Lucent Technologies Inc.

At&t Bell Laboratories

At+t Corp.

Other

Bellsouth Corporation

Stuart Mandel Garland

David B Smith

Matthew Richard Smith

ZhongJin Yang

Jerome W Schull

John Andrew Johnson

James Allen Kowal

Lila Elizabeth Russ

Robin Jeffrey Thompson

Chinmei Chen Lee

Young-fu Chang

Eric Edward Kampmeier

Francis J Pope

Jane Ann Thompson

Joseph James Lichter

Robert J Abrams

Richard Gregory Carr

Carl William Smedberg, Jr

William Alan Hewitt

Lila N Russ

Pulin M Kinkhabwala

Stuart Alan Carpenter

Marilyn A Wouda

Hilton Manuel Nicholson

Richard A Kamieniecki

Jaap T Erne

The present invention provides a method and system for sending a server-specified message from an application server to Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) without setting up a call path between the application server and the CPE. The application server is coupled with a switch, which is in turn coupled with the CPE. The application server sends a request to the switch. The switch sends, based upon the request, a predetermined server-specified message to the CPE without setting up a call path between the application server and the CPE. The CPE is not rung and the predetermined message is not affected by the features of the line associated with the CPE.

Method and apparatus for transmitting data without establishing a call path

Apparatus and a method for providing, to a service provider, telemetry access to customer equipment. The telemetry access is provided using wireless access means to avoid having to provide special residential wiring to connect to meters and control devices at customer premises. Each customer device is provided with a cellular station having its own mobile identity, either an international mobile switching identifier (IMSI) or a mobile identity number (MIN). Each IMSI or MIN need not be associated with a different telephone number. For example, a single telephone number can be assigned to a service provider to access all devices telemetered by that service provided. Advantageously, this arrangement provides for an inexpensive method and apparatus for accessing customer devices.

Wireless telemetering access

A telecommunications system includes a telecommunications switching system, at least one subscriber terminal coupled to the switching system, at least one telecommunications agency coupled to the switching system. The agency stores subscriber information and provides the information to external requestors in the form of subscriber service images defining services and features to be provided for subscribers. The subscriber terminal includes a portable subscriber module identifying the subscriber and optionally contains information defining services and features to be provided for the subscriber by the subscriber terminal and the switching system. The switching system has a facility for storing all subscriber-related information as a plurality of transient subscriber service images defining the services and features to be provided for subscribers having pending or active calls. When the subscriber requests service, the agency or the portable subscriber module provide the image information to the switching system, which creates an image instance and provides the requested service. Once the service is concluded, the image instance is released.

Telecommunications call processing using externally-assigned subscriber characteristics

Computers that exchange data over communication networks frequently wait for responses to messages and therefor use timers to control the amount of time that the computer will wait for a response to a command issued over a network. Communication network responsiveness varies as traffic loading on the network changes. Fixed-value timers that don't take network loading into account can inadvertently terminate communications if a response is not timely received. Varying or adjusting data communication timers according to data network responsiveness can prevent erroneous data communication session termination.

Dynamic adjustment of timers in a communication network

A system and method for polling communication lines in a communication system having a plurality of communication lines and at least one telemetry device coupled to one of the plurality of communication lines. The method comprises the steps of creating a polling signal at the network switch, transmitting the polling signal from the network switch to one of the communication lines and determining whether the one communication line is associated with the telemetry device.

Communications system and method with telemetry device identification capabilities

In a system and method for the collection of alphanumeric data from Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) at the behest of an enhanced service provider (such as a utility company) requesting said data, a CPE transmits the data in the form of a synthesized voice signal, obviating the need for modems. The invention is useful for applications such as Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) and Home and Business Electronic Systems (HBES). The targeted CPE in such a system, after being connected to a remote applications server via a telephone call including &ldquo;suppressed ringing,&rdquo; converts data collected to a standard voice signal via a voice synthesizer and transmits the voice signal to the applications server. The applications server performs a speech-to-text conversion to place the data back into its alphanumeric form.

System and method for transmitting data from customer premise equipment sans modulation and demodulation

A system and method enabling a remote customer station (server, CPE or end user) to control, or modify, selected functional capabilities of a telephone switch via control messages sent after cell setup and during the course of a data stream. The customer station receives back from the telephone switch indications of modifications in status of the switch occurring in response to the control messages. The functional capabilities which may be modified include both software and hardware configurations of the telephone switch.

Method and system for controlling functional capabilities of a telephonic switch employing control and status messages

A method and apparatus for establishing a suppressed ringing connection between a server and customer premises equipment, wherein the server is connected to a first switch and the customer premises equipment is connected to a second switch, different from said first switch. The switch connected to the server has translation information identifying the trunk to the server as a server trunk. Signaling between the server, which is not connected to the Common Channel Signaling Network (CCS7), and the second switch is performed according to the protocols used for sending messages to a switch connected to the target customer premises equipment that is at the other end of the suppressed ringing connection. The first switch converts signals received from the server into a common channel signaling format for transmission to the second switch, serving the target CPE. The second switch then establishes a suppressed ringing connection to the target CPE. Alternatively, a dial-up connection can be used to connect the server to the first switch. Advantageously, these arrangements free the server from having to provide trunks to all switches connected to target CPEs. They make it possible, for example, for one server to serve CPEs throughout the countly via one, or a small number of switches.

Suppressed ringing connectivity

A telecommunication network with a local multi-interfacing multiport switch with a remotely controllable line multi-interface for alternatively, selectively, connecting different line unit interfaces to a single customer line to enable both digital and analog communication on a single line.

Telecommunication network with remotely controllable, line multi-interface and telecommunication method

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for handling incoming or intra-office calls when a telephone subscriber having a POTS, (Plain Old Telephone Service) telephone instrument and line connecting that customer to a serving switch, is connected to an Internet service provider for providing communications to the Internet. The bandwidth of the customer's line is divided into a lower band for providing communications, and a higher band for transmitting signaling and control information. When an incoming or intra-office call is received while the customer is connected to the Internet, the signal channel is used to transmit information which can be displayed to the called customer providing information about the call. If the called customer wishes to answer the call, the called customer can signal over the signaling channel a request that the incoming or intra-office call be completed. Otherwise, the called customer can signal over the signaling channel to the switch requesting that busy tone be returned to the caller, or that the caller be connected to voice mail. Advantageously, this arrangement provides an inexpensive system for allowing Internet users to be notified about incoming or intra-office calls, and to accept such calls at their discretion.

Providing alerting/call waiting/call holding services to on-line internet users

A method and apparatus for communicating between Customer Premises Equipment, (CPE) alarm sensing devices, and alarm monitoring stations. The sensing devices communicate with an end office switch by transmitting a message, such as a string of Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency, (DTMF) digits to that switch. At the switch, the message is processed and a determination is made which of a plurality of alarm monitoring stations should receive the alarm indication. One or more data packets are sent to the selected alarm monitoring stations with the packets identifying the source of the alarm indication, and the type of alarm indication. Advantageously, the packetized communication between the end office switch and the alarm monitoring system allows a high volume of alarm indications to be sent to an alarm monitoring station, because individual telephone connections are not required for each such alarm message.

Home/commercial security monitoring system

An architecture for communicating with telemetering interface units (TIUs). The system comprises an application controller which interfaces with service vendors who make requests for telemetering metering actions and/or control actions; or network server for communicating via UTTs, (Utility Telemetry Trunks), with an end office switch for accessing TIUs, using a suppressed ringing connection to distinguish between telemetering connections and telephone connections; a service control point (SCP), for providing data about the telecommunications network, the data being necessary in order to allow the network server to access the correct TIU, and a data network for interconnecting the application controller, network server and switching control point. Advantageously, using this arrangement, the functions of the application controller which interfaces with the service vendor are segregated from the functions for controlling the telecommunication network to access the TIU. Both the application controller and the network server are simple computers, such as personal computers (PCs), thus providing a cost effective and inexpensive arrangement.

Telecommunications network architecture for accessing customer premises equipment

A system and method for utilizing suppressed ringing with a plurality of communication devices. The system creates a suppressed ringing signal, at a remote computer, for at least one of the plurality of communication devices, implements a protocol to direct the suppressed ringing signal to the communication device through a private network and transmits the suppressed ringing signal from the remote computer, through the private network, to the communication device.

System and method for establishing a call path through a private network

A server ( ) communicates with a modem, computer or other data communications device ( ) to provide, for example, an information delivery service. The server produces multiple channels of data for delivery. The server uses multiple telephone lines to create a high-speed communications channel when necessary. Suppressed ringing connections are made from the server to facilitate data communications over the multiple lines of the multiple channels of data produced by the server.

Method and apparatus for multiple logical channel information delivery over multiple suppressed ringing physical channels

The system for direct suppressed ringing access of a subscriber line enables the service provider to access subscriber lines from any location, as long as the incoming call is identified and authenticated as a suppressed ringing access call. The central office switch can maintain a list of predefined line numbers that are used by an authorized service provider to perform the suppressed ringing access function. Thus, a call origination on one of these lines is automatically validated as a suppressed ringing connection call. Alternatively, the suppressed ringing connection is requested by the inclusion of a predefined code in the dial string and the central office switch automatically authenticates the identity of the service provider. Manual authorization on a per call basis is available, where the service provider dials the number of a predefined access line, which connects the service provider to a suppressed ringing access apparatus that authenticates the identity of the service provider and their authority to initiate a suppressed ringing access connection to the selected subscriber line. Once the service provider authentication is accomplished, the suppressed ringing access apparatus then forwards the incoming call to the identified subscriber line via a suppressed ringing connection.

Growing community of inventors

Morton Grove, IL, United States of America

Stuart Mandel Garland