Packet-Switched Telephony

Abstract

In implementations of packet-switched telephony, a packet switched telephony service provider receives a call request from a user device. The call request includes a telephone number corresponding to a public-switched telephone network subscriber. The call request is transmitted from the packet switched telephony service provider to a gateway for forwarding to the public-switched telephone network subscriber. A call is caused to be established between the user device and the public-switched telephone network subscriber.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a call request from a user device at a packet switched telephony service provider (PTSP), the call request including a telephone number corresponding to a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) subscriber;   transmitting the call request from the PTSP to a gateway for forwarding to the PSTN subscriber; and   causing a call to be established between the user device and the PSTN subscriber, the call including media data communicated via a first communication channel between the user device and the gateway, and call control data communicated via a second communication channel between the user device and the gateway.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media data comprises at least one packet with a network address corresponding to the gateway, and the call control data is included in at least an additional packet with an additional network address corresponding to the PTSP. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call control data includes call ping data sent while the call is in progress. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call control data includes call ping data sent while the call is in progress, and wherein the ping data comprises one or more stay alive signals indicating a connection status of the call. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the call request is in accordance with a non-native protocol that is non-native to the gateway. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an audio sample to the user device to inform the user device of an identity of the PTSP. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an advertisement for the PTSP to the user device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an advertisement for the PTSP to the user device, wherein the advertisement is selected based on at least one of the telephone number, the user device, or a time of day. 
     
     
         9 . A device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   hardware storing software that is executable by the one or more processors to perform operations including:
 receiving a call request from a user device at a packet switched telephony service provider (PTSP), the call request including a telephone number corresponding to a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) subscriber; 
 transmitting the call request from the PTSP to a gateway for forwarding to the PSTN subscriber; and 
 causing a call to be established between the user device and the PSTN subscriber, the call including media data communicated via a first communication channel between the user device and the gateway, and call control data communicated via a second communication channel between the user device and the gateway. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the media data comprises at least one packet with a network address corresponding to the gateway, and the call control data is included in at least an additional packet with an additional network address corresponding to the PTSP. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the call control data includes call ping data sent while the call is in progress. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the call control data includes call ping data sent while the call is in progress, and wherein the ping data comprises one or more stay alive signals indicating a connection status of the call. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting an advertisement for a commercial entity other than the PTSP to the user device, the advertisement selected based on at least one of the telephone number, the user device, or a time of day. 
     
     
         14 . A data storage device storing software that is executable by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a call request from a user device at a packet switched telephony service provider (PTSP), the call request including a telephone number corresponding to a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) subscriber;   transmitting the call request from the PTSP to a gateway for forwarding to the PSTN subscriber; and   causing a call to be established between the user device and the PSTN subscriber, the call including media data communicated via a first communication channel between the user device and the gateway, and call control data communicated via a second communication channel between the user device and the gateway.   
     
     
         15 . The data storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the media data comprises at least one packet with a network address corresponding to the gateway, and the call control data is included in at least an additional packet with an additional network address corresponding to the PTSP. 
     
     
         16 . The data storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the call control data includes call ping data sent while the call is in progress. 
     
     
         17 . The data storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the call control data includes call ping data sent while the call is in progress, and wherein the ping data comprises one or more stay alive signals indicating a connection status of the call. 
     
     
         18 . The data storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the call request is in accordance with a non-native protocol that is non-native to the gateway. 
     
     
         19 . The data storage device of  claim 14 , further comprising transmitting an audio sample to the user device to inform the user device of an identity of the PTSP. 
     
     
         20 . The data storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting an advertisement for the PTSP to the user device, wherein the advertisement is selected based on at least one of the telephone number, the user device, or a time of day.