Method and apparatus for automatic call setup in different network domains

• US 6,240,449 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Nadeau, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/184,030
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1225 Details of core network interconnection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and a system for managing communication sessions originating in either one of a telecommunications network, such as the PSTN network or a mobile telephone network, and a data communications network such as the Internet. The system includes a service logic controller supporting a data structure that holds a plurality of communication session disposition program records. The service logic controller connects with the telecommunications network and with the data communications network through respective gateways that transmit communication session disposition inquiry messages. In response to those messages, the service logic controller retrieves the appropriate communication session disposition program. If the program is instructive to establish an Internet domain connection, the service logic controller transmits to a gatekeeper functional element an Internet address request. The service logic controller then generates an instruction to the entity that originated the inquiry message in accordance with a response from the gatekeeper functional element. If the program does not require an Internet connection, the service logic controller generates an instruction to the entity that originated the inquiry message in accordance with the program itself. The communication session is then processed according to the instruction.

Claims

1. A method for managing a communication session originating in either one of a telecommunications network and the Internet domain, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting origination of a communication session in either one of the telecommunications network and the Internet domain;

suspending processing of the communication session;

accessing a data structure containing a plurality of records, each record including an information element indicative of a certain communication session disposition program;

associating a record in said data structure with the communication session, the record including an entry indicative of a particular disposition program applicable to the communication session, the entry including a data element indicative of a pseudo-address in the Internet domain;

if the entry applicable to the communication session is instructive to establish an Internet domain connection, translating the pseudo-address to an IP address;

utilising the IP address to manage the communication session.

2. A method for managing a communication session as defined in claim 1, wherein said data structure is supported on a service logic controller, said method comprising the step of establishing a communication between said service logic controller and a certain entity to transmit data from said service logic controller to said certain entity to enable the certain entity to establish a bridging connection between the telecommunications network and the data communications network.

3. A method for managing a communication session as defined in claim 2, wherein said certain entity is an inter-network gateway.

4. A method for managing a communication session as defined in claim 3, wherein the telecommunications network includes the PSTN.

5. A method for managing a communication session as defined in claim 4, wherein the telecommunications network includes a mobile telephone network.

6. A service logic controller for the management of communication sessions originating in either one of a telecommunications network and the Internet, said service logic controller including:

a central processing unit;

a memory in data communicative relationship with said central processing unit, said memory holding a data structure including a plurality of records, each record including an information element indicative of a certain communication session disposition program;

a program element in said memory that is executed by said central processing unit;

a first connection point permitting to exchange data between said service logic controller and the telecommunications network;

a second connection point permitting to exchange data with the Internet;

a third connection point permitting to exchange data with an Internet gatekeeper functional element, the Internet gatekeeper functional element returning in response to Internet address request messages Internet location messages;

said program element implementing the functions of;

a) processing a communication session disposition inquiry message input through either one of said first and second connection points to associate a certain record in said data structure with the communication session disposition inquiry message;

b) if the communication session disposition program of said certain record is instructive to establish an Internet domain connection, generating and outputting through said third connection point an Internet address request message to seek an IP address of a party with whom a communication session is to be established;

c) processing an Internet location message received at said third connection point in response to the Internet address request message and containing an IP address of a party with whom a communication session is to be established to generate and output through either one of said first and second connection points a communication session disposition instructions message including the IP address of a party with whom a communication session is to be established.

7. A service logic controller as defined in claim 6, wherein each record of said data structure is associated to a particular subscriber.

8. A service logic controller as defined in claim 7, wherein the information element of a record includes an identification tag specific to the particular subscriber associated to the record.

9. A service logic controller as defined in claim 8, wherein the information element of a record further includes a subscriber directory, the subscriber directory containing an entry for each party with whom a communication session may be established by the subscriber.

10. A service logic controller as defined in claim 9, wherein the subscriber directory entry for a particular party contains data elements specific to the disposition of a communication session to be established between the subscriber and the particular party.

11. A service logic controller as defined in claim 10, comprising a fourth connection point permitting to transmit data to an inter-network gateway capable to route data between the telecommunications network and the data communications network.

12. A service logic controller as defined in claim 11, wherein said first and second connection points connect with the telecommunications network and the data communications network, respectively, through respective gateways.

13. A service logic controller as defined in claim 12, wherein the data communications network is the Internet.

14. A service logic controller as defined in claim 13, wherein the telecommunications network includes the PSTN.

15. A service logic controller as defined in claim 14, wherein the telecommunications network includes a mobile telephone network.

16. A system for the management of communication sessions originating in either one of a telecommunications network and the Internet, said system comprising:

a service logic controller, including;

a) a central processing unit;

b) a memory in data communicative relationship with said central processing unit, said memory holding a data structure including a plurality of records, each record including an information element indicative of a certain communication session disposition program;

c) a program element in said memory that is executed by said central processing unit;

d) a first connection point permitting to exchange data between said service logic controller and the telecommunications network;

e) a second connection point permitting to exchange data with the Internet;

a gatekeeper functional element in a data communicative relationship with said service logic controller, said program element implementing the functions of;

i) processing a communication session disposition inquiry message input through either one of said first and second connection points to associate a certain record in said data structure with the communication session disposition inquiry message;

ii) if the communication session disposition program of said certain record is instructive to establish an Internet domain connection, generating and forwarding to said gatekeeper functional element an Internet address request message to seek an IP address of a party with whom a communication session is to be established;

said gatekeeper functional element being responsive to the Internet address request message to obtain the IP address of the party with whom a communication session is to be established and to generate and forward to said service logic controller an Internet location message containing the IP address of the party with whom a communication session is to be established, said program element implementing further functions, including;

processing the Internet location message received at said third connection point to generate and output through either one of said first and second connection points a communication session disposition instructions message including the IP address of a party with whom a communication session is to be established.

17. A system as defined in claim 16, comprising an inter-network gateway for routing data between the telecommunications network domain and the data communications network domain, the inter-network gateway responsive to data received from said service logic controller to bridge a connection between the telecommunications network and the data communications network.