Method for service processor discrimination and precedence in a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) network

• US 7,606,905 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burg, Frederick Murray, Fishman, Saul Daniel, Schalk-Pizza, Lauraine M., Ibezim, James A., Kittredge, Barbara Joanne, Atluri, Neela R.
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/240,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/562 Brokering proxy services

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying and prioritizing applications and application servers in a Voice over IP network is disclosed. In a first embodiment, elements of signaling information are extracted from a call and are mapped to parameters associated with the call. These mapped parameters are then used by a service broker in a VoIP network to identify one or more application servers adapted to process the values of the respective parameter. The service broker may illustratively identify the application servers by a pointer to permit flexible reassignment of processing of a given parameter. The matched pointer/parameter combinations are then mapped to a precedence index. Then, according to this precedence index, the aforementioned pointers are mapped to specific addresses of application servers and the elements of signaling information are forwarded to those addresses for processing of applications.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing communication services in a packet-based communication network, said method comprising:

extracting one or more elements of signaling information from a message in said network, said one or more elements associated with at least a first parameter associated with a service broker;

identifying a plurality of application servers as a function of said one or more elements, each application server in said plurality adapted to provide one or more communication services in said network;

assigning a priority to each application server in said plurality, said priority a function of said communication service to be provided and said at least a first parameter; and

invoking each application server in said plurality according to said assigned priority in order to provide said one or more communication services.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to said step of identifying, determining whether said elements require application processing.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying a plurality of application servers comprises identifying an application server pointer associated with each application server in said plurality of application servers.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising identifying an address and a port associated with each application server as a function of said application server pointer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of assigning comprises creating an ordered list of applications to be performed.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of assigning comprises assigning a precedence index to each element of signaling information.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said ordered list is created as a function of said precedence index assigned to each element of signaling information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of invoking comprises:

receiving a first message from a first application server that has completed application processing for a call; and

determining that processing of said call by a second application server is desired; and

sending a second message to said second application server to invoke said processing of said call by said second application server.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of determining comprises identifying as a function of said assigned priority the next application server in which said call is to be forwarded to.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that all applications to be applied to a call have been performed; and

forwarding said call to an intended destination.

11. An apparatus for use in providing communication services in a packet-based communication network, said apparatus comprising:

means for extracting one or more elements of signaling information from a message in said network, said one or more elements associated with at least a first parameter associated with a service broker;

means for identifying a plurality of application servers as a function of said one or more elements, each application server in said plurality adapted to provide one or more communication services in said network;

means for assigning a priority to each application server in said plurality, said priority a function of said communication service to be provided and said at least a first parameter; and

means for invoking each application server in said plurality according to said assigned priority in order to provide said one or more communication services.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

means for determining whether said elements require application processing.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for identifying a plurality of application servers comprises means for identifying an application server pointer associated with each application server in said plurality of application servers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising means for identifying an address and a port associated with each application server as a function of said application server pointer.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for assigning comprises means for creating an ordered list of applications to be performed.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for assigning comprises means for assigning a precedence index to each element of signaling information.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for creating said ordered list as a function of said precedence index assigned to each element of signaling information.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for invoking comprises:

means for receiving a first message from a first application server that has completed application processing for a call; and

means for determining that processing of said call by a second application server is desired; and

means for sending a second message to said second application server to invoke said processing of said call by said second application server.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for determining comprises means for identifying as a function of said assigned priority the next application server in which said call is to be forwarded to.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

means for determining that all applications to be applied to a call have been performed; and

means for forwarding said call to an intended destination.