EP0412799A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone communication system
Assignee: Boston Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1990-08-08
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2010-08-08
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a distributed architecture that includes multiple voice processing units (16-24). A voice processing unit (16) is designated as a home voice processing unit for a subscriber's messages. An incoming call or access by a subscriber from a central office (30) is preferentially switched to the home VPU (16) by a digital switching system (14) under the control of a master control unit (10). If the master control unit 10 determines that all lines to the home voice processing unit (16) are busy or the voice processing unit is otherwise unavailable, the master control unit causes the digital switching system (14) to switch the call to another or remote voice processing unit. The remote voice processing unit then handles the calls by either locally storing a message or retrieving a message from the home voice processing unit storage over an internal massage bus. If a message is stored remotely and the home voice processing unit is processing the subscriber request, the home voice processing unit can access the remote message over an internal message bus or the master control unit can switch the call routing through the digital switching system to the remote voice processing unit for processing of the remote message and return the digital switching system routing to the home voice processing unit when finished with the remote message. Each voice processing unit (16-24) stores both remote and home messages locally on local disc storage units. The master control unit (10) stores subscriber related information such as the home voice processing unit for each subscriber and the location of each message for that subscriber. Communication between the master control unit and the voice processing units is over an internal network. A hot standby master control unit (12) is provided to take control of the system in the event that the primary master control unit fails.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott A. Jones
- 👤 Donald F. Picard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0421; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53325; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A message communication system, comprising at least first and second message processing means (16-24) for processing a message by storing and/or playing the message; and switching and control means (10,14) for selecting one of the message processing means to process the message and routing the message to and/or from the message processing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A message communication system, comprising at least first and second message processing means (16-24) for processing a message by storing and/or playing the message; and switching and control means (10,14) for selecting one of the message processing means to process the message and routing the message to and/or from the message processing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the switching and control means comprises switching means (14) for routing the message to one of the processing means (16-24); and routing means (10) for controlling the routing by the switching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 2, further comprising backup routing means (12) for controlling routing when the routing means (10) fails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the first processing means can send a stored message, the first processing means indicating to the routing means (10) that a stored message needs to be sent, the routing means (19) controlling the switching means (14) to route the stored message and the first processing means sending the stored message through the switching means (14).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
47 words
A system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first processing means stores the message, the control means (10) causing the second processing means to process the message when the first processing means is unavailable by obtaining the message from the first processing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein the first processing means suspends operation while the second processing means processes the message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein the first processing means processes a second message while the second processing means processes the message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein a message processing state is transferred from the first processing means to the second processing means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
64 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein when the first processing means starts message processing and the second processing means stores the message, the control means (10) causes the switching means (14) to change the routing from the first processing means to the second processing means and causes message processing to be transferred from the first to the second processing means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
71 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first processing means (16) is designated a home processing means for the message and the control means (10) controls routing responsive to which processing means is the home processing means, availability of the home and second processing means, available message storage on the home and second processing means and availability of message ports to the home and second processing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the control means (10) routes in accordance with P(I)=W1*H(I)+W2*RS(I)+W3*PA(I) where I is an index specifying one of the processing means, W1-W3 are weights, H is an indicator indicating whether the one of the processing means is the home processing means, RS is available storage on the one of the processing means, PA is a number of the message ports unoccupied on the one of the processing means and P is a message placement value, and the one of the processing means with the highest message placement value processes the message through the switching means (14).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein the weights W1-W3 are set to select the home processing means (16) when the home processing means is available, has at least one unoccupied message port and has sufficient storage for the message.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
21 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each processing means (16-24) can process more than one message simultaneously.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
51 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an internal network (28) connected to the first and second processing means (16-24) and the control means (10,12), the network carrying the message between the first and second processing means and data between the processing means and the control means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
22 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the message is stored locally in one of the processing means (16,24)
Claim 17
Independent Claim
16 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the message is a voice message.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
30 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second message processing means includes a message cache for receiving and storing the message from the first processing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein when a broadcast message is stored in the first processing means and a user accesses the second processing means, the second processing means obtains the broadcast message from the first processing means, stores the broadcast message in the cache and provides the message to the user.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
47 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system serves at least two users, each user having a message box, the control means storing user message box information and sending the message box information to the one of the processing means processing the message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 19, wherein the system processes at least first and second messages stored in the processing means and the control means includes a list of message storage locations for each user indicating which of the processing means stores the first and second messages.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 20, wherein when the message is to go to each of two users, the processing means which receives the message indicates to the control means (10) an identity of the users, and the control means adds a location of the message to the message box information for each of the two users.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
45 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system is coupled to a telephone switching system and the first processing means sends a telephone number of a location to which a stored message is to be sent to the telephone switching system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 20, wherein when the first processing means is unavailable, the second processing means obtains the stored message from the first processing means, and the routing means (10) controls the switching means (14) to route the stored message from the second processing means to the location.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
533 words
A voice message communication system connected to a central office switching system, said communication system comprising a home voice processing computer, having voice ports, a home message cache and local message storage, processing voice messages and sending voice messages to and receiving voice messages from the central office switching system in accordance with message box information, said home processing computer specified as the home for a users message processing, sending and receiving; a remote processing computer, having voice ports, a remote message cache and local message storage, processing voice messages, sending voice messages to and receiving voice messages from the central office switching system in accordance with the message box information; a digital switching system, connected to the home voice processing computer, the remote processing computer and the central office switching system, for routing messages between the central office switching system and said processing computers; a local area network having a data path and having a message path connecting said home voice processing computer and said remote voice processing computer; a master control computer, connected to said digital switching system and to said home and remote voice processing computers via said data path, storing a message box having the message box information for each user, the message box information listing messages for each user, each list entry indicating which of the processing computers stores each users messages where either processing computer can store a users messages, and the master control unit computer controlling processing by and routing of messages to and from said processing computers through said digital switching system in accordance with P(I)=W1*H(I)+W2*RS(I)+W3*PA(I), where I is an index specifying one of said processing computers, W1 - W3 are weights, H is an indicator indicating whether the one of the processing computers is the home processing computer, RS is an available amount of the local storage for the one of the processing computers, PA is a number of unoccupied voice ports on the one of the processing computers, and P is a message placement value, the one of the processing computers with the highest placement value being selected for processing, sending and/or receiving the voice messages, the weights being set to route messages for the user to said home processing computer when the home processing computer is available, has at least one unoccupied voice port and has sufficient local storage for the messages, the control computer routing a users messages to the remote computer when the home computer is not selected, when one of the processing computers stores one of the messages and the other one of the processing computers is selected for processing the one of the messages, the message is transferred over the message path and stored in the cache for processing by the selected processing computer if the one of said processing computers is unavailable, message processing being transferred to the one of the processing computers from the other one of the processing computers along with rerouting of the message routing by said digital switching system if the one of the processing computers is available, the master control computer transferring the message box information to the one of the processing computers processing, sending or receiving the messages from the user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
533 words
A voice message communication system connected to a central office switching system, said communication system comprising a home voice processing computer, having voice ports, a home message cache and local message storage, processing voice messages and sending voice messages to and receiving voice messages from the central office switching system in accordance with message box information, said home processing computer specified as the home for a users message processing, sending and receiving; a remote processing computer, having voice ports, a remote message cache and local message storage, processing voice messages, sending voice messages to and receiving voice messages from the central office switching system in accordance with the message box information; a digital switching system, connected to the home voice processing computer, the remote processing computer and the central office switching system, for routing messages between the central office switching system and said processing computers; a local area network having a data path and having a message path connecting said home voice processing computer and said remote voice processing computer; a master control computer, connected to said digital switching system and to said home and remote voice processing computers via said data path, storing a message box having the message box information for each user, the message box information listing messages for each user, each list entry indicating which of the processing computers stores each users messages where either processing computer can store a users messages, and the master control unit computer controlling processing by and routing of messages to and from said processing computers through said digital switching system in accordance with P(I)=W1*H(I)+W2*RS(I)+W3*PA(I), where I is an index specifying one of said processing computers, W1 - W3 are weights, H is an indicator indicating whether the one of the processing computers is the home processing computer, RS is an available amount of the local storage for the one of the processing computers, PA is a number of unoccupied voice ports on the one of the processing computers, and P is a message placement value, the one of the processing computers with the highest placement value being selected for processing, sending and/or receiving the voice messages, the weights being set to route messages for the user to said home processing computer when the home processing computer is available, has at least one unoccupied voice port and has sufficient local storage for the messages, the control computer routing a users messages to the remote computer when the home computer is not selected, when one of the processing computers stores one of the messages and the other one of the processing computers is selected for processing the one of the messages, the message is transferred over the message path and stored in the cache for processing by the selected processing computer if the one of said processing computers is unavailable, message processing being transferred to the one of the processing computers from the other one of the processing computers along with rerouting of the message routing by said digital switching system if the one of the processing computers is available, the master control computer transferring the message box information to the one of the processing computers processing, sending or receiving the messages from the user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
72 words
A message processing method using a switching system and at least first and second message processing units (16-24) connected to the switching system (14), comprising the steps of: a) selecting one of the message processing units for processing a message; b) controlling the switching system (14) to route the message to the selected message processing unit; and c) processing the call by the selected message processing unit storing and/or playing the message.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
72 words
A message processing method using a switching system and at least first and second message processing units (16-24) connected to the switching system (14), comprising the steps of: a) selecting one of the message processing units for processing a message; b) controlling the switching system (14) to route the message to the selected message processing unit; and c) processing the call by the selected message processing unit storing and/or playing the message.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 25, wherein when the first message processing unit stores the message and the first message processing unit is unavailable step (c) includes the second processing unit processing the message by obtaining the message from the first processing unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein during step (c) the first processing unit suspends operation while the second processing unit processes the message.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein during step (c) the first processing unit processes a second message while the second processing unit processes the message.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 26, wherein during step (c) a message processing state is transferred from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
42 words
A method according to any of claims 26 to 29, wherein the second message processing unit includes a message cache for receiving and storing the message from the first processing unit and step (c) includes storing the obtained message in the cache.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
43 words
A method according to any of claims 25 to 30, wherein step (c) includes transferring message processing from the first to the second processing unit when the first message processing unit starts message processing and the second message processing unit stores the message.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
49 words
A method according to any of claims 25 to 31, wherein step (b) includes controlling routing responsive to which processing means is a home processing unit, availability of each of the processing units, available message storage on the processing units and availability of message ports to the processing units.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
101 words
A system according to claim 32, wherein routing is controlled in accordance with P(I)=W1*H(I)+W2*RS(I)+W3*PA(I) where I is an index specifying one of the processing units, W1 - W3 are weights, H is an indicator indicating whether the one of the processing units is the home processing unit, RS is available storage on the one of the processing units, PA is a number of the message ports unoccupied on the one of the processing units and P is a message placement value, and the one of the processing units with the highest message placement value processes the message though the switching system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 33, wherein the weights W1-W3 are set to select the home processing unit when the home processing unit is available, has at least one unoccupied message port and has sufficient storage for the message.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
27 words
A method according to any of claims 25 to 34, wherein a network connecting the first and second processing units carries the message between the processing units.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to any of claims 25 to 35, wherein the message is a voice message.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any of claims 25 to 36, wherein step (c) includes sending message box information to the selected one of the processing units processing the message.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
36 words
A method according to any of claims 25 to 37, wherein step (c) includes processing messages responsive to a list of message storage locations for each user indicating which of said processing units store the messages.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any of claims 25 to 38, wherein step (c) includes sending a stored message through the switching system.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 39, wherein step (c) includes sending a telephone number of a location to which the stored message is to be sent to the switching system.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 40, wherein in step (c) when the first processing unit is unavailable the second processing unit obtains the stored message from the first processing unit, the switching system routes the stored message from the second processing unit to the location.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
71 words
A data structure for a message processing system including at least first and second message processing units and a switching system for switching message routing to the units, the data structure comprising a linked list of message location records each record including a storage location indicator indicating which message processing unit stores the message and for controlling switching by the switching system and interunit message transfer by the message processing units.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
71 words
A data structure for a message processing system including at least first and second message processing units and a switching system for switching message routing to the units, the data structure comprising a linked list of message location records each record including a storage location indicator indicating which message processing unit stores the message and for controlling switching by the switching system and interunit message transfer by the message processing units.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
A data structure according to claim 42, further comprising telephone number storage for storing a telephone number of an external location to which a message can be sent.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
A data structure according to claim 42 or claim 43, further comprising a message box for each user storing locations of messages for that user.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
25 words
A data structure according to any of claims 42 to 44, further comprising a cache accessible by all users and for storing a broadcast message.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.