Intelligent network with an internet call waiting function

• US 6,876,632 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takeda, Yukiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/404,373
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/352, 370/356, 370/345.2, 370/400, 370/401, 370/410, 370/522, 709/203, 709/727, 379/900, 379/213.01, 379/221.09
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

An intelligent network service control point, which is connected with a plurality of switching systems in a transport layer network over a common channel signaling network and with an Internet protocol network through a service control gateway, stores information for indicating that a first terminal is being connected to the Internet in a user information management table when the service control point receives a call waiting service request from the first terminal connected with the transport layer network. When one of said switching systems notifies that the first terminal is called from a second terminal, the service control point sends an incoming notification message to the first terminal through the gateway by referring the user information management table.

Claims

1. A service control gateway adapting to connect an intelligent layer network and an Internet Protocol (IP) network, said intelligent layer network having an intelligent network service control point for providing an Internet call waiting service to a terminal communicating with a server connected to the IP network, said intelligent network service control point being connectable to a plurality of switching systems in a transport layer network over a common channel signaling network, said transport layer network being connectable to said gateway via said IP network, and said switching systems being connectable to a plurality of terminals, the service control gateway comprising:

a first interface adapted to connect the service control gateway with the IP network;

a second interface adapted to connect the service control gateway with the intelligent layer network;

a memory in which predetermined programs are stored;

a processor for executing the programs;

a service control point (SCP) address management table including network ID information to identify the intelligent layer network where an Internet call waiting service requester is accommodated, service ID information, message type information, and address information of the SCP; and

a user address management table including user ID information, user telephone number information, first correlation ID information for judging correspondence of massages transmitted between the service control point and the service control gateway, second correlation ID information for judging correspondence of messages transmitted between the server and the service control gateway, and address information of the server and service status information,

wherein said first interface is arranged to receive an Internet call waiting service request message for one of said terminals via the IP network, and

wherein said processor refers to the SCP address management table and the user address management table when the Internet call waiting service request message is received, selects one service control point to which the request message should be transferred, converts a protocol of the request message into that available at the service control point, and sends the protocol-wise converted message to the service control point via said second interface.

2. A service control gateway according to claim 1, further comprising:

protocol conversion means for protocol-wise converting an incoming call notification message indicating arrival of an incoming call to said terminal into a message addressed to a server being in communication with the terminal, said incoming call notification message having been received from said service control point,

wherein said processor sends the protocol-wise converted incoming call notification message to said server.

3. A service control gateway according to claim 1, further comprising:

protocol conversion means for protocol-wise converting an incoming call notification message indicating arrival of an incoming call to said terminal into a message addressed to an access point apparatus being in communication with said terminal, said incoming call notification message having been received from said service control point, and said access point apparatus being connected to said IP network and having a function for transferring messages received from said service control gateway to said terminal,

wherein said processor sends the protocol-wise converted incoming call notification message to said IP network via said first interface.