Telecommunications portal capable of interpreting messages from an external device

• US 20020064267A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CopperCom, Inc. (The Heico Cos. LLC)
• Original Assignee: CopperCom, Inc. (The Heico Cos. LLC)
• Inventors: Martin, Robert, Tio, Cathy
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/54 Object oriented software
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4217 Managing service interactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/129 Details of providing call progress tones or announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 : Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1315 : Call waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13156 : Automatic digit redialling, automatic call retry
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1324 : Conference call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 : Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13512 : 800 - freefone
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0041 : involving techniques for avoiding interaction of call service features
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0054 : Service creation techniques

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and system for providing telecommunications services, such as call waiting, three-way call, and automatic recall, utilizing a plurality of state machines. Logic specifications define a set of states for each state machine. Each state in turn defines at least one action to be performed in response to a signal received by the state machine. The logic specification for each state machine can be stored, for example, in a textual format in a mark up language, such as HTML, XML, or or other markup language. A compiled representation of the logic specification is generated. Further, a context object tracks a current state of the telecommunication service. The context object accesses the compiled representation in response to an event, e.g., a call progress event, in order to effect a state transition and/or perform an action with respect to the telecommunication service.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications system, a processing module in communication with an external communication device, said processing module comprising

a message handling object that receives message fragments from said external device, said message handling object discerning an event and forming a message associated with said event from selected ones of a plurality of received message fragments, and

a dispatcher in communication with said message handling object, said dispatcher identifying and invoking a selected process for processing said event,

wherein said selected process executes at least one task for providing a communication service identified by said message.

2. A processing module according to claim 1, wherein said dispatcher is configured to identify a processor containing said selected process.

3. A processing module according to claim 2, wherein said event includes a call control event.

4. A processing module according to claim 1, wherein said event belongs to an event class within an event hierarchy such that event within an event class are dispatched to a single processing context.

5. A processing module according to claim 1, wherein said communication service includes a call feature of a subscriber.

6. A processing module according to claim 1, wherein said message handling object is configured to determine whether a newly received message fragment is associated with one or more previously received message fragments.

7. A processing module according to claim 1, wherein said message handling object is configured to determine whether a received message fragment is the first fragment for forming a new message.

8. A processing module according to claim 1, wherein event effects the instantiation of one or more objects that can effect the execution of one or more operations for providing a communication service.

9. A processing module according to claim 8, wherein the instantiated objects access a compiled representation of logic defining a telecommunication service.

10. A processing module according to claim 9, wherein the compiled representation is generated from a textual description in a mark-up language of the logic defining the telecommunication service.

11. A processing module according to claim 3, wherein said call control event includes an extended event defined as a combination of a call progress event and a pre-defined condition.

12. A processing module according to claim 1, wherein said external device is a telecommunications switch.

14. A processing module according to claim 13, wherein said external communication device is a telecommunications switch.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of determining whether a newly received message fragment is associated with one or more previously received message fragments.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of determining whether a received message fragment is the first fragment for forming a new message.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of identifying a processor containing said selected process.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said event is selected to be a call control event.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said call control event is selected from the group consisting of offhook, dialComplete, remoteAlerting, remoteAnswered, seizure, hookflash, localRelease, and remoteRelease.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said communication service is selected to include a call feature of a subscriber.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of said external devices is selected to be a telecommunications switch.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said external device is selected to be a telecommunications switch.

13. In a telecommunications system, a processing module in communication with an external communication device, said processing module comprising

one or more message handling objects that receive message fragments from one or more external devices, said message handling objects assembling said message fragments to discern one or more events and to form one or more messages such that each message is associated with at least one of the events, and

a dispatcher in communication with said message handling objects, said dispatcher invoking at least one process that dynamically binds to a processing context defining an action to be executed in response to at least one of said events for providing a communication service identified by the message associated with said event.

15. In a telecommunications system, a processing module in communication with an external communication device, said processing module comprising

a message handling object created as an application program that exchanges messages with the external device, said message handling object forming a message associated with an event communicated thereto by a processing context within the system and transmitting said message to the communication device, said message handling object further discerning an event and forming a message associated with said event from selected ones of a plurality of message fragments received from the device, and

a dispatcher that exchanges events and their associated messages between selected processing contexts and said message handling object to effectuate activation of selected communications services defined by said messages.

16. In a telecommunications system, a method for communicating with an external communication device, the method comprising the steps of

receiving a plurality of message fragments from the external device,

discerning an event and forming a message associated with said event from selected ones of said received message fragments, and

identifying and invoking a selected process for processing said event,

wherein said selected process executes at least one task for providing a communication service identified by said message.

23. In a telecommunications system, a method for providing a communication service to a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of

receiving a plurality of message fragments from one or more external devices,

assembling said message fragments to discern one or more events and to form one or more messages such that each message is associated with at least one of the events, and

invoking at least one process that dynamically binds to a processing context defining an action to be executed in response to at least one of said events for providing a communication service identified by the message associated with said event.

25. In a telecommunications system, a method for providing a communication service to a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an application program that exchanges messages with an external communication device, said application program forming a message associated with an event communicated thereto by a processing context within the system and transmitting said message to the communication device, said application program farther discerning an event and forming a message associated with said event from selected one of a plurality of message fragments received from the device, and

exchanging events and their associated messages between selected processing contexts and said application program to effectuate activation of selected communications services defined by said message.