A phone appliance and method of use are provided where the phone appliance can be used to make VoIP communications calls. In a preferred embodiment, the phone appliance includes an RF connection for connecting to a computer or other computing device for facilitating the placement of the VoIP communications calls. The phone appliance further includes a display or portal for depicting advertisements provided by various advertisers. The advertisements provided can be used to defray all or part of the cost associated with making VoIP communications calls. The portal can also be used to communicate with businesses for ordering products. such as ordering a pizza, and to perform various services, such as purchasing stocks. In an exemplary system, the phone appliance is used to transmit to a control center information related to the user of the phone appliance, such as interests and buying habits, and queries for receiving additional information for various advertised products and services. The control center transmits the queries to the appropriate vendors for providing the user with additional information. Other functions and features are provided to the phone appliance, such as being able to download e-mail messages stored within or received by the computer.

A method for converging telephone numbers and Idata addresses follows the steps of (a) accessing from a first memory location of a communication appliance one of an E.164 telephone number or an IPv6 address; (b) using the E.164 criteria of [Country Code-Identification Code-Subscriber Number 1-Subscriber Number 2-Extension-Ext2-Ext3] for a telephone number, converting that number to an IPv6 hexadecimal notation IP address in the format [<Country Code>:<Identification Code>:<Subscriber Number 1>:<Subscriber Number 2>:[<Extension>]:[<Ext2>:[<Ext3>]], and converting in the reverse for an IP address to a telephone number; (c) storing the telephone number or address in a separate memory location of the appliance; and (d) depending on the nature of a communication session initiated by a user, retrieving the appropriate IP address or telephone number as the destination for the communication.

A call is setup between an originating device (A) and a terminating device (B), which both have access to a public land mobile network (131, 132) and a mobile data network (121, 122). The originating and terminating devices device (A; B) include a respective software-implemented call handling tool (SWA; SWB) configured to assist a user in placing and receiving calls. Bridge nodes (140) are connected to the mobile data network (121, 122), the public land mobile network (131, 132) and a server node (110), which also is connected to the mobile data network (121, 122). In response to a call-setup command from a user of the originating device (A), the software-implemented call handling tool (SWA), on one hand, sends a call-setup request (1) to the server node (110); and on the other hand, makes a first call (2) to a first bridge node (140) over the public land mobile network (131) using a first telephone number (#1). The call-setup request (1) indicates an identity of the terminating device (B), and the first telephone number (#1) is stored in the originating device (A). Based on the call-setup request (1) and the first call (2), the server node (110) sets up a call between the originating and terminating devices (A; B) over a conference bridge (145) in the first bridge node (140), plus possibly another bridge node if the devices (A; B) are located relatively remote from one another.

A caller verification server receives a verification request message from a calling party via a data network. The verification request is associated with a communication from the calling party to a called device placed via a telephone network. The telephone network is logically separate from the data network. Thus, the verification request message travelling over the data network is said to be out-of-band relative to the telephone network. Responsive to receipt of the verification request message, the caller verification server generates a verification message indicating that the associated communication is verified as being from the calling party. The caller verification server sends the verification message to the called device via the data network.

The present invention provides for routing calls between disparate domains, such as a circuit-switched subsystem and a multimedia subsystem. When a user element is homed in a first domain and roaming in a second domain, an incoming call will arrive at a gateway node in the first domain. As a result, a message identifying the user element and indicating that an incoming call has been received at first gateway node for the first domain is sent to a continuity control function (CCF) residing in the multimedia subsystem. The CCF will create and effect delivery of an inter-domain routing number to the first gateway node. The inter-domain routing number is used by the first gateway node to route the call to the second domain. The inter-domain routing number may be associated with a second gateway node of the second domain.

A deployable interoperable communication system is provided that provides integrated and redundant communications between radio, cellular, and landline phone platforms for voice, text, video, and data transmission. The interoperable communication system integrates with existing radios, cellular phones, and emergency management communications systems illustratively including: command and control, incident management, video management, Physical Security Information Management (PSIM), and more. The interoperable communication system enables any caller to establish communication with another user or radio channel with no knowledge of technology or frequency assignment, and without need to modify or otherwise manipulate the calling device, such as re-programming a land mobile radio. Voice prompts queue the caller with instructions to connect to appropriate line or radio channel with a few simple button presses. None of the transmission is clipped; the caller has no need to hesitate to speak after pushing their talk button.

Systems and methods for non-geographic numbering, addressing, managing, and routing calls through a telecommunications network. Particularly, this invention relates to the concept of a parallel IP-based telecommunications network which can manage and route calls to a non-geographic telephone number. The invention further relates to nationwide number portability (NNP), that is, porting telephone numbers across different geographies and routing calls to the ported telephone numbers via a new architecture that includes an IP transport provider, IP tandems and an administrative agency that administers non-geographic routing numbers and non-geographic telephone numbers. According to disclosed embodiments, the system and method allow a service provider to route calls to a telephone number which is not dependent on a geographic area code. The system and method further allow a service provider to port a geographic telephone number to a non-geographic telephone number, while keeping and/or changing the service provider associated with the telephone number.

A system for managing access point functionally and configuration includes a server that is coupled to a computer network and configured to communicate with an access point via the computer network. The access point is configured to couple a mobile device to the computer network by providing a wireless link between the mobile device and the access point. The access point is further configured to produce a status point regarding the access point and the server is configured to receive the status report from the access point following a trigger event at the access point. In other examples, the server is further configured to transmit a response message and/or a configuration file to the access point in response to the status report that is received at the server. Other features and systems are also disclosed.

A caller verification server receives a verification request message from a calling party via a data network. The verification request is associated with a communication from the calling party to a called device placed via a telephone network. The telephone network is logically separate from the data network. Thus, the verification request message travelling over the data network is said to be out-of-band relative to the telephone network. Responsive to receipt of the verification request message, the caller verification server generates a verification message indicating that the associated communication is verified as being from the calling party. The caller verification server sends the verification message to the called device via the data network.

A universal data gate converts between interface format types of interconnected systems. The data gate learns new interface types and greatly simplifies the requirement for a human user to reprogram the new interface types. A library of known interface types is built up over time and allows re-use of known interface types as required. Voice based room control is enabled by automatically activating the voice control on a guest device when the guest is checked in to a hotel room. Text corresponding to voice commands captured from the user's voice is passed to a hotel app. The system automatically pairs the guest device with the user's assigned room and determines which in-room controllable devices are to be operated by the user's voice commands. When the user switches to a new guest room during travel, the system automatically updates the room pairing and new voice commands operate the new in-room devices.