Method and apparatus for transmitting and routing voice telephone calls over a packet switched computer network

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/683,760, filed Feb. 11, 2002, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/542,641, filed Oct. 13, 1995. The entire contents of both of those applications are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a method and architecture for the transmission and routing of voice signals over a packet switched network and more particularly to a method and system for routing and converting voice signals between a circuit switched public telephone network (“circuit switched telephone network”) and a packet switched computer network.

[0004] 2. Background of the Invention

[0005] The advantages of transmitting voice information in packet form has long been recognized. Packet switching provides a ready solution to problems where the voice information to be transmitted occurs in bursts, with significant pauses between bursts. The application of compression techniques to digitized voice transmissions often results in such characteristic transmissions.

[0006] Traditional telephone service, the so-called Plain old Telephone Service (“POTS”), is provided over a circuit switched telephone network which dedicates a sequence of physical links through nodes of the circuit switched telephone network between POTS stations. At each node, incoming voice signals are routed to the appropriate outgoing channel without delay. Circuit switched networks typically dedicate a multiplexed communication path, in space and/or time division multiplexing, between the caller and called party which lasts throughout the duration of the call.

[0007] In contrast, in packet switched networks, which are typically associated with the transmission of “data” rather than voice conversations, it is not necessary to dedicate transmission capacity along a sequence of physical links through the network. Instead, data is sent in packets which are passed from node to node through the network. Each data packet typically consists of several items including the address of the data source, the address of the data destination, error checking information, as well as the actual data sent. Each node briefly stores and analyzes the packet and then transmits it to the next node.

[0008] Current technologies allow a voice signal to be digitized and compressed. When a number of compressed digitized voice conversations are transmitted over a network, significant savings in bandwidth can be realized through packet switched transmission of the voice conversations. As noted above, traditional circuit switched networks require a constant allocation of bandwidth for each voice channel on the network. Statistically, this results in inefficient use of bandwidth due to the large amount of time in which relatively little voice information is being transmitted. For example, for many voice conversations a single voice channel at a time is sufficient during a large portion of the conversation. Compression techniques are available which reduce the total voice data being transmitted, however, these techniques often result in bursts of data over limited durations. To accommodate these potential bursts of data transmissions, circuit switched networks must allocate a constant bandwidth for each voice channel which is sufficiently large to transmit the “widest” burst of data possible. Thus, while compression techniques can realize tremendous savings in terms of total data transmitted, they nevertheless require a relatively inefficient allocation of bandwidth in a circuit switched network. Packet switched transmission of voice information, in contrast, may reduce total system bandwidth, and result in a lower cost system, by multiplexing a number of simultaneous voice conversations in such a manner as to take advantage of the statistical characteristics of the compressed digital voice data.

[0009] Personal computers equipped with available signal processing audio boards allow a user's voice to be digitized and transmitted to a second personal computer. This second personal computer will then convert the digitized transmission back to an analog audio signal and amplify the signal for an audio output, reproducing the first user's voice. A pair of modems are typically used to transmit the digitized information.

[0010] In one mode of operation, the digitized voice information is transmitted directly over a circuit switched telephone network to the second personal computer. In a second mode of operation, the digitized voice information is transmitted via a packet switched network to a second computer which is also connected to the packet switched network. Typically, the packet switched network will be the World-Wide Internet (“Internet”). The Internet Phone.™., available from VocalTech Inc., Northvale, N.J., and the Personal Internet Companion Kit.™. available from Camelot Corp., Dallas, Tex., make use of this second mode of operation for communicating between two audio ready computers coupled to the Internet.

[0011] Transmission of digitized voice conversations through this second mode of operation over long distances allows the user to save significant amounts of money. This reduced cost is partially a result of the efficiency of packet switched networks over circuit switched networks. Additionally, the user's savings is also a result of the fact that packet switched networks typically charge the user based on either the amount of information transmitted or the user's connect time, rather than as a function of the distance the voice conversation travels, as is typical in circuit switched telephone networks. While transmission of voice conversations through a packet switched network may result in some respects in a lower quality sound, due to the occasional delays introduced at the system nodes or loss of data, many users may accept such delays as a tradeoff in order to realize a significant cost savings.

[0012] The protocols and addressing mechanisms utilized on circuit switched telephone networks and the Internet, however, are not compatible, and therefore do not allow a user to easily establish a voice conversation across the Internet which either originates or terminates on a POTS station. There exists a need, therefore, for a method and system for establishing a voice conversation between a POTS station coupled to a circuit switched telephone network and an audio ready computer connected to a packet switched computer network, such a as the Internet. Moreover, because such system ideally utilizes a plurality of gateways, or access points, to gain access to the circuit switchboard telephone network in a plurality of geographic locations, there further exists a need for a method and system for utilizing a plurality of gateways to route voice calls between a circuit switched telephone network and a packet switched computer network. There further exists a need for the method and system of authorizing such calls.

[0013] POTS users also may wish to utilize the Internet, or a similar packet switched computer network, to save money on voice conversations between POTS stations. There further exists a need, therefore, for a method and system of transmitting a voice conversation between two POTS stations where at least a portion of the voice conversation path between the two POTS stations is transmitted across a generally accessible, public packet switched computer network, such as the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The object of the present invention is to provide a system for establishing a voice conversation from an audio ready computer connected to a packet switched computer network, such as the Internet, to a POTS station coupled to a circuit switched telephone network.

[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system of transmitting a voice conversation between two POTS stations wherein the voice conversation path between the two stations is routed through a public circuit switched telephone network and a public packet switched computer network, such as the Internet.

[0016] The present invention is directed to a method and system for routing and transmitting voice conversations between an audio ready computer and a POTS station through a packet switched computer network such as the Internet. The present invention further provides for a method and system for routing and transmitting a voice conversation between two POTS stations which is at least partially transmitted over a packet switched computer network. The POTS stations are coupled to the system through one or more circuit switched telephone networks. A routing server is provided for routing calls between multiple destinations on the packet switched computer network. A phone switch is also provided for converting protocols from a packet switched computer network to a circuit switched telephone network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram of a system architecture in accordance with the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram of a system architecture for supporting a voice conversation between an audio ready personal computer and a POTS station in accordance with the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of a system architecture for supporting a voice conversation between two POTS stations across a packet switched computer network in accordance with the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a personal computer system in which client software of the present invention may be embodied;

[0022]FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing a phone switch for bridging voice conversations between the packet switched computer network and the circuit switched telephone network in accordance with the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram of a phone switch constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for registering users with the system in accordance with the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating database models in accordance with the present invention; and

[0026]FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a data packet for transmitting voice and/or control information in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with continued reference to the drawings.

[0028] Overview

[0029]FIGS. 1 and 2A show an overall view of the system architecture. The system is composed of a personal computer <b>100</b> executing client application software <b>101</b> and a system server <b>500</b>. To establish a voice conversation from the personal computer <b>100</b>, the client application software <b>101</b> connects, over the computer network <b>200</b>, to the router authentication server <b>500</b> and requests a voice connection to a specified phone number. The system server <b>500</b> uses a specialized phone switch <b>600</b> to dial the phone number via the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b>.

[0030] The preferred embodiment includes a plurality of phone switches <b>600</b> (FIG. 2A) in a number of locations. Each of the phone switches <b>600</b> are coupled to both the computer network <b>200</b> and the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b>. The router authentication server <b>500</b> determines the optimal phone switch <b>600</b> to route the call through based on the costs of connecting the called party to the phone switch over the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b>, as well as the traffic through the possible phone switches <b>600</b>. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, multiple router authentication servers <b>500</b> may be coupled to the packet switched computer network <b>200</b> at one or more geographical locations.

[0031] The personal computer <b>100</b> then sends the call request, including any authentication data provided by the router authentication server <b>500</b>, to the phone switch <b>600</b>. The phone switch <b>600</b> verifies the authentication data, either through communication with the router authentication server <b>500</b>, or through other security means such as a digital signature generated by the router authentication server <b>500</b>. The phone switch <b>600</b> sends a signal indicating off-hook to the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b> and tones or pulses corresponding to the called party's phone number over the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b>. The phone switch <b>600</b> then waits for an answer signal from the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b> indicating remote phone <b>400</b> has gone off-hook and answered the call. After the remote phone <b>400</b> answers and a call is established, the phone switch <b>600</b> then converts the voice data received from the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b> into a format suitable for the packet switched computer network <b>200</b> and client application software <b>101</b> through any of a number of known conventional techniques for implementing such a gateway between two networks. Similarly, the phone switch <b>600</b> converts voice data received from the packet switched computer network <b>200</b> into a format suitable for the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b> through conventional gateway techniques.

[0032] The personal computer <b>100</b> is physically connected to a network service provider <b>220</b> via a communications link <b>221</b> and modem <b>150</b> as is well known in the art. The communications link <b>221</b> may be a circuit switched telephone network, a dedicated connection, or any of a number of known means. The network service provider <b>220</b> provides the personal computer <b>100</b> access to the computer network <b>200</b>. The computer network <b>200</b> is preferably the Internet.

[0033] Pc-Phone Client System

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, one aspect of the present invention may be embodied on an audio ready personal computer <b>100</b>, which comprises a central processor <b>110</b>, a main memory <b>111</b>, a keyboard <b>112</b>, a pointing device <b>113</b>, such as a mouse, glide-control or the like, a display device <b>114</b>, a mass storage device <b>115</b>, such as a hard disk, and an internal clock <b>116</b>. The personal computer <b>100</b> also includes a sound device <b>130</b>, including a signal processing unit <b>120</b>. The system components of the personal computer <b>100</b> communicate through a system bus <b>119</b>. In a preferred embodiment, the personal computer <b>100</b> is an IBM-compatible personal computer which is available from many vendors. The preferred central processor <b>110</b> will be compatible with an Intel 80486 operating at 33 MHz, or greater and most preferably an Intel Pentium.™. operating at 75 MHz or greater. Other computer systems, such as the Macintosh.™. available from Apple Computer, or the Sun SPARC.™. Station from Sun Microsystems.™., and other processors, such as the Motorola 680x0.™., the Sun Microsystems SPARC.™., and the PowerPC.™., jointly developed by Apple Computer, IBM and Motorola, are also suitable.

[0035] Additionally, the personal computer <b>100</b> is preferably connected to an internal or external modem <b>125</b> or like device for communication with the computer network <b>200</b>. This modem is preferably capable of transmitting a minimum of 14.4 kbs, and most preferably transmits at 28.8 kbs or greater. Alternatively, the personal computer <b>100</b> may be connected via an ISDN adapter and an ISDN line for communications with the computer network <b>200</b> or via an Ethernet connection to a network connected to the Internet or any other type of network interface.

[0036] In the preferred embodiment, the sound device <b>130</b> may be any of a number of readily available sound cards, such as the SoundBlaster.™. card, available from Creative Labs, Inc. or the SoundChoice 32.™., available from Spectrum Signal Processing. The sound device <b>130</b> is connected one or more speakers <b>125</b> and a microphone <b>126</b>. The sound device <b>130</b> may, optionally, include a standard RJ<b>11</b> telephone jack for connection to a standard analog telephone.

[0037] The personal computer <b>100</b> is preferably under the control of a multi-tasking operating system including a TCP/IP interface, such as that available under Microsoft Windows.™., MacOS.™., UNIX.™., NextStep.™. or OS/2.™.

[0038] The personal computer may establish a connection to the packet switched computer network <b>200</b> via a network service provider <b>220</b> (FIG. 2A). Commercial network service providers include: IDT of Hackensack, N.J. and Performance Systems International. The network service provider preferably provides a Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connection to the packet switched computer network <b>200</b>.

[0039] The user initiates a call request by entering a standard telephone number through the client application software's <b>101</b> graphical user interface. Alternatively, the graphical user interface will allow the user to enter the called party's name or other information which the client application software <b>101</b> executing on personal computer <b>100</b> will translate to a standard telephone number based on the user's personalized database. The client application software <b>101</b> may further prompt the user for an access name and password, or credit card number, each time a call is established. Alternatively, the client application software <b>101</b> may store the user access name and password (or credit card) information when the user configures or first uses the software <b>101</b> and automatically forward the access name and password (or credit card) to the router authentication server <b>500</b>.

[0040] The client application software <b>101</b> creates a call connection request packet containing the called party's phone number and the user's access information, such as credit card information or the user's access name and password. The called party's number may determined through an optional local or on-line directory. The call connection request packet is sent from the personal computer <b>100</b> to the router authentication server <b>500</b> (FIG. 2A). Upon receipt of the call connection request packet, the router authentication server <b>500</b> verifies the caller's access name and password and determines the appropriate phone switch <b>600</b> to route the call through based on a number of factors, including the traffic load on each of the phone switches <b>600</b>, and the cost of transmitting the voice conversation from the potential phone switches <b>600</b> to the called party over the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b>.

[0041] An alternative embodiment of the present invention does not utilize a router authentication server. Instead, the client application software <b>101</b> itself selects a phone switch <b>600</b>. The phone switch <b>600</b> will itself verify the caller's access name and password or credit card information. The client application software <b>101</b> may use any of a number of techniques for selecting the phone switch <b>600</b>, including an internal database mapping destination area codes and central office exchanges to phone switches <b>600</b>. This internal database may be periodically downloaded and updated through the packet switched computer network <b>200</b> as phone switches <b>600</b> are moved, added, deleted or temporarily made out of service.

[0042] The process for converting between an analog signal, such as the caller's voice input or audio output, and digitized packets suitable for transmission over the packet switched computer network <b>200</b> is well known on the art. A number of sound devices, such as the SoundBlaster.™. card, are available for converting between digital and analog audio signals. When converting from audio input to digitized packet data, the audio input is first sampled or digitized. This sampled data is then compressed utilizing any of a number of known speech compression algorithms such as GSM. In the preferred embodiment, the speech will be compressed to be transmitted at a rate of approximately 10 kilobytes/sec (kbs) in order to make use of a 14.4 kbs modem, leaving approximately 30% of the bandwidth available for control information. In the preferred embodiment, this algorithm will further be capable of achieving such compression on a personal computer utilizing an Intel 80486SX operating at 33 MHz at less than ½ full load.

[0043] The client application software <b>101</b> preferably is installed via a self-extracting file. The installation code determines whether the necessary hardware and software resources reside on the personal computer. This will include verifying the disk space and the presence of a sound device, and that the necessary drivers, such as sound drivers and the Windows socket interface (“winsock”), are installed. The installation process may also require the user to register with the user registration server <b>550</b> (FIG. 2A).

[0044] Computer Network

[0045] The computer network <b>700</b> is preferably the World-Wide Internet (“Internet”). The Internet is a world-wide network connecting thousands of computers (“hosts”) and computer networks. The Internet is organized as a multi-level hierarchy containing local networks connected to a number of regional, mid-level networks. Each of these regional networks is connected to a backbone network.

[0046] The dominant protocol used for transmitting information between computers on the Internet is the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Network Protocol. Computers typically connect to the Internet through a local telephone network connecting the computer to an Internet service provider. Internet addresses are the addressing system used in TCP/IP communications to specify a particular network or computer on the network with which to communicate. Computers may either directly use the numeric internet address or, alternatively, a host name plus domain name. Host and domain names are then translated to Internet addresses by a resolver process.

[0047] User Registration Server and Biling Server

[0048] Referring now to FIG. 5, we describe the user registration server <b>550</b> and the billing server <b>560</b>. The system preferably includes at least one user registration server <b>550</b> which stores user information, including access name, password, and billing information. The user may register either manually or through interaction with the client application software <b>101</b>. The database is available to the other components of the system, such as the router authentication server <b>600</b> and the billing server <b>560</b>.

[0049] The billing server <b>560</b> (FIG. 2A) maintains a database of call history for each call established through the system. The billing server <b>560</b> will bill the user, either immediately or on a monthly basis. The charge may be submitted directly to the user's credit card.

[0050] Phone Switch

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 4B, the phone switch <b>600</b> acts as to convert between the packet data transmitted over the packet switched computer network <b>200</b> and the information transmitted over the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b>. The information transmitted over the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b> may be in any of a variety of formats (also know as “protocols”), as described below, including analog or digital transmissions.

[0052] The phone switch <b>600</b> further performs the functions of data buffering <b>611</b>, data injection <b>612</b> to smooth delays by using windows of several data buffers that initially contain data representing silence and overlaying time-stamped incoming packets. The buffering technique is used to smooth out the delays due to packet transmission. The phone switch <b>600</b> further performs compression and decompression <b>613</b> through any of a number of known techniques.

[0053] The phone switch <b>600</b> is logically divided into two portions, a routing portion for sending and receiving data over the packet switched computer network <b>200</b>, and a voice processing card portion for interfacing to the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b>. The two portions preferably communicate through a data bus. The routing portion performs the function of routing multiple connections over the packet switched computer network <b>200</b>.

[0054] The voice processing card portion of the phone switch <b>600</b> consists of one or more voice processing cards, also known as telephone interface cards, which are typically inserted into input/output slots in the phone switch <b>600</b>. The voice processing cards handle call control, including sending or detecting the appropriate signals for going off-hook, dialing phone numbers, ring detection, answer detection, busy detection, and disconnect detection and signalling. The voice processing cards also perform analog to digital (A/D) and digital to analog (D/A) conversion where the interface to the circuit switched telephone network is an analog format or protocol. Alternatively, the voice processing cards perform the necessary protocol conversion where the circuit switched telephone network interface is digital, such as a T1 connection. These conversions are typically transparent to the routing portion of the phone switch <b>600</b>. Additionally, the voice processing cards perform data compression and decompression as described below. Voice processing cards and associated software drivers are available from a number of manufacturers, including Dialogic, Rhetorex, or National Microsystems. Each voice processing card preferably provides a multichannel interface for handling several simultaneous phone conversations.

[0055] Referring now to FIG. 4A, call establishment and routing from the phone switch <b>600</b> to the circuit switched telephone network is described. The phone switch <b>600</b> is an event-driven system. The phone switch <b>600</b> typically must respond to the following events and perform the following functions:

[0056] Establish new calls upon receiving an authorized call connection request packet. The phone switch <b>600</b> must verify the connection request packet, dial the called party's phone number over the circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b>, wait for the called party to answer, and update the connection database.

[0057] Disconnect existing call setups upon receiving a disconnect signal on the set-up channel from the circuit switched telephone network or a disconnect packet through the packet switched computer network.

[0058] Decompress digital packet data from the packet switched computer network upon receiving a voice packet, and convert to a format (“protocol”) suitable for the circuit switched telephone network.

[0059] Digitize and compress voice data received from the circuit switched telephone network and convert to a packetized protocol for the packet switched computer network.

[0060] Perform Audio Buffering.

[0061] Perform database updates for billing purposes on establishment and disconnection of the voice conversation.

[0062] Network and Communication Protocols

[0063] The general mechanisms and protocols for communicating through packet switched computer networks, such as the Internet, and the circuit switched telephone network, are known in the art. See, e.g., Stallings, W., Data and Computer Communications, Second Edition, Macmillan Publishing Co. (1988). Communication over the packet switched network is preferably implemented through a set of standardized application layer protocols. The most preferred embodiment of the packet switched computer network utilizes the TCP (Transport Control Protocol) and Internet Protocol (IP protocols), or alternatively, the OSI layer model, which are also well known in the art. See, e.g., Martin J., TCP/IP Networking, PTR Prentice Hall (1994).

[0064] The phone switch <b>600</b> is preferably adaptable to a variety of telephone network interfaces, however, most preferably supports connection to a digital T1 line. In typical POTS service, analog telephone wires extend from a user's POTS set to a telephone company central station which converts the analog telephone signals to digital signals by sampling. In-band signalling is typically used to transmit call control information. The analog signals are typically sampled at 8,000 samples per second using 8 bits per sample. The resulting digital signals are commonly combined over a four wire line commonly called a T1 line. Each T1 line multiplexes 24 voice channels by well known multiplexing techniques, in accordance with the standards established by the International Standards Organization (ISO). See, in general, Stallings, Data and Computer Communications, (ch. 6). Modification of the phone switch <b>600</b> to support other protocols, including Comit Consultatir International de Tlphonie et de Tlgraphie (CCITT) E1 lines, or other digital or analog transmission protocols, would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Methods for establishing telephone calls from the phone switch <b>600</b> through the telephone network interface are also known to those of skill in the art.

[0065] In order to reduce packet overhead, and because errors detected by the TCP protocol may introduce excessive delays not suitable for voice conversation, the system preferably will use a connectionless transport layer protocol for the transmission of voice information over the packet switched computer network. Such connectionless protocols provide no error recovery and do not guarantee sequenced data delivery. The most preferred system will utilize the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which is well known to those of skill in the art. See, e.g., Martin J., TCP/IP Networking (ch. 8). Certain control information, however, such as call connection requests and database information, preferably will use the TCP protocol (FIG. 4B).

[0066] Referring now to FIG. 6, the content of the packets transmitted over the packet switch computer network will be described. Each packet will have a command, followed by a connection id (ConnId), followed by the data for that type of command. The connection id is used to determine the higher level connection, and optionally to demultiplex many connections from a single host. The packet data may be encrypted for security reasons and to protect the user's privacy.

[0067] The different types of commands supported by the system include:

[0068] Registration Request

[0069] Command

[0070] ConnId

[0071] User name

[0072] Password

[0073] Credit Card Info

[0074] Authorization/Routing Request

[0075] Command

[0076] ConnId

[0077] Destination Telephone Number

[0078] User Name

[0079] Password

[0080] Phone Connect Request

[0081] Command

[0082] ConnId

[0083] Destination Telephone Number

[0084] Server Key

[0085] Compression Schemes

[0086] Voice Data Packet

[0087] Command

[0088] ConnId

[0089] Voice Data

[0090] Phone Disconnect Request

[0091] Command

[0092] ConnId

[0093] Registration Response Packet

[0094] Command

[0095] ConnId

[0096] Result Data

[0097] Authorization Routing Response Packet

[0098] Command

[0099] ConnId

[0100] Status

[0101] Server Key

[0102] Phone Connect Response Packet

[0103] Command

[0104] ConnId

[0105] Result Data

[0106] Error Packet

[0107] Command

[0108] ConnId

[0109] Reason

[0110] Referring now to FIG. 2B, a system for connecting two POTS sets, wherein at least a portion of the call connection path is traversed over a packet switched computer network, will be described. A first user goes off hook on a first POTS set <b>401</b> and accesses a first phone switch <b>650</b> via a first circuit switched telephone network <b>300</b> The user then enters Touch Tone data, including billing information and the called station number. Tone detectors on the first phone switch <b>650</b> capture this data. The first phone switch <b>650</b> then generates a call connection request which is forwarded by the packet switched computer network <b>200</b> to the router authentication server <b>500</b>. The router authentication server <b>500</b> selects a destination phone switch <b>600</b> and returns the network address of the destination phone switch <b>600</b>. The first phone switch <b>650</b> then accesses the destination phone switch <b>500</b> and calls are processed as described above for computer to POTS calls.

[0111] DATABASE ENGReferring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the database <b>580</b> will be described. The database <b>580</b> stores the routing, registration, authentication and billing data and may be either distributed or centralized as is known to those of skill in the art. A number of vendors provide tools for constructing such databases, including Sybase and Oracle.

[0112] The database <b>580</b> includes data relating to user and billing information and server routing information. The database <b>580</b> will include a record <b>582</b> for each phone switch <b>600</b> including the phone switch's Internet IP address and port number, as well as its physical location. The phone switch records <b>582</b> will be mapped to a set of area code records <b>583</b>, such that the system may readily determine all area codes serviced by the phone switch <b>600</b>. The area code record <b>583</b> will also be mapped back to phone switch record <b>582</b> to facilitate determining which phone switch to route a given call to.

[0113] Each user will be represented by a user record <b>581</b> which will contain the user's name, address and telephone number. Each user record <b>581</b> will be mapped to several other fields or records, including: the user's credit card record <b>584</b>; an authentication information record <b>585</b>, including the user's password; and a set of phone call records <b>586</b> for each call the user has made in a certain time frame. Each call record will include the call's start time, end time and billing rate.

[0114] It is understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art to substitute digital or other telephone sets or other user phone systems, such as a PBX (Private Branch Exchange), in place of the POTS sets described. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims be limited to the description or illustrations set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all features of patentable novelty that reside in the present invention, including all features that would be treated as equivalents by those skilled in the art.