Network and method for providing cross-media connections
First Claim
1. A communications network for providing cross-context connections between subscribers comprisingprocessing means for maintaining a first database including one entry per network subscriber, each such entry being accessible in response to a personal identification number of the corresponding subscriber and comprising a plurality of pointers to directory databases which contain addresses for the corresponding subscriber in different contexts,a directory controller located in said network and including means for communicating with the directory databases to obtain said personal identification number of a said subscriber from said databases,first transmission means for transmitting a first address of a second subscriber to said directory controller from a first subscriber so that said directory controller can obtain a personal identification number of said second subscriber from a directory database,second transmission means for enabling said directory controller to communicate with said processing means to access said first database in response to said personal identification number to obtain from said first database information relating to a different address of said second subscriber, andmeans for establishing a connection between said first subscriber and said second subscriber at said different address.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network (10) for providing cross-context connections between subscribers comprises a plurality of directory databases for storing mappings between individual names, addresses and personal identification numbers of network subscribers in a plurality of telecommunications contexts such as business, residence, cellular, etc. The network (10) also comprises a linking database comprising one entry for each subscriber. Each entry of the linking database is accessed by the personal identification number of a subscriber and contains pointers to particular ones of the directory databases where the addresses for the subscriber in different contexts can be found. For example, to set up a cross-context connection, a first subscriber (A) who knows the address of a second subscriber (B) in one context, transmits the known address to a directory controller (70). The directory controller (70) utilizes the known address as a source address and accesses a directory database to find out the personal identification number of the second subscriber. The personal identification number is then utilized by the directory controller (70) to access the linking database to determine the directory database which contains the address of the second subscriber in a desired context. The address of the second subscriber in the desired context is obtained and a connection is established between the first subscriber and the second address of the second subscriber.
116 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A communications network for providing cross-context connections between subscribers comprising
processing means for maintaining a first database including one entry per network subscriber, each such entry being accessible in response to a personal identification number of the corresponding subscriber and comprising a plurality of pointers to directory databases which contain addresses for the corresponding subscriber in different contexts, a directory controller located in said network and including means for communicating with the directory databases to obtain said personal identification number of a said subscriber from said databases, first transmission means for transmitting a first address of a second subscriber to said directory controller from a first subscriber so that said directory controller can obtain a personal identification number of said second subscriber from a directory database, second transmission means for enabling said directory controller to communicate with said processing means to access said first database in response to said personal identification number to obtain from said first database information relating to a different address of said second subscriber, and means for establishing a connection between said first subscriber and said second subscriber at said different address.
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4. A network for providing cross-context connections between subscribers comprising:
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first processing means for maintaining a plurality of directory databases including mappings between individual names, addresses and personal identification numbers of subscribers in a plurality of telecommunications contexts, second processing means for maintaining a linking database comprising one entry for each of a plurality of network subscribers, each entry being accessible in response to a personal identification number of the corresponding subscriber and containing a plurality of pointers to individual ones of said directory databases, a directory controller for accessing said first and second processing means, means for transmitting a first address of a second subscriber from a first subscriber to said directory controller, means for transmitting a personal identification number of said second subscriber to said directory controller from one of said directory databases in response to said first address of said second subscriber, and means for transmitting said personal identification number to said second processing means to obtain information related to a second address of said second subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for enabling a first subscriber who knows a first address of a second subscriber to establish a communication path via a communications network with the second subscriber at a second address unknown to the first subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a communication path through said network between said first subscriber and a directory controller connected to said network, transmitting via said communication path in said network said first known address of said second subscriber to said directory controller, under the control of said directory controller, utilizing said first address of said second subscriber to gain access to a directory database containing a personal identification number for said second subscriber, and under the control of said directory controller, utilizing said personal identification number of said second subscriber to communicate with a processing system attached to said network for accessing a linking database to obtain the second address of the second subscriber, said linking database comprising at least one entry per network subscriber, each such entry being accessible by a personal identification number of the corresponding subscriber and comprising one or more pointers to other databases which contain addresses for the corresponding subscriber in different contexts. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification