(12) United States Patent
`Lamb et al.
`
`I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006747970Bl
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`Jun.8,2004
`
`(54) METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
`BETWEEN CONNECTIONLESS AND
`CONNECTION-ORIENTED NETWORKS
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Christopher H. Lamb, 227 Merriam
`St., Weston, MA (US) 02493-1350;
`Scott B. Petrack, 137 Gardner Rd.,
`Brookline, MA (US) 02445; Frank G.
`Slaughter, III, 17 S. Great Rd.,
`Lincoln, MA (US) 01773; James E.
`Toga, 7 Old Farm Cir., Wayland, MA
`(US) 01778
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/531,713
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 21, 2000
`
`(51)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/131,822, filed on Apr. 29,
`1999.
`Int. Cl.7 ......................... H04L 12/66; H04L 12/28;
`H04J 3/22
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................ 370/352; 370/401; 370/466
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 370/352, 353,
`370/466, 467, 401, 389; 379/142.15, 265.01,
`265.09
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,653,090 A
`4,723,238 A
`4,809,272 A
`4,837,798 A
`4,866,758 A
`5,029,200 A
`
`3/1987 Hayden
`2/1988 Isreal et al.
`2/1989 Torgrim et al.
`6/1989 Cohen et al.
`9/1989 Heinzelmann
`7/1991 Haas et al.
`
`10/1991 Davidson et al.
`5,062,103 A
`3/1992 Gursahaney et al.
`5,097,528 A
`1/1993 La Vallee et al.
`5,181,236 A
`2/1993 Srinivasan
`5,185,782 A
`4/1993 Kohler et al.
`5,206,903 A
`5/1994 Richardson, Jr. et al.
`5,317,627 A
`7/1994 Boaz et al.
`5,333,266 A
`9/1995 Kajiya et al.
`5,448,626 A
`5,884,032 A * 3/1999 Bateman et al. ............ 709/204
`5,991,382 A
`11/1999 Bayless et al.
`5,991,394 A
`11/1999 Dezonno et al.
`6,144,667 A * 11/2000 Doshi et al. ................ 370/401
`6,366,575 Bl * 4/2002 Barkan et al. .............. 370/352
`6,366,576 Bl * 4/2002 Haga .......................... 370/352
`6,445,694 Bl * 9/2002 Swartz ....................... 370/352
`6,498,797 Bl * 12/2002 Anerousis et al. .......... 370/522
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Hassan Kizou
`Assistant Examiner-Timothy Lee
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Chapin & Huang, L.L.C.;
`David E. Huang, Esq.; Barry W. Chapin, Esq.
`ABSTRACT
`
`(57)
`
`A telecommunications system uses software applications
`called user agents, that are preferably Internet-based and that
`operate on behalf of users in a telecommunications hosting
`server to control call connections under control of a tele(cid:173)
`communications network server that interfaces with the
`telecommunications hosting server as well as a connection(cid:173)
`based public-telephone network. The telecommunications
`hosting server operates on a computer network on behalf of
`the user agents to provide call signaling in support of many
`advanced calling and telecommunications services. The
`functionality and, performance (e.g., execution) of the user
`agent(s) preferably takes place primarily within the telecom(cid:173)
`munications hosting server, though user client computers
`can provide some and possibly all of the user agent
`functionality, depending upon the particular implementation
`chosen.
`
`30 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 1 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`108
`
`112
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE (E.G.,
`PSTN SWITCH)
`
`101-B
`PSTN
`SIGNALING
`NETWORK
`(E.G., SS7)
`
`111
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE (E.G.,
`PSTN SWITCH)
`
`107
`
`105
`
`101-A
`PUBLIC
`SWITCHED
`TELEPHONE
`NETWORK
`(PSTN)
`
`113
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE (E.G.,
`PSTN SWITCH)
`
`110
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE (E.G.,
`PSTN SWITCH)
`
`106
`
`CONVENTIONAL CIRCUIT SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK
`
`PRIOR ART
`FIG. 1
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 2 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 2of11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`152
`
`NETWORK
`DEVICE
`
`NETWORK
`DEVICE
`
`102
`CONNECTIONLESS
`IP NETWORK
`
`154
`
`NETWORK
`DEVICE
`
`142
`
`l\.140
`
`CONVENTIONAL INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) NETWORK (E.G. INTERNET)
`EMPLOYING VOICE OVER IP (VOiP) TECHNOLOGY
`
`PRIOR ART
`FIG. 2
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 3 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 3of11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`202-1
`TELECOM
`
`203
`TELECOM
`HOSTING
`SERVER (THS)
`
`205-2
`
`205-1
`
`FIG. 3
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 4 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 4of11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`203
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS HOSTING SERVER {THS)
`
`230
`MEMORY
`235
`
`300
`
`RUNTIME
`ENVIRONMENT
`
`301-1
`U~~K
`AGENT(S)
`
`210
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`TO/FROM
`IP NETWORK
`200
`
`205
`
`+'230
`
`202-1
`TNS
`
`202-2
`SWITCH
`
`215
`
`240_...-+
`
`250
`USER AGENT
`INTERFACE
`(E.G. CLIENT)
`
`220
`USER AGENT J
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS
`SERVICES DATABASE(S)
`
`L-.J.___c_231 ----~
`
`108
`
`106
`
`c:::::> -CALL SIGNALING MESSAGES (E.G. CONTAINING SS7 FORMAT)
`-
`- CALL APPLICATION MESSAGES (E.G., CONNECTIONLESS NETWORK)
`~ - INTER-AGENT MESSAGES (E.G., IPC MECHANISM)
`FIG.4
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 5 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 5of11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`301-1
`
`USER AGENT
`
`310
`AGENT ENGINE
`PROGRAM
`
`330
`BIBLIOGRAPHIC
`INFORMATION
`331
`AUTHORIZATION
`INFORMATION
`332
`HISTORICAL
`INFORMATION
`340
`PHONE
`INFORMATION
`343
`OTHER
`SERVICES/DATA
`
`337
`ACTIVE LOGIN
`INFORMATION
`341
`CLIENT
`PREFERENCES
`338
`AVAILABILITY
`INFORMATION
`334
`CALL
`INVITATIONS
`
`333
`INVITE PROCESSING
`RULES
`342
`CALL LOG
`
`335
`AVAILABILITY
`EXPOSURE RULES
`339
`CURRENT INSTANT
`MESSAGES
`
`336
`COLLEAGUE LIST REVERSE
`COLLEAGUE LIST I STATUS
`
`FIG.SA
`
`300
`RUNTIME ENVIRONMENT
`
`364
`EVENT
`TRACKER
`
`360
`
`RUNTIME
`ENGINE
`
`361
`THS STATE
`INFORMATION
`
`362
`
`DB CLIENT/SERVER
`
`363
`ADMIN. FOR
`THS/AGENTS/DB
`
`305
`MESSAGING SYSTEM
`
`305-1
`
`305-2
`
`SMTP
`DB
`INTERFACE INTERFACE
`
`305-3
`TNS CSM
`INTERFACE
`(E.G. SS7
`FORMAT)
`
`305-4
`
`AGENT/
`INTER-AGENT
`INTERFACE
`
`305-5
`CLIENT CAM
`GATEWAY
`MODULE (E.G.,
`USING SSL)
`
`305-6
`
`LOAD
`BALANCER
`INTERFACE
`
`FIG.58
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 6 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 6of11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`500
`RUNTIME ENVIRONMENT RECEIVES MESSAGE(S) OR EMAIL TO BE
`PROCESSED
`
`501
`PROCESS MESSAGE LOCALLY - UPDATING CALL PRESENCE INFORMATION,
`ACCOUNTING, BILLING, ETC. - PROCESSING VOICE MAIL, EMAIL, ETC.
`
`502
`DETERMINE IF ANY ASSOCIATED USER AGENTS AND/OR USER CLIENTS
`AND/OR CALL CONNECTION RESOURCES AND/OR MESSAGE PROCESSING
`IS/ARE REQUIRED BASED ON MESSAGE(S)
`
`USER AGENT{S)
`
`CALL CONNECTION
`RESOURCES
`
`I
`
`PROCEED TO
`PROCESS CALL
`CONNECTION(S) AND
`CALL STATUS
`REQUESTS
`
`!
`
`504
`NOTIFY ASSOCIATED
`USER AGENT(S) VIA
`INTER-AGENT
`MESSAGE(S)
`
`505
`NOTIFY ASSOCIATED
`USER CLIENT(S) VIA
`CALL APPLICATION
`MESSAGE{S)
`
`..
`
`506
`GENERATE AND TRANSMIT CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE(S)
`TO TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK SERVER ON
`CONNECTION-BASED NETWORK
`·~
`
`507
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SERVER INITIATES
`ANY CALL CONNECTIONS SPECIFIED IN CALL SIGNALING
`MESSAGE(S)
`
`~
`
`508
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SERVER PROCESSES
`AND RETURNS CALL CONNECTION STATUS AND
`REQUESTS TO USER AGENT
`FIG. 6
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 7 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 7of11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`550
`RECEIVE CALL APPLICATION MESSAGE INDICATING CALL CONNECTION
`REQUEST BETWEEN SPECIFIED SOURCE AND DESTINATION
`
`NO, PLACE CALL BETWEEN SOURCE
`AND DESTINATION CALL IDENTIFIERS
`
`555
`DETERMINE BILLING (E.G.,
`CALLING CARD INFORMATION)
`
`YES
`
`YES----.
`
`552
`QUERY REMOTE USER AGENT
`FOR CURRENT CALL STATUS I
`PRESENCE INFORMATION
`
`NO
`
`554
`REJECT CALL,
`REPORT TO USER
`CUEN, PERFORM
`OTHER PROCESSING
`
`BOTH
`
`557
`ESTABLISH ONE IP BASED,
`PURE VOICE ONE PSTN BASED
`OVER IP
`
`558
`FORMAT CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE($),
`FORWARD TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS
`NETWORK SERVER
`
`559
`GENERATE SIGNALING (E.G., SS7)
`FOR PSTN BASED CALL IDENTIFIER(S)
`
`560
`GENERA TE/FORWARD VOiP
`MESSAGE TO CONNECTIONLESS
`NETWORK-BASED CALL CLIENT
`
`562
`FORMAT CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE(S),
`FORWARD TO TELECOMMUNICATION
`NETWORK SERVER FOR MAKING AND
`BRIDGING CONNECTIONS
`
`563
`GENERATE SIGNALING (E.G. SS7
`SIGNALING) FOR CALL CONNECTIONS
`BETWEEN SOURCE AND DESTINATION
`
`556
`AWAIT CALL STATUS RESPONSE
`
`561
`BRIDGE VOiP CONNECTION
`TO PSTN CONNECTION
`
`558
`UPDATE LOCAL CALL STATUS/PRESENCE
`INFORMATION, FORWARD CALL STATUS TO
`USER CLIENT
`
`USER AGENT CALL APPLICATION MESSAGE PROCESSING
`
`FIG. 7
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 8 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 8of11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`600
`RECEIVE CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE FROM TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
`SERVER INDICATING INCOMING PSTN CALL
`
`601
`PARSE CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE TO DETERMINE CALL
`SOURCE AND/OR DESTINATION IDENTIFIERS
`
`602
`PROCESS INVITE PROCESSING AND PRESENCE EXPOSURE RULES FOR IDENTIFIED CALL
`SOURCE AND/OR DESTINATION (E.G. AUTO-ANSWER W/ CUSTOM MESSAGE PLAYBACK/
`RECORD, FORWARD CALL TO ANOTHER USER AGENT, INDICATE USER BUSY, ETC.)
`
`NO
`
`604
`END CALL, RETURN
`CALL DISALLOWED
`MESSAGE TO TNS,
`NOTIFY CLIENT
`
`YES
`
`605
`DETERMINE PREFERRED USER CLIENT CALL
`CONNECTION DESTINATION IDENTIFIER
`
`IP BASED
`DESTINATION
`
`611
`GENERATE/FORWARD VOiP
`MESSAGE TO
`CONNECTIONLESS
`NETWORK-BASED CALL
`
`612
`BRIDGE VOiP CONNECTION
`TO PSTN CONNECTION
`
`PSTN BASED
`DESTINATION
`
`607
`GENERATE SIGNALING (E.G. SS7
`SIGNALING) FOR CALL CONNECTION TO
`CALL DESTINATION IDENTIFIER
`
`608
`FORMAT (SS7) CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE,
`FORWARD TO TNS FOR MAKING AND BRIDGING
`CONNECTION TO DESTINATION
`
`609
`AWAIT CALL STATUS RESPONSE
`
`610
`UPDATE LOCAL CALL STATUS/PRESENCE
`INFORMATION, FORWARD CALL STATUS TO USER
`CLIENT
`
`USER AGENT CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE PROCESSING
`
`FIG. 8
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 9 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 9of11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`630
`RECEIVE INTER-AGENT MESSAGE FROM REMOTE USER AGENT
`
`631
`PARSE INTER-AGENT MESSAGE
`
`STATUS REQUEST MESSAGE
`
`USER-CLIENT
`INSTANT MESSAGE
`
`633
`
`PROCESS BUDDY LIST
`AND PRESENCE
`EXPOSURE RULES BASED
`ON SOURCE OF STATUS
`REQUEST MESSAGE
`
`635
`PROCESS INSTANT
`MESSAGE IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`BUDDY LIST AND
`PRESENCE EXPOSURE
`RULES
`
`GENERAL INTER-AGENT
`MESSAGE (E.G. STATUS)
`
`,,.
`
`637
`
`PROCESS MESSAGE IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`INVITE PROCESSING
`RULES
`
`634
`REPORT USER
`AGENT/USER CLIENT
`STATUS INCLUDING
`LOCATION AND
`PRESENCE INFORMATION
`TO REQUESTING ENTITY
`
`636
`
`638
`
`FORWARD RULE
`RESPONSE AND QUEUE
`USER-CLIENT INSTANT
`MESSAGE FOR USER
`CLIENT
`
`FORWARD RULE
`RESPONSE AND/OR
`INTER-AGENT MESSAGE
`TO USER CLIENT
`
`USER AGENT INTER-AGENT MESSAGE PROCESSING
`
`FIG. 9
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 10 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`650
`
`RECEIVE CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE FROM
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SERVER INDICATING A
`NETWORK STATE (E.G., USER CLIENT SUBSCRIBER
`EQUIPMENT IS OFF HOOK)
`
`i
`
`651
`UPDATE PRESENCE/STATUS INFORMATION
`(E.G., IN USER DATABASE)
`
`FIG. 10
`
`220
`
`STATE LOGIC I
`EVENT TRACKING
`
`USER AGENT I TELECOMMUNICATIONS
`SERVICES DATABASE(S)
`
`CALL/ADDRESS
`DIRECTORY
`
`220-5
`
`LOCATION
`SERVICES
`
`FIG. 11
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 11 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.8,2004
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`671
`
`672
`
`250
`
`LOGIN STATUS: LOGGED IN
`
`ACTIVE CALLS: 1 (CONFERENCE)
`
`673
`CURRENT USER CALL IDENTIFICATION:
`(617) 555-9600
`
`674
`
`CURRENT LOCATION: BOSTON, MA
`
`6
`90~
`
`675
`RECENT INSTANT MESSAGES:
`YES NO 1: PLEASE CALL HOME ASAP
`YES NO 2: CALL OFFICE RE: CLOSING DEAL
`YES NO 3: DON'T FORGET CONFERENCE CALL, MON. 3PM.
`
`676
`
`679-1
`CONFERENCE:
`AVAILABLE PEOPLE:
`MARY BOB JIM MIKE
`FRANK
`
`CURRENT
`PARTICPANTS:
`JOE SUE SETH BILL
`
`COLLEAGUE LIST STATUS:
`
`COLLEAGUE: LOCATION:
`FRED
`WASHINGTON
`SUE
`BOSTON
`MARY
`MOBILE
`SAN. FRAN.
`JOE
`
`STATUS:
`CALL ID:
`LOGGED IN
`202-555-1212
`617-555-1234
`IN CONFERENCE
`MARY@CELL.COM OUT TO LUNCH
`IN CONFERENCE 679-4 WHISPER ROOM
`JOE@HOME.COM
`
`679-3 FUTURE CONF.
`
`679-2 CONF. NOW
`
`677
`ENTER CALL IDENTIFIER TO PLACE CALL:
`
`ENTER INSTANT MESSAGE:
`
`678
`
`USER CLIENT INTERFACE
`
`FIG. 12
`
`CSCO-1006
`Cisco v. Uniloc
`Page 12 of 75
`
`

`

`US 6,747,970 Bl
`
`1
`METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
`BETWEEN CONNECTIONLESS AND
`CONNECTION-ORIENTED NETWORKS
`
`This application claims the benefit of Provisional appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 60/131,822, filed Apr. 29, 1999.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to communica(cid:173)
`tions technologies. More specifically, the invention relates to
`a system and techniques providing advanced telecommuni(cid:173)
`cations services using connectionless network host(s) for
`service implementation while using connection-based net(cid:173)
`work equipment for transport of at least a portion of a
`telecommunications session.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Generally, telecommunications systems provide the abil(cid:173)
`ity for two or more people or machines (e.g., computerized
`or other electronic devices) to communicate with each other.
`Many types of telecommunications systems exist in the prior
`art. Examples include telephone systems and networks, data
`communications systems, computer networking systems
`such as the Internet, wireless and satellite communications
`systems, and so forth. Each of these systems is inherently
`enabled or can be retrofitted via software and/or electronic
`hardware to provide telecommunications services between
`persons or devices coupled to such systems. Telecommuni(cid:173)
`cations systems and services in a general sense are some(cid:173)
`times limited to simple voice or audio communications,
`although such systems may support communications of
`other types of data such as signaling and protocol data, video
`data, and computer or device application data.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a prior art telephone
`network 101 that is a common example of a telecommuni(cid:173)
`cations system in widespread use throughout the world. As
`illustrated, the telephone network 101 includes a number
`user telephony devices 105 through 108 (e.g., telephones)
`that inter-connect to various tandem or central offices 110
`through 113. Communications media (e.g., telephone lines,
`wireless links, and/or the like) interconnect the offices 110
`through 113 to one another to form a public switched
`telephone network (PSTN) 101-A. The central or tandem
`offices 110 through 113 may be replaced, for example,
`private branch exchanges, PSTN control hardware or other
`telephone switching equipment. Such equipment is typically
`owned by a telephone service provider. Users of the tele(cid:173)
`phone network 101 typically subscribe to a telecommuni- 50
`cations service (e.g., telephone service) which the telephone
`service provider offers.
`The telephone network 101 also includes a PSTN signal(cid:173)
`ing network 101-B that operates over the same medium as
`the PSTN 101-A . The PSTN signaling network 101-B
`generally supports a standard signaling technique such as
`Signaling System Seven (SS7) or User-to-Network inter(cid:173)
`faces between the offices 110 through 113 and the user
`telephony devices 105 through 108 to support call connec(cid:173)
`tions (e.g., telephone calls, not specifically shown) between
`the user telephony devices 105 through 108. The user
`telephony devices 105 through 108 may be telephone
`handsets, telephone answering machines, fax machines,
`modems or other such devices.
`The telephone network 101 is an example of a
`connection-based network. To communicate in a
`connection-based network, the network components
`
`2
`(telephony devices and switching equipment in this
`example) establish a dedicated connection or path between
`two or more end points of communication. The dedicated
`connection, also called a circuit or switched circuit generally
`remains active or established during the duration of a
`telecommunications session between parties using the con(cid:173)
`nection.
`By way of example, in FIG. 1, suppose a user (not shown)
`of the user telephony device 105 desires to communicate
`10 with a user (not shown) of the user telephony device 108. To
`do so, the user of user telephony device 105 picks up a
`handset of the user telephony device 105. This action causes
`the central office 113 to establish a dedicated connection (a
`completed circuit) to the central office 113 for use by the
`15 user telephony device 105. Thereafter, when the user of
`telephony device 105 enters connection establishment infor(cid:173)
`mation in the form of a phone number corresponding to the
`user telephony device 108, the central office 113 extends the
`dedicated connection through the PSTN 101-A to the central
`20 office 112 using signaling provided by the PSTN signaling
`network 101-B. When the central office 112 receives this
`signaling, the central office 112 completes the connection to
`the user telephony device 108 causing it to ring. When a user
`or machine answers the user telephony device 108 by lifting
`25 the handset for example, this action fully establishes an
`end-to-end connection between the user telephony device
`105 and the user telephony device 108. The dedicated
`connection remains established for the duration of the com(cid:173)
`munications session between the users using the user tele-
`30 phony devices 105 and 108, even if they are not speaking or
`otherwise communicating at all times.
`Typically in a connection-based network such as tele(cid:173)
`phone network 101, the network components (e.g., switch(cid:173)
`ing offices) can identify various active dedicated communi-
`35 cations sessions by the circuit or wire identifiers of the
`physical wires with which the network 101 uses to transport
`communications for those sessions. A central office, for
`example, can identify one particular segment of a connection
`circuit used for communications with a user telephony
`40 device by the telephone number associated with the segment
`that leads to the device. Most central office switching
`equipment can be programmed to identify a particular call
`identifier such as a telephone number with a particular
`circuit associated with a telephony device located at the end
`45 of the circuit. When the central office equipment receives a
`request to establish a call connection to a telephony device
`on a particular circuit, the central office can activate the
`circuit to form a completed circuit or call connection to the
`telephony equipment on the opposing end of the circuit.
`Prior art telephone switching offices and equipment are
`able to combine certain signaling techniques such as those
`supported by the PSTN signaling network 101-B with the
`ability to identify connection segments or individual circuits
`in order to support various prior art extended telecommu-
`55 nication services. Such services provide features within the
`telephone network beyond the ability of the network to
`support simple end to end telephone calls. For example,
`many prior art telephone networks support calling features
`such as call waiting, call forwarding, missed call call-back
`60 (also known as "star-69"), toll-free "800" numbers, sched(cid:173)
`uled wake-up calls, conference calling, and so forth. A prior
`art connection-based telephone network provides each of
`these types of services based on connection-based network
`signaling which may occur before, during, and/or after the
`65 actual establishment or activation of one or more individual
`circuits or call connections to one ore more telephony
`devices (e.g., before, during or after placement of a tele-
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`US 6,747,970 Bl
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`10
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`3
`phone call). For example, a prior art toll-free "800" number
`service uses signaling before placing a call connection to
`perform a "lookup" operation of the toll-free phone number
`in order to reverse call charges to the receiver of the call
`(identified by the receiving call circuit) instead of charging
`the sender or calling party. A prior art call waiting service
`uses signaling during a call connection to notify a user in the
`active call connection of another incoming call connection
`for the same circuit. A scheduled wake up call service
`provides call signaling after one call connection is made (the
`call to schedule the wake up call) but before another future
`call connection is placed (the actual wake up call).
`In each of these examples, a signaling system within the
`telephone network (e.g., 101) provides signaling to support,
`track, or otherwise manipulate one or more basic dedicated 15
`circuits or call connections between one or more telephony
`devices in the network. In FIG. 1 then, while the PSTN
`signaling network 101-B may be quite robust to support the
`aforementioned enhanced calling features, the underlying
`results from the signaling are essentially to establish one or 20
`more call connections across the telephone network 101 to
`support communications sessions which are typically voice
`grade.
`Generally, large telecommunication service companies
`(e.g., telephone companies such as AT&T, MCIWorldCom,
`Bell Atlantic, GTE and the like) own and operate the
`equipment (e.g., public telephone switching equipment) and
`media (e.g., telephone lines, satellite links, etc.) that support
`communications on a telephone network. Such equipment
`and media is presently widespread in either physical or
`wireless form throughout much of the United States and the
`world. As a result, telephone service of some sort, be it
`physical land-based lines or wireless service (e.g. cellular or
`satellite) is generally available in most locations. Since
`service providers have spent significant amounts of time and
`money to install the existing telephone network
`infrastructure, much of the equipment from twenty, thirty or
`more years ago is still in use today to support call connec(cid:173)
`tions. Due to such a large investment in the existing systems,
`public telephone service providers that want to offer
`advanced calling services in addition to the placement of
`regular point-to-point public telephone call connections
`must develop and deploy such services using the existing
`public telephone infrastructure as a base. That is, if a public
`telephone service provider desires to support one or more 45
`advanced calling services such as those mentioned above,
`such new services must be fully compatible with the existing
`public telephone infrastructure or development costs
`become prohibitive and/or the advanced services might not
`work properly due to limitations of the existing equipment. 50
`To this end, only highly skilled technicians under the
`employ of the telephone companies are generally allowed to
`modify and further develop the existing public telephone
`software, hardware, and signaling systems such as SS7 that
`inter-operate and control prior art telephone network switch- 55
`ing equipment. Moreover, once a new service such as call
`waiting has been perfected to work with the existing public
`telephone infrastructure, deployment of the service to indi(cid:173)
`vidual consumer telephones requires that the consumer (i.e.,
`public telephone subscriber) notify the public telephone 60
`service provider of the desire for the service and also
`requires the service provider to separately instruct a techni(cid:173)
`cian to activate the service for a call connection (e.g., the
`phone number) associated with that particular individual
`public telephone subscriber.
`In contrast to connection-based networks such as the
`telephone network 101 in FIG. 1 which operates using a
`
`4
`dedicated connection, a connection-less network such as a
`computer network can support telecommunications services
`without a single dedicated path to support the communica(cid:173)
`tions through the network.
`FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a prior art connectionless
`computer network 140 configured to support telecommuni(cid:173)
`cations. The connectionless network 140 includes a plurality
`of network devices 151 through 155 interconnected via data
`links (e.g., 150), as well as computer hosts 144 and 145
`which in this example each include a respective attached
`computer telephony device 141, 142. This example shows
`the connectionless network as an Internet Protocol (IP)
`network 102 which is a computer network such as the
`Internet. The network devices 151 through 155 might be
`routers, for example, which can quickly route data in the
`form of packets, cells frames or the like between computer
`hosts 144 and 145 (only two hosts are shown in this
`example). The computer hosts 144 and 145 can be any type
`of computer such as personal computers, workstations or the
`like.
`To operate as a telecommunications system, the connec(cid:173)
`tionless computer network 140 can use a technology such as
`Voice Over IP (VOiP). VOiP is generally provided by a
`software application (not specifically shown) that executes
`25 on the computer hosts 144 and 145. Using a VOiP
`application, a user (not shown) of computer host 144 can
`speak into a handset or microphone provided as part of the
`computer telephony equipment 141. The computer host 144
`receives, digitizes and packetizes the voice and transmits the
`30 voice data in packets, cells, frames or some other unit (not
`specifically shown) onto the IP network 102. The routers 151
`through 155 can receive and route the various voice data
`packets through the IP network 102, one by one, until they
`reach their intended destination computer host 145. Upon
`35 receipt of the voice data packets, the destination computer
`host 145 de-packetizes the voice data and converts it back
`into an analog signal which is provided to a speaker pro(cid:173)
`vided as part of the computer telephony equipment 142 for
`listening by a recipient user (not shown). Such a system can
`40 send voice data in either direction between users thus
`providing a two-way telecommunications session. In this
`manner, users are able to speak to each other using computer
`network communications.
`Since the IP network 102 is a connectionless network,
`each voice data packet sent from the computer host 144 is
`individually routed through the network 102. Depending
`upon network congestion (e.g., heavy data packet loads
`resulting in network devices buffering packets for
`processing) within the various network devices 151 through
`155, each packet may take a different route through the
`network 102. When a user is not speaking into his or her
`computer telephony equipment, the computer hosts 144 and
`145 and network devices 151 through 155 generally do not
`transmit packets to one another, hence the name "connec(cid:173)
`tionless" network.
`A VOiP software application uses the same packet com(cid:173)
`munications that carry the voice data to perform any
`required call signaling. This is called "in-band" signaling.
`For example, if the VOiP application executing on computer
`host 144 wants to notify the user telephony device 142 of an
`incoming call, a "new call" packet is sent from the VOiP
`applications executing on the computer host 144 to host 145.
`The network 140 routes the new call signaling packet just
`like another other data packet. A VOiP application can
`65 transmit one or more signaling packets during the transmis(cid:173)
`sion of voice data packets. In this manner, with respect to the
`computer network infrastructure (e.g., data links 150 and the
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`US 6,747,970 Bl
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`5
`individual network devices 151 through 155), call signaling
`is treated the same as any other type of communications and
`is generally handled at the software application level.
`Prior art protocols have been developed in an attempt to
`have a general purpose computer system control telephone
`switching equipment. One such protocol is called PINT,
`which stands for the PSTN to InterNeT protocol. PINT is a
`protocol under development by the Internet Engineering
`Task Force (IETF), which is a standards based organization.
`PINT defines a protocol to allow certain basic telephone 10
`switching services to be controlled via a computer on a
`connectionless network. The basic service provided by PINT
`allows a computer system such as a workstation to use PINT
`commands that are understandable by telephone switching
`equipment to have that telephone switching equipment 15
`establish a single call connection to a telephony device (i.e.,
`a telephone) on a telephone network. PINT thus provides a
`tool in the form of basic protocol commands for a system
`developer to interface a computer to PSTN equipment. The
`PINT protocol specification suggests the ability to use PINT 20
`in the creation certain calling services such as click to dial
`and click to fax, but the implementation of such services is
`up to system and software designers. The PINT protocol
`thus provides a framework for interfacing computers to
`telephone equipment and provides a fundamental building 25
`block or function that allows a computer system to cause
`telephone switching equipment to create one or more call
`connections on the telephone network.
`In the area of prior art private telecommunications
`systems, developers have created systems that provide call- 30
`ing services that extend beyond the services available in a
`public switched telephone network. Such private telecom(cid:173)
`munications systems operate using privately owned and
`typically more advanced telephone switching equipment
`commonly known as a "Private Branch Exchange (PBX)" or 35
`an "Automatic Call Distributor (ACD)". A typical PBX or
`ACD system interconnects a number of advanced PBX
`telephony devices designed to take advantage of the capa(cid:173)
`bilities that the PBX has to offer. Essentially, the PBX and
`its associated PBX telephony devices provide a private 40
`telephone network. Since such private telecommunications
`equipment has been more recently developed as compared to
`conventional public telephone switching equipment that has
`been in place for sometimes fifty years or more, and since
`such equipment is intended for private use and control, PBX 45
`systems provide more advanced calling services such as call
`transfer from one PBX telephony device to another, auto(cid:173)
`attendant voice messaging systems, and conference calling.
`A typical PBX system (PBX and associated PBX tele(cid:173)
`phony devices) is designed for use in a business environ- 50
`ment and is quite expensive as compared to telephone
`equipment that consumers can use on a public switched
`telephone network. The PBX itself is typically a computer
`controlled device that may include software and hardware
`(e.g., electronics) as well as a number of ports for intercon- 55
`necting the various PBX telephony devices. The PBX typi(cid:173)
`cally also provides one or more interfaces to allow the PBX
`network to be coupled to a PSTN network. Telephone calls
`that PBX users place between PBX telephony devices are
`handled completely by the PBX within the PBX network, 60
`without the need to complete call connections to public
`telephone switching equipment (e.g., a tandem or central
`office).
`Some prior art PBX systems provide an interface to a
`computer system or a computer network. Such an interface 65
`can be used to direct the PBX system to place telephone calls
`between users of the PBX network, and in some cases,
`
`6
`between a PBX network user and a person on a telephone
`that is external to the PBX network.
`An example of such a prior art PBX system is disclosed
`in U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,394 (Dezonno et al.). The system
`disclosed in Dezonno allows a telephone computer to con(cid:173)
`trol an ACD or a PBX under the direction of connections
`made to the telephone computer from a computer network
`such as the Internet. In the Dezonno system, for example, a
`computer user on the Internet can send a call request
`message via his or her computer to a telephone computer
`that is interfaced to control the PBX. The call request
`message instructs the telephone computer to direct the PBX
`to create a telephone call from a PBX user telephone (e.g.,
`from an agent in a business owning the PBX using an agent
`telephone coupled to the PBX system) through the PBX and
`out to a computer user telephone located on a telephone
`network. Essentially, this allows the computer user to have
`the business call-back the computer user. The computer user
`can specify the time at which the call-back is to be made.
`This allows, for example, the computer user to complete his
`or her use (e.g., web surfing, reading email, etc.) of the
`Internet via a dial-up telephone connection to an Internet
`Service Provider (ISP) over that computer user's telephone
`line. Since the call-back can be specified to take place in the
`future, the t