Abstract:
A switching platform comprises a first, second, and third circuit. The first circuit is adapted for recognizing a first set of tones generated by art originating telephone line. The originating telephone line is associated with a call origin telephone number. The first set of tones represents a request for a telephone conference over a conference line. The second circuit is adapted for determining whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication. The third circuit is adapted for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/692,048, filed on Mar. 27, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/673,528 filed on Feb. 9, 2007, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0003]    This invention relates generally to methods and systems for routing telephone calls, and more particularly provides for management of multiple telephone lines and services corresponding to a single person, entity, or group and for improving the utility and efficiency of multiple telephone lines in such circumstances. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    The number of ways to deliver telephone service continues to grow. “Plain old telephone service” (POTS), comprising analog telephones connected via pairs of copper wires to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), is now complemented by, for example, cellular wireless telephony, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), WiFi VoIP clients, and satellite-based telephony, among other services. A consequence is that people can remain in contact in places and circumstances where and when it was previously impossible. 
         [0005]    Because people can be reachable, however, more and more people are expected to do so. Each form of telephone service can require a separate telephone number, line, or both, and the result can be that a caller must attempt calls to several different numbers before reaching the desired person. It is conceivable, for example, that a single person may have one phone number at work, one or more phone numbers at home, a personal mobile phone number, a work mobile phone number, and a phone number corresponding to a VoIP softphone. 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating interconnected components of a telephone network  100 , such as may be found in the prior art. The network  100  includes the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”)  105 , which is the worldwide set of interconnected telephone networks that deliver fixed telephone services to the general public and are usually accessed by telephones and private branch exchanges (“PBX”), transmitting voice, other audio, video, and data signals. 
         [0007]    The PSTN  105  comprises a plurality of interconnected switches. The PSTN  105  is formed from the interconnection of e.g., third-party switch  106 , provider switch  107 , and other switches (not pictured) within the PSTN  105 . Fast digital links, referred to as “trunks”  108 , connect switches in most of the PSTN  105 , although some older analog equipment remains in use. 
         [0008]    To connect something, e.g., the provider&#39;s switch  107 , to the PSTN  105 , typically means to connect it via a trunk  108  to another switch (not pictured) within the PSTN. Consistent with the usage common in the art, however, systems will be described herein as connected to the PSTN  105  as such, with the existence of a plurality of interconnected switches (not pictured) within the PSTN  105  left implicit.  FIG. 1  accordingly shows the third-party switch  106  and provider&#39;s switch  107  separate from the PSTN  105 , although they are part of it. 
         [0009]    The PSTN  105  comprises analog phones, which participate in the PSTN  105  via switches. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , an analog phone  110  connects via a pair of copper wires  111  to the third-party switch  106 . Similarly, other analog phones  112  connect via pairs of copper wires  113  to the provider&#39;s switch  107 . Because they exist on the edges of the PSTN  105 , analog phones may be referred to as “edge devices.” 
         [0010]    An analog phone  112  is so called because it sends and receives analog electrical signals that represent voice data. Internally, however, the PSTN  105  primarily uses digital switches and digital trunks. Thus, a provider&#39;s switch  107  converts between the analog data used by the analog phone  112   a  and the digital data used internally by the switch  107  and exchanged within the PSTN  105 . 
         [0011]    Although not depicted in  FIG. 1 , switches within the PSTN  105  exist in a hierarchy. At the lowest level of the hierarchy are switches, such as the third-party switch  106  and the provider&#39;s switch  107 , that connect both to the PSTN  105  and to analog telephones. For historical reasons, these switches, which connect both to edge devices and to other switches, are often called “class 5 switches.” A single class 5 switch may serve hundreds or thousands of telephone lines. 
         [0012]    Higher-level switches (not pictured) may connect only to other switches and may be used, e.g., to establish a connection between different geographic areas. To handle telephone calls between different metropolitan areas, an inter-exchange carrier (“IXC”) connects to the PSTN  105  directly or indirectly. An IXC maintains its own facilities, such as, e.g., trunks and switches (not pictured), to route telephone calls. A provider  115  of telecommunications services may have its own IXC facilities  121  and may connect to the PSTN  105  directly or, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , through an interface and control system  125 . A third-party carrier may also provide an IXC  120 , which may connect directly to the PSTN  105 . 
         [0013]    To enable forms of telephone service other than POTS to interoperate with the PSTN  105 , a provider  115  of telecommunications services may connect, e.g., one or more switches, gateways, or both to the PSTN  105 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , a provider  115  has connected a switch  107  to the PSTN  105 . Besides the connections  113  to analog phones  112 , the provider&#39;s switch  107  has a connection via a dedicated digital trunk  116  to a private branch exchange (“PBX”)  121 . A PBX  121  may provide switching, signaling, and/or analog-to-digital conversion functions for multiple analog phones  122 , digital phones  123 , or both and typically exists within a large organization with many telephone lines. A PBX  121  may allow calling within the organization to take place without use of any facilities of the PSTN  105 . 
         [0014]    A provider  115  may use an interface (or gateway) system  125  to bridge telephony over the PSTN  105  and VoIP transmitted across a packet-switched data network  126 , such as the Internet. The interface system  125  connects to the IP network  126 , e.g., via an Ethernet cable  127  connected to a router (not pictured). A VoIP client, such as, e.g., a residential analog telephone adapter  128  or a commercial VoIP PBX  129  also connects to the IP network  126 , exchanging data packets with the interface system  125 . Other VoIP clients may use the network  126 , such as a VoIP client  130  that uses WiFi to connect wirelessly to the network  126 , or a computer program (called a “soft client”) that executes on a networked computer  131 . 
         [0015]    The interface system  125  also connects to the PSTN  105  via a trunk  108   c . The interface system  125  supports calls among VoIP clients by, e.g., providing directory and/or addressing information. The interface system  125  also enables calls to cross between the PSTN  105  and the IP network  126  by, e.g., translating data and signaling protocols. 
         [0016]    Other services may also be provided through the PSTN  105 . For example, a provider of wireless telephone services  135  may also connect to the PSTN  105  through a digital trunk  108   e.    
         [0017]    A telephone call may begin from, e.g., an analog phone  112   a  connected to the provider&#39;s switch  107 . The switch  107  detects the dialed number and establishes the call. If the destination of the call is another analog phone  112   b  connected to the provider&#39;s switch, the switch routes the call using an internal trunk (not pictured). Otherwise, the switch routes the call through the PSTN  105 , e.g., directly to a third-party&#39;s switch  106  or via the provider&#39;s IXC  121  or a third party&#39;s IXC  120 . 
         [0018]    The PSTN  105  is a circuit-switched network, which typically means that it reserves the necessary bandwidth all along the route taken by a call in progress, even when the call does not need all of the reserved bandwidth. Multiplexing techniques, which are well known in the art, are used to send multiple digitized telephone calls simultaneously over the same trunk  108 . Switches within the PSTN  105  exchange signaling information used to, e.g., information used to create, route, terminate, and account for telephone calls (among other functions) over a path that is physically or logically distinct from the data paths, and most commonly do so using the protocol known in the art as Signaling System #7 (“SS7”). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0019]    Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for use in conjunction with multiple telephone lines and providers. According to embodiments of the invention, a subscriber to telephone services or a group of subscribers may be reached on multiple telephone lines from a single dial-in number; calls in progress may be transferred seamlessly from one line associated with a subscriber to another; and group calling features may be enhanced. 
         [0020]    In accordance with an embodiment, the present invention provides a method comprising recognizing, at a switch, a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line. The originating telephone line is associated with a call origin telephone number. The first set of tones represents a request for a telephone conference over a conference line. The method also includes determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication. The method further includes establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number. 
         [0021]    The method may also include, upon determining that the set of defined telephone numbers does not include the call origin telephone number, sending a challenge to the originating telephone line, recognizing, at the switch, a second set of tones generated by the originating telephone line representing entry of a response, and determining, at the switch, whether the entered response satisfies the challenge. The method may further include determining that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the telephone connection. 
         [0022]    Upon determining that the entered response satisfied the challenge, the method may further include determining whether the conference is in progress. Upon determining that the conference is in progress, the method may include establishing the telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line. Upon determining that the conference is not in progress, the method may also include initializing the conference, and establishing the telephone connection between the originating line and the conference line. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, the method may include identifying, at the switch, a participant number to be associated with the conference, and initiating establishment of a participant connection between the conference line and the participant telephone line. The method may also include recognizing, at the switch, that the participant has answered the participant telephone line, and determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number. The method may include establishing the participant connection upon determining that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number. 
         [0024]    Moreover, the method may include recognizing, at the switch, that the participant has answered the participant telephone line, sending a challenge to the participant telephone line, and awaiting the participant to satisfy the challenge. The method may also include determining that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the participant connection and/or establishing the participant connection upon the participant&#39;s satisfying the challenge. 
         [0025]    Upon having established the telephone connection, the method may include recognizing, at the switch, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line. The third set of tones may represent a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant. The method may also include determining, at the switch, whether the conference is in progress and whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number. The method may further include establishing the additional participant connection upon having determined that the conference is in progress and that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number. 
         [0026]    Moreover, upon having established the telephone connection, the method may include recognizing, at the switch, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line. The third set of tones may represent a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant. The method may also include determining, at the switch, whether the conference is in progress, sending a challenge to the additional participant line upon having determined that the conference is in progress, and awaiting the additional participant to satisfy the challenge. Furthermore, the method may include establishing the additional participant connection upon the additional participant&#39;s satisfying the challenge and not establishing the additional participant connection upon determining that the challenge is not satisfied. 
         [0027]    In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention provides a switching platform comprising a first, second, and third circuit. The first circuit is adapted for recognizing a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line. The originating telephone line is associated with a call origin telephone number. The first set of tones represents a request for a telephone conference over a conference line. The second circuit is adapted for determining whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication. The third circuit is adapted for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number. 
         [0028]    Such switching platform may further include a fourth, fifth, and sixth circuit. The fourth circuit may be adapted for sending a challenge to the originating telephone line. The fifth circuit may be adapted for recognizing a second set of tones generated by the originating telephone line representing entry of a response. The sixth circuit may be adapted for determining whether the entered response satisfies the challenge. The switching platform may further include a seventh circuit for establishing the telephone connection upon the sixth circuit&#39;s determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the telephone connection upon the sixth circuit&#39;s determining that the challenge is not satisfied. 
         [0029]    The switching platform may also include a seventh circuit for determining whether the conference is in progress. In some embodiments, the switching platform may include a seventh circuit for initializing the conference. Such embodiments may further include an eighth circuit for establishing the telephone connection upon the seventh circuit&#39;s having initialized the conference. The seventh circuit may be adapted for initializing the conference by allocating and/or initializing one or more data structures representing the conference. The switching platform may also include an eighth circuit for identifying a participant number to be associated with the conference. The switching platform may further include a ninth circuit for initiating establishment of a participant connection between the conference line and the participant telephone line. The switching platform may also include a tenth, eleventh, and twelfth circuit. The tenth circuit may be adapted for recognizing that the participant has answered the participant telephone line. In some embodiments, the eleventh circuit may be adapted for determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number. In other embodiments, the eleventh circuit may be adapted for sending a challenge to the participant telephone line. In some embodiments, the twelfth circuit may be adapted for establishing the participant connection upon the eleventh circuit&#39;s determining that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the participant number. In other embodiments, the twelfth circuit may be adapted for awaiting the participant to satisfy the challenge. 
         [0030]    The switching platform may also include a thirteenth and fourteenth circuit. The thirteenth circuit may be adapted for determining whether the challenge is satisfied. The fourteenth circuit may be adapted for establishing the participant connection upon the thirteenth circuits determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the participant connection upon the thirteenth circuit&#39;s determining that the challenge is not satisfied. 
         [0031]    Some embodiments of the switching platform may include a fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh circuit. In such embodiments, the fourth circuit may be adapted for recognizing, upon having established the telephone connection, a third set of tones generated by the originating telephone line. The third set of tones representing a command to establish an additional participant connection between the conference line and an additional participant line associated with an additional participant number and with an additional participant. The fifth circuit may be adapted for determining whether the conference is in progress. In some embodiments, the sixth circuit may be adapted for determining whether the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number. The seventh circuit may be adapted for establishing the additional participant connection upon having determined that the conference is in progress and that the set of defined telephone numbers includes the additional participant number. In other embodiments, the sixth circuit may be adapted for sending a challenge to the additional participant line upon having determined that the conference is in progress, and the seventh circuit may be adapted for awaiting the additional participant to satisfy the challenge. 
         [0032]    The switching platform may further include an eighth and a ninth circuit. The eighth circuit may be adapted for determining whether the challenge is satisfied. The ninth circuit may be adapted for establishing the additional participant connection upon the eighth circuit&#39;s determining that the challenge is satisfied and for not establishing the additional participant connection upon the eighth circuit&#39;s determining that the challenge is not satisfied. 
         [0033]    In accordance with yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a system comprising means for recognizing, at a switch, a first set of tones generated by an originating telephone line. The originating telephone line is associated with a call origin telephone number. The first set of tones represents a request for a telephone conference over a conference line. The system also includes means for determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication. The system further includes means for establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number. 
         [0034]    In accordance with a further embodiment the present invention provides a method comprising sending, from an originating telephone line associated with a call origin telephone number, a first set of tones representing a request for a telephone conference over a conference line. The method also includes recognizing, at a switch, the first set of tones, and determining, at the switch, whether the call origin telephone number is included in a set of defined telephone numbers permitted to connect to the conference line without further authentication. The method further includes establishing a telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the conference line if the set of defined telephone numbers includes the call origin telephone number. 
         [0035]    In these embodiments, various attributes may be present. The determining may include searching a database management system. The challenge may include a prompt to enter a pass code. The participant number may be associated with a participant telephone line and with a participant. The participant number may exclude the call origin telephone number. Initializing the conference may include allocating and/or initializing, at the switch, one or more data structures representing the conference. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of components of a telephone network such as may be found in the prior art. 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an enhanced service platform, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of components of a telephone network that includes an enhanced service platform, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating details of a computer system. 
           [0040]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating simultaneous ringing according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method of seamless jumping of a telephone call according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of conference calling according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a particular application. Various modifications to the embodiments are possible, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to these and other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments and applications shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles, features and teachings disclosed herein. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary system  150 , referred to herein as an Enhanced Service Platform  150 , which comprises one or more systems that a provider  125  may implement to manage VoIP telephony and/or to provide a gateway between circuit-switched and packet-switched telephony. An Enhanced Service Platform  150  as depicted in  FIG. 2  may provide certain additional functions according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0045]    As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the components of the Enhanced Service Platform  150  are connected to one another by one or more data networks  151 . Although depicted as a single network  151  in a star topology, one skilled in the art will, recognize that other network topologies and/or combinations of networks may connect the components to one another. 
         [0046]    In an embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  includes a media gateway  155 , which connects internally to the network  151  and, via a digital trunk  108   c , to the PSTN  105 . The Enhanced Service Platform also includes a session border controller  156  that connects to both the internal network  151  and to the IP network  126 . According to an embodiment of the invention, other components of the Enhanced Service Platform  150 , connected via the internal network  151 , may include, e.g., a VoIP application server  157 , a database management system  158 , a Web server  159 , a media server  160 , and a media gateway controller  170 . 
         [0047]    In the depicted embodiment of the invention, the media gateway controller  170  includes a plurality of modules. A supervisory module  175  provides logic that directs the functioning of the media gateway controller  170  and its other modules. A call accounting module  176  provides logic that gathers and stores information about calls, e.g., for billing, performance monitoring, network security, etc. Other modules may provide logic supporting services such as Caller ID  177 , simultaneous ringing  178  (described in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 5 ), seamless call jumping  179  (described in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 6 ), and conference calling  180  (described in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 7 ). The media gateway controller may contain other modules (not pictured) with other functions in addition to or instead of some or all of the depicted modules. 
         [0048]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the media gateway  155 , which may sometimes be referred to as a “softswitch,” switches between and within circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN  105 , and packet-switched networks, such as the IP network  126 . The media gateway  155  may be configured to translate data and/or control signals between different protocols that may be used on the different networks. 
         [0049]    Thus, from the perspective of the PSTN  105 , the media gateway  155  may appear to be a class 5 switch. As such, the media gateway  155  may send and receive both digitized voice and signaling information. The media gateway  155  may also serve as a bridge between the circuit-switched PSTN  105  and an IP data network, such as the Internet  127 . As such, it may permit calls to take place between and among, e.g., VoIP clients connected to the packet-switched network  126  and POTS clients connected to the PSTN  105 . This kind of interoperation is transparent to the participants in any particular call. 
         [0050]    A session border controller  156  may exist between the media gateway  155  and the packet-switched network  127 . In an embodiment of the invention, one function of the session border controller  156  is to enable connections between the Enhanced Service Platform  150  and VoIP clients by, e.g., traversing firewalls, resolving problems related to the use of network address translation (NAT), and/or routing VoIP calls and/or the packets that contain voice and/or signaling information as a VoIP call is built up, carried on, and torn down. The session border controller  156  may also protect the Enhanced Service Platform  150 , e.g., by serving as a network firewall, protecting against denial-of-service attacks, and/or preventing theft of services. These and other functions that may be implemented by a session border controller  156  are well known in the art. 
         [0051]    In an embodiment of the invention, VoIP telephone calls are managed by a VoIP application server  157  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The VoIP application server  157  may perform one or more functions, such as, e.g., call and subscriber management, VoIP signaling according to one or more protocols, billing and/or accounting, and/or providing enhanced calling features, such as call waiting and caller ID, to VoIP clients. The VoIP application server  157  may work in conjunction with a database management system  158 , such as is well known in the art, to store and retrieve, e.g., subscriber, call, and/or directory information. 
         [0052]    The Enhanced Service Platform  150  may provide administrative interfaces to administrators, subscribers, or both, according to an embodiment of the invention. Depending on the embodiment of the invention, such interfaces may be provided, e.g., in the form of one or more Web applications, which may be provided through a Web server  159 . In an embodiment of the invention, an administrative Web application may be supported by a multiple-tier architecture, such as is well known in the art. In such an architecture, the Web server  159  provides an interface, presented on, e.g., a user&#39;s Web browser, to one or more applications that may exist on the VoIP application server  157  and/or another application server (not pictured). Such an application may also provide information hosted by, e.g., the database management system  158  and/or a media server  160 . 
         [0053]    The switching functions of the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may be directed by a media gateway controller  170 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The media gateway controller  170  may exchange signals with the PSTN  150  via the media gateway  155 . Such signals may be used, e.g., to build up, maintain, and/or tear down calls over the PSTN  105 . The media gateway controller  170  may use these signals to provide other services, including but not limited to enhanced services according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0054]    In an embodiment of the invention, modules within the media gateway controller  170  provide one or more functions of the Enhanced Service Platform  150 . The configuration of one or more modules according to an embodiment of the invention may vary depending on the configuration and/or capabilities of some or all components of the Enhanced Service Platform  150 . For example, in an embodiment of the invention, the conferencing module may exist within the VoIP application server  137  instead of the media gateway controller  170  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . In an embodiment of the invention, multiple components of the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may include modules involved in providing one or more functions. 
         [0055]    In this context, “module” is to be taken in a broad sense, and the description of embodiments of the invention in terms of one or more modules is to be regarded as illustrative and in no way limiting. Depending on the embodiment of the invention, any module may include hardware, software, or a combination of the two. Additionally, any module may be actual, corresponding to one or more distinct units of hardware, software, or both, or it may be logical, being considered to be that hardware, software, or both functioning as described, regardless of any other function or functions that the corresponding hardware, software, or both may perform- or be capable of performing. 
         [0056]    Further, as one skilled in the art will recognize, other configurations of modules in other embodiments of the invention are equivalent to the configuration described herein. A function described herein as performed by a single module may in an embodiment of the invention be performed by two or more modules. Conversely, functions described herein as performed by distinct modules may, according to an embodiment of the invention, be performed by one or more common modules. 
         [0057]      FIG. 3  depicts the Enhanced Service Platform  150  within the telephone network  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. In the depicted embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  in  FIG. 3  takes over and expands the role of the interface and control system  125  depicted in  FIG. 1 . The provider  115  may place the Enhanced Service Platform  150  between the PSTN  105  and the IP network  126 , e.g., to bridge the networks and/or to support the provider&#39;s services according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0058]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating details of a computer system, of which one or more switches, gateways, controllers, or some or all of them may be an instance. Computer system  200  includes a processor  205 , such as an Intel Pentium® microprocessor or a Motorola PowerPC® microprocessor, coupled to a communications channel  206 . The computer system  200  further includes an input device  207  such as a keyboard or mouse, an output device  208  such as a cathode ray tube display, a communications interface  209 , a data storage device  210  such as a magnetic disk, and memory  215  such as Random-Access Memory (RAM), each coupled to the communications channel  206 . The communications interface  209  may be coupled to a network such as the wide-area network commonly referred to as the Internet. One skilled in the art will recognize that, although the data storage device  210  and memory  215  are illustrated as different units, the data storage device  210  and memory  215  can be parts of the same unit, distributed units, virtual memory, etc. 
         [0059]    The data storage device  210  and/or memory  215  may store an operating system  210  such as the Microsoft Windows XP, Linux, the IBM OS/2 operating system, the MAC OS, or UNIX operating system and/or other programs  217 . It will be appreciated that a preferred embodiment may also be implemented on platforms and operating systems other than those mentioned. An embodiment may be written using JAVA, C, and/or C++ language, or other programming languages, possibly using object oriented programming methodology. 
         [0060]    One skilled in the art will recognize that the computer system  200  may also include additional information, such as network connections, additional memory, additional processors, LANs, input/output lines for transferring information across a hardware channel, the Internet or an intranet, etc. One skilled in the art will also recognize that the programs and data may be received by and stored in the system in alternative ways. For example, a computer-readable storage medium (CRSM) reader  220  such as a magnetic disk drive, hard disk drive, magneto-optical reader, CPU, etc. may be coupled to the communications bus  206  for reading a computer-readable storage medium (CRSM)  221  such as a magnetic disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, RAM, etc. Accordingly, the computer system  200  may receive programs and/or data via the CRSM reader  220 . Further, it will be appreciated that the term “memory” herein is intended to cover ail data storage media whether permanent or temporary. 
         [0061]      FIG. 5  depicts simultaneous ringing  250  according to an embodiment of the invention. In step  251 , a caller dials, e.g., from an analog phone  110  ( FIG. 3 ), a common number that has been assigned to one or more telephone lines, which may be referred to herein as “participating lines.” The switch  106  ( FIG. 3 ) connected to the originating phone  110  detects that the caller has taken the phone off the hook and recognizes, e.g., the DTMF tones representing the common number. In response, the switch  106  connects in step  252  ( FIG. 5 ) to the media gateway  155  within the Enhanced Service Platform  150 . At this point, from the perspective of the caller&#39;s switch  106 , a call has been built up. 
         [0062]    The Enhanced Service Platform  150  then attempts to ring participating lines to complete the call. In an embodiment of the invention, the media gateway  155  informs the media gateway controller  170  of the incoming call request. The supervisory module  175  causes retrieval of data, e.g., from the DBMS  158 , for use in deciding how to handle the request. If the requested number is a front end to one or more participating lines, the supervisory module  175  directs the simultaneous ring module  178  to try to establish the call. 
         [0063]    In an embodiment of the invention, the simultaneous ring module  178  causes the Enhanced Service Platform  150  to send a message to the caller in step  253 , as it tries to establish the call. The message may be, for example, “Please hold while [name of subscriber] is located.” In an embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may send a conventional ringing tone to the caller in addition to or instead of a message. The data comprising the representation of the message and/or the ringing tone may be, e.g., provided by the media server  160  to the media gateway  155  at the direction of the simultaneous ring module  178  of the media gateway controller  170 . 
         [0064]    In an embodiment of the invention, the simultaneous ring module  178  identifies in step  254  the participating lines that will ring. This step  254  commonly involves looking up the participating line, e.g., by the DBMS  158 . If the simultaneous ring module  178  determines in the process that the call has originated from a participating line, then the module  178  will exclude that originating line from the group of lines that ring. 
         [0065]    For each line that will ring, the simultaneous ring module  178  instructs the media gateway  155  to signal the corresponding switch  107  to attempt to ring the line. The form and transmission method of the signal correspond to the configuration of each signaled switch. For example, a switch in the PSTN  105  may be signaled to ring via the SS7 network with an Initial Address Message, or IAM. Other types of switches and the corresponding methods for signaling are also well known in the relevant art. 
         [0066]    The media gateway  155  informs the media gateway controller  170  of the responses to the ring requests. For example, in response to a ring request, a switch  107  may return a busy signal. In an embodiment of the invention, the simultaneous ring module  178  may respond by instructing the media gateway  155  to stop trying to ring that line. 
         [0067]    Alternatively, the switch  107  may signal that the line is engaged, e.g., on another call. In an embodiment of the invention, the response may depend on the availability of call waiting on the engaged line. In such an embodiment, the simultaneous ring module  178  may respond by instructing the media gateway  155  to send a call-waiting alert to the engaged line if that service is available. If call waiting is not available, e.g., because the engaged line does not support it or the subscriber has disabled it, the simultaneous ring module  178  may respond by instructing the media gateway  155  to stop trying to ring that line. 
         [0068]    In an embodiment of the invention, if the Enhanced Service Platform  150  determines in step  260  that it cannot ring any participating line, it may in step  261  transfer the caller directly to a voice mailbox. The simultaneous ring module  178  may in that case inform the supervisory module  175  that the attempt to set up the call failed. In response, the supervisory module  175  may direct the media gateway  155  to switch the call to a voice mailbox provided by, e.g., an application on the media server  160  or the VoIP application server, which may in turn retrieve prompting messages and/or store messages through the DBMS  158 . 
         [0069]    Depending on the embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may also signal the caller that the subscriber is not available; for example, the simultaneous ring module  178  may cause the media gateway  155  to retrieve a voice announcement or a busy signal from the media server  160  and then to send it to the caller. Other possible responses are known in the art, and, in an embodiment of the invention, the type of response may be configured, e.g., by the subscriber or the provider. 
         [0070]    In step  262 , the available participating lines ring. In an embodiment of the invention, one or more of the participating lines, e.g., the subscriber&#39;s primary home telephone line, may be designated or configured as a preferred line. In such an embodiment, the ringing signal may be sent to the preferred line or lines shortly before it is sent to other participating lines. The head-start given to the preferred line or lines will vary depending on the embodiment of the invention, but will commonly be long enough to increase the likelihood that a preferred line will be answered before a non-preferred line, yet brief enough that the ringing time of the non-preferred line or lines is sufficient to allow the line to be answered before the caller hangs up. In an embodiment of the invention, the head-start will be between one and three seconds. 
         [0071]    In an embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may at step  264  present a challenge when a ringing line is answered. For example, a challenge may include a voice announcement, such as, “This call is for [subscriber&#39;s name]. Press ‘one’ to accept the call, or press ‘two’ to reject it.” The simultaneous ring module  178  may effect this step by directing the media server  160  to send the announcement to the answered line, e.g., through the media gateway  155 , and by directing the media gateway  155  to monitor the call for responsive DTMF tones. The media gateway  155  sends any detected input to the simultaneous ring module  178 . In step  265 , the simultaneous ring module  178  determines whether the detected input satisfies the challenge. If so, the simultaneous ring module  178  may direct the supervisory module  175  to put the call through as depicted in step  266 , or to disconnect the line as depicted in step  268 . 
         [0072]    Alternatively, in an embodiment of the invention, the challenge may prompt for a PIN, password, or other identifying information. If in step  265  the correct response is received, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may put the call through. If no response or an incorrect response is given, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may, depending on the embodiment of the invention and/or its configuration, prompt the user to try again (not shown) or may disconnect the line as shown in step  268 . This may be especially valuable when many people share a single telephone number, such as a home line in, e.g., a college dormitory. The challenge may be capable of preventing certain roommates from accepting calls intended for other residents. 
         [0073]    In an embodiment of the invention, participating lines may be individually configured to require a successful challenge or to put the call through to an answered line without a challenge. Depending on the embodiment of the invention, such configuration may be done by a user, a system administrator, or both. 
         [0074]    Once the call has been put through to a participating line, in step  267 , the simultaneous ring module  178  causes the media gateway  155  to direct the switches associated with other ringing lines, if any, to stop ringing. In an embodiment of the invention, if the call is not answered after a set time, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may, in step  263  cause all participating lines to stop ringing and transfer the call to a voice mailbox. 
         [0075]      FIG. 6  depicts operation of a seamless jump  280  according to an embodiment of the invention. A managed call is established  285 , as depicted in  FIG. 6 , in one of two ways. First, a managed call may be established by a call to the subscriber&#39;s common number in step  250 , as depicted in  FIG. 5  in connection with the discussion of simultaneous ringing. 
         [0076]    The second depicted way to establish a managed call  285  begins at step  291  and involves originating a call from a line capable of being controlled by the Enhanced Service Platform  150 . For example, in an embodiment of the invention, the provider&#39;s switch  107  ( FIG. 3 ) may support configuring the lines associated with some or all directly attached analog phones  112  ( FIG. 3 ) so that the Enhanced Service Platform  150  can manage them. According to an embodiment of the invention, a call is originated in step  291  ( FIG. 6 ) when the caller takes a phone attached to a controlled line off the hook. 
         [0077]    The caller then enters a service code at step  292 , e.g., using the DTMF keys of the analog phone  112   a . In an embodiment of the invention, the service code may be, for example “*1#”, and indicates to the provider&#39;s switch  107  that this call is to be managed by the Enhanced Service Platform  150 . Such management may be brought about, according to an embodiment of the invention, by, e.g., establishing a circuit from the analog phone  112   a , to the provider&#39;s switch  107 , through the PSTN  105 , to the media gateway  155  within the Enhanced Service Platform  150 . 
         [0078]    The caller then dials the destination number in step  293  to place the call. At the direction of the seamless jump module  179 , the media gateway  155  may detect and decode the DTMF tones representing the destination number and, at the direction of the media gateway controller  170 , may respond by attempting to put the call through normally. Once the ringing destination is answered, then the managed call may be considered to have been established at step  294 . 
         [0079]    Alternative embodiments of the invention may include other methods for establishing a managed call instead of or in addition to one or both of the methods depicted in  FIG. 6 . For example, in an embodiment of the invention, a switch (possibly including a third-party switch  106 ), VoIP gateway, or other device or devices may be programmed and/or configured to place any call from one or more attached lines under the management of the Enhanced Service Platform  150 . Such an embodiment of the invention may permit a caller to enter a code to except the call from some or all management features provided by the Enhanced Service Platform  150 . 
         [0080]    In an embodiment of the invention, the media gateway  155  continues to monitor a managed call to detect entry of DTMF tones that signal a seamless jump. The Enhanced Service Platform  150  may achieve this by, e.g., keeping the media gateway  155  in the circuit for the duration of the call, even when doing so extends the length of the circuit. For example, a call from a third-party to a subscriber&#39;s analog telephone line might, according to the prior art, be carried from the third party&#39;s switch  106  ( FIG. 3 ), through the PSTN  105  ( FIG. 3 ), and then to the provider&#39;s own switch  107  ( FIG. 3 ). In an embodiment of the invention, the circuit may proceed from the third-party&#39;s switch  106 , through the PSTN  105 , through the media gateway  155 , back to the PSTN  105 , and then to the provider&#39;s switch  107 . (This configuration is sometimes referred to in the art as a “trombone” or “hairpin”.) 
         [0081]    In an embodiment of the invention, the media gateway  155  is configured to monitor managed calls continuously for DTMF tones, decoding any detected tones and reporting them to, e.g., the supervisory module  175  in the media gateway controller  170 . In such an embodiment, a subscriber may signal a jump by entering, e.g., a code beginning with a service code “**”, which may be followed by an ID code of additional keys to indicate the desired destination for the jump. For example, in an embodiment of the invention, the service code and ID code “**C” may transfer a call to the subscriber&#39;s cellular phone, the code “**H” may transfer the call to the subscriber&#39;s home phone, the code “**W” may transfer the call to the subscriber&#39;s work phone, the code “**M” may transfer the call to the subscriber&#39;s mobile wireless (e.g., WiFi or WiMax) phone, code “**P” may transfer the call to the subscriber&#39;s VoIP phone, and the code “***” followed by any phone number may transfer the call to that line. Another possibility is that the code “**V” may transfer the call directly to the subscriber&#39;s voice mailbox. According to an embodiment of the invention, pressing the “#” key may cancel a jump in progress. For convenience, the DTMF tones may be muted after the detection of the service code, e.g., “**”. Upon detecting such a code, which indicates a seamless jump, the supervisory module  175  may forward the code to the seamless jump module  179  for execution of the requested jump. 
         [0082]    When, at step  300 , the appropriate module within the media gateway controller  170  detects a code indicating a seamless jump, the seamless jump module  179  causes the media gateway  155  to send a ring signal to the jump destination, as step  301 . Although not shown, the seamless jump module  179  may also send a caller ID number to the jump destination. In one embodiment, the caller ID number may be the common number. In another embodiment, the caller ID number may be the native number of the other party. While the jump destination is ringing in step  301 , the seamless jump module  179  may direct the media gateway  155  to cause ringing tones or another signal to be sent to some or all of the lines still on the call, possibly by retrieving a representation of the signal from the media server  160  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0083]    Depending on the embodiment of the invention and/or the configuration, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  may present a challenge to the destination when it is answered, as discussed in connection with simultaneous ringing  250 , depicted in  FIG. 5 . Upon a successful response to the challenge, or upon answer, if no challenge is made, the seamless jump module  179  may at step  302  signal the supervisory module that the call to the new line has been established, and the supervisory module may consequently direct the media gateway  155  to terminate the call to the old destination at step  303  without farther input from any party. In one embodiment, the connection to the old destination may be maintained until a connection with the jump destination has been made. For example, if the challenge is not met, then the connection with the old destination may be maintained. In step  304 , the call continues from this point, and, according to an embodiment of the invention, further jumps may be made. 
         [0084]      FIG. 7  depicts establishment  320  of a group call, also referred to as a conference call, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The call begins when a subscriber calls a designated group call direct inward dial (“DID”) number in step  325 , which may connect the caller to the Enhanced Service Platform  150  at the media gateway  155 . The supervisory module  175  in such an embodiment recognizes that new incoming call has specified a group call DID as the destination and directs the conference call module  180  to handle the request. 
         [0085]    Certain telephone lines, which may be participating lines as that term was used in connection with simultaneous ringing, above, may be considered “defined numbers,” which may enter a conference without further authentication. In step  326 , the conference call modulo  180  retrieves the defined numbers associated with the current DID, e.g., from the DBMS  158 , and compares the telephone number associated with the incoming call with the retrieved defined numbers. If the incoming number is found, the conference call module  180  proceeds to step  330  to try to put the call through. 
         [0086]    If die call did not originate from a defined number, the conference call module  180  in step  327  directs the media gateway  155  to prompt the caller, e.g., with a prompt message provided by the media server  160 , to enter a pass code. The media gateway  155  detects the pass code, e.g., by detecting incoming DTMF tones, and sends the entered code to the conference call module  180  for validation. In step  328 , the conference call module  180  determines whether the entered code is the password. If so, the conference call module  180  proceeds to step  330  to try to put the call through. It not, then the conference call module  180  directs the supervisory module  178  to disconnect the call. 
         [0087]    In step  330 , the conference call module  180  checks to see if a conference associated with the DID is already in progress. If such a conference call exists, the conference call module directs the media gateway  155  to add the caller to the conference and, at step  332 , notifies the supervisory module that the call has been established. 
         [0088]    If no such conference call is found, the conference call module  180  creates one. In an embodiment of the invention, the conference call module  180  sets up the call by allocating and/or initializing one or more data structures representing the call and/or directing the supervisory module  175  to do likewise, and then by identifying the other numbers that are to participate in the group call, e.g., by requesting configuration information from the DBMS  158 . Then, in step  331 , the conference call module directs the media gateway  155  to attempt to call the other participating numbers. As participating numbers are answered, the media gateway  155  signals the conference call module  180 , which adds them to the conference, possibly, according to an embodiment of the invention, after requiring the answered line to meet a challenge such as that described in connection with simultaneous ringing  250  as depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0089]    In an embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service Platform  150  provides features that are accessible to the participants in a conference call. For example, according to an embodiment of the invention, one or more new participants may be added to a conference call in progress, e.g., by a current participant&#39;s entering one or more DTMF tones, which the media gateway  155  may detect and which the conference call module  180  and/or one or more other modules within the media gateway controller  170  may interpret and then carry out corresponding commands. Seamless jumping  280  ( FIG. 6 ) may also be available to one or more participants in a conference call according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0090]    Although the embodiments above have been described using a media gateway, one skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments can be implemented using software on any switch in the network  100 , e.g., on any one of the class 5 switches or on a class 4 switch. 
         [0091]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is by way of example only, and other variations and modifications of the above-described embodiments and methods are possible in light of the foregoing teaching. Although the network sites are being described as separate and distinct sites, one skilled in the art will recognize that these sites may be a part of an integral site, may each include portions of multiple sites, or may include combinations of single and multiple sites. The various embodiments set forth herein may be implemented utilizing hardware, software, or any desired combination thereof. For that matter, any type of logic may be utilized which is capable of implementing the various functionality set forth herein. Components may be implemented using a programmed general purpose digital computer, using application specific integrated circuits, or using a network of interconnected conventional components and circuits. Connections may be wired, wireless, modem, etc. The embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. The present invention is limited only by the following claims.