A hybrid telecommunication
system includes a switched network which
transfers information across the Internet to
provide multi-routed and multidimensional
callback processing. The hybrid network includes
one or more switched networks coupled to one or
more packet transmission networks, and a call
router coupled to the switched communication
network and the packet transmission network to
route information to the appropriate switched
telephony device or Internet device address. A
computer with an attached display communicates
with the packet transmission network. The
computer is used to initiate remote management of
the hybrid network, including tests of the hybrid
network. The tests include circuit analysis such
as selecting signaling states which could be loop
start, ground start, or detecting signals such as
dual tone multifrequency, multifrequency or
dialpulse. The hybrid network includes support
for an operator to monitor the management of the
hybrid network, and an expert system to regulate
the Quality of Service of the hybrid
telecommunication system.
Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to the
integration of the Internet with
telephony systems, and more specifically,
to a system, method and article of
manufacture for using the Internet as the
communication backbone of a communication
system architecture while maintaining a
rich array of call processing features.
Background of the Invention
The Internet has increasingly become the
communication network of choice for the
consumer e-mail marketplace. Recently,
software companies have begun to
investigate the transfer of telephone
calls across the Internet. However, the
system features that users demand of
normal call processing are considered
essential for call processing the
Internet. Today, those features are not
available on the Internet. Thus, a system
is required that connects the
communication network including telephony
capability with the Internet to
facilitate callback processing.
Callback scenarios for reserving calls
over existing telephony networks have
been available for some time. Examples of
such service are CSI
Callback, Rumilla Telecommunication for
international callback and
SummitLink which provides international
callback offering distribution,
wholesaling and rebilling features. The
Internet provides a website entitled,
"Callback on the Net" which
purports to "collect all available
information on callback services."
This information was accumulated by doing
a Yahoo search utilizing the search term
"callback".
International callback as provided by the
prior art system refers to a user being
able to dial a number to connect to a
switch overseas. The caller allows the
phone to ring twice and hangs up. The
switch then utilizes the ANI and/or
called number information to query a
database of profile information stored on
the switch to determine billing and other
information on the caller. Then, the
switch initiates a call to the caller and
when the caller goes offhook, the switch
provides a dialtone allowing the caller
to access any number available to the
switch. In this way, international or
other long distance callers can obtain
low cost long distance services so long
as they are pre-registered for the
service. This service still requires the
caller to be responsible for all of the
overhead associated with initiating call
processing, requires a caller to learn
the protocol of interfacing with the
switch, does not provide reservation of
such services such as conferencing, and
it does not allow operator assistance on
the calls.
Recently, AT & T has announced a
service very similar to conferenceMCI
(MCI's Operator Call-in Conference Call
capability). This service termed
"On-Line TeleConference"
capability allows teleconference
customers to use an on-line interface to
allow customers to pre-arrange an AT
& T
TeleConference call through the World
Wide Web. However, while conference call
definition of a number for each
participate to call into to join the
conference is provided, "all voice
connections are established over the
existing telephone network" and
require all parties to contact a common
number to establish the conference call
(AT & T TeleConference
Service: On-Line Trial Information,
2/7/97).
While this new AT & T service is
moving in the direction that the subject
invention has already arrived at, it does
not provide integration of voice over the
Internet with existing network services,
nor does it provide any mention of a
callback architecture which allows a
calling party to prearrange for a network
service to contact one or more parties
and effectively eliminate the need for
any manual intervention. Moreover, it
does not provide an operator on an
exception basis for Internet telephony
operations. Thus, a true union of the
Internet and existing telephony networks
is not provided.
"Callback" is a telephony term
utilized by remote test systems in
reference to accessing and testing
customer's voice and data circuits which
traverse through a Digital Cross-Connect
System (DXC). When a callback feature is
selected, the remote test system bridges
a local phone line to a customer's DSO
circuit. If the circuit under test is an
analog circuit, the remote tester
performs monitoring. If the circuit under
test is a voice circuit, the remote
tester performs voice testing which
includes selecting appropriate signaling
states for callback to the customer's
phone over the circuit under test by the
remote test system. The callback feature
enables the remote tester to enter a
phone number to a co-located phone
residing at the remote tester's location.
The remote test system has local phone
lines attached to an internal card. The
purpose of the phone lines are to allow
the test system to place outbound calls.
After a remote user enters a number,
which includes an area code or their
co-located phone, the remote test system
selects one of the local phone lines,
goes off hood, and upon detecting dial
tone from the local telco central office
will dial pulse or DTMF the entered phone
number. The remote tester's phone
receives the call from the remote test
system, goes off hook, and then the call
from the remote test system to the remote
tester is considered complete.
The remote tester can then either monitor
the audible quality or initiate a call to
the voice circuit customer's phone by
selecting the appropriate signaling state
for the circuit under test. Once the
appropriate signaling state for the
customer is selected, the channel bank
card or PBX detects the incoming call and
converts it to ring cycle to the
customer's phone.
This action initiates a ringing condition
to the customer's phone. Upon the
customer answering the phone, the remote
tester verbally communicates with the
customer over the customer's circuit
under test.
This testing is routinely performed for
circuit assurance verification testing.
The remote test system has a limit of
outbound calls that can be completed.
This limit is dependent on the number of
phone lines that can be supported by the
test system's interface. There are also
monthly access charges by the telephone
company for each local line terminating
into the test system.
Summary of the Invention
According to a broad aspect of a
preferred embodiment of the invention,
telephone calls, data and other
multimedia information are routed through
a hybrid network including a switched
network which transfers information
across the internet to provide
multirouted and multidimensional callback
processing. The hybrid network includes
one or more switched networks coupled to
one or more packet transmission networks
that also couple a call router to the
switched communication network and the
packet transmission network to route
information to the appropriate switched
telephony device or internet device
address. A computer with an attached
display communicates with the packet
transmission network, the computer is
used to initiate remote management of the
hybrid network, including tests of the
hybrid network which include circuit
analysis such as selecting signaling
states which could be loop start, ground
start, dual tone multifrequency detection
or removing a line from service. The
hybrid network includes support for an
operator to monitor the management of the
mybrid network, and an expert system to
regulate the Quality of Service of the
hybrid telecommunication system.
WE
CLAIM:
1. A hybrid telecommunications system,
which comprises:
a switched communications network;
a packet transmission network coupled to
the switched
communications network;
a call router coupled to the switched
communications network and the packet
transmission network; and
a memory coupled to the call router and
having stored therein a call parameter
database;
the call router being configured to route
a call over the switched communications
network and the packet transmission
network based on at least one call
parameter from the call parameter
database.
2. The telecommunications system of claim
1 in which the call parameter database
comprises profile information pertaining
to a subscriber to the hybrid
telecommunications system.
3. The telecommunications system of claim
1 in which the call parameter database
comprises information pertaining to a
call type.
4. The telecommunications system of claim
1 in which the call parameter database
comprises information pertaining to usage
of the switched communications network
and the packet transmission network.
5. The telecommunications system of claim
1 in which the call parameter database
comprises information pertaining to time
of the call.
6. The telecommunications system of claim
1 in which the packet transmission
network comprises an internet.
7. The telecommunications system of claim
1 in which the switched communications
network comprises a public switched
communications network.
8. The telecommunications system of claim
1 in which the public
switched communications network is a
telephone network.
9. A method for directing calls in a
hybrid telecommunications system
including a switched communications
network and a packet transmission
network, which comprises:
storing a call parameter database in a
memory;
receiving a call on the hybrid
telecommunications system;
accessing the call parameter database to
determine at least one
call parameter; and
routing the call over the switched
communications network and the packet
transmission network based on the at
least one call parameter.
10. The method of claim 9 in which the
call parameter database comprises profile
information pertaining to a subscriber to
the hybrid telecommunications system.
11. The method of claim 9 in which the
call parameter database comprises
information pertaining to a call type.
12. The method of claim 9 in which the
call parameter database comprises
information pertaining to usage of the
switched communications network and the
packet transmission network.
13. The method of claim 9 in which the
call parameter database comprises
information pertaining to time of the
call.
14. The method of claim 9 in which the
packet transmission network comprises an
internet.
15. The method of claim 14 in which the
switched communications network comprises
a public switched communications network.
16. The method of claim 15 in which the
public switched communications network is
a telephone network.
17. A computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium for directing
calls in a hybrid telecommunications
system including a switched
communications network and a packet
transmission network, which comprises:
first software that stores a call
parameter database in a memory;
second software that accesses the call
parameter database when the hybrid
telecommunications system receives a call
to determine at least one call parameter;
and
third software that routes the call over
the switched communications network and
the packet transmission network based on
the at least one call parameter.
18. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium of claim 17 in
which the call parameter database
comprises profile information pertaining
to a subscriber to the hybrid
telecommunications system.
19. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium of claim 17 in
which the call parameter database
comprises information pertaining to a
call type.
20. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium of claim 17 in
which the call parameter database
comprises information pertaining to usage
of the switched communications network
and the packet transmission network.
21. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium of claim 17 in
which the call parameter database
comprises information pertaining to time
of the call.
22. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium of claim 17 in
which the packet transmission network
comprises an internet.
23. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium of claim 22 in
which the switched communications network
comprises a public switched
communications network.
24. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium of claim 23 in
which the public switched communications
network is a telephone network.
25. A hybrid telecommunications system,
which comprises:
a switched communications network;
a packet transmission network coupled to
the switched
communications network;
a call router coupled to the switched
communications network and the packet
transmission network
a computer with an attached display in
communication with the switched
communications network and the packet
transmission network; and
the computer being configured to initiate
remote management of the hybrid
telecommunications system.
26. The hybrid telecommunications system
of claim 25 further comprising callback
logic capable of initiating tests of the
hybrid telecommunications system.
27. The hybrid telecommunications system
of claim 25 wherein the tests includes
circuit analysis.
28. The hybrid telecommunications system
of claim 25 further comprising a
management device for selecting signaling
states such as loop start, ground start
or signaling such as dual tone
multifrequency detection, multifrequency
or dialpulse.
29. The hybrid telecommunications system
of claim 25 wherein the hybrid
telecommunications system includes
support for internet telephony.
30. The hybrid telecommunications system
of claim 25 comprising means for an
operator to monitor the management of the
hybrid network.
31. The hybrid telecommunications system
of claim 25 further comprising an expert
system regulating the Quality of Service
of the hybrid telecommunications system.
32. A method for enabling communication
on a hybrid telecommunications system,
the hybrid telecommunications system
including one or more switched
communication networks coupled to one or
more packet transmission networks,
comprising the steps of:
coupling a call router to the switched
communication network and the packet
transmission network; and
integrating a computer with an attached
display to communicate with the packet
transmission network, the computer being
capable of initiating remote management
of the hybrid telecommunications system.
33. The method for enabling communication
on the hybrid telecommunications system
as recited in claim 32, wherein callback
logic is utilized to initiate tests of
the hybrid telecommunications system.
34. The method for enabling communication
on the hybrid telecommunications system
as recited in claim 33, wherein the tests
includes circuit analysis.
35. The method for enabling communication
on the hybrid telecommunications system
as recited in claim 32, further
comprising managing the hybrid
telecommunications system by selecting
signaling states such as loop start,
ground start, or detecting signals such
as dual tone multifrequency,
multifrequency or dialpulse.
36. The method for enabling communication
on the hybrid telecommunications system
as recited in claim 32, wherein the
hybrid telecommunications system includes
support for internet telephony.
37. The method for enabling communication
on the hybrid telecommunications system
as recited in claim 32, further
comprising the step of an operator
monitoring the management of the hybrid
telecommunications system.
38. The method for enabling communication
on the hybrid telecommunications system
as recited in claim 32, further
comprising the step of using an expert
system to regulate the Quality of Service
of the hybrid telecommunications system.
39. A computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium for enabling
communication on a hybrid
telecommunications system, the hybrid
telecommunications system including one
or more switched networks coupled to one
or more packet transmission networks,
comprising:
first software that couples a call router
to the switched communications network
and the packet transmission network; and
second software that communicates with
the packet transmission network, the
second software initiating remote
management of the hybrid communications
system.
40. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium for enabling
communication on the hybrid
telecommunications system as recited in
claim 39, further including callback
logic to initiate tests of the hybrid
telecommunications system.
41. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium for enabling
communication on the hybrid
telecommunications system as recited in
claim 40, wherein the tests includes
circuit analysis.
42. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium for enabling
communication on the hybrid
telecommunications system as recited in
claim 39, further comprising management
software for selecting signaling states
such as loop start, ground start, or
detecting signals such as dual tone
multifrequency, multifrequency or
dialpulse.
43. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium for enabling
communication on the hybrid
telecommunications system as recited in
claim 39, wherein the hybrid
telecommunications system includes
support for internet telephony.
44. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium for enabling
communication on the hybrid
telecommunications system as recited in
claim 39, further comprising operator
software facilitating an operator to
monitor the management of the hybrid
telecommunications system.
45. The computer program embodied on a
computer-readable medium for enabling
communication on the hybrid
telecommunications system as recited in
claim 39, wherein the hybrid
telecommunications system includes an
expert system regulating the Quality of
Service of the hybrid telecommunications
system.
