Control interface for computer supported telephony applications (CSTA) protocols

• US 6,985,575 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Hettish, Mark Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AL AUBAIDI, RASHA S
• Application Number:
  US09/864,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 379/231, 379/309, 379/9.03, 379/15.01
• US Class Current: 379/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

A control interface for CSTA protocols utilizes ActiveX properties, methods, events, and pages to access all of the events and services provided by the CSTA protocols. Common paradigms such as Invoke_—ID and timers are built in to the interface. The interface further provides statistics and diagnostics via property pages.

Claims

1. A computing platform for implementing computer supported telephony application (“

CSTA”

) protocols, comprising;

(a) a control interface, coupled to a PBX switch and a telephony application, that controls said CSTA protocols in the PBX switch; and

(b) component based interface objects running on the computing platform and defining properties, methods, and events, said properties, methods and events being mapped to control substantially every event and service of the PBX switch;

wherein said component based interface objects is ActiveX;

wherein the control interface includes a heartbeat message manager, and heartbeat messages and replies are automatically generated.

2. A computing platform according to claim 1, wherein ActiveX properties are mapped to session configuration.

3. A computing platform according to claim 1, wherein ActiveX includes property pages and said property pages are mapped to session configuration.

4. A computing platform according to claim 1, wherein ActiveX methods and events are mapped to startup and teardown a connection to the PBX switch.

5. A computing platform according to claim 1, wherein substantially all CSTA and private data fields are supported.

6. A computing platform according to claim 1, wherein the control interface includes an invoke ID manager, and invoke ID generation is automatic and configurable.

7. A computing platform according to claim 1, wherein the control interface includes an invoke ID manager, and invoke ID timing is automatic and configurable.

8. A computing platform according to claim 1, wherein said heartbeat messages and replies are configurable.

9. A computing platform according to claim 1, wherein statuses and errors are automatically logged.

10. A computing platform according to claim 9, wherein said statuses and errors are viewable via ActiveX property pages.

11. A computer platform according to claim 1, wherein the control interface and telephony application are collocated in the same computer platform.

12. A method for implementing computer supported telephony application (“

CSTA”

) protocols comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a computing platform comprising a control interface, coupled to a PBX switch and a telephony application, and that controls CSTA protocols in the PBX switch; and

(b) running component based interface objects on the computing platform, wherein the component based interface objects defines properties, methods, and events which are mapped to control substantially every event and service of the PBX switch;

wherein said component based interface objects is ActiveX;

wherein component based interface objects manage heartbeat messages, and said heartbeat messages and replies are automatically generated.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein ActiveX properties are mapped to session configuration.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein ActiveX includes property pages and said property pages are mapped to session configuration.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein ActiveX methods and events are mapped to startup and teardown a connection to the PBX switch.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein substantially all CSTA and private data fields are supported.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein component based interface objects manage invoke ID generation, and said invoke ID generation is automatic and configurable.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein component based interface objects manage invoke ID timing, and said invoke ID timing is automatic and configurable.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein said heartbeat messages and replies are configurable.

20. A method according to claim 12, wherein statuses and errors are automatically logged.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said statuses and errors are viewable via ActiveX property pages.

22. A method according to claim 12, wherein the control interface and telephony application are collocated in the same computer platform.