Multimedia channel management through PSTN signaling

• US 6,430,176 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1998
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Christie, IV, Samuel Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOGSDON, JOSEPH B
• Application Number:
  US09/187,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 370/261, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/389, 379/93.01, 379/93.09, 379/93.11, 379/93.14, 379/93.15, 379/202, 379/231, 379/234, 379/900, 379/901, 379/908
• US Class Current: 370/355
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0021 Details of Application Programming Interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/124 where PSTN/ISDN interconnects two networks other than PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1265 where the session control protocols comprise H.323 and SS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/901 Virtual networks or virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

A method and apparatus establishes through the public switch telephone network, a multimedia communications session between first and second telecommunications infrastructure. Each infrastructure is located on a separate private data network and comprises logic to automatically establish an integrated voice and data session initiated by a single telephone call from one infrastructure to the other.

Claims

1. A method of establishing, through a PSTN, a multimedia communications session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures, each of said infrastructures located on separate private data networks comprising a means to automatically establish an integrated voice and data session initiated by a single telephone call using the PSTN, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating the telephone call from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure; and

(b) in response to initiating the telephone call;

i. retrieving a first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastucture;

ii. building a first message containing said first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure;

iii. sending said first message from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN;

iv. retrieving a second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

v. building a second message containing said second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

vi. sending said second message from said second telecommunications infrastructure to said first telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN; and

vii. establishing said multimedia communications session between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising of the step of sending a ring notification message while said multimedia communication session is being established.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of sending a call proceeding release notification message while said multimedia communications session is being established.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving an initial message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving said first computer address further comprises the step of allowing a telephony server to retrieve said first computer address.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving said first computer address further comprises the step of retrieving said first computer address using a LDAP protocol.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving said first computer address further comprises the step of retrieving said first computer address using an X.500 protocol.

8. A communications system for establishing, through a PSTN, a multimedia communications session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures, each of said infrastructures located on separate private data networks comprising a means to automatically establish an integrated voice and data session initiated by a single telephone call using the PSTN, said system comprising:

(a) a means for initiating the telephone call from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure;

(b) a means for retrieving a first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure in response to initiating the telephone call;

(c) a means for building a first message containing said first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure;

(d) a means for sending said first message from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN;

(e) a means for retrieving a second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

(f) a means for building a second message containing said second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

(g) a means for sending said second message from said second telecommunications infrastructure to said first telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN; and

(h) a means for establishing said multimedia communications session between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures.

9. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said means for initiating a telephone call comprises a telephone.

10. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said means for initiating a telephone call comprises a H.323 terminal device.

11. The communications system of claim 10 wherein said means for retrieving said first or second computer address is a telephony server.

12. The communications system of claim 10 wherein said means for retrieving said first or second computer address is a Gateway.

13. The communications system of claim 10 wherein said means for building a first or second message is a central office.

14. The communications system of claim 10 wherein said means for sending said first and second messages to said first and second telecommunications infrastructures, respectively, is said PSTN.

15. A method of establishing, through a PSTN, a multimedia communications session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures, each of said infrastructures located on separate private data networks comprising a means to automatically establish an integrated voice and data session initiated by a single telephone call using the PSTN, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating the telephone call from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure; and

(b) in response to initiating the telephone call;

i. retrieving a first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure;

ii. building an initial message (INM) containing said first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure;

iii. sending said INM from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN;

iv. retrieving a second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

v. building an address complete message (ACM) containing said second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

vi. sending said ACM from said second telecommunications infrastructure to said first telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN; and

vii. establisbing said multimedia communications session between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising of the step of sending a ring notification message.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of retrieving said first computer address from said INM, and sending said first computer address to said second telecommunications infrastructure.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of retrieving said second computer address from said ACM, and sending said second computer address to said first telecommunications infrastructure.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising of the steps of building an answer message (ANM), and sending said ANM from said second telecommunications infrastructure to said first telecommunications infrastructure.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising of the steps of building a server-notify message (SNM), and requesting a first central office to send said SNM to a telephony server.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of requesting said telephony server to send a computer address message (CAM) to said central office.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of sending a call proceeding message to said first telecommunications infrastructure.

23. A method of establishing, through a PSTN, a multimedia communications session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures, each of said infrastructures located on separate private data networks comprising a means to automatically establish an integrated voice and data session initiated by a single telephone call using the PSTN, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating the telephone call from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure; and

(b) in response to initiating the telephone call;

i. retrieving a first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure;

ii. building an initial message (INM) containing said first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure;

iii. sending said INM from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN;

iv. retrieving a second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

v. building an answer message (ANM) containing said computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

vi. sending said ANM from said second telecommunications infrastructure to said first telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN; and

vii. establishing said multimedia communications session between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of sending a call proceeding message.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising of the step of sending a ring notification message.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising of the steps of building an address complete message (ACM), and sending said ACM from said second telecommunications infrastructure to said first telecommunications infrastructure.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising of the steps of building a server-notify message (SNM), and requesting a first central office to send said SNM to a telephony server.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of requesting said telephony server to send a computer address (CAM) to said central office.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of retrieving said first computer address from said INM, and sending said first computer address to said second telecommunications infrastructure.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of retrieving said second computer address from said ACM, and sending said second computer address to said first telecommunications infrastructure.

31. A computer program product for establishing, through a PSTN, a multimedia communications session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures, each of said infrastructures located on separate private data networks comprising a means to automatically establish an integrated voice and data session initiated by a single telephone call using the PSTN, the computer program product having a medium with a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program comprising:

(a) computer product code for initiating the telephone call from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure;

(b) computer product code for retrieving a first computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure in response to initiating the telephone call;

(c) computer product code for building an initial message (INM) containing said computer address of said first telecommunications infrastructure;

(d) computer product code for sending said INM from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunications infrastructure via the PSTN;

(e) computer product code for retrieving a second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

(f) computer product code for building an answer message (ANM) containing said second computer address of said second telecommunications infrastructure;

(g) computer product code for sending said ANM from said second telecommunications infrastructure to said first telecommunications infrastucture via the PSTN; and

(h) computer product code for establishing between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures said multimedia communications session.

32. The computer product program according to claim 31 wherein the computer product program further comprises computer product code for building an address complete message (ACM), and computer product code for sending said ACM from said second telecommunications infrastructure to said first telecommunications infrastructure.

33. The computer product program according to claim 32 wherein the computer product program further comprises computer product code for building a server notify message (SNM);

and computer product code for requesting a first central office to send said SNM to a telephony server.

34. The computer product program according to claim 33 wherein the computer product program further comprises computer. product code for requesting said telephony server to send a computer address (CAM) to said central office.

35. The computer product program according to claim 34 wherein the computer product program further comprises computer product code for sending a call proceeding message.

36. A method of automatically establishing an integrated voice and data session between first and send telecommunications infrastructures, by initiating a single telephone call through a PSTN, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating the telephone call between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures; and

(b) in response to initiating the telephone call;

i. initiating a data connection between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures via the PSTN;

ii. combining voice and data connect information of said respective first and second telecommunications infrastructures;

iii. sending said combined voice and data connect information between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures via the PSTN; and

iv. establishing between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures said integrated voice and data session.

37. A method of automatically establishing a multimedia communication session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures through a PST, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating a voice session between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures; and

(b) in response to initiating a telephone call;

i. initiating a data communications session between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures via the PSTN;

ii. combining connect information of said voice session and said data session of said respective first and second telecommunications infrastructures;

iii. sending said combined connect information between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures via the PSTN; and

iv. establishing said multimedia communications session between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures.

38. A method of establishing, through a PSTN, a multimedia communications session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures, each of said infrastructures located on separate private data networks comprising a means to automatically establish an integrated voice and data session initiated by a single telephone call using the PSTN, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a first message to initiate the telephone call from said first telecommunications infrastructure to said second telecommunication infrastructure; and

(b) in response to initiating the telephone call;

i. retrieving a first telecommunications computer address;

ii. combining said first telecommunications computer address with said first message to form a second message;

iii. sending said second message through said PSTN to said second telecommunications infrastructure;

iv. generating a third message from said second telecommunications infrastructure in response to said second message;

v. retrieving said second telecommunications infrastructure computer address;

vi. combining said second telecommunications infrastructure computer address with said third message to form a fourth message;

vii. sending said fourth message through said PSTN to said first telecommunications infrastructure; and

viii. establishing said multimedia communications session between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures.

39. A computer program product for establishing an integrated voice and data session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures, the computer program product having a medium with a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program comprising:

(a) computer program code for initiating a telephone call between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures;

(b) computer program code for initiating a data connection between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures via the PSTN in response to initiating the telephone call;

(c) computer program code for combining voice and data connect information of said respective first and second telecommunications infrastructures;

(d) computer program code for sending said combined voice and data connect information between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures via the PSTN; and

(e) computer program code for establishing between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures said integrated voice and data session.

40. Apparatus for establishing an integrated voice and data session between first and second telecommunications infrastructures, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for initiating a telephone call between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures;

(b) means for initiating a data connection between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures via the PSTN in response to initiating the telephone call;

(c) means for combining voice and data connect information of said respective first and second telecommunications infrastructures;

(d) means for sending said combined voice and data connect information between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures via the PSTN; and

(e) means for establishing between said first and second telecommunications infrastructures said integrated voice and data session.