Method and system for providing services in communications networks

• US 6,944,150 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: McConnell, Von K., Jackson, Kenneth C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/708,836
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/357, 370/495, 370/494, 370/493, 370/465, 707/227, 707/224, 707/203, 707/202, 707/10
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/24 in which the allocation is indicated by an address the different channels being transmitted sequentiallyH04J3/17 takes precedence; in computers G06F12/00, G06F13/00 code multiplex systems H04J13/00; selecting techniques H04Q; relay systems H04B7/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application

Abstract

A method and system for providing services in communications networks. A gateway layer determines information about a communication session and responsively sends a signaling message to a session manager, providing the information. The session manager may then send a signaling message to a service agent, also providing the information. The service agent may in turn apply a set of service logic based at least in part on the information, so as to derive a service treatment, and the service agent may send a signaling message so as to cause an enforcement engine (such as the gateway or session manager) to carry out the service treatment. Advantageously, this arrangement may facilitate imposition of services across various types of communication sessions (such as voice sessions and/or data sessions) and access networks (such as circuit-switched and/or packet-switched), at session initiation and during the course of an ongoing session. A variety of useful services may thereby be provided.

Claims

1. A method for providing services in a communications network, the method comprising:

sending a first signal to a service agent upon initiation of a communication session;

the service agent executing a set of service logic in response to the first signal and thereby determining a first service treatment;

carrying out the first service treatment;

during the communication session, extracting information about the communication session and responsively sending a second signal to the service agent;

the service agent executing a second set of service logic in response to the second signal and thereby determining a second service treatment; and

carrying out the second service treatment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session comprises a data communication session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session comprises a voice communication session.

4. A method for providing services in a communications system in which a first entity routes packets of a communication session, the method comprising:

the first entity extracting information about the communication session and responsively sending a first signaling message to a second entity, the first signaling message defining the information;

the second entity receiving the first signaling message and sending a second signaling message to a third entity, the second signaling message defining the information;

the third entity executing a set of service logic based at least in part on the information and thereby deriving a service treatment; and

the fourth entity sending a fourth signaling message to the second entity including an indication of the service treatment,

whereby the service treatment may then be imposed.

5. A service agent layer for managing communication services, the service agent layer maintaining a record of states of communication sessions associated with a subscriber, including a record of a state of a first communication session, the service agent layer receiving information about a second communication session associated with the subscriber and the service agent layer being arranged to responsively determine a service treatment based at least in part on state of the first communication session,

wherein the first communication session comprises a data session, the second communication session comprises a voice session, and the information about the second communication session comprises information indicating that a request has been made to initiate the second communication session,

wherein the service treatment comprises pushing content into the first communication session so as to notify the subscriber of the second session.

6. A system comprises, a service agent layer for managing communication services, the service agent layer maintaining a record of states of communication sessions associated with a subscriber, including a record of a state of a first communication session, the service agent layer receiving information about a second communication session associated with the subscriber and the service agent layer being arranged to responsively determine a service treatment based at least in part on state of the first communication session,

wherein the service agent layer is arranged to send to a network entity a signaling message indicating the service treatment, whereby the network entity may carry out the service treatment.

7. A method for imposing services in a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a number of data packets associated with a communication session;

acquiring information about the communication session based on at least one of the data packets;

providing to a service agent a first signaling message indicating the information about the communication session;

based at least in part on the information about the communication session as indicated by the signaling message, determining a service treatment; and

imposing the service treatment;

wherein receiving the number of data packets associated with the communication session comprises receiving the number of data packets at an access gateway that serves as an interface with a communications network; and

wherein providing the first signaling message to the service agent comprises sending the first signaling message from a session manager to the service agent.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein imposing the service treatment comprises:

the service agent sending to the session manager a second signaling message indicative of the service treatment; and

the session manager carrying out the service treatment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first signaling message comprises a SIP message having a first set of parameters, and the second signaling message comprises the SIP message having a second set of parameters that is a modified version of the first set of parameters.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the session manager carrying out the service treatment comprises:

the session manager directing the access gateway to carry out the service treatment.

11. A method for imposing services in a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a number of data packets associated with a communication session;

acquiring information about the communication session based on at least one of the data packets;

providing to a service agent a first signaling message indicating the information about the communication session;

based at least in part on the information about the communication session as indicated by the signaling message, determining a service treatment; and

imposing the service treatment,

wherein the service agent has access to a subscriber profile and service logic, and wherein the service agent determining a service treatment comprises the service agent applying the service logic based at least in part on the information and the subscriber profile, and thereby identifying the service treatment.

12. A method for imposing services in a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a number of data packets associated with a communication session;

acquiring information about the communication session based on at least one of the data packets;

providing to a service agent a first signaling message indicating the information about the communication session;

based at least in part on the information about the communication session as indicated by the signaling message, determining a service treatment; and

imposing the service treatment,

wherein the service agent has access to a subscriber profile and service logic, and wherein the service agent determining a service treatment comprises the service agent applying the service logic based at least in part on the information and the subscriber profile, and thereby identifying the service treatment; and

wherein applying the service logic based at least in part on the information and the subscriber profile comprises (i) querying a location server to determine a subscriber location, and (ii) applying the service logic based at least in part on the information, the subscriber location and the subscriber profile.

13. A method for imposing services in a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a number of data packets associated with a communication session;

acquiring information about the communication session based on at least one of the data packets;

providing to a service agent a first signaling message indicating the information about the communication session;

based at least in part on the information about the communication session as indicated by the signaling message, determining a service treatment; and

imposing the service treatment;

wherein the service agent maintains a context record for the communication session and wherein the service agent determining the service treatment comprises determining the service treatment based at least in part on a parameter indicated by the context record.

14. A method for imposing services in a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a number of data packets associated with a communication session;

acquiring information about the communication session based on at least one of the data packets;

providing to a service agent a first signaling message indicating the information about the communication session;

based at least in part on the information about the communication session as indicated by the signaling message, determining a service treatment; and

imposing the service treatment;

wherein the information about the communication session comprises information selected from the group consisting of (i) session origination address, (ii) session termination address, (iii) session timestamp, (iv) bearer channel identification, (v) subscriber terminal identification, (vi) last known address accessed, (vii) session identification, (viii) service-level information, and (ix) communication type.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein acquiring information about the communication session based on at least one of the data packets comprises acquiring from at least one of the data packets information selected from the group consisting of header information and payload information.

16. A method for imposing services in a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a number of data packets associated with a communication session;

acquiring information about the communication session based on at least one of the data packets;

providing to a service agent a first signaling message indicating the information about the communication session;

based at least in part on the information about the communication session as indicated by the signaling message, determining a service treatment; and

imposing the service treatment;

wherein the service treatment comprises a treatment selected from the group consisting of (i) blocking the communication session, (ii) blocking a handoff of the communication session from one serving system to another, (iii) applying a quality-of-service level, (iv) rerouting the communication session, (v) pulling back the communication session, and (vi) pushing content into the communication session.

17. A system for imposing service treatment on communication sessions, the system comprising:

a service agent having access to subscriber profiles and service logic;

a session manager for setting up and managing communication sessions in a communications network;

a gateway for interfacing data packets between subscriber terminals and the communications network, the data packets being associated with a communication session, the gateway being programmed to acquire information about the communication session based on at least one of the data packets and to send to the session manager a first message indicating the information about the communication session;

the session manager being programmed to respond to the first message at least in part by sending to the service agent a second message indicating the information about the communication session; and

the service agent being programmed to respond to the second message at least in part by using the information about the communication session to determine a service treatment for the communication session and then sending to the session manager a third message indicative of the service treatment.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each data packet of the number of data packets carry header information and payload information, and wherein the payload information of the number of packets cooperatively represents an underlying signal selected from the group consisting of a voice signal and a data signal.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the second message defines a quality-of-service level for the communication session;

the service treatment comprises modifying quality-of-service level for the communication session; and

the third message indicates a modified quality-of-service level for the communication session, whereby the session manager may apply the modified quality-of-service level for the communication session.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the third message comprises a modified version of the second message.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the second message comprises a SIP INVITE message having a first set of parameters, and the third message comprises the SIP INVITE message having a second set of parameters that is a modified version of the first set of parameters.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the service agent has access to a set of service logic; and

the service agent applies the service logic to determine the service treatment.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the service agent further has access to a subscriber profile; and

the service agent applies the service logic based at least in part on the subscriber profile, to determine the service treatment.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein

the service agent functions as a portal to at least one service logic engine, wherein the service agent is programmed to forward information about the communication to the at least one service logic engine, to facilitate determination of the service treatment.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the service agent manages interaction between service logic applied by a plurality of service logic engines.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the subscriber terminals comprise a terminal selected from the group consisting of (i) a wireless subscriber terminal and (ii) landline subscriber terminal.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the service agent has access to a device register;

the service treatment comprises converting between communication protocols employed by multiple terminals; and

the service agent refers to the device register to determine the service treatment.

28. A system for imposing services in a communications network, the system comprising:

a gateway layer arranged to route packets of communication sessions between subscriber terminals and transport networks, the gateway layer being programmed to extract information from the communication sessions;

a session manager separate from the gateway layer, arranged to set up communication sessions for the gateway layer; and

a service agent layer separate from the session manager layer and gateway layer, arranged to manage services for communication sessions;

wherein, (i) the gateway layer determines information about a session, and the gateway layer responsively sends the information to the session manager layer, (ii) the session manager layer thereafter sends the information to the service agent layer (iii) and the service agent layer thereafter applies service logic based at least in part on the information, so as to determine a service treatment to be imposed, whereby the service treatment may then be imposed.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the service agent layer defines a service-level for the session.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the service treatment is carried out by a layer selected from the group consisting of (i) the session manager layer and (ii) the gateway layer.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the service treatment relates to handoff of a communication session from one serving system to another.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the service treatment relates to handoff of a communication session from a circuit-switched system to a packet-switched system.

33. The system of claim 28, further comprising a location server layer separate from the service agent layer, the session manager layer and the gateway layer, arranged to maintain information indicative of locations of subscriber terminals,

wherein the service agent layer communicates with the location server layer to obtain location information for a subscriber terminal, and the service agent layer applies the service logic based at least in part on the location information, so as to determine the service treatment to be imposed.