US6282281B1 — Method of providing telecommunications services

Claim 1

Independent Claim 228 words

A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system that includes a service control subsystem ( 42 ) for providing service control upon receipt of a service request, said method including the steps of: (a) providing at least one server ( 51 ) connected to a computer network ( 50 ), said network ( 50 ) being generally accessible to users of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from the latter, (b) arranging for at least some of said users to directly or indirectly place service resource items ( 49 ) on said at least one server ( 51 ), the or each service resource item ( 49 ) placed by a user on a said server ( 51 ) relating to service provision concerning that user by the telecommunications system, (c) associating a respective predetermined code ( 54 ) with each service resource item ( 49 ), and (d) upon the service control subsystem ( 42 ) receiving a service request indicative of a said predetermined code ( 54 ), causing the service control subsystem ( 42 ) to: (i) use said predetermined code ( 54 ) to access the corresponding service resource item ( 49 ) over the computer network ( 50 ), and (ii) thereafter utilize the accessed service resource item ( 49 ) in providing service control in response to said service request.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 228 words

A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system that includes a service control subsystem ( 42 ) for providing service control upon receipt of a service request, said method including the steps of: (a) providing at least one server ( 51 ) connected to a computer network ( 50 ), said network ( 50 ) being generally accessible to users of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from the latter, (b) arranging for at least some of said users to directly or indirectly place service resource items ( 49 ) on said at least one server ( 51 ), the or each service resource item ( 49 ) placed by a user on a said server ( 51 ) relating to service provision concerning that user by the telecommunications system, (c) associating a respective predetermined code ( 54 ) with each service resource item ( 49 ), and (d) upon the service control subsystem ( 42 ) receiving a service request indicative of a said predetermined code ( 54 ), causing the service control subsystem ( 42 ) to: (i) use said predetermined code ( 54 ) to access the corresponding service resource item ( 49 ) over the computer network ( 50 ), and (ii) thereafter utilize the accessed service resource item ( 49 ) in providing service control in response to said service request.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said service resource item ( 49 ) is service logic in which case step (d)(ii) involves: causing said server ( 51 ) to execute said service logic and return a response to the service control subsystem ( 42 ), and causing said service control subsystem ( 42 ) to use said response in providing service control.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 66 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said service resource item ( 49 ) is downloadable service data in which case step (d)(ii) involves: causing said server ( 51 ) to download said service data to the service control subsystem ( 42 ), and causing said service control subsystem ( 42 ) to use the downloaded service data in providing service control.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 65 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said service resource item ( 49 ) is downloadable service logic in which case step (d)(ii) involves: causing said server ( 51 ) to download said service logic to the service control subsystem( 42 ), and causing said service control subsystem ( 42 ) to execute the downloaded service logic in providing service control.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said service resource item ( 49 ) is a logging resource in which case step (d) involves: causing the service control subsystem to direct a log message to said logging resource, and causing said logging resource to log at least the occurence of said log message.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 58 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein said service resource items ( 49 ) are locatable over the computer network ( 50 ) using corresponding Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs); substep (d)(i) involving translating a said predetermined code ( 54 ) included in a service request into the URI of the required service resource item ( 49 ).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 97 words

A method according to claim 6 , wherein said URIs identify the server ( 51 ) holding a service resource item by means of a domain name, the computer network including a DNS-type distributed database system holding domain-name records each continuing for a corresponding said domain name, the address of the server ( 51 ) currently associated with that name; substep (d)(i) involving taking the domain name part of the URI of the required service item, and looking up ( 120 ) the address of the appropriate server ( 51 ) in the DNS-type distributed database system.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 107 words

A method according to claim 6 , wherein the translation of said predetermined code ( 54 ) into the URI of the associated service resource item ( 49 ) is effected by one of the following methods: a direct mapping where said predetermined code corresponding substantially to said URI; manipulation of said predetermined code according to a predetermined function; look up in a locally held association table ( 48 ) associating said predetermined codes and URIs; look up in an association table associating said predetermined codes and URIs, said association table being held on at least one database server connected to said computer network ( 50 ).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 116 words

A method according to claim 6 , wherein the translation of said predetemined code ( 54 ) into the URI of the associated service resource item ( 49 ) is effected by look up in a DNS-type distributed database system in which said URIs are held in records associated with respective domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, at least a substantial portion of said predetermined code ( 54 ) being parsed ( 120 ) into at least a part of a corresponding said domain name and this domain name when complete being used to retrieve ( 121 ) the URI of the required service resource item ( 49 ) from said database system.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 72 words

A method according to claim 6 , wherein at least two said service resource items ( 49 ) are located at the same URI, the said predetermined codes of these service resource items ( 49 ) including respective relative-resource-identifier values that are used at the server ( 51 ) holding the service resource items ( 49 ) to identify the required resource item amongst the service resource items at the same URI.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one server ( 51 ) forms part of a Domain Name System (DNS) type distributed database system and said service resource items ( 49 ) are held in records associated with respective domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, step (d)(i) including the substep of parsing at least a substantial portion of a said predetermined code ( 54 ) included in a service request into at least a part of the domain name of the required service resource item ( 49 ).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein said telecommunications system is a telephone system, each said predetermined code ( 54 ) being one of the following: the telephone number of the calling party; the telephone number of the called party; a number input by the calling party.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein said telecommunications system fiber includes a service switching point ( 41 ), said method involving causing said service switching point to generate a said service request upon predetermined trigger criteria being met for a communication being handled thereby.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 86 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein an interface ( 80 ) is provided for interfacing said computer network ( 50 ) with said telecommunications system to enable a bearer channel to be established from a user terminal ( 53 ) connected to the computer network ( 50 ) through said interface ( 80 ) into said telecommunication system, said method involving causing said interface to generate a said service request upon predetermined trigger criteria being met for a communication being handled by the interface.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 91 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein a gateway ( 90 ) is provided with an interface to said computer network ( 50 ), said gateway being operative to set up a third-party bearer channel through said telecommunications system in response to a setup request received via said interface from a user ternal ( 53 ) connected to the computer network, said method involving causing said gateway ( 90 ) to generate a said service request upon predetermined trigger criteria being met for a communication being handled by the gateway.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein said computer network ( 50 ) is the Internet.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein said telecommunication network is a Public Switched telephome Network (PSTN).

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein said telecommunication system is a private system including a Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) with which said service control subsystem is associated, and wherein said computer network ( 50 ) is a Local Area Network (LAN).

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein said Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) are Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and/or Uniform Resource Names (URNs), and said server ( 51 ) is an Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method according to claim 1 , including the further step of updating a said service resource item ( 49 ) by accessing the said server ( 51 ) holding that item across said computer network ( 50 ) from a user terminal ( 53 ) in communication with said computer network.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein the network is logically distinct from the telecommunications network and is generally accessible to users of the latter by paths independent of the service control subsystem.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 201 words

A method of providing services for a telephone system that comprises at least one service switching point ( 41 ) and a service control subsystem ( 42 ) for providing service control to said service switching point, said method including the steps of: (a) provisioning at least one server ( 51 ) connected to the Internet ( 50 ) with a plurality of service resources ( 49 ) that are thereafter locatable on the Internet by respective known URIs, the Internet being generally accessible to users of the telephone system but logically distinct from the latter, said service resources ( 49 ) each being associated with a respective predetermined code ( 54 ); (b) providing a mapping between each said predetermined code ( 54 ) and the said known URI of the service resource ( 49 ) associated with that predetermined code; and (c) upon the service control subsystem ( 42 ) receiving a said service request including of a said predetermined code, causing said service control subsystem to use said mapping to access the corresponding said service resource ( 49 ) over the Internet; said predetermined code ( 54 ) being capable of input through a standard twelve-key telephone keypad.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 201 words

A method of providing services for a telephone system that comprises at least one service switching point ( 41 ) and a service control subsystem ( 42 ) for providing service control to said service switching point, said method including the steps of: (a) provisioning at least one server ( 51 ) connected to the Internet ( 50 ) with a plurality of service resources ( 49 ) that are thereafter locatable on the Internet by respective known URIs, the Internet being generally accessible to users of the telephone system but logically distinct from the latter, said service resources ( 49 ) each being associated with a respective predetermined code ( 54 ); (b) providing a mapping between each said predetermined code ( 54 ) and the said known URI of the service resource ( 49 ) associated with that predetermined code; and (c) upon the service control subsystem ( 42 ) receiving a said service request including of a said predetermined code, causing said service control subsystem to use said mapping to access the corresponding said service resource ( 49 ) over the Internet; said predetermined code ( 54 ) being capable of input through a standard twelve-key telephone keypad.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method according to claim 22 , wherein the Internet is logically distinct from the telecommunications network and is generally accessible to users of the latter by paths independent of the service control subsystem.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 209 words

A method of providing services for a private telephone system that comprises a Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) and a service control subsystem ( 42 ) for providing service control to said PABX, said method including the steps of: (a) provisioning at least one server ( 51 ) connected to a local or campus computer network ( 50 ) with a plurality of senrice resources ( 49 ) that are thereafter locatable on the computer network ( 50 ) by respective known Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs), said computer network being generally accessible to uses of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from the latter, and said service resources ( 49 ) each being associated with a respective predetermined code ( 54 ); (b) providing a mapping between each said predetermined code ( 54 ) and its corresponding said known Uniform Resource Identifier (URI); and (c) upon the service control subsystem ( 42 ) receing a said service request including of a said predetermined code, causing said service control subsystem ( 42 ) to use said mapping to access the corresponding said service resource ( 49 ) over said computer network ( 50 ); said predetermined code ( 54 ) being capable of input through a standard twelve-key telephone keypad.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 209 words

A method of providing services for a private telephone system that comprises a Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) and a service control subsystem ( 42 ) for providing service control to said PABX, said method including the steps of: (a) provisioning at least one server ( 51 ) connected to a local or campus computer network ( 50 ) with a plurality of senrice resources ( 49 ) that are thereafter locatable on the computer network ( 50 ) by respective known Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs), said computer network being generally accessible to uses of the telecommunications system but logically distinct from the latter, and said service resources ( 49 ) each being associated with a respective predetermined code ( 54 ); (b) providing a mapping between each said predetermined code ( 54 ) and its corresponding said known Uniform Resource Identifier (URI); and (c) upon the service control subsystem ( 42 ) receing a said service request including of a said predetermined code, causing said service control subsystem ( 42 ) to use said mapping to access the corresponding said service resource ( 49 ) over said computer network ( 50 ); said predetermined code ( 54 ) being capable of input through a standard twelve-key telephone keypad.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 187 words

A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system that includes a service control subsystem for providing service control upon receipt of a service request, the service control subsystem having an interface to a computer network that is generally accessible to users of the telecommunications system but, is logically distinct from the latter, the computer network having connected to it a server that holds service resource items placed there directly or indirectly by said users and each having a respective associated predetermined code and relating to the provision, to an associated said user, of a particular service by the telecommunications system; said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving at the service control subsystem a service request indicative of a said predetermined code; (b) deriving from the received service request the predetermined code of which it is indicative; (c) using the predetermined code derived in step (b) to access the corresponding service resource item over the computer network; and (d) utilizing the accessed service resource item in providing service control by the service control subsystem in response to the service request received thereby in step (a).

Claim 29

Independent Claim 187 words

A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system that includes a service control subsystem for providing service control upon receipt of a service request, the service control subsystem having an interface to a computer network that is generally accessible to users of the telecommunications system but, is logically distinct from the latter, the computer network having connected to it a server that holds service resource items placed there directly or indirectly by said users and each having a respective associated predetermined code and relating to the provision, to an associated said user, of a particular service by the telecommunications system; said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving at the service control subsystem a service request indicative of a said predetermined code; (b) deriving from the received service request the predetermined code of which it is indicative; (c) using the predetermined code derived in step (b) to access the corresponding service resource item over the computer network; and (d) utilizing the accessed service resource item in providing service control by the service control subsystem in response to the service request received thereby in step (a).

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method according to claim 25 , wherein the switched telecommunications system is a public telephone network.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method according to claim 26 , wherein the computer network is the internet.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method according to claim 27 , wherein said service resource items are locatable over the Internet using corresponding URIs, and the server is an HTTP server.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method according to claim 27 , wherein at least one said service resource item is service logic in which case step (d) involves executing said service logic at the server, returning a response to the service control subsystem, and causing the service control subsystem to use said response in providing service control.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 47 words

A method according to claim 27 , wherein at least one said service resource item is downloadable service data in which case step (d) involves downloading said service data from the server to the service control subsystem, and using the downloaded service data in providing service control.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method according to claim 27 , wherein at least one said service resource item is downloadable service logic in which case step (d) involves downloading said service logic from the server to the service control subsystem, and executing the downloaded service logic at the service control subsystem in providing service control.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method according to claim 27 , wherein said service resource items are locatable over the computer network using corresponding URIs, step (c) involving translating a said predetermined code derived from a service request into the URI of the required service resource item.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 85 words

A method according to claim 32 , wherein said URIs identify the server holding a service resource item by means of a domain name, the computer network including a DNS-type distributed database system holding domain-name records each containing for a corresponding said domain name, the address of the server currently associated with that name; step (c) involving taking the domain name part of the URI of the required service item, and looking up the address of the appropriate server in the DNS-type distributed database system.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method according to claim 32 , wherein the translation of said predetermined code into the URI of the associated service resource item is effected by one of the following methods: a direct mapping where said predetermined code corresponding substantially to said URI, manipulation of said predetermined code according to a predetermined function, look up in a locally held association table associating said predetermined codes and URIs, look up in an association table associating said predetermined codes and URIs, said association table being held on at least one database server connected to said computer network.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 60 words

A method according to claim 32 , wherein at least two said service resource items are located at the same URI, the said predetermined codes of these service resource items including respective relative-resource-identifier values that are used at the server holding the service resource items to identify the required resource item amongst the service resource items at the same URI.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 78 words

A method according to claim 27 , wherein said at least one server forms part of a DNS-type distributed database system and said service resource items are held in records associated with respective domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, step (c) including the sub-step of parsing at least a substantial portion of said predetermined code included in a service request into at least a part of the domain name of the required service resource item.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method according to claim 27 , wherein each said predetermined code is one of the following: the telephone number of the calling party, the telephone number of the called party, a number input by the calling party.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method according to claim 25 , wherein the computer network is logically distinct from the telecommunications network and is generally accessible to users of the latter by paths independent of the service control subsystem.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 87 words

A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system, wherein a service control subsystem of the telecommunications system, in response to receipt of service requests, accesses service resource items indicated in the corresponding requests across a computer network, the accessed resource items being used by the service control subsystem in providing service control in response to the corresponding service requests, the computer network being logically distinct from the telecommunications system and being accessible to at least a significant number of the users of the telecommunications system.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 87 words

A method of providing services in a switched telecommunications system, wherein a service control subsystem of the telecommunications system, in response to receipt of service requests, accesses service resource items indicated in the corresponding requests across a computer network, the accessed resource items being used by the service control subsystem in providing service control in response to the corresponding service requests, the computer network being logically distinct from the telecommunications system and being accessible to at least a significant number of the users of the telecommunications system.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method according to claim 39 , wherein the computer network is the Internet.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method according to claim 40 , wherein the switched telecommunications system is a public telephone network.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method according to claim 40 , wherein said service resource items are held on at least one HTTP server and are locatable over the Internet using corresponding URIs, the URIs being derived from predetermined codes included in the service request.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method according to claim 42 , wherein the switched telecommunications system is a public telephone network.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 94 words

A method according to claim 42 , wherein the said URI of a service resource item is derived from the corresponding said predetermined code by one of the following methods: a direct mapping where said predetermined code corresponding substantially to said URI, manipulation of said predetermined code according to a predetermined function, look up in a locally held association table associating said predetermined codes and URIs, look up in an association table associating said predetermined codes and URIs, said association table being held on at least one database server connected to said computer network.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 81 words

A method according to claim 42 , wherein said at least one server forms part of a DNS-type distributed database system, the said service resource items being held in records associated with respective domain names, by which the records can be retrieved, at least a part of the domain name of the required service resource item being derived by the service control subsystem by parsing at least a substantial portion of a said predetermined code indicated by a said service request.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-08-27	2005-02-26	2005-08-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-08-27	2009-02-26	2009-08-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-08-27	2013-02-26	2013-08-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of providing telecommunications services

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