a set of call receipt rules that relate to a format of packet-based data that is acceptable to the second device;   converting, at the first device, packet-based data associated with the call to the format of packet-based data that is acceptable to the second device; and   sending the converted packet-based data to the second device.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first device provides a calling party with an option to complete the call as a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call or as a circuit switched call. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 routing the call to a media gateway accessible to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) in response to receiving a selection from the calling party indicating the option to place the call as a circuit switched call; and   converting the packet-based data associated with the call at the first device in response to receiving a selection indicating the option to place the call as a VoIP call.   
   
   
       11 . A system to facilitate calls, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including network interface logic executable by the processor to:
 receive a message directed to a first device associated with a first packet-based network, the message sent from a second device associated with a second packet-based network; and 
 send first connection information to the second device, the first connection information including a format of packet-based data that is acceptable to the first device. 
   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory further comprises a communication engine executable by the processor to send the first connection information to the second device after receiving the message. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a network interface to communicate with the first packet-based network via a first private network and communicates with the second packet-based network via a second private network. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory includes a find and retrieval engine executable by the processor to identify and retrieve the first connection information from an information store. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory includes a mapping engine executable by the processor to link the unique packet-based addresses associated with telephony devices of the first packet-based network and the unique packet-based addresses associated with telephony devices of the second packet-based network with respective telephone numbers. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory includes an authentication engine executable by the processor to compare a set of credentials received from a particular device associated with the first packet-based network with a maintained set of credentials stored at an information store. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the memory includes an authorization engine executable by the processor to grant access to the information store when the received set of credentials matches the maintained set of credentials. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the access to the information store includes editing of the first connection information. 
   
   
       19 . A computer-readable medium, comprising:
 operational instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive a message addressed to a first device associated with a first packet-based network, the message sent from a second device associated with a second packet-based network; and   operational instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send first connection information to the second device, the first connection information related to the first device.   
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 19 , further comprising operational instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to retrieve, at a mediation server, the first connection information and second connection information, the first connection information including a unique address for each of a first plurality of devices associated with the first packet-based network and a first set of call receipt rules relating to calls to the first plurality of devices, and the second connection information including a unique address for each of a second plurality of devices associated with the second packet-based network and a second set of call receipt rules relating to calls to the second plurality of devices, wherein the first set of call receipt rules relates to a first format of packet-based data that is acceptable to the first plurality of devices, and wherein the second set of call receipt rules relates to a second format of packet-based data that is acceptable to the second plurality of devices.