Method and apparatus for providing information between a calling network and a called network

• US 6,418,210 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sayko, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/450,304
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88-9-, 379/93.23, 379/142.01, 379/142.06, 379/142.15, 379/127.01, 379/207-14-, 379/245, 455/415
• US Class Current: 379/142.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• 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 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1327 Release and resetting of connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A gateway interface device that can be provided with a buffer for temporarily storing a calling party'"'"'s information which can be sent with the initial signaling message of a calling party on an IP network to establish a communication with a called party on a PSTN network. Subsequent to the receipt of the initial signaling message, and based on the calling party'"'"'s stored information, the gateway interface can intercept a request for calling party information from the called party or a called party'"'"'s end office. Once the request for calling party information is received by the gateway interface, the gateway interface can then generate a reply based on the calling party information stored in the buffer. Otherwise, the calling party information stored in the buffer can be removed from the buffer after a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A method of providing call information about a calling terminal to a called terminal, comprising:

monitoring a connection between a first network and a second network;

receiving a request to establish communications from the calling terminal of the first network to the called terminal of the second network;

temporarily storing the call information of the calling terminal of the first network, the call information being included in the request to establish the communication;

establishing communications between the called terminal of the second network and the calling terminal of the first network; and

replying to a request from the called terminal of the second network for the call information of the calling terminal of the first network based on the stored call information of the calling terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of establishing communications between the first network and the second network includes translating the communications between the first and second networks via a gateway interface.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the call information is temporarily stored in a memory of the gateway interface.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the call information is removed from the memory when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

deleting the call information of the calling terminal of the first network after replying to the request or after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call information of the calling terminal includes at least a calling name.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the call information of the calling terminal further includes at least one of a telephone number, terminal identifier, or IP address.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network is an Internet protocol network and the second network is a public switched network.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network uses a communication protocol that is different from a communication protocol of the second network.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call information is gathered from the request for communication between the first network to the second network.

11. An apparatus that provides caller information to a called terminal, comprising:

a memory that stores call information; and

a gateway controller connected with a first network, a second network and said memory, said controller (1) monitoring a connection between the first network and the second network, (2) receiving a request to establish a communication from a calling terminal of the first network to the called terminal of the second network, stores call information of the calling terminal of the first network in said memory, the call information being included in the request to establish the communication, (3) establishing the communication between the called terminal of the second network and the calling terminal of the first network, and (4) replying to a request from the second terminal of the second network for the call information of the calling terminal of the first network based on the stored call information of the calling terminal.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the gateway controller translates the communications between the first and second networks.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the gateway controller deletes the call information of the calling terminal of the first network after replying to the request for the call information of the calling terminal of the first network, or after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the call information of the calling terminal includes at least a calling name.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the call information of the calling terminal further includes at least one of a telephone number, terminal identifier, or IP address.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first network is an Internet protocol network and the second network is a public switched network.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first network uses a communication protocol that is different from a communication protocol of the second network.