Method and system for providing real-time announcements

• US 6,888,829 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2000
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wells, Guy, Cook, Charles I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, DUC T
• Application Number:
  US09/479,952
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/394, 370/400, 370/401, 370/395.42, 370/474, 370/476, 370/338, 370/487, 370/352, 370/410, 370/522, 370/354, 370/356, 379/41, 379/51, 379/207.02, 37911415-1142, 379/88.17, 379/900, 379/76, 379/77, 379/80, 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88.05, 379/88.06, 379/88.13, 379/88.12, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 455/404, 455/412, 455/413, 709/238, 709/246
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A method and system for generating real-time announcements in a digital packet-switched telecommunications network includes an announcement server for sensing a predetermined trigger event and generating a predetermined announcement for insertion into a data stream. A packet-based network then transmits the packetized announcement along with the current data stream for receipt by the destination. The announcement is then processed by the appropriate processing device, such as a Base Station Controller or a wireless handset, immediately upon receipt of the packetized announcement so that it can be generated in real-time.

Claims

1. A method for generating real-time announcements in a digital packet-based telecommunications network wherein data is transferred from a source to a destination in packets for receipt by the destination, and wherein the packets include a header containing address and sequencing information, the method comprising:

sensing a predetermined trigger event;

inserting a priority indicator into the header of a packetized announcement indicating high priority for the packetized announcement;

transmitting the packetized announcement with the data for receipt by the destination upon sensing the predetermined trigger event; and

processing the packetized announcement immediately for receipt by the destination in real-time;

wherein processing includes suspending processing of the data until the packetized announcement has been processed.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein transmitting the packetized announcement comprises merging the packetized announcement with the data.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the announcement is an audible announcement.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the announcement is a pre-recorded voice announcement.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the announcement is a synthesized announcement.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the announcement is a visual announcement.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the visual announcement is a graphical announcement.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the visual announcement is a textual announcement.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the announcement is a vibratory signal.

10. A method for generating real-time announcements in a digital packet-based telecommunications network wherein data is transferred from a source to a destination in packets for receipt by the destination, and wherein the packets include a header containing address and sequencing information, the method comprising:

sensing a predetermined trigger event;

inserting a priority indicator into the header of a packetized announcement indicating high priority for the packetized announcement;

transmitting the packetized announcement with the data for receipt by the destination upon sensing the predetermined trigger event; and

processing the packetized announcement immediately for receipt by the destination in real-time;

wherein transmitting the packetized announcement comprises dropping the data and transmitting only the packetized announcement.

11. A method for generating real-time announcements in a digital packet-based telecommunications network wherein data is transferred from a source to a destination in packets for receipt by the destination, and wherein the packets include a header containing address and sequencing information, the method comprising:

sensing a predetermined trigger event;

inserting a priority indicator into the header of a packetized announcement indicating high priority for the packetized announcement;

transmitting the packetized announcement with the data for receipt by the destination upon sensing the predetermined trigger event; and

processing the packetized announcement immediately for receipt by the destination in real-time;

wherein sensing the predetermined trigger event includes sensing a predetermined amount of time.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein processing the announcement includes generating an announcement identifying an amount of time elapsed.

13. A system for generating real-time announcements in a digital packet-based telecommunications network wherein data is transferred from a source to a destination in packets for receipt by the destination, and wherein the packets include a header containing address and sequencing information, the system comprising:

an announcement server for sensing a predetermined trigger event and for inserting a priority indicator into the header of a packetized announcement indicating high priority for the packetized announcement;

a packet-based network in communication with the announcement server for transmitting the packetized announcement with the data for receipt by the destination upon the predetermined trigger event being sensed; and

a processing device in communication with the packet-based network for receiving and processing the packetized announcement immediately for receipt by the destination in real-time;

wherein the processing device, in processing the packetized announcement, is further operative to suspend processing of the data until the packetized announcement has been processed.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the packet-based network, in transmitting the packetized announcement, is further operative to merge the packetized announcement with the data.

15. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the announcement is an audible announcement.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein the announcement is a pre-recorded voice announcement.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein the announcement is a synthesized announcement.

18. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the announcement is a visual announcement.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein the visual announcement is a graphical announcement.

20. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein the visual announcement is a textual announcement.

21. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the announcement is a vibratory signal.

22. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the processing device is a wireless handset.

23. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the processing device is a component of a wireless network.

24. A system for generating real-time announcements in a digital packet-based telecommunications network wherein data is transferred from a source to a destination in packets for receipt by the destination, and wherein the packets include a header containing address and sequencing information, the system comprising:

an announcement server for sensing a predetermined trigger event and for inserting a priority indicator into the header of a packetized announcement indicating high priority for the packetized announcement;

a packet-based network in communication with the announcement server for transmitting the packetized announcement with the data for receipt by the destination upon the predetermined trigger event being sensed; and

a processing device in communication with the packet-based network for receiving and processing the packetized announcement immediately for receipt by the destination in real-time;

wherein the packet-based network, in transmitting the packetized announcement, is further operative to drop the data and transmit only the packetized announcement.

25. A system for generating real-time announcements in a digital packet-based telecommunications network wherein data is transferred from a source to a destination in packets for receipt by the destination, and wherein the packets include a header containing address and sequencing information, the system comprising:

an announcement server for sensing a predetermined trigger event and for inserting a priority indicator into the header of a packetized announcement indicating high priority for the packetized announcement;

a packet-based network in communication with the announcement server for transmitting the packetized announcement with the data for receipt by the destination upon the predetermined trigger event being sensed; and

a processing device in communication with the packet-based network for receiving and processing the packetized announcement immediately for receipt by the destination in real-time;

wherein the announcement server, in sensing the predetermined trigger event, is further operative to sense a predetermined amount of time.

26. The system as recited in claim 25 wherein the processing device, in processing the announcement, is further operative to generate an announcement identifying an amount of time elapsed.