Apparatus and method for communication between data network and telecommunication network

• US 6,226,286 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1997
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Bergqvist, Per, B.ang.ge, Goran, Danne, Anders Olof
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elallam, Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US08/953,537
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 370/261, 370/352, 370/389, 370/392, 370/419, 370/422, 370/428, 379/88.17, 379/900, 709/218
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6486 Signalling Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• 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 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

The present invention relates to a service node between Internet networks and a telecommunications network, said node being used to order telephony services by means of HTML pages from a computer having a WWW browser. The invention also relates to a method for calling a B subscriber, in which the call is ordered from the computer but the connection is set up between the telephones of the A and B subscribers'"'"' telephones. The service node communicates with computers connected to computer networks using the HTTP protocol. The node stores data related to a subscriber; said data can be used when the user requests a telephony service. The node is centrally located, which enables the use of its services even if the user moves to another location and terminal.

Claims

1. A method for setting up a telecommunications connection between a calling A subscriber and a B subscriber through a telecommunications network by a computer available to the A subscriber and provided with a WWW browser, said computer having access to a service node through a network in which HTTP protocol is used, said service node receiving and processing orders for telephony services and for registration of subscriber data and said A subscriber having access to at least one telecommunications terminal connected to the telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting, on request, a set of data in the HTML format from said service node to the A subscriber'"'"'s computer, said data comprising an offer to call the B subscriber using the B subscriber'"'"'s identity;

b) presenting the set of data as an HTML page;

c) requesting a call to said B subscriber by seeking access to said identity;

d) transmitting said call request by the A subscriber'"'"'s computer to said service node using said HTTP protocol, said service node receiving said call request and forwarding it within the node using an application protocol;

e) setting up a first connection, in reply to said call request, between the service node and the telecommunications network, said service node requesting a call to said telecommunications terminal used by the calling A subscriber;

f) setting up a second connection between said service node and the telecommunications network, said service node requesting a call to the B subscriber'"'"'s teleconmunications terminal; and

g) interconnecting the first and second connections established according to e) and f) when at least one of the called A and B subscribers has answered the call, for connection between said A and B subscribers.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second connection according to f) is not set up until the A subscriber has answered said call.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein both connections are set up after the B subscriber has answered the call.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the two connections are interconnected after the A subscriber has answered the call.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein before the call is requested by the A subscriber according to step c), the A subscriber has registered data in the service node, by performing the following steps:

a) transmitting a request for programming of user data by the A subscriber'"'"'s computer to the service node through the HTTP protocol;

b) forwarding said request for programming within the service node through the application protocol, and subsequently processing said request;

c) transmitting a set of user related data within the service node through the application protocol, and subsequently forwarding said set of data according to the HTTP protocol through a data network to the A subscriber'"'"'s computer;

d) presenting the set of user related data as an HTML page on a screen connected to said computer, said A subscriber entering a command using active fields in the HTML page presented on screen, to add new data entered by the A subscriber to previously stored user data; and

e) transmitting the command described in d), and transmitting the data listed in d), to the service node, by means of the computer and by means of the HTTP protocol, forwarding said command and said data within the service node through the application protocol and subsequently registering said data.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the command entered by the A subscriber under d) provides an instruction as to what telecommunications terminal the A subscriber intends to use.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the identity of said telecommunications terminal the A subscriber intends to use has been previously registered in the service node upon a command from the A subscriber.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the identity of said terminal the A subscriber intends to use is transmitted with said command for registration in the service node.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein the command entered by the A subscriber under d) comprises data about the identity of the B subscriber.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the A subscriber logs in to the service node using a password entered into a field intended for this information on an HTML page before the request to call the B subscriber, or the user programming, is processed.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein in that the service node, after receiving and processing a request for connection, transfers the result of the set-up procedure to the computer in an HTML format.

12. A service node constituting a link between a data network, in which HTTP protocol is used, and at least one telecommunications network, said service node being used to request a telecommunications service from an A subscriber'"'"'s computer through the data network, the service node comprising:

a) a web server for communication with said computer through the data network using the HTTP protocol;

b) a service node selector connected to the at least one telecommunications network to set up two separate connections in the telecommunications network, one of which connects a telecommunications terminal belonging to the A subscriber and the other connecting a telecommunications terminal belonging to a B subscriber, in order to subsequently interconnect the two connections; and

c) a personal assistant having a communication connection to the web server and a communication connection to the service node selector, said personal assistant handling the request for a telecommunications service and ensuring it is performed by controlling the service node selector.

13. A service node according to claim 12, wherein the personal assistant comprises a memory space for storing user related data.

14. A service node according to claim 13, wherein the memory space of the personal assistant is used for storing on identity of the A subscriber'"'"'s terminal, to enable establishment of a telecommunications connection with the A subscriber'"'"'s terminal.

15. A service node according to claim 12, wherein the memory space of the personal assistant is used for storing an identity of B subscriber'"'"'s terminal, to enable the establishment of a telecommunications connection with the B subscriber'"'"'s terminal.