EP0547780A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for monitoring a network for customer signaling during the term of a call
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1992-11-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A network monitor and associated control system is provided to monitor a toll network for customer signaling. A multi-tone signal processor (213,214) and associated control (215) is provided such that when signaling is detected, such signaling is validated against a provisioned list. A valid signal is reported to a central control (203) of the network switch, which takes action in response to the signal. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Wayne Anderson
- 👤 Elliott Baral
- 👤 Ronald Stanley Byrd
- 👤 Bernard William Fecht
- 👤 David Saul Isenberg
- 👤 Larry William Kirsch
- 👤 Frederick William Korty
- 👤 Ronald Bruce Martin
- 👤 Dario Livio Parola
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In a telecommunications network comprising one or more network switches, a plurality of channels interconnected under control of said one or more network switches, and one or more network monitors each under the control of ones of said one or more network switches and connected to said channels, each of said network monitors comprising a multi-tone signal processor, a method for providing access to network services comprising the steps of: receiving a call origination on one of said channels, determining that said identified calling line may have access to network services, enabling one of said one or more network monitors connected to said one of said channels to monitor said channel for signaling for at least the interval to call answer or abandonment; in response to detection of signaling, reporting said signaling to said one or more network switches; and said one or more network switches providing access to network services for said one of said channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a telecommunications network comprising one or more network switches, a plurality of channels interconnected under control of said one or more network switches, and one or more network monitors each under the control of ones of said one or more network switches and connected to said channels, each of said network monitors comprising a multi-tone signal processor, a method for providing access to network services comprising the steps of: receiving a call origination on one of said channels, determining that said identified calling line may have access to network services, enabling one of said one or more network monitors connected to said one of said channels to monitor said channel for signaling for at least the interval to call answer or abandonment; in response to detection of signaling, reporting said signaling to said one or more network switches; and said one or more network switches providing access to network services for said one of said channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said one or more network monitors each comprises a multi-tone signal processor and an echo canceler, and wherein detection of signaling comprises said multi-tone signal processor detecting said signaling and said echo canceler canceling echos of said signaling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said connected network monitors are on an access side of said network switches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said connected network monitors are on an intertoll side of said network switches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further including the step of, before said step of reporting said signaling to said processor, determining if said signaling comprises a valid signal string.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said valid signal string comprises one or more dual-tone, multi-frequency (DTMF ) digits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said valid signal string comprises network signaling tones.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said call origination comprises an identification of a calling line, and wherein enabling one of said one or more network monitors connected to said one of said channels is performed only after a determination is made that said identified calling line may have access to network services.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said call origination comprises an identification of a calling line, and wherein said providing access to network services is performed only after a determination is made that said identified calling line may have access to network services.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said call origination comprises a destination number, and wherein said providing access to network services is performed only after a determination is made that said destination number may have access to network services.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said call origination comprises a destination number, and wherein said enabling one of said one or more network monitors connected to said one of said channels is performed only after a determination is made that said identified calling line may have access to network services.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signaling comprises a predetermined plurality of dual-tone, multi-frequency (DTMF) digits further including the steps of, before said step of reporting said signaling to said controller, receiving a first of said plurality of DTMF digits; timing the receipt of the remaining predetermined plurality of DTMF digits; and if said remaining predetermined plurality of DTMF digits is received within a prespecified time, reporting said DTMF digits to said originating switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising if said remaining predetermined plurality of DTMF digits are not received within said prespecified time, playing an announcement on said channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising after reporting said DTMF digits to said originating switch, acknowledging said signaling on said channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said acknowledgment comprises playing a tone on said channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said acknowledgment comprises playing an announcement on said channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network switches receive signaling on a signaling channel, and wherein said multi-tone signal processor is enabled in response to a predetermined signal on received on said signaling channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network monitor monitors said channel for signaling for the full duration of the call.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network monitor monitors said channel for signaling during the time of end-to-end connectivity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a network switching system comprising one or more network switches, a plurality of channels interconnected under control of said one or more network switches, and one or more network monitors under the control of each of said one or more network switches and connected to said channels, each of said network monitors comprising a multi-tone signal processor and an echo canceler, a method for providing access to network services comprising the steps of: receiving a call origination on one of said channels at an originating one of said one or more network switches, said call origination comprising a destination number and an identification of a calling line; said originating switch enabling said multi-tone signal processor of said one or more network monitors connected to said originating channel to monitor said channel for signaling; in response to said signaling, said one of said one or more network monitors reporting said signaling to said originating switch; and said originating switch providing access to network services for said one of said channels in response to verifying that said calling line may have access to network services.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a network switching system comprising one or more network switches, a plurality of channels interconnected under control of said one or more network switches, and one or more network monitors under the control of each of said one or more network switches and connected to said channels, each of said network monitors comprising a multi-tone signal processor and an echo canceler, a method for providing access to network services comprising the steps of: receiving a call origination on one of said channels at an originating one of said one or more network switches, said call origination comprising a destination number and an identification of a calling line; said originating switch enabling said multi-tone signal processor of said one or more network monitors connected to said originating channel to monitor said channel for signaling; in response to said signaling, said one of said one or more network monitors reporting said signaling to said originating switch; and said originating switch providing access to network services for said one of said channels in response to verifying that said calling line may have access to network services.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
69 words
A network monitor comprising: signaling detection means connected to a call path for detecting signals communicated on said call path; echo cancellation means connected to said call path in conjunction with said signaling detection means for canceling echoes of said signaling; and controller means connected to said signaling detector means responsive to said signaling detection means for detection of signals and for initiating network services responsive to said signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
A network monitor comprising: signaling detection means connected to a call path for detecting signals communicated on said call path; echo cancellation means connected to said call path in conjunction with said signaling detection means for canceling echoes of said signaling; and controller means connected to said signaling detector means responsive to said signaling detection means for detection of signals and for initiating network services responsive to said signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A network monitor in accordance with claim 21 wherein said signaling detection means comprises a multi-tone signal processor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A network monitor in accordance with claim 21 wherein said controller means comprises means for collecting signals from said detector means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A network monitor in accordance with claim 23 wherein said controller means further comprises communication means for communicating said collected signals to a network controller.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A network monitor in accordance with claim 24 further including means for validating said collected signals so that only valid signals are communicated to said network controller by said communication means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A network monitor in accordance with claim 25 further including message means for reporting valid and invalid signal on said network.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
A network monitor in accordance with claim 21 wherein said controller means further comprises timing means for time receipt of signals; means for validating said collected signals; and means for clearing said collection means if valid signals are not received within a predetermined time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
A network monitor in accordance with claim 21 wherein said controller means further includes means for validating said collected signals; and means for deleting a first one of said collected signals if said collected signals are not valid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A network monitor in accordance with claim 21 wherein each network monitor monitors a plurality of call paths.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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