US6131095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of accessing a target entity over a communications network
Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC
•
Filing: 1996-12-11
•
Granted: 2000-10-10
•
Expires: 2016-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A method of accessing a target entity over a communication network employs a distributed database system similar top the DNS of the Internet; indeed the DNS may be used as the required distributed database. The distributed database stores records, each associated with a corresponding domain name and holding communication data for use in accessing a target entity. Each of these domain names are related to a respective number string from which it can be derived by a process including parsing at least a substantial portion of the number string into at least a part of said domain name. Upon the input of a number indicative of a target entity, the related domain name is formed by parsing the number and the domain name is then used to retrieve the corresponding communication data from the DNS-type distributed database system. This data is then used in accessing the target entity. In one embodiment the communication network is a telephone network and the target entity is a called party; in this case, the number string comprises a dialed number and the retrieved communication data is a URI indicative of the location on the Internet of a current telephone number for the target party, the URI once retrieve being used to access the current telephone number over the Internet for use in setting up a call to the target party.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin Low
- 👤 Andrew Franklin Seaborne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/4505; H04L61/4511; H04L61/4557; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L67/55; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of accessing a target entity over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of: (a)--providing a DNS-type distributed database system storing records each associated with a corresponding domain name and holding communication data for use in accessing said target entity, each said domain name being related to a respective number string from which it can be derived by a process including parsing at least a substantial portion of the number string into at least a part of said domain name, said number string being a telephone number; (b)--supplying a said number string indicative of a said target entity and forming the related said domain name by said process including parsing at least a substantial part of the number string into at least a part of a siad domain name; (c)--applying the domain name formed in step (b) to the DNS-type distributed database system to retrieve the communication data held in the corresponding said record; and (d)--using the communication data retrieved in step (c) in accessing said target entity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of accessing a target entity over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of: (a)--providing a DNS-type distributed database system storing records each associated with a corresponding domain name and holding communication data for use in accessing said target entity, each said domain name being related to a respective number string from which it can be derived by a process including parsing at least a substantial portion of the number string into at least a part of said domain name, said number string being a telephone number; (b)--supplying a said number string indicative of a said target entity and forming the related said domain name by said process including parsing at least a substantial part of the number string into at least a part of a siad domain name; (c)--applying the domain name formed in step (b) to the DNS-type distributed database system to retrieve the communication data held in the corresponding said record; and (d)--using the communication data retrieved in step (c) in accessing said target entity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said communications network is a telephone network and the target entity is a called party, said number string comprising a dialed number and the retrieved communication data being a current telephone number for the target party.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said communications network is a telephone network and the target entity is a called party, said number string comprising a dialed number and the retrieved communication data being a URI indicative of the location on a computer network of a current telephone number for the target party, said URI being thereafter used to retrieve said current telephone number for use in accessing said target party.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said communications network is a computer network and the target entity is a resource item held at a corresponding URI on that network, said number string comprising a telephone number for the target party and the retrieved communication data being the URI of said resource item.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said resource item is a current telephone number of a target party it is wished to call, said number string being a personal telephone number for that target party.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the parsing of said at least a substantial part of said number string into at least a part of a said domain name involves dividing said substantial portion into label segments according to a division scheme the same for all number strings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said number string is an international telephone number, the parsing of this number involving forming a label segment of the country code component of the international telephone number and forming further label segments from at least a substantial portion of the remainder of the international telephone number according to a division scheme the same for all such numbers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said number string is an international telephone number, the parsing of this number involving forming a label segment of the country code component of the international telephone number and forming further label segments from at least a substantial portion of the remainder of the international telephone number according to a division scheme that is dependent on the identity of said country code component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said DNS-type distributed database system is adapted to handle a set of domain names that make up a name space herein referred to as the "telname space", the root of the telname space being the root of the overall name space handled by the DNS-type distributed database system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said DNS-type distributed database system is distributed over the Internet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said DNS-type distributed database system is provided by the DNS of the Internet and is adapted to handle a set of domain names that make up a name space herein referred to as the "telname space", the telname space being a subdomain of the DNS.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said number strings are telephone numbers and the telname space forms a subdomain in the domain .itu.int. of the DNS.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said DNS-type distributed database system is provided by the DNS of the Internet and is adapted to handle a set of domain names that make up a name space herein referred to as the "telname space", the telname space being divided between a plurality of subdomains of the DNS.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said number strings are telephone numbers and the telname space is provided by respective subdomains in at least some of the country domains of the DNS.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein a predetermined part of said number string is used to look up a domain name tail that is then added to the domain name part derived by said parsing of at least a substantial portion of the number string.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said number string is an international telephone number the country code component of which constitutes said predetermined part used to look up said domain name tail.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein a predetermined part of said number string is used to look up a domain name tail that is then added to the domain name part derived by said parsing of at least a substantial portion of the number string.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein a predetermined part of said number string is used to look up a domain name tail that is then added to the domain name part derived by said parsing of at least a substantial portion of the number string.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein a predetermined part of said number string is used to look up a domain name tail that is then added to the domain name part derived by said parsing of at least a substantial portion of the number string.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4659877A
Cited
US5351276A
Cited
US5452350A
Cited
WO1993025035A1
Cited
WO1994023523A1
Cited
US5438568A
Cited
US5703940A
Cited
EP0654930A1
Cited
US5423003A
Cited
WO1996009714A1
Cited
WO1996020553A2
Cited
US5873077A
Cited
US5546452A
Cited
WO1996038018A1
Cited
US5708780A
Cited
WO1997016007A1
Cited
US5799317A
Cited
WO1997020424A1
Cited
WO1997026749A1
Cited
WO1997032427A1
Cited
US6021126A
Cited
US6023724A
Cited
US6029203A
Cited
US6026441A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-10 | 2004-04-10 | 2004-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-10 | 2008-04-10 | 2008-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-10 | 2012-04-10 | 2012-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |