IP/telephony user interface for a hybrid communication system

• US 6,704,303 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• 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): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boakye, Alexander O.
• Application Number:
  US09/324,456
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/389, 370/392, 370/390, 370/236, 370/401, 370/522, 370/468, 370/463, 370/493, 370/354, 370/355, 370/395.52, 370/400, 370/252, 370/254, 370/466, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/226
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• 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 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• 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 2215/7414 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 3/08 Indicating faults in circuits or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• 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 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• 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 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

Integrating IP telephony and a computer user interface across a hybrid communication network may include the following. Data is transmitted over a hybrid communication system during a data session. Telephonic communication is allowed over the hybrid communication system during the data session. The telephonic communication is routed over the hybrid communication system via a user action. The telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system is limited based on a user profile. The user profile is enforced by rules in an active database that provides seamless cross-location registration without a need for duplicate databases located on different networks. Customized fault management tools may be provided.

Claims

1. A method for integrating IP telephony and a computer user interface across a hybrid communication network, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting data over a hybrid communication system during a data session;

b) allowing telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system during the data session;

c) routing the telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system via a user action;

d) limiting the telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system based on a user profile, wherein the user profile is enforced by rules in an active database, wherein the active database provides seamless cross-location registration without a need for duplicate databases located on different networks; and

e) providing user customized fault management tools.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data session is initiated by a web browser.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user action is a selection of a button on a user interface by a user.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a directory of information.

5. A method as recited claim 4, wherein the directory includes telephone numbers.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a directory of information.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the directory includes telephone numbers.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising multimedia equipment that is used to receive telephony audio from the network and to transmit telephony data to the network.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the multimedia equipment includes at least one of:

a speaker and a microphone.

10. A system for integrating IP telephony and a computer user interface across a hybrid communication network, comprising:

a) a processor that transmits data over a hybrid communication system during a data session;

b) logic that allows telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system during the data session;

c) logic that routes the telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system via a user action;

d) a processor that limits the telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system based on a user profile, wherein the user profile is enforced by rules in an active database, wherein the active database provides seamless cross-location registration without a need for duplicate databases located on different networks; and

e) providing user customized fault management tools.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a web browser that initiates the data session.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the user action is a selection of a button on a user interface by a user.

13. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for integrating IP telephony and a computer user interface across a hybrid communication network, comprising:

a) a code segment that transmits data over a hybrid communication system during a data session;

b) a code segment that allows telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system during the data session;

c) a code segment that routes the telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system via a user action;

d) a code segment that limits the telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system based on a user profile, wherein the user profile is enforced by rules in an active database, wherein the active database provides seamless cross-location registration without a need for duplicate databases located on different networks; and

e) providing user customized fault management tools.

14. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the data session is initiated by a web browser.

15. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the user action is a selection of a button on a user interface by a user.

16. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the user interface includes a directory of information.

17. A computer program as recited in claim 16, wherein the directory includes telephone numbers.