Patent Publication Number: US-8982876-B2

Title: Method and system for customer selected direct dialed voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP)

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/240,219, filed Sep. 29, 2005, which is currently allowed and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/599,947, filed Jun. 23, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,658, both of which are herein incorporated by referenced in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to Voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) systems, and more particularly to direct-dialed, that is, “single-stage” VOIP systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) telephony systems deal with the transmission of voice-band calls over a packet data network, such as a corporate intranet or the Internet. Using current VOIP systems to make long distance calls offers a number of interesting advantages when compared to traditional long distance telephone service. Some of these advantages include, for example, the ability to place long distance calls as two local voice band calls using an IP data link between them, one local call at the calling number end and one at the destination number end; and being able to manage a voice and data network as a single network. Likewise, additional advantages include moving, adding and changing Internet Protocol (IP) phones is easier and cheaper than regular telephones; providing new and integrated services including integrated messaging, bandwidth on demand, voice e-mails, “voice portals” that provide interactive voice response access to systems such as the Internet; and simplified setting up, tearing down and transferring of phone calls. 
     Unfortunately, current VOIP systems have some significant disadvantages as well, including no single-stage dialing as on a circuit-switched Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN); only two- or three-stage dialing capabilities; and no integrated billing system that can detect and track network use and associate the use with a number for billing purposes. “Single-stage” dialing, which is also known as direct-dialing, permits a caller to dial the desired destination number, the telephone network automatically recognizes the telephone number from which the caller initiated the call, the telephone network automatically determines which calling plan(s) the caller has been registered and routes the call based on the caller&#39;s calling plan(s). 
     “Two-stage” or “three-stage” dialing both require the caller to first call an IP network access number, which can be either a local or a national number, and either a toll-free or a toll number. Next, for two-stage dialing, the system at the access number either automatically detects and recognizes the caller&#39;s number or the caller&#39;s phone service is programmed to automatically send the caller&#39;s account number and PIN when the caller dials the access number; the system then connects the caller to the system and the caller enters the desired destination number. Alternatively, for three-stage dialing, after the system at the access number answers, the caller is usually prompted to enter the caller&#39;s account number and PIN and, then, the caller enters the desired destination number. 
     An example of both a two-stage and a three-stage dialing, prepaid VOIP calling plan is AT&amp;T&#39;s Connect &#39;N Save® service. In this two-stage dialing service, the customer enrolls in the service, prepays a set amount using a credit/debit card or a check, and signs up for the Express Login feature at the customer&#39;s registered telephone number. The Express Login feature only operates from the customer&#39;s telephone number and automatically identifies the customer&#39;s account number and PIN when the customer calls the access number from the customer&#39;s registered telephone number. After connecting to the service, the customer dials the desired destination number and waits for the call to connect with the destination number. The Connect &#39;N Save® service has both local and national access numbers that can be used to access the service. An example of three-stage dialing occurs in the Connect &#39;N Save® service if the customer either did not sign up for the Express Login feature or is calling an access number from a telephone number other than the one that was used to sign up for the Connect &#39;N Save® service. In this case, the customer first dials the access number; second, enters the customer&#39;s account number and PIN; and third, dials the desired destination number. 
       FIG. 1 , depicts a block diagram implementation of current two-stage and three-stage voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) services. In  FIG. 1 , customer (calling party) telephones  115  and  116  are connected to a local access provider network  118 , which is in turn connected to a circuit-switched, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  145  and to an IP gateway  120 , which is communicatively linked to an IP Network  110 . The IP gateway  120  provides both local and toll free number VOIP access to the IP Network  110 , however, single telephones are shown accessing the IP gateway  120  for each of the local and toll free VOIP access numbers in  FIG. 2  for reasons of clarity. The IP Network  110  is communicatively linked with another IP gateway  125 , which provides VOIP service to U.S. locations, and the IP gateway  125  is communicatively linked to a destination telephone  135  through a destination local access provider network (not shown). Similarly, the IP Network  110  is communicatively linked with another IP gateway  130 , which provides VOIP service to international locations, and the IP gateway  130  is communicatively linked to a destination telephone  136  through another destination local access provider network (not shown). The IP Network  110  is communicatively linked with another IP gateway  140 , which is communicatively linked to a second circuit-switched PSTN  145 . When a calling party places a call to a destination telephone number that is not served by any of the VOIP service IP gateways  125  and  130 , the call is routed through the IP gateway  140  to the second PSTN  145  for completion as a circuit-switched telephone call. 
     In  FIG. 1 , when a caller desires to place a VOIP call the caller first calls one of the access numbers at the IP gateway  120  from one of the telephones  115  and  116 . These access numbers can be either a local or a national numbers, and either a toll-free or a toll number. Next, for two-stage dialing, the system at the IP gateway  120  either automatically detects and recognizes the caller&#39;s number or the caller&#39;s phone service can be programmed to automatically send the caller&#39;s account number and PIN when the caller dials the access number, connects the caller to the system and the caller enters the desired destination number. Alternatively, for three-stage dialing, after the system at the IP gateway  120  answers, the caller is usually prompted to enter the caller&#39;s account number and PIN or credit/calling/debit card number and PIN and, then, the caller enters the desired destination telephone number. Upon receiving the destination telephone number, the IP gateway  120  determines an appropriate destination IP gateway, for example, destination IP gateway  125 , converts the call into packets and then routes the packets to the destination IP gateway  125  through the IP Network  110 . The IP network  110  is configured to receive the packets and then route the packets to the destination IP gateway  125  through the destination local access provider network (not shown). The destination IP gateway  125  receives the packets, reassembles the packets, converts the packets back to a voice-band call and sends the reassembled voice-band call to the destination telephone number  135  through the other destination local access provider network (not shown). 
     Unfortunately, the currently-available two-stage and three-stage VOIP services require the entry of multiple phone, account and PIN numbers to use the service, which is inefficient and unpleasant for customers. Another disadvantage of some currently-available two- and three-stage VOIP services is that they require either the purchase of new prepaid calling cards or the replenishment of minimum prepaid account balances because the calling party&#39;s regular telephone service billing system is not connected to and does not communicate with the VOIP service. 
     Accordingly, a single-stage VOIP system is desired that enables the user to directly dial a destination number from a telephone attached to the circuit-switched PSTN, where the call is automatically routed as a VOIP call over the IP network and billed to the calling party&#39;s regular telephone-bill account. Likewise, a provisioning system is desired that receives customer orders for the VOIP service, provisions the network and billing systems based on the orders and maintains the operational and informational synchronization between the network and billing systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a single-stage VOIP system that enables the user to directly dial a destination number from a telephone attached to the circuit-switched PSTN and have the call automatically routed as a VOIP call over the IP network and billed to the calling party&#39;s regular telephone-bill account. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls over an IP network includes receiving a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party telephone number, the direct-dialed voice-band call being associated with a destination number. The method further includes automatically routing the direct-dialed voice-band call to the destination number as a VOIP telephone call if the calling party telephone number is registered for a VOIP service and if the destination number of the direct-dialed telephone call is accessible by the VOIP service. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an IP network includes receiving a VOIP service registration for the calling party telephone number, generating at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service and storing the at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service. The method further includes managing the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number; synchronizing changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes; and processing at least one call detail record including at least a terminating access identification (ID). 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes a first voice-band switch and a database coupled to the first voice-band switch. In the apparatus, the first voice-band switch is configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party&#39;s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a VOIP call. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram implementation of known two-stage and three-stage voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) services. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the direct-dialed VOIP system according to an embodiment to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed block diagram of the direct-dialed VOIP system of  FIG. 2  which illustrates a direct-dialed VOIP apparatus according to an embodiment to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed functional flow diagram of the operation of the entire direct-dialed VOIP network system of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with an embodiment to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed functional flow diagram of the operation detailed in  FIG. 4  for the direct-dialed VOIP apparatus of the entire direct-dialed VOIP network system of  FIG. 3  according to an embodiment to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed block diagram of an offline provisioning system which is necessary for the proper operation of the direct-dialed VOIP service according to an embodiment to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed functional flow diagram of the operation of a scalable offline provisioning system in  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A direct-dialed voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) service is provided to registered customers so that the VOIP service is transparent to the customers when it is in operation. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a customer registers (signs-up) for the VOIP service (calling plan) and, once a customer registers for the service, then all of the customer&#39;s voice-band calls can be automatically routed through the VOIP service just as with other standard circuit-switched calling plans. Note that the registration of customers for the VOIP service is not required by embodiments of the present invention because the VOIP service could be offered as the standard service that customers would have to opt out of, that is, choose not to use, by registering for an alternate calling plan. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the direct-dialed VOIP system according to an embodiment to the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , a customer telephone  200  is connected to an originating local-access-provider network  205  and assigned a telephone number (not shown), which is stored at the originating local-access-provider network  205 . More generally, the originating local-access-provider network  205  may provide local voice-band telecommunications services for numerous telephone numbers, however, only a single telephone  200 , which is associated with a single telephone number, is illustrated in  FIG. 2  for reasons of clarity. An alternate embodiment of the present invention is contemplated in which multiple telephones, each associated with a unique telephone number, are connected to and registered for the VOIP service. In another embodiment of the present invention, multiple telephones can be associated with the single telephone number registered for the VOIP service, for example, the multiple telephones can be extension phones that are all proximally located so that they can be connected to a single telephone line, which provides service for the single telephone number. The originating local-access-provider network  205  may be communicatively linked with a circuit-switched, PSTN  210  when a calling party places a call to one of destination telephones  135 ,  136 . The destination telephones can be located both within and outside the service area of the originating local-access-provider network  205 . For example, calls outside the local service area can include an intra-state long distance call, an out-of-state long distance call or an international long distance call. 
     The PSTN  210  is capable of providing service for numerous different calling plans and millions of different customers. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the PSTN  210  generally includes a long distance telephone provider network, a local telephone service provider and a Private Branch eXchange (PBX). PSTN  210  is communicatively linked with an IP gateway  215 , and the IP gateway  215  is communicatively linked with the IP network  110 . The PSTN  210  also is communicatively linked with other US and foreign destinations that are not served by IP gateways. The IP network  110  is communicatively linked with an IP gateway  125  for US locations served by this IP gateway, and the IP network  110  is also is communicatively linked with an IP gateway  130  for foreign locations served by this IP gateway. Note that while  FIG. 2  and the above detail only show and describe single components for the sake of clarity, each component can be representative of multiple components. For example, multiple telephones (for example, telephone  200 ) each can be communicatively linked to the local-access-provider network  205 . Likewise, multiple originating local-access-provider networks  205  can each be communicatively linked to the PSTN  210  of  FIG. 2 , or each of a plurality of originating local-access-provider networks  205  can each be communicatively linked to a separate PSTN  210 . Similar multiple configurations of the IP gateways  215 ,  125  and  130 , the IP network  110  and destination telephones  135  and  136  are also contemplated in embodiments of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a caller places a direct-dialed long-distance call from the telephone  200 , that is, for example, the caller dials 1-555-123-4567. The call is received by the originating local-access-provider network  205  and then routed to the PSTN  210 , because the “1-” dialing prefix identifies the call as a long-distance call. After receiving the direct-dialed long-distance call, the PSTN  210  determines if the call (or a portion thereof) can be routed as a VOIP call over the IP network  110 . The call can be routed as a VOIP call over the IP network  110  if the caller&#39;s number is registered for the VOIP service and the destination number is served by the IP network. If the call can be routed as a VOIP call, the PSTN  210  initiates a VOIP billing record to track the duration and cost of the VOIP call and, then, the PSTN  210  routes the call to an IP gateway  215 . Once the IP gateway  215  has received the call, the IP gateway  215  determines a specific destination IP gateway  125  or  130  based on the destination number, for example, IP gateway  125 ; converts the voice-band call setup information to packets, and then routes the packets to the destination IP gateway  125  through the IP network  110 . IP network  110  is configured to receive the packets and then route the packets to the destination IP gateway  125 . Destination IP gateway  125  receives the packets, reassembles the packets, converts the packets back to a voice-band call and sends the reassembled voice-band call to the destination number  135  through a destination local access network provider (not shown). 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an originating local-access-provider network can be configured to communicate directly with an IP gateway and perform the same functions as described above for the PSTN  210 . Similarly, in another embodiment, an originating local-access-provider network  205  can be configured to communicate directly with an IP gateway  215  for calls within the service area of the originating local-access-provider network  205  (communication link  206 ). 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, an originating local-access-provider network can be a corporate telephone network or Private Branch eXchange (PBX) which is configured to communicate directly with an IP gateway and an IP network, which is a local area network (LAN). 
       FIG. 3  depicts a detailed block diagram of the direct-dialed VOIP system of  FIG. 2  which illustrates a direct-dialed VOIP apparatus according to an embodiment to the present invention. In  FIG. 3 , elements that are common with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  maintain their prior numbering schemes. In  FIG. 3 , telephone  200  is communicatively linked to the originating local-access-provider network  205 , which in turn is communicatively linked to PSTN  210 . In  FIG. 3 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, PSTN  210  is shown to include a voice-band telephone switch  305 , such as, for example, an Electronic Switching System Number 4 (4ESS) Originating Assist Switch (OAS), which provides the circuit-switched communication link with the originating local-access-provider network  205 . The PSTN  210  also is communicatively linked to a database  310 . Database  310  may be, for example which is implemented in  FIG. 3  as a Universal Subscriber Data Structure (USDS), containing, but not limited to, customer telephone number information, such as, registered network service(s) for the telephone number, a country code listing of available destination IP gateways, and routing instructions. The OAS  305  receives an incoming call from telephone  200  and uses information associated with the incoming call and USDS  310  information to determine if the incoming call is to be routed as a VOIP or a circuit-switched call. 
     The OAS  305  also may be communicatively linked to a second telephone switch  307 , such as, for example, a 4ESS Handoff Assist Switch (HAS), which is used to route the calls to be routed as VOIP calls, and a third telephone switch  315 , such as, for example, a 4ESS International Switching Center (ISC), which is used to route the calls to be routed as circuit-switched calls. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the HAS  307  is communicatively linked to the originating IP gateway  215 , which is, in turn, linked to an IP command center database  325 , which contains a listing of the specific IP gateways or complex of gateways that serve the destination number. The IP gateway  215  uses the specific IP gateway information from the IP command center database  325  to determine the final routing instruction for the call, converts the voice-band call and setup information to packets and then routes the packets to the IP network  110 . In addition to the routing function, the HAS  307  may create a billing record that is used to track and record the length of the VOIP call to billed to the caller&#39;s standard telephone-bill account. The HAS  307  was used, in this embodiment of the present invention, to consolidate and reduce the number of IP gateways  215  and the number of connections that are actually made to the IP gateway  215  since the IP gateway  215  can only handle a limited number of connections. For example, in the experimental design, the IP gateway  215  could only receive a single T-1 (Trunk Level 1) connection. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the system is configured with  6  IP gateways  215  and each IP gateway  215  can receive four (4) separate T-1 lines. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an HAS is not used and an OAS is directly and communicatively linked to an IP gateway and the OAS also is modified to perform the functions of the HAS described above. However, in this embodiment of the present invention, the OAS can only be located a finite distance (for example, approximately 900 miles) from the IP gateway. 
     The ISC  315  is communicatively linked to other circuit switches, at destinations that are not served by IP gateways, to route standard circuit-switched calls. 
     The IP network  110  routes the packets to the appropriate destination IP gateway  125 ,  130  where the packets are received, reassembled and then converted back to a voice-band call. IP gateway  125  is communicatively linked to an Electronic Switching System Number 5 (5ESS)  330  and IP gateway  125  routes the reassembled voice-band call to the 5ESS  330 . The 5ESS  330  routes the reassembled voice-band call to a destination local-access-provider network  335 , which, in turn, routes the reassembled voice-band call to the destination telephone number  135 . IP gateway  130  is directly and communicatively linked to another destination local-access-provider network  340  and IP gateway  130  routes the reassembled voice-band call to the destination local-access-provider network  340 . The other destination local-access-provider network routes the reassembled voice-band call to the destination telephone number  136 . 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an emergency backup network is associated with the direct-dialed VOIP service and is configured to operate when, the destination IP gateway  125  or  130  goes down, that is, becomes unavailable, after the direct-dialed call has been routed to the originating IP gateway  215 . In this embodiment of the present invention, if, after the direct-dialed call has been routed to the originating IP gateway  215 , the destination IP gateway  125  or  130  goes down, the service automatically routes the direct-dialed call to another IP gateway in the IP network  110  and then uses the Connect &#39;N Save® service to complete the call. The other IP gateway can be located anywhere in the IP network  110 . In an embodiment of the present, preference is first given to the other IP gateway that is located the nearest to the destination IP gateway  125  or  130 . If the nearest IP gateway is also unavailable, then the call is routed through an IP gateway, which serves as the main IP gateway for the Connect &#39;N Save® service, to a 4ESS switch that, then, forwards the call to the ESS ISC  315  for completion as a circuit-switched call. 
     In  FIG. 3 , when a called party at a destination telephone number transmits a voice-band response back to the calling party, the above process is reversed and the transmitted voice-band response is routed through the local-access-provider network  335  or  340  and then to the appropriate IP gateway  125  or  130  where the voice-band response is converted to packets and routed over the IP network  110  to the originating IP gateway  215 . When the IP gateway  215  receives all of the packets from the voice-band response, the IP gateway  215  reassembles the packets in the correct order; converts the packets back to a voice-band response and, then, routes the reassembled voice-band response to the PSTN  210  for routing through the local-access-provider network  205  to the calling party at telephone number  200 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a detailed functional flow diagram of the operation of the entire direct-dialed VOIP network system of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with an embodiment to the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , in block  405  a direct-dialed voice-band call is received by the OAS  305  from the calling party&#39;s telephone number, where the direct-dialed voice-band call is associated with a destination telephone number. In block  410 , a test is performed to determine if the calling party&#39;s telephone number was registered for the VOIP service. In an embodiment of the present invention, before the test can be performed, the OAS  305  sends the calling party&#39;s telephone number and the associated destination telephone number to the USDS  310 . After receiving these numbers, the USDS  310  does a lookup in a database using the calling party&#39;s telephone number to determine if the calling party&#39;s telephone number has been registered for the VOIP service. If the calling party&#39;s telephone number was not registered for the VOIP service, then, the USDS  310  sets a terminating address value to indicate whichever service the calling party is registered, for example, “PSTN”, or to a system determined default value if the calling party was not registered for any network services. The USDS  310 , then returns the terminating address to the OAS  305  where the OAS  305  determines that the terminating address value indicates the voice-band call is to be routed as a circuit-switched network call and, then, in block  412 , the OAS  305  routes the direct-dialed voice-band call to the ESS ISC  315  to continue routing the direct-dialed voice-band call as a circuit-switched call through the PSTN. In block  414 , a standard circuit-switched billing record is initiated. If the calling party&#39;s telephone number was registered for the VOIP service, then, in block  415 , a test is performed to determine if the destination number of the voice-band call is served by an IP gateway. If the destination number of the voice-band call is not served by an IP gateway, then, in block  412 , the voice-band call is routed as a circuit-switched network call and, in block  414 , a standard circuit-switched billing record is initiated. 
     If the calling party&#39;s telephone number was registered for the VOIP service, then, the USDS  310  then checks the destination telephone number against an allowable number to determine if the destination telephone is served by an IP gateway. If the destination telephone number is not served by an IP gateway, the USDS  310  sets the terminating address to indicate a non-VOIP service, for example, “PSTN”, and then returns to the OAS  305  the terminating address. The OAS  305 , then, determines that the terminating address value indicates the voice-band call is to be routed as a circuit-switched network call and, then, routes the voice-band call as described above for block  412 . If the destination telephone number is served by an IP gateway, then, the USDS  310  returns to the OAS  305  the terminating address value called an adjunct logical address (ALA) indicating a partial routing instruction to reach the VOIP network. In block  420 , the OAS  305  receives the ALA partial routing instruction. Then, in block  425 , the OAS  305  routes the voice-band call and partial routing information to the HAS  307 . In block  430 , the HAS  307  receives the direct-dialed voice-band call and partial routing information. The HAS  307  determines through which circuits to send the direct-dialed voice-band call by looking up in a routing table, which is kept in a memory in the HAS  307 , a routing data block (RDB) is associated with an adjunct logical address (ALA) from the partial routing information. Then, in block  435 , the HAS  307  routes the direct-dialed voice-band call to the originating IP gateway  215 . Then, in block  440 , the HAS  307  performs a call detail recording function and initiates the VOIP billing record, for example, creates a call detail record to track the direct-dialed voice-band call and to be added to a telephone-bill associated with the calling party&#39;s telephone number. As part of this call detail record, the HAS  307  adds a special module including the terminating access identification (ID) field, which is based on information provisioned on the trunk (circuit) groups so that the IP network use is explicitly indicated for both billing and tracking use. The HAS  307  then releases the call detail record to the standard telephone network billing system. In block  445 , the direct-dialed voice-band call is received by the originating IP gateway  215 . In block  450 , the direct-dialed voice-band call setup is converted to packets. In block  455 , the partial routing information is used by the originating IP gateway to determine the specific routing information for the destination IP gateway. In block  460 , the packets are routed to the destination IP gateway over the IP network  110 . 
     In block  465 , the packets are received at the destination IP gateway, for example, IP gateway  130 , and, then in block  470 , the packets are reassembled in their correct order and converted to a reassembled voice-band call. In block  475 , the reassembled voice-band call is routed to the local-access-provider network  340 . In block  480 , the local-access-provider network  340  receives the reassembled voice-band call and routes the reassembled voice-band call to the destination telephone number  136 . In block  485 , the reassembled voice-band call is received, connected to and conducted by the destination telephone number. Then, in block  487 , the VOIP call is in progress with transmissions going back and forth between the calling party&#39;s telephone number and the destination telephone number. In block  490 , the HAS  307  receives a notice of call clearing after the VOIP call is completed, which can be signaled when one or both of the calling party and called party disconnect from the VOIP call or some portion of the network drops the VOIP call. In block  495 , the telephone billing system also receives notice of the call clearing and closes the call detail record. 
     For the VOIP service to operate each customer desiring to place VOIP calls must register/sign-up for the VOIP service and have the system store a VOIP service registration record for the calling party prior to the calling party placing a direct-dialed voice-band call. However, this sign-up process is only done once, just as with other calling plans. Similarly, another preliminary activity involves storing an allowable destination number list, which identifies numbers accessible using the VOIP service, prior to the calling party placing the direct-dialed telephone call. 
     While the above detailed description of the method of operation of the VOIP network system has been described in reference to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as other embodiments are contemplated in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a detailed functional flow diagram of the operation detailed in  FIG. 4  for the direct-dialed VOIP apparatus of the entire direct-dialed VOIP network system of  FIG. 3  according to an embodiment to the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 5 , in block  505  a direct-dialed voice-band call is received by the OAS  305  from the calling party&#39;s telephone number, where the direct-dialed voice-band call is associated with a destination phone number. In block  510 , a test is performed using the USDS  310  to determine if the calling party&#39;s telephone number was registered for the VOIP service. If the calling party&#39;s telephone number was not registered for the VOIP service, then, in block  512 , the voice-band call is routed as a circuit-switched network call and, in block  514 , a standard circuit-switched billing record is initiated. If the calling party&#39;s telephone number was registered for the VOIP service, then, in block  515 , a test is performed using the USDS  310  to determine if the destination number of the voice-band call is served by an IP gateway. If the destination number of the voice-band call is not served by an IP gateway, then, in block  512 , the voice-band call is routed as a circuit-switched network call and, in block  514 , a standard circuit-switched billing record is initiated. If the calling party&#39;s telephone number was registered for the VOIP service, then, in block  520  partial routing information is received by the OAS  305  and, in block  525 , the direct-dialed voice-band call and partial routing information are routed to the HAS  307  from the OAS  305 . In block  530 , the direct-dialed voice-band call and partial routing information are received by the HAS  307 . In block  535 , the direct-dialed voice-band call is routed to the originating IP gateway  215  by the HAS  307 . In block  540 , the HAS  307  initiates an IP billing record by creating a call detail record to track the direct-dialed voice-band call and be added to a telephone-bill associated with the calling party&#39;s telephone number. In block  545 , the HAS  307  receives notice of the destination telephone number connecting to the direct-dialed voice-band call. Then, in block  550 , the VOIP call is in progress with transmissions going back and forth between the calling party&#39;s telephone number and the destination telephone number. In block  555 , the HAS  307  receives a notice of call clearing after the VOIP call is completed, which can be signaled when one or both of the calling party and called party disconnect from the VOIP call or some portion of the network drops the VOIP call. In block  560 , the telephone billing system also receives notice of the call clearing and closes the call detail record. 
     While the above detailed description of the method of operation of the VOIP apparatus has been described in reference to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as other embodiments are contemplated in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a detailed block diagram of an offline provisioning system that can be configured to operate with the direct-dialed VOIP service, in accordance with an embodiment to the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , a network provisioning platform (NPP)  605 , which is configured to receive a customer order for the VOIP service and keep the network and the billing systems synchronized, is communicatively linked to a billing system  610 , which is configured to maintain customer account information and the VOIP calling plan. The NPP  605  is also communicatively linked to a Customer Service Message System (CSMS)  615 , which is configured to provision customer calling number and service in the VOIP network. The CSMS  615  is also communicatively linked to a Universal Subscriber Data Structure (USDS) database  620  and a 4ESS telecommunications switch  625 . The 4ESS  625  is communicatively linked to a data record system  630 , which is configured to store call detail records for completed VOIP calls with a terminating access ID equal to “IP”. 
     Specifically, in  FIG. 6 , the NPP  605  is configured to receive a VOIP service registration/order for the calling party&#39;s telephone number, generate a billing system order and a network service order for the calling party&#39;s telephone number VOIP service and, then, forward the orders to the billing system  610  and the CSMS  615 , respectively. The NPP  605  is also configured to manage the interaction between a calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, to provide updated records to the billing system  610  and the CSMS  615  to compensate for numbering plan changes. The NPP  605  is further configured to synchronize any other changes due to calling party activations, disconnections and/or changes in the billing system  610  and the CSMS  615 . 
     The billing system  610  is further configured to maintain calling party telephone number account information, to maintain a rating table with applicable PSTN and VOIP rates, and to create bills using the rating table, use records, terminating access ID and calling plan uniform service order code (USOC). 
     The CSMS  615  is further configured to synchronize between the 4ESS telecommunications switch  625  and the network database in the USDS  620 , which stores the calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information. 
     While the above detailed description of the offline provisioning system has been described in reference to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as other embodiments are contemplated in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a detailed functional flow diagram of the operation of a scalable offline provisioning system in  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment to the present invention. The system is scalable because it can be configured to work with both small (for example, a corporate telephone network on a LAN) and large systems (for example, the national and international system illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). In  FIG. 7 , in block  705 , the NPP  605  receives a VOIP service registration/order for a calling party telephone number and, then in block  710 , the NPP  605  generates a billing system order and a network service order for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service. In block  715 , the NPP  605  forwards the billing system order to the billing system  610  to be stored and the network system order to the CSMS  615  to be stored. In block  720 , the NPP  605  manages the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number when a call is placed from the calling party telephone number. That is, the NPP  605  ensures that the call detail record generated for each call is billed to the correct telephone number after the call is terminated. In general, the calling party telephone number and the billed telephone number are the same number, however, these numbers can also be different numbers. In block  725 , the NPP  605  provides updated records to the billing system  610  and the CSMS  615  to reflect numbering plan changes. In block  730 , the NPP  605  synchronizes the changes between the billing system  610  and the CSMS  615  due to, for example, calling party activations, disconnections and other changes. In block  735 , the billing system  610  processes the call detail records from completed calls, where the call detail records include information on the terminating access ID, VOIP rating and bill notification. 
     The CSMS  615  is further configured to synchronize between the telecommunication switch  625  and the network database in the USDS  620 , which stores the calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, network service information (for example, USOC information) and destination number information. 
     While the above detailed description of the method of operation of the offline provisioning system has been described in reference to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as other embodiments are contemplated in accordance with the present invention. For example, embodiments of the present can be implemented to handle intra-state, inter-state and international voice-band calls (for example, regular telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and modem initiated calls) using standard circuit-switched telephone lines, cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) and wireless. Similarly, in an embodiment of the present invention, the customer can register for the VOIP service by selecting both a provider, that is a Primary Interexchange Carrier (PIC) and a calling plan. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the customer can register for the VOIP service by only selecting a PIC, for example, if the PIC does not need to have a calling plan associated with the PIC in order to provide the VOIP service. The select the PIC only embodiment could be used, for example, for a provider that only provides the VOIP service. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls over an IP network includes receiving a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party telephone number, the direct-dialed voice-band call being associated with a destination number. The method further includes automatically routing the direct-dialed voice-band call to the destination number as a VOIP telephone call if the calling party telephone number is registered for a VOIP service and if the destination number of the direct-dialed telephone call is accessible by the VOIP service. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an IP network includes receiving a VOIP service registration for the calling party telephone number, generating at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service and storing the at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service. The method further includes managing the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number; synchronizing changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes; and processing at least one call detail record including at least a terminating access identification (ID). 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes a first voice-band switch and a database coupled to the first voice-band switch. In the apparatus, the first voice-band switch is configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party&#39;s telephone number and to automatically designate the direct-dialed voice-band call as a VOIP call. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes an ESS OAS, with the OAS being configured to receive a direct-dialed voice-band call from a calling party&#39;s telephone number, the direct-dialed voice-band call being associated with a destination telephone number. The OAS is further configured to determine whether to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over an IP network or a circuit-switched network and, if it is determined to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over the IP network, the OAS is configured to transmit the direct-dialed voice-band call to the IP network, or, if it is determined to continue to route the direct-dialed voice-band call over the circuit-switched network, the OAS is configured to transmit the direct-dialed voice-band call to the circuit-switched network. The apparatus further includes an USDS coupled to the ESS OAS, with the USDS being configured to store information on a plurality of calling party&#39;s telephone numbers registered for the VOIP service, to store information on which destination telephone numbers are accessible using the VOIP service, to receive the calling party&#39;s telephone number and a destination telephone number of the direct-dialed voice-hand call from the OAS, to determine if the calling party&#39;s telephone number is registered for the VOIP service, and, if the calling party&#39;s telephone number is registered for the VOIP service, to determine if the destination telephone number is accessible using the VOIP service, and to return a partial routing instruction and service information to the OAS. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, a system for automatically provisioning and maintaining a network system for routing direct-dialed voice-band calls from a calling party telephone number over an IP network includes a network provisioning component. The network provisioning component is configured to receive a VOIP service registration for the calling party telephone number, to generate at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service, to store the at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service, to manage the billing interaction for a billed account between at least one calling party telephone number and a billed telephone number, and to update the at least one order record to compensate for numbering plan changes. The system further includes a billing system component coupled to the network provisioning component, and the billing system component is configured to maintain at least one calling party&#39;s account information, to maintain the VOIP service, to create bills based on usage, terminating access ID and calling plan USOC. The system further includes a CSMS component, which is coupled to the network provisioning component. The CSMS component is configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service, between at least one telecommunications switch and a database, which stores calling party telephone numbers that are registered for the VOIP service, USOC information and destination number information. The network provisioning component is further configured to synchronize changes made to the stored at least one order record for the calling party telephone number&#39;s VOIP service, between the network system and a billing system, due to calling party activations, disconnections and changes. 
     In the foregoing detailed description and figures, several embodiments of the present invention are specifically illustrated and described. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.