Telephonic communications – With usage measurement – Call traffic recording by computer or control processor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-01
2002-05-21
Woo, Stella (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
With usage measurement
Call traffic recording by computer or control processor
C379S111000, C379S112020, C379S112060, C379S114010, C379S114280, C379S133000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06393112
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods that are used to process calls within intelligent telecommunications networks such as within intelligent distributed network architectures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Intelligent telecommunications networks are well known. Such networks are used to provide calling card services, voice response services, conference calling services, and other call service to callers within a telecommunications system. The wide-spread deployment of intelligent telecommunications networks has resulted in large platforms that include a host of network elements and call management processes. Such network elements include feature/function processors (voice response units, etc.), intelligent peripherals, switches, and automated call processors that process calls to provide corresponding services.
In operation, each network element maintained and operated within an intelligent telecommunications network generates and collects call-related data (“call context data”) pertaining to each call that is processed. As such, large amounts of call context data have to be managed and processed in the typical intelligent telecommunications network platform.
Data collection and management present significant problems for designers, operators, and users of intelligent telecommunications networks. For example, in addition to needing certain standard data on a call (e.g., call routing data, etc.), each network element gathers, generates, and manages its own data necessary to properly process a call. As such, large amounts of varied and redundant data are stored by multiple storage facilities which are not commonly addressed. Network elements have no way of addressing a consolidated and complete call context record related to a call. And, in many instances, this problem may require a caller to re-enter data (DTMF data retrieved from keypad sequences in response to audible queries—“Press 1 for Sales, 2 for technical support . . . ,” etc.) during a call in order to have the call processed appropriately by several network elements which are involved in call completion.
Numerous attempts have been made to address the aforementioned problems associated with call context data collection and management. These attempts range from sophisticated database distribution schemes to speed data collection and retrieval, to transferring or passing whole collections of call context data from one network element to another during a call to enable appropriate call processing. Unfortunately, such attempts have not minimized the amount of data, data redundancy, and burden and inconvenience to callers that have been realized as a result of the operation of intelligent telecommunications networks. And, in many cases, such attempts have exacerbated existing call context data collection and management problems. For example, passing collections of call context data among network elements has further resulted in a bandwidth usage problem associated with moving large amounts of call context data from one network element to another via a signaling network or call transport network. Such a bandwidth problem has lead to inefficient communications and loss of call processing capacity.
Thus, there exists a need to provide systems and methods for facilitating intelligent network call processing through use of a call context database that may be commonly addressed. To be viable, such systems and methods must allow network elements within an intelligent network to generate, access, and retrieve call context data effectively and efficiently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the limitations and problems associated with the related art by providing systems and methods that facilitate intelligent network call processing using a centralized call context database. Each network element may generate, store, and retrieve call context data in relation to the centralized call context database. The call context database is accessible by a network element in real-time during a call based on a network call identifier that is generated and assigned by an access network element (e.g., an access switch that initially receives a call) to each call. As a call is processed within an intelligent network, only the network call identifier is passed from network element to network element. Each network element need only possess the network call identifier to access the centralized call context database to obtain some or all context data related to a particular call. By centralizing all call context data in one logically addressed data store, efficient and effective servicing of calls may be accomplished without realizing data bandwidth problems that have not been successfully addressed by prior systems and methods.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for processing calls in a telecommunications system that includes a call context database and an intelligent telecommunications network that is coupled to the call context database. The intelligent telecommunications network includes a plurality of network elements. Each network element is capable of receiving a call, generating call context data and a network call identifier related to the call, storing the call context data and the network call identifier in the call context database, retrieving the call context data from the call context database based on the network call identifier, and processing the call in accordance with the call context data.
According to another aspect of the present invention, provided is a system for facilitating intelligent network call processing using a call context database that includes a call context database and an intelligent telecommunications network that is coupled to the call context database. The network includes and involves an access network element capable of receiving a call, generating first call context data and a network call identifier related to the call, storing the first call context data and the network call identifier in the call context database, transmitting the network call identifier, and processing the call. The network further includes a plurality of network elements that are coupled to the call context database and to the access network element. Each network element is capable of receiving the call from the access network element, generating second call context data related to the call, storing the second call context data in the call context database, transmitting the network call identifier to another network element, retrieving all call context data stored in the call context database based on the network call identifier, and processing the call based on all of the call context data retrieved from the call context database.
According to another aspect of the present invention, provided is a method for processing calls in a telecommunications network that includes the steps of receiving a call, generating call context data and a network call identifier related to the call, storing the call context data and the network call identifier in a call context database, retrieving the call context data from the call context database based on the network call identifier, and processing the call in accordance with the call context data.
According to another aspect of the present invention, provided is a method for processing calls in a telecommunications network that includes the steps of receiving a call at an access network element within the telecommunications network, generating first call context data and a network call identifier related to the call, storing the first call context data and the network call identifier in a call context database, processing the call, transmitting the network call identifier, and at network element, receiving the call from the access network element. The method also includes the steps of generating second call context data related to the call, storing the second call context data in the call context database, retrieving all call context data stored in the call context database based on the
Gottlieb Louis G.
Venkatraman Arunachalam
Zimmerer Eric E.
Woo Stella
WorldCom, Inc.
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