Method and system for an intelligent partitioned communication system

• US 6,104,797 A
• Filed: 12/29/1997
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation), U S West Inc.
• Inventors: Gillespie, Donald E., Nabkel, Jafar S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/998,802
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/211, 379/265, 379/266, 379/156, 379/157, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.04, 379/196, 379/197, 379/198, 379/229, 379/230, 379/207, 379/219, 379/220 , 379/221, 379/268
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5231 with call back arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A partitioned communication system includes a shared switch network system in communication with an Intelligent Network Processor (INP). A terminating Intelligent Communication Device (ICD) located outside the management and control of the network defines a boundary therebetween and permits multiple inter-dependant parts of the communication service to be distributed to increase functionality without modifying an existing network switch.

Claims

1. A partitioned communication system for providing communication services, comprising:

a shared switch network system including at least one intelligent network processor (INP), the INP having at least one service partition for each communication service;

at least one terminating intelligent communication device (ICD) in communication with the shared switch network system, the ICD having at least one service partition for each communication service;

wherein the at least one INP and the at least one ICD are each operative to;

(a) provide internal state representations of their corresponding service partitions independent of the state representations of one another;

(b) originate events independent of actions of one another; and

(c) generate command signals associated with their corresponding service partitions for receipt by a corresponding service partition of the other,

each communication service comprising the at least one service partition of the INP and the at least one service partition of the ICD inter-dependently operative with one another.

2. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein the internal state representations of the at least one INP are device independent.

3. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein the internal state representations of the at least one ICD are device independent.

4. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to request information from a corresponding ICD service partition.

5. A partitioned communication system as in claim 4, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to request information about the internal state of a corresponding ICD service partition.

6. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to request information from a corresponding INP service partition.

7. A partitioned communication system as in claim 6, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to request information about the internal state of a corresponding INP service partition.

8. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to send information to a corresponding ICD service partition.

9. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to send information to a corresponding INP service partition.

10. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to instruct a corresponding ICD service partition.

11. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to instruct a corresponding INP service partition.

12. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one ICD is connected to the at least one INP via a signaling path.

13. A partitioned communication system as in claim 12, wherein the signaling path is logically dedicated.

14. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, operative to provide intra-premises ringing to allow a subscriber to call another ICD at the same premises sharing the same premises network.

15. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, operative to provide DO NOT DISTURB services to allow different DO NOT DISTURB parameters and configurations at each of a plurality of customer premises devices.

16. A partitioned communication system as in claim 1, operative to provide NO SOLICITATION services to allow the network system to screen an incoming call and to signal a customer premises device to play an appropriate no solicitation message without ringing a subscriber'"'"'s terminating phone.

17. A method for providing partitioned communication services, comprising:

providing a shared switch network system including at least one intelligent network processor (INP), the INP having at least one service partition for each communication service;

providing at least one terminating intelligent communication device (ICD) in communication with the shared switch network system, the ICD having at least one service partition for each communication service;

wherein the at least one INP and the at least one ICD are each operative to;

(a) provide internal state representations of their corresponding service partitions independent of the state representations of one another;

(b) originate events independent of actions of one another; and

(c) generate command signals associated with their corresponding service partitions for receipt by a corresponding at least one service partition of the other,

each communication service comprising at least one service partition of the INP and at least one service partition of the ICD inter-dependently operative with one another.

18. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, wherein the at least one INP and the at least one ICD are each operative to provide internal device independent state representations of their corresponding service partitions.

19. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to request information from a corresponding ICD service partition.

20. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 19, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to request information about the internal state of a corresponding ICD service partition.

21. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, wherein at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to request information from a corresponding INP service partition.

22. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 21, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to request information about the internal state of a corresponding INP service partition.

23. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to send information to a corresponding ICD service partition.

24. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to send information to a corresponding INP service partition.

25. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to instruct a corresponding ICD service partition.

26. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to instruct a corresponding INP service partition.

27. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, wherein the at least one ICD is connected to the at least one INP via a signaling path.

28. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, further operative to provide intra-premises ringing to allow a subscriber to call another ICD at the same premises sharing the same premises network.

29. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, further operative to provide DO NOT DISTURB services to allow different DO NOT DISTURB parameters and configurations at each of a plurality of customer premises devices.

30. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 17, further operative to provide NO SOLICITATION services to allow the network system to screen an incoming call and to signal a customer premises device to play an appropriate no solicitation message without ringing a subscriber'"'"'s terminating phone.

31. For use in cooperation with a shared switch network system, a method for providing partitioned communication services, comprising:

providing at least one intelligent network processor (INP) in the shared switch network system, the INP having at least one service partition for each communication service;

providing at least one terminating intelligent communication device (ICD) in communication with the shared switch network system, the ICD having at least one service partition for each communication service;

originating events in the at least one INP and the at least one ICD independent of actions of one another in accordance with internal state representations of corresponding service partitions, the internal state representations of the at least one INP independent of the internal state representations of the at least one ICD;

generating command signals associated with the corresponding service partitions of the at least one INP and the at least one ICD for receipt by corresponding service partitions of one another;

wherein the at least one service partition of the INP and the at least one service partition of the ICD are inter-dependently operative with one another to provide each communication service.

32. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, wherein the at least one INP and the at least one ICD are each operative to provide internal device independent state representations of their corresponding service partitions.

33. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to request information from a corresponding ICD service partition.

34. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 33, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to request information about the internal state of a corresponding ICD service partition.

35. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to request information from a corresponding INP service partition.

36. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 35, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to request information about the internal state of a corresponding INP service partition.

37. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to send information to a corresponding ICD service partition.

38. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to send information to a corresponding INP service partition.

39. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one INP is operative to instruct a corresponding ICD service partition.

40. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, wherein the at least one service partition of the at least one ICD is operative to instruct a corresponding INP service partition.

41. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, wherein the at least one ICD is connected to the at least one INP via a signaling path.

42. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, further operative to provide intra-premises ringing to allow a subscriber to call another ICD at the same premises sharing the same premises network.

43. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, further operative to provide DO NOT DISTURB services to allow different DO NOT DISTURB parameters and configurations at each of the plurality of customer premises devices.

44. A method for providing partitioned communication services as in claim 31, further operative to provide NO SOLICITATION services to allow the network system to screen an incoming call and to signal a customer premises device to play an appropriate NO SOLICITATION message without ringing a subscriber'"'"'s terminating phone.