System, method and article of manufacture for cross-location registration in a communication system architecture

• US 6,081,518 A
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Andersen Consulting (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bowman-Amuah, Michel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SLAVITT, MITCHELL R
• Application Number:
  US09/324,984
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/354, 370/401, 370/522, 370/252, 370/254, 370/400, 370/466, 370/353
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1225 Details of core network interconnection arrangements

Abstract

According to a broad aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention, telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet utilizing telephone routing information and internet protocol address information. The hybrid network includes an intelligent network solution which allows hybrid network service users to maintain the same experience and have access to the same information regardless of where or how they access the network. The solution avoids synchronicity management problems associated with replicating user data over a worldwide network.

Claims

1. A method for inter-network session control in an integrated packet based and circuit-switched based network, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a subscriber home rules database located on a first network, wherein the database includes subscriber information;

b) allowing a subscriber of the first network access to a second network having a remote session controller;

c) providing the remote session controller a temporary copy of a portion of the subscriber information related to the subscriber;

d) limiting access to the second network based on the subscriber information;

e) transferring data relating to at least one of a service, feature, and information that is available to the subscriber on the first network from first network to the second network;

f) making the data available locally on the second network for the duration of a session;

g) allowing the subscriber to access on the second network the at least one of a service, feature, and information; and

h) eliminating the temporary copy of the subscriber information and the data after a predetermined amount of time.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rules database determines routing preferences based on priority, cost, and termination location.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rules database further determines content separation by instructing an intelligent peripheral and protocol converter to separate an audio stream from a data and video stream.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the rules database further determines content separation by instructing the protocol converter to process the audio stream so as to enable the audio stream to be fed to a destination which supports traditional analog voice.

5. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the protocol converter interfaces with circuit-switched network elements to process information across the integrated hybrid network.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the session controller provides systems management and reporting functions.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the session controller acts as a hub for various applications.

8. A system for inter-network session control in an integrated packet based and circuit-switched based network, comprising:

a) a first network;

b) a subscriber home rules database located on the first network, wherein the database includes subscriber information about a subscriber to the first network;

c) a second network having a remote session controller, wherein the session controller is provided with a temporary copy of a portion of the subscriber information related to the subscriber;

d) a processor that limits access to the second network based on the subscriber information;

i) a processor that transfers data relating to at least one of a service, feature, and information that is available to the subscriber on the first network from the first network to the second network, wherein the data is made available locally on the second network for the duration of a session, wherein the subscriber is allowed to access on the second network that at least one of a service, feature, and information; and

e) a processor that eliminates the temporary copy of the subscriber information after a predetermined amount of time.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the rules database determines routing preferences based on priority, cost, and termination location.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the rules database determines content separation by instructing an intelligent peripheral and protocol converter to separate an audio stream from a data and video stream.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the rules database further determines content separation by instructing the protocol converter to process the audio stream so as to enable the audio stream to be fed to a destination which supports traditional analog voice.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the protocol converter interfaces with circuit-switched network elements to process information across the integrated hybrid network.

13. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the session controller provides systems management and reporting functions.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the session controller acts as a hub for various applications.

15. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for inter-network session control in an integrated packet based and circuit-switched based network, comprising:

a) logic that provides a subscriber home rules database located on a first network, wherein the database includes subscriber information;

b) logic that allows a subscriber of the first network access to a second network having a remote session controller;

c) logic that provides the remote session controller a temporary copy of a portion of the subscriber information related to the subscriber;

d) logic that limits access to the second network based on the subscriber information;

e) logic that transfers data relating to at least one of a service, feature, and information that is available to the subscriber on the first network from the first network to the second network;

f) logic that makes the data available locally on the second network for the duration of a session;

g) logic that allows the subscriber to access on the second network the at least one of a service, feature, and information; and

h) logic that eliminates the temporary copy of the subscriber information and the data after a predetermined amount of time.

16. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the rules database includes logic that determines routing preferences based on priority, cost, and termination location.

17. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the rules database further includes logic that determines content separation by instructing an intelligent peripheral and protocol converter to separate an audio stream from a data and video stream.

18. A computer program as recited in claim 17, wherein the rules database further includes logic that determines content separation by instructing the protocol converter to process the audio stream so as to enable the audio stream to be fed to a destination which supports traditional analog voice.

19. A computer program as recited in claim 17, wherein the protocol converter interfaces with circuit-switched network elements to process information across the integrated hybrid network.

20. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the session controller provides systems management and reporting functions.

21. A computer program as recited in claim 20, wherein the session controller acts as a hub for various applications.