Method of making available content resources to users of a telephone network

• US 6,243,443 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Low, Colin, Raguideau, Nicolas, Seaborne, Andrew Franklin, Bouthors, Nicolas, Beyschlag, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/125,391
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 379/900, 379/207, 379/221, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2867 Physical combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/30 Types of network names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/38 Telephone uniform resource identifier [URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1041 Televoting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 3/428 : Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 : Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 : comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 : interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 : with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 : Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 : where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services
• 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 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• 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: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 : Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 : Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• 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 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13504 : client/server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13526 : resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 : protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13528 : SCP architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13534 : Internet - WWW, HTML, browsers etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13546 : Intelligent Peripheral
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 : Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 : Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

Content items (49) are held on Internet servers (51) with each item being locatable at a corresponding URI and having an associated identifying number (“1234567”) that can be input using a telephone keypad. A PSTN is provided with an intelligent peripheal (70) that has connectivity with the Internet (50). To access a particular content item (49), a telephone user (A) inputs a service designator code (“333”) followed by the identifying number (“1234567”) of the required content item (49). The intelligent peripheral (70) translates the input identifying number to the URI of the required item. This URI is then used by the intelligent peripheral (70) to retrieve the required content item and deliver it to the telephone user (A), typically as a speech rendition of the item.

Claims

1. A method of making available content sources to users of a telephone network, said content sources being provided on at least one server connected to a computer network that is generally accessible to users of the telephone network but logically distinct therefrom, and said content sources each being associated with a respective predetermined code and being locatable on said computer network by corresponding known URls;

said method including the steps of;

(a) during the course of a call involving a user telephone connected to said telephone network, determining conditions indicative that a said content source is to be accessed and thereupon forming the said predetermined code of the required said content source, step (a) involving the use of a number input from said user telephone;

(b) mapping said predetermined code to the said known URI of the content source associated with that predetermined code;

(c) utilizsing the URI derived in step (b) to access the required content source over said computer network; and

(d) transferring content through said networks from said content source to said telephone;

steps (a) and (b) being carried out within the telephone network and steps (c) and (d) involving intelligent peripheral functionality of the telephone network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (a) the determining of conditions indicative that a said content source is to be accessed involves recognizing a predetermined service designator code input using said user telephone, and the forming of said predetermined code involves using numbers input following said designator code at least as a major part of said predetermined code for the required content source.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (a) the determining of conditions indicative that a said content source is to be accessed involves recognizing a predetermined service designator code input using said user telephone, and the forming of said predetermined code involves using the telephone number of said user telephone at las a major part of said predetermined code for the required content source.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) involves recognising predetermined service trigger conditions at a node of said telephone network during one of call setup and takedown, recognition of said predetermined service trigger conditions resulting in the initiation of a corresponding service in which the said content resource to be accessed is to be used.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said service is a called-party service and step (b) involves using a called party number input at said user telephone at least as a major part of said predetermined code for the required content source.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said content transferred in step (d) is a message provided to said user telephone as part of said called-party service.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein multiple content items are held on said content source, step (a) further involving collecting an indicator of the required said content item, and step (d) using this indicator to transfer only the required content item to said user telephone.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said indicator is a number input from said user telephone.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said indicator is a point-in-call indicator.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (b) said URI is derived from the corresponding said predetermined code by look up in an association table associating said predetermined code and URI, said association table being held on at least one database server connected to said computer network, step (b) involving accessing said database server over the computer network to determine the said URI corresponding to the said predetermined code.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said at least one database server is provided by a DNS-type distributed database system in which said URIs are held in records associated with respective names, herein referred to as domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, step (b) involving translating said predetermined code into a corresponding said domain name and using this domain name to retrieve the URI of the required content source item from said DNS-type distributed database system.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said computer network in the Internet and said telephone network is a PSTN.

13. A telephone network comprising a bearer network with service switching points, a service control subsystem, and intelligent peripheral functionality;

characterized in that;

said intelligent peripheral functionality is connected to a computer network that is generally accessible to users of the telephone network but logically distinct therefrom;

said service switching point includes means for determining during call setup involving a user telephone connected to said bearer network, conditions indicative that a content-item access service is required involving accessing a content item provided at a particular URI on a server connected to said computer network, said content item having an associated predetermined code;

said service control subsystem includes means responsive to the service switching point determining that said content-item access service is required, to form said predetermined code using at least a part of a number input from said user telephone;

one of said service control subsystem and intelligent peripheral functionality has mapping means for mapping said predetermined code to the said particular URI of the content item to be accessed; and

said intelligent peripheral functionality os operative to use the URI derived by said mapping means to access the required content item over said computer network and transfer it to said user telephone.

14. A method of making available content sinks to users of a telephone network, said content sinks being provided on at least one server connected to a computer network that is generally accessible to users of the telephone network but logically distinct therefrom, and said content sinks each being associated with a respective predetermined code and being locatable on said computer network by corresponding known URls;

said method including the steps of;

(a) during the course of a call involving a user telephone connected to said telephone network, determining conditions indicative that a said content sink is to be accessed and thereupon forming the said predetermined code of the required said content sink, step(a) involving the use of a number input from said user telephone;

(b) mapping said predetermined code to the said known URI of the content sink associated with that predetermined code; and

(c) transferring content from said user telephone through said telephone network and then over said computer network to said content sink, the URI derived in step (b) being used to access the content sink over said computer network for effecting this content transfer;

steps (a) and (b) being carried out within the telephone network and step (c) involving intelligent peripheral functionality of the telephone network.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein in step (a) the determining of conditions indicative that a said content sink is to be accessed involves recognizing a predetermined service designator code input using said user telephone, and the forming of said predetermined code involves using numbers input following said designator code at least as a major part of said predetermined code for the required content sink.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein in step (a) the determining of conditions indicative that a said content sink is to be accessed involves recognizing a predetermined service designator code input using said user telephone, and the forming of said predetermined code involves using the telephone number of said user telephone at least as a major part of said predetermined code for the required content sink.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein in step (a) involves recognizing predetermined service trigger conditions at a node of said telephone network during one of call setup and takedown, recognition of said predetermined service trigger conditions resulting in the initiation of a corresponding service in which the said content sink to be accessed is to be used.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said service is a called-party service and step (b) involves using a called party number input at said user telephone at least as a major part of said predetermined code of the required content sink.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein in step (b) said URI is derived from the corresponding said predetermined code by look up in an association table associating said predetermined code and URI, said association table being held on at least one database server connected to said computer network, step (b) involving accessing said database server over the computer network to determine the said URI corresponding to the said predetermined code.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said at least one database server is provided by a DNS-type distributed database system in which said URIs are held in records associated with respective names, herein referred to as domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, step (b) involving translating said predetermined code into a corresponding said domain name and using this domain name to retrieve the URI of the required content sink item from said DNS-type distributed database system.

21. A method according to claim 14, wherein said computer network is the Internet and said telephone network is a PSTN.

22. A content retrieval system for retrieving over the Internet content held on HTTP servers at predetermined URLs and delivering the retrieved content over a telephone system to a telephone user, said system comprising:

a telephone-system interface for receiving selection data through the telephone system from a user phone, and for sending back to that phone retrieved content in audible form;

mapping apparatus comprising a storage device holding mappings between selection data and URLs, and user-input apparatus for receiving HTTP-protocol messages over the Internet from telephone users specifying said mappings in terms of the particular predetermined URLs to be associated with particular selection data, the user-input apparatus setting the mappings held on the storage device according to these messages;

control apparatus responsive to the receipt at the telephone interface of selection data, to access the mapping apparatus to retrieve the predetermined URL corresponding to the particular selection data received;

Internet interface apparatus for retrieving over the Internet content held on HTTP servers at predetermined URLs specified to it by said control apparatus, and for converting the retrieved content into an audible form for sending through the telephone system by the telephone-system interface.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said selection data comprises at least a part of one of:

a number input from said user telephone, and

the telephone number of said user telephone.

24. A system according to claim 22, wherein the system incorporated into at least one node of the telephone system.

25. A system according to claim 22, wherein the system is incorporated into ISP equipment provided at the boundary of the telephone system.