US4959854A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for automatically reconfiguring telephone network resources
Assignee: Intervoice LP
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Filing: 1990-01-26
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Granted: 1990-09-25
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Expires: 2010-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided to automatically reconfigure resource modules (302) to perform selected functions. Incoming telephone calls are allocated by a resource manager (304) to appropriate resource modules (302). Based upon logic programmed into a computer (309) coupled to the resource manager (304), the system can predict how many resource modules (302) providing each function are required to handle the incoming calls. The computer (309) directs the resource manager (304) to reconfigure certain of the resource modules (302) to provide the necessary functions. This reconfiguration can occur dynamically during any particular call.
Inventors
- 👤 Ellis K. Cave
- 👤 Dwain H. Hammond
- 👤 Michael J. Polcyn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/46; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54; H04Q3/545; H04Q3/54575; H04Q3/54591
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A programmable resource circuit for use in conjunction with a telephone connection to or from telephone facilities, said resource circuit comprising: means for associating said resource circuit with a particular telephone connection; means for performing a plurality of different call functions with respect to said particular telephone connection; and means operable during said particular telephone connection for accepting instructions operable for controlling which of said functions is to be performed at a given time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A programmable resource circuit for use in conjunction with a telephone connection to or from telephone facilities, said resource circuit comprising: means for associating said resource circuit with a particular telephone connection; means for performing a plurality of different call functions with respect to said particular telephone connection; and means operable during said particular telephone connection for accepting instructions operable for controlling which of said functions is to be performed at a given time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 1 further comprising: means for sharing said resource circuit with telephone connections established to or from a plurality of different telephone facilities; and wherein said associating means is operative on a telephone connection by connection basis with respect to each of said telephone lines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 1 wherein said associating means permanently associates said resource with telephone connections established to or from a particular one of said facilities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 1 further comprising: means for storing said instructions on a temporary basis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 4 further comprising: means for receiving information for presentation to, or information received from, said associated telephone connection while said resource circuit is performing a particular function under control of said stored instructions; and means for temporarily storing said received information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 5 further comprising: means for processing said temporarily stored information under control of said stored instructions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 6 wherein said processing means is a digital signal processor and wherein said temporarily stored information is digitized.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 1 wherein said instructions are received from a source external of said resource circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 1 wherein said instructions are accepted from a plurality of different prestored instruction sets, each instruction set operable for controlling different telephone call functions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The resource circuit set forth in claim 9 further comprising: means for monitoring each said telephone connection; and means controlled by said monitoring means for selecting which one of said instruction sets is operative at any given time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A telephone system including a plurality of programmable resource circuits each for use in conjunction with a telephone connection to or from a telephone facility, said system comprising: means for associating a selected one of said resource circuits with a particular telephone connection; means for adapting each said resource circuit to perform one of a plurality of different call functions with respect to said particular telephone connection; and means within said selected resource circuit for accepting instructions for controlling which of said functions is to be performed at a given time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A telephone system including a plurality of programmable resource circuits each for use in conjunction with a telephone connection to or from a telephone facility, said system comprising: means for associating a selected one of said resource circuits with a particular telephone connection; means for adapting each said resource circuit to perform one of a plurality of different call functions with respect to said particular telephone connection; and means within said selected resource circuit for accepting instructions for controlling which of said functions is to be performed at a given time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system set forth in claim 11 wherein said controlling means is operable during said particular telephone connection to change said function on a dynamic basis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system set forth in claim 12 further comprising: means for sharing said resource circuit with telephone connections established to or from a plurality of different telephone facilities; and wherein said associating means is operative on a telephone connection by connection basis with respect to each of said telephone lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system set forth in claim 11 wherein said associating means permanently associates said resource with telephone connections established to or from a particular one of said facilities.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system set forth in claim 11 further comprising: means for storing said instructions on a temporary basis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system set forth in claim 15 further comprising: means for receiving information for presentation to, or information received from, said associated telephone connection while said resource circuit is performing a particular function under control of said stored instructions; and means for temporarily storing said received information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system set forth in claim 16 further comprising: means for processing said temporarily stored information under control of said stored instructions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system set forth in claim 17 wherein said processing means is a digital signal processor and wherein said temporarily stored information is digitized.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system set forth in claim 11 wherein said instructions are received from a source external of said resource circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system set forth in claim 11 wherein said instructions are received from a source external of said system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system set forth in claim 11 wherein said instructions are accepted from a plurality of different prestored instruction sets, each instruction set operable for controlling different telephone call functions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system set forth in claim 11 further comprising: means for monitoring each said telephone connection; and means controlled by said monitoring means for selecting which one of said instruction sets is operative at any given time.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of operating a telephone system including a plurality of programmable resource circuits each for use in conjunction with a telephone connection to or from a telephone facility, said method comprising the steps of: associating a selected one of said resource circuits with a particular telephone connection; adapting each said resource circuit to perform one of a plurality of different call functions with respect to said particular telephone connection; and accepting instructions within said selected resource circuit for controlling which of said functions is to be performed at a given time.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of operating a telephone system including a plurality of programmable resource circuits each for use in conjunction with a telephone connection to or from a telephone facility, said method comprising the steps of: associating a selected one of said resource circuits with a particular telephone connection; adapting each said resource circuit to perform one of a plurality of different call functions with respect to said particular telephone connection; and accepting instructions within said selected resource circuit for controlling which of said functions is to be performed at a given time.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method set forth in claim 23 wherein said operating step is enabled during said particular telephone connection to change said function on a dynamic basis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method set forth in claim 24 further comprising the step of: sharing said resource circuit with telephone connections established to or from a plurality of different telephone facilities; and wherein said associating step is operative on a telephone connection by connection basis with respect to each of said telephone lines.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method set forth in claim 23 wherein said associating step permanently associates said resource with telephone connections established to or from a particular one of said facilities.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method set forth in claim 23 further comprising: means for storing said instructions on a temporary basis.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method set forth in claim 27 further comprising the steps of: receiving information for presentation to, or information received from, said associated telephone connection while said resource circuit is performing a particular function under control of said stored instructions; and temporarily storing said received information.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method set forth in claim 28 further comprising the step of: processing said temporarily stored information under control of said store instructions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 29 wherein said processing step is a digital signal processor and wherein said temporarily stored information is digitized.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method set forth in claim 23 wherein said instructions are received from a source external of said resource circuit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method set forth in claim 23 wherein said instructions are received from a source external of said system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method set forth in claim 23 wherein said instructions are accepted from a plurality of different prestored instruction sets, each instruction set operable for controlling different telephone call functions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method set forth in claim 23 further comprising the steps of: monitoring each said telephone connection; and selecting, under control of said monitoring step, which one of said instruction sets is operative at any given time.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
44 words
A system for reconfiguring resources in a telephone network, comprising: a resource manager; and a plurality of standard resource modules coupled to the telephone network, each of said resource modules configurable under control of said resource manager to perform a plurality of resource functions.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
44 words
A system for reconfiguring resources in a telephone network, comprising: a resource manager; and a plurality of standard resource modules coupled to the telephone network, each of said resource modules configurable under control of said resource manager to perform a plurality of resource functions.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 35 wherein said resource manager comprises: means for determining the resource required by received calls; and means responsive to said determining means for transmitting configuring instructions to said resource modules.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 36 and further comprising means for monitoring said telephone network for determining said resource requirements and wherein said determining means is responsive to said monitoring means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 35 wherein each of said resource modules comprises: control circuitry responsive to said resource manager for receiving and storing instructions from said resource manager; and a programmable digital signal processor responsive to said processing circuitry, said digital signal processor operable to provide a resource function to said telephone network.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 38 wherein said system further includes: a computer; and means for transferring instructions to and from said computer for establishing said configuring instructions.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 35 wherein said resources are shared among a plurality of system call completion facilities.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 35 wherein said resources are permanently associated with system call completion facilities.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for reconfiguring resource modules in conjunction with a telephone system where calls are completed to designated facilities, and wherein certain resources are necessary in order to process calls to said designated facilities, said method comprising the steps of: determining which resources are required by received calls; and reconfiguring in accordance with said determined required resources at least one of said modules such that it provides at any point in time the resource necessary for any particular said call.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for reconfiguring resource modules in conjunction with a telephone system where calls are completed to designated facilities, and wherein certain resources are necessary in order to process calls to said designated facilities, said method comprising the steps of: determining which resources are required by received calls; and reconfiguring in accordance with said determined required resources at least one of said modules such that it provides at any point in time the resource necessary for any particular said call.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said reconfiguring step includes the step of monitoring the telephone system to determine said resource requirements.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said reconfiguring step includes the step of downloading instructions for said required resource into memory on said resource module.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 44 wherein said downloading step includes the step of sending and receiving instructions between a resource manager and a computer operating independent of said switching system.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 42 wherein each said resource is permanently associated with a particular one of said facilities.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 42 wherein each said resource is shared among a plurality of said facilities.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for reconfiguring shared resource modules in a telephone system where calls are completed to designated facilities, and wherein certain resources are necessary in order to process calls to said designated facilities, said method comprising the steps of: determining which resources are required by received calls; and dynamically reconfiguring, in accordance with said determined required resources, the least-used resource module such that it provides the most needed resource function with respect to any designated call completion facility.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for reconfiguring shared resource modules in a telephone system where calls are completed to designated facilities, and wherein certain resources are necessary in order to process calls to said designated facilities, said method comprising the steps of: determining which resources are required by received calls; and dynamically reconfiguring, in accordance with said determined required resources, the least-used resource module such that it provides the most needed resource function with respect to any designated call completion facility.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said reconfiguring step includes the step of monitoring the telephone system to determine said resource requirements.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said reconfiguring step includes the step of downloading instructions for said required resource function into memory on said resource module.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 50 wherein said downloading step includes the step of sending and receiving instructions between a resource manager and a computer operating independent of said switching system.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 50 wherein said downloading is performed at system installation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4694483A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-24 | 1994-03-26 | 1994-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-24 | 1998-03-26 | 1998-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-24 | 2002-03-26 | 2002-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |