Apparatus and method for providing a unified telephony solution

• US 20040246822A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Wong, Johnny
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that provides a unified telephony solution. During operation, the system receives a request for a telephony service at a telephony controller. In response to this request, the system accesses a telephony service provided by an application server through a voice extensible markup language (VXML) browser. While performing the telephony service, the system interfaces to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) through a telephony gateway.

Claims

1. An apparatus that provides a unified telephony solution, comprising:

an application server configured to provide telephony services;

a voice extensible markup language (VXML) browser configured to access telephony services through the application server;

a telephony controller configured to access telephony services through the VXML browser; and

a telephony gateway that provides an interface to a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephony controller includes a SIP framework with a SIP servlet container, wherein the SIP servlet container includes a plurality of SIP servlets for interfacing with a SIP network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a new telephony service can be added by including a new SIP servlet in the SIP servlet container.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of SIP servlets are registered with a remote method invocation (RMI) registry.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the telephony services provide at least two of:

a telephone system;

a call center;

an interactive voice response (IVR) system; and

a voicemail system.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus operates using a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the application server is coupled to a database that provides access to the plurality of SIP servlets.

8. A method that provides a unified telephony solution, comprising:

receiving a request for a telephony service at a telephony controller; and

in response to the request, accessing a telephony service provided by an application server;

wherein the application server is accessed through a voice extensible markup language (VXML) browser;

wherein performing the telephony service involves interfacing to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) through a telephony gateway.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the telephony controller includes a SIP framework with a SIP servlet container, wherein the SIP servlet container includes a plurality of SIP servlets for interfacing with a SIP network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a new telephony service can be added by including a new SIP servlet in the SIP servlet container.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of SIP servlets are registered with a remote method invocation (RMI) registry.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the telephony services provide at least two of:

a telephone system;

a call center;

an interactive voice response (IVR) system; and

a voicemail system.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the telephony services operate using the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the application server is coupled to a database that provides access to the plurality of SIP servlets.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method that provides a unified telephony solution, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a telephony service at a telephony controller; and

in response to the request, accessing a telephony service provided by an application server through a voice extensible markup language (VXML) browser;

wherein the telephony service involves interfacing to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) through a telephony gateway.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the telephony controller includes a SIP framework with a SIP servlet container, wherein the SIP servlet container includes a plurality of SIP servlets for interfacing with a SIP network.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein a new telephony service can be added by including a new SIP servlet in the SIP servlet container.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the plurality of SIP servlets are registered with a remote method invocation (RMI) registry.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the telephony services provide at least two of:

a telephone system;

a call center;

an interactive voice response (IVR) system; and

a voicemail system.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the telephony services operate using the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the application server is coupled to a database that provides access to the plurality of SIP servlets.