Methods and computer readable media for creating dialing strings useful in an international dial-up session for transferring data

• US 6,898,279 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Erekson, Rich, Baker, Jennifer
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Minsun Oh
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAROLD, JEFFEREY F
• Application Number:
  US09/201,673
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355.01, 379/355.02, 379/355.04, 379/355.07, 379/355.08, 379/355.09, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/445
• US Class Current: 379/355.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

Methods and computer readable media are provided for creating a dialing string. The dialing strings are used in a dial-up session to establish a communications link for transferring data between computing configurations from an origination location to a destination location. In a preferred embodiment, queries are made regarding geographic information of the origination and a destination locations. In response thereto, a database is searched for phone dialing codes, such as foreign country codes and regional city codes, that correspond to the geographic information. The codes are then fashioned into the dialing string. Preferably, a dial-up manager serves to provide the functions of querying about the geographic locations, searching the database and fashioning the dialing string. It is a feature of this invention that the dial-up manager also monitor the actual dialing of the dialing string to determine whether a communications link between the origination and destination locations is ever established. In the event that the link is not established, troubleshooting assistance is provided to enable the eventual establishment of the dial-up session.

Claims

1. A method for creating a dialing string for use in a transfer of data from an origination location to a destination location, the steps comprising:

requesting transfer;

querying a user for at least one geographic location identifier corresponding to at least one of said origination and destination locations;

receiving from the user said at least one geographic location identifier;

utilizing said received geographic location identifier to generate a hierarchy of dialing strings, said hierarchy having at least one primary and one secondary dialing string, each said dialing string having at least one code corresponding to at least one of said origination or destination locations;

dialing one of said dialing strings of said hierarchy of dialing strings to establish a connection between said origination and destination locations;

monitoring said step of dialing to determine whether said connection is established; and

wherein said connection is not established, further comprising the step of dialing another of said dialing strings of said hierarchy of dialing strings.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of querying about a site of said origination location, said dialing string further having an outside access line code.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of querying about a site of said destination location, said dialing string having another code corresponding to said site.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of querying about a billing information for said transfer, said dialing string further having a delay code.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of informing a user at said origination location of a status of said transfer.

6. A method for creating a dialing string to establish a dial-up session for transferring data from an origination location to a destination location in a data communications environment, the steps comprising:

requesting said dial-up session;

querying about a geographic location of said origination and destination locations;

querying about a site of said origination location;

querying about a billing information for said dial-up session;

receiving from a user at least one of said geographic locations, said site and said billing information;

automatically generating, said dialing string having at least one;

(i) code corresponding to said geographic location of said destination location;

(ii) outside access line code for dialing from said site; and

(iii) delay code for pausing said dialing string before entering said billing information; and

wherein at least one of said steps of querying further comprises the step of passing a query from a dial-up manager to a user at said origination location.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said step of generating said dialing string further comprises the step of formulating a request packet for passage between said dial-up manager and a storage means.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of passing said request packet through a driver means.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of dialing one of said dialing strings of said hierarch to try and establish a connection from said origination location to said destination location.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring said step of dialing with a dial-up system manager; and

in the event said one of said dialing strings fails to establish said connection, said dial-up system manager causing the step of dialing another of said dialing strings.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of informing a user to a status of said connection.

12. In a computer system having a user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method for creating a dialing string to transfer data from an origination location to a destination location, the steps comprising:

retrieving a plurality of queries for a geographic location of said origination and destination locations;

displaying said queries on said display;

receiving an indication from said user interface selection device in response to said queries, said indication providing each said geographic location;

retrieving at least one code of said dialing string, said at least one code corresponding to said geographic location of said destination location;

displaying a hierarchy of dialing strings, said hierarchy having at least one primary and one secondary dialing string;

dialing one of said dialing strings of said hierarchy of dialing strings to establish a connection between said origination and destination locations;

monitoring said step of dialing to determine whether said connection is established;

dialing another of said dialing strings of said hierarchy of dialing strings if a connection is not established; and

displaying a status of said transfer on said display.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of retrieving further comprises the step of formulating a request packet containing said geographic location of said destination location for passage from a dial-up manager to a storage means.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said storage means comprises a look-up table, further comprising the step of searching said look-up table for a country code corresponding to said geographic location of said destination location.

15. A method for creating a dialing string for us in a transfer of data from an origination location to a destination location, the steps comprising:

requesting said transfer;

querying about a geographic location of said origination and destination locations;

providing said geographic locations;

depending upon said geographic locations, providing a hierarchy of dialing strings, said hierarchy having at least one primary and one secondary dialing string, and having at least one code corresponding to said geographic location of said destination location;

dialing one of said dialing strings of said hierarchy of dialing strings to establish a connection between said origination and destination locations;

monitoring said step of dialing to determine whether said connection is established; and

dialing another of said dialing strings of said hierarchy of dialing strings if the connection is not established.

16. A method for creating a dialing string to establish a dial-up session for transferring data from an origination location to a destination location in a data communications environment, the steps comprising:

requesting said dial-up session;

querying about a geographic location of said origination and destination locations;

querying about a site of said origination location;

querying about a billing information for said dial-up session;

providing said geographic locations, said site and said billing information;

providing a hierarchy of dialing strings, each of said dialing strings having at least one;

(i) code corresponding to said geographic location of said destination location;

(ii) outside access line code for dialing from said site; and

(iii) delay code for pausing said dialing string before entering said billing information;

dialing one of said dialing strings of said hierarch to try and establish a connection from said origination location to said destination location;

monitoring said step of dialing with a dial-up system manager; and

in the event said one of said dialing strings fails to establish said connection, said dial-up system manager causing the step of dialing another of said dialing strings.