A METHOD FOR ROUTING COMMUNICATION CALLS VIA VOIP AND VIA PSTN TO COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS THEREOF

Abstract

A method for routing communication calls via VoIP and via PSTN to communication devices and computer program products thereof A user (B) having a communication device (H) running an application (D) receives a communication call and upon the user (B) having decided, for a given data network, and before the call being received, which one of a VoIP or PSTN interface be preferred for receiving the call, the method comprising: if the VoIP interface is preferred, routing the communication call by a Communication Call Control Service (F) to the mobile communication application (D) as a VoIP call, and delaying the routing of the communication call over the PSTN interface; or if the PSTN interface is preferred, routing the communication call via the PSTN interface as a PSTN call, and if the result of the PSTN call indicates that said communication device (H) is not registered in the PSTN network further routing the communication call via the VoIP interface. Route and combine VoIP and PSTN incoming call alerts to maximise chance for the call to be answered.

Claims

1. A method for routing communication calls via Voice or Video over IP, VoIP, and via Public Switched Telephone Network, PSTN, to at least one communication device, wherein a user having at least one communication device with a mobile communication application receives a communication call, said at least one communication device having dual interfaces, a VoIP interface and a PSTN interface, said mobile communication application managing the VoIP interface, and said communication call being routed via a communication call control service, characterized in that the user comprises deciding, for a given data network, and before the communication call being received, which one of said interfaces be preferred for receiving this communication call, wherein: a) if the VoIP interface is preferred comprising routing the communication call by the communication call control service to the mobile communication application as a VoIP call, and delaying the routing of the communication call over the PSTN interface; or b) if the PSTN interface is preferred comprising routing the communication call via the PSTN interface as a PSTN call, and if the result of the PSTN call indicates that said communication device is not registered in the PSTN network further routing the communication call via the VoIP interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in step a) the communication call is not answered by the user via the VoIP interface, the method further comprising executing a communication call notification algorithm and maintaining delaying the routing of the communication call via the PSTN interface, said communication call pickup algorithm comprising: the communication call control service sending a push notification including an identification of the communication call to a Notifications Service, the latter forwarding the received notification to the communication device; upon receiving the notification, the user answering the notification by activating the mobile communication application; the mobile communication application registering to the VoIP network and further reporting to the communication call control service the communication call identification; and the communication call control service routing again the communication call via the VoIP interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in step b) the communication call is not answered by the user via the VoIP interface, the method further comprising executing a communication call notification algorithm comprising: the communication call control service sending a notification including an identification of the communication call to a Notifications Service, the latter forwarding the received notification to the communication device; upon receiving the notification, the user answering the notification by activating the mobile communication application; the mobile communication application registering to the VoIP network and further reporting to the communication call control service the communication call identification; and the communication call control service routing again the communication call via the VoIP interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the mobile communication application having received the communication call via the VoIP interface, checking, by the mobile communication application, whether the communication call being also routed in the PSTN interface, wherein if the result of said checking indicates that the PSTN interface routing is performed, the mobile communication application stopping and rejecting the communication call via the VoIP interface and further reporting to the communication call control service, if haven't done it before, that the at least one communication device has dual interfaces, the communication call control service storing the reported information in a database of the communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising storing, by the communication call control service, preferences of the decided interface for said given network in the communication device database.

6. The method of claim 6, wherein said communication device database is included as part of a Home Subscriber Server, HSS.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the deciding of the interfaces preferences is automatically performed, by the mobile communication application, based on at least network quality and/or cost of communication calls over that network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the deciding of the interfaces preferences is manually performed.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a method for routing communication calls via Voice or Video over IP, VoIP, and via Public Switched Telephone Network, PSTN, to at least one communication device, wherein a user having at least one communication device running a mobile communication application receives a communication call, said at least one communication device having dual interfaces, a VoIP interface and a PSTN interface, said mobile communication application managing the VoIP interface, and said communication call being routed via a communication call control service, and upon the user having decided, for a given data network, and before the communication call being received, which one of said interfaces be preferred for receiving the communication call, comprising: a) if the VoIP interface is preferred, routing the communication call by the communication call control service to the mobile communication application as a VoIP call, and delaying the routing of the communication call over the PSTN interface; or b) if the PSTN interface is preferred, routing the communication call via the PSTN interface as a PSTN call, and if the result of the PSTN call indicates that said communication device is not registered in the PSTN network further routing the communication call via the VoIP interface.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising: checking, by the mobile communication application, after the mobile communication application having received the communication call via the VoIP interface, whether the communication call being also routed in the PSTN interface; stopping and rejecting, the mobile communication application, when the result of said checking indicates that the PSTN interface routing is performed, the communication call via the VoIP interface; reporting, by the mobile communication application to the communication call control service, if haven't done it before, that the at least one communication device has dual interfaces; and storing, by the communication call control service, the reported information in a database of the communication device.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 further comprising storing, by the communication call control service, preferences of the decided interface for said given network in the communication device database.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The previous and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the attached, which must be considered in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates the architecture used in the present invention, according to some embodiments, for combining call alerts related to communication calls via VoIP and via PSTN interfaces in a communication device.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the different cases, or embodiments, proposed by the invention for routing communication calls via VoIP and via PSTN interfaces to at least one communication device, and managing call alerts, where any of the devices may be dual, that is, it can receive the calls by any of these interfaces.

[0024] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are different flow diagrams illustrating, respectively, the three different provided cases. FIG. 3a illustrates the case for No known Dual communication devices and the user preferring to receive calls on VoIP vs PSTN. FIG. 3b illustrates the case for Dual communication devices and the user preferring to receive calls on VoIP vs PSTN. FIG. 3c illustrates the case for Dual communication devices and the user preferring to receive calls on PSTN vs VoIP.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The method of the first aspect in general is done by:

[0026] Letting a called user B to indicate on which WiFi network(s) (identified by WiFi Service Set Identifier (SSID)) (s)he prefers VoIP ringing.

[0027] In the case of user B has a single network device—mobile phone or Tablet/PC without SIM-card as opposed to dual devices, which have both SIM-card based connectivity and WiFi/LAN based connectivity, which can receive calls via multiple networks (e.g. PSTN & VoIP) by detecting such dual-networked devices allowing communication services to choose calling the user B communication device via single interfaces, maximizing user-experience, as ringing a dual devices over multiple-interfaces creates awkward user experience.

[0028] Delaying PSTN call, in case dual device is in use, allowing user B to answer in VoIP, as this may take more time, than in PSTN.

[0029] Automatically falling back from PSTN to VoIP or from VoIP to PSTN, if user B is not reachable by the preferred decided method.

[0030] In reference to FIG. 1, a user A (or any type of communication services, such as those initiating automated calls or managing conference calls.) calls another user B, which can use one or more communication devices H running mobile communication applications D. Each one of the communication devices H may optionally have a PSTN interface and a VoIP interface, e.g. SIP. The incoming call to user B is routed via a communication call control service F that can be signaled over a (3) VoIP network G or signaled (2) via a PSTN network I that has a database J of the communication device H. Mobile communication application D can update (4) call communication service F on communication Device H reachability via VoIP, storing the status in the database J. In addition mobile communication applications D detects whether communication device H has dual interfaces, when VoIP and PSTN interfaces from same caller ring simultaneously and updates (5) call the communication call control service F on that fact, which is stored in the database J. Then communication call control service F routes (2, 3) incoming calls to User B via PSTN or VoIP interfaces. Moreover, call control service F can also send (6) Push Notifications via a push notification service E, according to orchestration logic described in detail further.

[0031] The description of the different embodiments of the invention will now be made with reference to FIGS. 2, 3a, 3b and 3c.

[0032] Communication device H keeps a list of “known” WiFi networks, over which user B prefers (10, 11) to receive incoming calls over VoIP interface and delay PSTN call attempts. When communication device H connects or disconnects to a new WiFi network, the mobile communication application D is comparing this network SSID, and registers it (11) to VoIP communication call control service F with a flag of PrefersVol P=ON or PrefersVol P=OFF, indicating respectively that there is a preference of receiving VoIP calls for this communication device H over PSTN or the opposite, what may have been indicated by the user B (10) or determined by the mobile communication application D itself. Communication call control service F can store (12) registration preference (PrefersVol P=ON|OFF) in the database J for later use.

[0033] The preference of receiving calls on a given WiFi (or 3G) network can be configured manually by user B or, alternatively, configured automatically by the mobile communication application D based on criteria like network quality, cost of calls over that network, etc.

[0034] 3GPP's Internet Multimedia Subsystem architecture defines a role of HSS Home Subscriber Server, called also REGISTRAR. This server keeps information about all communication devices H currently registered and reachable in the VoIP network. This solution needs to keep information about user communication devices H (such as whether communication device H is dual), when communication device H is offline, thus additional device database J is used, that can be implemented as part of the HSS or as a separate database.

No Known Dual-Devices for User B (Case 1 on FIG. 2 and FIG. 3a)

[0035] In this embodiment, User B may have multiple PSTN and VoIP enabled communication devices H. User B has a communication device H such as a Smartphone with PSTN and VoIP interfaces. The communication device OS C registers (0) to PSTN network, and user B connects the communication device H to a data network, e.g. WiFi network with SSID named=AAA, and configures (10) the mobile communication application D to prefer to receive VoIP calls vs WiFi on that network. Then, mobile communication application D registers (11) to the communication call control service F, which can store (12) said VoIP preference in the database J. Also, as this is the VoIP communication device that is registered, the communication call control service F is not aware that this is a DUAL VoIP/PSTN communication device, and assumes by default, that User B has two separate communication devices H.

[0036] Therefore, upon an incoming call (20) from User A, destined to User B, communication call control service F queries (21) database J and receives (22) indication, on whether User B has any dual communication device H, and a list of two communication devices with the following properties:

[0037] 1.sup.st communication device PSTN

[0038] 2.sup.nd communication device VoIP, with PrefersVol P property set to ON

[0039] Indication that User B has no DUAL communication devices.

[0040] Then, communication call control service F checks (23), that User B has no DUAL communication devices H, and routes (31) a PSTN call to User B's mobile OS C, receiving back (32) a call attempt result. At that point, for each User B's known VoIP communication device, communication call control service F routes (41) a VoIP call to User B's mobile communication application D. Mobile communication application D upon receiving call attempt checks (42), whether these is an incoming call from the same origin on PSTN interface. If PSTN is ringing, it means that User B actually has DUAL device, so in that case, mobile communication application D rejects (43) VoIP call attempt, avoiding the redundant alert of the VoIP call to user B, reports (44) to communication call control service F that communication device H as dual allowing communication call control service F to store this fact in database J.

[0041] Alternatively, if communication device H was not DUAL, mobile communication application D reports (46) to communication call control service F a successful call attempt and starts ringing.

[0042] If Communication call control service F receives an error from VoIP network, that indicates that mobile communication application D is not registered to the network, and VoIP communication device supports receiving push notifications to wake-up non-running mobile applications, it can attempt to perform a communication call notification algorithm or call-pickup flow that can be implemented in the following way:

[0043] Communication call control service F sends (52) a notification with call-id to notifications service E, the latter forwarding (53) the received notification to User B′s communication device H which alerts User B. User B may respond to the notification, by activating (54) the mobile communication application D. The mobile communication application D, activated via call-pickup flow checks again, whether there is an incoming call from the same origin in PSTN interface. If there is, it rejects VoIP call (56) and reports (57) to communication call control service F that device is dual, allowing the communication call control service F to store (58) this fact in database J.

[0044] If there is no PSTN call, the mobile communication application D registers to VoIP network, reporting to Communication call control service F call-id to pick-up. Finally, communication call control service F retries (6) the VoIP call.

User has a Dual Communication Device and Prefers to Receive Calls on VoIP vs PSTN (Case 2 on FIG. 2 and FIG. 3b)

[0045] In this embodiment, it is illustrated how User B has a communication device H such as a Smartphone with PSTN and VoIP interfaces, which was previously detected as DUAL. The communication device OS C, registers (0) to a PSTN network, and User B connects the communication device H to a data network, e.g. WiFi network with SSID named=AAA, and configures (10) the mobile communication application D to prefer to receive VoIP calls vs PSTN on that network. Then, mobile communication application D registers (11) to the communication call control service F, which can store (12) his VoIP preference in the database J.

[0046] Upon an incoming call (20) from User A, destined to User B, communication call control service F queries (21) database J and receives (22) indication, on whether User B has any dual communication device H, and a list of two communication devices with the following properties:

[0047] 1.sup.st communication device PSTN

[0048] 2.sup.nd communication device VoIP, with PrefersVol P property set to ON Indication that User B has DUAL communication devices.

[0049] Then, communication call control service F checks (23) that User B has DUAL communication devices H, and for each User B's known VoIP communication device, attempts (41) to route a VoIP call to User B's mobile communication application D delaying PSTN call to allow the VoIP call to be answered.

[0050] In case communication call control service F detects that VoIP call initiating failed, because VoIP communication device is not registered to VoIP network, and if VoIP communication device supports receiving notifications, communication call control service F can attempt to perform the above described communication call notification algorithm or call-pickup flow and flags DelayPSTN state indicating that PSTN call initiation must be delayed.

[0051] In case VoIP call has been successfully initiated, communication call control service F flags DelayPSTN state to delay PSTN call.

[0052] If DelayPSTN state was flagged due to successful initiating of ringing of one of the VoIP communication devices, communication call control service F then delays the calling PSTN for a configurable (n) number of seconds, and if the VoIP call is not successfully answered yet, it routes (31) a PSTN call to User B′s communication device H, receiving back (32) a call attempt result, without cancelling ring of VoIP communication devices.

[0053] Mobile communication application D upon receiving the call attempt, checks (34) whether this is an incoming call from the same origin on PSTN interface. If PSTN and VoIP are ringing together, it means that User B actually has DUAL communication device H, so in that case the mobile communication application D cancels and rejects (35) VoIP call attempt in that device, avoiding the redundant alert of the VoIP call to user B. If communication device H is not yet marked as DUAL, mobile communication application D reports (36) to communication call control service F that said communication device H is dual, allowing the communication call control service F to store (37) this fact in database J.

User has Dual Devices, and Indicates that He Prefers to Receive Calls over PSTN vs VoIP (Case 3 on Diagram 2, Call Flow on Diagram 3c)

[0054] In this embodiment, User B has a communication device H such as a Smartphone with PSTN and VoIP interfaces, which was previously detected as DUAL. The communication device OS C registers (0) to PSTN network and User B connects the communication device H to an unknown data network, e.g. WiFi network with SSID named=BBB, and configures (10) the mobile communication application D to prefer to receive PSTN calls vs VoIP on that network. Then, the mobile communication application D registers (11) to the communication call control service F, which stores (12) his VoIP preference in the database J.

[0055] Upon an incoming call (20) from User A, destined to User B, communication call control service F queries (21) database J and receives (22) indication, on whether User B has any dual communication device H, and a list of two communication devices with the following properties:

[0056] 1.sup.st communication device PSTN

[0057] 2.sup.nd communication device VoIP, with PrefersVol P property set to OFF

[0058] Indication that User B has DUAL communication devices.

[0059] Then, communication call control service F checks (23), whether User B has a PSTN communication device. In this case User B also has DUAL communication devices H and none of them is configured as PrefersVoIP=ON, so communication call control service F rings (41) User B's communication device H via PSTN interface and receives (32) [PSTN-call-result] from the network.

[0060] If [PSTN-call-result] indicates that User B's communication device H was not registered, fallback to VoIP communication devices with PrefersVoIP=OFF can be attempted, rest of the VoIP communication devices (PrefersVoIP=ON) can be rang always.

[0061] For each relevant User B's VoIP communication device communication call control service F performs the following logic to attempt VoIP call: communication call control service F attempts (41) to route a VoIP call to User B's mobile communication application D so VoIP call result is received (42) from the network. If Communication call control service F receives an error from VoIP network, that indicates (51) that mobile communication application D is not registered to the network, and VoIP communication device supports receiving notifications, the communication call control service F can attempt to perform the above described communication call notification algorithm or call-pickup flow (52-57).

[0062] Finally, the mobile communication application D upon receiving said call attempt, checks (69) whether this is an incoming call from the same origin on PSTN interface. If PSTN is ringing, it means that User B actually has DUAL communication devices H so, in that case, if communication application device is not yet marked as DUAL, mobile communication application D reports (61) to communication call control service F that said communication device H is dual, allowing the call control service F to store (62) this fact in database J. At that moment, the mobile communication application D rejects (63) VoIP call attempt, avoiding the redundant alert of the VoIP call to user B.

[0063] The term “computer-readable storage medium” as used herein refers to any tangible medium, such as a disk or semiconductor memory, that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution. A general purpose computer may be connected to a storage device such as a hard drive, optical media (CD or DVD), disk media, or any other tangible medium from which the general purpose computer can read executable code.

[0064] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the protection. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the protection.

[0065] The scope of the invention is defined by the attached claims.