Method of providing telecommunications services

• US 6,282,281 B1
• Filed: 06/03/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• 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: Low, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/077,509
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 379/230, 379/229, 379/207, 379/219, 379/220, 379/221, 379/900, 370/352, 370/389, 709/201, 709/203, 709/207, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/223
• 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 61/4557 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1041 Televoting
• 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 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• 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 3/42297 with number portability
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 : Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

Traditional IN (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 (“service resource items”) placed on servers (51) accessible over the Internet (50). This permits service resource items to be accessed from the service control subsystem (42) of a PSTN on a worldwide basis using the highly-resilient infrastructure of the Internet (50). Furthermore, the updating of the service resource items can be made the responsibility of the party to whom the service resource item relates, such updating being readily effected by access direct to the server (51) holding the resource items.

Claims

1. A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system that includes a service control subsystem (42) for providing service control upon receipt of a service request, said method including the steps of:

(a) providing at least one server (51) connected to a computer network (50), said network (50) being generally accessible to users of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from the latter,

(b) arranging for at least some of said users to directly or indirectly place service resource items (49) on said at least one server (51), the or each service resource item (49) placed by a user on a said server (51) relating to service provision concerning that user by the telecommunications system,

(c) associating a respective predetermined code (54) with each service resource item (49), and

(d) upon the service control subsystem (42) receiving a service request indicative of a said predetermined code (54), causing the service control subsystem (42) to;

(i) use said predetermined code (54) to access the corresponding service resource item (49) over the computer network (50), and

(ii) thereafter utilize the accessed service resource item (49) in providing service control in response to said service request.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one said service resource item (49) is service logic in which case step (d)(ii) involves:

causing said server (51) to execute said service logic and return a response to the service control subsystem (42), and causing said service control subsystem (42) to use said response in providing service control.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one said service resource item (49) is downloadable service data in which case step (d)(ii) involves:

causing said server (51) to download said service data to the service control subsystem (42), and causing said service control subsystem (42) to use the downloaded service data in providing service control.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one said service resource item (49) is downloadable service logic in which case step (d)(ii) involves:

causing said server (51) to download said service logic to the service control subsystem(42), and causing said service control subsystem (42) to execute the downloaded service logic in providing service control.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one said service resource item (49) is a logging resource in which case step (d) involves:

causing the service control subsystem to direct a log message to said logging resource, and causing said logging resource to log at least the occurence of said log message.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said service resource items (49) are locatable over the computer network (50) using corresponding Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs);

substep (d)(i) involving translating a said predetermined code (54) included in a service request into the URI of the required service resource item (49).

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said URIs identify the server (51) holding a service resource item by means of a domain name, the computer network including a DNS-type distributed database system holding domain-name records each continuing for a corresponding said domain name, the address of the server (51) currently associated with that name;

substep (d)(i) involving taking the domain name part of the URI of the required service item, and looking up (120) the address of the appropriate server (51) in the DNS-type distributed database system.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the translation of said predetermined code (54) 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 (48) 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 (50).

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the translation of said predetemined code (54) 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 domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, at least a substantial portion of said predetermined code (54) being parsed (120) into at least a part of a corresponding said domain name and this domain name when complete being used to retrieve (121) the URI of the required service resource item (49) from said database system.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein at least two said service resource items (49) are located at the same URI, the said predetermined codes of these service resource items (49) including respective relative-resource-identifier 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.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one server (51) forms part of a Domain Name System (DNS) type distributed database system and said service resource items (49) are held in records associated with respective domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, step (d)(i) including the substep of parsing at least a substantial portion of a said predetermined code (54) included in a service request into at least a part of the domain name of the required service resource item (49).

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said telecommunications system is a telephone system, each said predetermined code (54) 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.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said telecommunications system fiber includes a service switching point (41), said method involving causing said service switching point to generate a said service request upon predetermined trigger criteria being met for a communication being handled thereby.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein an interface (80) is provided for interfacing said computer network (50) with said telecommunications system to enable a bearer channel to be established from a user terminal (53) connected to the computer network (50) through said interface (80) into said telecommunication system, said method involving causing said interface to generate a said service request upon predetermined trigger criteria being met for a communication being handled by the interface.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein a gateway (90) is provided with an interface to said computer network (50), said gateway being operative to set up a third-party bearer channel through said telecommunications system in response to a setup request received via said interface from a user ternal (53) connected to the computer network, said method involving causing said gateway (90) to generate a said service request upon predetermined trigger criteria being met for a communication being handled by the gateway.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer network (50) is the Internet.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein said telecommunication network is a Public Switched telephome Network (PSTN).

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein said telecommunication system is a private system including a Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) with which said service control subsystem is associated, and wherein said computer network (50) is a Local Area Network (LAN).

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) are Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and/or Uniform Resource Names (URNs), and said server (51) is an Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server.

20. A method according to claim 1, including the further step of updating a said service resource item (49) by accessing the said server (51) holding that item across said computer network (50) from a user terminal (53) in communication with said computer network.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the network is logically distinct from the telecommunications network and is generally accessible to users of the latter by paths independent of the service control subsystem.

22. A method of providing services for a telephone system that comprises at least one service switching point (41) and a service control subsystem (42) for providing service control to said service switching point, said method including the steps of:

(a) provisioning at least one server (51) connected to the Internet (50) with a plurality of service resources (49) that are thereafter locatable on the Internet by respective known URIs, the Internet being generally accessible to users of the telephone system but logically distinct from the latter, said service resources (49) each being associated with a respective predetermined code (54);

(b) providing a mapping between each said predetermined code (54) and the said known URI of the service resource (49) associated with that predetermined code; and

(c) upon the service control subsystem (42) receiving a said service request including of a said predetermined code, causing said service control subsystem to use said mapping to access the corresponding said service resource (49) over the Internet;

said predetermined code (54) being capable of input through a standard twelve-key telephone keypad.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the Internet is logically distinct from the telecommunications network and is generally accessible to users of the latter by paths independent of the service control subsystem.

24. A method of providing services for a private telephone system that comprises a Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) and a service control subsystem (42) for providing service control to said PABX, said method including the steps of:

(a) provisioning at least one server (51) connected to a local or campus computer network (50) with a plurality of senrice resources (49) that are thereafter locatable on the computer network (50) by respective known Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs), said computer network being generally accessible to uses of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from the latter, and said service resources (49) each being associated with a respective predetermined code (54);

(b) providing a mapping between each said predetermined code (54) and its corresponding said known Uniform Resource Identifier (URI); and

(c) upon the service control subsystem (42) receing a said service request including of a said predetermined code, causing said service control subsystem (42) to use said mapping to access the corresponding said service resource (49) over said computer network (50);

said predetermined code (54) being capable of input through a standard twelve-key telephone keypad.

25. A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system that includes a service control subsystem for providing service control upon receipt of a service request, the service control subsystem having an interface to a computer network that is generally accessible to users of the telecommunications system but, is logically distinct from the latter, the computer network having connected to it a server that holds service resource items placed there directly or indirectly by said users and each having a respective associated predetermined code and relating to the provision, to an associated said user, of a particular service by the telecommunications system;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving at the service control subsystem a service request indicative of a said predetermined code;

(b) deriving from the received service request the predetermined code of which it is indicative;

(c) using the predetermined code derived in step (b) to access the corresponding service resource item over the computer network; and

(d) utilizing the accessed service resource item in providing service control by the service control subsystem in response to the service request received thereby in step (a).

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the switched telecommunications system is a public telephone network.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the computer network is the internet.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said service resource items are locatable over the Internet using corresponding URIs, and the server is an HTTP server.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein at least one said service resource item is service logic in which case step (d) involves executing said service logic at the server, returning a response to the service control subsystem, and causing the service control subsystem to use said response in providing service control.

30. A method according to claim 27, wherein at least one said service resource item is downloadable service data in which case step (d) involves downloading said service data from the server to the service control subsystem, and using the downloaded service data in providing service control.

31. A method according to claim 27, wherein at least one said service resource item is downloadable service logic in which case step (d) involves downloading said service logic from the server to the service control subsystem, and executing the downloaded service logic at the service control subsystem in providing service control.

32. A method according to claim 27, wherein said service resource items are locatable over the computer network using corresponding URIs, step (c) involving translating a said predetermined code derived from a service request into the URI of the required service resource item.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said URIs identify the server holding a service resource item by means of a domain name, the computer network including a DNS-type distributed database system holding domain-name records each containing for a corresponding said domain name, the address of the server currently associated with that name;

step (c) involving taking the domain name part of the URI of the required service item, and looking up the address of the appropriate server in the DNS-type distributed database system.

34. A method according to claim 32, wherein the translation of said predetermined code into the URI of the associated service resource item 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.

35. A method according to claim 32, wherein at least two said service resource items are located at the same URI, the said predetermined codes of these service resource items 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.

36. A method according to claim 27, wherein said at least one server forms part of a DNS-type distributed database system and said service resource items are held in records associated with respective domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, step (c) including the sub-step of parsing at least a substantial portion of said predetermined code included in a service request into at least a part of the domain name of the required service resource item.

37. A method according to claim 27, wherein each 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.

38. A method according to claim 25, wherein the computer network is logically distinct from the telecommunications network and is generally accessible to users of the latter by paths independent of the service control subsystem.

39. A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system, wherein a service control subsystem of the telecommunications system, in response to receipt of service requests, accesses service resource items indicated in the corresponding requests across a computer network, the accessed resource items being used by the service control subsystem in providing service control in response to the corresponding service requests, the computer network being logically distinct from the telecommunications system and being accessible to at least a significant number of the users of the telecommunications system.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the switched telecommunications system is a public telephone network.

42. A method according to claim 40, wherein said service resource items are held on at least one HTTP server and are locatable over the Internet using corresponding URIs, the URIs being derived from predetermined codes included in the service request.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the switched telecommunications system is a public telephone network.

44. A method according to claim 42, wherein the said URI of a service resource item is derived from the corresponding said predetermined code 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.

45. A method according to claim 42, wherein said at least one server forms part of a DNS-type distributed database system, the said service resource items being held in records associated with respective domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, at least a part of the domain name of the required service resource item being derived by the service control subsystem by parsing at least a substantial portion of a said predetermined code indicated by a said service request.