Rules database server in a hybrid communication system architecture

• US 6,542,593 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bowman-Amuah, Michel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/324,365
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/357, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/229-235, 370/236.1, 370/252, 370/395.21, 370/395.42, 370/468, 379/201-1-2, 379/114-1-1, 379/90.01, 379/202.01, 379/219, 379/220-1-2
• US Class Current: 379/201.03
• 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 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/124 using a combination of metrics
• 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 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/52 for operator independent billing system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 : based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 : Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 : involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 : using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 : Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• 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 2215/0184 : involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 : Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 : Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 : Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7268 : per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 : QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 : Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 : where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 : Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

According to a broad aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention, telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet utilizing telephony routing information and internet protocol address information. The hybrid network includes an rules database which determines subscriber profile information. The information includes routing references based on priority, cost and termination location. In addition, content separation is provided, including instructing an intelligent peripheral and protocol converter to separate the audio stream from the data and video stream.

Claims

1. A method for providing a rules database server in an integrated packet based and circuit-switched based network comprising the steps of:

a) receiving subscriber information related to a subscriber, the information including a service level agreement, wherein the service level agreement is a service-related document stipulating a network performance level;

b) storing the subscriber information;

c) allowing access to the subscriber information by remote session controller for changing the service level agreement; and

d) managing the network based on predicted future behavior of the network, wherein the predicted future behavior is derived from analyzing data patterns and correlations across more than one dimension and wherein the analysis is accomplished via data modeling.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rules database determines routing preferences based on priority, cost, and termination location.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rules database determines media and application requirements including voice telephone to video telephone, multi-point, text-to-speech, and fax-to-email.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the rules database determines content separation including informing an intelligent peripheral and protocol converter to separate an audio stream from other data and video.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the service level agreement includes session requirements including bandwidth requirements, quality of service requirements, and class of service requirements.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the intelligent peripheral provides speech recognition.

7. A system for providing a rules data based server in an integrated packet based and circuit-switched network, comprising:

a) a database for receiving subscriber information related to a subscriber, the information including a service level agreement, wherein the service level agreement is a service-related document stipulating a network performance level;

b) a database for storing the subscriber information;

c) a processor for allowing access to the subscriber information by a remote session controller for changing the service level agreement; and

d) means for managing the network based on predicted future behavior of the network, wherein the predicted future behavior is derived from analyzing data patterns and correlations across more than one dimension and wherein the analysis is accomplished via data modeling.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the rules database determines routing preferences based on priority, cost, and termination location.

9. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the rules database determines media and application requirements including voice telephone to video telephone, multi-point, text-to-speech, and fax-to-email.

10. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the rules database determines content separation including informing an intelligent peripheral and protocol converter to separate an audio stream from other data and video.

11. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the service level agreement includes session requirements including bandwidth requirements, quality of service requirements, and class of service requirements.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the intelligent peripheral provides speech recognition.

13. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing a rules database server in an integrated packet based and circuit switched base network, comprising:

a) logic that receives subscriber information related to a subscriber, the information including a service level agreement, wherein the service level agreement is a service-related document stipulating a network performance level;

b) logic that stores the subscriber;

c) logic that allows access to the subscriber information by a remote session controller for changing the service level agreement; and

d) logic that allows the network to be managed based on predicted behavior of the network, wherein the predicted future behavior is derived from analyzing data patterns and correlations across more than one dimension and wherein the analysis is accomplished via data modeling.

14. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the rules database includes logic that determines routing preferences based on priority, cost, and termination location.

15. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the rules database includes logic that determines media and application requirements including voice telephone to video telephone, multi-point, text-to-speech, and fax-to-email.

16. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the rules database includes logic that determines content separation including informing an intelligent peripheral and protocol converter to separate an audio stream from other data and video.

17. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the service level agreement includes session requirements including bandwidth requirements, quality of service requirements, and class of service requirements.

18. A computer program as recited in claim 16, wherein the intelligent peripheral provides speech recognition.