Data transmission via a public switched telephone network

• US 5,467,390 A
• Filed: 04/22/1994
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Dorsey, James M., Brankley, Russell J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Application Number:
  US08/232,841
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100, 379/229, 379/233, 379/243, 379/246, 379/251, 379/258, 379/20, 379/93, 379/94, 379/210, 370/110.1
• US Class Current: 379/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32438 Informing the addressee of reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13542 numbering plans, e.g. number re-allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) linking an originating facility and a terminating facility through an originating switch connected to the originating facility and a terminating switch connected to the terminating facility where the terminating facility includes multi-format data terminal devices including a telephone terminal and an additional non-telephone data terminal where the telephone terminal and the non-telephone terminal each have an NPA-NXX-XXXX address, a method including the steps of (a) creating a message at the originating facility, (b) creating an address for the message comprising the NPA-NXX-XXXX address of the telephone station plus an added data characteristic indicative of the non-telephone terminal to which the message is directed, (c) transmitting the address through the originating switch to the terminating switch, (d) analyzing the address at the terminating switch and (e) connecting the message to the data terminal characterized by the added data set.

Claims

1. In a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) linking an originating facility for transmitting data of an NPA-NXX-XXXX address with an added data set and a terminating facility through an originating PSTN switch and a terminating PSTN switch wherein said terminating facility includes a telephone station terminal and at least one data terminal for outputting data in a non-audible format, said terminating facility having a distinct NPA-NXX-XXXX address, the improvement comprising:

(a) a customer premise (CPE) switch;

(b) a processor associated with said CPE switch;

(c) said telephone station terminal and at least a non-telephone data terminal being connected to said CPE switch;

(d) means at said terminating PSTN switch for transmitting to said CPE switch ring signals and signaling information;

(e) said terminating PSTN switch being arranged to transmit to said CPE switch the data of said NPA-NXX-XXXX address of said telephone station in addition to said added data set; and

(f) muting means associated with said processor for preventing a first ringing indication from being detected by a called party at said telephone station terminal, while allowing a second ringing indication to be detected at said non-telephone data terminal;

wherein said CPE switch and associated processor are responsive only to said added data set to establish connection to said terminal having an output format corresponding to the characteristic of said added data set.

2. In a PSTN according to claim 1, indicating means associated with said CPE switch for indicating receipt of data and the identity of a data terminal to which said data is addressed.

3. In a PSTN according to claim 1, said means at said originating facility for transmitting said added data set transmitting said added data set as a prefix to the NPA-NXX-XXXX address.

4. In a PSTN according to claim 1, said means at said originating facility for transmitting said added data set transmitting said added data set as a suffix to the NPA-NXX-XXXX address.

5. In a PSTN according to claim 1, said means at said originating facility for transmitting to said originating switch the PNA-NXX-XXXX address of said telephone station and an added data set being arranged to establish a call channel parameter.

6. In a PSTN according to claim 5, said call channel parameter comprising data repetition rate.

7. In a PSTN according to claim 1, said means at said originating facility for transmitting to said originating PSTN switch the NPA-NXX-XXXX address of said telephone station terminal at said terminating facility being arranged to transmit and said terminating PSTN switch being arranged to respond to a prefix comprising initial digits recognized under the North American Dialing Plan as non-telephone number digits.

8. In a communication network linking an originating facility transmitting data of an NPA-NXX-XXXX address with an added data set and a terminating facility through an originating PSTN switch and a terminating PSTN switch wherein said terminating facility includes a telephone station terminal and at least one data terminal for outputting data in a non-audible format, said terminating facility having a distinct NPA-NXX-XXXX address, the improvement comprising:

(a) a customer premise (CPE) switch;

(b) a processor associated with said CPE switch;

(c) said telephone station terminal and at least a non-telephone data terminal being connected to said CPE switch;

(d) means at said terminating PSTN switch for transmitting to said CPE swatch ring signals and signaling information;

(e) said terminating switch being arranged to transmit to said CPE switch the data of said NPA-NXX-XXXX address of said telephone station in addition to said added data set; and

(f) muting means associated with said processor for preventing a first ringing indication from being detected by a called party at said telephone station terminal while allowing a second ringing indication to be detected at said non-telephone data terminal,

wherein said CPE switch and associated processor are responsive only to said added data set to establish connection to said terminal having an output format corresponding to the characteristic of said added data set.