Efficient communication through networks

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DESCRIPTION

Efficient communication through networks

REFERENCE TO PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS ALONG WITH THE CURRENT

This application is a continuation in part of United States Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 320,269, filed October 11, 1994.

SECTOR OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a system to provide transparent access to different types of communication networks that may be incompatible with each other, and some of which may be incompatible with the equipment used by the originating participant of the call or by the destination participant. of the call, routing at minimum cost in said system, maintaining the quality of communication in said system, prioritizing the routing of said communications, evaluating different communication access locations to determine where to send a communication, synchronizing communications, blocking incoming communications while waiting to finish synchronization, and minimizing the cost of communications using said system. This system also controls and records the services used by each of the unrelated service providers. This information is then used for billing purposes and for the payment of service providers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, when communication services are offered on a global basis, communications are established through the equipment of a number of service providers located in different countries. This communication is dominated by large operators that have formed the global network through mutual agreements. Smaller competing operators, who can offer the same service at lower prices, usually do not have mutual agreements with each other.

The invention provides these smaller competing operators access to each other, without using the large operators. This access provides the originating participant of the call (for example, a subscriber of a smaller competing operator), the option of obtaining an optimal service at lower prices, while ensuring that the appropriate service providers receive their payment. The originating party of the call can thus have cheaper access to different types of telecommunication networks that they may not have access to under the current large operator system. It may be more economical or it may be preferable for the caller to use smaller operators to communicate with another location by routing communication over a digital data network, rather than an analog voice network, or by routing communication over a network search, rather than a cellular network or a combination of networks.

EP0664658 describes a system that supplies packed data representing radio signals to and from cell sites, and to and from a destination point through a fast packet network. Document JP05145551 describes a communication protocol converter to be used between a TCP / IP protocol and an X.25 protocol.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for communication between two access devices through one or more networks is disclosed, comprising the following steps: (a) receiving a transmission in a first format through a first communication network from a first access device, the first format comprising a telecommunication protocol to establish and transmit voice communication for a telephone call in one of: digital telephone network, analog telephone network, and cellular network; (b) carrying out a first conversion by converting the transmission from the first format to a second format, the second format being an internet protocol; sending the converted transmission through a second communication network, the second communication network being a data network, for reception by a second access device; and (c) carrying out a second conversion by further converting the converted transmission from the second format to another additional format suitable for the second access device, wherein the first access device and the second access device comprise telecommunication nodes. , and said additional format comprises said first format or another telecommunication protocol. The step of selecting a route for transmission based, at least, on a criterion defined by user preference and / or comprising the step of storing at least one of: subscriber information, rates, and call details.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for communication between two access devices through one or more networks is disclosed, comprising: (a) means for receiving a transmission in a first format through a first communication network from a first access device, the first format comprising a telecommunication protocol to establish and transmit voice communication for a

ES 2 460 873 T3 telephone call in one of: digital telephone network, analog telephone network and a cellular network; (b) means for carrying out a first conversion by converting the transmission from the first format to a second format, the second format being an internet protocol; sending the converted transmission through a second communication network, the second communication network being a data network, for reception by a second access device; and (c) means for carrying out a second conversion that further converts the converted transmission from the second format to another format suitable for the second access device, wherein the first access device and the second access device comprise nodes of telecommunication and said additional format comprises said first format or another telecommunication protocol.

The transmission can be sent from the first access device serially to a first central node, the data network, a second central node, and the second access device. The transmission may be related to the establishment or transmission of voice communication for a telephone call from an originating participant of the call connected to the first access device to a destination participant of the call connected to the second access device.

The first communication network can be one of: an analog telephone network, a digital telephone network, and a cellular network.

The originating participant of the call can be connected to the first access device to transmit and receive voice communication for a telephone call and the destination participant of the call is connected to the second access device to transmit and receive the voice communication of the call. telephone.

The second conversion can be carried out on the second access device. The second access device can be connected to a central office of a telecommunication network.

Means may be provided for selecting a route for transmission based at least on criteria defined by user preference. The at least one criterion may comprise at least one of a specified level of transmission quality; credit availability of the participant originating the call and routing cost.

The transmission may comprise the execution of a call organization process.

The means for storing, at a minimum, subscriber information, rates, and call details.

The transmission may refer to a fax transmission and / or the transmission comprises signal messages.

According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for use in a communication network, comprising: a central switching unit that transparently sends information with an interception device to users of a call originating participant access number and a call destination participant access number, said central switching unit being sensitive to the information received from the interception device to check the availability of the access number of the participant destination of the call in receiving an incoming call from the central switching unit, to bridge with a call to the number of access of the participant originating the call, by bridging said central switching unit calls to the access number of the participant originating the call and the access number of the participant destination of the call in response to having found out that the access number of the participant destination of the call is available, receiving the unit central switching the information from the interception device in a first format comprising a telecommunication protocol through a first communication network, converting the information from a first format to a second format, sending the converted information to the access number of the participant destination of the call using a second communication network, and converting the information from the second format to another suitable format for the access number of the participant destination of the call, said additional format comprising said first format or another telecommunication protocol. The established communication can be bidirectional.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will be made to the following description and accompanying drawings, although the scope of the invention is as defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a conceptual block diagram indicating the principles of operation of the method of the invention for interrogating over a data network and transmitting voice over the data network.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an overview of the system having two servers in nodes connected to an Internet backbone.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a telephone server.

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Figure 4 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart showing routing for versatility and transmission priority.

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a flow chart showing the sync connection.

Figures 7A-7G are schematic representations showing different types of communication routing techniques.

Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a central local node that interacts with networks.

Figure 9 is a conceptual block representation that constitutes another variation of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Fig. 1, a schematic drawing is shown depicting a method of sending a voice transmission or a digital transmission to a local node. For ease of understanding, this drawing is the same as Figure 1 of current pending US patent application No. serial 08 / 320,269 (application, '269), filed on October 11, 1994 by the present inventor with the title METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE EFFICIENT USE OF TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS (as modified), whose content is incorporated into the current one by title reference.

The '269 application describes a technique by which hotels, and other similar establishments, can make use of international call-back technology. The reference numerals of Figure 1 of the '269 application are the same as those of Figure 1 of the present application, that is, a telecommunications network -10-, a location -12-, origin of the call, a location -14- destination of the call, a transparent or intercepting telecommunications node -16-, a first central local node -18-, data network -20-, central office -22-, second central local node -24-, phone call -26-, link -28- to the central local node -18-, link -30- to the external channel -20-, link -32- to the second central local node -24-, line -36- through which a first telephone call is made - 27- to interrogate the location -14-, destination of the call and through which a signal -38- of call supervision status is forwarded, a callback -40-, a call signal not completed -42-, a message -44-, a reverse answer supervision signal -47- and a call location -48- making a call -50A- or receiving a callback -52A-.

The call location -12- may be the place where the data transmission originates or where a voice communication originates for eventual reception by the location -14- origin of the call. Although telephone calls are really an intended form of communication, the invention covers any type of communication, whether it involves public service telephone networks, cellular networks, paging networks, data networks, analog networks, etc. A call has to be interpreted as any form of communication over a network and is not limited to voice telephone calls only.

While this technique is particularly suitable for call-back situations that use a voice network, it is also applicable to the use of digital data-based networks, such as the computer internet network. For example, instead of routing a call directly between locations -A- and -B- using -X- technology, it may be more economical to use callbacks from location -C- to location -A- and from location - C- to location -B- using -Y- technology.

As used in this application, the term "call originating participant" indicates the initiator of the transmission or communication, which includes originating participants of calls over telephone networks, subscribers using data, cellular or paging networks, and the like. The term "call destination" participant indicates the final recipient of the transmission or communication from the call originating participant and with whom the communication is being carried out. The destination participant of the call can include users of telephone networks, cellular networks, search networks, data networks, etc. whose access device in the network serves as the destination to which the transmission or communication is directed from the participant originating the call.

In addition to transmitting voice over the telecommunication network 10, the voice can be converted into digital form in a conventional way, for example, it can be compressed into data packets or it can be sampled. At the first central local node -18-, the call from the call origin location -12- is converted into a data signal which is then sent over a data network, such as the data network - 20- to the destination location of the call -14-. Before reaching the destination participant of the call, the data signal is reconverted into voice at the central office -22- (or control location) for transmission to the destination -14- through a public communications network or other telephone line. connection -36-. This transaction dispenses with the use of international telephone networks and instead uses local calls. All internode connections take place over the data network.

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Furthermore, by transmitting voice over a data network, the need for redial over a telephone network is dispensed with, to save costs. Since data transmissions are virtually instantaneous, the costs associated with waiting times to transmit voice over conventional telephone networks are avoided, even the costs associated with waiting times to make a connection on a call-back over a conventional telephone network. .

Each node is capable of communicating with other nodes in order to route the communication and act as a transit node, conducting investigations to determine the availability of the destination participant to receive the communication, and even finding out which network it is having. participant access at the current time, so that communication can be routed there. For example, a node on the destination participant of the call can be pre-programmed with all the different forms of communication networks and contact IDs that the participant may have access to, along with their addresses, access numbers or other types of information. identification to access them from the node.

After receiving a request requesting the availability of the participant to receive a communication, the node of the participant destination of the call that has the identification or higher number associated with the participant destination of the call, checks the situation of each of these communication networks in different access locations to determine if any of them is being accessed by said participant at that time. In this regard, the participant destination of the call will have previously designated the main identifications (addresses, etc.) or telephone numbers where he wishes to receive communication and which networks have to be used.

For example, the check may reveal that the caller's target party's computer is logging in or that the phone is on-hook, and so on. In this case, the node has identified where the participant can be reached and then contacts the node that made the query to send an authorization code for billing credit purposes, so that the node of the destination participant the call can carry out communication through this identified communication network. The authorization code limits the duration and services that can be provided. Alternatively, the system can send the authorization code along with the inquiry.

The querying node sends the authorization code after checking with a central node manager to clear all transactions and logging all network events. The central node may be part of a distributed network of central nodes responsible for billing. After the call destination participant node receives the authorization code and authenticates it for billing purposes, communication with the participant can be established over the identified communication network that has been located and determined to be accessible with transparency for the end user. An appropriate signal is transmitted to the requesting node in the sense that communication can be initiated between the participants.

Next, an example of locating the destination participant of the call will be described. It will be assumed that the participant is for half a year in North America using a NACN cellular network and the rest of the time in Europe using a GSM internet network using a laptop. In normal situations, these two forms of networks are not compatible, so direct communication is not possible. However, this situation is corrected by communicating with a node that is programmed with information regarding which of the possible networks the participant may be using. If the node is in contact with the NACN system, it is also in contact with a node that is in contact with the GSM system. Both nodes check their respective cellular systems to locate which of them the participant is accessing or has had access to, or which one has disconnected. Once the accessible location has been identified, the contact can be made from a regular telephone to the laptop which converts and routes the voice via data to the laptop, where it is converted back to voice.

As an example of operation, the subscriber of the service provider first contacts a central local node providing the identity access number or identification of the participant originating the call, and the access or identification number of the participant destination of the call, thus such as the desired type of service in regards to routing preferences, service providers, transmission quality level, transmission timing, etc.

The central local node investigates the nodes of the target party of the call to locate the network that the target party of the call is accessing. For example, a node of a call destination participant may be programmed with access information on all possible networks that the call destination participant can use, for example, cellular, computer, paging, etc. This node of the destination participant of the call then tries to find out where the destination participant of the call is or where it is likely to be, and then informs the central local node that the communication can be sent to it after receiving a authorization number for the transaction.

The central local node provides said authorization, possibly after checking, first, with the central node that manages the billing, determining that the participant originating the call or service providers, satisfy the financial conditions to allow the service and payment. future. If the local nodes

ES 2 460 873 T3 exchanges carry out a minimum routing cost analysis, for example, and determine that a callback from the destination participant of the call is the most economical way to carry out the transaction and both the service provider of the originating participant of the call, as the service provider of the destination participant of the call has received authorization, then the originating service provider will be billed. The central node records all these transactions for billing purposes.

Call origin participants can dial anywhere in the world for the price of a local access and service fee, avoiding the use of long distance operators. Users can make these calls to have voice conversations and send fax messages to remote locations. To carry out voice calls, a local system is dialed through computer access or a normal telephone that asks users for the number of the participant destined for the call or their identification and then connects them to the participant destined for the call. call over the Internet or another data network, for example by connecting them through a node using a local call or through other networks. For example, a call source participant may have access to a node that converts the transmission into data to support the network of its choice. For example, you can connect to another node, which converts the transmission to voice, and then connects the communication to a local call to the destination participant of the call, with the node of the destination participant of the call being managed by an independent service provider located anywhere, for example, in another country. Of course, the connection takes place only after having received authorization to make the local call.

To send fax messages, the call party sends a fax message to a central local node and the fax message is then sent to the call destination party via the Internet or another data network. The fax message can be sent in real time or in store and send mode for later delivery as part of a subsequent batch transmission, depending on the preferences of the caller originating party.

The present invention provides for the option of using a single communication device, such as a multimedia laptop, to initiate and receive all forms of communication by making contact with a node or receiving contact from a node in accordance with the invention, and providing it with address. access identification and an access address of the participant destination of the call, telephone number or other type of identity code and any preferences regarding transmission, such as transmission quality level, service providers, cost time, transmission (for example, real time or store and send later), security, encryption, etc.

In a transparent way to the caller originating party using the laptop, the node takes charge of any other subsequent action, such as locating the caller's destination participant, managing billing and obtaining authorization to carry out transactions through individual service providers. in a remote location, determining the preferred route to route communications even through other incompatible networks by conveniently converting the transmissions, checking the transmission quality level and ensuring that the transmission satisfies the preferences.

In addition to having access to a data network, the laptop may have appropriate software / hardware that gives it access to a cellular digital data packet, and via a built-in fax modem, to a telephone network. In this way, the laptop can be in contact with the node through any of these different communication networks and can communicate through any of these communication networks as well, including making two-way voice calls.

Other applications of the invention relate to transmissions through switched public networks ("frame relay"), conventional switched asynchronous transfer modes and other conventional data networks, such as the Internet. Frame relay is an international standard for efficiently managing high-speed data over broad area networks that uses network bandwidth only when there is traffic to send. The synchronous transfer mode allows users to combine voice, video and data on a single telephone line and operates at speeds of Gigabytes per second in which usable capacity is segmented into fixed-size cells, each consisting of a header and information fields assigned to on-demand services. The Internet network differs from frame relay mode and synchronous transfer mode by using an Internet transmission / program control protocol, which is a set of protocols developed by the Department of Defense to link dissimilar computers. through a number of other networks and protocols.

Referring to Figure 2, several remote nodes -50-, -52-, -54- of the Internet backbone network -56- have been shown. Each of the remote nodes has a telephone server -60- and an Internet server -62-, although a common server can alternatively be used to provide both functions. The Internet server -62- has access to the Internet trunk -56-. Both servers -60-, -62- are networked using Internet transmission / program control protocol TCP / IP, which is a set of protocols that link dissimilar computers over a number of other networks and protocols, such as as conventionally used in local area networks, minicomputers and large computers, or are networked with a router in the case of an ATM. Subscribers -64- dial the telephone server -60- and receive service from it, which is a device

ES 2 460 873 T3 based on a computer with conventional hardware and software for processing voice and fax messages, in order to establish a connection with one of the nodes in a remote position. Subscribers have access to the servers using any of the conventional commercial type telephone and fax machines.

Referring to Figure 3, a call originating party interface -70-, operator interface -72- and a public switched telephone network PSTN interface -74- are shown. The subscriber interface -70 provides the subscribers or participants originating the call with an Internet telephone and fax service through the Internet server -62- of the remote nodes (see figure 2). The originating party of the call can dial the subscriber interface 70 via voice or data lines, for example with a normal computer or laptop. The PSTN interface 74 has lines that are used for internal calls and lines that are used for external calls. These internal calling lines lead to industry standard dialog hardware or a modem, so that when a specific number is called, the identity, identification or password of the caller originating party is checked for validity.

If it is determined to be valid, the originating party of the call is asked to indicate which service it desires, so that communication can be routed accordingly, via voice or data networks. The participant destination of the call, receives contact to determine the availability to receive the communication. If available, communication is established through the desired service. Otherwise, if real-time communication is desired, the call party is notified that the contact is not available.

If the storage and forwarding method is the one desired for communication, then the target party of the call is monitored until contact is possible, at which time the communication can be transmitted. A store-and-forward communication is one in which the desired communication, such as a telecopy transmission, is stored until it can be sent according to other criteria, such as batch format or off-peak rates.

The voice process involves the call process and the content process. The call process involves physically moving the call, for example by switching. The content process involves the actual interaction with the content of the call, such as digitization, storage, recognition, compression, multiplexing, editing, or use as input in a computer program.

The operator interface -72- includes designated representatives of the service provider to interact with the system through a personal computer console to carry out essential functions, such as subscriber administration, rate management, billing and system administration. . These functions are accessible remotely by dialing.

Figure 4 shows the functional hardware. In addition to the aforementioned fundamental external interfaces, the internal functional blocks include, as represented by blocks in the diagram, a database -76-, call management -78-, switching, voice and fax messages. -80-. The horizontal links -82- on each side of the switching and voice message block -80- are voice routes. All other remaining links 84 are data flow paths.

The database -76- is a database management system, which is used as a repository for subscriber information, rates, call details and configuration information required to manage the system and the franchise. Switching through block 80 is necessary to establish voice or fax communication between the source and destination participant of the call. Pre-recorded audio messages are interpreted by a voice route through voice messages for greeting purposes, indicating normal progress of the call organization and checking the system load situation, subscriber account status and error calculations . Voice messages refer to a small set of messages with the breadth of the system and not to arbitrary voicemail messages.

Calls originating from the PSTN interface are detected by the voice message switching block -80-, which also communicates with the call management -78- to establish a link with the node of the participant destination of the call to through the Internet server -62- of figure 2 or a voice or data line and to determine which message has to be reproduced, if any. The call management -78-, manages the call organization requests from the subscriber interface -70- side or the PSTN interface -74- side to send call organization instructions to the subscriber interface - 70- and the voice message switching block -80-. It maintains information on the status of the subscriber interface and PSTN lines. The call management -78- is configurable to verify the availability of credit before organizing a call with other nodes if necessary and to control the call to send voice messages and call termination instructions when the credit is exhausted. It manages call logging situations by recording call detail information in the database for eventual billing purposes and sending relevant instructions directly to the subscriber interface -70-.

To establish a call, the following steps can take place:

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The dialogic hardware answers the call. The voice message switching block -80- sends a message to the answered call through the voice processing unit requesting the introduction of an access number of the participant destination of the call, which after its introduction is received and stored. The call management -78- checks the database -76- regarding the user's billing status. If invalid, the voice processing unit plays a message and the call is disconnected. Otherwise, for valid call origins, call management 78 triggers subscriber interface 70 to send a request packet over the Internet or another data or voice line; the request packet consists of the number of the call destination participant or his identification and may comprise an authorization code.

After receiving the packet at a remote central local node, the remote central local node will dial the number of the destination party of the call or enter its address, carry out call analysis and send the result back to the subscriber interface at the source node. The call management -78- checks the result of the analysis. If the connection link has been established then the call begins. Otherwise, the voice message switching block 80 alerts the user via the voice processing unit with a message and options, such as dialing another number or leaving a message in a voice message box. After terminating the call, the billing information will be stored in the database 76 for further processing by an operator interface 72.

Figure 5 shows a technique to gain access to a greater number of telecommunication networks. Normal transmission from an access device is intercepted by an interception device that routes the transmission to a central local node. An investigation is carried out at the central local node as to which route is available for the specific service.

After determining the available route, the central local node determines all the available nodes that can provide this service for the terminal of the call destination party. The central local node then selects a specific available node based on considerations such as cost, line quality, and security and priority. The central local node checks with an internal database to determine the networks available at the terminal of the call destination participant, the identity of the service providers that provide these networks through different nodes, and the different transmission costs associated with the criteria defined by the client. The network access devices supported in the terminal of the destination participant of the call, can be a telecopier, telex, voice telephone, cellular telephone, radio telephone, data entry terminal, etc. (different types of communication access devices). Transmission costs associated with customer-defined criteria include customer preferences for specific network types, encryption security, and / or transmission priority, such as streaming or in a storage and delivery format, such as it is defined in the client message.

A software-defined network can be used to maintain quality (for example, after detecting a quality degradation, the transmission bandwidth can be expanded according to transmission instructions or prioritization thereof). If the data packets do not arrive quickly enough, then the quality can be increased by increasing the bandwidth within predetermined bandwidth parameters according to other users of voice data.

A call originating party may prefer transmission to take place over a dedicated, secure line, but does not care about the route taken by the transmission acknowledgment or reply. As a result, the acknowledgment or reply can be routed over unspecialized lines and through any communication networks, even between selected networks, which are preferred by the originating party of the call. For example, the originating party of the call may want the acknowledgment or reply routed via cellular or computer network services.

These customer preferences can be found in the database associated with the calling party and can be interpreted by central local nodes. The central local nodes then instruct the responsible nodes for the return routing of the reply or acknowledgment following the desired preferences.

A customer may prefer that a telecopier message be transmitted immediately rather than delayed by batch format or vice versa. The telecopier message is sent to a central local node (at the source). After initializing the system, that is, having an operator lack (“default”) -90-, check the client's preferences for the operator of a service provider -92- and check the client's preferences to select the desired service -94 -, the central local node determines in -96- if there are any other central local nodes (CLN) of a minimum cost routing table (LCR), A containing a list of central local nodes connected to service providers on different networks and their costs to provide the service.

If there are more central local nodes, the next one in -98- is selected. A determination is made at -100- as to whether or not peak hour rates apply based on current time.

A database table -102- can be referenced to determine the average call duration for

ES 2 460 873 T3 customer location service to help deduce the most cost effective route based on usage history. A minimum cost routing comparison is performed at -104- to determine if a new central local node connection to the service provider offers a more favorable rate, based on the average duration of the communication, than was offered by node l central local previously considered. If better, then the newly considered central local node (and its associated service provider) is selected. If worse, the previously selected central local node (and its associated service provider) remains selected.

This process is repeated in -108- for each central local node and, therefore, each service provider. Once made, the call format, the appropriate service provider, the network and the time of day are selected to send the transmission to the selected central local node -110- and the billing information -112- is updated.

By selecting the appropriate network, it can be found that it is less expensive to transmit the telecopier message digitally over a data network than it is to transmit the telecopier message in a voice recall format via long distance operators. Therefore, the data network may be the network of choice for the purposes of selecting the minimum cost between nodes. On the other hand, the central local node must give priority to the customer's preferences, which may mean that the transmission is routed through the most secure route that may not be the data network. Instead, a secure transmission would take place through a different routing and would result in increased transmission costs.

Figure 6 shows a flow chart to establish a synchronized connection of both call terminals, that is, synchronize the termination of callback communications and the call destination participant by selecting the specific system time and the speed of the callback time. . The user can remain on the line or can hang up waiting for a callback, while the routing unit times the termination of both communications from the routing unit to the access number of the originating participant of the call and the access number of the destination participant of the call. call and ensures that both take place simultaneously or according to the cost efficiency of the transaction. The routing unit checks an internal database to determine how long it should wait before the start of communication with both, in order to ensure the synchronization of the recall calls and the destination participant of the call. This can be based on the historical behavior of placing callbacks and calls from the target party of the call or placing a data call or locating a participant.

A routing unit initially receives the first branch -120- (location, city, destination) from the call originating party and the second branch -122- (location, city, destination) from the destination party of the call and then , searches in a table of recall situation in memory -124-, the minimum estimated connection time. The difference -126- is calculated between the connection times of the two branches and the branch with the longest necessary connection time is marked in -128-. A timer -130- is set on the difference and counts down to zero at -132-.

When the countdown is over, the timer starts the actuation to open communication with the branch that has the shortest connection time -134- to establish the call -136-. If a call destination participant has to be called that is not in the redial situation table in memory -124-, then the action to open the call takes place first in the sequence of the branch of the destination participant of the call. call and then for the other branch. The average connection times are stored in the table in memory -124- for the future synchronization of the two branches. The table is continuously updated, every time calls are made. The average connection times for both branches and the service providers available for connection to the location and city code of the participant, destination of the call, are stored in the table for retrieval, upon request.

The channels can be blocked so that no incoming call can interrupt during a time when the routing unit carries out the callback and the call participant places his call. The interception unit only releases the blocked channel for a few seconds before the time specified in the callback and call termination history of the destination participant. Alternatively, the time delay can be based on a common fixed minimum time period for making these types of calls. For example, if a long distance call requires 10 to 15 seconds depending on the destination participant of the call, the expected time delay period could always be of the order of 9 or 10 seconds below the time required to make said call. Therefore, there is only a short period of time during which an incoming call can interrupt the routing unit's synchronization of the completion of the callback and the calls of the destination participant. It should be noted that the database checked by the interception unit may not be the same database as the one checked by the routing unit, although its contents could be the same. These call blocking features are commercially available from VoiceSmart in software and hardware under the designation of Transparent Local Node (TLN) and Hotel Local Node (HLN). By blocking such incoming calls, service providers no longer have the risk of bearing the cost of completing the second leg of the callback if the first leg is busy due to an incoming call.

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Figures 7A-7G show by way of example different techniques for efficiently routing communications, in accordance with the invention. The access devices -150- and -156- (figures 7A-7G) and the nodes -152- (Figures 7A-7C, 7E-7F), -154- (figures 7A-7G) and -160- ( Figure 7C) of a network, but each node may be located in the same geographic region or country or in a different one. The access device 150 may have interception capability to make the corresponding routing connections transparent to users. The node -158- (figure 7B) represents an access device in a different network. For the purposes of the example, the links -170- (Figures 7A-7G) and -174- (Figures 7A-7G) can be considered voice transmission lines and the links -172- (Figures 7A-7C, 7F) and - 173- (figure 7D) can be considered data transmission lines. Link 176 (Figure 7B) can be a paging line or cell line. Links -178- (Figures 7E and 7G) and -180- (Figure 7E) can be data lines. Links -182-, -184- and -186- (Figure 7F) can also be data lines. Each node can carry out the call termination function, such as when there is no authorization to carry out the transaction.

Figure 7A shows the nodes -152- and -154-, which carry out communication with their respective access devices -150- and -156-, as it would be done for simultaneous callback. Initially, the initiating access device -150-, transmits its identification and that of the other access device -156- to the node -152-. The node -152- requests the node -154 to carry out an investigation of the availability of the access device -156-. If available, then callback is made on the respective links 170, 174, preferably for simultaneous communication. The two callbacks are transferred by link -172-. The nodes -152- and -154- convert voice transmissions into data transmission and vice versa, so that the data transmissions travel between the nodes -152- and -154- and the voice transmissions travel from the communication devices. access to the associated nodes -152-, -154-. Links -170-, -172- and -174- can handle voice or data communications.

Figure 7B works in the same way as Figure 7A, except that node -154- searches for the destination participant of the call through the paging device -158- via the paging network -176-. Once the search has been carried out, the destination participant calls the node -154- through the access device -156- and communication is established by transfer on the link -172-. During the period between the search for the destination participant and the call to the node -154- by the destination participant through the access device -154-, the access device -150- may be either waiting to establish communication with the node -152- or receive callback by node -152- after said node -152- has been notified that access device -156 has established contact with node -154-.

Figure 7C is the same as Figure 7A, except that an additional node -160- has been shown between nodes -152-, -154- to show that the routing between nodes -152-, -154- may not be direct. and also showing that the access device -150- communicates directly with the node -152- instead of doing it as a result of a callback, such as a figure 7A and using two different data links -172- and -173-.

Figure 7D shows that communication can take place through a single node -154-, rather than through two nodes, such as Figure 7A-7C, such as in the case where the access device -150- is a computer that has direct access to the data link -172-.

Figure 7E also shows that communication can take place through a single node -152-, instead of through two nodes, but also shows that said communication is established after communications in the access device - 150- with node -154-, they indicate by email that they want communication with the access device -156-. Instead of routing transmission through node -154-, node -154 instructs node -152- to contact access devices -150- and -156- directly.

Figure 7F shows a callback type arrangement in which a request is made to establish communication from the access device 150 to the access device 156 through a type of network, but the actual callback is performed by a different type of network, although both types of networks share the same nodes -152-, -154-. As an example, the request could take place through a data network -182-, -184-, -186- and the callback could take place through two voice links -170-, -174- from the respective access devices -150-, -156-, the two voice links being connected by a data link -172-. The nodes -152-, -154- convert voice transmissions into data transmissions and vice versa, as desired.

Figure 7G is the same as Figure 7E, except that node 154 also performs the function of node 152 in Figure 7E and therefore routes transmissions through itself. In this case, a request is made to establish communication with the access device -156- from the access device -150- through the data link -178-, such as email. In response, node -154- calls both access devices -150-, -156-, preferably so that each one receives contact simultaneously over a different network, such as voice lines -170-, -174-.

In each of these examples of Figures 7A-7G, billing is performed transparently to the participants using the access devices 150, 156. Each of the nodes is in contact with a central node (or network of central nodes) that must clear the transaction before the terminating nodes come into action through a global authorizer. Once the transaction is cleared, a code of

ES 2 460 873 T3 authorization to the node. The authorization code can be sent to some other node, at the time a request is made to establish communication or it can take place in response from the other node.

The central node, which comprises the global authorizer, would check the total outstanding credit or debit for the originating node, check fraud patterns, check early communication termination rights based on available credit, and check the credit status of the participant origin of the call with third parties. Based on the results of this check, the global authorizer of the hub approves or disapproves of the proposed transaction. Once the transaction has been completed, the node manager communicates said completion to the central node, which, in this case, updates the account information accordingly. If a node is being shut down, the central node also communicates such shutdown to all other nodes, so that they remove the shutdown node from the stored routing table of available nodes.

Figure 8 shows a central local node -A- that interacts with an access device interface of the call originating party and a global network of high capacity data networks. The access devices can communicate with central local nodes directly or through interception devices that direct the communication to the central local node. The access devices can be, for example, telephones, pagers, cellular telephones, portable computers, facsimile machines, multimedia computer workstations, etc.

The subscriber access device interface comprises communication networks such as digital and analog, pager and cellular telephones, and data. The central local node includes an authorizer, converters for each communication network, a main processor and a router, a main database, a compression and encoding system, and a compression and decoding system. Global networks for high capacity data networks include the Internet, public frame relay networks, and digital and analog voice lines.

The authorizer is responsible for providing clearing transactions to provide authorization for communication. The authorizer checks a main database within the central local node to determine whether the subscriber's credit is sufficient and to the extent of ensuring that service providers are paid. The database may contain the subscriber's usage history and outstanding unpaid balance and other information regarding credit history. The information in the main database can be updated from information in other nodal databases and vice versa, including that of the central node, which must contain the most common information and whose global authorizer may be responsible for authorizing all transactions by advanced. Through the same process, the global authorizer can check the creditworthiness of the service providers if those service providers will be responsible for payment among themselves.

The converters convert the form of communication to suit the specific network over which the communication will be routed, for example, voice into data, etc. The main processor and router are responsible for checking with the main database to determine which service providers and communication networks will be used and for accessing circuits to compress or decompress, as needed, and to access circuits to encode or decode communications. for security purposes.

The main processor and the router, route communications through the appropriate converters if necessary, to suit the network used for routing, for example, internet, public networks and ATM, or digital and analog voice lines. The main processor and router also direct the communication to the final destination, that is, access devices of the participant destination of the call. By doing so, other central local nodes -B- or -C- can be used for part of the routing, or otherwise directly routed to the access devices through associated interception, if any, for the access device. These interception devices are also intended to direct communications.

Converters are conventionally available, such as Texas Instrument's digital signal processors that convert voice to data and vice versa. Interceptors can be obtained from VoiceSmart by ordering TLN or HLN and are conventionally available from telephone companies. The interception device can be part of or can be separate from the access devices. The interception device assesses whether savings can be achieved by routing to a node and, in this case, routes the transmission to the central local node -A- of figure 8 and identifies the subscriber and the participant destination of the call or the type of service .

The node receiving the routing from the intercepting device investigates other nodes to detect the destination party's number or identification address. In this way, the node's main processor and router serve as an interrogator that interrogates the availability of the destination party's number or identification address. The node accesses a main database to check the communication network, call format and user preferences to determine the best connection between locations 150 and 156 of Figures 7A-7G. The node, through its authorizer, checks whether the termination of the transmission routing is authorized and obtains an authorization code from the global authorizer at the central node. The node converts the transmission, if necessary, for compatibility purposes and records the billing information to ensure proper billing to the end user. Likewise, the node updates the statistical use of user and access

ES 2 460 873 T3 for future use. Each of these tasks performed by the node are carried out in a transparent way for the source participant.

Figure 9 is a variant of Figure 1, but shares the same components identified by the same reference numerals. Additional bi-directional forward link connections 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D and 46E are included. For example, a route to send an inquiry regarding availability can run from the access device -12- of the originating participant to the local access node -18-, directly or through the interception device -16- and then directly to the communications network -10-, data network -20, or another network -200-, such as cellular network, ATM, and / or public network. The central switching unit -22- then receives the interrogation of the network as to availability to check the availability of the access device -14- of the participant destination of the call. Once the availability is known, an appropriate signal can be sent directly back to the central local node -18- traveling the same route back or through the second central local node -24- to the communications network -10- or to the network data -20- to later reach the local access node -18-. It should be noted that the second central local node 24 can be considered a local access node for the access device 14 of the destination participant.

A central local node global authorizer -220- has been shown, which must be obtained permission by confirming authorization requests before routing of connections between source and destination participants can take place. This global authorizer -220- can be part of the central node with which all central local nodes are in communication. In figure 8, for example, the connection of the main database to the other databases of the nodes, would include the connection with the central node and thus with its global authorizer. The authorization requests would be sent to the global authorizer -220- through one or more applicable networks -10-, -20-, -200-.

All routing paths of Figures 7A to 7G are applicable to the block diagram of Figure 9. Also, the representation of the interaction of the central local node with various networks, as shown in Figure 8, is applicable to Figures 1 and 9.

Figure 9 shows some links in the form of bidirectional lines and others in the form of two unidirectional lines in opposite directions. This is for the purpose of convenience and is in no way intended to limit one form or another. Routes can go through any available path, except that routing through links -53A-, -53B- and -53C- only occurs if the call-origin location -48 communicates in a manner compatible with the applicable network of the networks -10-, -20- or -200-. Otherwise, the routing will have to be done through the central local node -18-.

If the originating participant location uses a laptop and therefore connects directly to the data network -20-, and deviates from the central local node, the communication path would still go through the central office -22- or the central local node -24- before reaching the access device -14- of the destination participant. At the central office -22- or at the central local node -24-, therefore, the applicable billing information can be recorded.

Although the interception device -16- and the central local node -18- have been shown as separate units, they can be combined with each other. Similarly, although the central office -22- and the central local node -24 have been shown as separate units, they can be combined with each other. When combined with each other, a single device would provide the functions of both.