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` Filed Wrapper for – WO1999057918
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`Pub. No.:
`WO/1999/057918
`
`
`Publication Date:
`11.11.1999
`Chapter 2 Demand Filed: 01.12.1999
`IPC:
`
`International Application No.:
`
`International Filing Date:
`
`
`PCT/US1999/009493
`
`29.04.1999
`
`
`
`H04Q 3/00 (2006.01), H04Q 3/545 (2006.01)
`
`Applicants: GATEWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC. [US/US]; Suite 102 1544 Valwood Parkway Carrollton, TX 75006
`(US)
`BROWN, Barry, D.; (US).
`HOGG, John, S.; (US)
`PATEL, Rajiv, P.; Fenwick & West LLP Two Palo Alto Square Palo Alto, CA 94306 (US)
`Agent:
`Priority Data: 09/072,436 04.05.1998 US
`Title
`(EN) TELECOMMUNICATION RESOURCE ALLOCATION
`(FR) ALLOCATION DE RESSOURCES DE TELECOMMUNICATION
`
`Inventors:
`
`
`
`
`
`Abstract:
`
`Designated
`States:
`
`
`(EN)A telecommunication system includes a plurality of applications, a plurality of telecommunication
`resources, and a telecommunication services kernel. At least one telecommunication resource is capable
`of generating an event and each application is capable of responding to an event. The telecommunication
`services kernel couples a requested application triggered by the event with a telecommunication resource
`required by the application. The telecommunication services kernel also de-couples the requested
`application and the required telecommunication resource in response to the requested application
`completing execution. The required telecommunication resource is now available to other applications. A
`method for allocating a telecommunication resource to an application in a telecommunications system is
`also disclosed.
`(FR)Ce système de télécommunication comprend plusieurs applications, plusieurs ressources de
`télécommunication et un noyau de services de télécommunication. Une ressource de télécommunication
`au moins est à même de produire un événement auquel chaque application est en mesure de répondre.
`Le noyau de services de télécommunication couple une application demandée déclenchée par un
`événement à une ressource de télécommunication demandée par l'application. Ce noyau de services de
`télécommunication découple également l'application de la ressource de télécommunication demandées
`en réponse à l'application demandée assurant l'exécution. La ressource de télécommunication
`demandée est alors à la disposition d'autres applications. L'invention porte également sur une technique
`d'allocation d'une ressource de télécommunication à une application dans un système de
`télécommunications.
`AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE,
`GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN,
`MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA,
`ZW.
`African Regional Intellectual Property Org. (ARIPO) (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG, ZW)
`Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM)
`European Patent Office (EPO) (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT,
`SE)
`African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE,
`SN, TD, TG).
`
`Publication Language:
`Filing Language:
`
`
`
`
`English (EN)
`English (EN)
`
`1
`
`GTL 1005
`IPR of U.S. Patent 7,324,637
`
`

`

`PCT
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`wo 99/57918
`(51) International Patent Classification 6 :
`H04Q 3/00
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`Al
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`11 November 1999 (11.11.99)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/US99/09493
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`29 April 1999 (29.04.99)
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`09/072,436
`
`4 May 1998 (04.05.98)
`
`us
`
`(71) Applicant: GATEWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC. [US/US];
`Suite 102, 1544 Valwood Parkway, Carrollton, TX 75006
`(US).
`
`(81) Designated States: AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG,
`BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB,
`GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG,
`KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK,
`MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI,
`SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW,
`ARIPO patent (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG,
`ZW), Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ,
`TM), European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI,
`FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent
`(BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE,
`SN, TD, TG).
`
`(72) Inventors: BROWN, Barry, D.; 3201 Colby Circle, Mesquite,
`TX 75149 (US). HOGG, John, S.; 1104 Overbill Street, Published
`Hurst, TX 76022 (US).
`With international search report.
`
`(74) Agents: PATEL, Rajiv, P. eta!.; Fenwick & West LLP, Two
`Palo Alto Square, Palo Alto, CA 94306 (US).
`
`(54) Title: TELECOMMUNICATION RESOURCE ALLOCATION
`
`TELECOMMUNICATION
`SERVICE KERNEL 320
`
`SESSION
`MANAGER
`430
`
`SYSTEM
`MANAGER
`425
`
`...
`CONNECTION f'l
`•
`CORE SERVICES MODULE
`MANAGER ~
`INTERFACE
`315a
`445
`,.
`~~==~~==~~~==~!
`
`b..tl APPLICATION
`~ 410
`
`~ESOURCE
`MANAGER
`440
`
`...
`HARDWARE
`MANAGER
`435
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`A telecommunication system includes a plurality of applications, a plurality of telecommunication resources, and a telecommunication
`services kernel. At least one telecommunication resource is capable of generating an event and each application is capable of responding
`to an event. The telecommunication services kernel couples a requested application triggered by the event with a telecommunication
`resource required by the application. The telecommunication services kernel also de-couples the requested application and the required
`telecommunication resource in response to the requested application completing execution. The required telecommunication resource is now
`available to other applications. A method for allocating a telecommunication resource to an application in a telecommunications system is
`also disclosed.
`
`2
`
`

`

`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`
`AL
`AM
`AT
`AU
`AZ
`BA
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`BJ
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CN
`cu
`cz
`DE
`DK
`EE
`
`Albania
`Annenia
`Austria
`Australia
`Azerbaijan
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`C<lte d'Ivoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Cuba
`Czech Republic
`Gennany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`
`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan
`Democratic People's
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The fonner Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`sz
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`us
`uz
`VN
`YU
`zw
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`VietNam
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
`
`3
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`PCT/US99/09493
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`TELECOMMUNICATION RESOURCE ALLOCATION .
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`1.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to the field of telecommunications systems, and
`more particularly, to systems and methods for allocating telecommunication
`resources to an application in a telecommunications system .
`. 2.
`Description of the Related Art
`Conventional computer telephony products allow for connecting
`applications to particular computer telephony resources, or components. To
`connect these components within a computer telephony product, the
`application must be written to use each manufacturers programming
`interface for the application to be able to communicate with the telephony
`resources. For each telephony resource within a computer telephony product,
`it is necessary to write a portion of the application that is dedicated to
`issuing instructions to that particular type of telephony resource.
`In conventional computer
`telephony products, each application
`includes a design phase, coding phase, testing phase, and integration phase.
`Specifically, each portion of the application must be designed to integrate
`with a specific functionality of each dedicated computer telephony resource
`and the overall product. This functionality is specifically coded, or written,
`using computer language code. Each coded portion of the application is then
`tested to ensure that it functions exactly as designed. Finally, each portion
`of the application must be integrated to create the final product.
`In creating such conventional computer telephony products, multiple
`development paths are followed during the development cycle. Further, the
`complexity of conventional computer telephony products requires a large
`number of paths and a large number of operations along each path.
`Specifically, these paths must be followed for each portion of the overall
`system, such as an interface to a particular computer telephony resource or
`a particular user interface. Moreover, in every instance that a computer
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`PCT /US99/09493
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`telephony resource is changed or added, the appropriate development path~
`must also be changed or added. This is particularly troublesome when the
`
`computer telephony resource involves different types of hardware.
`
`To help ease development, a
`
`first generation of software based
`
`5
`
`computer telephony products used Computer Aided Software Engineering
`
`(CASE) tools to design systems. These conventional CASE development
`
`systems make it easier to determine how many paths or what changes are
`
`needed on a given path to build or reconfigure a computer telephony product.
`
`These conventional systems, however, do not reduce complexity because they
`
`10
`
`can not, for example, reduce the number of paths needed to complete
`
`changes in a conventional computer telephony product.
`
`A second generation of software based computer telephony products
`
`used Code Generators (CG) to design systems. The CG development systems
`
`automated the process for developing paths to completion. This makes the
`
`15
`
`actual time spent following the paths to completion more reasonable.
`
`Conventional CG developed or derived systems, however, have numerous
`
`drawbacks.
`
`For example, similar to the conventional CASE developed
`
`systems the CG developed systems cannot reduce the number of paths
`
`necessary to be followed for completion.
`
`20
`
`Moreover, any additional computer code input beyond that generated
`
`by the CG program is lost and must to be re-done for each change in the
`
`path to completion. These changes, of course, are tedious and laborious and
`
`the process is prone to introducing new or additional errors into the
`
`computer telephony product.
`
`25
`
`To further help ease the development process, a third generation of
`
`computer telephony products developed through the vendor companies that
`
`produce the computer telephony resources.
`
`Specifically, these vendors
`
`developed two divergent design schemes that provide design specifications
`
`that computer telephony resource manufactures might follow.
`
`If followed,
`
`30
`
`the specifications allow for computer telephony resources from different
`
`vendors to operate within the same computer telephony product.
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`The first of the two design schemes developed is Multi-Vendor Interface
`Protocol ("MVIP'') and the second design scheme is SCBus. It is noted that
`the original design scheme was called SCSA for Signal Computing System
`Architecture, later this was modified to SCBus, which is Signal Computing
`5 Bus, and it has now been extended for multi-chassis integration and is call
`SCxBus for Signal Computing extended Bus.
`
`Although
`
`these design schemes allow
`for having multi-vendor
`computer telephony resources within a single conventional computer
`telephony product, there are still drawbacks to this generation of computer
`telephony products. Foremost among the problems is that these standards
`only apply to the communications between telephony resources and make no
`changes in the application to telephony resource communication. That is,
`with the MVIP or SCBus protocol, it is possible to put different vendor's
`hardware into the same product, but the application must still be written to
`each individual telephony resource within the product.
`In an attempt to address the shortcomings of the previous three
`generations, a fourth generation of computer telephony products was
`developed. These conventional computer telephony products were developed
`using the MVIP and SCBus design schemes and layered on a new application
`protocol that allowed multiple applications to run on a given set of computer
`telephony resources.
`
`These conventional computer
`
`telephony products do allow
`
`for
`
`allocating multiple
`
`computer
`telephony
`resources
`among multiple
`applications, but only in a static manner. That is, resource allocation in
`these products is fixed during an initialization of the product by using a
`configuration file provided by a product administrator and this configuration
`file cannot be changed without re-starting or re-initializing the product
`which, of course, requires all applications to be shut down.
`This fourth generation of computer telephony products still has a
`number of drawbacks. For example, the computer telephony resources must
`be allocated to an application before any application goes into operation.
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`Further, these products lack flexibility, such as dynamic configuration,
`because all resources must be allocated at initialization to particular
`applications. Moreover, these products lack dynamic scalability because the
`addition or subtraction of new computer telephony resources requires re-
`start andre-initializing of the computer telephony product.
`Therefore, there is a need for a telecommunication system and method
`that (1) allows for dynamic configurability of telecommunication resources
`that (2) does not require applications
`to be dedicated
`to particular
`telecommunication resources at development or system initialization, while
`(3) providing system flexibility and scalability by allowing for addition or
`subtraction of telecommunication resources without re-initializing
`the
`telecommunication services system and (4) provides fewer and shorter paths
`to completion for applications.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present
`invention
`includes a
`telecommunication
`(including
`computer telephony) system and a method for dynamically allocating one or
`more telecommunication resources to a requesting telecommunications
`application within a telecommunications product. The present invention
`includes computer hardware components; for example, a central processing
`unit, a memory, and a storage device that are coupled through a data bus
`line. The present invention may also include other computer hardware
`components; for example, a video card, a serial port, a device controller, and
`a network card.
`
`In one embodiment, the telecommunication system or product also a
`plurality of telecommunication resources and a telecommunication services
`kernel. The telecommunication system works with one or more applications
`that provide telecommunication functions. Each application is capable of
`responding to an event generated within the telecommunication system.
`Further, at least one telecommunication resource is capable of generating an
`event for a requested application. This event may include executing
`(processing) a requested application.
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`The
`telecommunication
`services kernel couples
`the
`requested
`application with a required telecommunication resource or resources for that
`application. When the application completes execution and finishes use of
`the
`telecommunication resource or resources,
`the
`telecommunication
`services kernel de-couples the required telecommunication resource or
`resources from the requested application and makes it available for another
`instance of that application or another application within the system.
`In one embodiment, the telecommunication services kernel includes a
`system manager module, a session manager module, a hardware manager
`10 module, a resource manager module, and a connection manager module.
`The modules are coupled through a core services module interface to a core
`services module. The core services module passes messages between an
`operating system that interfaces with the hardware components of the
`telecommunication system, and the modules of the telecommunication
`services kernel.
`The system manager module provides an inventory of the plurality of
`logical telecommunication resources in the telecommunication system.
`In
`addition, the system manager starts applications as requested in response to
`the event. The session manager module is coupled to the system manager
`and registers each application that is started and currently executing in the
`telecommunication system.
`The hardware manager module initially configures each physical
`telecommunication resource and maps physical resources into logical units
`that is in or added to the telecommunication system. The hardware manager
`25 module also tracks each telecommunication resource that is not allocated
`from the plurality of telecommunication resources. The resource manager is
`coupled to the hardware manager module. The resource manager module
`tracks each telecommunication resource that is allocated to and in use by
`any application.
`The connection manager module 1s coupled to the resource manager
`module. The connection manager module establishes routing information in
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`all
`
`possible
`
`the telecommunication system using internal routing tables, internal and
`external telephony resource mapping, and it's own internal connection map.
`The routing information includes voice and data paths both internally, as
`well as externally to, the telecommunication system.
`Where possible, the connection manager provides a route from this
`routing information to a telecommunication resource in response to the
`telecommunication resource needing a particular voice or data path. The
`connection manager then notifies the application that the path is either
`successfully set up or was not successful, in which case each application
`10 must determine what further action may be necessary.
`The telecommunication system also includes a virtual device interface
`that is coupled, or may be integrated with, to the telecommunication services
`kernel. The virtual device interface provides an interface between an
`application and the telecommunication services kernel. The virtual device
`interface
`is
`a
`virtual
`telephony
`resource
`having
`telecommunication resource capabilities.
`The virtual device
`interface
`includes a translation unit, a command receive unit, and a command send
`unit.
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`The command receive unit receives a request from the application to
`perform a particular function. The translation unit translates this virtual
`device command from the application to the specific hardware-related
`commands that can be understood by the vendor- or standards-specific
`telecommunication resources
`in
`the
`telecommunication system.
`
`The
`
`command send unit
`
`issues
`the specific commands
`to
`the specific
`telecommunication resource. The components and process also function vice
`versa so that a telecommunication resource command is translated for the
`application.
`
`Thus, applications may be written to this single interface rather than to
`each specific interface associated with each telecommunication resource.
`30 This allows development of systems without prior knowledge or
`understanding of the capabilities of particular hardware vendors or other
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`telephony resources, thereby reducing and shortening the number of
`
`development paths necessary.
`
`The telecommunication system provides a process for dynamically
`
`assigning at least one telecommunication resource
`
`to the application
`
`5
`
`requesting the telecommunication resources in response to the triggering
`
`event
`
`signal.
`
`Specifically,
`
`the event
`
`signal
`
`is
`
`received by
`
`the
`
`telecommunication services kernel. The telecommunication system starts
`
`and executes an application in response to the event signal.
`
`The application then signals a request for a
`
`telecommunication
`
`10
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`resource from the telecommunication services kernel.
`
`In response to this
`
`request,
`
`the
`
`telecommunication
`
`services kernel
`
`determines
`
`if
`
`a
`
`telecommunication
`
`resource
`
`is
`
`allocation.
`If
`a
`telecommunication resource is available for allocation it proceeds to allocate
`
`available
`
`for
`
`that available
`
`telecommunication
`
`resource
`
`to
`
`the application.
`
`If
`
`15
`
`telecommunication resources are not available, the application is notified and
`
`the application provides further responses as to a relevant course of action.
`
`When
`
`the
`
`application
`
`completes
`
`execution,
`
`it
`
`notifies
`
`the
`
`telecommunication services kernel. The telecommunication services kernel
`
`de-allocates the telecommunication resource from the application. The
`
`20
`
`telecommunication resource is now available to be allocated for a future
`
`request for a telecommunication resource by an application.
`
`The telecommunication system and method of the present invention
`
`advantageously allows for allocating a telecommunication resource to an
`
`application in a dynamic manner. By keeping a single pool or multiple
`
`25
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`administrator defined pools of telecommunication resources, rather than
`
`dedicating each particular
`
`telecommunication resources
`
`to particular
`
`applications, the present invention beneficially increases overall system
`
`utilization and efficiency. Moreover, the present invention decreases system
`
`costs because more applications can be introduced into the system without
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`30
`
`having to arrange for additional dedicated telecommunication resources.
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`the
`
`In addition,
`the present invention allows for
`telecommunication
`resources to be dynamically added or subtracted from the telecommunication
`system without having
`to
`re-start and
`re-initialize because
`services kernel manages
`
`telecommunication
`
`the
`
`telecommunication
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`resources and
`
`the applications are not dedicated
`to any particular
`telecommunication resource. Further, application developments costs are
`also reduced because applications can be written to a single, standardized
`virtual device interface so that concerns of writing to specific or particular
`vendor or manufacturer defined telecommunication resource specifications
`are eliminated.
`
`The features and advantages described in the specification are not all
`inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be
`apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings,
`specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language
`used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and
`instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or
`circumscribe the inventive subject matter.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`telecommunication system in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 2a is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`telecommunication service system in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 2b is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a
`telecommunication service system in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 3
`is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`telecommunication sub-system in a memory that interfaces with a central
`processing unit in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 4
`is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`telecommunication service kernel in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system
`manager module in accordance with the present invention;
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`Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a session
`manager module in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a hardware
`manager module in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a resource
`manager module in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 9
`is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`connection manager module in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a virtual
`device interface in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 11 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a general
`process for allocating a telecommunication resource to an application m a
`telecommunication system in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 12 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a process
`for executing an application in a telecommunication system in accordance
`with the present invention;
`Figure 13 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a process
`for preparing allocation of a telecommunication resource to an application in
`a telecommunication system in accordance with the present invention;
`Figure 14 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a process
`for establishing a connection between a
`telecommunication resource
`allocated to an application and another point in accordance with the present
`invention;
`
`for
`
`Figure 15 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a process
`communication
`between
`an
`application
`and
`an
`allocated
`telecommunication resource through a virtual device interface in accordance
`with the present invention; and
`Figure 16 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a process
`for de-coupling and returning an assigned telecommunication resource from
`an application back to a pool of telecommunication resources m a
`telecommunication system in accordance with the present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`The present
`invention
`includes a
`telecommunication
`(including
`computer telephony) system and a method for dynamically allocating one or
`more
`telecommunication resources
`to a
`requesting
`telecommunication
`
`application.
`Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
`telecommunication system 100 in accordance with the present invention.
`The telecommunication system 100 includes a primary telecommunication
`service system 110. The telecommunication system 100 may also include
`one or more additional telecommunication service systems 110' and a
`network 120.
`The primary telecommunication service system 110 and the additional
`telecommunication service systems 110' are coupled as nodes on the network
`120. The network 120 can be any data passing network, for example, local
`area network, wide area network, telecommunication network, or computer
`system data bus. Further, a connection to a public switched telephone
`network ("PSTN") can be made from any node (i.e., the primary node 11 0 or
`any of the additional nodes 1101 within the system.
`Figure 2a is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the
`telecommunication service system 110a in accordance with the present
`invention. The telecommunication service system 110a includes a central
`processing unit ("CPU") 205, a memory 210, a storage device 215, one or
`more telecommunication (including computer telephony) resources 220a-
`220n (generally 220), a data bus 225, and a mezzanine bus 230. The central
`processing unit 205, the memory 210, the storage device 215, and each of
`the telecommunication resources 220a-220n are coupled through the data
`bus 225. Further, each of the telecommunication resources 220a-220n are
`coupled to each other through the mezzanine bus 230.
`The telecommunication service system 11 Oa is coupled to one or more
`standard telecommunication equipment devices or systems ("STE") 235.
`Specifically, each STE device 235 may be coupled to a telecommunication
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`resource, e.g., 220c. The STE device 235 is coupled to a public switched
`
`telephone network ("PSTN") 240.
`
`The central processing unit 205 may be a conventional processor or
`
`processing device or system, for example, a x86 or Pentium™ processor by
`
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`
`Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, CA, a SPARC processor by Sun
`
`Microsystems, Inc. or Palo Alto, CA, a PowerPC processor by Motorola, Inc. of
`
`Schaumburg, IL, or other processing device or system that processes
`
`computer instructions. The memory 210 may be a conventional memory
`
`device or system, for example, a dynamic random access memory, a static
`
`10
`
`random access memory, or other memory device or system that stores dates,
`
`instruction, or the like.
`
`It is noted that the memory 210 may extend to
`
`include the storage device 215.
`
`The storage device 215 may be a conventional mass storage device or
`
`system, for example, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a write-able CD-ROM, a flash
`
`15 memory, tape drive, a compression storage drive, or other storage device or
`
`system that allows for longer term storage of data, instructions, or the like.
`
`The data bus 225 may be a conventional data bus, for example, an Industry
`
`Standard Architecture ("ISA") data bus, a Peripheral Component Interface
`
`("PCI") data bus, or other data bus capable of transferring data, instructions,
`
`20
`
`and the like.
`
`The telecommunication resource ("TR") 220 may be a conventional or
`
`custom line card that interfaces with the PSTN 240 or the STE 235, for
`
`example, a Rhetorex ASI Station Interface Card from Lucent Technologies
`
`Inc., of Murray Hill, NJ, a Natural MicroSystems Station Interface Card from
`
`25 Natural MicroSystems, Inc., of Framingham, MA, or other interface card that
`
`is cable of interfacing with the PSTN 240 or the STE 235. Moreover, the
`
`telecommunication resource 220 can be integrated with the PSTN 240 or the
`
`STE 235. The mezzanine bus 230 may be a conventional mezzanine bus, for
`
`example, a Multi-Vendor Interface Protocol
`
`("MVIP'') bus,
`
`the Signal
`
`30 Computing System Architecture SCBus ("SCBus") or Signal Computing
`
`extended bus ("SCxBus"), or the like.
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`The STE 235 device or system may be a conventional STE device or
`system, for example, a public branch exchange ("PBX"), a standard
`telephone, a pay telephone, a cellular telephone, an answering system, a
`playback system, a facsimile system, a voice mail system, or other STE device
`or system capable of providing voice, media, or data telecommunication
`functions. The PSTN 240 is a conventional public switched telephone
`network, including wireless communication networks, for example, those
`owned and operated by SBC Communications Inc. of San Antonio, TX or
`Cellular One Group of Dallas, TX, or other public switched telephone network
`that allows for telephone communications.
`Figure 2b is a block diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a
`telecommunication service system 110b in accordance with the present
`invention. The telecommunication service system 11 Ob includes a central
`processing unit system 205a, a data port system 255, a video system 260, a
`network system 265, a storage controller system 275, a hard disk 215a, a
`high speed communication system 270, a data bus 225a, one or more sets
`(pools