Method and apparatus for communication services on a network

• US 6,498,797 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramakrishnan, Kadangode K., Mishra, Partho Pratim, Gopalakrishnan, Raman, Sreenan, Cormac John, Anerousis, Nikolaos, Kalmanek, Charles Robert Jr., Kaplan, Alan Edward, Marshall, William Todd, Onufryk, Peter Z
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US09/190,125
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/278, 370/282, 370/285, 370/392, 370/401, 370/402, 370/465, 370/522, 370/252, 370/352, 370/428, 370/429, 379/88.02, 379/220.01, 379/245, 379/246, 379/229
• US Class Current: 370/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• 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 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1255 where the switching fabric and the switching logic are decomposed such as in Media Gateway Control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A method for performing communications over a network comprises receiving a user record for a first user, receiving a query from a second user with regard to the first user, and sending, to the second user, as a response to the query, a call-handling profile.

Claims

1. A method for performing communications over a network comprising:

(a) receiving a user record for a first user, wherein the user record contains a distinguishing name for the first user and a call-appearance set comprising at least one call appearance and wherein the call appearance set includes a reference to a first terminal-tracking server and wherein the user record is configured to point to a second terminal-tracking server when a terminal moves to a domain served by the second terminal-tracking server;

(b) receiving a query from a second user with regard to the first user;

(c) generating, as a response to the query, a call-handling profile to be used by the second user to communicate with the first user, wherein the generated response is derived at least from information stored in the first user record; and

(d) sending, to the second user, the call-handling profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received query comprises a second user'"'"'s distinguishing name.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the received query comprises the capabilities of the second-user'"'"'s terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the received query comprises a first-user persona.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the received query comprises a second user'"'"'s preferences regarding the media exchange.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the received query comprises information as to conditions under which the second user is willing to communicate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received query comprises an indication of urgency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the received query comprises a second user'"'"'s persona.

9. An apparatus for performing communication over a network comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) a port coupled to said processor;

(c) a memory coupled to said port and said processor, storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

(i) receive a user record for a first user, wherein the user record contains a distinguishing name for the first user and a call-appearance set comprising at least one call appearance and wherein the call-appearance set includes a reference to a first terminal-tracking server and wherein the user record is configured to point to a second terminal-tracking server when a terminal moves to a domain served by the second terminal-tracking server;

(ii) receive a query from a second user with regard to the first user;

(iii) generate, as a response to the query, a call-handling profile to be used by the second user to communicate with the first user, wherein the generated response is derived at least from information stored in the first user record; and

(iv) send, to the second user, the call-handling profile.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the received query comprises a second user'"'"'s distinguishing name.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the received query comprises the capabilities of a second-user'"'"'s terminal.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the received query comprises a first-user persona.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the received query comprises a second user'"'"'s preferences regarding a media exchange.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the received query comprises information as to conditions under which the second user is willing to communicate.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the received query comprises an indication of urgency.

16. A computer-readable medium that stores instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

(a) receive a user record for a first user, wherein the user record contains a distinguishing name for the first user and a call-appearance set comprising at least one call appearance and wherein the call-appearance set includes a reference to a first terminal-tracking server and wherein the user record is configured to point to a second terminal-tracking server when a terminal moves to a domain served by the second terminal-tracking server;

(b) receive a query from a second user with regard to the first user;

(c) generate, as a response to the query, a call-handling profile to be used by the second user to communicate with the first user wherein the generated response is derived at least from information stored in the first user record; and

(d) send, to the second user, the call-handling profile.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the received query comprises a second user'"'"'s distinguishing name.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the received query comprises the capabilities of the second-user'"'"'s terminal.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the received query comprises a first-user persons.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the received query comprises a second user'"'"'s preferences regarding the media exchange.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the received query comprises information as to conditions under which the second user is willing to communicate.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the received query comprises an indication of urgency.

23. An apparatus for performing communication over a network comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) a port coupled to said processor;

(c) a memory coupled to said port and said processor, storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

(i) receive a user record for a first user, wherein the user record contains a distinguishing name for the first user;

(ii) receive a query from a second user with regard to the first user;

(iii) generate, as a response to the query, a call-handling profile to be used by the second user to communicate with the first user, wherein the generated response is derived at least from information stored in the first user record;

(iv) send, to the second user, the call-handling profile;

(v) establish a signaling exchange based on the call-handling profile; and

(vi) establish a media exchange following the signaling exchange.

24. A computer-readable medium that stores instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

(a) receive a user record for a first user, wherein the user record contains a distinguishing name for the first user;

(b) receive a query from a second user with regard to the first user;

(c) generate, as a response to the query, a call-handling profile to be used by the second user to communicate with the first user wherein the generated response is derived at least from information stored in the first user record;

(d) send, to the second user, the call-handling profile;

(e) establish a signaling exchange based on the call-handling profile; and

(f) establish a media exchange following the signaling exchange.

25. A method for providing telephony services over a network, comprising:

(a) receiving information about a first user over the network, the information including a distinguishing name, at least one query handling profile and at least one call appearance;

(b) receiving a query from a second user over the network, the query including the distinguishing name;

(c) creating a call handling profile based on the distinguishing name, the query handling profile, and the call appearance, wherein the query handling profile is associated with at least one call appearance set, each call appearance set including at least one call appearance, and wherein the query handling profile includes a table of matching rules, each rule being associated with the call appearance set; and

(d) sending a response to the second user over the network, the response including the call handling profile.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the call appearance includes a type, a network layer address, a terminal capability, a priority, and a timeout.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the call appearance includes at least one of an identifier, a transport layer address, and application information.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the call appearance includes a network layer address of a first terminal-tracking server currently associated with the first user, and wherein the method further comprises updating the call appearance to replace the network layer address of the first terminal-tracking server with a network layer address of a second terminal-tracking server currently associated with the first user.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the call handling profile includes a superset of the information about the first user and wherein the superset includes a connection cost.