US6128304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network presence for a communications system operating over a computer network
Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc
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Filing: 1998-10-23
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Granted: 2000-10-03
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Expires: 2018-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are implemented for providing traditional telecommunications service capabilities in a packet based computer network. The system and method of the present invention automatically provide such service capabilities in the event a terminal end-point is unavailable to receive an incoming call, based upon predetermined associations between the terminal end-point and one or more of the available services.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven E. Gardell
- 👤 Barbara Mayne Kelly
- 👤 Rajiv Bhatnagar
- 👤 Thomas James Antell
- 👤 Israel B. Zibman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/64; H04L65/00; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1096; H04L65/1101; H04L65/1106; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/60; H04L67/63; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04M7/0075; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/20; H04M2207/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A communication system for interacting with a switched circuit network and for providing network-based services for handling incoming calls directed to at least one terminal end-point, the system comprising: a gateway in communication with the switched circuit network, the gateway being operative to translate switched circuit network-compatible signals into computer network-compatible signals; an association table configured to store a routing address corresponding to the terminal end-point, the routing address identifying a preselected one of the terminal end-point and a network-resident service terminal; a signal routing agent in communication with the gateway, with the terminal end-point, and with one or more network-resident service terminals, the signal routing agent being operative to receive an incoming call from the gateway addressed to the terminal end-point; and a feature selector in communication with the signal routing agent and the association table, the feature selector being programmed to determine a routing address for the incoming call using the association table and to instruct the signal routing agent to route the incoming call based on the routine address.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A communication system for interacting with a switched circuit network and for providing network-based services for handling incoming calls directed to at least one terminal end-point, the system comprising: a gateway in communication with the switched circuit network, the gateway being operative to translate switched circuit network-compatible signals into computer network-compatible signals; an association table configured to store a routing address corresponding to the terminal end-point, the routing address identifying a preselected one of the terminal end-point and a network-resident service terminal; a signal routing agent in communication with the gateway, with the terminal end-point, and with one or more network-resident service terminals, the signal routing agent being operative to receive an incoming call from the gateway addressed to the terminal end-point; and a feature selector in communication with the signal routing agent and the association table, the feature selector being programmed to determine a routing address for the incoming call using the association table and to instruct the signal routing agent to route the incoming call based on the routine address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein: the signal routing agent is programmed to notify the feature selector upon receipt of the incoming call.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 wherein: the feature selector is responsive to receipt of an incoming call addressed to one of the terminal end-points to access the association table to identify one of the network-resident service terminals to receive the incoming call, and to signal the signal routing agent to route the incoming call to the identified network-resident service terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein: the gateway and signal routing agent are constructed to operate under an H.323 standard.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein: the signal routing agent comprises a call routed gatekeeper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein: the signal routing agent comprises a call control service entity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 6 wherein: the call control service entity comprises the feature selector and the association table.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for use in a packet based network, the packet based network including one or more terminal end-points and one or more network-resident service nodes, the system comprising: a call management database configured to store a routing address corresponding to each of the terminal end-points, the routing address identifying a preselected one of the corresponding terminal end-points and one of the service nodes; a service feature selector programmed to access the call management database upon notification of an incoming signal directed to one of the terminal end-points to determine a destination to receive the incoming signal based on routing address; and a signal routing agent in communication with the service feature selector, the signal routing agent being operative to receive incoming signals and to route the incoming signals to appropriate destinations as directed by the service feature selector.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for use in a packet based network, the packet based network including one or more terminal end-points and one or more network-resident service nodes, the system comprising: a call management database configured to store a routing address corresponding to each of the terminal end-points, the routing address identifying a preselected one of the corresponding terminal end-points and one of the service nodes; a service feature selector programmed to access the call management database upon notification of an incoming signal directed to one of the terminal end-points to determine a destination to receive the incoming signal based on routing address; and a signal routing agent in communication with the service feature selector, the signal routing agent being operative to receive incoming signals and to route the incoming signals to appropriate destinations as directed by the service feature selector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 8 wherein: the service feature selector is further programmed to access the call management database to identify one of the service nodes for a terminal end-point in the event the terminal end-point is unavailable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 8 wherein: the signal routing agent is responsive to receipt of an incoming signal to notify the service feature selector; and the service feature selector is responsive to receipt of the notification to access the call management database to determine the appropriate destination to receive the incoming signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 8 wherein: the signal routing agent comprises a call control service entity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 11 wherein: the call control service entity comprises the service feature selector and the call management database.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 8 wherein: the signal routing agent comprises a call routed gatekeeper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 wherein: the call management database is in the form of an association table.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 8 wherein: the signal routing agent is constructed to operate under an H.323 standard.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for providing network-resident communication services in a packet based network, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming call addressed to a particular terminal end-point in the packet based network; determining whether to send the incoming call to the terminal end-point or one of a plurality of network-resident service nodes based on predetermined data; sending the incoming call to the network-resident service node when the predetermined data identifies the network-resident service node; sending the incoming call to the terminal end-point when the predetermined data identifies the terminal end-point; determining whether the terminal end-point is available to receive the incoming call; if the terminal end-point is not available, identifying one of the network-resident service nodes to receive the incoming call; and routing the incoming call to the identified network-resident service node.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for providing network-resident communication services in a packet based network, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming call addressed to a particular terminal end-point in the packet based network; determining whether to send the incoming call to the terminal end-point or one of a plurality of network-resident service nodes based on predetermined data; sending the incoming call to the network-resident service node when the predetermined data identifies the network-resident service node; sending the incoming call to the terminal end-point when the predetermined data identifies the terminal end-point; determining whether the terminal end-point is available to receive the incoming call; if the terminal end-point is not available, identifying one of the network-resident service nodes to receive the incoming call; and routing the incoming call to the identified network-resident service node.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of determining whether the terminal end-point is available comprises routing the incoming call to the terminal end-point and monitoring whether the terminal end-point responds to the incoming call within a preselected time period.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of determining whether to send the incoming call to the terminal end-point or the network-resident service node comprises accessing a call management database to check if the network-resident service node has been selected to receive incoming calls directed to the terminal end-point.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for providing network-resident communication services in a packet based network, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming call addressed to a particular terminal end-point; accessing a call management database to determine whether the terminal end-point is linked with a corresponding service node for initial call presentation; if the terminal end-point is linked with the service node for initial call presentation, routing the incoming call to the service node; and if no service node is linked with the terminal end-point, routing the incoming call to the terminal end-point.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for providing network-resident communication services in a packet based network, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming call addressed to a particular terminal end-point; accessing a call management database to determine whether the terminal end-point is linked with a corresponding service node for initial call presentation; if the terminal end-point is linked with the service node for initial call presentation, routing the incoming call to the service node; and if no service node is linked with the terminal end-point, routing the incoming call to the terminal end-point.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 19 and further including the steps of: after the incoming call has been routed to the terminal end-point, determining whether the terminal end-point is unavailable; if the terminal end-point is unavailable, accessing the call management database to determine the appropriate service node to receive the incoming call; and routing the incoming call to the appropriate service node.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the step of determining whether the terminal end-point is available comprises monitoring whether the terminal end-point responds to the incoming call within a selected period of time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-03 | 2004-04-03 | 2004-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | 2008-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-03 | 2012-04-03 | 2012-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |