Direct connect service in a multimedia-capable network

• US 20020188744A1
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Mani, Babu V.
• Application Number:
  US09/871,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A system and method for establishing a direct connection through a multimedia-capable service network. Upon receiving at a network element serving a subscriber an indication to initiate a direct connect session involving the subscriber, a multimedia call engine is invoked to launch a call treatment application for the subscriber. A service profile associated with the subscriber is queried to determine an authorized destination and associated service options. A one-way or two-way direct connect session to the appropriate destination or destinations is commenced thereafter based on at least a portion of the applicable service profile options.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a direct connection through a multimedia-capable service network, comprising the steps:

upon receiving an indication to initiate a direct connect session with respect to a subscriber, invoking a multimedia call engine by a serving node to launch a call treatment application for said subscriber;

querying a service profile associated with said subscriber to determine an authorized destination with respect to said direct connect session; and

responsive to said step of querying, commencing said direct connect session to said authorized destination.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said direct connect session is commenced in accordance with at least one applicable service option associated with said service profile.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session comprises an off-hook condition effectuated with respect to said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session is effectuated by pressing a key at said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session is effectuated in response to monitoring at least one of an audio channel and a video channel associated with said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps:

determining whether said direct connect session is to be commenced with a delay; and

if so, commencing said direct connect session to a destination specified by said subscriber.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising the step of selecting a default destination if a destination is not specified by said subscriber when said direct connect session is to be commenced with a delay.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said authorized destination comprises a governmental entity.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said authorized destination comprises a commercial entity.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said authorized destination comprises an individual party.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said direct connect session comprises a one-way communication channel between said subscriber and said authorized destination.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of activating a two-way communication channel for said direct connect session based on an input provided by said subscriber.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of activating a two-way communication channel for said direct connect session based on monitoring for a predesignated indicium transmitted via said one-way communication channel.

14. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an audio channel.

15. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an video channel.

16. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an information channel to deliver select information to said authorized destination.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said select information comprises at least one of audio, video and data information.

18. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an information channel to capture select information from said authorized destination.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said select information comprises at least one of audio, video and data information.

20. A direct connect system for use in a multimedia-capable service network, comprising:

means for invoking a multimedia call engine to launch a call treatment application for a subscriber upon receiving an indication to initiate a direct connect session involving said subscriber;

database means operable to store a service profile associated with said subscriber;

service logic means associated with said call treatment application for ascertaining an authorized destination with respect to said direct connect session by interacting with said database means; and

means for commencing said direct connect session to said authorized destination based on at least one applicable service option associated therewith.

21. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said authorized destination comprises one of a governmental entity, a commercial entity, and an individual party.

22. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session comprises an off-hook condition effectuated with respect to said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

23. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session is effectuated by pressing a key at said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

24. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session is effectuated in response to monitoring at least one of an audio channel and a video channel associated with said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

25. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said direct connect session comprises at least a one-way communication channel between said subscriber and said authorized destination.

26. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an audio channel.

27. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an video channel.

28. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an information channel to deliver select information to said authorized destination.

29. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 28, wherein said select information comprises at least one of audio, video and data information.

30. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an information channel to capture select information from said authorized destination.

31. The direct connect system as set forth in claim 30, wherein said select information comprises at least one of audio, video and data information.

32. A computer-accessible medium operable with a network element disposed in a multimedia-capable next-generation network, said computer-accessible medium carrying a sequence of instructions which, when executed by at least one processing entity associated with said multimedia-capable next-generation network, cause the following steps to be performed:

upon receiving an indication to initiate a direct connect session with respect to a subscriber, invoking a multimedia call engine by a serving node to launch a call treatment application for said subscriber;

querying a service profile associated with said subscriber to determine an authorized destination with respect to said direct connect session; and

responsive to said step of querying, commencing said direct connect session to said authorized destination.

33. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 32, wherein said authorized destination comprises one of a governmental entity, a commercial entity, and an individual party.

34. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 32, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session comprises an off-hook condition effectuated with respect to said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

35. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 32, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session is effectuated by pressing a key at said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

36. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 32, wherein said indication to initiate a direct connect session is effectuated in response to monitoring at least one of an audio channel and a video channel associated with said subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

37. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 32, wherein said direct connect session comprises at least a one-way communication channel between said subscriber and said authorized destination.

38. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 37, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an audio channel.

39. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 37, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an video channel.

40. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 37, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an information channel to deliver select information to said authorized destination.

41. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 40, wherein said select information comprises at least one of audio, video and data information.

42. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 37, wherein said one-way communication channel for said direct connect session comprises an information channel to capture select information from said authorized destination.

43. The computer-accessible medium as set forth in claim 40, wherein said select information comprises at least one of audio, video and data information.