(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Lamb et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`Jun. 8, 2004
`
`US006747970B1
`
`(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) 024934350;
`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
`
`5,062,103 A 10/1991 Davidson et a1.
`5,097,528 A
`3/1992 Gufsahaney et 91
`5,181,236 A
`1/1993 LaVallee et 211.
`5,185,782 A
`2/1993 Srinivasan
`5,206,903 A
`4/1993 Kohler et a1‘
`2
`glchardson’ Jr‘ et a1‘
`,
`,
`082 et 81.
`5,448,626 A
`9/1995 Kajiya et 81.
`5,884,032 A * 3/1999 Bateman et a1. .......... .. 709/204
`5,991,382 A 11/1999 Bayless et a1.
`5,991,394 A 11/1999 DeZonno et 81.
`6,144,667 A * 11/2000 Doshi et al. .............. .. 370/401
`6,366,575 B1 * 4/2002 Barkan et a1.
`370/352
`
`6,366,576 B1 * 4/2002 Haga . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . .. 370/352
`6,445,694 B1 * 9/2002 SwartZ .................. .. 370/352
`
`( * )
`
`I\I0tiCeZ
`
`
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`
`
`
`6,498,797 B1 * 12/2002 AIleIOllSlS 6t 81. ........ .. * cited by examiner
`
`U'S'C' 154(k)) by 0 days‘
`
`(21) Appl' NO‘: 09/531’713
`(22) Filed;
`Man 21, 2000
`
`Related US. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No- 60/131,822, ?led on Apr- 29,
`1999'
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ....................... .. H04L 12/66; H04L 12/28;
`H04] 3/22
`(52) us. Cl. ...................... .. 370/352; 370/401; 370/466
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 370/352, 353,
`370/466 467 401 389, 379/142'15 26501
`’
`’
`’
`’
`’ 26509’
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U-S- PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4 653 090 A
`3/1987 Hayden
`4:723j238 A
`2/1988 Isreal et aL
`4,809,272 A
`2/1989 Torgrim et a1_
`4,837,798 A
`6/1989 Cohen et al.
`4,866,758 A
`9/1989 Heinzelmann
`5,029,200 A
`7/1991 Haas et a1.
`
`Primary Examiner—Hassan KiZou
`Assistant Examiner—Timoth Lee
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirZ/n—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
`Communications network Server that interfaces With the
`telecommuflica?ons hosting Server as Well as a comtectton'
`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
`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
`
`2022
`PUBLIC
`PHONE
`SWITCH
`
`202-1
`TELECOM
`NETWORK
`SERVER (ms)
`
`203
`TELECOM
`HOSTING
`SERVER (THS)
`
`20o
`NETWORK(S)
`(EB , INTERNET)
`
`205-2
`
`205-1
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1024
`
`Page 1 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 1 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`108
`
`112
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE (E.G.,
`PSTN SWITCH)
`
`105
`
`101A
`PUBLIC
`SWITCHED
`TELEPHONE
`NETWORK
`(PSTN)
`
`113
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE (56-.
`PSTN SWITCH)
`
`101B
`PSTN
`SIGNALING
`NETWORK
`(5-6-1 537)
`
`111
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE (E.G.,
`PSTN SWITCH
`)
`
`107
`
`110
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE (E.G.,
`PSTN SWITCH)
`
`106
`
`\101
`
`CONVENTIONAL CIRCUIT SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK
`
`PRIOR ART
`FIG. 1
`
`Page 2 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 2 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`141
`
`151
`NETWORK
`DEVICE (E.G.
`ROUTER)
`
`15°
`
`152
`
`NETWORK
`DEVICE
`
`154
`NETWORK
`DEVICE
`
`\
`153
`NETWORK
`DEVICE
`
`\
`
`155
`
`NETWORK
`DEVICE
`
`102
`CONNECTIONLESS
`IP NETWORK
`
`CONVENTIONAL INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) NETWORK (E.G. INTERNET)
`EMPLOYING VOICE OVER IP (VOIP) TECHNOLOGY
`
`PRIOR ART
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 3 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8, 2004
`
`Sheet 3 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`202-1
`TELECOM
`NETWORK
`SERVER (TNS)
`
`\205-2
`
`205-1
`
`210
`
`203
`TELECOM
`HOSTlNG
`SERVER (THS)
`
`200
`NETWORK(S)
`(E.G., INTERNET)
`
`220
`DATABASE
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 4 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 4 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`203
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS HOSTING SERVER (THS)
`
`230
`MEMORY
`
`235
`
`300
`
`RUNTIME
`ENVIRONMENT
`
`301-1
`USER
`AGENT(S)
`
`230/
`
`21o
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`TO/FROM
`IP NETWORK
`200
`
`USER AGENT!
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS
`SERVICES DATABASE(S)
`
`USER AGENT
`INTERFACE
`(5G. CUENT)
`
`106
`
`_
`
`20s
`
`+\2a0
`
`2:381
`202_2
`SWITCH
`I
`
`\232 /-231
`
`108
`
`CD - CALL SIGNALING MESSAGES (E.G. CONTAINING SS7 FORMAT)
`
`- - CALL APPLICATION MESSAGES (E.G.. CONNECTIONLESS NETWORK)
`
`- INTER-AGENT MESSAGES (E.G., IPC MECHANISM)
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 5 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 5 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`301-1
`UsER AGENT
`
`310
`AGENT ENGINE
`PROGRAM
`
`333
`331
`330
`BIBLIOGRAPHIC ACTIVE LOGIN INVITE PROCESSING
`INFORMATION
`INFORMATION
`RULES
`
`341
`331
`CLIENT
`AUTHORIZATION
`INFORMATION PREFERENCES
`
`342
`
`CALL LOG
`
`332
`HISTORICAL
`INFORMATION
`
`340
`PHONE
`INFORMATION
`
`333
`AVAILABILITY
`INFORMATION
`
`335
`AVAILABILITY
`EXPOSURE RULEs
`
`334
`CALL
`INVITATIONS
`
`339
`CURRENT INsTANT
`MESSAGES
`
`343
`OTHER
`SERVICES/DATA
`
`336
`COLLEAGUE LIsT REVERSE
`COLLEAGUE LIST (STATUS
`
`FlG. 5A
`
`300
`RUNTIME ENVIRONMENT
`
`I
`
`360
`
`361
`THS sTATE
`INFORMATION
`
`4__._
`
`364
`<—-—
`EVENT H RUNTIME 4._-_-y
`TRACKER
`ENG'NE
`DB CLIENT/SERVER
`
`362
`
`363
`ADMIN. FOR <——
`THSlAGENTS/DB
`
`Y
`
`305
`MEssAGING SYSTEM
`
`305-1
`
`305-2
`
`305-3
`305-5
`TNS csM
`CLIENT CAM
`BAtZQEER
`INTERFACE INT’gFg/ENT GATEWAY
`SMTP
`DB
`INTERFACE INTERFACE (E6. 337
`INTERFACE MODULE (E.G., INTERFACE
`FORMAT)
`usING SSL)
`
`305-4
`
`305-6
`
`FIG. 5B
`
`Page 6 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 6 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`500
`RUNTIME ENVIRONMENT RECEIVES MESSAGE(S) OR EMAIL TO BE
`PROCESSED
`
`PROCESS MESSAGE LOCALLY - UPDATING CALL PRESENCE INFORMATION.
`ACCOUNTING, BILLINGI ETC. - PROCESSING VOICE MAIL, EMAIL, ETC.
`
`501
`
`I
`
`502
`DETERMINE IF ANY ASSOCIATED uSER AGENTS AND/0R USER CLIENTS
`AND/0R CALL CONNECTION REsouRcEs AND/OR MESSAGE PROCESSING
`Is/ARE REQUIRED BASED ON MESSAGE(S)
`
`ARE THERE OTHER USER AGENT(S)?
`USER CLIENT(S)? CALL CONNECTION
`RESOURCES REQUIRED?
`
`USER AGENT(S)
`
`USER CL|ENT(S)
`+
`
`CALL CONNECTION
`RESOURCES
`
`504
`505
`NOTIFY ASSOCIATED
`NOTIFY ASSOCIATED
`USER AGENT(S) VIA
`USER CLIENT(S) VIA
`INTER-AGENT
`CALL APPLICATION
`MESSAGE(S)
`MESSAGE(S)
`I___—___>I_RETURN
`
`OCEED T
`PITQROCESS CAOLL
`CONNECTIONS) AND
`CALL STATUS
`REQUESTS
`
`506
`GENERATE ANDITRANSMIT CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE(S)
`TO TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK SERVER ON
`CONNECTION-BASED NETWORK
`
`I
`
`507
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SERVER INITIATES
`ANY CALL CONNECTIONS SPECIFIED IN CALL SIGNALING
`MESSAGE(S)
`
`I
`
`508
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK SERVER PROCESSES
`AND RETURNS CALL CONNECTION STATUS AND
`REQUESTS TO USER AGENT
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 7 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 7 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`550
`RECEIVE CALL APPLICATION MESSAGE INDICATING CALL CONNECTION
`REQUEST BETWEEN SPECIFIED SOURCE AND DESTINATION
`
`551
`i 0 ES DESTINATION CALL IDENTIFI '
`HAVE A CORRESPONDING USER
`AGENT’?
`
`No. PLACE CALL BETWEEN SOURCE
`AND DESTINATION CALL IDENTIFIERS
`
`YES
`——}
`552
`QUERY REMOTE USER AGENT
`FOR CURRENT CAI-L STATUS/
`PRESENCE INFORMATION
`
`555
`DETERMINE BILLING (E.G., ‘4E8
`CALLING CARD INFORMATION)
`
`55a
`DOES REMOTE USER
`AGENT STATUS INDICATE
`‘ VAILABILITY?
`
`NONE
`
`556
`ARE NONE. ONE OR BOTH SOURCE
`AND/OR DESTINATION CALL
`IDENTIFIERS ON PSTN‘?
`
`I
`557
`ESTABLISH ONE 'P BASED-
`PURE VQ|CE ONE PSTN BASED
`OvER IP
`
`NO
`Y
`
`554
`RgEoJgTTg?'ééR
`CLIEN, PERFORM
`BOTH OTHER PROCESSING
`
`Y
`562
`FogMAT CALL S'GNAé'N?MMESSAGEISI'
`F RWARD To TELE O UNICATION
`NETWORK SERVER FOR MAKING AND
`BRIDGING CONNECTIONS
`5:3
`GENERATE SIGNALING (ES SS7
`SIGNALING) FOR CALL CONNECTIONS
`BETWEEN SOURCE AND DESTINATION
`y
`556
`
`558
`FORMAT CALL SIGNALING MESSAG E(S).
`FORWARD TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS
`NETWORK SERVER
`+
`559
`GENERATE SIGNALING (E.G., SS7)
`FOR PSTN BASED CALL IDENTIFIER(S)
`+
`560
`GENERATE/FORWARD VOIP
`MESSAGE TO CONN ECTIONLESS ———+
`N ET W o RK_B A SED CALL CLIENT
`AWAIT CALL STATUS RESPONSE
`+
`V
`561
`558
`UPDATE LOCAL CALL STATUS/PRESENCE
`INFORMATION, FORWARD CALL STATUS T0
`USER CUENT
`
`BRIDGE VOIP CONNECTION
`T0 PSTN CONNECTION
`
`USER AGENT CALL APPLICATION MESSAGE PROCESSING
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Page 8 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 8 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`600
`RECEIVE CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE FROM TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
`SERVER INDICATING INCOMING PSTN CALL
`7
`601
`PARSE CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE TO DETERMINE CALL
`SOURCE ANDIOR DESTINATION IDENTIFIERS
`V
`602
`PROCESS INVITE PROCESSING AND PRESENCE EXPOSURE RULES FOR IDENTIFIED CALL
`SOURCE ANDIOR DESTINATION (E.G. AUTO-ANSWER W/ CUSTOM MESSAGE PLAYBACK/
`RECORDI FORWARD CALL TO ANOTHER USER AGENT, INDICATE USER BUSYI ETC.)
`
`603
`SHOULD CALL
`CONTINUE?
`
`YES
`Y
`
`604
`END CALL, RETURN
`NO~> CALL DISALLOWED
`MESSAGE TO TNS,
`NOTIFY CLIENT
`
`. 605
`DETERMINE PREFERRED USER CLIENT CALL
`CONNECTION DESTINATION IDENTIFIER
`
`Is CALL DESTINATION IDENTIFIER
`sTN BASED OR IF BASED?
`
`PST" BASED
`DEST'NAT'O'Tl
`
`IP BAsED
`DESTINATION
`+
`611
`GENERATE/FORWARD VOIP
`MESSAGE To
`CoNNECTIoNLEss
`NETWORK-BASED CALL
`up“,
`
`612
`BRIDGE VOIP CONNECTION
`TO PSTN CONNECTION
`
`'
`
`601
`sIs?f??g?ig'gi'?ii??écé?aTo
`CALL DESTINATION IDENTIFIER
`V
`608
`FORMAT Iss7) CALL SIGNALING MEssAGE,
`FORWARD TO TNS FOR MAKING AND BRIDGING
`CONNECTION TO DEsTINATION
`
`I
`609
`V AWAIT CALL STATUS RESPONSE
`V
`610
`UPDATE LOCAL CALL STATUS/PRESENCE
`INFORMATION, FORWARD CALL STATUS TO USER
`CLIENT
`
`USER AGENT CALL SIGNALING MESSAGE PROCESSING
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Page 9 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 9 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`RECEIVE INTER-AGENT MESSAGE FROM REMOTE USER AGENT
`
`630
`
`J,
`
`631
`PARSE INTER-AGENT MESSAGE
`
`S INTER-AGENT MESSAGE A STATUS
`REQUEST MESSAGE? A USER-CLIENT (l.E.
`iNSTANT) MESSAGE? A GENERAL
`INTER-AGENT MESSAGE?
`
`STATUS REQUEST MESSAGE
`
`USER-CLIENT
`INSTANT MESSAGE
`
`GENERAL INTER-AGENT
`MESSAGE (E.G. STATUS)
`
`633
`
`PROCESS BUDDY L'ST
`AND PRESENCE
`EXPOSURE RULES BASED
`ON SOURCE OF STATUS
`REQUEST MESSAGE
`
`635
`PROCESS INSTANT
`MESSAGE IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`BUDDY LIST AND
`PRESENCE EXPOSURE
`RULES
`
`637
`
`PROCESS MESSAGE IN
`ACCORDANCE WITH
`INVITE PROCESSING
`RULES
`
`634
`
`638
`
`638
`
`REPORT USER
`AG ENT/USER CLIENT
`STATUS INCLUDING
`LOCATION AND
`PRESENCE INFORMATION
`TO REQUESTING ENTITY
`
`REs'lcgmgg?gLéfEuE
`USER CLIENT INSTANT
`MESAGE FOR USER
`CLIENT
`
`FORWARD RULE
`RESPONSE AND/OR
`INTER-AGENT MESSAGE
`TO USER CLIENT
`
`USER AGENT INTER-AGENT MESSAGE PROCESSING
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Page 10 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8, 2004
`
`Sheet 10 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`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.C5.I IN USER DATABASE)
`
`FIG. 10
`
`[
`
`220-1
`
`1
`
`220
`
`CALL LOGGING
`
`C
`
`220-3
`
`D
`
`USER AGENT
`INFORMATION
`
`@6
`
`ACCOUNTING
`
`220-6
`\_______/
`
`RUN-TIME DATA
`
`V
`
`STATE LOGIC I
`EVENT TRACKING
`
`USER AGENT / TELECOMMUNICATIONS
`SERVICES DATABASE(S)
`
`I
`220-7
`t
`\d/
`OTHER DATA (E.G.,
`AGENT SPECIFIC)
`
`2
`
`220-4
`
`5
`
`CALL/ADDRESS
`DIRECTORY
`\______,/
`
`LOCATION
`SERVICES
`
`FIG. 11
`
`Page 11 of 75
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 8,2004
`
`Sheet 11 0f 11
`
`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`671
`
`672
`
`250
`
`LOGIN STATUS: LOGGED IN
`
`ACTIVE CALLS: 1 (CONFERENCE)
`
`673
`
`674
`
`CURRENT USER CALL IDENTIFICATION:
`(617) 555_96oo
`
`_
`CURRENT LOCATION. BOSTON, MA
`
`690-1
`
`675
`RECENT INSTANT MESSAGES:
`YES NO 1: PLEASE CALL HOME ASAP
`YES NO 2: CALL OFFICE RE: CLOSING DEAL
`3: DON'T FORGET CONFERENCE CALL, MON. 3PM.
`
`YES NO
`
`COLLEAGUE LIST STATUS:
`
`676
`
`679-1
`CONFERENCE:
`AVAILABLE PEOPLE:
`MARY BOB _JI_M MIKE
`FRANK
`
`CURRENT
`PARTICPANTS:
`JOE SUE SETH BILL
`
`COLLEAGUE: LOCATION:
`FRED
`WASHINGTON
`SUE
`BOSTON
`MARY
`MOBILE
`JOE
`SAN. FRAN.
`
`STATUS:
`CALL ID:
`LOGGED IN
`202-555-1212
`IN CONFERENCE 679-3 FUTURE CONF.
`617-555-1234
`MARY@CELL.COM OUT TO LUNCH
`JOE@HOME.COM IN CONFERENCE 679-4 WHISPER ROOM
`
`679-2 CONF. NOW
`
`677
`ENTER CALL IDENTIFIER TO PLACE CALL:
`
`ENTER INSTANT MESSAGE:
`
`678
`
`USER CLIENT INTERFACE
`
`FIG. 12
`
`Page 12 of 75
`
`

`

`US 6,747,970 B1
`
`1
`METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
`BETWEEN CONNECTIONLESS AND
`CONNECTION-ORIENTED NETWORKS
`
`This application claims the bene?t of Provisional appli
`cation Ser. No. 60/131,822, ?led Apr. 29, 1999.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to communica
`tions technologies. More speci?cally, the invention relates to
`a system and techniques providing advanced telecommuni
`cations services using connectionless netWork host(s) for
`service implementation While using connection-based net
`Work equipment for transport of at least a portion of a
`telecommunications session.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Generally, telecommunications systems provide the abil
`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 retro?tted via softWare and/or electronic
`hardWare to provide telecommunications services betWeen
`persons or devices coupled to such systems. Telecommuni
`cations systems and services in a general sense are some
`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
`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 of?ces 110
`through 113. Communications media (e.g., telephone lines,
`Wireless links, and/or the like) interconnect the of?ces 110
`through 113 to one another to form a public sWitched
`telephone netWork (PSTN) 101-A. The central or tandem
`of?ces 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
`phone netWork 101 typically subscribe to a telecommuni
`cations service (e.g., telephone service) Which the telephone
`service provider offers.
`The telephone netWork 101 also includes a PSTN signal
`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
`faces betWeen the of?ces 110 through 113 and the user
`telephony devices 105 through 108 to support call connec
`tions (e.g., telephone calls, not speci?cally 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
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`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
`nection.
`By Way of example, in FIG. 1, suppose a user (not shoWn)
`of the user telephony device 105 desires to communicate
`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 of?ce 113 to establish a dedicated connection (a
`completed circuit) to the central office 113 for use by the
`user telephony device 105. Thereafter, When the user of
`telephony device 105 enters connection establishment infor
`mation in the form of a phone number corresponding to the
`user telephony device 108, the central of?ce 113 extends the
`dedicated connection through the PSTN 101-A to the central
`of?ce 112 using signaling provided by the PSTN signaling
`netWork 101-B. When the central office 112 receives this
`signaling, the central of?ce 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
`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
`munications session betWeen the users using the user tele
`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
`phone netWork 101, the netWork components (e.g., sWitch
`ing offices) can identify various active dedicated communi
`cations sessions by the circuit or Wire identi?ers of the
`physical Wires With Which the netWork 101 uses to transport
`communications for those sessions. A central of?ce, for
`example, can identify one particular segment of a connection
`circuit used for communications With a user telephony
`device by the telephone number associated With the segment
`that leads to the device. Most central of?ce sWitching
`equipment can be programmed to identify a particular call
`identi?er such as a telephone number With a particular
`circuit associated With a telephony device located at the end
`of the circuit. When the central of?ce equipment receives a
`request to establish a call connection to a telephony device
`on a particular circuit, the central of?ce 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 of?ces 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
`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
`(also knoWn as “star-69”), toll-free “800” numbers, sched
`uled Wake-up calls, conference calling, and so forth. Aprior
`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
`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 B1
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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
`(identi?ed 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
`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
`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 (eg cellular or
`satellite) is generally available in most locations. Since
`service providers have spent signi?cant 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
`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
`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.
`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
`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
`vidual consumer telephones requires that the consumer (i.e.,
`public telephone subscriber) notify the public telephone
`service provider of the desire for the service and also
`requires the service provider to separately instruct a techni
`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
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`dedicated connection, a connection-less netWork such as a
`computer netWork can support telecommunications services
`Without a single dedicated path to support the communica
`tions through the netWork.
`FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a prior art connectionless
`computer netWork 140 con?gured to support telecommuni
`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
`tionless computer netWork 140 can use a technology such as
`Voice Over IP (VOIP). VOIP is generally provided by a
`softWare application (not speci?cally shoWn) that executes
`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
`voice data in packets, cells, frames or some other unit (not
`speci?cally 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
`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
`vided as part of the computer telephony equipment 142 for
`listening by a recipient user (not shoWn). Such a system can
`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
`tionless” netWork.
`A VOIP softWare application uses the same packet com
`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
`transmit one or more signaling packets during the transmis
`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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`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 de?nes a protocol to alloW certain basic telephone
`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
`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 speci?cation suggests the ability to use PINT
`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
`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
`ing services that extend beyond the services available in a
`public sWitched telephone netWork. Such private telecom
`munications systems operate using privately oWned and
`typically more advanced telephone sWitching equipment
`commonly knoWn as a “Private Branch Exchange (PBX)” or
`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
`bilities that the PBX has to offer. Essentially, the PBX and
`its associated PBX telephony devices provide a private
`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 ?fty years or more, and since
`such equipment is intended for private use and control, PBX
`systems provide more advanced calling services such as call
`transfer from one PBX telephony device to another, auto
`attendant voice messaging systems, and conference calling.
`A typical PBX system (PBX and associated PBX tele
`phony devices) is designed for use in a business environ
`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
`necting the various PBX telephony devices. The PBX typi
`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,
`Without the need to complete call connections to public
`telephone sWitching equipment (e.g., a tandem or central
`of?ce).
`Some prior art PBX systems provide an interface to a
`computer system or a computer netWork. Such an interface
`can be used to direct the PBX system to place telephone calls
`betWeen users of the PBX netWork, and in some cases,
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`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 US. Pat. No. 5,991,394 (DeZonno et al.). The system
`disclosed in DeZonno alloWs a telephone computer to con
`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.,