Convergence of circuit-switched voice and packet-based media services

• US 7,894,581 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Pyke, Craik R., Osterhout, Gregory, Villarica, R. Alberto, Yuhanna, Raheel, Sylvain, Dany
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US10/746,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,617 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.23, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/93.01, 379/202.01, 379/204.01, 379/205.01, 379/93.21, 379/158, 379/93.17, 370/261, 370/265
• US Class Current: 379/93.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

In one embodiment, a service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call from a first terminal to a second terminal, and automatically provide information to media clients associated with the first and second terminals such that a media session can be readily established between the media clients in association with the call. The service node may be configured to interact with telephony switches that support the first or second terminals, directly or indirectly via a signaling adaptor. In a second embodiment, the service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call and will route the call to a gateway, which is controllable by the service node. Once the call is sent to the gateway, the service node may provide instructions to the gateway for routing or otherwise processing the call.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) determining a call is being initiated from a first terminal to a second terminal;

b) routing the call to a gateway, controlled by a service node, wherein call routing logic can be applied from the gateway;

c) instructing the gateway to route the call according to the call routing logic, wherein the call routing logic is applied to instruct the gateway to sequentially route the call to a plurality of terminals until the call is answered; and

d) sending a message through the gateway over a packet network to a media client associated with at least one of the first and second terminals.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a message indicating the call is being initiated from the first terminal to the second terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the message is received from a signaling adaptor, which sent the message in response to an origination message from a telephony switch.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a message to a telephony switch associated with the second terminal to route the call to the gateway.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a message to the gateway to provide instructions to the gateway for routing the call.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying the call routing logic instructing the gateway to route the call to the second terminal.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying the call routing logic instructing the gateway to route the call to a third terminal.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying the call routing logic instructing the gateway to route the call to the second terminal, and if the second terminal is not answered, instructing the gateway to route the call to a voicemail system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the message provides information bearing on the call.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the message provides information to establish a media session associated with the call.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving information from the gateway indicating the call has ended.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending information to the gateway indicating the call has ended.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein if the call is not answered within a certain number of rings, instructing the gateway to route the call to a voicemail system.

9. A method comprising:

a) determining a call is being initiated from a first terminal to a second terminal;

b) routing the call to a gateway, controlled by a service node, wherein call routing logic can be applied from the gateway;

c) instructing the gateway to route the call according to the call routing logic, wherein the call routing logic is applied to instruct the gateway to simultaneously route the call to a plurality of terminals and connect the call to a first of the plurality of terminals that is answered; and

d) sending a message through the gateway over a packet network to a media client associated with at least one of the first and second terminals.

14. A system comprising:

a) at least one communication interface; and

b) a control system associated with the at least one communication interface for;

i) determining a call is being initiated from a first terminal to a second terminal;

ii) routing the call to a gateway, controlled by a service node, wherein call routing logic can be applied from the gateway;

iii) instructing the gateway to route the call according to the call routing logic, wherein the control system is further adapted to instruct the gateway to simultaneously route the call to a plurality of terminals and connect the call to a first of the plurality of terminals that is answered; and

iv) sending a message through the gateway over a packet network to a media client associated with at least one of the first and second terminals.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive a message indicating the call is being initiated from the first terminal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the message is received from a signaling adaptor, which sent the message in response to an origination message from a telephony switch.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the control system is further adapted to send a message to a telephony switch associated with the second terminal to route the call to the gateway.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the control system is further adapted to send a message to the gateway to provide instructions to the gateway for routing the call.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the control system is further adapted to instruct the gateway to route the call to the second terminal.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the control system is further adapted to instruct the gateway to route the call to a third terminal.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the control system is further adapted to instruct the gateway to route the call to the second terminal, and if the second terminal is not answered, instruct the gateway to route the call to a voicemail system.

23. The system of claim 14 wherein the message provides information bearing on the call.

24. The system of claim 14 wherein the message provides information to establish a media session associated with the call.

25. The system of claim 14 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive information from the gateway indicating the call has ended.

26. The system of claim 14 wherein the control system is further adapted to send information to the gateway indicating the call has ended.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein if the call is not answered within a certain number of rings, the control system is further adapted to route the call to a voicemail system.

22. A system comprising:

a) at least one communication interface; and

b) a control system associated with the at least one communication interface for;

i) determining a call is being initiated from a first terminal to a second terminal;

ii) routing the call to a gateway, controlled by a service node, wherein call routing logic can be applied from the gateway;

iii) instructing the gateway to route the call according to the call routing logic, wherein the control system is further adapted to instruct the gateway to sequentially route the call to a plurality of terminals until the call is answered; and

iv) sending a message through the gateway over a packet network to a media client associated with at least one of the first and second terminals.

29. A method comprising:

a) determining a call is being initiated from a first terminal to a second terminal;

b) routing the call to a gateway, controlled by a service node, wherein call routing logic can be applied from the gateway;

c) instructing the gateway to route the call according to the call routing logic such that the call is connected with a terminal; and

d) sending a separate message through the gateway over a packet network to a media client associated with the terminal to which the call is connected, wherein the separate message comprises information sufficient to establish a media session associated with the call.