Pro-active message delivery system and method

• US 5,712,907 A
• Filed: 01/04/1996
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Net2Phone, Inc. (IDT Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Open Scan Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Dutra, Antonio, Wegner, Martin T., Nandyal, Omprasad S., Storch, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/582,475
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/120, 379/121, 379/122, 379/130, 379/140, 379/131, 379/93, 379/94, 379/96, 379/100, 370/428, 370/429, 370/238, 358/400, 358/402, 358/407, 358/425, 358/493, 358/442, 358/445
• US Class Current: 379/114.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP

Abstract

A pro-active message delivery system which routes digitally-encoded messages via public-switched telephone networks and wide area networks to most cost-effectively deliver the messages, subject to security, privacy, and availability considerations. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, digitally encoded messages entered into a wide area network, either directly or via a public-switched telephone network, are sent to their destination using the most cost-effective route, by calculating the cost of sending the message via the available routes, and selecting the lowest cost route. Generally, the lowest cost route might use the node on the wide area network closest to the recipient of the message, or might use or node located in an area which charges off-peak rates at the time of transmission.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting digitally-encoded message data comprising:

(a) means for storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) means for entering digitally-encoded message data;

(c) means for entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) means for selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) means for preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) means for selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) means for storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) means for transmitting the stored digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route;

wherein the preferred route comprises a wide-area network;

wherein the wide-area network comprises at least one network node, said network node comprising said means for storing the digitally-encoded message data; and

wherein the at least one network node comprises means for emulating the message communicating device.

2. An apparatus for transmitting digitally-encoded message data comprising:

(a) means for storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) means for entering digitally-encoded message data;

(c) means for entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) means for selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) means for preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) means for selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) means for storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) means for transmitting the stored digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route;

wherein the preferred route comprises a wide-area network;

wherein the wide-area network comprises at least one network node, said network node comprising said means for storing the digitally-encoded message data; and

wherein the at least one network node comprises means for determining the availability of routes on the network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one network node comprises means for determining the bandwidth of routes on the network.

4. An apparatus for transmitting digitally-encoded message data comprising:

(a) means for storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) means for entering digitally-encoded message data;

(c) means for entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) means for selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) means for preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) means for selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) means for storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) means for transmitting the stored digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route;

wherein the preferred route comprises a wide-area network;

wherein the wide-area network comprises at least one network node, said network node comprising said means for storing the digitally-encoded message data; and

wherein the means for storing digitally-encoded message data comprises means for compressing the digitally-encoded data.

5. An apparatus for transmitting digitally-encoded message data comprising:

(a) means for storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) means for entering digitally-encoded message data;

(c) means for entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) means for selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) means for preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) means for selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) means for storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) means for transmitting the stored digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route;

wherein the preferred route comprises a wide-area network; and

wherein the network comprises means for storing characteristics of the message communicating device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the network comprises means for formatting the digitally-encoded message according to the characteristics of the message communicating device.

7. An apparatus for transmitting digitally-encoded message data comprising:

(a) means for storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) means for entering digitally-encoded message data;

(c) means for entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) means for selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) means for preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) means for selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) means for storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) means for transmitting the stored digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route; and

(i) means for selecting a format for the digitally-encoded message that can be most efficiently used by users of the message communicating device.

8. An apparatus for transmitting digitally-encoded message data comprising:

(a) means for storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) means for entering digitally-encoded message data;

(c) means for entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) means for selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) means for preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) means for selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) means for storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) means for transmitting the stored digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route and

(i) means for broadcasting the digitally-encoded message to a plurality of message communicating devices, and means for grouping the message communicating devices such that all of the plurality of digitally encoded messages are delivered within the shortest possible time span.

9. A method for transmitting digitally-encoded message data, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) entering digitally encoded message data;

(c) entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) transmitting the digitally-encoded data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route;

wherein the preferred route comprises a wide-area network;

wherein the wide-area network comprises at least one network node, wherein said at least one network node comprises means for storing digitally-encoded message data; and

wherein the at least one network node comprises means for emulating the message communicating device.

10. A method for transmitting digitally-encoded message data, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) entering digitally encoded message data;

(c) entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) transmitting the digitally-encoded data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route;

(i) determining the bandwidth of routes on the network; and

wherein the preferred route comprises a wide-area network.

11. A method for transmitting digitally-encoded message data, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) entering digitally encoded message data;

(c) entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) transmitting the digitally-encoded data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route;

(i) storing characteristics of the message communicating device; and

wherein the preferred route comprises a wide-area network.

12. the method of claim 11, further comprising the step of formatting the digitally-encoded message according to the characteristics of the message communicating device.

13. A method for transmitting digitally-encoded message data, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) entering digitally encoded message data;

(c) entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) transmitting the digitally-encoded data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route; and

(i) selecting a format for the digitally-encoded message that can be most efficiently used by users of the message communicating device.

14. A method for transmitting digitally-encoded message data, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) entering digitally encoded message data;

(c) entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) transmitting the digitally-encoded data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route; and

(i) broadcasting the digitally-encoded message to a plurality of message communicating devices, and grouping the message communicating devices such that all of the plurality of digitally encoded messages are delivered within the shortest possible time span.

15. A method for transmitting digitally-encoded message data, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing routing data, said routing data comprising the cost of transmitting digitally-encoded message data over public-switched telephone networks;

(b) entering digitally encoded message data;

(c) entering an address of a message communicating device;

(d) selecting a plurality of routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the message communicating device;

(e) preparing a rating table for the routes for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data, said rating table rating the routes according to at least the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message data;

(f) selecting a preferred route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving device according to the rating table;

(g) storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(h) transmitting the digitally-encoded data to the message communicating device according to the selected preferred route; and

(i) notifying the intended recipient of the digitally-encoded message data to pick up the digitally encoded message.

16. A method for cost-effectively transmitting digitally-encoded message data, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving digitally-encoded message data;

(b) storing the digitally-encoded message data;

(c) determining the most cost-effective route for transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to a receiving message communicating device;

(d) transmitting the digitally-encoded message data to the receiving message communicating device using the most-cost-effective route; and

(e) converting the digitally-encoded message data to a format specifically selected to match characteristics of the receiving message communications device.

17. An apparatus for transmitting digitally-encoded messages, comprising:

(a) a wide-area network connected to a public-switched telephone network;

(b) means for determining a preferred route for transmitting a digitally-encoded message from an input message communicating device to a receiving message communicating device, said preferred route comprising a portion of the wide-area network and a portion of the public-switched telephone network;

(c) means for storing the digitally-encoded message;

(d) means for transmitting the digitally-encoded message over the preferred route to the receiving message communicating device;

wherein the means for determining the preferred route comprises means for determining the cost of transmitting the digitally-encoded message over a plurality of routes; and

wherein the means for determining the preferred route further comprises means for assigning additional costs for transmission over certain portions of the wide-area network.

18. the apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for assigning additional costs for transmission over certain portions of the wide-area network comprises means for calculating the additional costs according to the availability of the portions of the network.

19. A network node connected to a network, comprising:

(a) a message insertion interface including means for storing digitally-encoded messages;

(b) a least-cost routing processor connected to the message insertion interface;

(c) a network delivery processor connected to the lest-cost routing processor;

(d) a message delivery interface;

(e) means for determining the bandwidth of routes on the network; and

wherein digitally-encoded messages received at the message insertion interface are routed by the least-cost routing processor for delivery, via a cost-effective delivery route.

20. A network node connected to a network, comprising:

(a) a message insertion interface including means for storing digitally-encoded messages;

(b) a least-cost routing processor connected to the message insertion interface;

(c) a network delivery processor connected to the lest-cost routing processor;

(d) a message delivery interface;

(e) means for emulating a message communicating device external to the network; and

wherein digitally-encoded messages received at the message insertion interface are routed by the least-cost routing processor for delivery via a cost-effective delivery route.