(12) United States Patent
`Archer
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,683,870 Bl
`Jan.27,2004
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US006683870B 1
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
`MULTICASTING CALL NOTIFICATIONS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Michael Archer, Dallas, TX (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation,
`Washington, DC (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/104,570
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 25, 1998
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(62) Division of application No. 08/751,023, filed on Nov. 18,
`1996, now abandoned, which is a division of application No.
`08/798,350, filed on Feb. 10, 1997, now abandoned.
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................ H04L 12/66
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................ 370/356; 370/390; 370/432
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 370/259, 260,
`370/261, 270, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355,
`356, 390, 432; 379/201, 202, 205, 209,
`211, 212, 219, 220
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`(List continued on next page.)
`
`Primary Examiner-Kwang Bin Yao
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for communication over a network, which can be
`both analog and digital includes simultaneously transmitting
`a call notification to a plurality of communication devices.
`These communication devices include devices such as
`telephones, pagers, computers, and voice mail systems. The
`addresses (e.g., telephone numbers) are stored in a database
`which is queried based on the call notification. For example,
`this method can be used in a find-me/follow-me system or to
`initiate a conference call.
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`24 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`a,120
`
`iv ::::m
`
`146
`
`rov·y
`
`134
`~142
`. . - - . ~
`.......,..
`
`~ '4 0
`._ IP
`Network
`~ ....,_.. fli:>l!I e
`.........
`
`I database y
`
`a
`D
`
`d 114 g1=-8-eSTN 13:__.
`raCl]t =-1 138
`6144 y
`Uf"&
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 1
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
`
`

`

`US 6,683,870 Bl
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`
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`
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`tem Support for Digital Audio and Video, May 19-21, 1997,
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`
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`munications and Networks, 1997, pp. 358-363.
`
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`
`MCI One-Life just got simpler Apr. 25, 1997.
`WebPhone Gateway eXchange Server (WGX) May 12, 1998
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 2
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.27,2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 3
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.27,2004
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
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`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.27,2004
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 5
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.27,2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 6,683,870 Bl
`
`Start
`
`Receive packet with
`indication of subscriber
`
`Query database 138
`for associated destinations
`
`52
`
`54
`
`Yes
`
`58
`
`Encode in a digital
`packet and address
`to a converter
`
`No
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Multi-cast the packets
`
`Receive confirmation
`
`Terminate other connections
`
`Establish communication
`
`62
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`64
`
`66
`
`68
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 6
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.27,2004
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 6,683,870 Bl
`
`Initiate a call
`
`~,
`
`Route to
`computer system
`
`V 102
`
`104
`
`~ r
`
`Query database
`
`I 106
`
`, '
`Multicast notifications V 108
`, ,
`Commence communication V 109
`
`FIG. 5
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 7
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.27,2004
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`Sheet 6 of 6
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 8
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
`
`

`

`US 6,683,870 Bl
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR
`MULTICASTING CALL NOTIFICATIONS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The following commonly owned U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/751,023, filed Nov. 18, 1996, now abandoned,
`and commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`08/798,350, filed Feb. 10, 1997, now abandoned, are herein
`incorporated by reference in their entirety.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to telecommunications
`and specifically to a method and system for multicasting call
`notifications.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
`
`2
`One specific problem addressed by the present invention
`is to ensure that call forwarding or "follow me" services can
`reach customers when not available by phone. Current
`technology from the telephony standpoint, e.g., existing
`5 MCI One service, is restricted to standard telephone devices.
`The present invention therefore provides a solution that will
`allow existing technologies to become more flexible and
`efficient.
`Another specific example where the present invention can
`10 be used is in "find-me" systems. In a find-me system, a caller
`calls a subscriber by dialing a single telephone number. The
`service provider takes this telephone number and consults a
`database where the subscriber has provided a number of
`telephone numbers (a call list) where he can be reached.
`Each of these numbers is then sequentially called until one
`of the phones is answered. With the present invention,
`computers and internet telephones can be included in a
`subscriber's call list.
`Yet another specific application of the present invention
`relates to conferencing, whether it be voice, data, and/or
`video. The present invention provides the advantage of
`allowing a party who is initiating a conference to contact one
`telephone number that will automatically cause all other
`participants to be simultaneously notified.
`In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for
`communication over a network which can be both circuit(cid:173)
`switched and packet-switched. In this method, a call noti(cid:173)
`fication is simultaneously broadcast (multicast) to a plurality
`of communication devices. These communication devices
`include devices such as telephones, pagers, computers, and
`voice mail systems. The addresses (e.g., telephone numbers)
`are stored in a database that is queried based on the call
`notification. For example, this method can be used in a
`find-me system or to initiate a conference call.
`In another aspect, the present invention provides a com(cid:173)
`munication system in which a plurality of converters are
`each operable to sample voice signals and create digital
`packets that contain a digital representation of the voice
`40 signals. Each converter might also create voice signals from
`a digital packet. A storage device contains a database of
`records each of which includes a call list of telephone
`numbers associated with each of a plurality of subscribers.
`The system also includes a computer system that operates
`45 under control of software. Upon receipt of a call notification,
`the software causes the computer system to query the
`database to retrieve a record associated with the call noti(cid:173)
`fication and to multicast digital call notification packets to a
`plurality of the converters. The digital notification packets
`50 include information relating to the call list of telephone
`numbers in the received record.
`The present invention has a number of advantages over
`present systems. For example, the present invention can
`utilize the commonly implemented Internet Protocol (IP),
`55 e.g., through an internet service provider (ISP), in place of
`standard switching. In follow-me systems, a multi-media
`personal computer can be used as the called party's for(cid:173)
`warding number. In other words, by dialing the same tele(cid:173)
`phone number you can communicate with the called party
`60 through her computer.
`This system reduces the waiting time of the caller by
`simultaneously ringing all numbers in a primary group of
`telephone numbers. This system also reduces switch traffic
`for telephone companies by letting the internet service
`providers (ISPs) do the routing, in effect turning the internet
`service providers into mini-telephone companies. This sys(cid:173)
`tem has all of the functionality of standard "find me" type
`
`25
`
`Since the use of the public Internet has become increas(cid:173)
`ingly popular as one of the world's premier sources of
`communications, new and innovative technologies have 20
`been developed to tap into the Internet's vast resources. This
`new form of communication has sprouted numerous tech(cid:173)
`nological innovations and services that benefit both con(cid:173)
`sumers and industry. One of these innovations is the trans-
`mission of voice over the Internet.
`In the mid to late 1970s, experiments in the transmission
`of voice over the Internet were conducted as part of an
`ongoing research program sponsored by the U.S. Defense
`Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In the mid 30
`1980s, UNIX-based workstations were used to conduct
`regular audio/video conferencing sessions in modest quan(cid:173)
`tities over the Internet. These experimental applications
`were extended in the late 1980s with larger scale, one-way
`multicasting of voice and video. In 1995 a small company, 35
`VocalTec Communications Ltd., commercially introduced a
`software package that was capable of providing two way
`voice communications between multi-media PCs connected
`to the Internet.
`Telephony over the Internet offers users a low cost service
`that is distance and border insensitive. For the current cost
`of Internet access (at low hourly rates or unlimited use flat
`fees) the caller can hold a voice conversation with another
`PC user connected to the Internet. In the case where one or
`both ends have flat fee connections to the Internet, the call
`is free of additional charges. This makes Internet telephony
`an attractive alternative to cost conscious consumers.
`Unfortunately, Internet telephony or Voice over Internet
`Protocol (VOiP) suffers from a number of problems. The
`voice quality across the Internet is not as good as typical
`telephone toll quality and there are significant delays expe(cid:173)
`rienced during the conversation. In addition, Internet tele(cid:173)
`phones do not have the benefit of the plethora of added
`services that are available through standard switched tele(cid:173)
`phones.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to the growing need for a
`smooth integration of evolving telephony features with
`evolving computer functionality. The lines between the
`technologies are becoming increasingly blurred as compa(cid:173)
`nies from both disciplines strive to increase their market
`share, and maximize on the global mobility. This trend to
`further integrate telephones and PCs should continue as the
`global market for both technologies expands. Although the 65
`trend is clear, the trick is to integrate features without adding
`expensive equipment, awkward interfaces, or lesser quality.
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 9
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
`
`

`

`US 6,683,870 Bl
`
`3
`phone systems, but with the added capability of catching the
`called party online anywhere in the world as long as they are
`connected to the ISP in some fashion.
`An added functionality is the ability of the ISP to notify
`the user's computer if they are online and alert them of an 5
`incoming phone call. The user could then (using a standard
`multimedia computer) use a microphone and his computer's
`soundcard/speakers to complete the call using his PC. The
`user could also route the call back to his primary group if he
`so desired in case he missed the call initially.
`For conference calling, only a single telephone number
`needs to be dialed in order to initiate the call. In commer(cid:173)
`cially available systems, each participant must be contacted
`individually causing the first person to wait while each of the
`other people is called. Since all of the participants can be
`contacted simultaneously by use of the invention, much time
`can be saved.
`The flexibility and convenience of the present invention
`makes it an attractive alternative or enhancement to pres-
`ently used systems.
`
`20
`
`4
`the number the 800 line will send its calls to. The 800
`number always stayed the same.
`A similar service is a "find-me" service which is illus(cid:173)
`trated in FIG. 1. In this system 10, a caller dials a single
`telephone number 12 of a called party from an initiating
`telephone 14. This call is routed over the public switched
`telephone network (PSTN) 18 to a switch 16. The call is then
`routed across the PSTN 18 to a telephone associated with a
`first number 20 in the called party's list, where it is either
`10 answered or not answered. If unanswered, then the numbers
`in the list are automatically dialed in sequence by the switch
`16 until one is answered or forwarded to the called party's
`voice mail or pager 24. Because number dialing is
`sequential, it can take several minutes to complete. An
`15 example of a commercially available find-me service is the
`MCI One Service.
`A first embodiment system 110 of the present invention is
`illustrated in FIG. 2. Before turning to functional blocks of
`FIG. 2, however, it may be useful to provide a quick
`overview of the concept behind this embodiment. This
`embodiment of the present invention is based on Internet
`Protocol (IP) based voice traffic, where calls are: (1) con(cid:173)
`verted from analog signal to digital signals, (2) split up into
`IP packets, (3) routed to their destination, and ( 4) reas-
`25 sembled. In the first embodiment, when an end user dials a
`single find-me number, the IP packets that make up the call
`are routed to a packet-switched network. Components
`within the network receive the header ( call originate) and
`begin to search for a telephone number at which the person
`being called will answer.
`As a specific example, assume a caller places a phone call.
`This call is routed through the ordinary phone system to a
`special converter where the receiving phone number is
`assembled into digital packet(s). These packets are routed to
`35 a computer system where the receiving phone number is
`extracted. The computer system queries a database with the
`phone number and the database returns all of the numbers in
`the called party's record. Each of these phone numbers are
`assembled into digital packet(s) and routed to converters
`40 which return the call notifications to the ordinary phone
`system.
`This embodiment system, unlike current find-me systems,
`can simultaneously multicast out IP packets designed to ring
`45 all of the telephone numbers at destinations in the called
`party's list at once. Telephone numbers at several locations
`can be grouped together to ring at once. If any one of these
`locations pick up, a response IP packet is sent to the
`packet-switched network. Upon receipt of the response
`50 packet, the packet-switched network begins routing the
`packets from the caller to the called party's destination.
`In the preferred embodiment, the called party's list of
`telephone numbers is divided in a number of groups. If no
`numbers in the primary group answer, the packet-switched
`55 network can then forward the call to the secondary group,
`which typically consists of a voice mail, or pager number.
`More groups could also be included.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, a call notification can be initiated
`at an initiating communication device 114. The initiating
`60 communication device 114 is typically a telephone. While
`referring to the initiating device 114 as a telephone 114, it is
`understood that other devices such as electronic communi(cid:173)
`cation devices or computers can be used. A telephone 114
`can be either a land-line or cellular (analog or digital)
`65 without deviating from the spirit of the invention.
`Telephone 114 is connected to circuit-switched commu(cid:173)
`nication network 118 in the typical manner. A circuit-
`
`30
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above features of the present invention will be more
`clearly understood from consideration of the following
`descriptions in connection with accompanying drawings in
`which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art communication
`system;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment
`communication system;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portion of the system of
`FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart of exemplary software which can
`operate on a computer system in the communication system
`of FIG. 2 or FIG. 6;
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment method
`of the present invention; and
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment
`communication system.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The making and use of the various embodiments are
`discussed below in detail. However, it should be appreciated
`that the present invention provides many applicable inven(cid:173)
`tive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of
`specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are
`merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the
`invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention.
`The present invention will be first be described with
`reference to one specific application, namely "follow-me"
`and "find-me" services. The concepts will then be applied to
`other applications including conferencing. A "follow-me"
`service allows a subscriber to provide the service provider
`with a telephone number where the subscriber can be
`reached. The subscriber has the opportunity to change this
`number as often as he would like so that his calls will
`"follow" him as he moves to different locations. The service
`is often referred to as call forwarding.
`For example, in 1991 MCI Telecommunications Co.
`(MCI) began offering a Follow Me 800 Service. This service
`encompassed call forwarding of a personal 800 line. The
`service differed from local call forwarding in that a caller
`could contact MCI from anywhere in the world and change
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2048 - 10
`U.S. Patent No. 6,683,870
`IPR2016-01260
`
`

`

`US 6,683,870 Bl
`
`5
`switched network is a network which uses an entire tele(cid:173)
`phone channel for every phone call, fax or data connection
`and routes the call from sender to receiver as if establishing
`a single end-to-end circuit. A circuit-switched network is
`sometimes referred to as a traditional network. In the pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiment, network 118 is a POTS (plain old
`telephone service) network. This network can be either a
`public system (PSTN) or a private system. Alternatively,
`proprietary networks can be used.
`Circuit-switched network 118 can be either an analog 10
`network, a digital network, or a combination of both. An
`analog communication network is a network which trans(cid:173)
`mits analog signals without regard to their content. The
`signals may represent analog data ( e.g., voice) or digital data
`(e.g., binary data, maybe from a modem). The analog
`network may include amplifiers (not shown) to boost the
`energy in the system. Unlike analog transmission, digital
`transmission is concerned with the content of the signal. A
`typical digital transmission system includes repeaters (not
`shown) which recover the content of the signal and then 20
`regenerate and retransmit a new signal with the same
`content.
`The public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the
`preferred circuit-switched communication network 118. In
`this context, the PSTN refers to the worldwide voice tele(cid:173)
`phone system. Once only an analog system, the heart of most
`telephone networks today is digital. In the United States,
`most of the remaining analog lines are the ones from homes
`and offices to the telephone company's central office. It is
`not difficult to imagine that some day these lines will also be 30
`digital.
`The circuit-switched communication network 118 is
`coupled to converter 126 which serves to convert the tele(cid:173)
`phone signals into digitized packets. Converter 126 can also
`be referred to as a gateway, a digitizer or an encoder. For
`voice communications, the conversion function would
`include sampling the voice signals and generating digitized
`representations. This digital sample data can then be com(cid:173)
`bined with packet headers and footers in a manner consistent
`with the protocol used on packet-switched network 130.
`While Internet Protocol (IP) is preferred, the precise proto(cid:173)
`col used is not critical to the claimed invention. In general,
`converter 126 may convert signals from a first network ( e.g.,
`circuit-switched network 118) into a digital protocol which
`can be routed through packet-switched network 130.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a con(cid:173)
`verter 126. The converter receives telephone signals from
`circuit-switched network 118. These signals are provided to
`a modem 70 and control circuitry 72. The modem translates 50
`the signals into digital signals which can be handled by
`router 74. The control circuitry 72 utilizes the signaling
`information to generate the packet addressing information
`for router 74. In the preferred embodiment, control circuitry
`72 comprises a processor based system such as a computer 55
`or specialized hardware. The control circuitry 72 can be
`embedded within router 74. The router then provides pack(cid:173)
`etized information to the packet-switched network 130.
`In general the PSTN to IP-network gateway (i.e., con(cid:173)
`verter 126) should be able to support the translation of PCM 60
`to multiple encoding schemes to interwork with software
`from various vendors. Alternatively, a common compression
`scheme could be used. Commercially available products
`such as the WebPhone Gateway Exchange server by
`Netspeak can be used to act as the bridge between conven- 65
`tional circuit-switched telephone systems and IP-based data
`networks.
`
`6
`Returning to FIG. 2, packet-switched network 130 com(cid:173)
`prises a plurality of digital links capable of handling digital
`signals. Packet-switched network 130, sometimes referred
`to as a converged network, combines various types of media
`5 such as voice calls, data and streams of video onto a single
`line. All these different media are chopped into chunks of
`data or packets. In the preferred embodiment, packet(cid:173)
`switched network 130 is an Internet Protocol-based (IP-
`based) network.
`One example of an IP-based network is the public Inter-
`net. In this context, the "Internet" (uppercase "I") is used to
`connote the worldwide collection of interconnected net(cid:173)
`works that uses Internet Protocol (IP) to link a large number
`of physical networks into a single logical network.
`15 Physically, the Internet is a huge, global network spanning
`nearly 100 countries and comprising a great number of
`academic, commercial, government, and military networks.
`Packet-switched network 130 could also comprise other
`IP-based networks as well as other communication net(cid:173)
`works. For example, packet-switched network 130 could
`comprise an internet which is not connected to the public
`Internet. In this context, an "internet" (lowercase "i") is any
`collection of separate physical networks, interconnected by
`a common protocol, to form a single logical network. An
`25 internet would preferably, but not necessarily use Internet
`Protocol. An internet which is owned by a single entity is
`sometimes referred to as an intranet. Network 130 can
`comprise an intranet, which is or is not connected to the
`Internet.
`Server processor 128 is a computer system coupled to
`packet-switched network 130 and executes server software
`to perform the tasks required by the present invention. In a
`find-me/follow-me system, for example, server processor
`128 performs the function of taking the incoming phone
`number generated at telephone 114 and querying database
`138 looking up the forwarding phone numbers assigned to
`the user. In FIG. 2, server processor 128 is represented by a
`single computer. It is noted, however, that the software
`executed on server processor 128 can just as easily operate
`over a number of computers which may be physically close
`together or found at remote locations many miles apart.
`Accordingly, server processor 128 can comprise a number of
`interlinked computers. For the purposes of this invention,
`the hardware is not critical. The emphasis, rather, is on the
`functionality of that hardware. This functionality is dis(cid:173)
`cussed in greater detail with respect to FIG. 4.
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the software which will execute
`on server processor 128. In Step 52, server processor 128
`receives one or more packets which incl