Communication network and method of operation for real time user selection of voice and/or data paths in the network

• US 6,118,780 A
• Filed: 03/17/1997
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., Dunn, James M., Ganek, Alan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YAO, KWANG BIN
• Application Number:
  US08/819,505
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/360, 370/422, 370/465, 370/494, 370/495, 370/527, 370/528, 370/529, 370/532, 370/537, 370/538, 370/540, 370/493
• US Class Current: 370/355
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A user through a personal computer, in real time, controls the activation and selection of voice and data transmission paths in a communication network independent of network profiles. The network includes a public switched telephone network and a data network, e.g. the Internet for voice and/or data transmissions over either the voice or data networks. In the network, a voice terminal and a computer terminal are coupled to a shared voice and data terminal. A digital subscriber line access multiplexer is coupled to the shared voice and data terminal; the data network through a client server interface, and a voice network through an intelligent switch. The client server interface includes programmable stored data descriptive of network-authorized data and voice functions and transmission paths in the voice and data networks. The interface is linked to the multiplexer and switch for transmitting signaling messages directing traffic to the voice and data networks in accordance with the stored data. The computer terminal displays menus obtained from the client server which enable the user, in real time, to activate and select voice and/or data transmission paths through either the voice and/or data networks independent of pre-defined network profiles and/or traditional traffic assumptions.

Claims

1. A communication system for voice and/or data having user activation and selection, in real time, of transmission paths for traffic in voice and/or data networks, independent of network management, comprising:

a) terminal means for accessing or receiving from the networks voice and/or data transmissions;

b) a voice and data multiplexer coupled to the terminal means;

c) a voice and/or data switch coupled at one end to the multiplexer and at the other end to the voice network;

d) a programmable network interface coupled to the multiplexer and to the data network;

the interface including programmable stored data descriptive of authorized network data and voice functions and transmission paths in the voice and data networks;

the interface being further linked to the multiplexer and the switch through signaling paths for directing the operation of the multiplexer and switch in selecting paths for voice and data transmission to/from the voice and data networks;

e) control means linked to the interface, the switch and the voice network through signaling paths for directing traffic on the voice network and/or data network in accordance with instructions provided in part from the interface; and

f) means for displaying menus provided by the interface at the terminal equipment for enabling a user, in real time, to activate and select voice and/or data services and transmission paths in the voice and/or data networks from the menus based upon the stored data in the interface and the selection being independent of the network management.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a computer and a voice device included in the terminal means.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the multiplexer is a digital subscriber line access multiplexer for directing voice and data transmission to either the voice or data networks according to instruction provided by the programmable interface.

4. The system of claim 3 further including a server for coupling the programmable interface to the data network.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the programmable interface is a client server.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the multiplexer directs voice or data to the voice network according to instructions provided by the interface.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the multiplexer directs voice or data to the data network according to instructions provided by the interface.

8. The system of claim 7 further including means included in the interface for displaying menus at the terminal equipment indicative of services and transmission paths available on the voice and data networks.

9. The system of claim 8 further including means for programming the interface to change services and transmission paths available on the voice and data networks.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the interface provides instruction to the switch, multiplexer and a service control point in the voice network for selecting transmission paths in the data and voice networks according to selections made from the menus by a user.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the voice network is a public switched telephone network and the data network is a distributed information system.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the distributed information system is the Internet.

13. In a communication system for voice and/or data traffic having terminal means coupled to a multiplexer;

a programmable data network interface coupled to the multiplexer and to a data network;

a switch coupled to the multiplexer and to a public switched network and a control means linked to the interface and the switch through signaling paths, a method for user activation and selection, in real time, of transmission paths for voice and/or data traffic in a data or public switched networks according stored instruction in the interface and the selection being independent of system management comprising the steps of;

a) storing voice and data functions and transmission paths authorized by system management in the programmable data network interface;

the interface linked to the multiplexer, the switch and the control means through signaling paths;

b) displaying menus at the terminal equipment enabling a user, in real time, to activate and select voice and/or data services and transmission paths in the voice and/or data networks based upon the stored instruction in the interface;

c) selecting the authorized voice and data functions and transmission paths from the menus and transmitting the selections and paths to the interface through the multiplexer; and

d) signaling the control means, the switch and the multiplexer from the interface to activate the authorized voice and/or data function and transmission paths in the voice and/or data network from the user selected voice and/or data services and transmission paths at the terminal means.

14. In a communication system for voice and/or data traffic having terminal means coupled to a multiplexer;

a programmable data network interface coupled to the multiplexer and to a data network;

a switch coupled to the multiplexer and to a voice network and a control means linked to the interface, the voice network and the switch through signaling paths, a method for user activation and selection, in real time, of transmission paths for voice and/or data traffic in a data or public switched networks according to stored instruction in the interface and independent of system management comprising the steps of;

a) negotiating with a local telephone company for bandwidth, level of service in voice and data paths authorized by the telephone company policies;

b) programming an update of a user AIN profiles at the control means, the switch, the interface and the multiplexer;

c) determining the active status of the terminal means;

d) initiating traffic at the terminal based upon instructions provided by the interface after connection thereto;

e) determining whether voice traffic is to be initiated;

f) initiating a "data only" indicator in the interface;

initiating a "voice only" indicator in the interface;

or

g) initiating a "data and voice indicator" in the interface; and

h) activating the multiplexer for directing the voice and/or data traffic originating from the terminal to the voice and/or data networks in accordance with the instructions stored in the interface and selections made by a user operating the terminal equipment.

15. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for user activation and selection, in real time, of transmission paths for voice and/or data traffic in a data or voice network at a terminal, according to stored instructions in a programmable interface and independent of network management, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising;

a) computer readable program code means for storing voice and data functions and transmission paths authorized by network management in the programmable network interface;

the interface linked to a multiplexer, a switch and a control means through signaling paths;

b) computer readable program code means for displaying menus at the terminal enabling a user, in real time, to activate and select voice and/or data services and transmission paths in the voice and/or data networks based upon the stored instructions in the interface;

c) computer program code means for selecting authorized voice and data functions and transmission paths from the menus and transmitting the selections and paths to the interface through the multiplexer; and

d) computer readable program code means for signaling the control means, the switch and the multiplexer from the interface to activate the authorized voice and/or data function and transmission paths in the voice and/or data network from the user selected voice and/or data services and transmission paths at the terminal means.