U.S. patent application number 14/243828 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-12 for systems and methods for providing enhanced telephone services.
This patent application is currently assigned to Frontier Communications Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Frontier Communications Corporation. Invention is credited to Ted Vagelos.
Application Number | 20150043725 14/243828 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39685723 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150043725 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vagelos; Ted |
February 12, 2015 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED TELEPHONE SERVICES
Abstract
A switching platform comprises a first circuit for recognizing
tones generated by an originating telephone line, the tones
representing a common number of a party and associated with
telephone lines of the party, a second circuit for recognizing that
the party has answered one of the associated telephone lines, a
third circuit for sending a challenge to the answered telephone
line, a fourth circuit for awaiting the party to satisfy the
challenge, and a fifth circuit for establishing a telephone
connection between the originating telephone line and the answered
telephone line if the challenge is satisfied.
Inventors: |
Vagelos; Ted; (Warren,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Frontier Communications Corporation |
Stamford |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Frontier Communications
Corporation
Stamford
CT
|
Family ID: |
39685723 |
Appl. No.: |
14/243828 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11691448 |
Mar 26, 2007 |
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14243828 |
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11673528 |
Feb 9, 2007 |
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11691448 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/201.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/563 20130101;
H04M 2203/2011 20130101; H04M 3/465 20130101; H04M 7/123 20130101;
H04M 2203/6045 20130101; H04M 3/561 20130101; H04M 3/436 20130101;
H04M 7/128 20130101; H04M 3/56 20130101; H04M 7/1295 20130101; H04M
3/42263 20130101; H04M 3/54 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/201.01 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/46 20060101
H04M003/46 |
Claims
1. A method, executed by a computerized telephone services device,
for providing enhanced telephone services comprising: a)
recognizing, by the computerized telephone services device, tones
generated by an originating telephone line, the originating
telephone line being associated with a calling number, wherein the
tones represent a common number associated with a called party and
assigned to two or more telephone lines; b) identifying, by the
computerized telephone services device, the two or more telephone
lines associated with the common number; c) causing, by the
computerized telephone services device, a first telephone line and
a second telephone line of the two or more telephone lines to ring
substantially simultaneously; d) awaiting, by the computerized
telephone services device, the called party to answer via one of
the two or more telephone lines; e) sending, by the computerized
telephone services device, a challenge to the answered telephone
line and waiting for the called party to satisfy the challenge if
one of the two or more telephone lines is answered, wherein the
challenge comprises a menu having a plurality of options for
routing the call; and f) establishing, by the computerized
telephone services device, a first telephone connection between the
originating telephone line and one of the two or more telephone
lines associated with the common number of the called party if the
challenge is satisfied.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether
the answered telephone line is a telephone line configured to
receive the challenge, and sending the challenge to the answered
telephone line upon determining that the answered telephone line is
the telephone line configured to receive the challenge.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the telephone line configured to
receive the challenge includes the called party's primary home
telephone line.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the telephone line configured to
receive the challenge includes a telephone line shared by multiple
individuals.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the telephone line configured to
receive the challenge includes a college dormitory line.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the
challenge to send to the answered telephone line based on
identifying information associated with one or more of the called
party, the two or more telephone lines associated with the common
number, the answered telephone line, the originating telephone
line, and a calling party.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge includes a prompt,
the prompt including a voice announcement, a text prompt, or any
combination thereof
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge includes one or
more of a PIN, a password, a name, a number, a character, and any
combination thereof
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the sending
and the awaiting a predetermined number of times or until the
called party satisfies the challenge, whichever occurs first.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sending is capable of
sending a different challenge between instances.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining, upon the
party's failing to satisfy the challenge each of the predetermined
number of times, that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore
not establishing the telephone connection between the originating
telephone line and the answered telephone line.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the
challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the
telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the
answered telephone line.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/691,448, filed on Mar. 26, 2007, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/673,528 filed
on Feb. 9, 2007, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated
by reference in their entirety.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] This invention relates generally to methods and systems for
routing telephone calls, and more particularly provides for
management of multiple telephone lines and services corresponding
to a single person, entity, or group and for improving the utility
and efficiency of multiple telephone lines in such
circumstances.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The number of ways to deliver telephone service continues to
grow. "Plain old telephone service" (POTS), comprising analog
telephones connected via pairs of copper wires to the public
switched telephone network (PSTN), is now complemented by, for
example, cellular wireless telephony, voice over internet protocol
(VoIP), WiFi VoIP clients, and satellite-based telephony, among
other services. A consequence is that people can remain in contact
in places and circumstances where and when it was previously
impossible.
[0005] Because people can be reachable, however, more and more
people are expected to do so. Each form of telephone service can
require a separate telephone number, line, or both, and the result
can be that a caller must attempt calls to several different
numbers before reaching the desired person. It is conceivable, for
example, that a single person may have one phone number at work,
one or more phone numbers at home, a personal mobile phone number,
a work mobile phone number, and a phone number corresponding to a
VoIP softphone.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating interconnected
components of a telephone network 100, such as may be found in the
prior art. The network 100 includes the public switched telephone
network ("PSTN") 105, which is the worldwide set of interconnected
telephone networks that deliver fixed telephone services to the
general public and are usually accessed by telephones and private
branch exchanges ("PBX"), transmitting voice, other audio, video,
and data signals.
[0007] The PSTN 105 comprises a plurality of interconnected
switches. The PSTN 105 is formed from the interconnection of e.g.,
third-party switch 106, provider switch 107, and other switches
(not pictured) within the PSTN 105. Fast digital links, referred to
as "trunks" 108, connect switches in most of the PSTN 105, although
some older analog equipment remains in use.
[0008] To connect something, e.g., the provider's switch 107, to
the PSTN 105, typically means to connect it via a trunk 108 to
another switch (not pictured) within the PSTN. Consistent with the
usage common in the art, however, systems will be described herein
as connected to the PSTN 105 as such, with the existence of a
plurality of interconnected switches (not pictured) within the PSTN
105 left implicit. FIG. 1 accordingly shows the third-party switch
106 and provider's switch 107 separate from the PSTN 105, although
they are part of it.
[0009] The PSTN 105 comprises analog phones, which participate in
the PSTN 105 via switches. As depicted in FIG. 1, an analog phone
110 connects via a pair of copper wires 111 to the third-party
switch 106. Similarly, other analog phones 112 connect via pairs of
copper wires 113 to the provider's switch 107. Because they exist
on the edges of the PSTN 105, analog phones may be referred to as
"edge devices."
[0010] An analog phone 112 is so called because it sends and
receives analog electrical signals that represent voice data.
Internally, however, the PSTN 105 primarily uses digital switches
and digital trunks. Thus, a provider's switch 107 converts between
the analog data used by the analog phone 112a and the digital data
used internally by the switch 107 and exchanged within the PSTN
105.
[0011] Although not depicted in FIG. 1, switches within the PSTN
105 exist in a hierarchy. At the lowest level of the hierarchy are
switches, such as the third-party switch 106 and the provider's
switch 107, that connect both to the PSTN 105 and to analog
telephones. For historical reasons, these switches, which connect
both to edge devices and to other switches, are often called "class
5 switches." A single class 5 switch may serve hundreds or
thousands of telephone lines.
[0012] Higher-level switches (not pictured) may connect only to
other switches and may be used, e.g., to establish a connection
between different geographic areas. To handle telephone calls
between different metropolitan areas, an inter-exchange carrier
("IXC") connects to the PSTN 105 directly or indirectly. An IXC
maintains its own facilities, such as, e.g., trunks and switches
(not pictured), to route telephone calls. A provider 115 of
telecommunications services may have its own IXC facilities 121 and
may connect to the PSTN 105 directly or, as depicted in FIG. 1,
through an interface and control system 125. A third-party carrier
may also provide an IXC 120, which may connect directly to the PSTN
105.
[0013] To enable forms of telephone service other than POTS to
interoperate with the PSTN 105, a provider 115 of
telecommunications services may connect, e.g., one or more
switches, gateways, or both to the PSTN 105. As depicted in FIG. 1,
a provider 115 has connected a switch 107 to the PSTN 105. Besides
the connections 113 to analog phones 112, the provider's switch 107
has a connection via a dedicated digital trunk 116 to a private
branch exchange ("PBX") 121. A PBX 121 may provide switching,
signaling, and/or analog-to-digital conversion functions for
multiple analog phones 122, digital phones 123, or both and
typically exists within a large organization with many telephone
lines. A PBX 121 may allow calling within the organization to take
place without use of any facilities of the PSTN 105.
[0014] A provider 115 may use an interface (or gateway) system 125
to bridge telephony over the PSTN 105 and VoIP transmitted across a
packet-switched data network 126, such as the Internet. The
interface system 125 connects to the IP network 126, e.g., via an
Ethernet cable 127 connected to a router (not pictured). A VoIP
client, such as, e.g., a residential analog telephone adapter 128
or a commercial VoIP PBX 129 also connects to the IP network 126,
exchanging data packets with the interface system 125. Other VoIP
clients may use the network 126, such as a VoIP client 130 that
uses WiFi to connect wirelessly to the network 126, or a computer
program (called a "soft client") that executes on a networked
computer 131.
[0015] The interface system 125 also connects to the PSTN 105 via a
trunk 108c. The interface system 125 supports calls among VoIP
clients by, e.g., providing directory and/or addressing
information. The interface system 125 also enables calls to cross
between the PSTN 105 and the IP network 126 by, e.g., translating
data and signaling protocols.
[0016] Other services may also be provided through the PSTN 105.
For example, a provider of wireless telephone services 135 may also
connect to the PSTN 105 through a digital trunk 108e.
[0017] A telephone call may begin from, e.g., an analog phone 112a
connected to the provider's switch 107. The switch 107 detects the
dialed number and establishes the call. If the destination of the
call is another analog phone 112b connected to the provider's
switch, the switch routes the call using an internal trunk (not
pictured). Otherwise, the switch routes the call through the PSTN
105, e.g., directly to a third-party's switch 106 or via the
provider's IXC 121 or a third party's IXC 120.
[0018] The PSTN 105 is a circuit-switched network, which typically
means that it reserves the necessary bandwidth all along the route
taken by a call in progress, even when the call does not need all
of the reserved bandwidth. Multiplexing techniques, which are well
known in the art, are used to send multiple digitized telephone
calls simultaneously over the same trunk 108. Switches within the
PSTN 105 exchange signaling information used to, e.g., information
used to create, route, terminate, and account for telephone calls
(among other functions) over a path that is physically or logically
distinct from the data paths, and most commonly do so using the
protocol known in the art as Signaling System #7 ("SS7").
SUMMARY
[0019] Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided
for use in conjunction with multiple telephone lines and providers.
According to embodiments of the invention, a subscriber to
telephone services or a group of subscribers may be reached on
multiple telephone lines from a single dial-in number; calls in
progress may be transferred seamlessly from one line associated
with a subscriber to another; and group calling features may be
enhanced.
[0020] In accordance with an embodiment, the present invention
provides a method comprising recognizing, at a switch, tones
generated by an originating telephone line, the tones representing
a common number of a party and associated with telephone lines of
the party, and recognizing, at the switch, that the party has
answered one of the associated telephone lines. The method also
includes sending a challenge to the answered telephone line,
awaiting the party to satisfy the challenge, and establishing a
telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the
answered telephone line if the challenge is satisfied.
[0021] The method may also include determining whether the answered
telephone line is a telephone line configured to receive the
challenge, and sending the challenge to the answered telephone line
upon determining that the answered telephone line is the telephone
line configured to receive the challenge.
[0022] The method may further include selecting the challenge to
send to the answered telephone line based on identifying
information associated with one or more of the party, the
associated telephone lines, the answered telephone line, the
originating telephone line, and a calling party. Moreover, the
method may include repeating the sending and the awaiting a
predetermined number of times or until the called party satisfies
the challenge, whichever occurs first. The sending may be capable
of sending a different challenge between instances. The method may
also include determining, upon the party's failing to satisfy the
challenge each of the predetermined number of times, that the
challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing the
telephone connection between the originating telephone line and the
answered telephone line. The method may also include determining
that the challenge is not satisfied and therefore not establishing
the telephone connection between the originating telephone line and
the answered telephone line.
[0023] In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention
provides a switching platform comprising a first, second, third,
fourth and fifth circuit. The first circuit is adapted for
recognizing tones generated by an originating telephone line, the
tones representing a common number of a party and associated with
telephone lines of the party. The second circuit is adapted for
recognizing that the party has answered one of the associated
telephone lines. The third circuit is adapted for sending a
challenge to the answered telephone line. The fourth circuit is
adapted for awaiting the party to satisfy the challenge. The fifth
circuit is adapted for establishing a telephone connection between
the originating telephone line and the answered telephone line if
the challenge is satisfied.
[0024] The switching platform may also include a sixth circuit for
determining whether the answered telephone line is a telephone line
configured to receive the challenge. The third circuit may then be
adapted for sending the challenge to the answered telephone line
upon the sixth circuit's determining that the answered telephone
line is the telephone line configured to receive the challenge.
[0025] The switching platform may further include a sixth circuit
for selecting the challenge to send to the answered telephone line
based on identifying information associated with one or more of the
party, the associated telephone lines, the answered telephone line,
the originating telephone line, and a calling party.
[0026] Furthermore, the switching platform may include a sixth
circuit for repeating the sending and the awaiting a predetermined
number of times or until the party satisfies the challenge,
whichever occurs first. The sixth circuit may be adapted for
sending a different challenge between instances.
[0027] Moreover, the switching platform may include a seventh
circuit for determining, based on the party's failing to satisfy
the challenge each of the predetermined number of times, that the
challenge is not satisfied. The fifth circuit may then be adapted
for not establishing the telephone connection between the
originating telephone line and the answered telephone line. The
switching platform may include a sixth circuit for determining that
the challenge is not satisfied. The fifth circuit may then he
adapted for not establishing the telephone connection between the
originating telephone line and the answered telephone line.
[0028] In accordance with yet another embodiment, the present
invention provides a system comprising means for means for
recognizing, at a switch, tones generated by an originating
telephone line, the tones representing a common number of a party
and associated with telephone lines of the party, and means for
recognizing, at the switch, that the party has answered one of the
associated telephone lines. The system also includes means for
sending a challenge to the answered telephone line, and means for
awaiting the party to satisfy the challenge. The system further
includes means for establishing a telephone connection between the
originating telephone line and the answered telephone line if the
challenge is satisfied.
[0029] In such embodiments, various attributes may be present. The
challenge may include a prompt. The prompt may include a voice
announcement, a text prompt, or any combination thereof The
challenge may also include one or more of a PIN, a password, a
name, a number, a character, and any combination thereof. The
telephone line configured to receive the challenge may include the
party's primary home telephone line, a telephone line shared by
multiple individuals, or a college dormitory line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of components of a telephone
network such as may be found in the prior art.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an enhanced service platform,
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of components of a telephone
network that includes an enhanced service platform, according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating details of a computer
system.
[0034] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating
simultaneous ringing according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0035] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of seamless
jumping of a telephone call according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0036] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of conference
calling according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] The following description is provided to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in
the context of a particular application. Various modifications to
the embodiments are possible, and the generic principles defined
herein may be applied to these and other embodiments and
applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the
embodiments and applications shown, but is to be accorded the
widest scope consistent with the principles, features and teachings
disclosed herein.
[0038] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary system 150, referred to herein
as an Enhanced Service Platform 150, which comprises one or more
systems that a provider 125 may implement to manage VoIP telephony
and/or to provide a gateway between circuit-switched and
packet-switched telephony. An Enhanced Service Platform 150 as
depicted in FIG. 2 may provide certain additional functions
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0039] As depicted in FIG. 2, the components of the Enhanced
Service Platform 150 are connected to one another by one or more
data networks 151. Although depicted as a single network 151 in a
star topology, one skilled in the art will recognize that other
network topologies and/or combinations of networks may connect the
components to one another.
[0040] In an embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service
Platform 150 includes a media gateway 155, which connects
internally to the network 151 and, via a digital trunk 108c, to the
PSTN 105. The Enhanced Service Platform also includes a session
border controller 156 that connects to both the internal network
151 and to the IP network 126. According to an embodiment of the
invention, other components of the Enhanced Service Platform 150,
connected via the internal network 151, may include, e.g., a VoIP
application server 157, a database management system 158, a Web
server 159, a media server 160, and a media gateway controller
170.
[0041] In the depicted embodiment of the invention, the media
gateway controller 170 includes a plurality of modules. A
supervisory module 175 provides logic that directs the functioning
of the media gateway controller 170 and its other modules. A call
accounting module 176 provides logic that gathers and stores
information about calls, e.g., for billing, performance monitoring,
network security, etc. Other modules may provide logic supporting
services such as Caller ID 177, simultaneous ringing 178 (described
in greater detail with reference to FIG. 5), seamless call jumping
179 (described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 6), and
conference calling 180 (described in greater detail with reference
to FIG. 7). The media gateway controller may contain other modules
(not pictured) with other functions in addition to or instead of
some or all of the depicted modules.
[0042] According to an embodiment of the invention, the media
gateway 155, which may sometimes be referred to as a "softswitch,"
switches between and within circuit-switched networks, such as the
PSTN 105, and packet-switched networks, such as the IP network 126.
The media gateway 155 may be configured to translate data and/or
control signals between different protocols that may be used on the
different networks.
[0043] Thus, from the perspective of the PSTN 105, the media
gateway 155 may appear to be a class 5 switch. As such, the media
gateway 155 may send and receive both digitized voice and signaling
information. The media gateway 155 may also serve as a bridge
between the circuit-switched PSTN 105 and an IP data network, such
as the Internet 127. As such, it may permit calls to take place
between and among, e.g., VoIP clients connected to the
packet-switched network 126 and POTS clients connected to the PSTN
105. This kind of interoperation is transparent to the participants
in any particular call.
[0044] A session border controller 156 may exist between the media
gateway 155 and the packet-switched network 127. In an embodiment
of the invention, one function of the session border controller 156
is to enable connections between the Enhanced Service Platform 150
and VoIP clients by, e.g., traversing firewalls, resolving problems
related to the use of network address translation (NAT), and/or
routing VoIP calls and/or the packets that contain voice and/or
signaling information as a VoIP call is built up, carried on, and
torn down. The session border controller 156 may also protect the
Enhanced Service Platform 150, e.g., by serving as a network
firewall, protecting against denial-of-service attacks, and/or
preventing theft of services. These and other functions that may be
implemented by a session border controller 156 are well known in
the art.
[0045] In an embodiment of the invention, VoIP telephone calls are
managed by a VoIP application server 157 as depleted in FIG. 2. The
VoIP application server 157 may perform one of more functions, such
as, e.g., call and subscriber management, VoIP signaling according
to one or more protocols, billing and/or accounting, and/or
providing enhanced calling features, such as call waiting and
caller ID, to VoIP clients. The VoIP application server 157 may
work in conjunction with a database management system 158, such as
is well known in the art, to store and retrieve, e.g., subscriber,
call, and/or directory information.
[0046] The Enhanced Service Platform 150 may provide administrative
interfaces to administrators, subscribers, or both, according to an
embodiment of the invention. Depending on the embodiment of the
invention, such interfaces may be provided, e.g., in the form of
one or more Web applications, which may be provided through a Web
server 159. In an embodiment of the invention, an administrative
Web application may be supported by a multiple-tier architecture,
such as is well known in the art. In such an architecture, the Web
server 159 provides an interface, presented on, e.g., a user's Web
browser, to one or more applications that may exist on the VoIP
application server 157 and/or another application server (not
pictured). Such an application may also provide information hosted
by, e.g., the database management system 158 and/or a media server
160.
[0047] The switching functions of the Enhanced Service Platform 150
may be directed by a media gateway controller 170, according to an
embodiment of the invention. The media gateway controller 170 may
exchange signals with the PSTN 150 via the media gateway 155. Such
signals may be used, e.g., to build up, maintain, and/or tear down
calls over the PSTN 105. The media gateway controller 170 may use
these signals to provide other services, including but not limited
to enhanced services according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0048] In an embodiment of the invention, modules within the media
gateway controller 170 provide one or more functions of the
Enhanced Service Platform 150. The configuration of one or more
modules according to an embodiment of the invention may vary
depending on the configuration and/or capabilities of some or all
components of the Enhanced Service Platform 150. For example, in an
embodiment of the invention, the conferencing module may exist
within the VoIP application server 157 instead of the media gateway
controller 170 as depicted in FIG. 2. In an embodiment of the
invention, multiple components of the Enhanced Service Platform 150
may include modules involved in providing one or more
functions.
[0049] In this context, "module" is to be taken in a broad sense,
and the description of embodiments of the invention in terms of one
or more modules is to be regarded as illustrative and in no way
limiting. Depending on the embodiment of the invention, any module
may include hardware, software, or a combination of the two.
Additionally, any module may be actual, corresponding to one or
more distinct units of hardware, software, or both, or it may be
logical, being considered to be that hardware, software, or both
functioning as described, regardless of any other function or
functions that the corresponding hardware, software, or both may
perform or be capable of performing.
[0050] Further, as one skilled in the art will recognize, other
configurations of modules in other embodiments of the invention are
equivalent to the configuration described herein. A function
described herein as performed by a single module may in an
embodiment of the invention be performed by two or more modules.
Conversely, functions described herein as performed by distinct
modules may, according to an embodiment of the invention, be
performed by one or more common modules.
[0051] FIG. 3 depicts the Enhanced Service Platform 150 within the
telephone network 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.
In the depicted embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service
Platform 150 in FIG. 3 takes over and expands the role of the
interface and control system 125 depicted in FIG. 1. The provider
115 may place the Enhanced Service Platform 150 between the PSTN
105 and the IP network 126, e.g., to bridge the networks and/or to
support the provider's services according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0052] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating details of a computer
system, of which one or more switches, gateways, controllers, or
some or all of them may be an instance. Computer system 200
includes a processor 205, such as an Intel Pentium.TM.
microprocessor or a Motorola Power PC.TM. microprocessor, coupled
to a communications channel 206. The computer system 200 further
includes an input device 207 such as a keyboard or mouse, an output
device 208 such as a cathode ray tube display, a communications
interface 209, a data storage device 210 such as a magnetic disk,
and memory 215 such as Random-Access Memory (RAM), each coupled to
the communications channel 206. The communications interface 209
may be coupled to a network such as the wide-area network commonly
referred to as the Internet. One skilled in the art will recognize
that, although the data storage device 210 and memory 215 are
illustrated as different units, the data storage device 210 and
memory 215 can be parts of the same unit, distributed units,
virtual memory, etc.
[0053] The data storage device 210 and/or memory 215 may store an
operating system 216 such as the Microsoft Windows XP, Linux, the
IBM OS/2 operating system, the MAC OS, or UNIX operating system
and/or other programs 217. It will be appreciated that a preferred
embodiment may also be implemented on platforms and operating
systems other than those mentioned. An embodiment may be written
using JAVA, C, and/or C++ language, or other programming languages,
possibly using object oriented programming methodology.
[0054] One skilled in the art will recognize that the computer
system 200 may also include additional information, such as network
connections, additional memory, additional processors, LANs,
input/output lines for transferring information across a hardware
channel, the Internet or an intranet, etc. One skilled in the art
will also recognize that the programs and data may be received by
and stored in the system in alternative ways. For example, a
computer-readable storage medium (CRSM) reader 220 such as a
magnetic disk drive, hard disk drive, magneto- optical reader, CPU,
etc. may be coupled to the communications bus 206 for reading a
computer-readable storage medium (CRSM) 221 such as a magnetic
disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, RAM, etc. Accordingly,
the computer system 200 may receive programs and/or data via the
CRSM reader 220. Further, it will be appreciated that the term
"memory" herein is intended to cover all data storage media whether
permanent or temporary.
[0055] FIG. 5 depicts simultaneous ringing 250 according to an
embodiment of the invention. In step 251, a caller dials, e.g.,
from an analog phone 110 (FIG. 3), a common number that has been
assigned to one or more telephone lines, which may be referred to
herein as "participating lines." The switch 106 (FIG. 3) connected
to the originating phone 110 detects that the caller has taken the
phone off the hook and recognizes, e.g., the DTMF tones
representing the common number. In response, the switch 106
connects in step 252 (FIG. 5) to the media gateway 155 within the
Enhanced Service Platform 150. At this point, from the perspective
of the caller's switch 106, a call has been built up.
[0056] The Enhanced Service Platform 150 then attempts to ring
participating lines to complete the call. In an embodiment of the
invention, the media gateway 155 informs the media gateway
controller 170 of the incoming call request. The supervisory module
175 causes retrieval of data, e.g., from the DBMS 158, for use in
deciding how to handle the request. If the requested number is a
front end to one or more participating lines, the supervisory
module 175 directs the simultaneous ring module 178 to try to
establish the call.
[0057] In an embodiment of the invention, the simultaneous ring
module 178 causes the Enhanced Service Platform 150 to send a
message to the caller in step 253, as it tries to establish the
call. The message may be, for example, "Please hold while [name of
subscriber] is located." In an embodiment of the invention, the
Enhanced Service Platform 150 may send a conventional ringing tone
to the caller in addition to or instead of a message. The data
comprising the representation of the message and/or the ringing
tone may be, e.g., provided by the media server 160 to the media
gateway 155 at the direction of the simultaneous ring module 178 of
the media gateway controller 170.
[0058] In an embodiment of the invention, the simultaneous ring
module 178 identifies in step 254 the participating lines that will
ring. This step 254 commonly involves looking up the participating
line, e.g., by the DBMS 158. If the simultaneous ring module 178
determines in the process that the call has originated from a
participating line, then the module 178 will exclude that
originating line from the group of lines that ring.
[0059] For each line that will ring, the simultaneous ring module
178 instructs the media gateway 155 to signal the corresponding
switch 107 to attempt to ring the line. The form and transmission
method of the signal correspond to the configuration of each
signaled switch. For example, a switch in the PSTN 105 may be
signaled to ring via the SS7 network with an Initial Address
Message, or IAM. Other types of switches and the corresponding
methods for signaling are also well known in the relevant art.
[0060] The media gateway 155 informs the media gateway controller
170 of the responses to the ring requests. For example, in response
to a ring request, a switch 107 may return a busy signal. In an
embodiment of the invention, the simultaneous ring module 178 may
respond by instructing the media gateway 155 to stop trying to ring
that line.
[0061] Alternatively, the switch 107 may signal that the line is
engaged, e.g., on another call. In an embodiment of the invention,
the response may depend on the availability of call waiting on the
engaged line. In such an embodiment, the simultaneous ring module
178 may respond by instructing the media gateway 155 to send a
call-waiting alert to the engaged line if that service is
available. If call waiting is not available, e.g., because the
engaged line does not support it or the subscriber has disabled it,
the simultaneous ring module 178 may respond by instructing the
media gateway 155 to stop trying to ring that line.
[0062] In an embodiment of the invention, if the Enhanced Service
Platform 150 determines in step 260 that it cannot ring any
participating line, it may in step 261 transfer the caller directly
to a voice mailbox. The simultaneous ring module 178 may in that
case inform the supervisory module 175 that the attempt to set op
the call failed. In response, the supervisory module 175 may direct
the media gateway 155 to switch the call to a voice mailbox
provided by, e.g., an application on the media server 160 or the
VoIP application server, which may in turn retrieve prompting
messages and/or store messages through the DBMS 158.
[0063] Depending on the embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced
Service Platform 150 may also signal the caller that the subscriber
is not available; for example, the simultaneous ring module 178 may
cause the media gateway 155 to retrieve a voice announcement or a
busy signal from the media server 160 and then to send it to the
caller. Other possible responses are known in the art, and, in an
embodiment of the invention, the type of response may be
configured, e.g., by the subscriber or the provider.
[0064] In step 262, the available participating lines ring. In an
embodiment of the invention, one or more of the participating
lines, e.g., the subscriber's primary home telephone line, may be
designated or configured as a preferred line. In such an
embodiment, the ringing signal may be sent to the preferred line or
lines shortly before it is sent to other participating lines. The
head-start given to the preferred line or lines will vary depending
on the embodiment of the invention, but will commonly be long
enough to increase the likelihood that a preferred line will be
answered before a non-preferred line, yet brief enough that the
ringing time of the non-preferred line or lines is sufficient to
allow the line to be answered before the caller hangs up. In an
embodiment of the invention, the head-start will be between one and
three seconds.
[0065] In an embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service
Platform 150 may at step 264 present a challenge when a ringing
line is answered. For example, a challenge may include a voice
announcement, such as, "This call is for [subscriber's name]. Press
one to accept the call, or press two to reject it." The
simultaneous ring module 178 may effect this step by directing the
media server 160 to send the announcement to the answered line,
e.g., through the media gateway 155, and by directing the media
gateway 155 to monitor the call for responsive DTMF tones. The
media gateway 155 sends any detected input to the simultaneous ring
module 178. In step 265, the simultaneous ring module 178
determines whether the detected input satisfies the challenge. If
so, the simultaneous ring module 178 may direct the supervisory
module 175 to put the call through as depleted in step 266, or to
disconnect the line as depicted in step 268.
[0066] Alternatively, in an embodiment of the invention, the
challenge may prompt for a PIN, password, or other identifying
information. If in step 265 the correct response is received, the
Enhanced Service Platform 150 may pat the call through. If no
response or an incorrect response is given, the Enhanced Service
Platform 150 may, depending on the embodiment of the invention
and/or its configuration, prompt the user to try again (not shown)
or may disconnect the line as shown in step 268. This may be
especially valuable when many people share a single telephone
number, such as a home line in, e.g., a college dormitory. The
challenge may be capable of preventing certain roommates from
accepting calls intended for other residents.
[0067] In an embodiment of the invention, participating lines may
be individually configured to require a successful challenge or to
put the call through to an answered line without a challenge.
Depending on the embodiment of the invention, such configuration
may be done by a user, a system administrator, or both.
[0068] Once the call has been put through to a participating line,
in step 267, the simultaneous ring module 178 causes the media
gateway 155 to direct the switches associated with other ringing
lines, if any, to stop ringing. In an embodiment of the invention,
if the call is not answered after a set time, the Enhanced Service
Platform 150 may, in step 263 cause all participating lines to stop
ringing and transfer the call to a voice mailbox.
[0069] FIG. 6 depicts operation of a seamless jump 280 according to
an embodiment of the invention. A managed call is established 285,
as depicted in FIG. 6, in one of two ways. First, a managed call
may be established by a call to the subscriber's common number in
step 250, as depicted in FIG. 5 in connection with the discussion
of simultaneous ringing.
[0070] The second depicted way to establish a managed call 285
begins at step 291 and involves originating a call from a line
capable of being controlled by the Enhanced Service Platform 150.
For example, in an embodiment of the invention, the provider's
switch 107 (FIG. 3) may support configuring the lines associated
with some or all directly attached analog phones 112 (FIG. 3) so
that the Enhanced Service Platform 150 cam manage them. According
to an embodiment of the invention, a call is originated in step 291
(FIG. 6) when the caller takes a phone attached to a controlled
line off the hook.
[0071] The caller then enters a service code at step 292, e.g.,
using the DTMF keys of the analog phone 112a. In an embodiment of
the invention, the service code may be, for example "*1#", and
indicates to the provider's switch 107 that this call is to be
managed by the Enhanced Service Platform 150. Such management may
be brought about, according to an embodiment of the invention, by,
e.g., establishing a circuit from the analog phone 112a, to the
providers switch 107, through the PSTN 105, to the media gateway
155 within the Enhanced Service Platform 150.
[0072] The caller then dials the destination number in step 293 to
place the call. At the direction of the seamless jump module 179,
the media gateway 155 may detect and decode the DTMF tones
representing the destination number and, at the direction of the
media gateway controller 170, may respond by attempting to put the
call through normally. Once the ringing destination is answered,
then the managed call may be considered to have been established at
step 294.
[0073] Alternative embodiments of the invention may include other
methods for establishing a managed call instead of or in addition
to one or both of the methods depicted in FIG. 6. For example, in
an embodiment of the invention, a switch (possibly including a
third-party switch 106), VoIP gateway, or other device or devices
may be programmed and/or configured to place any call from one or
more attached lines under the management of the Enhanced Service
Platform 150. Such an embodiment of the invention may permit a
caller to enter a code to except the call from some or all
management features provided by the Enhanced Service Platform
150.
[0074] In an embodiment of the invention, the media gateway 155
continues to monitor a managed call to detect entry of DTMF tones
that signal a seamless jump. The Enhanced Service Platform 150 may
achieve this by, e.g., keeping the media gateway 155 in the circuit
for the duration of the call, even when doing so extends the length
of the circuit. For example, a call from a third-party to a
subscriber's analog telephone line might, according to the prior
art, be carried from the third party's switch 106 (FIG. 3), through
the PSTN 105 (FIG. 3), and then to the provider's own switch 107
(FIG. 3). In an embodiment of the invention, the circuit may
proceed from the third-party's switch 106, through the PSTN 105,
through the media gateway 155, back to the PSTN 105, and then to
the provider's switch 107. (This configuration is sometimes
referred to in the art as a "trombone" or "hairpin".)
[0075] In an embodiment of the invention, the media gateway 155 is
configured to monitor managed calls continuously for DTMF tones,
decoding any detected tones and reporting them to, e.g., the
supervisory module 175 in the media gateway controller 170. In such
an embodiment, a subscriber may signal a jump by entering, e.g., a
code beginning with a service code "**", which may be followed by
an ID code of additional keys to indicate the desired destination
for the jump. For example, in an embodiment of the invention, the
service code and ID code "**C" may transfer a call to the
subscriber's cellular phone, the code "**H" may transfer the call
to the subscriber's home phone, the code "**W" may transfer the
call to the subscriber's work phone, the code "**M" may transfer
the call to the subscriber's mobile wireless (e.g., WiFi or WiMax)
phone, code "**P" may transfer the call to the subscribers VoIP
phone, and the code "***" followed by any phone number may transfer
the call to that line. Another possibility is that the code "**V"
may transfer the call directly to the subscriber's voice mailbox.
According to an embodiment of the invention, pressing the "#" key
may cancel a jump in progress. For convenience, the DTMF tones may
be muted after the detection of the service code, e.g., "**". Upon
detecting such a code, which indicates a seamless jump, the
supervisory module 175 may forward the code to the seamless jump
module 179 for execution of the requested jump.
[0076] When, at step 300, the appropriate module within the media
gateway controller 170 detects a code indicating a seamless jump,
the seamless jump module 179 causes the media gateway 155 to send a
ring signal to the jump destination, as step 301. Although not
shown, the seamless jump module 179 may also send a caller ID
number to the jump destination. In one embodiment, the caller ID
number may be the common number. In another embodiment, the caller
ID number may be the native number of the other party. While the
jump destination is ringing in step 301, the seamless jump module
179 may direct the media gateway 155 to cause ringing tones or
another signal to be sent to some or all of the lines still on the
call, possibly by retrieving a representation of the signal from
the media server 160 (FIG. 2).
[0077] Depending on the embodiment of the invention and/or the
configuration, the Enhanced Service Platform 150 may present a
challenge to the destination when it is answered, as discussed in
connection with simultaneous ringing 250, depicted in FIG. 5. Upon
a successful response to the challenge, or upon answer, if no
challenge is made, the seamless jump module 179 may at step 302
signal the supervisory module that the call to the new line has
been established, and the supervisory module may consequently
direct the media gateway 155 to terminate the call to the old
destination at step 303 without further input from any party. In
one embodiment, the connection to the old destination may be
maintained until a connection with the jump destination has been
made. For example, if the challenge is not met, then the connection
with the old destination may be maintained. In step 304, the call
continues from this point, and, according to an embodiment of the
invention, further jumps maybe made.
[0078] FIG. 7 depicts establishment 320 of a group call, also
referred to as a conference call, in accordance with an embodiment
of the invention. The call begins when a subscriber calls a
designated group call direct inward dial ("DID") number in step
325, which may connect the caller to the Enhanced Service Platform
150 at the media gateway 155. The supervisory module 175 in such an
embodiment recognizes that new incoming call has specified a group
call DID as the destination and directs the conference call module
180 to handle the request.
[0079] Certain telephone lines, which may be participating fines as
that term was used in connection with simultaneous ringing, above,
may be considered "defined numbers," which may enter a conference
without further authentication. In step 326, the conference call
module 180 retrieves the defined numbers associated with the
current DID, e.g., from the DBMS 158, and compares the telephone
number associated with the incoming call with the retrieved defined
numbers. If the incoming number is found, the conference call
module 180 proceeds to step 330 to try to put the call through.
[0080] If the call did not originate from a defined number, the
conference call module 180 in step 327 directs the media gateway
155 to prompt the caller, e.g., with a prompt message provided by
the media server 160, to enter a pass code. The media gateway 155
detects the pass code, e.g., by detecting incoming DTMF tones, and
sends the entered code to the conference call module 180 for
validation. In step 328, the conference call module 180 determines
whether the entered code is the password. If so, the conference
call module 180 proceeds to step 330 to try to put the call
through. If not, then the conference call module 180 directs the
supervisory module 178 to disconnect the call.
[0081] In step 330, the conference call module 180 checks to see if
a conference associated with the DID is already in progress. If
such a conference call exists, the conference call module directs
the media gateway 155 to add the caller to the conference and, at
step 332, notifies the supervisory module that the call has been
established.
[0082] If no such conference call is found, the conference call
module 180 creates one. In an embodiment of the invention, the
conference call module 180 sets up the call by allocating and/or
initializing one or more data structures representing the call
and/or directing the supervisory module 175 to do likewise, and
then by identifying the other numbers that are to participate in
the group call, e.g., by requesting configuration information from
the DBMS 158. Then, in step 331, the conference call module directs
the media gateway 155 to attempt to call the other participating
numbers. As participating numbers are answered, the media gateway
155 signals the conference call module 180, which adds them to the
conference, possibly, according to an embodiment of the invention,
after requiring the answered line to meet a challenge such as that
described in connection with simultaneous ringing 250 as depicted
in FIG. 5.
[0083] In an embodiment of the invention, the Enhanced Service
Platform 150 provides features that are accessible to the
participants in a conference call. For example, according to an
embodiment of the invention, one or more new participants may be
added to a conference call in progress, e.g., by a current
participant's entering one or more DTMF tones, which the media
gateway 155 may detect and which the conference call module 180
and/or one or more other modules within the media gateway
controller 170 may interpret and then carry out corresponding
commands. Seamless jumping 280 (FIG. 6) may also be available to
one or more participants in a conference call according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0084] Although the embodiments above have been described using a
media gateway, one skilled in the art will recognize that the
embodiments can be implemented using software on any switch in the
network 100, e.g., on any one of the class 5 switches or on a class
4 switch.
[0085] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention is by way of example only, and other
variations and modifications of the above-described embodiments and
methods are possible in light of the foregoing teaching. Although
the network sites are being described as separate and distinct
sites, one skilled in the art will recognize that these sites may
be a part of an integral site, may each include portions of
multiple sites, or may include combinations of single and multiple
sites. The various embodiments set forth herein may be implemented
utilizing hardware, software, or any desired combination thereof.
For that matter, any type of logic may be utilized which is capable
of implementing the various functionality set forth herein.
Components may be implemented using a programmed general purpose
digital computer, using application specific integrated circuits,
or using a network of interconnected conventional components and
circuits. Connections may be wired, wireless, modem, etc. The
embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or
limiting. The present invention is limited only by the following
claims.
* * * * *