Method and system for exchanging information between communication networks

• US 20030179772A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sven Niklasson
• Original Assignee: Sven Niklasson
• Inventors: Niklasson, Sven
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system (700) for exchanging information between a plurality of communication networks. The system is especially characterised by at least one data transmission unit (310, 320, 330) for receiving information from at least one source communication network and converting the information into an intra-system data format; at least one first switching unit (410) for transmitting the information received by a data transmission unit (310, 320, 330) to a pre-determined service processing unit (510); in addition to at least one second switching unit (420) for transmitting the information received by one of the service processing units (510) to a pre-determined data transmission unit (310, 320, 330) for converting the information into a format of the target communication network and sending the information to the target communication network.

Claims

1. Process for information and data exchange between a plurality of communication networks, characterized by the following steps:

receipt of information (data) from at least one source communication network, conversion of the information into an intra-system data format, and producing and recording a first transaction record including the receipt of the information (data);

transmitting the converted information via one of at least two available first switching units to a predetermined service processing unit, processing the information in a predetermined manner, and producing and storing a second transaction record including the requesting of the service processing unit;

transmitting the processed information via one of at least two available second switching units to data transmission unit associated with the target communication network, converting the information into a format of the target communication network, transmitting the information to the target communication network and producing and storing a third transaction record including the transmission of the information to the target communication network; and

calculating an invoice of charges on the basis of the transaction records.

2. Process according to claim 1, thereby characterized, that:

the first transaction record includes at least one indication regarding the transmitter, the receiver and an identifier,

the second transaction record contains at least one indication regarding the transmitter, the requested service, and an identifier

the third transaction record includes at least one indication regarding the transmitter, the receiver and the identifier.

7. System according to claim 2, thereby characterized, that in the at least two second switching units (420) a second switching table is stored, in which for each receiver the at the time associated data transmission unit (310, 320, 330) of the target communication network (1, 2, 3) is stored.

3. System for information and data exchange between a plurality of communication networks characterized by:

at least two data transmission units (310, 320, 330) for receipt of information (data) from at least one source communication network (1, 2, 3), for converting the information into an inter-system data format, and producing and recording a first transaction record including the receipt of the information;

at least two service processing units (510) for processing the information according to a selected service, as well as for producing and storing a second transaction record including the requesting of the service processing unit,

at least two first switching units (410) for transmission of the information received by the data transmission unit (310, 320, 330) to one of at least two service processing units (510);

as well as

at least two second switching units (420) for transmission of the information received by said one of the data transmission units (510) to a predetermined data processing unit (310, 320, 330) which is adapted for conversation of the information into a format of the target communication network (1, 2, 3), for sending the information to the target communication network, and producing and storing a third transaction record including the transmission of the information to the target communication network;

at least two accounting units (610) for producing an invoice on the basis of the transaction record following a transmission of information from a source communication network to a target communication network and for assigning the invoice to a transmitter or receiver or other party accountable for the transmission for purposes of billing.

4. System according to claim 3, thereby characterized, that the at least two data transmission units (310, 320, 330) is designed as one side of a uni- or bi-directional, protocol based point-to-point connection with an integrated protocol conversation characteristic and preferably additional transaction record generation.

5. System according to claim 3, thereby characterized, that the units (3xx, 4xx, 5xx) are organized decentralized and at least a part of the units is provided in geographically different locations, wherein the information between the units is exchanged with the system internal data format.

6. System according to claim 3, thereby characterized, that in the at least two first switching units (410) a first switching table is stored, with which each receiver is associated with one of the data processing units (510), wherein this association occurs depending upon information, conditions or other parameters, which the system administrator can establish.

8. System according to claim 3, characterized by at least one unit (12, 22, 32) for receiving, storing and relaying information between a communication network and an associated data transmission unit (310, 320, 330).

9. System according to claim 8, thereby characterized, that the device (12, 22, 32) for receiving, recording and relaying information is connected with the data transmission unit (310, 320, 330) via a packet relaying data service.

10. System according to claim 3, thereby characterized, that the at least two service processing units (510) include software modules, with which the services can accomplish the processing and relaying of short messages (SMS), E-mails and faxes, online banking, games, stock market information, and data bank inquiries.