Method for accessing service resource items that are for use in a telecommunications system

• US 8,938,062 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• 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): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Van D
• Application Number:
  US13/525,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20120250842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.01, 379/221.08, 395/200.12, 370/352, 370/401, 455/33.1
• US Class Current: 379/243
• 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:

setting up at least a portion of a call using at least a portion of a call signaling system of a telephone network, further comprising;

determining, by at least one computing device, a domain name based on a telephone number associated with the call,

sending a first message identifying the domain name,

receiving a second message in response to the first message,

using the second message to determine an access scheme and an address suitable for accessing a resource on a packet-based network, and

using the resource to initiate the at least the portion of the call through the telephone network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet-based network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining the domain name to comprise a plurality of digits of the telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises parsing at least a portion of the telephone number to determine the domain name.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message comprises the access scheme.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the using the resource comprises using the resource to initiate the at least the portion of the call through a switched telecommunication system of the telephone network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the using the resource comprises using the resource to initiate the at least the portion of the call through a bearer channel of the telephone network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone network comprises a switched telecommunication system.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a telephony call signaling system, a request for a call that identifies a first telephone number; and

in response to the request;

determining, by the call signaling system, a domain name based on the first telephone number,

sending, by the call signaling system, a first message identifying the domain name,

receiving, by the call signaling system, a second message in response to the first message, and

using, by the call signaling system, the second message to route the call through at least a bearer network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the using the second message to route the call comprises using the second message to determine a uniform resource identifier (URI) and using the URI to route the call.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the bearer network is a bearer network of a switched telecommunication system.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a telephony call signaling system, a request for a call that identifies a first number string; and

in response to the request;

using, by the call signaling system, the first number string to determine a domain name,

providing, by the call signaling system, the domain name to a database,

receiving, by the call signaling system, a record in response to the domain name that was provided to the database, and

using, by the call signaling system, the record to route the call through at least a bearer network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the using the record to route the call comprises using the record to determine a uniform resource identifier (URI) and using the URI to route the call.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the using the first number string comprises determining the domain name to comprise a plurality of digits of the first number string.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the using the first number string comprises parsing at least a portion of the first number string to determine the domain name.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the using the record comprises:

using the record to determine an access scheme;

using the access scheme to access a resource; and

using the resource to route the call through the at least the bearer network.

17. A system, comprising:

a first one or more computing devices of a telephony call signaling system of a communication system, the first one or more computing devices configured to;

in response to a request for a call that identifies a number string, use the number string to determine a domain name; and

use a record to initiate routing of the call through at least a bearer network; and

a second one or more computing devices configured to use the domain name to determine the record.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first one or more computing devices is configured to use the record to initiate the routing of the call by using the record to determine a uniform resource identifier (URI) and using the URI to initiate the routing of the call.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first one or more computing devices is configured to use the number string by determining the domain name to comprise a plurality of digits of the number string.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first one or more computing devices is configured to use the number string by parsing at least a portion of the number string to determine the domain name.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the first one or more computing devices is configured to use the record by:

using the record to determine an access scheme;

using the access scheme to access a resource; and

using the resource to initiate the routing of the call through at least the bearer network.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the bearer network is a bearer network of a switched telecommunication system.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the bearer network comprises a switch-based bearer network.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the first one or more computing devices are configured to use the record to initiate the routing of the call through at least a bearer channel of the bearer network.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication system comprises a switched telecommunication system.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication system is configured for datagram-based communications.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the telephony call signaling system is configured for datagram-based communications to initiate the routing of the call.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the telephony call signaling system is configured for datagram-based communications to initiate the routing of the call using a Signalling System No. Seven (“

SS7”

) protocol suite-based signaling network.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the number string comprises a telephone number.

30. A method, comprising:

performing, by a telephony call signaling system of a communication system;

in response to a request for a call that identifies a telephone number, deriving a domain name from the telephone number;

providing the domain name to a database;

receiving a record in response to the domain name that was provided to the database; and

using the record to route the call through at least a bearer network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the using the record to route the call comprises using the record to determine a uniform resource identifier (URI) and using the URI to route the call.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the deriving comprises determining the domain name to comprise a plurality of digits of the telephone number.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the deriving comprises parsing at least a portion of the telephone number to determine the domain name.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the using the record comprises:

using the record to determine an access scheme;

using the access scheme to access a resource; and

using the resource to route the call through the at least the bearer network.