Automatic called party locator over internet with provisioning

• US 6,215,790 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1997
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US08/815,367
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/400, 370/401, 370/467, 379/58
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1421 Indication of expected costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• 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 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 2207/12 : intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 : hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 : Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 3/4211 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 : Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• 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: 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 system and method using enhanced processing, responsive to domain name translation requests, to provide selective routing services through a public packet switched data network. The name processing applies to translation of a domain name into a group of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and to providing routing information for a packet data network such as the Internet. Following name translation into a group of addresses communication is automatically established between a calling terminal and a terminal designated by one of the addresses and determined through processing which effects linkage with the first terminal to respond. The selective routing is particularly advantageous for processing of voice telephone communications through the Internet packet data network based on domain name translations. One or more domain names can be translated into a group of addresses which may include a mixture of Internet (IP) addresses and telephone number addresses, along with routing procedures with respect to the addresses. The system is designed to provide called party locator services offering a variety of options to the customer for the procedures to be followed. An important feature is a convenient and efficient provisioning method using an advanced intelligent network provided with one or more intelligent peripheral platforms.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning a communication service profile for a hybrid network comprising the Internet having a name to address server comprising a domain name server, and a switched telephone network comprising switching systems connected to terminals, and having a separate common channel interoffice signaling network with a service control point controller therefor, and a separate second signaling network with an intelligent peripheral processing unit coupled thereto and coupled to said controller, comprising the steps of:

establishing in a storage associated with said name to address server a service profile for processing calls placed to a subscriber to said service;

initiating a communication from one of said terminals and using signaling in said first signaling network to initiate the establishment of a voice communication link between said one of said terminals and said intelligent peripheral processing unit;

substantially simultaneously with said step of initiating, transmitting from said controller to said intelligent peripheral processing unit via said second signaling network information for processing said initiated communication;

retrieving from said name to address server, and transmitting to said intelligent peripheral processing unit via said second signaling network, service profile data related to said initiated communication;

processing said service profile data pursuant to instructions transmitted from said terminal which initiated said communication; and

returning said processed profile data to said name to address server; and

wherein said service profile comprises a plurality of names designating addresses for terminals and instructions for calling said addresses.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said names comprise domain names and said internetwork comprises the Internet.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of addresses are provided for at least one of said domain names.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said service profile includes program data to cause said plurality of addresses to be used seriatim to effect signaling one terminal at a time.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said service profile includes program data to cause said plurality of addresses to be used substantially simultaneously to effect substantially simultaneous signaling.

6. In a communication system comprising:

a packet switched internetwork of communication networks;

a circuit switched communication network including at least two switching offices, interconnected by trunk circuits, for selectively providing switched communication services over a plurality of communication lines connected thereto;

a central control device separate from said switching offices, said central control device comprising a database storing call processing data associated with a plurality of said communication lines for control of call processing through one or more of said switching offices; and

a name to address server coupled to said internetwork for translating names to internetwork addresses, said address server storing service profile information comprising a plurality of names designating addresses for terminals and instructions for calling said addresses;

a service request processing method comprising the steps of;

receiving a request for service via one of said communication lines;

providing a voice link connection from said one of said communication lines to a peripheral platform;

providing instructions from said central control device to said peripheral platform;

communicating between said central control device and said peripheral platform to identify a service request processing function to be executed by said peripheral platform in response to said request for service;

communicating between said peripheral platform and said name to address server to access information relating to name to address translation data related to said request for service; and

executing the identified request for service via communication between said peripheral platform and said name to address server, comprising changing at least one of said name to address translations;

wherein

said name to address translation comprises an Internet domain name to Internet Protocol (IP) address translation.