US6188760B1 — Signaling state management system for packet netw…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for managing signaling states in a packet network, comprising: sending a signaling state from a call agent to a gateway that directs the gateway to detect and accumulate specified signaling events generated by a telephone; detecting and accumulating signaling events at the gateway according to the signaling state; notifying the call agent when the gateway detects the signaling events specified in the signaling state by sending the detected signaling events to the call agent; acknowledging the sent signaling events by sending a new signaling state from the call agent to the gateway that directs the gateway to detect signaling events specified by the new signaling state; detecting the signaling events at the gateway according to the new signaling state; and notifying the call agent when the gateway detects the signaling events specified in the new signaling state.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for managing signaling states in a packet network, comprising: sending a signaling state from a call agent to a gateway that directs the gateway to detect and accumulate specified signaling events generated by a telephone; detecting and accumulating signaling events at the gateway according to the signaling state; notifying the call agent when the gateway detects the signaling events specified in the signaling state by sending the detected signaling events to the call agent; acknowledging the sent signaling events by sending a new signaling state from the call agent to the gateway that directs the gateway to detect signaling events specified by the new signaling state; detecting the signaling events at the gateway according to the new signaling state; and notifying the call agent when the gateway detects the signaling events specified in the new signaling state.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method according to claim 1 including discontinuing the signaling state and operating the gateway in a quarantine state after notifying the call agent and remaining in the quarantine state until the new signaling state is received from the call agent, the quarantine state accumulating all signaling events received from the telephone.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 83 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein the signaling state commands the gateway to perform the following actions: ignore signaling events specified in the signaling state; accumulate signaling events specified in the signaling state by adding the specified signaling events to a list and sending the list of signaling events to the call agent when a specific one of the signaling events is detected; and send one signaling event specified in the signaling state plus all previously accumulated events to the call agent.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 76 words

A method according to claim 1 including the following: sending a digit map with the signaling state; combining signaling events together in the gateway to form a dial string; comparing the dial string with the digit map; adding additional signaling events to the dial string when the dial string is underqualified and only partially matches the digit map; and sending the dial string to the call agent when the dial string completely matches the digit map.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 4 including sending different digit maps according to the signaling state.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method according to claim 1 including sending an event/action table with each processing state that directs the gateway to detect tones, on hook transitions and telephone digits.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method according to claim 6 wherein the event/action table commands the gateway to take specified actions when events identified in the event/action table are detected.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method according to claim 7 wherein the specified actions in the event/action table include the following: notifying the call agent; accumulating signaling events; processing the signaling events according to a digit map; ignoring the signaling events.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method according to claim 3 wherein the signaling state directs the gateway to reassign a current audio output to a next audio source in a list when a hook-flash is detected.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 98 words

A system for managing signaling states in a packet network, comprising: a gateway coupled between the packet network and a telephone for receiving signaling events from the telephone; and a call agent sending a state table to the gateway that directs the gateway to accumulate signaling events and notify the call agent only when signaling events specified in the control table are detected and accumulated by the gateway, the call agent acknowledging the notification by sending a new state table to the gateway that changes which signaling events the gateway detects, accumulates and notifies to the call agent.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 98 words

A system for managing signaling states in a packet network, comprising: a gateway coupled between the packet network and a telephone for receiving signaling events from the telephone; and a call agent sending a state table to the gateway that directs the gateway to accumulate signaling events and notify the call agent only when signaling events specified in the control table are detected and accumulated by the gateway, the call agent acknowledging the notification by sending a new state table to the gateway that changes which signaling events the gateway detects, accumulates and notifies to the call agent.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 39 words

A system according to claim 10 wherein the gateway discontinues using the state table after notifying the call agent and queues all signaling events from the telephone until the call agent acknowledges the notification with the new state table.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

A system according to claim 10 wherein the state table comprises an event/action table that specifies which telephone signaling events are detected or accumulated by the gateway and notified to the call agent.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

A system according to claim 12 wherein the event/action table further specifies what actions that the gateway takes when the specified telephone signaling events are detected or accumulated.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 67 words

A system according to claim 12 wherein the event/action table commands the gateway to do the following: notify the call agent immediately after detecting one of the specified signaling events; add a next one of the signaling events to a list and send the list to the call agent when a next one of the signaling events is a send event; and ignore the specified signaling events.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 31 words

A system according to claim 10 wherein the state table includes a digit map that specifies which signaling events are batched together and sent to the call agent as one message.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system according to claim 15 wherein the signaling events specified in the digit map comprise digits, letters and timers.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 140 words

A method for processing signaling events from a telephone in a packet network, comprising: receiving an event/action state from a call agent that includes telephone signaling state information; detecting and accumulating signaling events from the telephone according to the event/action state received from the call agent; notifying the call agent when the signaling events identified by the event/action state have been detected; discontinuing accumulation and detection of the signaling events according to the event/action state and automatically changing into a quarantine state after notifying the call agent, the quarantine state queuing up all call signaling events from the telephone; receiving a new event/action state from the call agent including new telephone signaling state information; and accumulating and detecting the queued up signaling events from the quarantine state and new signaling events from the telephone according to the new event/action state.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 140 words

A method for processing signaling events from a telephone in a packet network, comprising: receiving an event/action state from a call agent that includes telephone signaling state information; detecting and accumulating signaling events from the telephone according to the event/action state received from the call agent; notifying the call agent when the signaling events identified by the event/action state have been detected; discontinuing accumulation and detection of the signaling events according to the event/action state and automatically changing into a quarantine state after notifying the call agent, the quarantine state queuing up all call signaling events from the telephone; receiving a new event/action state from the call agent including new telephone signaling state information; and accumulating and detecting the queued up signaling events from the quarantine state and new signaling events from the telephone according to the new event/action state.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 100 words

A method for controlling how signaling events from a telephone are processed in a packet network, comprising: sending a signaling control state to a gateway that controls how the gateway detects and accumulates telephone signaling events; receiving notification from the gateway when all the signaling events specified in the signaling control state have been detected or accumulated and receiving in the notification as a batch message any signaling events accumulated by the gateway; generating a new signaling control state according to the received notification; and sending the new signaling control state to change how the detects and accumulates signaling events.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 100 words

A method for controlling how signaling events from a telephone are processed in a packet network, comprising: sending a signaling control state to a gateway that controls how the gateway detects and accumulates telephone signaling events; receiving notification from the gateway when all the signaling events specified in the signaling control state have been detected or accumulated and receiving in the notification as a batch message any signaling events accumulated by the gateway; generating a new signaling control state according to the received notification; and sending the new signaling control state to change how the detects and accumulates signaling events.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-02-13	2004-08-14	2005-02-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-02-13	2008-08-14	2009-02-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-02-13	2012-08-14	2013-02-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Signaling state management system for packet network gateways

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