Method and system for releasing a voice response unit from a protocol session

• US 20040223490A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Cannon, Matthew, Donovan, Steven R., Hearty, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5166 in combination with interactive voice response systems or voice portals, e.g. as front-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 interacting with the Internet

Abstract

An approach for processing voice calls over a packet switched network as to efficiently utilize the functionalities of a Voice Response Unit (VRU). According to one embodiment, a call originator, acting as a User Agent Client in accordance with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), issues messages to establish a first call-leg with the VRU. The VRU performs digit collection to obtain information to authenticate the call originator and to authorize the voice call. Based upon the issued messages from the call originator, the VRU establishes a second call-leg with the call terminator. The VRU is released from the voice call after binding the call-legs to connect the call originator to the call terminator.

Claims

1-32. -32. (Canceled)

33. An apparatus for serving as a gateway to process a voice call transported over a packet switched network, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface configured to receive a request from a call originator over the packet switched network; and

a communication interface configured to communicate with a voice response unit that is coupled to a router, wherein the request is for access to the voice response unit in support of the voice call.

34. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the voice response unit is configured to collect digit information from the call originator, and to perform authentication and authorizing of the call originator based on the collected information.

35. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the packet switched network is an internet protocol (IP) network.

36. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the packet switched network is a public data network.

37. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the router is configured to provide the call originator a menu of choices corresponding to call processing actions.

38. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the router is configured to serve as a user agent client according to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

39. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the voice response unit communicates with a public switched telephone network.

40. A method for processing a voice call transported over a packet switched network, the method comprising:

receiving a request, at a gateway, from a call originator over the packet switched network, wherein the request is for access to a voice response unit coupled to the gateway; and

communicating with a router coupled to the gateway in support of the voice call.

41. A method of claim 40, wherein the voice response unit is configured to collect digit information from the call originator, and to perform authentication and authorizing of the call originator based on the collected information.

42. A method of claim 40, wherein the packet switched network is an internet protocol (IP) network.

43. A method of claim 40, wherein the packet switched network is a public data network.

44. A method of claim 40, wherein the router is configured to provide the call originator a menu of choices corresponding to call processing actions.

45. A method of claim 40, wherein the router is configured to serve as a user agent client according to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

46. A method of claim 40, wherein the router is configured to query a location server for location of a call terminator.

47. A method of claim 40, wherein the voice response unit communicates with a public switched telephone network.

48. A method for establishing a voice call over a packet switched network via a voice response unit, the method comprising:

receiving a request, at the voice response unit, from a call originator over the packet switched network for establishing the voice call with a call terminator; and

generating a message to establish communication with the call terminator in response to the request,

wherein the voice response unit couples to a gateway and a router.

49. A method of claim 48, wherein the voice response unit is configured to collect digit information from the call originator, and to perform authentication and authorizing of the call originator based on the collected information.

50. A method of claim 48, wherein the packet switched network is an internet protocol (IP) network.

51. A method of claim 48, wherein the packet switched network is a public data network.

52. A method of claim 48, wherein the router is configured to provide the call originator a menu of choices corresponding to call processing actions.

53. A method of claim 48, wherein the router is configured to serve as a user agent client according to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

54. A method of claim 48, wherein the router is configured to query a location server for location of the call terminator.

55. A method of claim 48, wherein the voice response unit communicates with a public switched telephone network.