Patent ID: 6215858
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A communication system comprising:a first switched telephone network having central office switching systems connected by trunks and having subscriber lines connected to central offices in said switching systems providing connection between telephone terminals connected to said subscriber lines through said first switched telephone network;a second switched telephone network having central office switching systems connected by trunks and having subscriber lines connected to central offices in said switching systems providing connection between telephone terminals connected to said subscriber lines through said second switched telephone network;at least one said switched telephone network further comprising a Common Channel Interoffice Signaling (CCIS) network for establishing routing of calls through the trunks and lines, a Services Control Point (SCP) connected to said CCIS network for data message communication over the CCIS network, a centralized messaging system linked to said SCP by a separate dedicated private data network, and an Internet interface for connection of said centralized messaging system to the public Internet using transmission protocols to provide packet delivery service through the public Internet between said first and second switched telephone networks;said messaging system including multiple selectable protocol conversion modules capable of different conversions whereby said messaging system accepts inputs of multiple protocols and provides outputs of varying protocols, said Internet interface transmitting to and receiving from the public Internet packet signals using said transmission protocols;said messaging system further including modules selectably connecting said messaging system to said central offices to receive input signals therefrom and transmit output signals thereto; ones of said protocol conversion modules being selectable in response to signals input to one of said central offices by a telephone station connected thereto.