VoIP Gateway Identity Translation for Call Barring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional call barring systems in PSTN and mobile networks are ineffective for VoIP calls due to the lack of unique calling line identities associated with VoIP clients, leading to nuisance calls and financial losses for network operators.
Innovation Solution
A communication gateway that converts and forwards call establishment requests between VoIP and PSTN networks, using a data store to determine and manage caller and subscriber identities, enabling effective call barring by assigning predetermined caller line identifiers and utilizing a blacklist or whitelist for approved or barred caller identifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional call barring systems are used in PSTN and mobile networks, then calls with unique calling line identities can be effectively barred, but VoIP calls cannot be barred because VoIP clients do not have permanently associated unique telephone numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a VoIP gateway as an intermediary component between the VoIP network and the PSTN/mobile network. The gateway performs identity translation by mapping VoIP client identifiers (such as SIP addresses) to calling line identities that can be recognized by conventional call barring systems. This intermediary enables the call barring functionality to work with VoIP calls without requiring modifications to the core call barring mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of caller identification by translating it from VoIP-specific formats (SIP addresses, URIs) into conventional telephony formats (telephone numbers, calling line identities). This parameter transformation allows the call barring system to process VoIP calls using existing infrastructure designed for traditional telephone networks.
2Productivity
If a standard calling line identity assigned to the VoIP provider is used for all VoIP calls, then the call can be routed through the PSTN, but conventional call barring becomes ineffective since barring this identity would block all calls from the VoIP provider
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the calling line identity into two distinct components: the VoIP provider's base identity and the individual VoIP client's identifier. By combining these segments (e.g., appending the client's SIP address to the provider's CLI), the system creates a unique composite identity for each VoIP call. This segmentation enables selective call barring of individual clients without affecting other VoIP users from the same provider.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds an additional dimension to the calling line identity by incorporating the VoIP client's identifier as a suffix or extension to the provider's base CLI. This dimensional extension transforms a single-dimensional provider-wide identity into a two-dimensional composite identity that uniquely identifies both the provider and the individual client, enabling precise call control.
3Ease of operation
If VoIP clients are allocated calling line identities from a group associated with the VoIP provider, then calls can be made through the gateway, but all calls appear to originate from the same identity making individual call control impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identity translation at the gateway before the call is routed to the PSTN. The gateway pre-processes the VoIP client's identifier by combining it with the provider's base CLI to create a unique composite calling line identity. This preliminary action ensures that each call arrives at the PSTN with a distinct, traceable identity, enabling individual call control and barring without requiring complex post-call processing.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, in a communication gateway, of forwarding a call establishment request from a caller of a first network to a subscriber of a second network, comprising: receiving from a caller a call establishment request intended for a subscriber; obtaining the identities of the caller and the subscriber, the identities being in a format of the first network; converting the extracted subscriber identity into a format of the second network; determining whether to forward the call establishment request to the subscriber; and where it is so determined, converting the call establishment request into a format suitable for the second network, and forwarding the converted call establishment request to the subscriber using the converted identity.