Method and apparatus for accessing communication data relevant to a target entity identified by a number string

• US 7,903,641 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Seaborne, Andrew Franklin, Low, Colin, Bouthors, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, IV; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chriss; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/389,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20100046728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2867 Physical combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/30 Types of network names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/38 Telephone uniform resource identifier [URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1041 Televoting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 : Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 : Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 : comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 : interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 : with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 : Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 : where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 : Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 : Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 : Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 : Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 : Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13504 : client/server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13526 : resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 : protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13528 : SCP architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13534 : Internet - WWW, HTML, browsers etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13546 : Intelligent Peripheral
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 : Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 : Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

Service resource items for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastructure; this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service item is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resource item associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI which is then used to access the desired service resource item.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving first data representing a first telephone number;

determining, by a telecommunications system control apparatus, a domain name based on the first telephone number;

generating second data representing the domain name;

after the generating, receiving third data representing a universal resource identifier (URI); and

reading information from a page identified by the URI, wherein the information represents a second telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting up a call to the second telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus comprises a service control point (SCP).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus is part of a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus is part of a public land mobile network (PLMN).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the URI is a universal resource locator (URL).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the domain name comprises parsing the first telephone number to determine the domain name.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the page is a page of the World Wide Web on the Internet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the URI contains all digits of the first telephone number.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a first domain name;

determining, by a computer, a first universal resource identifier (URI) based on the first domain name, wherein the computer comprises a database associating a plurality of domain names including the first domain name with a plurality of URIs including the first URI, and wherein determining comprises the computer sending a query including the first domain name to the database and receiving the first URI from the database; and

reading information from a page identified by the first URI.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information represents a first telephone number, the method further comprising setting up a call to the first telephone number.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the page is a page of the World Wide Web on the Internet.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving first data representing a first telephone number;

determining, by a telecommunications system control apparatus, a domain name based on the first telephone number;

generating second data representing the domain name;

after the generating, receiving third data representing a universal resource identifier (URI); and

determining a second telephone number based on the URI.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising setting up a call to the second telephone number.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus comprises a service control point (SCP).

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus is part of a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus is part of a public land mobile network (PLMN).

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the URI is a universal resource locator (URL).

19. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the domain name comprises parsing the telephone number to determine the domain name.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the URI contains all digits of the first telephone number.

21. A method, comprising:

determining, by a telecommunications system control apparatus, a domain name based on a first telephone number;

sending a message identifying the domain name;

receiving a reply to the message, the reply identifying a universal resource identifier (URI); and

determining a second telephone number based on the URI.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising setting up a call to the second telephone number.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus comprises a service control point (SCP).

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus is part of a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the telecommunications system control apparatus is part of a public land mobile network (PLMN).

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the URI is a universal resource locator (URL).

27. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the domain name comprises parsing the first telephone number to determine the domain name.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the location is a page of the World Wide Web on the Internet.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the URI contains all digits of the first telephone number.

30. A method, comprising:

receiving a first domain name;

sending, by a computer, a query identifying the first domain name to a database that associates a plurality of domain names including the first domain name with a plurality of URIs;

receiving from the database a reply identifying a first one of the URIs; and

reading information from a location identified by the first one of the URIs.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the information represents a first telephone number, the method further comprising setting up a call to the first telephone number.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the location is a page of the World Wide Web on the Internet.