Service delivery using broadband

• US 5,629,978 A
• Filed: 11/16/1995
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: West Hill Technology Counsel, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Carleton A., Blumhardt, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/558,203
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93, 379/96, 379/97, 379/98, 379/110, 379/102, 379/201, 379/207, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/14, 455/4.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.3, 455/3.1, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 370/271
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5616 Terminal equipment, e.g. codecs, synch.
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/135 Service creation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13525 GUI - graphical user interface, inc. for service creation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13533 : multivendor and hybrid, e.g. public/private, networks, inc. international
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 : Provisions for network management

Abstract

A system and method for purchasing, customizing and modifying switch-based and Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) telephone services through the Broadband Network. The system and method utilize a Graphical User Interface (GUI), a remote control and a Set Top Terminal (STT). The GUI is operative to access both Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and non-PSTN telephone services. The remote control is similarly operative to navigate the GUI. Finally, the STT, which is provided in electrical communication with the GUI and the Broadband Network is provided for receiving downloaded video for display to the subscriber on the GUI and sending upstream signaling to the Broadband Network. The Graphical User Interface leads the telephone services subscriber through configuration options and permits the subscriber to easily purchase, customize and modify selected telephone services without direct interaction with service provider personnel.

Claims

1. A system for providing a telephone service subscriber the interactive capability to activate or create telephone services without direct interaction with telephone service provider personnel, comprising:

a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) having Service Activation and Control functionality including Service Negotiation;

a Set Top Terminal (STT) for receiving downloaded video and for sending upstream signaling;

a Broadband Network electrically coupled between the PSTN and the SST, the Broadband Network comprising a level 1 network for coordinating the delivery of video applications and for handling the upstream signaling from the STT, a level 2 gateway for providing an interface for video applications, and at least one level 3 video application;

a Graphical User Interface GUI) electrically coupled to the STT, said GUI operative to display the downloaded video to the telephone service subscriber and to access the Service Activation and Control functionality in the PSTN; and

,

a Control Unit for enabling the telephone service subscriber to navigate the GUI.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI is a television.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI has full motion video and audio capability.

4. The system of claim 1, further adapted for use in creating Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) telephone services, comprising:

a Service Switching Point (SSP); and

,

an AIN Service Control Point (SCP) in electrical communication with the SSP and the PSTN Service Activation and Control functionality, the SCP operative to provide an AIN service template for the telephone subscriber to receive data therefrom via the Broadband Network so as to implement AIN services.

5. The system of claim 1, further adapted for use in creating Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) telephone services, comprising:

a Service Node (SN) in electrical communication with the PSTN Service Activation and Control functionality, the SN operative to provide an AIN service template for the telephone subscriber to receive data therefrom via the Broadband Network so as to implement AIN services.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the level 2 gateway is further adapted to launch video applications, set up the physical connections between the video applications and the STT, and bill for the use of the Broadband Network by the telephone subscriber.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the STT is further adapted to access multi-media assets stored on the level 2 gateway or a video application server, and receive and execute downloaded video services.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the Service Activation and Control functionality is operative to store service profiles for telephone subscribers and communicate with various data bases and systems in order to activate, deactivate, change or query data and services.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the Service Activation and Control functionality is operative to provide and change telephone subscriber service profiles and pass through requests to non-PSTN service subscribers through the Broadband Network.

10. A method for providing a telephone service subscriber the interactive capability to activate or create telephone services without direct interaction with telephone service provider personnel, comprising the steps of:

providing a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) having Service Activation and Control functionality including Service Negotiation;

providing a Set Top Terminal (STT) for receiving downloaded video and for sending upstream signaling;

providing a Broadband Network electrically coupled between the PSTN and the SST, the Broadband Network comprising a level 1 network for coordinating the delivery of video applications and for handling the upstream signaling from the STT, a level 2 gateway for providing an interface for video applications, and at least one level 3 video application;

providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) electrically coupled to the STT, said GUI operative to display the downloaded video to the telephone service subscriber and to access the Service Activation and Control functionality in the PSTN;

navigating the GUI with a Control Unit to interactively select the desired telephone service sought to be activated or created;

downloading video from the Broadband Network on the STT for display to the telephone service subscriber on the GUI; and

,

generating control signals at the STT for receipt by the Service Activation and Control functionality in the PSTN via the Broadband Network so as to effect the desired activation or creation of telephone services.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the GUI is a television.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

generating a Profile Request message requesting a complete download of data from the PSTN;

generating at the Service Activation and Control functionality a Profile Result message responsive to the Profile Request message for display on the Television;

generating a Service Update Request message for receipt by the Service Activation and Control functionality; and

,

generating at the Service Activation and Control functionality a Service Update Result message responsive to the Service Update Request message for display on the Television.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the GUI has full motion video and audio capability.