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

• US 8,170,008 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• 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: Low, Colin, Seaborne, Andrew Franklin, Bouthors, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): CHRISS, ANDREW W
• Application Number:
  US12/389,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20100046735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 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, over a switched telecommunication system, a request;

determining, responsive to the request, a call destination using domain name system signaling; and

initiating a call through the switched telecommunication system between a calling party and the call destination that was determined as a result of said domain name system signaling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating the call comprises using SS7 signaling to initiate the call between the calling party and the call destination.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the switched telecommunication system comprises at least one of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a mobile network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said using comprises at least one of:

(1) using domain name system signaling in the Internet, and (2) using domain name system signaling in a private system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request indicates a first telephone number, and the call destination determined as a result of said domain name system signaling is associated with a second telephone number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the call destination is a destination in the switched telecommunication system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the call destination is a destination in a communication system coupled to the switched telecommunication system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said using domain name system signaling comprises:

sending a query to a database system; and

receiving from the database system a response to the query, the response indicating the call destination.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the database system comprises the domain name system of the Internet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the database system is independent of the domain name system of the Internet.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the request to determine a domain name, wherein said using domain name system signaling comprises:

sending a query to a database system, the query comprising the domain name; and

receiving from the database system a response to the query, the response indicating the call destination,

wherein the response comprises a uniform resource name, and said determining the call destination comprises using the uniform resource name to determine the call destination.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the call is through both the switched telecommunication system and another telecommunication system.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving, over a switched telecommunication system, an indication of a called party;

determining, responsive to the indication of the called party, a call destination associated with the called party using domain name system signaling; and

initiating a call through the switched telecommunication system between a calling party and the call destination that was determined as a result of said domain name system signaling.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said initiating comprises using SS7 signaling.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said initiating comprises also using at least one of TCAP signaling and ISUP signaling.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein using domain name system signaling comprises sending a query.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein using comprises at least one of:

(1) using domain name system signaling in the Internet, and (2) using domain name system signaling in a private system.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the indication of the called party to determine a domain name, wherein said using domain name system signaling comprises:

sending a query to a database system, the query comprising the domain name; and

receiving from the database system a response to the query, the response indicating the call destination,

wherein the response comprises a uniform resource name, and said determining the call destination comprises using the uniform resource name to determine the call destination.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the call is through both the switched telecommunication system and another telecommunication system.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving, over a switched telecommunication system, a request;

determining, responsive to the request, a record using domain name system signaling;

using the record to determine an indication of a call destination; and

initiating a call through the switched telecommunication system between a calling party and the call destination that was determined using said record that was determined using domain name system signaling.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said initiating comprises using SS7 signaling to set up the call.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said initiating comprises also using at least one of TCAP signaling and ISUP signaling.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the call destination is a destination in the switched telecommunication system.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the call destination is a destination in a communication system coupled to the switched telecommunication system.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said determining the record comprises:

sending a query; and

receiving the record in response to the query.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising using the request to determine a domain name, wherein said determining the record comprises:

sending a query to a database system, the query comprising the domain name; and

receiving the record in response to the query,

wherein the record comprises a uniform resource name, and said using the record comprises using the uniform resource name to determine the indication of the call destination.

27. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a first party;

determining by a computer, responsive to the request, an identifier of a second party using domain name system signaling;

setting up a call through the switched telecommunication system between the first party and the second party that was determined as a result of said domain name system signaling.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising using the request to determine a domain name, wherein said using domain name system signaling comprises:

sending a query to a database system, the query comprising the domain name; and

receiving from the database system a response to the query,

wherein the response comprises a uniform resource name, and said determining the indication of the second party comprises using the uniform resource name to determine the indication of the second party.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the call is through both the switched telecommunication system and another telecommunication system.