Network session management with gateway-directory services and authorization control

• US 6,157,636 A
• Filed: 09/16/1997
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Robert D., Voit, Eric A., Young, David E., Gadre, Jayant G., Goodman, William D., Balkovich, Edward E., White, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US08/931,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/401, 370/408, 370/410, 370/522, 370/238, 379/88.22, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/900, 395/200.79
• US Class Current: 370/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1414 in real-time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1421 Indication of expected costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1464 using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1482 involving use of telephony infrastructure for billing for the transport of data, e.g. call detail record [CDR] or intelligent network infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6443 Network Node Interface, e.g. Routing, Path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6486 Signalling Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 : Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 : intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/46 : Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 : Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 : Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 : using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 : Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 : On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 : Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/56 : On line or real-time flexible agreements between service providers and telecoms operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 : Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/121 : Details of network access arrangements or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 : Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1285 : Details of finding and selecting a gateway for a particular call
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 : Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 : Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 : Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 : Provisions for network management

Abstract

A number of gateway objects interconnect circuit switched and packet switched networks, such as the telephone network and the Internet, for example to enable telephony communication across the combined networks. A directory object coupled to the packet network provides address translation capability, and the directory object polls or communicates with the gateways to provide an intelligent selection of one of the gateway objects, typically for egress to the telephone network. The system also includes an authorization control object. After gateway selection, a calling terminal attempts communication through the gateway object. The gateway object then queries the authorization control object, which instructs the gateway object to proceed only if the requested communication between the calling terminal and the destination terminal is authorized.

Claims

1. A method of communicating across a communication system comprising a circuit switched network and a packet switched network connected by a plurality of gateway objects, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving in a directory object in said packet switched network a request for a gateway object address to establish a communication path between an identified requesting terminal and an identified destination terminal;

b) communicating between said directory object and said gateway objects via interfaces between said directory object and said gateway objects to identify one of said gateway objects such that a communication through the one gateway object is capable of satisfying predetermined criteria;

c) transmitting the address of the one gateway object to said requesting terminal;

d) establishing a communication from the requesting terminal to the one gateway object at least partially through the packet switched network;

e) launching a query from the one gateway object to an authorization object, in response to the communication from the requesting terminal;

f) determining if communication between the requesting terminal and the destination terminal is authorized;

g) if authorized, transmitting a response to the one gateway object indicating communication between the requesting terminal and the destination terminal is authorized; and

h) initiating communication between the requesting terminal and the destination terminal through the one gateway object based on the response.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of said directory object identifying at least a portion of said predetermined criteria by accessing a storage maintained by said directory object.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said directory object processes information obtained from said storage prior to communicating with said gateway objects.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined criteria relates to lowest cost routing.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined criteria includes reservability of a communication path between the requesting terminal and the destination terminal.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined criteria includes reservability of bandwidth in a communication path between the requesting terminal and the destination terminal.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined criteria relates to use of facilities of a specified carrier.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying an account for said requesting terminal; and

ascertaining that the identified account has a balance satisfactory for covering the cost of the requested communication.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying an account for said requesting terminal,

ascertaining the balance in said account, and

establishing limits for the use of the initiated communication based on said balance.

10. A method of controlling communication across a system comprising a switched telephone network and a packet switched network connected by a plurality of gateway objects comprising the steps of:

at a directory object, receiving a message through the packet switched network from a requesting terminal for an identification of a gateway object coupled between the packet switched network and the switched telephone network, the request including at least part of an identification of an intended destination terminal;

based on predetermined criteria, selecting one of a plurality of gateway objects coupled between the packet switched network and the switched telephone network, capable of providing communication to the intended destination terminal;

sending the identification of the selected gateway object through the packet switched network to the requesting terminal;

receiving a query from the selected gateway object at an authorization control object coupled to the packet switched network;

determining, from data contained in the query, whether or not communication between the requesting terminal and the intended destination terminal via the selected gateway is authorized; and

if communication between the requesting terminal and the intended destination terminal via the selected gateway is authorized, instructing the selected gateway object to initiate communication between the requesting terminal and the intended destination terminal via the packet switched network and the switched telephone network.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the packet switched network comprises the Internet.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the communication between the requesting terminal and the intended destination terminal via the packet switched network supports telephony communications.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein the determining step comprises:

identifying an account for said requesting terminal; and

ascertaining that the identified account has a balance satisfactory for covering costs of the communication between the requesting terminal and the intended destination terminal via the packet switched network and the switched telephone network.

14. A method as in claim 10, wherein:

the determining step comprises;

identifying an account for said requesting terminal, and ascertaining the balance in said account; and

the method further comprises establishing limits for costs of the communication between the requesting terminal and the intended destination terminal via the packet switched network and the switched telephone network, based on the balance in said account.

15. A method as in claim 10, wherein the selecting step comprises:

launching queries from the directory object to the gateway objects; and

making the selection based on at least one response received from a gateway object.

16. A system for providing telephony communication across a switched telephone network, a packet switched network, and a plurality of gateway objects connected between the switched telephone network and the packet switched network, the system comprising:

a directory object coupled for communication through the packet switched network having translation data and control programming, for receiving a message through the packet switched network from an originating terminal, said message requesting an identification of a gateway object and including at least part of an identification of an intended destination terminal,

wherein the control programming causes the directory object to identify a plurality of the gateway objects capable of providing communication to the intended destination terminal from the translation data and to select one of the plurality of gateway objects based on predetermined criteria, and send the identification of the selected gateway object through the packet switched network to the requesting terminal; and

an authorization control object storing account and authorization control information for a plurality of customers and having a communication interface for communication with the gateway objects,

wherein the authorization control object receives a query from the selected gateway object, determines, from data contained in the query, whether or not communication between the originating terminal and the intended destination terminal is authorized, and if authorized, instructs the selected gateway object to initiate communication between the originating terminal and the intended destination terminal via the packet switched network and the switched telephone network.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein the communication interface of the authorization control object comprises a data communication interface to the packet switched network.