Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-23
2001-10-02
Olms, Douglas (Department: 2661)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S230000, C370S237000, C370S352000, C370S395430, C370S465000, C379S201060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298062
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of data transmission over a computer network. More particularly, the invention relates to the provision of integrated communication, information, and transaction services over such a computer network.
2. Description of Related Art
Computer networks which are capable of transmitting data or information between locations, such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and the Internet, are currently being used to transmit audio information between respective computers of the network. At the transmitting computer, a person's voice is digitized using a conventional analog to digital (A/D) converter and transmitted to the receiving location where it is passed through a conventional digital to analog (D/A) converter and presented as audio.
This type of computer telephony system suffers from several major disadvantages. First, the system is limited to only those people who have access to compatible end-point software and a shared network such as the Internet. In addition, while Internet access has now widely proliferated, it has not reached the near universal accessibility of traditional telephone service over public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) and the like. Thus, such a computer telephony system is totally useless if a user on the Internet desires to communicate with someone who does not have access to the Internet.
On the other hand, IPIPSTN gateways allow people on a computer network, such as the Internet, to communicate with people on a conventional telephone network, such as a PSTN, general switched telephone network (GSTN), integrated services digital network (ISDN), or other switched circuit network (SCN), using, for example, an H.323 protocol. Such gateways provide the appropriate translation between SCN and PBN data formats and between different communication procedures, allowing a user on one system (such as the PSTN) to communicate with a user on an otherwise incompatible system (such as a PBN).
While IP/PSTN gateways and their associated components effectively support communication between two otherwise incompatible networks, current use of those systems has been limited. Those systems are designed to support communication between two parties, and also provide for conferencing of multiple parties in a single call. However, those systems do not presently address the provision of more traditional phone behavior offered in PSTN and other conventional telecommunications networks. This is a significant drawback, especially for those who are already reluctant to convert from conventional telecommunications networks for their telecommunications needs.
As an example, one shortcoming associated with existing computer network-based communications systems is that there is no procedure for intelligently routing or otherwise disposing of an incoming call when a called party is unavailable, such as when the called party is “on-line” or away from his or her terminal.
In addition, with the Internet gaining ever-increasing popularity, many people spend significant amounts of time “on-line” on the Internet every day. In the case of individuals accessing the Internet from their residences, their telephone line is unavailable for receiving telephone calls while they are using the Internet via a dial-up connection. In the case of people who are logged onto the Internet for long periods of time, this can create a significant problem, forcing some people to install a second telephone line simply for accessing the Internet, which is inefficient and undesirable.
Accordingly, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that there continues to be a need for a communications system that provides for communication between a party on a packet based network (PBN) and a party on a conventional switched circuit network (SCN), while simultaneously providing various services for handling an incoming call in the event the called party is unavailable, for example when the called party is logged onto the Internet. The present invention addresses these needs and others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided with novel capabilities for telephonic communications over a computer network. The invention provides telecommunications service capabilities in a computer network in instances where the called party is unavailable. A called party is unavailable for the purposes of the present invention when 1) the called party's line is in use, 2) when the called party does not wish to accept a call and has previously informed the network, or 3) when the caller cannot accept a call (i.e., when the call is not answered within a preselected number of rings). The invention is operative in these scenarios to route the incoming calls to service sub-systems offering services such as voice mail services.
The present invention is incorporated in a network-based system to support communication with conventional SCNs, or between computer networks. The network-based system includes a gateway that provides for communication between two dissimilar networks, a signal routing agent that controls operation and transmits signals based upon user profile, and one or more service nodes to selectively receive incoming calls and provide various services. The system is programmed to detect when terminal end-points are unavailable, either when there is no answer at the terminal end-point or when the terminal end-point chooses to be unavailable for a period of time. In either of these events, the system automatically forwards the call to the network-resident service node. Thus, the system provides call routing services for calls originating in a SCN as well as for calls originating in an IP network.
Thus, the present invention in one illustrative embodiment is directed to a communication system for operating over a computer network and for interacting with a switched circuit network, 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; and a signal routing agent in communication with the gateway and with a plurality of terminal end-points, the signal routing agent being operative to receive incoming calls from the gateway addressed to respective ones of the terminal end-points and programmed to route the calls to the respective terminal end-points, the signal routing agent being responsive to one of the terminal end-points being unavailable to automatically route the corresponding call to a preselected network-resident service sub-system.
A preferred method of the present invention includes the steps of receiving an incoming call addressed to a particular terminal end-point; routing the incoming call to the terminal end-point; determining whether the terminal end-point is unavailable to receive the incoming call; if the terminal end-point is unavailable, determining an appropriate network-resident service sub-system to receive the call; and routing the incoming call to the appropriate service sub-system.
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Gardell Steven E.
Zibman Israel B.
Hom Shick
Olms Douglas
Suchyta Leonard Charles
Verizon Laboratories Inc.
Weixel James K.
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