Patent ID: 6493445
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method of providing terminating service to callers when the called party is a POTS, (Plain Old Telephone Service) telephone connected to the Internet, comprising the steps of:providing a signaling channel separate from a communications channel between a switch serving the called user and the called POTS user; responsive to receipt of a request to establish a connection from the user to an Internet service provider (ISP), temporarily changing the terminating class of service of said user; thereafter, responsive to receipt of a terminating call for said user, sending a data message providing information about said terminating call to said user over said signaling channel; receiving over said signaling channel from said user a response requesting terminating treatment for said call, said terminating treatment being one of a plurality of pre-defined treatments; and terminating said incoming or intra-office call in accordance with the requested treatment; wherein the step of providing a signaling channel comprises the step of: providing a signaling channel separated in the frequency domain from a communication channel between said switch and said called POTS user; wherein the signaling channel and the communication channel are both transmitted over a line connecting said switch and said called user; wherein said communication channel has a frequency band of a full POTS communication channel, and said signaling channel occupies a frequency band outside said frequency band of said full POTS communication channel.