Apparatus and method for developing applications with telephony functionality

• US 20040258238A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• 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 7,330,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/219
• 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 facilitates developing applications with telephony functionality. The system includes a session initiation protocol (SIP) gateway configured to interface with a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The SIP gateway translates telephone calls from telephones coupled to the PSTN to SIP protocol messages. A SIP server coupled to the SIP gateway accepts these SIP protocol messages and an application server accesses a voice extensible markup language (VXML) page on behalf of the SIP server. A VXML gateway provides access to the VXML page by a users of the telephones.

Claims

1. An apparatus for developing applications with telephony functionality, comprising:

a session initiation protocol (SIP) gateway configured to interface with a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein the SIP gateway translates a telephone call from a telephone coupled to the PSTN into a SIP protocol message;

a SIP server coupled to the SIP gateway to accept the SIP protocol message;

an application server configured to access a voice extensible markup language (VXML) page on behalf of the SIP server; and

a VXML gateway configured to allow a user of the telephone access to the VXML page.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SIP gateway is further configured to access a specified VXML page to provide a requested function for the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application server is further configured to provide a web service message to the SIP gateway, wherein the web service message provides a connection status of the telephone call.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application server is further configured to provide a web service message to the SIP gateway, wherein the web service message can be used to control the telephone call;

wherein control functions include connection, disconnection, and redirection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application server can initiate telephone calls from the SIP gateway to the telephone coupled to the PSTN.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application server is further configured to provide a web page to the user, wherein the web page can be used to control access to advanced functions, and wherein advanced functions include a wake-up call application and a stock alert application.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SIP gateway switches a voice portion of the telephone call from the VXML gateway to the user'"'"'s telephone thereby releasing the VXML gateway from service when the user is not accessing the VXML page.

8. A method for developing applications with telephony functionality, comprising:

interfacing with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) from a session initiation protocol (SIP) gateway, wherein the SIP gateway translates a telephone call from a telephone coupled to the PSTN into a SIP protocol message;

accepting the SIP protocol message at a SIP server coupled to the SIP gateway;

accessing a voice extensible markup language (VXML) page at an application server on behalf of the SIP server; and

allowing a user of the telephone to access the VXML page.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising accessing a specified VXML page to provide a requested function from the SIP gateway for the user.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a web service message from the application server to the SIP gateway, wherein the web service message provides a connection status of the telephone call.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a web service message from the application server to the SIP gateway, wherein the web service message can be used to control the telephone call;

wherein control functions include connection, disconnection, and redirection.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising initiating telephone calls from the SIP gateway to the telephone coupled to the PSTN under control of a web server.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a web page from the application server to the user, wherein the web page can be used to control access to advanced functions, and wherein advanced functions include a wake-up call application and a stock alert application.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising switching a voice portion of the telephone call from the VXML gateway to the user'"'"'s telephone by the SIP gateway thereby releasing the VXML gateway from service when the user is not accessing the VXML page.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for developing applications with telephony functionality, the method comprising:

interfacing with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) from a session initiation protocol (SIP) gateway, wherein the SIP gateway translates a telephone call from a telephone coupled to the PSTN into a SIP protocol message;

accepting the SIP protocol message at a SIP server coupled to the SIP gateway;

accessing a voice extensible markup language (VXML) page at an application server on behalf of the SIP server; and

allowing a user of the telephone to access the VXML page.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the method further comprising accessing a specified VXML page to provide a requested function from the SIP gateway for the user.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the method further comprising providing a web service message from the application server to the SIP gateway, wherein the web service message provides a connection status of the telephone call.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the method further comprising providing a web service message from the application server to the SIP gateway, wherein the web service message can be used to control the telephone call;

wherein control functions include connection, disconnection, and redirection.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the method further comprising initiating telephone calls from the SIP gateway to the telephone coupled to the PSTN under control of a web server.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the method further comprising providing a web page from the application server to the user, wherein the web page can be used to control access to advanced functions, and wherein advanced functions include a wake-up call application and a stock alert application.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the method further comprising switching a voice portion of the telephone call from the VXML gateway to the user'"'"'s telephone by the SIP gateway thereby releasing the VXML gateway from service when the user is not accessing the VXML page.