Inbound gateway authorization processing for inter-carrier internet telephony
First Claim
1. A method for communication between calling and called terminals through a hybrid system of switched circuit and packet networks via operations of plural operating entities, comprising the steps of:
- in response to transmission from a calling terminal linked to a circuit switched network of signaling for initiating establishment of said communication, identifying a first database of a first of said operating entities;
accessing said first database to determine whether said first operating entity will authorize said communication;
in response to communication authorization, requesting a second of said operating entities to establish said communication;
in response to said request, accessing a second database of a second of said operating entities to determine whether said second operating entity will authorize said communication;
in response to authorization by said second operating entity, establishing said communication;
recording charges for said communication and allocating the recorded charges between said first and second entities; and
sending a bill for said communication to said initiating terminal.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 implementing initiation of establishment of a communication path between called and called terminals from a telephone terminal. The architecture and methodology facilitates communication 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. Upon a terminal requesting connection to a gateway to establish a communication path between that terminal and a designated destination terminal, there occurs within the circuit switched network and a gateway to the packet network a transfer of an information package which identifies the calling station, the called station, and the identity of the responsible origination carrier or service provider. An authentication database of this carrier is accessed and authorization of the requested communication is secured. The second carrier or service provider is requested to complete the communication path. The second carrier or service provider consults a database of carriers or service providers, determines whether to authorize the communication, and upon arriving at an affirmative conclusion establishes the communication path, completes the communication, and compiles a charge to the first service provider and a statement of usage and presents the same to the first service provider.
120 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method for communication between calling and called terminals through a hybrid system of switched circuit and packet networks via operations of plural operating entities, comprising the steps of:
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in response to transmission from a calling terminal linked to a circuit switched network of signaling for initiating establishment of said communication, identifying a first database of a first of said operating entities;
accessing said first database to determine whether said first operating entity will authorize said communication;
in response to communication authorization, requesting a second of said operating entities to establish said communication;
in response to said request, accessing a second database of a second of said operating entities to determine whether said second operating entity will authorize said communication;
in response to authorization by said second operating entity, establishing said communication;
recording charges for said communication and allocating the recorded charges between said first and second entities; and
sending a bill for said communication to said initiating terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for communicating between calling telephone terminal connected to a circuit switched network interfaced to a packet network and a called terminal interfaced to said packet network via operations of plural operating entities, comprising the steps of:
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a) transmitting from said telephone terminal to said circuit switched network signaling for initiating establishment of said communication;
b) responsive to said signaling identifying a first database containing data of a first of said operating entities;
c) accessing said first database and determining whether said first operating entity will authorize said communication;
d) requesting a second of said operating entities to establish said communication;
e) responsive to said request identifying a second database containing data of a second of said operating entities;
f) accessing said second database and determining if said second operating entity will authorize said communication;
g) establishing said communication;
h) determining charges for said communication and allocation thereof between said first and second entities; and
i) rendering a bill for said communication to said initiating terminal.
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21. A method for communicating between calling and called terminals through a hybrid system of switched circuit and packet networks via operations of plural operating entities, comprising the steps of:
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a) a calling terminal linked to a circuit switched network transmitting to said circuit switched network signaling for initiating establishment of said communication;
b) responsive to said signaling identifying a first database of containing data of a first of said operating entities;
c) accessing said first database and determining whether said first operating entity will authorize said communication;
d) requesting a second of said operating entities to establish said communication;
e) responsive to said request identifying a second database containing data of a second of said operating entities;
f) accessing said second database and determining whether said second operating entity will authorize said communication;
g) establishing said communication; and
h) recording usage of services of said operating entities in said communication. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for communicating between calling telephone terminal connected to a circuit switched network interfaced to a packet network and a called terminal interfaced to said packet network via operations of plural operating entities, comprising the steps of:
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a) transmitting from said telephone terminal to said circuit switched network signaling for initiating establishment of said communication;
b) responsive to said signaling identifying a first database containing data of a first of said operating entities;
c) accessing said first database and determining whether said first operating entity will authorize said communication;
d) requesting a second of said operating entities to establish said communication;
e) responsive to said request identifying a second database containing data of a second of said operating entities;
f) accessing said second database and determining whether said second operating entity will authorize said communication; and
g) establishing said communication. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A communication system for providing selective telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks to a calling telephone terminal connected to said circuit switched network and a called terminal, comprising:
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a plurality of interface objects for providing selectable controlled connectivity between said circuit switched and packet switched networks;
a plurality of database objects interfaced with said packet switched network and with a plurality of said interface objects;
wherein an interface object, in response to a communication request signal from said calling telephone terminal, accesses a first of said database objects to obtain therefrom authorization to process said request and thereafter access a second of said database objects to obtain an address of a terminating interface object, said terminating interface object thereafter accessing a third of said database objects to obtain authorization for communication through said terminating interface object to a designated terminal and establishing a communication path to said designated terminal. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for communicating between a calling telephone terminal connected to a circuit switched network interfaced to a packet network and a called terminal interfaced to said packet network via operations of plural operating entities, comprising the steps of:
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a) transmitting from said telephone terminal to said circuit switched network signaling for initiating establishment of said communication;
b) responsive to said signaling identifying a first database containing data of a first of said operating entities;
c) accessing said first database and determining whether said first operating entity will authorize said communication;
d) requesting a second of said operating entities to establish said communication;
e) accessing a second database and determining whether said second operating entity will authorize said communication; and
f) establishing said communication. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification