Inter-carrier signaling and usage accounting architecture for internet telephony

• US 6,292,481 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1997
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Robert D., Voit, Eric A., Young, David E., Gadre, Jayant G., Goodman, William D., Balkovich, Edward E., White, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US08/931,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/400, 370/401, 370/402, 370/462, 370/463
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1414 in real-time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1464 using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6456 Channel and bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1255 : where the switching fabric and the switching logic are decomposed such as in Media Gateway Control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1285 : Details of finding and selecting a gateway for a particular call

Abstract

A communication system providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks, such as a telephone network and the Internet, which are connectable to terminals, such as telephones and computers, for selective communication therebetween. The communication system provides an architecture and methodology for handling resource allocation across carriers or service providers, settlements between carriers and service providers, usage accounting across carriers and service providers, and usage allocation among carriers or service providers. A first provider of packet switched services controls a directory of addresses of gateways between the packet switched and data switched networks, and an authentication database of account data. A second provider of packet switched services controls a multiplicity of the gateways and a database of addresses of authentication databases.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a communication path between terminals through a packet switched network, a circuit switched network, and at least one interface that interconnects the packet switched network and the circuit switched network, comprising the steps of:

a) requesting from one of said terminals the establishment of said communication path through said interface;

b) searching a first database for the address of a second database containing a table of terminal data which includes identification of said requesting terminal;

c) searching said second database to obtain data regarding said requesting terminal;

d) responsive to data regarding said requesting terminal obtained from said search authorizing the establishment of said communication path; and

e) responsive to said authorization establishing said communication path between terminals through said interface.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the request from said requesting terminal identifies a terminal with which said requesting terminal desires to communicate.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said second database contains a price parameter for establishment of the requested communication with said terminal with which said requesting terminal desires to communicate.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein said request from said one of said terminals is directed to said interface.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said search of said second database is responsive to an inquiry from said interface.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said authorization is transmitted to said interface.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said authorization includes an authorization limit.

14. A method according to claim 1 including the steps of (i) disconnecting said communication path, and (ii) compiling usage and charge data for the communication between said terminals over said communication path, said compiling step implemented by an authentication, usage and account object.

15. A method according to claim 14 further including the step of transmitting usage or charge data to said second database by the authentication, usage and account object.

16. A method according to claim 15 further including the step of transmitting usage or charge data to said requesting terminal by the authentication, usage and account object.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein said packet switched network is connected to said circuit switched network via multiple interfaces controlled by said first service provider.

20. A method according to claim 19 including the step of said first service provider compiling a substantially real time record of the cumulative usage of said multiple interfaces by said second service provider.

21. A method according to claim 20 including the step of limiting the cumulative usage of said interfaces by said second service provider to a predetermined maximum on a substantially real time basis.

22. A method according to claim 19 including the step of said first service provider compiling a substantially real time record of the usage of one of said interfaces by said second service provider.

23. A method according to claim 22 including the step of limiting the total usage of said one interface by said second service provider to a predetermined maximum on a substantially real time basis.

24. A method according to claim 23 including the step of offering to said second service provider an additional communication path through another of said multiple interfaces when said usage of said one interface reaches said predetermined maximum.

25. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of searching a first database includes the step of interrogating a directory object to obtain the address of an object to which said request should be directed.

26. A method according to claim 25 including the step of determining the account status of said requesting terminal prior to providing said address to which said request should be directed.

27. A method according to claim 19 wherein said request includes a request that the communication path provide a specified minimum quality of service parameter.

28. A method according to claim 27 including the step of communicating between at least one of said databases and said interfaces to locate an interface from which a communication path having said minimum quality of service parameter may be supplied.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein said communication between said at least one of said databases and said interface is between said first database and said interfaces.

7. A method according to 6 wherein said first database and said interface are controlled by a first service provider and said second database is controlled by a second service provider.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said first and second service providers provide packet switched communication services in said packet switched network.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said circuit switched network comprises a telephone network.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said packet switched network comprises the Internet.

11. A method according to claim 10 said first database includes a table of service providers which includes data regarding said second service provider.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said second database includes account data relating to customers of said second service provider.

17. A method according to claim 7 including the step of said first service provider compiling a substantially real time record of the usage of said interface by said second service provider.

18. A method according to claim 17 including the step of limiting the total usage of said interface by said second service provider to a predetermined maximum on a substantially real time basis.

30. A communication system for providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks connectable to terminals for selective communication between said terminals, comprising:

a plurality of interface objects for providing selectable controlled connectivity between said circuit switched and packet switched networks;

a first database object interfaced with said packet switched networks and with said plurality of interface objects;

wherein

in response to receipt at one interface object, of a request from a terminal for communication through said packet switched networks, said one interface object obtains from said first database object an address of a second database object for obtaining authorization of the requested communication.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein said communication through said interface is established following receipt of said authorization.

32. A system according to claim 30 wherein said first database object stores a list of database addresses and said second database object stores terminal account information.

33. A system according to claim 32 wherein said first database object and said interface objects are controlled by a first service provider and said second database object is controlled by a second service provider.

34. A communication system providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks connectable to terminals for selective communication between said terminals, a directory object interfaced with said packet switched network and with a plurality of gateway objects, which gateway objects provide selectable controlled connectivity between said circuit switched and packet switched networks, wherein said directory object has associated therewith a storage of paths in said packet switched network having varying parameters and the address of one or more gateway objects through which said paths may be accessed, and wherein said directory object has associated therewith addresses of authentication objects, wherein responsive to a request from a calling terminal for information for establishment of a communication path through said packet switched network to an identified called terminal and responsive to an authorization signal received from one of said authentication objects, a response to said request is transmitted based on said authentication signal and based at least in part on information obtained from said storage which includes the address of a gateway object through which the requested communication path may be established.

35. A communication system providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks connectable to terminals for selective communication between said terminals, a directory object interfaced with said packet switched network and with a plurality of gateway objects, which gateway objects provide selectable controlled connectivity between said circuit switched and packet switched networks, a first authentication object having a storage of terminal account information associated therewith, said directory object having associated therewith a table of addresses of authentication objects containing the address of said first authentication object.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein, upon one of said gateway objects receiving a request for the establishment of a communication path therethrough, said gateway object communicates with said directory object and obtains said address of said authentication object and communicates with said authentication object to receive authorization to establish the requested communication path therethrough.

37. A system according to claim 36 wherein said gateway objects and said directory objects are controlled by a first service provider and said authentication object is controlled by a second service provider.

38. A communication system providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks connectable to terminals for selective communication between said terminals, a directory object interfaced with said packet switched network and with a plurality of gateway objects, which gateway objects provide selectable controlled connectivity between said circuit switched and packet switched networks, a first authentication object having a storage of terminal account information associated therewith, said directory object having associated therewith a table of addresses of authentication objects containing the address of said first authentication object.

39. A communication system providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks connectable to terminals for selective communication between said terminals, said packet switched network being interfaced with said circuit switched network via a plurality of gateway objects, a first directory object interfaced with said packet switched network and with said plurality of gateway objects, which gateway objects provide selectable controlled connectivity between said circuit switched and packet switched networks, a second directory object storing in association therewith addresses of said gateway objects, a first authentication object having a storage of terminal account information associated therewith, said first directory object having associated therewith a storage of addresses of multiple authentication objects, said storage containing the address of said first authentication object.

40. A system according to claim 39 wherein said second directory object supplies to a communication requesting terminal an address of a gateway object, and wherein said gateway whose address was supplied, upon being queried by said communication requesting terminal communicates with said first directory object and obtains the address of an authentication object having associated therewith data regarding said requesting terminal, and requests authorization to proceed with providing the requested communication.

41. A communication system providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks, such as a telephone network and the Internet, which are connectable to terminals, such as telephones and computers, for selective communication between said terminals, comprising;

a) a directory of addresses of gateways that are interfaced between the packet switched and circuit switched networks for selective communication through said networks via said gateways, said directory controlled by a first provider of communication services;

b) an authentication database of account data controlled by said first provider of communication services;

c) a plurality of said gateways controlled by a second provider of communication services;

d) a database of authentication database addresses controlled by said second provider of communication services, wherein, upon a terminal requesting connection to a gateway to establish a communication path between said terminal and a designated destination terminal, the address of one of said gateways controlled by said second provider of communications services is retrieved from said directory database of addresses and supplied to the requesting terminal and used by said terminal to communicate with said gateway and request establishment of said communication path, whereupon said gateway queries said authentication address database and obtains the address of the authentication database wherein the account data of the requesting terminal is stored and obtains authentication of the requester, and authorization to complete the communication path, and second communications service provider establishes the communication path, completes the communication, and compiles a service statement to said first provider of communications services.

42. A system according to claim 41 wherein said service statement includes a statement of usage and a statement of charges to said first provider of communications services.

43. A system according to claim 41 wherein said compiling of said service statement is substantially in real time.

44. A method of establishing a communication path between terminals through a packet switched network and a circuit switched network which are interconnected by at least one interface, comprising the steps of:

a) requesting from one of said terminals the establishment of said communication path through said interface to an identified terminal;

b) searching a first database for the address of a second database containing a table of terminal data which includes identification of said requesting terminal;

c) transmitting to said second database a price parameter for establishment of the requested communication;

d) searching said second database to obtain data regarding said requesting terminal;

e) responsive at least in part to data regarding said requesting terminal obtained from said search authorizing the establishment of said communication path;

f) responsive to said authorization establishing said communication path between terminals through said interface; and

g) transmitting usage or charge data based at least in part on said price parameter to said requesting terminal.

45. A method according to claim 44 wherein said usage or charge data includes an algorithm for computing charges for said requested communication.

46. A method according to claim 45 including the step of said requesting terminal running said algorithm and providing a real time presentation of charges for said requested communication.

47. A method according to claim 46 including the step of said requesting terminal running said algorithm providing a signal indicating the imminence of said charges reaching a predetermined limit.