Telephone Number Binding in a Voice-Over-Internet System

Abstract

Telephone number binding in a voice-over-Internet system is provided. One embodiment is a method for provisioning a customer voice-over-Internet device for voice-over-Internet service. One such method comprises: providing a customer voice-over-Internet device for communicating with an existing telephone line and a data network; providing a telephone number associated with the existing telephone line to a voice-over-Internet platform; and linking the existing telephone number to a unique identifier associated with the customer voice-over-Internet device.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A method for provisioning a customer device for voice-over-Internet service, the method comprising:
 simultaneously controlling a data session and a telephone call between a voice-over-Internet platform and a customer device connected to a customer's telephone; and   linking a telephone number received via the telephone call to the customer device, if a transmitted session identifier received via the telephone call matches a session identifier associated with the data session.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the linking a telephone number to a customer device comprises binding the telephone number to a device identifier received via the data session, the device identifier uniquely identifying the customer device. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data session involves a session initiation protocol. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the linking a telephone number to the customer device comprises:
 receiving, via the data session, a device identifier associated with the customer device;   instructing the customer device to initiate the telephone call;   capturing the telephone number via the telephone call; and   instructing the customer device to transmit the session identifier via the telephone call.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data session occurs via the Internet. 
   
   
       22 . A method for provisioning a customer device for voice-over-Internet service, the method comprising:
 establishing a data session between a customer device and a voice-over-Internet platform via a data network;   receiving a device identifier associated with the customer device via the data session;   instructing the customer device, via the data session, to make a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number that terminates at the voice-over-Internet platform;   capturing a telephone number corresponding to the customer device via the telephone call;   instructing the customer device, via the data session, to transmit a session identifier associated with the data session to the voice-over-Internet platform via the telephone call; and   associating the telephone number with the customer device if the transmitted session identifier matches the session identifier.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the establishing a data session involves a session initiation protocol. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the establishing a data session comprises registering with an SIP proxy. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the device identifier comprises a digital certificate stored in the customer device. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the data session comprises an SIP session. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the associating the telephone number with the customer device comprises binding the telephone number to the customer device. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the telephone number is linked to the device identifier. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the data network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the telephone call is a wireless telephone call. 
   
   
       31 .- 50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . A voice-over-Internet platform for binding a telephone number to a customer voice-over-Internet device identifier, the voice-over-Internet platform comprising:
 a first interface for communicating over a data network;   a telephone number binding system coupled to the first interface and configured to receive a customer voice-Internet device identifier, communicate a request via the data network to a customer device associated with the customer voice-over-Internet device identifier;   a second interface coupled to the telephone number binding system for communicating over the public-switched telephone network, the second interface configured to receive a call from the customer device associated with the customer voice-over-Internet device identifier, wherein the telephone number binding system upon receipt of the call, transmits a session identifier over the data network along with a request for the customer voice-over-Internet device to communicate the session identifier via the call, and upon receipt of a session identifier in the call that matches the session identifier transmitted via the data network, the telephone number binding system stores a record that includes a telephone number and the device identifier.   
   
   
       52 . The voice-over-Internet platform of  claim 51 , wherein the telephone number binding system uses the customer voice-Internet device identifier to provision the customer voice-over-Internet device for a voice-over-Internet service. 
   
   
       53 . The voice-over-Internet platform of  claim 52 , wherein voice-over-Internet calls originating from a participating origination device can be directed to the customer voice-over-Internet device over the data network. 
   
   
       54 . The voice-over-Internet platform of  claim 52 , wherein voice-over-Internet calls originating from a non-participating origination device can be directed to the customer voice-over-Internet device over the public-switched telephone network. 
   
   
       55 . The voice-over-Internet platform of  claim 52 , wherein the voice-over-Internet service is provided by a provider functioning absent cooperation of a telephone service provider.