Nortel Networks Corporation

Northern Telecom Limited

Pierre Belzile

Charles J Meubus

Sylvain Jodoin

Michael Tessler

Joanne Pilkington

Methods and devices for obtaining a network service at a network interconnected computing device ( ) from one of plurality of network servers ( ), are disclosed. The computing device ( ) contacts a first network server ( ) having a first network address, using the network address over the network ( ). The device ( ) provides this server ( ) with an identifier of the computing device. This identifier may, for example, be a persistent state object or &ldquo;cookie&rdquo;. The server ( ), in response, queries a database and determines a second network address of a server ( or ) used to provide a service to the computing device, based on the identifier. This address is provided to the computing device ( ). The network addresses of servers ( ) may be uniform resource locators. The computing device ( ), in turn, contacts the server identified by the second network address and obtains the network service. The service, may for example, include receiving an indicator at the computing device of an incoming telephone call on a telephone network.

Method and devices for providing network services from several servers

A method and server for providing intermediate telephone call notification services while increasing the reliability of other call handling services is disclosed. Calls including called party identifier are received at a switch ( ) forming part of a network ( ). The calls are forwarded to a first available notification server ( ) in communication with the switch ( ), preferably using pre-configured route lists. Each server ( ) is capable of providing call notification service for at least some subscribers ( ). A server ( ) receives a call, including a called subscriber identifier and determine whether the call should be processed as a call for a primary or a secondary subscriber. For calls for a primary subscriber, the server ( ) dispatches an indicator of the call. For a call to a secondary subscriber the server forwards the call to a call handling system, such as a voice mail server ( ), interconnected with the network.

Method and device for providing intermediate telephone service with enhanced network reliability

The invention provides a method and a system for selectively delivering information to callers in an AIN environment. In accordance with the method the service switching point to which is connected the terminal equipment of the caller monitors the condition of the telephone line to detect an AIN trigger, such as an off-hook event among other possibilities. When such event occurs, the service switch point formulates a message query. The query is routed to a service control point via one or more service transfer points, that holds knowledge of the service subscribed by the caller and the information to be displayed for this service. The service control point analyzes the request and assembles the appropriate response. That response is then returned to the service switch point that formats it properly and delivers it to the terminal equipment of the caller. In one embodiment the information delivery is effected during call establishment. In a variant, information is delivered while no call is being attempted.

Delivery of display information to the caller in an advanced intelligent network

A data network to telephone network gateway (,) and an end-user computing device and method used by these devices are disclosed (,). The gateway (,) is in communication with both a data network (,) and a telephone network (,). The computing device (,) is in communication with the data network (,). The gateway (,) is adapted to receive an indicator of a telephone call and dispatch a notification of the call destined for the computing device (,). As well, the gateway (,) causes the call to be bridged from the telephone network to the computing device over the data network (,), enabling a user at the computing device (,) to communicate with the call using the computing device (,). After the call is bridged, and in response to a specified condition, the gateway (,) causes the call to be forwarded to a telephone line (,) interconnected with the telephone network. The specified condition may include an end-user input, or a detection by the gateway or the computing device that the quality of the bridged call has fallen below an acceptable standard, arising typically from congestion or delays on the data network (,). This allows the end-user to maintain a high quality call connection.

Method and devices for bridging data and telephone networks

The present invention relates to a system and a method for limiting call velocity attempts in the public switched telephone network. A central office of the network is provided with a program element that examines all the physical channels from respective customer premises equipments (CPE). The program element counts the number of times each CPE goes off-hook within a given period of time. This condition is interpreted as an attempt to establish a call through the telephone network. If the number of attempts exceeds a threshold, the physical channel is de-activated for a predetermined time period. De-activation means that call establishment over that channel is negated for all possible destinations. This can be implemented by preventing establishment of dial tone. In a variant, selective de-activation is effected. More specifically, the program element in the central office examines the digits dialed at the CPE and authorizes call establishment only when certain specific destinations are attempted to be reached, such as emergency services (9-1-1 calls, for example). For all other destinations call establishment is denied or delayed. The present invention is particularly useful in controlling repetitive dialing that may overload the telephone network.

System and method for limiting call velocity attempts in a public

The invention manifests a secure, on-demand meet-me conferencing service embodied within a telephone network having an advanced intelligent network (AIN) infrastructure. Centralized control of conferencing bridges located in network switches is effected at a service control point (SCP) in the AIN telephone network. Routing and availability information with respect to the conferencing bridges is maintained by the SCP. When the SCP in communication with a network switch processing a call determines that the call is to initiate a conference, a bridge is allocated to the call. The availability information of the bridge is then updated and the SCP provides the network switch with routing instructions for connecting the call through the telephone network to the bridge.

Centralized management and allocation of bridges in a telecommunications

The invention manifests a secure, on-demand meet-me conferencing service embodied within a telephone network having an advanced intelligent network (AIN) infrastructure. Centralized control of conferencing bridges located in network switches is effected at a service control point (SCP) in the AIN telephone network. Users of the service first subscribe to it, and are assigned a primary authorization code, a code assignment directory number (DN) and a conference DN at that time. Before a conference, a subscriber calls the code assignment DN, provides the primary authorization code, and receives a secondary authorization code for distribution to persons who will be participants of the conference call. At the time of the conference, the subscriber dials the conference DN and provides the primary authorization code to the conferencing service to initiate the conference call. The participants then dial the conference DN and use the secondary authorization code to access the conference.

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Lachine, Canada

Pierre Belzile