Apparatus and method for computer telephone integration in packet switched telephone networks

• US 6,201,805 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1997
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dialogic, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Strathmeyer, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FELBER, JOSEPH LEON
• Application Number:
  US08/955,834
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/16 with computer telephone integration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0012 Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

The technique is described whereby an external application computer can exercise call monitoring and control over calls in a packet network telephony environment, wherein a separate application computer is utilized to communicate with the gatekeeper computer already known in the art of packet network telephone communications, and wherein that gatekeeper computer is enhanced beyond the current art to implement the required communication protocol with the external application computer.

Claims

1. A method of setting up and monitoring a packetized telephone communications session between at least two nodes of a packet data network, comprising the steps of:

transmitting over a data network, from an application computer to a gatekeeper computer, information indicative of monitoring and control telephony functions desired by a user of said application computer, said application computer being located separately from any of said at least two nodes of said packet data network;

arranging for said packetized telephone communications session between said at least two nodes of said packet data network, said arrangement being accomplished through said gatekeeper computer;

causing said packetized telephone communications session between said at least two nodes of said packet data network to occur; and

reporting information indicative of said session occurring to said application computer from said gatekeeper computer over said data network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of arranging comprises the following steps:

allocating bandwidth for at least a first endpoint of said packet data network;

notifying said application computer from said gatekeeper computer that said session is processing;

allocating bandwidth to at least a second endpoint to participate in said session;

connecting said second endpoint with said first endpoint; and

notifying said application computer from said gatekeeper computer over said data network of said connection.

3. A method of completing a telephone call over a packet data network comprising:

transmitting over a data network, from an application computer to a gatekeeper computer, a request for a packetized telephone call between at least two endpoints, said application computer being located separately from any of said at least two endpoints;

in response to said step of transmitting, conveying setup packets from said gatekeeper computer to said at least two endpoints, said setup packets requesting call setup;

receiving at said at least two endpoints, said setup packets;

in response to said step of receiving, negotiating bandwidth reservation between each of said at least two endpoints and said gatekeeper computer; and

in response to said step of negotiating, completing said packetized telephone call between said at least two endpoints.

4. Apparatus for arranging a packetized telephone call over a data network, comprising:

a gatekeeper, said gatekeeper able to allocate network resources of said data network for said packetized telephone call;

at least two endpoints between which said packetized telephone call takes place; and

an application computer different from said at least two endpoints, able to communicate over said data network with said gatekeeper, said application computer further able to issue instructions to said gatekeeper, and said application computer still further able to receive from said gatekeeper status messages indicative of the status of said packetized telephone call.

5. A method of monitoring a packetized telephone call over a data network, said call being negotiated through a gatekeeper, said method comprising:

transmitting over said data network, from an application computer to said gatekeeper, messages indicative of packet telephony network endpoints or specifications of classes of calls for which monitoring information is required, said application computer being located separately from any of said endpoints;

transmitting over said data network, from said gatekeeper to said application computer, messages indicative of the status of calls matching said specifications thereby supplied, including information about parties participating in said calls and status of devices utilized for said calls; and

utilizing said messages at said application computer to implement control application functions related to said calls.

6. A method of disconnecting a packetized telephone call occurring over a data network, said disconnection being negotiated through a gatekeeper, said method comprising:

transmitting over said data network, from an application computer to said gatekeeper, packetized messages indicative of said call to be disconnected, said application computer being located separately from packet telephony network endpoints involved in said call; and

utilizing said messages at said gatekeeper to implement said disconnection between said endpoints.

7. A method of diverting a packetized telephone call being presented to a packet telephony network end point to an alternative end point, said diversion being negotiated through a gatekeeper of a data network, said method comprising:

transmitting, from an application computer to said gatekeeper, packetized messages indicative of said call to be diverted, said application computer being located separately from any of said end points; and

utilizing said messages at said gatekeeper to implement said diversion.

8. A method by which an application computer connected to a data network can ascertain information indicative of (i) calls in progress at an endpoint of a packetized telephone call and (ii) parties involved in said calls, said information being supplied by a gatekeeper, said method comprising:

transmitting, from the application computer to said gatekeeper over said data network, packetized messages indicative of said calls or said endpoint for which said information is desired, said application computer being located separately from said endpoint; and

transmitting, from said gatekeeper to said application computer over said data network, packetized messages containing the information desired by said application computer.

9. A method of transferring a packetized telephone call over a data network from one packet telephony network end point to another end point of said packet telephony network, said transfer being negotiated through a gatekeeper, said method comprising:

transmitting, from an application computer to said gatekeeper, packetized messages indicative of said call to be transferred, said application computer being located separately from any of said end points; and

utilizing said messages at said gatekeeper to implement said transfer.

10. A method of adding an end point to a packetized telephone call over a data network, said addition being negotiated through a gatekeeper, said method comprising:

transmitting, from an application computer to said gatekeeper, packetized messages indicative of said end point to be added, said application computer being located separately from any endpoint involved in said call; and

utilizing said messages at said gatekeeper to implement said addition.

11. A method of disconnecting a single end point from a packetized telephone call occurring over a data network, said disconnection being negotiated through a gatekeeper, said method comprising:

transmitting, from an application computer to said gatekeeper, packetized messages indicative of said end point to be disconnected, said application computer being located separately from any end point involved in said call; and

utilizing said messages at said gatekeeper to implement said disconnection.

12. A method of placing a packetized telephone call occurring over a data network between at least two end points, on hold, said holding operation being negotiated through a gatekeeper, said method comprising:

transmitting, from an application computer to said gatekeeper, packetized messages indicative of said call to be placed on hold, said application computer being located separately from any of said endpoints involved in said call; and

utilizing said messages at said gatekeeper to implement said hold.

13. A method of restoring a packetized telephone call from holding status over a data network, said restoration being negotiated through a gatekeeper, said method comprising:

transmitting, from an application computer to said gatekeeper, packetized messages indicative of said call to be restored from said holding status, said application computer being located separately from any endpoint involved in said call; and

utilizing said messages at said gatekeeper to implement said restoration.