Network-based information system

• US 20040060056A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wellons, David L., Turcan, Diane Brown
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/317
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for enabling a telecommunications network-based information system (NBIS). A data connection is established with a rule-based application dataserver of a telecommunications network facility to control access, sharing, notification, security, and/or management of electronic data exchanged between or among different legacy systems of NBIS participants. Typically, the rule-based application dataserver is associated with a central office (“CO”), a mobile telephone switching center (“MTSO”), or a combination CO/MTSO.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic message having an attached object, the object associated with a sender legacy system;

interpreting the object according to a rule-based engine to categorize the object as at least one of (1) data associated with an access agent, (2) data associated with a security agent, (3) data associated a messaging agent, (4) data associated with a transactional agent, and (5) data associated with a troubleshooting agent; and

processing the object as a receiver legacy system according to the category selected by the rule-based engine,

wherein the sender legacy system and the receiver legacy system are associated with an integrated delivery system, the integrated delivery system enabling an exchange of selected data between one or more networks of communications devices associated with a telecommunications service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a transaction reply for delivery to a sender communication device associated with the sender legacy system when the categorization step applies a sender reply rule; and

routing the transaction reply to the sender communications device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a transaction notification for delivery to a receiver communication device associated with the receiver legacy system when the categorization step applies a receiver notification rule; and

routing the transaction notification to the receiver communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of interpreting the object according to a rule-based engine to categorize the object further comprises:

accessing at least one rule-based application dataserver associated with a central office of a telecommunications network, the rule-based application dataserver providing the rule-based engine; and

utilizing the rule-based application dataserver to categorize the object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the rule-based application dataserver comprises an application server having at least one of an access agent, a security agent, a messaging agent, a transactional agent, and a troubleshooting agent.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of interpreting the object according to a rule-based engine to categorize the object further comprises:

verifying the object meets authenticity requirements associated with at least one of the receiver legacy system and the sender legacy system; and

verifying the object meets security requirements associated with at least one of the receiver legacy system and the sender legacy system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing the object into the receiver legacy system comprises:

converting the object from a first data format associated with the sender legacy system to a compatible object having a second data format associated with the receiver legacy system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first data format is one of a printed text format, a voice data format, a video data format, a dual tone multi-frequency data format, and a digital data format.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second data format is a second digital data format.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second digital data formats are ASCII.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein processing the object into the receiver legacy system further comprises at least one of (i) sending the compatible object to a storage device associated with the telecommunications service provider, (ii) archiving the compatible object, (iii) encrypting the compatible object, (iv) copying the compatible object, and (v) associating the compatible object with related data in the receiver legacy system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein processing the object into the receiver legacy system further comprises communicating the compatible object to an Internet Protocol address of at least one communications device of the one or more networks of communications devices associated with the telecommunications service provider, the communications devices comprising at least one of the following:

a wireless communications device,

a mobile phone,

a cellular phone,

a WAP phone,

a satellite phone

a computer,

a modem,

a pager,

a digital music device,

a digital recording device,

a personal digital assistant,

an interactive television,

a digital signal processor, and

a Global Positioning System device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of communicating the compatible object comprises communicating the compatible object via at least one of the following:

an analog line;

a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL);

an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) line;

an ATM Sonet;

a SmartRing Service; and

a local loop of a telecommunications network.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of communicating the compatible object comprises communicating the compatible object via means for optically transmitting data.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of communicating the compatible object comprises communicating the compatible object via means for wirelessly transmitting data.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of interpreting the object according to a rule-based engine to categorize the object comprises accessing at least one rule-based application dataserver associated with a telecommunications facility, the telecommunications facility comprising telephone switching equipment and mobile telephone switching equipment.

7. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

managing the rule-based application dataserver associated with a central office of a telecommunications network to control access to at least one of the receiver legacy system and the sender legacy system.

18. A method, comprising:

communicating electronic data to a rule-based application dataserver associated with a telecommunications facility, the rule-based application dataserver controlling access to a sender legacy system and a receiver legacy system; and

allowing a customer to manage a rule-based engine associated with the rule-based application dataserver,

wherein the sender legacy system and are associated with an integrated delivery system, the integrated delivery system enabling an exchange of selected data between one or more networks of communications devices associated with a telecommunications service provider.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the telecommunications facility comprises at least one of the following (i) a public switched telephone network and (ii) a mobile telephone switching network.

20. A method, comprising:

establishing a data connection between a sender legacy system and a receiver legacy system, the data connection using a rule-based application dataserver provided by a telecommunications service provider to control access between the sender legacy system and the receiver legacy system;

communicating electronic data via the data connection, the electronic data comprising at least one of (i) an electronic message having an attached object, (ii) a transaction reply, (iii) a transaction notification, (iv) a compatible object, and (v) other electronic communications; and

allowing a customer to manage a rule-based engine associated with the rule-based application dataserver.

21. A system, comprising:

a network of interconnected communications devices serviced by a telecommunications service provider;

a rule-based application dataserver for managing the exchange of electronic data between a plurality of legacy systems connected with the communications devices, the rule-based application dataserver provided by the telecommunications service provider; and

an application program installed in a customer'"'"'s communications device, the application program allowing the customer to remotely manage a rule-based engine associated with the rule-based application dataserver.