System and method for transporting a call in a telecommunication network

• US 6,904,060 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: DuRee, Albert Daniel, Nelson, Tracy Lee, Wiley, William Lyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Steven
• Application Number:
  US09/790,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/426, 370/463, 370/466, 370/524, 370/395.1, 370400-410, 370/522, 370525-526, 379/88.17, 379/58.24, 379/88.14, 379/229, 379/58.25, 379/230, 379/88.26, 379/201, 379/207, 379/67, 379/68, 379/93.12, 379/207.1, 379/207.2, 379/204.01, 379/205.01, 379/215.01, 320259-262
• US Class Current: 370/526
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0046 User Network Interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0066 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5614 User Network Interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• 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 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/62 based on trigger specification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/129 Details of providing call progress tones or announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A system and method to detect a call trigger during a call without requiring a service platform to remain connected to the call. A first communication device transmits a call having call signaling and user communications. A signaling processor receives the call signaling from the first communication device and selects a connection to a second communication device. An interworking unit receives the user communications from the first communication device and converts the user communications from a time division multiplex format to asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify a selected connection to the second communication device and transports the user communications to the second communication device. The interworking unit detects a call trigger in the user communications. The interworking unit transmits call trigger data to the signaling processor. The signaling processor processes the call trigger data and, upon validating the call trigger, instructs the interworking unit to transport the user communications to a third communication device. In response thereto, the interworking unit converts the user communications to asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify the selected connection to the third communication device and transports the user communications to the third communication device.

Claims

1. A method for operating an interworking unit to hands user communications for a call from a first communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a first control message into the interworking unit indicating a first identifier for routing the call to a second communication device wherein a user places the call using a telephone number for the second communication device and wherein a signaling processor selects the first identifier based on the telephone number and transfers the first control message to the interworking unit;

receiving the user communications including voice communications into the interworking unit and in response to the first control message adding the first identifier to the user communications;

transferring the user communications including the voice communications from the interworking unit with the first identifier for routing the call to the second communication device;

after call setup and during the call, monitoring the user communication, to detect a call trigger;

transferring a trigger message from the interworking unit if the call trigger is detected;

receiving a second control message into the interworking unit indicating a second identifier for routing the call to a third communication device wherein the second control message is responsive to the trigger message;

in response to the second control message, adding the second identifier to the user communications; and

transferring the user communications including the voice communications from the interworking unit with the second identifier for routing the call to the third communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the user communications to detect the call trigger comprises detecting a tone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the user communications to detect the call trigger comprises detecting a voice command.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the user communications to detect the call trigger comprises detecting an on-hook signal.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting caller information from the user communications if the call trigger is detected.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting caller information from the user communications in response to the second control message.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising canceling echo from the user communications.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising canceling echo from the user communications in response to the first control message.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising canceling echo from the user communications in response to the second control message.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising encrypting the user communications.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising encrypting the user communications in response to the first control message.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising encrypting the user communications in response to control message.

13. An interworking unit for handling user communications for a call from a first communication device comprising:

a control interface configured to receive a first control message indicating a first identifier for routing the call to a second communication device wherein a user places the call using a telephone number for the second communication device and wherein a signaling processor selects the first identifier based on the telephone number and transfers the first control message to the interworking unit;

a first communication interface configured to receive the user communications including voice communications into the interworking unit;

an adaption layer configured to add the first identifier indicated in the first control message to the user communications in response to the first control message;

a second communication interface configured to transfer the user communications including the voice communications from the interworking unit with the first identifier for routing the call to the second communication device;

the signaling processor configured to monitor the user communications to detect a call trigger after call setup and during the call;

the control interface configured to transfer a trigger message from the interworking unit if the call trigger is detected and receive a second control message indicating a second identifier for routing the call to a third communication device;

the adaption layer is configured to add the second identifier to the user communications in response to the second control message; and

the second communication interface configured to transfer the user communications including the voice communications from the interworking unit with the second identifier for routing the call to the third communication device.

14. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to detect a tone.

15. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to detect a voice command.

16. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to detect an on-hook.

17. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to collect caller information from the user communications if the call trigger is detected.

18. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to collect caller information from the user communications in response to the second control message.

19. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to cancel echo from the user communications.

20. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to cancel echo from the user communications in response to the second control message.

21. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to encrypt the user communications.

22. The interworking unit of claim 13 wherein the signaling processor is configured to encrypt the user communications in response to the second control message.