Application server having asynchronous event manager configured for terminating messaging operations and rolling back prescribed data structures

• US 7,355,988 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Willaford, William Bateman IV, Denbar, Melissa Lee, Coulthard, James Marion, Burnett, Brian Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEFCHECK, GREGORY B
• Application Number:
  US09/800,476
• Time in Patent Office: 2,588 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/282, 370352-356, 370/389, 370/392, 3703952-39521, 370/522, 370/526, 370/401, 379/88.13, 379/265.09, 379/266.02, 379/902, 379/256.09
• US Class Current: 370/282
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks

Abstract

An application server includes an asynchronous event manager configured for selectively terminating an instance executing a messaging session, based on detecting a message from a gateway server that the incoming call is a call having a type that differs from the prescribed type intended for the messaging session. The asynchronous event manager terminates the instance by setting global variables accessible by the instance that specify that the call is rejected (i.e., the connection between the gateway and the instance executing the messaging session is terminated) due to the incoming call being of a different type than intended for that messaging session, for example the call being a fax call instead of a voice call. The instance executing the messaging session checks the global variables prior to committing to execution of critical operations that affect stored subscriber messaging data, for example before sending a recorded message for storage, or changing a state of a stored message from a new message to a stored message or deleted message. If the global variables indicate that the messaging session should be terminated, the instance rolls back the necessary data structures by deleting any necessary data (e.g., log entries, application state information, recorded messages, etc.), and terminates the instance.

Claims

1. A method in an application server, the method comprising:

receiving, by the application server, an initiation request from a gateway configured for receiving incoming Voice over IP calls, including receiving the initiation request via a Voice over IP call control channel between the application server and the gateway;

initiating by the application server an instance of an application process configured for executing a prescribed sequence of messaging operations for a first type of incoming message, in response to reception of the initiation request, the initiating including writing first data, having been received from the gateway via a Voice over IP media channel, into a first data structure that identifies information based on execution of the instance;

selectively setting by the application server a prescribed variable based on receiving a reject message from the gateway via the Voice over IP call control channel; and

selectively terminating, by the application server, the instance prior to completing the sequence of messaging operations based on detecting, at a prescribed location in the prescribed sequence, the prescribed variable set during execution of the instance and that specifies the prescribed sequence of message operations are not to be performed based on the prescribed variable having been set to specify that the incoming message corresponds to a second message type incompatible with the first type, the selectively terminating including terminating execution of the operations subsequent to the prescribed location and removing the first data from the first data structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating includes executing the prescribed sequence of messaging operations for a voice message as the first type.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selectively terminating includes terminating the instance based on detecting that the prescribed variable, specifying a voice over IP protocol message, specifies a call rejected condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the detecting includes identifying the incoming message as a facsimile message as said second message type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing includes deleting a recorded message as the first data from the first data structure.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the selectively terminating further includes adding a log entry indicating deletion of the recorded message prior to storage within a subscriber message store, based on detecting that the prescribed variable specifies a detected difference between the first type and a detected type having been identified as said second message type.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first type corresponds to a voice message, the method further comprising setting the prescribed variable to not perform the prescribed sequence of message operations based on detecting that the incoming message is a fax message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively terminating includes halting operations for transmission of a message, recorded during execution of the instance, into a subscriber message store.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively completing execution of the messaging operations, including transmission of a message recorded during execution of the instance, based on an absence of the prescribed variable being set upon the instance reaching the prescribed location in the prescribed sequence.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively setting includes:

receiving the reject message by a persistent asynchronous event manager process executed by the application server; and

setting the prescribed variable by the persistent asynchronous event manager process, in response to the reject message, prior to the prescribed location in the prescribed sequence.

11. A method in a communications system having a gateway configured for receiving incoming calls and an application server, the method comprising:

sending a request by the gateway to the application server for initiating a messaging session according to a first message type in response to receiving an incoming Voice over IP call;

initiating by the application server an instance of an application process configured for executing a prescribed sequence of messaging operations for generation of the messaging session, including writing first data into a first data structure that identifies information based on execution of the instance;

detecting by the gateway, following sending the request, that the incoming Voice over IP call corresponds to a second message type incompatible with the first message type and in response sending a reject message to the application server; and

terminating the instance, prior to completion of executing the prescribed sequence of messaging operations by the application server in response to the reject message, including removing the first data from the first data structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sending includes sending a second request, concurrently with sending the request for initiating the messaging session according to the first message type, for initiation of a messaging session according to the second message type in response to receiving the incoming Voice over IP call.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sending of the second request includes outputting the second request to a server configured for initiating the messaging session according to the second message type.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first message type corresponds to a voice message, and the second message type corresponds to a fax message, the sending of a reject message including specifying a voice over IP protocol call rejected message.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the removing includes deleting a recorded message as the first data from the first data structure prior to storage in a subscriber message store.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting the reject message by a persistent asynchronous event manager process executed by the application server; and

setting a prescribed variable by the persistent asynchronous event manager process and that indicates the prescribed sequence of messaging operations should not be completed, in response to the detection of the reject message and prior to a prescribed location in the prescribed sequence;

the terminating including detecting, by the instance at the prescribed location in the prescribed sequence, the prescribed variable set to indicate the prescribed sequence of messaging operations should not be completed, and in response removing the first data from the first data structure and terminating the operations of the prescribed sequence subsequent to the prescribed location.

17. A communications system comprising:

a gateway configured for receiving an incoming Voice over IP call and in response sending first and second requests for concurrent initiation of messaging sessions according to respective first and second message types, the gateway configured for generating a reject message in response to detecting that the incoming Voice over IP call corresponds to the second message type incompatible with the first message type; and

an application server configured for initiating, in response to the first request, an instance of an application process configured for executing a prescribed sequence of messaging operations for generation of the messaging session according to the first message type, the application server configured for writing first data into a first data structure that identifies information based on execution of the instance, the application server having an asynchronous event manager configured for causing termination of the instance, including removal of the first data from the data structure, prior to completion of executing the prescribed sequence of messaging operations, in response to reception of the reject message.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a second server configured for initiating the messaging session according to the second message type in response to reception of the second request, the second server configured for receiving a fax message as the second message type.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the asynchronous event manager is configured for causing removal of a recorded message as the first data from the data structure, prior to storage in a subscriber message store, in response to reception of the reject message.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the gateway is configured for generating the reject message to specify a voice over IP protocol message.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the gateway is configured for sending the first and second requests concurrently for the respective messaging sessions to be executed concurrently.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the asynchronous event manager is a persistent application instance executed by the application server.

23. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for an application server to execute a messaging session, the sequences of instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving, by the application server, an initiation request from a gateway configured for receiving incoming Voice over IP calls, including receiving the initiation request via a Voice over IP call control channel between the application server and the gateway;

initiating by the application server an instance of an application process configured for executing a prescribed sequence of messaging operations for a first type of incoming message, in response to reception of the initiation request, the initiating step including writing first data, having been received from the gateway via a Voice over IP media channel, into a first data structure that identifies information based on execution of the instance;

selectively setting by the application server a prescribed variable based on receiving a reject message from the gateway via the Voice over IP call control channel; and

selectively terminating, by the application server, the instance prior to completing the sequence of messaging operations based on detecting, at a prescribed location in the prescribed sequence, the prescribed variable set during execution of the instance and that specifies the prescribed sequence of message operations are not to be performed based on the prescribed variable having been set to specify that the incoming message corresponds to a second message type incompatible with the first type, the selectively terminating step including terminating execution of the operations subsequent to the prescribed location and removing the first data from the first data structure.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein the initiating step includes executing the prescribed sequence of messaging operations for a voice message as the first type.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein the selectively terminating step includes terminating the instance based on detecting that the prescribed variable, specifying a voice over IP protocol message, specifies a call rejected condition.

26. The medium of claim 25, wherein the detecting includes identifying the incoming message as a facsimile message as said second message type.

27. The medium of claim 23, wherein the removing step includes deleting a recorded message as the first data from the first data structure.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein the selectively terminating step further includes adding a log entry indicating deletion of the recorded message prior to storage within a subscriber message store, based on detecting that the prescribed variable specifies a detected difference between the first type and a detected type having been identified as said second message type.

29. The medium of claim 28, wherein the first type corresponds to a voice message, the method further comprising setting the prescribed variable to not perform the prescribed sequence of message operations based on detecting that the incoming message is a fax message.

30. The medium of claim 23, wherein the selectively terminating step includes halting operations for transmission of a message, recorded during execution of the instance, into a subscriber message store.

31. The medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for performing the step of selectively completing execution of the messaging operations, including transmission of a message recorded during execution of the instance, based on an absence of the prescribed variable being set upon the instance reaching the prescribed location in the prescribed sequence.

32. An application server for executing a messaging application, the application server including:

means for receiving an initiation request and first data from a gateway configured for receiving incoming Voice over IP calls, the means for receiving configured for receiving the initiation request via a Voice over IP call control channel between the application server and the gateway, and the first data via a Voice over IP media channel between the application server and the gateway;

means for initiating an instance of an application process configured for executing a prescribed sequence of messaging operations for a first type of incoming message, in response to reception of the initiation request by the means for receiving of the application server, the means for initiating configured for writing the first data into a first data structure that identifies information based on execution of the instance; and

means for selectively setting a prescribed variable based on the application server receiving a reject message from the gateway via the Voice over IP call control channel;

the means for initiating selectively terminating the instance prior to completing the sequence of messaging operations based on detecting, at a prescribed location in the prescribed sequence, the prescribed variable set during execution of the instance and that specifies the prescribed sequence of message operations are not to be performed based on the prescribed variable having been set to specify that the incoming message corresponds to a second message type incompatible with the first type, the means for initiating terminating execution of the operations subsequent to the prescribed location and removing the first data from the first data structure, based on the prescribed variable set.

33. The server of claim 32, wherein the means for initiating is configured for executing the prescribed sequence of messaging operations for a voice message as the first type.

34. The server of claim 33, wherein the means for initiating is configured for terminating the instance based on detecting that the prescribed variable, specifying a voice over IP protocol message, specifies a call rejected condition.

35. The server of claim 34, wherein the selectively setting means is configured for identifying the incoming message as a facsimile message.

36. The server of claim 32, wherein the means for initiating is configured for deleting a recorded message as the first data from the first data structure.

37. The server of claim 36, wherein the means for initiating is configured for adding a log entry indicating deletion of the recorded message prior to storage within a subscriber message store, based on detecting that the prescribed variable specifies a detected difference between the first type and a detected type having been identified as said second message type.

38. The server of claim 32, wherein the means for initiating is configured for halting operations for transmission of a message, recorded during execution of the instance, into a subscriber message store.

39. The server of claim 32, wherein the means for initiating is configured for selectively completing execution of the messaging operations, including transmission of a message recorded during execution of the instance, based on an absence of the prescribed variable being set upon the instance reaching the prescribed location in the prescribed sequence.

40. An application server comprising:

an interface configured for receiving messages from a gateway configured for receiving incoming Voice over IP calls, the gateway configured for outputting a first request for initiating a messaging session according to a first message type in response to receiving an incoming Voice over IP call, the gateway also configured for outputting a reject message in response to detecting that the incoming Voice over IP call corresponds to a second message type incompatible with the first message type; and

an application runtime environment configured for initiating an instance of an application process, configured for executing a prescribed sequence of messaging operations for the first type of incoming message, in response to reception of the first request, the instance writing first data into a first data structure that identifies information based on execution of the instance, the application runtime environment including an asynchronous event manager configured for selectively causing termination of the instance prior to completing the sequence of messaging operations based on detecting the reject message, by a prescribed location in the prescribed sequence, specifies that the incoming message corresponds to the second message type, the asynchronous event manager causing termination of execution of the operations subsequent to the prescribed location and removal of the first data from the first data structure.

41. The server of claim 40, wherein the asynchronous event manager is configured for causing removal of a recorded message as the first data from the data structure, prior to storage thereof in a subscriber message store, in response to reception of the reject message.

42. The server of claim 41, wherein the instance is configured for generating a log entry indicating termination of the instance based on reception of the reject message.

43. The server of claim 41, wherein the first message type corresponds to a voice message and the second message type corresponds to a fax message, the reject message including a voice over IP protocol call rejected message.

44. A communications system comprising:

gateway means for receiving an incoming Voice over IP call and in response sending first and second requests for initiation of concurrent messaging sessions according to respective first and second message types, the gateway means configured for generating a reject message in response to detecting that the incoming Voice over IP call corresponds to the second message type incompatible with the first message type; and

application server means for initiating, in response to the first request, an instance of an application process configured for executing a prescribed sequence of messaging operations for generation of the messaging session according to the first message type, the application server means configured for writing first data into a first data structure that identifies information based on execution of the instance, the application server means having an asynchronous event monitoring means configured for causing termination of the instance, including removal of the first data from the data structure, prior to completion of executing the prescribed sequence of messaging operations, in response to reception of the reject message.