Telecommunications resource connection and operation using a service control point

• US 6,768,793 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Shigeru, Miller, Karen Harden, Salisbury, Bruce Fredrick, Norby, Steven Eugene, Setter, James David, Sbisa, Daniel Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US10/158,731
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/70-72, 379/88.16, 379/207.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.14, 379/207.15, 379/210.02, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221-8-2, 379/221.41, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/221.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A Service Control Point (SCP) directs a telecommunications network to connect a resource only when the resource is needed. When the resource is no longer needed, the SCP selects a new connection for the network. The SCP directs the network to disconnect the resource and use the new connection so the resource does not remain on the line during the entire call. The invention can be used to add and drop multiple resources from a call while the call is in progress. The SCP also provides context information for the call so multiple resources can access context information for the call.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a call into a switching system;

processing the call in the switching system to generate a query message;

transmitting the query message from the switching system;

receiving the query message into a service control point (SCP);

processing the query message in the SCP to select first routing information for the call;

generating a first response message in the SCP that includes the first routing information;

assigning an identifier for the call, wherein the identifier indicates which device is storing context information for the call;

transmitting the first response message that includes the identifier;

receiving the first response message in the switching system;

processing the first response message in the switching system and routing the call to a telecommunications resource based on the first routing information;

providing the identifier for the call to the telecommunications resource to enable the telecommunication resource to locate which device is storing the context information for the call;

receiving a transfer message in the SCP from the telecommunications resource after the telecommunications resource has provided a service to the call;

processing the transfer message in the SCP to select second routing information;

generating and transmitting a second response message that includes the second routing information;

receiving the second response message in the switching system;

processing the second response message in the switching system to disconnect the telecommunications resource; and

extending the call in the switching system over a new connection based on the second routing information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the transfer message in the SCP;

processing the identifier to determine if the context information is stored in the SCP or a context server; and

updating the context information stored in the SCP or the context server with information in the transfer message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer message includes an out-dial number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer message includes a billing number.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer message includes caller-entered digits.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer message includes a social security number.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a call detail record in the SCP for billing with information in the transfer message.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the call into the telecommunications resource;

servicing the call in the telecommunications resource;

generating the transfer message after servicing the call; and

transmitting the transfer message from the telecommunications resource to the SCP.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the call into the telecommunications resource;

receiving caller information from a caller of the call in the telecommunications resource;

generating the transfer message that includes the caller information; and

transmitting the transfer message from the telecommunications resource to the SCP.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the call into the telecommunications resource;

receiving the identifier for the call;

processing the identifier to determine which device is storing the context information for the call;

transmitting a context request message to the device storing the context information for the call;

receiving a context answer message in the telecommunication resource from the device;

servicing the call in the telecommunications resource based on the context answer message;

generating the transfer message after servicing the call; and

transmitting the transfer message from the telecommunications resource to the SCP.

11. A communication system, comprising:

a switching system configured to receive a call, process the call to generate a query message, and transmit the query message; and

a service control point (SCP) configured to process the query message to select first routing information for the call, assign an identifier for the call, wherein the identifier indicates which device is storing context information for the call, and generate and transmit a first response message that includes the first routing information and includes the identifier;

the switching system further configured to process the first response message, route the call to a telecommunications resource based on the first routing information, and provide the identifier for the call to the telecommunications resource to enable the telecommunication resource to locate which device is storing the context information for the call;

the service control point (SCP) further configured to receive a transfer message from the telecommunications resource after the telecommunications resource has provided a service to the call, process the transfer message to select second routing information, and generate and transmit a second response message that includes the second routing information; and

the switching system further configured to process the second response message to disconnect the telecommunications resource and to extend the call over a new connection based on the second routing information.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the SCP is further configured to:

receive the transfer message;

process the identifier to determine if the context information is stored in the SCP or a context server; and

process the transfer message to update the context information stored in the SCP or the context server.

13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the transfer message includes an out-dial number.

14. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the transfer message includes a billing number.

15. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the transfer message includes caller-entered digits.

16. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the transfer message includes a social security number.

17. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the SCP is further configured to:

generate a call detail record for billing with information in the transfer message.

18. The communication system of claim 11 further comprising:

the telecommunications resource configured to receive the call into the telecommunications resource, service the call, generate the transfer message after servicing the call, and transmit the transfer message from the telecommunications resource to the SCP.

19. The communication system of claim 11 further comprising:

the telecommunications resource configured to receive the call, receive caller information from a caller of the call, generate the transfer message that includes the caller information, and transmit the transfer message to the SCP.

20. The communication system of claim 11 further comprising:

the telecommunication resource confined to receive the call, receive the identifier for the call, process the identifier to determine which device is storing the context information for the call, transmit a context request message to the device storing the context information for the call, receive a context answer message from the device, service the call based on the context answer message, generate the transfer message after servicing the call, and transmit the transfer message to the SCP.