U.S. patent application number 11/840437 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for remote control telephone dialing system and method.
Invention is credited to Robert G. JR. Hensey, Robert A. Koch, David Scott.
Application Number | 20080037524 11/840437 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38473304 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080037524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koch; Robert A. ; et
al. |
February 14, 2008 |
Remote Control Telephone Dialing System and Method
Abstract
An apparatus for allowing a calling party to initiate a
telephone call from an Internet-enabled device. The apparatus
includes a server for receiving an originating telephone number and
a destination telephone number in response to a command from the
Internet-enabled device, for generating a call request, and for
transmitting the request to a telecommunications network to request
the network to establish a connection between the originating
telephone number and the destination telephone number.
Inventors: |
Koch; Robert A.; (Norcross,
GA) ; Scott; David; (Norcross, GA) ; Hensey;
Robert G. JR.; (Norcross, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WITHERS & KEYS FOR BELL SOUTH
P. O. BOX 71355
MARIETTA
GA
30007-1355
US
|
Family ID: |
38473304 |
Appl. No.: |
11/840437 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09966300 |
Sep 27, 2001 |
7269163 |
|
|
11840437 |
Aug 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 379/90 20130101;
H04M 7/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/352 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/66 20060101
H04L012/66 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. An apparatus for allowing the initiation of a telephone call
from an Internet-enabled device, the apparatus comprising: means
for receiving an originating telephone number and a destination
telephone number in response to a command from the Internet-enabled
device; means for generating a call request comprising a Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP) request; means for transmitting the call
request from a data network to a telecommunications network via a
secure Internet Protocol network to request the telecommunications
network to establish a connection between the originating telephone
number and the destination telephone number, the call request
comprising an Internet Protocol address and an e-mail address of
the Internet-enabled device; and means for receiving call
disposition information from the telecommunications network.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a database in
communication with the means for generating a call request, the
database having stored therein the call request.
23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for transmitting
the call request transmits the call request to a service control
point of the telecommunications network and wherein the call
request includes instructions that cause the service control point
to establish the connection through operation of at least one
switch of the telecommunications network that is in communication
with the service control point.
24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a means for
transmitting the call disposition information to the
Internet-enabled device.
25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a communications
network for connecting the Internet-enabled device to the means for
receiving an originating telephone number and a destination
telephone number.
26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the Internet-enabled device
is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, an
Internet appliance, a personal digital assistant, a WAP-enabled
device, and an interactive pager.
27. A method of enabling the initiation of a telephone call, the
method comprising: receiving a request to initiate the telephone
call from a first device of a non-secure data network at a server
of a secure data network, wherein the secure network is an Internet
Protocol network; receiving an originating telephone number;
receiving a destination telephone; and transmitting a call request
comprising a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request, the call
request containing the originating telephone number and the
destination telephone number over the secure Internet Protocol
network to a telecommunications network to request the
telecommunications network to originate the telephone call from a
second device associated with the originating telephone number to a
third device associated with the destination telephone number, the
call request comprising an Internet Protocol address and an e-mail
address of the first device.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving the originating
telephone number includes receiving an originating telephone number
associated with the second device.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein transmitting the call request
comprises transmitting instructions to a service control point of
the telecommunications network, the method further comprising the
service control point generating commands to at least one switch to
connect the telephone call between the originating telephone number
and the destination telephone number.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the service control
point performing a look-up in an associated database to determine
whether the requested call should be completed.
31. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving an
indication that the destination phone number did not answer.
32. The method of claim 27, wherein transmitting the call request
containing the originating telephone number and the destination
telephone number to the telecommunications network includes
transmitting the call request to an advanced intelligent network
(AIN).
33. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving one of an
IP address and an email address of the first device.
34. The method of claim 27, further comprising accepting a personal
identification number (PIN) from the first device.
35. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when
executed by a computer perform acts for allowing the initiation of
a telephone call from an Internet-enabled device, the acts
comprising: receiving a request from the Internet-enabled device of
a non-secure network at a server of a secure Internet Protocol
network to initiate the telephone call; receiving an originating
telephone number; receiving a destination telephone number; and
transmitting a call request comprising a Session Initiation
Protocol (SIP) request, the call request containing the originating
telephone number and the destination telephone number to a
telecommunications network via the secure Internet Protocol network
to request the network to establish a connection between the
originating telephone number and the destination telephone number,
the call request further comprising an Internet Protocol address
and an e-mail address of the Internet-enabled device.
36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, the acts further
comprising retrieving at least the destination telephone number
from a database.
37. The computer readable medium of claim 35, the acts further
comprising preventing unauthorized requests for calls from
Internet-enabled devices.
38. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the call request causes both
of the telephones associated with the originating telephone number
and the destination telephone number to ring to establish
communications.
39. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the Internet-enabled device
is associated with a calling party.
40. The method of claim 27, wherein the first device is associated
with a calling party.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention is directed generally to the field of
telecommunications and, more particularly, to Internet-telephony
communications.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Placing a telephone call has typically required a caller to
first locate the name of the party to be called in a phonebook, and
then manually enter their corresponding number using a telephone
keypad or dial. The introduction of personal computers and
electronic organizers has simplified this task, and through the use
of software-based organizational utilities a caller can quickly
sort through sizable lists of contacts and associated numbers.
Nonetheless, if the person to be called is not included in the
caller's listing, the caller must resort to a frequently
time-consuming search of a phonebook to locate the desired
information. Moreover, a caller is typically left with no record of
the telephone call unless the called party is located outside of
the caller's local calling area and thus requires a toll call by
the caller, a record of which subsequently appears on the caller's
telephone bill. This, however, is the only information about the
telephone call that is automatically recorded for the caller. Any
other information regarding the telephone call would have to be
memorialized by the caller or forever lost.
[0003] Another problem often facing the caller is the imposition of
high rates when placing calls from certain locations. Hotels, for
example, commonly charge a dollar or more for a local call, and
upwards of several dollars per minute for long distance
service.
[0004] The advent and exponential growth of the Internet in recent
years has substantially altered the way in which information is
exchanged. The use of electronic mail for personal and business
communication has become routine, and the use of the Internet to
conduct commercial transactions is attaining similar popularity.
With the development of wireless technologies, access to the
Internet is no longer confined to the desktop computer and has
expanded to include a variety of mobile communication devices such
as wireless personal digital assistants (PDA's) and interactive
pagers.
[0005] Although Internet-based communication continues to grow and
evolve, it has made few inroads into the world of traditional
telephony. No method exists for creating a synergistic relationship
between the two media to provide consumers with an improved system
of conducting everyday telephonic communication.
[0006] Thus, a need exists for a service that makes available an
interface between telephony and the Internet, providing the caller
with a more economical and less-burdensome means of placing calls
and maintaining records of calls.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention is directed to an apparatus for
allowing a calling party to initiate a telephone call from an
Internet-enabled device. The apparatus includes a server for
receiving an originating telephone number and a destination
telephone number in response to a command from the Internet-enabled
device, for generating a call request, and for transmitting the
request to a telecommunications network to request the network to
establish a connection between the originating telephone number and
the destination telephone number.
[0008] By combining the advanced features of Internet communication
with traditional telephony, the present invention provides callers
with more economical and less-burdensome means to place calls and
maintain accurate call records. The present invention may also
function as a diagnostic tool, allowing service personnel to
initiate calls and verify operation of services from remote
locations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] The present disclosure will be described in conjunction with
the following figures, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an Advanced Intelligent
Network; and
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a remote control
telephone dialing system of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The term "calling party" is used herein generally to refer
to the person or unit that initiates a telecommunication. The
calling party may also be referred to herein as "caller" or
"customer." In some cases, the calling party may not be a person,
but may be a device such as a facsimile machine, an answering
service, a modem, etc. The term "called party" is used herein
generally to refer to the person or unit that answers or responds
to the call or communication. The term "communication" is used
herein to include all messages or calls that may be exchanged
between a calling party and a called party, including voice, data
and video messages. The term "communication" is used synonymously
herein with the term "call" unless a distinction is noted.
[0013] The present invention, according to one embodiment, is
directed to a remote control telephone dialing system and method
for allowing a calling party to initiate a call from a wireless or
wireline Internet-connected device. According to one embodiment,
the calling party first selects the name of a called party from a
list stored in the electronic memory of the Internet-connected
device, or alternatively, from a phonebook database accessible via
the Internet. Associated with the selected called party's name is
the directory number of the called party. The caller next specifies
a location from which the call is being placed. Associated with the
location is the directory number of the calling party. The
directory numbers of the caller and called party are then
transmitted via a computer network to a circuit-switched telephone
network, connecting the telephone at the caller's specified
location to the telephone of the called party. Additionally, as
explained below, information regarding the result of the requested
call such as, for example, call duration, may be returned from the
telephone network to the caller's Internet-connected device and
stored in a log file therein.
[0014] The present invention may utilize the intelligent
functionality of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). The AIN is
a network used in conjunction with a conventional telephone
network, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN), to
provide enhanced voice and data services and dynamic routing
capabilities using two different networks. The actual voice call is
transmitted over a circuit-switched network, but the signaling is
done on a separate packet-switched network. Before describing
further details of the present invention, a description of the AIN
is provided.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an Advanced Intelligent Network
(AIN) 10 for integration with the public switched telephone network
(PSTN). The AIN 10 may be employed by a Local Exchange Carrier
(LEC), and may be utilized by the LEC to allow the LEC to provide
call processing features and services that are not embedded within
conventional switching circuits of the PSTN.
[0016] A typical LEC includes a number of central office (CO)
switches for interconnecting customer premises terminating
equipment with the PSTN. For an LEC including the AIN 10 as
illustrated in FIG. 1, the central office switches may be provided
as Service Switching Points (SSP) switches 12. The dashed line 14
between the SSP switches 12 indicates that the number of SSP
switches 12 in the AIN 10 may vary depending on the particular
requirements of the AIN 10. The AIN 10 may also include a non-SSP
switch 16. The difference between the SSP switches 12 and the
non-SSP switch 16 is that the SSP switches 12 provide intelligent
network functionality. Interconnecting the SSP switches 12 and the
non-SSP switch 16 are communication links 18 which may be, for
example, trunk circuits.
[0017] Each SSP switch 12 and non-SSP switch 16 has a number of
subscriber lines 20 connected thereto. The subscriber lines 20 may
be, for example, conventional twisted pair loop circuits connected
between the switches 12, 16 and the telephone drops for the
customer premises, or the subscriber lines 20 may be trunk
circuits, such as T-1 trunk circuits. Typically, the number of
subscriber lines 20 connected to each switch 12, 16 is on the order
of ten thousand to one hundred thousand lines. Each of the
subscriber lines 20 is connected to a terminating piece of customer
premises equipment, represented in FIG. 1 by the landline
telephones 22. Alternatively, the terminating equipment may be
another type of telecommunications unit such as, for example, a
telecopier, a personal computer, a modem, or a private branch
exchange (PBX) switching system.
[0018] For the AIN 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, each SSP switch 12 and
the non-SSP switch 16 are connected to a signal transfer point
(STP) 24 via a communication link 26. The communication link 26 may
employ, for example, the SS7 switching protocol. The STP 24 may be
a multi-port high-speed packet switch that is programmed to respond
to the routing information in the appropriate layer of the
switching protocol, and route the data packets to their intended
destination.
[0019] One of the intended destinations of the data packets from
the STP 24 is a service control point (SCP) 28. The STP 24 is in
communication with the SCP 28 via a communication link 30, which
may also employ the SS7 switching protocol. The SCP 28 may be an
intelligent database server such as, for example, an Intelligent
Network Service Control Point available from Lucent Technologies
Inc., Murray Hill, N.J., and may have associated with it a network
database 32 for storing network data. The intelligent functionality
of the SCP 28 may be realized by application programs, such as
programmable Service Program Applications (SPA), which are run by
the SCP 28. The SCP 28 is normally employed to implement high
volume routing services, such as call forwarding and number
portability translation and routing. In addition, another of the
functions of the SCP 28 is hosting of the network database 32,
which may store subscriber information, such as subscriber call
management profiles, used in providing enhanced calling
services.
[0020] The AIN 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 also includes an
intelligent peripheral device (IP) 34. The IP 34 may be a services
node such as, for example, a Compact Services Node (CSN) available
from Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, N.J., although the IP
34 may be any other type of available AIN-compliant intelligent
peripheral device. The IP 34 may be connected to one or more of the
SSP switches 12 via a communications link 36 which may be, for
example, an Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN), including
BRI (Basic Rate Interface) or PRI (Primary Rate Interface) lines.
According to other embodiments, the communications link 36 may be,
for example, a T-1 trunk circuit.
[0021] The IP 34 may be used primarily when some enhanced feature
or service is needed that requires an audio connection to the call
such as, for example, the call return and calling name services.
Similar to the SCP 28, the intelligent functionality of the IP 34
may be realized by programmable applications executable by the IP
34.
[0022] In order to keep the processing of data and calls as simple
as possible at the switches, such as at the SSP switches 12, a set
of triggers may be defined at the SSP switches 12 for each call. A
trigger in an AIN is an event associated with a particular
subscriber line 20 that generates a data packet to be sent from the
SSP switch 12 servicing the particular subscriber line 20 to the
SCP 28 via the STP 24. The triggers may be originating triggers for
calls originating from the subscriber premises or terminating
triggers for calls terminating at the subscriber premises. A
trigger causes a message in the form of a query to be sent from the
SSP switch 12 to the SCP 28.
[0023] The SCP 28 in turn interrogates the database 32 to determine
whether some customized call feature or enhanced service should be
implemented for the particular call, or whether conventional
dial-up telephone service should be provided. The results of the
database inquiry are sent back from the SCP 28 to the SSP switch 12
via the STP 24. The return packet includes instructions to the SSP
switch 12 as to how to process the call. The instructions may be to
take some special action as a result of a customized calling
service or enhanced feature. For example, for an enhanced calling
feature requiring the capabilities of the IP 34, the return message
from the SCP 28 may include instructions for the SSP switch 12 to
route the call to the IP 34. In addition, the return message from
the SCP 28 may simply be an indication that there is no entry in
the database 32 that indicates anything other than conventional
telephone service should be provided for the call. The query and
return messages may be formatted, for example, according to
conventional SS7 TCAP (Transaction Capabilities Application Part)
formats. U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,568, which is incorporated herein by
reference, discloses additional details regarding the functioning
of an AIN.
[0024] The AIN 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes only one STP 24,
one SCP 28, one network database 32, and one IP 34, although the
AIN 10 may further include an additional number of these components
as well as other network components, which are not included in FIG.
1 for purposes of clarity. For example, the AIN 10 may additionally
include redundant SCPs and STPs to take over if the STP 24 or the
SCP 28 should fail. In addition, the AIN 10 may include an
Automatic Electronic Switching System (AESS) Network Access Point
(NAP) in communication with the STP 24, which may be programmed to
detect the trigger conditions. Further, the AIN 10 may include
regional STPs and regional SCPs in communication with, for example,
the local STP 24, for routing and servicing calls between different
LECs.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system 40 according to
one embodiment of the remote control telephone dialing service of
the present invention. The system 40 includes portions of the AIN
described in conjunction with FIG. 1, including SSP switches 12a-b
(designated as "CO SWITCH"), the SCP 28, and the IP 34.
[0026] For purposes of describing features of the present
invention, the calling party is a user of a telephone 22 and a
wireless or wireline Internet-connected device 62, 66, 68. The
called party is a user of a second telephone 42. According to one
embodiment, the present invention allows the caller to initiate a
telephone call from any device capable of Internet communication
such as, for example, a pocket PC device 66 (also sometimes called
a "palmtop PC"). An example of a pocket PC device 66 is a
Hewlett-Packard Jornada.RTM. with a Microsoft Windows.RTM.
operating system. Examples of other devices that may be used in
accordance with the present invention include PDA's (not shown),
interactive pagers (not shown), and WAP devices 68. The WAP device
68 can be connected to a non-secure network 52 via a mobile
switching center (MSC) 70 and a WAP gateway 72, in communication
with an internet service provider (ISP) 64. The non-secure network
52 may be the Internet, for example. Other types of devices
including, for example, the pocket PC device 66 may access the
non-secure network 52 through a wireless front-end interface. A
caller may also access the non-secure network 52 using a personal
computer (PC) 62. The PC 62 may be connected to the non-secure
network through the ISP 64. The PC 62 may be in communication with
the ISP 64 through, for example, a CO switch 12c and an Internet
protocol (IP) network 65. For clarity, embodiments of the present
invention described below utilize a pocket PC device 66. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that other Internet-connected
communication devices may be used instead. Additionally, the
telephone of the called party 42 may be any device or system
capable of receiving telephone communications.
[0027] As also illustrated in FIG. 2, the system 40 may include a
gateway 46 and a softswitch 48 in communication with components of
the AIN, including, for example, the IP 34 and/or the CO switch
12b. The gateway 46 may be, for example, an SS7/IP gateway for
performing protocol conversions between the SS7 and IP (Internet
Protocol) protocols. The softswitch 48 may be a programmable
network switch that can process all types of packet protocols. In
addition, according to other embodiments of the invention, either
of the CO switches 12a-b may instead by a softswitch, although
embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter
as if the switch in communication with telephone devices 22 and 42
are CO switches.
[0028] The system 40 may also include a secure network 50 in
communication with the SCP 28, IP 34, and softswitch 48 of the AIN
10. The secure network 50 may be a secure IP network such as, for
example, a secure intranet. The secure network 50 may be in
communication with the non-secure network 52. To maintain the
security of the secure network 50, a firewall 54 may be provided
between the secure network 50 and the non-secure network 52.
[0029] The system 40 may also include a general-purpose computer 56
(hereinafter "Remote Control Dialing Web Server") and one or more
associated databases, shown generally at 58, 59 on FIG. 2. The
Remote Control Dialing Web Server 56 may be any type of computer
capable of communicating with one or more databases 58, 59 and
transmitting information contained therein via the secure network
50. The first database 58 (hereinafter "Active Call Request
Database") may store customer call requests and associated
information. The second database 59 (hereinafter "Customer
Phonebook Database") may store customer phonebook information
accessible only to subscribers of the remote telephone dialing
service described by the present invention. A third database 60
(hereinafter "Internet-accessible Phonebook Database"), not
associated with the Remote Control Dialing Web Server 56, may store
additional phonebook information and may be accessed directly via
the non-secure network 52. The Internet-accessible Phonebook
Database 60 may be, for example, the BellSouth Yellow/White pages
available on the Internet.
[0030] In one embodiment, the caller selects the name of the called
party from a list stored in the electronic memory of the pocket PC
device 66. Alternatively, if this information is not contained in
the pocket PC device 66, the caller may choose to access and search
the Customer Phonebook Database 59 or the Internet-accessible
Phonebook Database 60. Access to each of the databases 59, 60 is
accomplished using the pocket PC device 66. Because in one
embodiment the Customer Phonebook Database 59 is available only to
subscribers for a fee, a PIN may be required in order to obtain
access. After locating the desired information, the caller may
perform a download operation, thereby adding the called party's
name and associated directory number to the electronic memory of
the pocket PC device 66.
[0031] After obtaining the directory number of the called party 42,
the telephone call may be initiated, for example, by first
selecting the name of the called party 42 and then specifying the
location from which the call is being placed. The caller may choose
from one or more call locations programmed into the pocket PC
device 66, such as "home," "office," or "hotel," for example. The
caller may also enter an originating telephone number if the
desired number is not stored in the device 66. Upon completing
these selections, the caller can transmit this information to the
Remote Control Dialing Web Server 56 by selecting, for example, a
"Place Call" option provided by the pocket PC device 66. The
directory numbers corresponding to the caller's selections
constitute one aspect of the information transmitted to the Remote
Control Dialing Web Server 56 from the pocket PC device 66.
Additional information transmitted from the pocket PC device 66 to
the Remote Control Dialing Web Server 56 may include the IP and/or
email address of the pocket PC device 66.
[0032] In response to the information transmitted by the pocket PC
device 66, the Remote Control Dialing Web Server 56 may create an
entry in the Active Call Request Database 58. This entry can
include the directory numbers of the caller and the called party,
along with the IP and/or email address of the pocket PC device
66.
[0033] Following the creation of the database entry, the Remote
Control Dialing Web Server 56 can transmit a message to the AIN 10
requesting that the call be placed. This message can be, for
example, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request sent via the
secure network 50 to the SCP 28 of the AIN 10 shown in FIG. 1. SIP
is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) protocol used to
initiate, modify, or terminate Internet telephony calls. SIP
requests can be sent through any transport protocol such as, for
example, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The SCP 28, as
described above, can execute a SPA program to determine what
customized call features or enhanced services should be implemented
for a particular call. Accordingly, the SCP 28 interrogates its
associated database 32 to determine if the remote control telephone
dialing service described by the present invention should be
provided in response to the SIP request. If the service is
required, the SCP 28 may then send a TCAP message, "Create_Call",
for example, to the appropriate CO switch 12a-b via the STP 24
requesting that a connection between the caller's telephone 22 and
the called party's telephone 42 be created.
[0034] In one embodiment, after receiving the TCAP message from the
SCP 28 via the STP 24 to create the call, the CO switch 12a-b first
establishes the connection to the caller's telephone 22. The
caller's telephone 22 may ring to indicate the completion of this
connection, at which time the caller can answer. Upon sensing the
off-hook condition of the caller's telephone 22, the CO switch
12a-b next completes the connection to the called party's telephone
42. The AIN 10 application running on the SCP 28 can take into
account alternative call scenarios, such as a failure of the caller
to pick up the telephone 22 after initiating a call, or if the
called party's telephone 42 is busy.
[0035] In addition to requesting the CO switch 12a-b to place the
call, the SCP 28 may also send a TCAP query to the CO switch 12a-b
requesting a call disposition. In response to this query, the CO
switch 12a-b may return information regarding the call request the
SCP 28. This information, referred to as the call disposition, can
include, for example, whether or not the call was answered, if the
called party's line was busy, and the duration of the call if
completed. The call disposition may be transmitted to the Remote
Control Dialing Web Server 56 from the SCP 28 via the secure
network 50. The Remote Control Dialing Web Server 56 may then relay
the call disposition to the pocket PC device 66, where it can be
stored in a log file for future reference. After the pocket PC
device 66 has received the call disposition, the Remote Control
Dialing Web Server's 56 record created in the Active Call Request
Database 58 can be deleted.
[0036] It is to be understood that the present description
illustrates those aspects of the invention relevant to a clear
understanding of the invention. Certain aspects of the invention
that would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and
that, therefore, would not facilitate a better understanding of the
invention, have not been presented in order to simplify the present
description. Although the present invention has been described in
connection with certain embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the
art will, upon considering the foregoing description, recognize
that many modifications and variations of the invention may be
employed. It is intended that all such variations and modifications
of the inventions be covered by the foregoing description and
following claims.
* * * * *