Patent ID: 8036366
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method of generating an E.164 compliant telephone number from an input telephone number in a voice over IP system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a defined call origin location including at least one of a country code and an area code for an intended geographic origin of a telephone call using the input telephone number; (b) determining whether the input telephone number includes a direct dialing prefix; (c) removing the direct dialing prefix if it is determined in said step (b) that the input telephone number includes a direct dialing prefix, removing the direct dialing prefix forming an intermediate number; (d) adding at least one of an E.164 prefix, a country code and an area code for the call origin location received in said step (a) if an intermediate number is formed in said step (c) to form an E.164 compliant telephone number; (e) placing a call using the formatted E.164 compliant telephone number; and (f) examining at least one of the E.164 compliant telephone number and a history of prior stored telephone calls in the event the call placed in said step (e) does not reach a recipient, the examining step (f) carried out for the purpose of identifying an intended telephone number.