Method of providing telecommunication services

• US 6,246,758 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Penkler, David, Low, Colin, Bouthors, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/077,911
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.01, 379/90.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.09, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/201, 379/207, 379/212, 379/900, 370/351, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/33 containing protocol addresses or telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• 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 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• 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 3/5191 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 7/003 : 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 7/122 : where the PSTN/ISDN access is used as an access to networks other than PSTN/ISDN access arrangements to networks other than PSTN/ISDN H04M7/0066; access arrangements to public data networks H04L12/2856
• 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 2213/13106 : 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 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• 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 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

Traditional Intelligent network services in a PSTN use service logic and data that is accessible for use only by the PSTN, though provision may be made for users to change certain controlled parameters of the services. The present system has the service logic and data placed on a server accessible over the Internet. This permits anyone to access useful telephone data such as time-of-day routing or diversion number information of a user. Thus a calling party can determine before placing a call over the PSTN the best number to call by accessing the phone page of the intended called party. This phone page would remain accessible to the PSTN for service provision. In a preferred embodiment, the service logic and data is maintained by the user independently of the PSTN on a server of the user'"'"'s choice; in this case, the PSTN would also access the user'"'"'s server logic and data over the Internet.

Claims

1. A method of providing services to users of a public switched telecommunications system that includes a service control subsystem (42) communicating through a signalling system with bearer-channel switches (41), said service control subsystem providing a service logic execution environment (20) in which service logic programs (21) for controlling setup of bearer channels through the telecommunications system are run in response to the receipt by the service control subsystem (42) of corresponding service requests, said method including the steps of:

(a) provisioning at least one server (51) connected to a computer network (50) with a plurality of service resource items (49) that are each associated with a respective predetermined code, said computer network (50) being accessible to a substantial proportion of the users of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from that system, and said service resource items (49) relating to setup control for bearer channels (60) through said telecommunications system;

(b) upon the service control subsystem receiving a said service request including a said predetermined code, running the corresponding service logic program (21), and accessing the appropriate said at least one server (51) to utilise the service resource item (49) corresponding to the predetermined code included in the request, in the course of service provision by said service logic program concerning bearer channel set up (60) through said telecommunications system;

and

(c) enabling read access from user terminals (53) over said computer network (50) to said at least one server (51) whereby to enable said service resource items (49) held thereon to be accessed from said user terminals and thereupon used in respect of setting up a bearer channel (60) through said telecommunications system.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said service resource items (49) are accessed by the service control subsystem (42) over a path independent of said signalling system.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said computer network (50) is a publically-accessible computer network, said at least one server (51) being accessed from said user terminals (53) and service control subsystem (42) across the computer network.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer network (50) is a publically-accessible network, said at least one server (51) forming part of the service control subsystem (42) of the telecommunications system (PSTN) and being accessible to said user terminals (53) across said publically-accessible network.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method includes the further step of:

(d) accessing from a said user terminal (53), over said computer network (50), a said service resource item (49) associated with an intended called party or service with which it is wished to communicate over said telecommunications system, and utilising said resource item (49) for controlling setup of a communication through said telecommunications system.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said service resource item (49) is accessed from said user terminal in step (d) prior to initiation of communication through the telecommunication system, the result of using said service resource item being used to automatically initiate a communication through the telecommunication system.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein following initiation of a communication through the telecommunication system, the return of a busy indication is operative to cause said service resource item (49) accessed from said user terminal in step (d) to be used in determining further call setup processing.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said service resource items (49) are locatable over the computer network (50) using corresponding URIs, said service resource item (49) being accessed from said user terminal (53) in step (d) using the said corresponding URI.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said service control subsystem (42) also accesses said service resource items (49) over the computer network (50) using the corresponding said URIs, step (b) including the substep of translating a said predetermined code included in a service request into the URI of the required service resource item (49).

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein access to said service resource item (49) from said user terminal (53) in step (d) is effected by the substeps of accessing said predetermined code at said user terminal (53), translating this code into the URI of the associated service resource item (49), and then accessing that service resource item (49) over the computer network (50) using said URI.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the substep of translating said predetermined code into the URI of the associated service resource item (49) is effected by one of the following methods:

a direct mapping where said predetermined code corresponding substantially to said URI;

manipulation of said predetermined code according to a predetermined function;

look up in a locally held association table associating said predetermined codes and URIs;

look up in an association table associating said predetermined codes and URIs, said association table being held on at least one database server connected to said computer network.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the substep of translating said predetermined code into the URI of the associated service resource item (49) is effected by look up in 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, at least a substantial portion of said predetermined code being parsed into at least a part of a corresponding said domain name and this domain name when complete being used to retrieve the URI of the required service resource item (49) from said database system.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein at least two said service resource items (49) are located at the same URI, the said predetermined codes of these service resource item including respective relative-resource-identifier (RRI) values that are used at the server (51) holding the service resource items (49) to identify the required resource item amongst the service resource items at the same URI.

14. A method according to claim 5, wherein said at least one server (51) forms part of a DNS-type distributed database system and said service resource items (49) are held in records associated with respective names, herein referred to as domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, said service resource item being accessed from said user terminal in step (d) using the corresponding said domain name.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said service control subsystem (42) also accesses said service resource items (42) over the computer network using the corresponding said domain name, step (b) including the substep of parsing at least a substantial portion of a said predetermined code included in a service request into at least a part of the domain name of the required service resource item (49).

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein access to said service resource item (49) from said user terminal (53) in step (d) is effected by accessing a said predetermined code at a said user terminal (53), parsing at least a substantial portion of this code into at least a part of the domain name of the associated service resource item (49) and then accessing that service resource item (49) over the computer network (50) using said domain name.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said telecommunication system is a public telephone system, each said predetermined code being one of the following:

the telephone number of the calling party;

the telephone number of the called party;

a number input by the calling party.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one said service resource item is service logic which is executed by the corresponding server upon being accessed with the result of this execution being returned to the accessing entity for use in call setup control.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one said service resource item is downloadable service data which upon being accessed is downloaded to the accessing entity for use thereby in call setup control.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one said service resource item is downloadable service logic which upon being accessed is downloaded to the accessing entity for execution in call setup control.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer network is the Internet.

22. A method according to claim 12, wherein said computer network is the Internet and said DNS-type distributed database system is provided by the DNS of the Internet.

23. A method according to claim 1 wherein said telecommunication network is a PSTN.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein said URIs are URLs and/or URNs, and said at least one server is an HTTP server.

25. A method of providing services to users of a public switched telecommunications system that includes a service control subsystem (42), said service control subsystem providing a service logic execution environment (20) in which service logic programs (21) are run in response to the receipt by the service control subsystem (42) of corresponding service requests, said method including the steps of:

(a) provisioning a server (51) with a plurality of service resource items (49) that are each associated with a respective predetermined code, said server (51) being located remotely from said service logic execution environment but accessible therefrom; and

(b) upon the service control subsystem receiving a said service request including a said predetermined code, running the corresponding service logic program (21), and accessing said server (51) to utilise, in the course of service control by said service logic program, the service resource item (49) corresponding to the predetermined code included in the request;

said service resource items being locatable from the service control subsystem using URIs, and step (b) including the substeps of translating a said predetermined code included in a service request into the URI associated with the required service resource item (49) and using that URI to access the service resource item.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said server (51) is connected to a computer network (50) accessible to a substantial proportion of the users of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from that system, the method including the further step of accessing from a user terminal (53), over said computer network (50), a said service resource item (49) using its associated URI, and utilising said resource item (49) in setting up a bearer channel in said telecommunications system.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein said server (51) is connected to a computer network (50) accessible to a substantial proportion of the users of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from that system, the method including the further step of using a user terminal (53) to provision the server (51), over the computer network (50), with a service resource item at a corresponding URI.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein said server (51) is an HTTP server.

29. A method according to claim 25, wherein said computer network (50) is the Internet.

43. A method according to claim 26, wherein said server is an HTTP server.

44. A method according to claim 27, wherein said server is an HTTP server.

30. A method of providing services to users of a public telephone system that includes a service control subsystem communicating through a signalling system with bearer-channel switches, said service control subsystem providing a service logic execution environment in which service logic programs for controlling setup of bearer channels through the telephone system are run in response to the receipt by the service control subsystem of corresponding service requests, said method including the steps of:

(a) provisioning at least one server connected to a computer network with a plurality of service resource items that are each associated with a respective predetermined code, said computer network being accessible to at least a significant group of the users of the telephone system but logically distinct from that system, and said service resource items relating to setup control for bearer channels through said telephone system;

(b) upon the service control subsystem receiving a said service request including a said predetermined code, running the corresponding service logic program and accessing the appropriate said at least one server over a path independent of said signalling system to utilize the service resource item corresponding to the predetermined code included in the request, in the course of service provision by said service logic program concerning bearer channel set up through said telephone system; and

(c) enabling read access from user terminals over said computer network to said at least one server whereby to enable said service resource items held thereon to be accessed from said user terminals and thereupon used in respect of setting up a bearer channel through said telephone system.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said computer network is the Internet, said at least one server being accessed from said user terminals and service control subsystem across the Internet.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein said computer network is the Internet, said at least one server forming part of the service control subsystem of the telephone system and being accessible to said user terminals across the Internet.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein said method includes the further step of:

(d) accessing from a said user terminal over said computer network a said service resource item associated with an intended called party or service with which it is wished to communicate over said telephone system, and utilizing said resource item for controlling setup of a communication through said telephone system.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein said service resource items are locatable over the computer network using corresponding URIs, said service resource item being accessed from said user terminal in step (d) using the said corresponding URI.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said service control subsystem also accesses said service resource items over the computer network using the corresponding said URIs, step (b) including the substep of translating a said predetermined code included in a service request into the URI of the required service resource item.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein access to said service resource item from said user terminal in step (d) is effected by the substeps of accessing said predetermined code at said user terminal translating this code into the URI of the associated service resource item and then accessing that service resource item over the computer network using said URI.

37. A method according to claim 33, wherein at least two said service resource items are located at the same URI, the said predetermined codes of these service resource item including respective relative-resource-identifier values that are used at the server holding the service resource items to identify the required resource item amongst the service resource items at the same URI.

38. A method according to claim 30, wherein said predetermined code is one of the following:

the telephone number of the calling party;

the telephone number of the called party;

a number input by the calling party.

39. A method according to claim 30, wherein at least one said service resource item is service logic which is executed by the corresponding server upon being accessed with the result of this execution being returned to the accessing entity for use in call setup control.

40. A method according to claim 30, wherein at least one said service resource item is downloadable service data which upon being accessed is downloaded to the accessing entity for use thereby in call setup control.

41. A method according to claim 30, wherein at least one said service resource item is downloadable service logic which upon being accessed is downloaded to the accessing entity for execution in call setup control.

42. A method according to claim 30, wherein said at least one server is an HTTP server.