Device and method for the recognition of call numbers for voice-over-ip telephony

Abstract

Call numbers are recognized in order to establish a connection from a lie-switched network to a packet-switched network. In one aspect, a device comprises a unit for detecting a selected string of digits as a selected call number, a unit for storing a plurality of authorized call numbers, a comparator unit for comparing the selected all number to the plurality of stored call numbers, and a unit for converting the selected call number into an associated IP address as soon as the comparator unit detest that the selected call number matches one of the stored all numbers.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting dialed digits of a subscriber number for establishing a connection from a circuit-switched network to a packet-switching network comprising the steps of:
 a) storing a plurality of authorized subscriber numbers;   b) detecting a string of digits having a number of digits that is less than the complete number of digits of each of the plurality of stored call numbers;   c) continuously comparing the detected string of digits that are not yet a fully dialed subscriber number with the plurality of stored authorized subscriber numbers;   d) detecting an end of entering of the string of digits as a fully dialed subscriber number such that upon detecting the fully dialed subscriber number the fully dialed subscriber number is stored as a further authorized subscriber number; and   e) converting a desired subscriber number identified from the continuously comparing of the detected string of digits or from the detecting of the fully dialed subscriber number into an associated IP address as soon as the dialed subscriber number matches one of the stored authorized subscriber numbers, wherein the converting of the dialed subscriber number into the IP address comprises converting the identified call number into the IP address based on a routing table received from a server.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein an exchange device performs the detecting of the string of digits, the continuously comparing, the detecting of the end of the entering of the string of digits, and the converting, and the method also comprising:
 detecting at least one additional digit entered into the string of digits to form an updated string of digits that is not yet a fully dialed subscriber number and the exchange device comparing the updated string of digits to the plurality of stored call numbers to identify a desired call number that corresponds to the updated string of digits from the plurality of stored call numbers.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein when the end of a sequence of digits is identified on the basis of a predetermined specific character or exceeding a predetermined period of time after a dialed number. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stored authorized subscriber numbers are sorted according to their frequency of use. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising:
 deleting a stored authorized subscriber number having a lowest frequency of use in response to a memory for storing the authorized subscriber numbers is at a pre-selected storage capacity.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein stored authorized subscriber numbers are sorted according to their storage age. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 deleting an oldest stored authorized subscriber number in response to a memory for storing the authorized subscriber numbers is at a pre-selected storage capacity.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the stored authorized subscriber numbers has at least one placeholder that is used when comparing the dialed subscriber number to the plurality of authorized stored subscriber numbers to only compare a number of digits that is less than a number of digits in a fully dialed subscriber number. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for detecting dialed digits of a subscriber number for establishing a connection from a circuit-switched network to a packet-switching network, the apparatus comprising:
 a digit sequence detection unit configured to detect a string of digits as dialed subscriber number;   a non-transitory subscriber number storage unit configured to store a plurality of authorized subscriber numbers;   a detection unit configured to detect an end of a selected number sequence such that when an end of a fully dialed subscriber number is recognized the fully dialed subscriber number is stored in the subscriber number storage unit as an authorized subscriber number;   a comparator unit configured to continuously compare a not yet fully dialed subscriber number with the plurality of authorized subscriber numbers stored in the subscriber number storage unit; and   a conversion unit configured to convert the dialed subscriber number into an associated IP address as soon as the comparator unit detects a match of the dialed subscriber number with one of the stored subscriber numbers, converting of the dialed subscriber number into the IP address comprises converting the identified call number into the IP address based on a routing table received from a server.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the detection unit is configured to recognize the end of the digit sequence on the basis of a predetermined specific character or exceeding a predetermined period of time after a dialed number. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the storage unit is configured to sort the stored authorized subscriber numbers according to their frequency of use; and
 wherein the apparatus is configured to delete a stored authorized subscriber number having a lowest frequency of use in response to the storage unit being at a pre-selected storage capacity.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the storage unit is configured to sort the stored subscriber numbers according to their storage age; and
 wherein the apparatus is configured to delete an oldest stored authorized subscriber number in response to the storage unit being at a pre-selected storage capacity.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the stored authorized subscriber numbers contain at least one wildcard character that is used by the comparator unit to only compare a number of digits that is less than a number of digits in a fully dialed subscriber number. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , comprising:
 an IP-signaling unit configured to perform signaling in the packet-switching network based on the IP address.   
     
     
         29 . A method for recognizing selected digits of a call number comprising:
 an exchange device storing a plurality of call numbers, each of the stored call numbers having a complete number of digits;   the exchange device receiving a string of digits;   the exchange device continuously comparing the received string of digits to the plurality of stored call numbers to identify a desired call number of the plurality of stored call numbers that corresponds to the received string of digits; and   the exchange device sending an inquiry to a server to learn what IP address corresponds to the desired call number identified from the continuously comparing of the received string of digits as soon as the desired call number is identified; and   the exchange device converting the desired call number into an IP address based on a response to the inquiry received from the server.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , comprising:
 the exchange device deleting a stored call number of the plurality of stored call numbers based on a predetermined criteria, wherein the predetermined criteria for deleting of the stored call number being the stored call number having a lowest frequency of use or the stored call number being stored for a longest period of time.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the string of digits comprises prefix digits for a private branch exchange. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein at least one call number of the plurality of stored call numbers has at least one placeholder as a digit in the at least one call number. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein at least one call number of the plurality of stored call numbers has at least one placeholder as a digit in the at least one call number. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the string of digits has a number of digits that is less than the complete number of digits of each of the plurality of stored call numbers; and
 wherein the exchange device sending the inquiry to the server to learn what IP address corresponds to the desired call number identified from the continuously comparing of the received string of digits occurs as soon as the desired call number is identified and prior to the complete number of digits of the desired call number being entered.