Multiple protocol communications

Abstract

A particular method includes receiving a dialing code from a calling device at a customer premise device coupled to the calling device. The method also includes selecting a telecommunication protocol based at least in part on a network of a receiving device. The method further includes initiating a call to the receiving device using the selected telecommunication protocol.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a dialing code from a calling device at a customer premise device coupled to the calling device;   determining a network of a called device based on the dialing code;   selecting a telecommunication protocol based at least in part on the network of the called device; and   initiating a call to the called device using the selected telecommunication protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the dialing code comprises a predetermined prefix, the network of the called device is a same network as a network of the calling device and the call is initiated as an on-network call. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dialing code is preceded with and followed by a first non-numeric symbol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising receiving a personal identification code from the calling device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the personal identification code is separated from the dialing code by a second non-numeric symbol that is different from the first non-numeric symbol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the call comprises interacting with a service provider network device, wherein the service provider network device performs call set up signaling on behalf of the calling device to establish the call, and wherein the calling device and the called device communicate without the service provider network device after the call is established. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating the call using the selected telecommunication protocol comprises:
 selecting a telecommunication protocol template by a processor of the customer premise device, wherein the telecommunication protocol template includes one or more virtual machine instructions executable by a virtual machine at the customer premise device to implement the selected telecommunication protocol;   reading a first virtual machine instruction of the telecommunication protocol template from a first memory device of the customer premise device;   initializing a first finite state machine using the first virtual machine instruction, wherein the telecommunication protocol template includes first template state data defining a first template state of the first finite state machine; and   storing the first template state at a second memory device of the customer premise device in a first state table, wherein the second memory device is internal to the processor.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving an input at the processor via the call;   determining, by the virtual machine, an updated template state of the first finite state machine based on the first state table and the input; and   storing an updated first state table at the second memory device, the updated first state table specifying the updated template state.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a request at the processor to implement a second telecommunication protocol;   reading a second virtual machine instruction from the first memory device;   initializing a second finite state machine using the second virtual machine instruction; and   storing a second template state of the second finite state machine at the second memory device in a second state table.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first memory device is a FLASH memory device and the second memory device is a RAM memory device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected telecommunication protocol includes at least one of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), a H.323 protocol, a STUN protocol, and a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 receiving a signal from a telephony device coupled to a customer premise equipment telephony gateway during a call between the telephony device and a remote telephony device via the customer premise equipment telephony gateway;   in response to the signal, interrupting the call at the customer premise equipment telephony gateway;   initiating a second call to a second remote telephony device from the customer premise equipment telephony gateway;   sending information from the customer premise equipment telephony gateway to a second telephony gateway, wherein the second telephony gateway is a customer premise device coupled to the remote telephony device, wherein the information notifies the second telephony gateway of the second call; and   sharing data among the telephony device, the remote telephony device and the second remote telephony device via the call and the second call.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the signal comprises a hook flash. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the hook flash enables access to a control protocol of the customer premise equipment telephony gateway via the telephony device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein initiating the second call comprises:
 selecting a telecommunication protocol template by a processor of the customer premise equipment telephony gateway, wherein the telecommunication protocol template includes one or more virtual machine instructions executable by a virtual machine at the customer premise equipment telephony gateway to implement a telecommunication protocol;   reading a first virtual machine instruction of the telecommunication protocol template from a first memory device of the customer premise equipment telephony gateway;   initializing a first finite state machine using the first virtual machine instruction, wherein the telecommunication protocol template includes first template state data defining a first template state of the first finite state machine; and   storing the first template state at a second memory device of the customer premise equipment telephony gateway in a first state table, wherein the second memory device is internal to the processor.   
     
     
         16 . A communication system comprising:
 a service provider gateway configured to communicate with one or more telephony gateways, including a first telephony gateway and a second telephony gateway, via a switched packet network, the service provider gateway comprising:
 a network communication system to communicate via the switched packet network; 
 a protocol handling system to process data communicated according to a selected telephony protocol; 
 a bridge system to connect the first telephony gateway to the second telephony gateway in response to data received from the first telephony gateway; and 
 a billing system to facilitate billing users. 
   
     
     
         17 . The communication system of  claim 16 , wherein the service provider gateway is further configured to communicate with one or more telephones via a public switched telephone network. 
     
     
         18 . The communication system of  claim 16 , wherein the service provider gateway further includes an interactive voice response system to automatically respond to billing questions. 
     
     
         19 . The communication system of  claim 16 , wherein the service provider gateway further comprises an authentication system to authenticate a user of the first telephony gateway. 
     
     
         20 . The communication system of  claim 16 , wherein the service provider gateway is configured to determine whether a call initiated via the first telephony gateway is an on-network call based on a portion of a dialing code received at the first telephony gateway.