Telecommunications system and method providing generic network access service

• US 6,430,276 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: OʼConnell, John, Bouvier, Jean-René
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/420,872
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/91.01, 379/92.04, 379/93.01, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 379/93.05, 379/93.17, 379/93.31, 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/121, 379/127, 379/207, 379/219, 379/220, 379/230, 379/201.02, 379/221.02, 370/351, 370/355, 370/352, 370/401, 370/402, 370/422
• US Class Current: 379/121.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 : Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

A generic access service is provided in a telephone system to enable users to get dialup access to different network access services. User profile data showing which network access services a user subscribes to is held on a database accessible to the service control subsystem of the telephone system. Upon detection of a particular phone number assigned to the generic access service an authentication procedure is initiated in the service control subsystem to identify the user. Once identified, the service control subsystem uses the user profile data to determine what access services are available to that user. Thereafter, a particular access service is selected and the number of a corresponding network access server derived.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications system comprising a bearer network with at least one switch operative to detect when a service is to be provided to a call routed to it, and a service control subsystem for controlling service provision to the call, a method of accessing different network access services through the telecommunications system, said method involving executing a generic access service under the control of the service control subsystem to route a call placed by a user, to a network access server selected to provide a desired network access service to the user, the generic access service utilising stored user profile data indicative, for a given user, of the network access services available to that user;

the generic access service involving the steps of;

(a)—

initiating a user-identification procedure for identifying the calling user;

(b) accessing the stored user profile data corresponding to the identified user to determine the network access services available to that user,

(c) if more than one service is available to the user, selecting a particular network access service from those available to that user;

(d) using information held in the user profile data about the selected network access service, to derive the number of a network access server for providing the selected network access service; and

(e) directing the call to this number.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said user-identification procedure involves user authentication through means of a user-held token or password.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user profile data is held in a database forming part of the service control subsystem.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said database is remotely updateable by users using the HTTP protocol.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user profile data is held on a server accessible over the Internet from the service control subsystem.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user-authentication procedure of step (a) is the sole authentication measure involving the active participation of the user needed for access by the user to the network access services available to that user through the generic access service.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein following selection of a particular network access service in step (c), an authentication exchange is effected over a signalling/data network between the service control subsystem and the provider of that access service using data held by the service control subsystem, step (e) only being effected if this authentication exchange is completed to the satisfaction of the service provider.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein following selection of a particular network access service in step (c), an authentication exchange is effected over a signalling/data network between the service control subsystem and a third-party access service using data held by the service control subsystem, step (e) only being effected if this authentication exchange is completed to the satisfaction of the service provider.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein upon the call being directed to a particular network access service, user identification information and an indication that the call has been subject to the generic access service, are also passed to the network access server over a signalling network.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) involves user interaction.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) involves application of at least one selection rule stored in association with the user profile data of the user concerned.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said at least one rule is applicable to multiple users and is stored separately from the individual user profiles though associated therewith.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) is effected by lookup in the user profile data of the number of the network access server corresponding to the selected network access service.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) is effected in dependence on the availability status of network access servers capable of providing the selected network access service, this status being transmitted to the service control subsystem by the provider of the selected access service.

15. A method according to claim 1, further involving generating for each successful call through the generic access service to a network access server, call data indicative at least of the identity of the user, the network access service used, and the duration of such usage.

16. A method according to claim 15, further involving providing the call data to a third party over a data network.

17. A method according to claim 15, further involving generating a billing record for the call according to tariff information for the selected network access service.

18. A method of providing dialup network access services to users of a telephone system, in which the operator of the telephone system implements the method of claim 17 and periodically bills said users for use of the telephone system and for the network access services accessed through the generic access service, the operator billing the network access services for the providers of those services.

19. A method of providing dialup network access services to users of multiple telephone systems in which each said telephone system implements the method of claim 16 and said user profile data is stored on a server, under the responsibility of said third party, for access over a data network from the service control subsystems of the telephone systems, said third party billing users for the network access services accessed through said generic access service.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications s is a PSTN and said at least one switch is a Service Switching Point operative to detect calls made with a specific user-input number corresponding to the generic access service and to cause the service control subsystem to initiate the execution of that service for each such call.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications system is a PLMN and said at least one switch is a Mobile Switching Center operative to detect calls made with a specific user-input number corresponding to the generic access service and to cause the service control subsystem to initiate the execution of that service for each such call.

28. A method according to claim 1, wherein the number of the network access server is a phone number which, by dialing such phone number from a computer, the user will be connected to the Internet.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein the number of the network access server is a phone number which, by dialing such phone number from a computer, the user will be connected to an Intranet.

22. A telecommunications system comprising a bearer network with at least one switch operative to detect when a service is to be provided to a call routed to it, and a service control subsystem for controlling service provision to the call, said system being connected to at least one Intranet/extranet/intranet through network access servers whereby different network access services can be made available to a user of the telecommunications system, the service control subsystem including means for executing a generic network access service in respect of a call, these means comprising:

means for initiating a user-identification procedure for identifying the calling user;

means for accessing a database holding user profile data indicative, for the identified user, of the network access services available to that user,

means for selecting a particular access service from those available to the identified user;

means using information held in the user profile data about the selected access service, to derive the number of a network access server for providing the selected access service; and

means for directing said switch to route the call to this number.

23. A method of providing a user with access to network access services, the method comprising:

connecting the user to an entry point, wherein the user dials a globally unique phone number to initiate a user identification procedure for identifying the calling user, the entry point being associated with the globally unique phone number;

accessing stored user profile data corresponding to the identified user to determine the network access services available to that user;

selecting a particular network access service from those available to that user;

using information held in the user profile data about the selected network access service, to derive the number of a network access server for providing the selected network access service; and

directing the call to this number.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the user can select a plurality of internet and intranet network service providers by dialing the globally unique phone number.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the user dials the globally unique phone number from a computer.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the user can have access to the network access services provided by a plurality of network service providers without having to separately subscribe to these network service providers.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the user has access to a plurality of internet service providers without having to separately subscribe to these internet service providers.

30. A method of providing a user with access to a data network through a telephone network in response to the user dialing a specific telephone number associated with a generic access service, executing in the telephone network service logic to route a call placed by a user to a network access server through which the user can access the data network using a network access service, wherein a service logic carries out the steps of:

initiating a user identification procedure for identifying the user;

accessing stored user profile data corresponding to the identified user to determine the network access service from different network access services available to the user;

using information held in the user profile data about the network access service to derive a number of the network access server; and

directing the call to the number.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the user identification procedure involves user authentication through a user-held token or password.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the user identification procedure is the sole authentication measure involving active participation of the user needed for access by the user to the network access services available to the user through the generic access service.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein following determination of the network access service, an authentication exchange is effected over a signalling data network with a service provider of the network access service, the call only being directed to the network access server if the authentication exchange is completed to the satisfaction of the service provider.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein upon the call being directed to a particular network access service, user identification information and an indication that the call has been subject to the generic access service are also passed to the network access server over a signalling network.

35. A method according to claim 30, wherein determination of the network access service involves user interaction.

36. A method according to claim 30, wherein determination of the network access service involves application of at least one selection rule stored in association with the user profile data of the user.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the selection rule is applicable to multiple users and is stored separately from the user profile data.

38. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of

for each successful call through the generic access service to the network access server, generating call data indicative at least of the identity of the user, the network access service used, and the duration of such usage.

39. A method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of

providing the call data to a third party over a data network.

40. A method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of

generating a billing record for the call according to tariff information for the selected network access service.

41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising the step of

periodically billing the user for use of the telephone network and for the network access services accessed through the generic access service, wherein an operator bills the network access services.

42. A method according to claim 39, further comprising the step of

storing the user profile data on a server supervised by the third party, for access over a data network from service control subsystems;

and

billing the user by the third party.

43. In a communications system including a bearer network having at least one switch for the transport of telephone calls bearing data and operative to detect when a service is to be provided to a call routed to it initiated by a user and a service control subsystem for controlling service provision to the call for the user, a method of accessing different network data servers so as to connect the user to a selected one of a plurality of different data network access providers for accessing different data networks, each different data network access provider being associated with a different telephone number, the method comprising:

(a) initiating a user-identification procedure for identifying the calling user;

(b) accessing the stored user profile data corresponding to the identified user to determine the network access servers available to that user;

(c) if more than one server is available to the user, selecting a particular network access server from those available to that user;

(d) using information held in the user profile data about the selected network access server, to determine the telephone number of the network access server; and

(e) directing the call to the telephone number determined in step (d).