System and method for providing enhanced services for a telecommunication call

• US 7,289,511 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• 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: Nelson, Tracy Lee, Christie, legal representative, Christie, deceased
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/680,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0066 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0089 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling, SONET
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/125 One of the channel pulses or the synchronisation pulse is also used for transmitting monitoring or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/247 ATM or packet multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5619 Network Node Interface, e.g. tandem connections, transit switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5672 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/20 Support for services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3081 ATM peripheral units, e.g. policing, insertion or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 : Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 : UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13531 : virtual networks - inc. PVN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 : Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A system and method provide enhanced services for a call that is transported from a communication device through an asynchronous transfer mode system. The call has user communications in asynchronous transfer mode cells and call signaling. A signaling processor receives the call signaling and processes the call signaling to determine a connection to a service platform. The signaling processor transports a processor control message designating the selected connection. An asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit receives the user communications from the communication device and the processor control message from the signaling processor. The asynchronous transfer mode interworking unit converts the user communications from the asynchronous transfer mode cells to a format compatible with the service platform and dynamically transports the user communications to the service platform in real time. The service platform processes the user communications. The reverse process can also take place with the dynamic transfer, in real time, of the processed user communications back to the communication device in asynchronous transfer mode cells that identify the connection to the communication device.

Claims

1. A method to handle a call from a caller, the method comprising:

receiving and processing signaling for the call to transfer a control message;

exchanging user communications for the call with a communication device in a time division multiplex format;

in response to the control message, interworking the user communications between the time division multiplex format and a packet format;

processing the user communications in the packet format to interact with the caller and generate processing results;

selecting an identifier based on the processing results to route the user communications through a communication system; and

transferring the user communications to the communication system in the packet format having the identifier, wherein the communication system routes the user communications based on the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises Signaling System Seven (SS7) signaling.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) signaling.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the signaling comprises GR-303 signaling.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the caller comprises a calling card service.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the caller comprises a prepaid call service.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the caller comprises a conference call service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the caller comprises a menu routing service.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the caller comprises tone detection.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the caller comprises voice recognition.

11. A system to handle a call from a caller comprising:

a signaling processor configured to receive and process signaling for the call to transfer a control message;

a service platform system configured to exchange user communications for the call with a communication device in a time division multiplex format, interwork the user communications between the time division multiplex format and a packet format in response to the control message, and process the user communications in the packet format to interact with the caller and generate processing results;

wherein the signaling processor is configured to select an identifier based on the processing results to route the user communications through a communication system; and

wherein the service platform system is configured to transfer the user communications to the communication system in the packet format having the identifier, wherein the communication system routes the user communications based on the identifier.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises Signaling System Seven (SS7) signaling.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) signaling.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the signaling comprises GR-303 signaling.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein interacting with the caller comprises a calling card service.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein interacting with the caller comprises a prepaid call service.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein interacting with the caller comprises a conference call service.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein interacting with the caller comprises a menu routing service.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein interacting with the caller comprises tone detection.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein interacting with the caller comprises voice recognition.