United States Patent [19]
`La Porta et al.
`
`US005563939A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,563,939
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`[54] IVIETHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING
`A COMMUNICATION SERVICE
`
`[75] Inventors: Thomas F. La Porta, Thornwood,
`N.Y.; Malathi Veeraraghavan, Atlantic
`Highlands, NJ.
`
`[73] Assignee: AT&T, Holmdel, NJ.
`
`[2]] Appl. No.: 164,521
`[22]
`Filed:
`Dec. 9, 1993
`
`............................... .. H04M 3/42
`Int. Cl.6
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. ........................ .. 379/220; 379/219; 379/229;
`379/112; 379/201; 379/130; 379/114; 379/59
`[58] Field of Search ............................ .. 379/67, 207, 221,
`379/246, 93, 92, 90, 105, 97, 219, 220,
`229,112, 113, 201,114, 115, 211,130,
`131, 111, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60; 370/84, 110.1;
`358/86
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,555,594 ll/1985 Friedes et al. .
`
`. ..
`
`.
`
`379/207
`
`4,852,154
`4,866,763
`4,897,867
`4,924,500
`
`7/1989 Lewis et a1. .......................... 1. 379/246
`9/1989 Cooper et a1.
`379/221
`l/l990 Foster et al,
`379/246
`5/1990 Lewis et al.
`379/221
`
`. . . .. 358/86
`5/1991 Pocock et al. . . . . . . .
`5,014,125
`379/90
`8/1993 Thompson, Jr. .
`5,236,199
`379/211
`8/1993 Ryan .............. ..
`5,237,604
`379/221
`1/1994 Fuller etal.
`5,282,244
`379/67
`5,353,331 10/1994 Emery et a1.
`379/114
`5,400,395
`3/1995 Berenato ........ ..
`379/93
`5,414,773
`5/1995 Handelman ..
`.. 379/207
`5,418,844
`5/1995 Morrisey et al.
`.. 379/112
`5,448,632
`9/1995 lyob et a1. ......... ..
`.. 379/115
`5,452,350
`9/1995 Reynolds et al.
`.. 379/130
`5,473,630 12/1995 Penziasetal. ..... ..
`.. 379/221
`5,473,679 12/1995 La Porta et a1.
`5,515,425
`5/1996 Penzias et al. ........................ .. 379/114
`
`Primary Examiner-Krista M. Zele
`Assistant Examiner—Scott Wolinsky
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Henry T. Brendzel
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A signaling provider network which receives and transmits
`at least a subset of all signaling information associated with
`a particular call or communication service, allows the
`received/transmitted signaling information to be processed
`
`1/1986 Riley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`4,565,903
`3/1986 Bimonte 8t ?l
`4,577,066
`4,585,904 4/1986 Mincone et al. . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 379/220
`
`379/221
`. . . .. 379/131
`
`independently of the originating or terminating communi
`
`cation carrier network which originates and/or completes the
`can, or provides the communication Service.
`
`4,611,094
`
`9/1986 Asrnuth et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 379/201
`
`4,685,127
`
`8/1987 Miller et al. . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 379/221
`
`4,763,191
`
`8/1988 Gordon et al. ........................ .. 379/246
`
`13 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`%
`
`1
`
`d
`1102
`
`L’
`U
`U
`
`COAXIAL CABLE
`DISTRIBUTION
`NETWORK
`
`121
`
`L
`:
`'
`
`I
`I
`:
`|
`
`“I0
`
`104.
`LEC
`NETWORK
`P120
`
`I
`
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`NETWORK
`
`110
`
`miilllect
`NETWORK
`,
`II
`
`‘I /
`I
`,’ 124
`/
`LEC
`,’
`NETWORK
`’
`
`I
`._ 1Z5
`/
`I
`
`H
`‘
`
`CELLULAR
`NETWORK
`
`
`
`~ ' 7“ ~_
`
`-
`
`NETWORK
`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1041, Page 1
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`5,563,939
`
`E252
`
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`1, 55555 M
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`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1041, Page 2
`
`

`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1041, Page 3
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`5,563,939
`
`
`
`
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`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1041, Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`5,563,939
`
`FIG. 4
`
`401
`CALLER PLACES A LONG DISTANCE CALL”
`V
`LONG DISTANCE NETWORK RECEIVES 2402
`CALL SET UP INFORMATION
`U
`LONG DISTANCE NETWORK FORWARDS
`403
`’“
`CALL SET UP INFORMATION TO
`CALLED PARTY’S SIGNALING PROVIDER
`NETWORK AND TO LEC NETWORK
`AFTER A SHORT PAUSE
`I
`SIGNALING PROVIDER NETWORK
`DETERMINES INCOMING CALL
`SERVICES SUBSCRIBED BY
`CALLED PARTY BASED ON
`TABLE LOOKUP OPERATION
`
`#404
`
`CALLER-ID
`SUBSCRIPTION ?
`
`YES
`'
`SIGNALING PROVIDER NETWORK
`FORWARDS CALLING PARTY NUMBER /,406
`TO THE SIGNAL TRANSFER DEVICE
`OF THE CALLED PARTY VIA CATV
`NETWORK 0R CELLULAR NETWORK
`
`SIGNAL TRANSFER DEVICE SENDS
`CALLING PARTY NUMBER TO
`DISPLAY APPARATUS
`
`407
`
`LEC NETWORK COMPLETES CALL
`TO CALLED PARTY TELEPHONE SET
`
`/,408
`
`IT
`END
`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1041, Page 5
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 8, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 0f 5
`
`5,563,939
`
`FIG. 5
`
`CALLER PLACES A LONG DISTANCE CALL
`w
`SIGNALING PROVIDER NETWORK RECEIVES
`CALL SET UP SIGNALING INFORMATION
`ASSOCIATED WITH THE CALL
`II
`SIGNALING PROVIDER NETWORK DETERMINES
`OUTGOING CALL SERVICES SUBSCRIBED BY
`CALLER BASED ON A TABLE LOOK UP OPERATION
`
`501
`
`502
`
`#503
`
`508
`I
`SIGNALING PROVIDER
`NOTIFIES THE SIGNAL
`TRANSFER DEVICE TO
`SET UP A CONNECTION
`TO THE LEC NETWORK
`
`NO
`
`L
`
`INTEREXCHANGE CARRIER
`SELECTION SUBSCRIPTION ?
`" YES
`
`>504
`
`SIGNALING PROVIDER NETWORK SELECTS
`LOWEST RATE CARRIER
`
`505
`
`/
`
`0
`SIGNALING PROVIDER NETWORK RETURNS
`THE SELECTED CARRIER IDENTICATION
`CODE AND THE CALLED PARTY NUMBER
`TO THE SIGNALING TRANSFER DEVICE
`
`SIGNAL TRANSFER DEVICE TRANSMITS
`THE CARRIER IDENTIFICATION CODE
`AND THE CALLED PARTY NUMBER TO
`THE LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIER NETWORK
`
`506
`
`507
`
`CALL IS COMPLETED IN A
`CONVENTIONAL MANNER
`
`509
`
`I;
`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1041, Page 6
`
`

`
`5,563,939
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING
`A COMMUNICATION SERVICE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This invention relates to communication systems.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In today’s communications environment, it is quite com
`mon for a user to subscribe to services (including signaling
`services) offered by different communications carrier net
`works, such as a Local Exchange Carrier (LEG) network, a
`Cellular Communications Carrier network and a Commu
`nity Antenna Television (CATV) distribution network better
`known as a “cable television network”. While some of these
`networks are sometimes connected at the physical level, no
`comprehensive logical mechanism currently exists to allow
`a subscriber of a speci?c one of these networks to bene?t
`from features and signaling services offered by another one
`of these networks for calls routed through that speci?c
`network. For example, prior an communications systems do
`not allow signaling services that may be offered by a CATV
`25
`network to be available to a LEG subscriber for calls routed
`exclusively over the facilities of that LEC network.
`
`20
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a method and appa
`ratus for a) communicating signaling information which is
`associated with a communication service between a ?rst
`network (e.g., a signaling provider network) and a caller
`device over a ?rst facility, and b) establishing a connection
`for said communication service between the caller device
`and a second network through a communication path which
`includes a second physical facility which is separate and
`distinct from the ?rst facility and which is connected to said
`caller device. The signaling provider network may be an
`independent network or a subnetwork of a communications
`carrier network, such as a LEC, a CATV, an interexchange
`carrier, or a cellular communications network.
`In preferred embodiments of the invention, a premises
`based signaling transfer device that is physically connected
`to at least one end-user device and at least one communi
`cations carrier network, recognizes and intercepts at least
`one signaling message that is initiated by, or destined for the
`end-user device. For outgoing communications services, the
`signaling transfer device detects signaling indicia, such as
`Q.93l signaling messages or Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
`(DTMF) signals, generated by the end-user device and
`forwards those signaling indicia to a signaling provider
`network via the access facilities of a selected communica
`tions carrier network. Upon receiving the signaling infor
`mation, the signaling provider network processes that infor
`mation, and returns to the signaling transfer device other
`information that is used for the delivery of the communica
`tions service to the user.
`For incoming communications services, the signaling
`provider network intercepts at least a subset of signaling
`messages destined for the end-user device or the terminating
`communications carrier network. The signaling provider
`network processes those signaling messages and forwards
`information associated with those signaling messages to the
`signaling transfer device via the egress transmission facili
`ties of a selected communications carrier network.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`SO
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a narrowband commu
`nications system arranged in accordance with the principles
`of the invention;
`FIG. 2 is an illustrative block diagram of a signaling
`transfer device arranged in accordance with the principles of
`the invention and that can be used in the communication
`system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 shows a table illustrating subscribers’ pro?les that
`are stored in a signaling provider’s network; and
`FIGS. 4 and 5 are ?owcharts describing the logical
`sequence of steps in methods for communicating signaling
`messages in the communications system of FIG. 1.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The block diagram of FIG. 1 illustrates a communications
`system that is arranged to complete calls and to relay
`signaling information between an end-user device and a
`signaling provider network. Speci?cally, when an end-user
`device, such as a telephone set 101 requests communications
`services, such as call completion to telephone set 112,
`signaling indicia, such as call setup DTMF tones or Q.931
`signaling messages are generated by the end-user device and
`forwarded to a signal transfer device 103. The telephone set
`101 may include a display device, such as a 34A caller-id
`display unit from AT&T, which is an add-on screen which
`permits the received number of a caller to be painted on the
`screen as the telephone is ringing. As described in further
`detail below, the Signaling Transfer Device (STD) 103 is
`arranged to recognize and separate signaling information
`from end-user information (payload). Depending on the
`signaling information received, the STD 103 sends either a)
`modulated signaling indicia to a Community Antenna Tele
`vision (CATV) network 106 or a cellular communications
`network 109, or b) unmodulated signals to a Local Exchange
`Carrier (LEC) Network 104. The latter, like the LEC net
`work 111, is comprised of switching and signaling systems
`that are interconnected by transmission facilities and that are
`designed to route calls and signaling information to their
`proper destination. LEC network 104 is connected to STD
`103 via line 130 which may be comprised of multiple pairs
`of telephone wire. One of these wires can be used for a
`nailed up connection from STD 103 to signaling provider
`network 108 via LEC network 104 and line 120.
`Similarly, RF modulated signals that are received from the
`STD 103 are routed through a CATV network 106 to the
`signaling provider network 108. Speci?cally, the RF modu
`lated signals are routed via an upstream channel in a coaxial
`cable distribution 105 to a cable headend 107. The coaxial
`cable distribution network 105 is comprised of ampli?ers
`that are placed at prede?ned distances from each other and
`that arranged to keep RF forward and reverse directions
`signals at a desired strength or amplitude. The coaxial cable
`distribution network 105 also includes coaxial cables which
`connect the ampli?ers, and through which RF signals sup
`porting frequencies ranging from 5 to hundreds of mega
`hertz (MHz) are transmitted. The cable headend 107 is
`comprised a) of a master antenna, or a group of antenna
`ordinarily mounted on a tower b) one or more modulators
`and demodulators, and c) microwave transmission systems
`and/or earth stations arranged to transmit and receive signals
`to other entities. In this example, signals that are transmitted
`or received from another entity, namely, a signaling provider
`network 108, are carried over a transmission facility 123.
`Speci?cally, modulated signaling information received from
`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1041, Page 7
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`

`
`5,563,939
`
`3
`the STD 103 via the coaxial cable distribution network 105
`is demodulated (i.e, stripped of the carrier signal) in the
`cable hcadend 107 and formatted for transmission to the
`signaling provider network 108. Conversely, signaling infor
`mation received from the signaling provider network 108
`and routed to the STD 103 via the CATV network 106 is
`modulated (i.e., supplied a carrier signal to be modulated by
`the composite video signal) in the headend 107 for trans
`mission to the STD 103. Likewise, modulated signaling
`information that is received from the STD 103 and routed
`via a cellular network 109, is demodulated in a Mobile
`Telephone Service Office (MTSO) 140 and converted to an
`appropriate format for transmission to the signaling provider
`108 via a facility 121. The cellular communications carrier
`109 is arranged to provide wireless communications services
`including paging services to subscribers. Additional infor—
`mation regarding wireless communications systems can be
`found in AT&T Technical Journal, Volume 72, Number 4,
`July/August 1993.
`The signaling provider network 108 is comprised of a
`central o?icc switch 1080 which may be implemented using
`the AT&T No. 5ESS®, when it is adapted with modulators
`and demodulators designed for transmitting signals over
`CATV and cellular networks. The switch 1080 is connected
`to a database 1082 via a line 1081. The database 1082 is a
`processor-controlled centralized database facility which
`stores the type of information that is shown in FIG. 3
`(described below) and that is associated with features and
`signaling services selected by a subscriber. The database
`1082 also stores programming instructions and associated
`data for the features and services offered by the signaling
`provider network 108. For example, the database 1082 may
`store the programming instructions and tariff data for deter
`mining the lowest tariff rate among the rates offered by all
`Interexchange Carriers (IXC) serving the geographical area
`of the subscriber. As is well known in the art, the tari?c rate
`charged for a long distance call varies from one IXC to the
`next and depends on factors, such as time of day, day of the
`week, day of the year, etc, that are implemented differently
`by each IXC.
`Although the signaling provider network 108 is shown in
`FIG. 1 as a separate network independent of the other
`networks depicted in FIG. 1, it would be appreciated that the
`features and functionality provided by the signaling network
`108 can be included in any of the networks shown in FIG.
`1.
`
`Also shown in FIG. 1 is a long distance network 110
`which includes interconnected toll switching and signaling
`systems for routing calls and signaling information. In this
`example, the long distance network 110 has a signaling link
`124 to the signaling provider network 108. When the long
`distance network 110 receives signaling information for
`incoming calls from the LEG network 104 or 111, a query
`is launched by the long distance network 110 to the signaling
`provider network 108 to a) assess proper treatment for the
`call and, b) to determine a signaling path for signaling
`information that may be routed to the called party.
`Responses to the database query are communicated to the
`long distance network 110 via the link 124.
`FIG. 2 is an illustrative block diagram of a signaling
`transfer device arranged in accordance with the principles of
`the invention. The signaling transfer device 103 shown in
`FIG. 2 depicts a cable interface unit 202, modulators 203 and
`223, demodulators 204 and 224, a wireless interface unit 205
`and a multiplexer/demultiplexer 206. The signaling transfer
`device 103 also includes ports for access/egress to commu
`nications carrier networks, namely, a cable network port 201
`
`20
`
`25
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`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`for communications with the CATV network 106 of FIG. 1,
`a LEC network port 207 for signal reception and transmis
`sion to the LEC network 104 of FIG. 1, and a wireless
`network port 210 for communications with the cellular
`network 109 of FIG. 1. The cable interface unit 202 is the
`point of access and egress for signaling and user information
`that is sent to, and received from the CATV network 106 via
`the coax cable link 131. The cable interface unit 202 may be
`implemented using a diplex ?lter which is a component in
`most two-way coaxial ampli?ers. In particular, the cable
`interface unit 202 is arranged to provide a high frequency
`band pass between a coax cable link 131 and the down~
`stream signaling channel demodulator 204. Similarly, the
`cable interface unit 202 provides a low-frequency band pass
`between cable system signaling channel modulator 203 and
`the coax cable link 131. Hence, the cable interface unit 202
`controls the allocation of upstream and downstream chan
`nels between the end-user devices, such as the telephone set
`101 and the television set 220, and the head end 107 of the
`CATV network 106. Additionally, the cable interface unit
`202 separates “entertainment channels” (and possibly other
`channels) from signaling channels that carry information
`destined for, or received from the signaling provider net
`work 108. Similarly, the multiplexer/demultiplexer 206
`separates signaling channels from other channels that carry
`voice information for Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)
`calls. Speci?cally, the multiplexer/demultiplexer 206
`includes a DTMF detector/processor 225 capable of detect
`ing DTMF tones received from, or sent to the telephone set
`101 (via the line 226 and the jack 208) or the LEC network
`via the access/egress line 130. The DTMF detector/proces
`sor 225 is also arranged to detect tones or digital signals
`associated with special characters on a dialpad and route
`subsequent tones or digital signals to either the port 207, the
`modulator 203 or the modulator 223. For example, numbers
`that are dialed on the telephone set 101 and that are preceded
`by a pound sign or an asterisk sign can be routed to the port
`207 or the modulator 223. Alternatively, an A/B/C switch
`may be connected to the port 208 to allow a user to select a
`particular transport provider to route at least a subset of
`his/her signaling information to signaling provider network
`108. Additionally, the STD 103 could be hard-wired to the
`signaling provider network 108 For ISDN implementation,
`the multiplexer/demultiplexer 206 recognizes and separates
`Q.93l signaling messages from other digital signals that
`carry user information to be switched over the LEC network.
`The wireless Interface unit 205 plays a similar role of
`separating signaling information from user-data information
`received from, or transmitted to cellular communication
`carrier network 109.
`When the CATV network 106 provides the transport
`facilities for signaling messages destined for the signaling
`provider network 108, outgoing signaling information
`(DTMF tones or ISDN Q.93l signaling messages) that have
`been detected and separated by the multiplexer/demulti
`plexer 206 are modulated in the upstream signaling channel
`modulator 203 before they are forwarded to cable interface
`unit 202. The latter then sends the modulated signals to the
`cable interface unit 201 for transmission to the signaling
`provider network 108 via the transport facilities of the
`CATV network 106. As is well known in the art, a modulator
`converts a signal to a format suitable for transmission over
`a particular network or medium. The modulation process is
`based on the transmission scheme and the carrier frequen
`cies that are used for transport in the particular network.
`Thus, the modulator 203 converts the DTMF tones or digital
`Q.93l messages into RF signals for transmission over the
`CATV network 106.
`
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`5,563,939’
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`35
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`5
`Similarly, when the cellular communications network 109
`provides the transport facilities for signaling messages des
`tined for the signaling provider network 108, signaling
`information received from the multiplexer/demultiplexer
`206 are modulated in the signaling channel modulator 223
`and forwarded in modulated format to the wireless interface
`unit 205 for transmission to the signaling provider network
`108 via the facilities of the cellular communication carrier
`109.
`For incoming signaling information received from the
`signaling provider network 108 via the cable network port
`201 (cellular network port 210), that information is demodu
`lated in the CATV signaling channel demodulator 204
`(wireless signaling channel demodulator 224) before it is
`forwarded to the multiplexer/demultiplexer 206 to allow the
`delivery of the communication service associated with that
`signaling information.
`FIG. 3 shows a table illustrating subscribers’ pro?les that
`are stored in a database 1082 in the signaling provider
`network 108 of FIG. 1. Y The table of FIG. 3 contains
`information that is grouped under three major headers,
`namely, subscriber’s address, incoming services and outgo
`ing services. Under the incoming services and the outgoing
`services headers are shown ?elds associated with custom
`ized signaling features and services that are provided by the
`signaling provider network 108. These features can be
`provided in competition with similar services offered by the
`LEC network 104, the cellular network 109, the Long
`distance network 110 or the CATV network 106. Altema
`tively, those features and services can be offered by the
`signaling provider 108 when the networks 104, 105, 106 and
`110 singly or in combination are unable or unwilling to
`provide those features and services for economic and/or
`technical reasons. Those reasons include a) absence of a
`critical mass of potential subscribers for those services to be
`offered pro?tably, and b) lack of state-of-the-art central
`office switching and signaling system to offer those features
`and services. Other information that may be stored in the
`database 1082 includes transport provider carrier informa
`tion for incoming calls.
`Shown in FIG. 3 is the subscriber’s address ?eld which
`typically identi?es the telephone number of a subscriber. For
`outgoing calls, the subscriber’s address data is the calling
`party number which is sent (along with the called party
`number) by the STD 103 to the signaling provider network
`108. By contrast, for incoming calls, the subscriber’s
`address data is the called party number which is received by
`the signaling provider network 108 along with the calling
`party number. FIG. 3 also depicts a non-exhaustive list of
`?elds associated with customized incoming signaling ser
`vices that are available to a user for subscription. In this
`example, user-1 subscribes to calling number delivery ser
`vice also known as “caller-id” service. This feature/service
`allows the telephone number of a caller that is received by
`the signaling provider network 108, to be passed to the STD
`103 for display to a subscribing called party, as described in
`further detail below. The “YES” in the Call Forwarding All
`Calls (CACF) ?eld indicates that subscriber-2 has sub
`scribed to a user-activated feature which permits all calls
`directed to the subscriber’s address associated withlthat user
`to be diverted to a different telephone number provided by
`the user. In this example, the switch 1080 in the signaling
`provider network 108, replaces the received called number
`with the forwarded destination number provided by the user,
`and transmits the (forwarded) replaced called number to the
`LEC network 104 or cellular network 109 to complete the
`call to the forwarded destination number. The voice mes
`
`40
`
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`
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`
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`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`saging feature enables a subscriber to instruct the signaling
`provider network 108 to direct incoming calls to a voice
`messaging system. In particular, when this feature is acti
`vated by the subscriber, the signaling provider network 108,
`upon receiving a signaling message indicating that a call is
`destined for the subscriber’s address a) replaces the sub
`scriber’s phone number in the called party ?eld of the
`message with one of the telephone numbers of the voice
`messaging system, and b) routes that message to the LEC
`network 104 or the cellular network 109 to complete the call
`to the voice messaging system. The latter can reside in the
`LEC network 104 (111), the cellular network 109, the CATV
`network 106 or the Long Distance network 110. The sig
`naling provider network 108 sends a message to the STD
`103 via either the CATV network 106 or the cellular network
`109 to indicate that a voice mail message has been received.
`This message is recognized by a ?ashing lamp in the STD
`103 or other forms of attention-grabbing schemes.
`Also shown in FIG. 3 is a list of ?elds representing
`outgoing features and services to which a user may sub
`scribe. The non-exhaustive list of ?elds includes interex
`change carrier selection, and outgoing call blocking. Inter
`exchange carrier selection is a feature which allows a
`subscriber to route a long distance call via the network of the
`interexchange carrier which charges the lowest rate for the
`call. This feature is described in further detail below. Out
`going call blocking is a feature which prevents calls that are
`destined for particular addresses pre-selected by a subscriber
`from being completed. For example, calls directed to 900
`number destinations can be blocked. In particular, when a
`subscriber, such as user-1 dials a 900 number, the calling
`party number, in this case 201-949-2000 along with the
`called party number (i.e., the 900 number) is transmitted by
`STD 103 to the signaling provider network 108 via the
`facilities of the CATV network 106 or the cellular network
`109. The calling party number is used as a search key by
`database 1082 to inquire as to whether user-1 has subscribed
`to the outgoing call blocking feature. Upon a positive answer
`to that inquiry, a table lookup operation is performed in the
`database 1082 to determine whether the called party number
`received from the STD 103 is among the list of numbers to
`which service should be denied. If so, the signaling provider
`network 108 sends a signaling message to the STD 103
`indicating that a busy tone signal should be forwarded to the
`caller. The generation of the actual tone is done by the
`DTMF detector/processor 125 in the STD 103.
`The logical sequence of steps for providing to a subscriber
`an incoming signaling service, such as caller id within the
`network of FIG. 1, is illustrated in the ?owchart of FIG. 4.
`The process is initiated in step 401 when a caller, say at the
`station set 112, dials a telephone number, such as the number
`associated with the telephone set 101. Upon receiving the
`call setup information, such 'as calling and called party
`number, the LEC network 111 forwards that information to
`the Long Distance Network 110 which receives that infor
`mation in step 402. The Long distance network 110 ?rst
`duplicates the call setup information and proceeds in step
`403, to send a copy of the call setup information to the called
`party’s signaling provider network, such as the network 106
`via the link 124. After a short pause of a predetermined
`duration, another copy of the call setup information is
`transmitted to the LEC network 104 to complete the call.
`Upon receiving the call setup information, the signaling
`provider network 108, in step 404 uses the called party
`number as a search key in a table lookup operation within
`the database 1082 to determine in step 405, whether the
`called party has subscribed to any particular incoming
`
`Bright House Networks - Ex. 1041, Page 9
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`signaling service, such as caller-id. In response to a positive
`answer to that inquiry, the switch 1080 of the signaling
`provider network 108, in step 406, forwards the calling party
`number (in the form of modulated signals) to either the
`CATV network 106 or the cellular network 109, based on the
`signaling transport provider pre-selected by the called party.
`The signaling transport provider, (i.e., the CATV network
`106 or the cellular network 109) transmits the calling party
`information to the STD 103, using the techniques described
`above. After the signals representing the calling party num
`her have been demodulated in the STD 103, they are
`forwarded, in step 407 to the add-on screen of the telephone
`set 101 for display. Alternatively, when the telephone set 101
`has no suitable display apparatus, the calling party number
`can be displayed on the screen of the television set 102,
`when a) the CATV 106 is the signaling transport provider
`and b) the television set 102 is powered. In step 407, the
`LEC network 104 completes the call to the telephone set 101
`via the STD 103.
`In the above-described example, the call setup informa
`tion is forwarded to the signaling provider network 108 by
`the long distance network 110, as opposed to the LEC
`network 111, because for the sake of simplicity, no signaling
`link is arranged between the LEC network 111 and the
`signaling network 108. Had such a link existed, the LEC
`network 111 could have forwarded the call setup information
`directly to the signaling provider network 108. Alternatively,
`when the telephone set of the calling party (set 112) is
`connected to a signaling provider network of its own via a
`CATV network or a cellular carrier network, the call setup
`information is communicated to the called party signaling
`provider network by the calling party signaling provider
`network. It is also worth noting that the duration of the pause
`between a) the transmission of the call setup information to
`the signaling provider network 108, and b) the transmission
`of the same information to the LEC network 104, is selected
`such that the calling party information is displayed to the
`called party before, or as the call is completed. In particular,
`the STD 103 synchronizes the entire process by displaying
`the calling party number and relaying the call at the appro
`priate time to the telephone set 101.
`FIG. 5 is a ?owchart describing the logical sequence of
`steps for providing to a subscriber outgoing signaling ser
`vices, such as interexchange carrier selection within the
`network of FIG. 1. The process of FIG. 5 is initiated in step
`501 when a caller at the station set 101, for example, places
`a long distance call in step 501. As explained earlier, the call
`setup information is transmitted to the signaling provider
`network 108 when the caller enters a special character, such
`as an asterisk or a pound sign before the dialed number. The
`special character is interpreted by the DTMF detector/
`processor 225 as an indication that the caller wishes to send
`the call setup information number to signaling provider
`network 108. Thus, the call setup information is transmitted
`to the signaling provider network 108 by the STD 103 using
`the techniques described above. Upon receiving the call
`setup information, the signaling provider network 108, in
`step 503, uses the calling party number as a search key in a
`table lookup operation within the database 1082 to deter
`mine in step 504, whether the calling party has subscribed to
`any particular outgoing signaling service, such as interex
`change carrier selection. If so, the database 1082 executes
`the programming instructions that are stored therein and that
`are associated with the interexchange carrier selection ser
`vice to identify and select the lowest rate IXC for the call.
`In step 506, the signaling provider network 108 identi?es the
`Carrier Identi?cation Code (CIC) for that IXC and transmits
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`that code along with the call setup information to the STD
`103. The latter transmits the CIC along with the call setup
`information to the LEC 104. If the calling party is not a
`subscriber of the interexchange carrier selection service, the
`5 signaling provider network 108, in step 508, noti?es the
`STD 103 to set up a connection to the LEC network 104
`using the calling party number. The LEC network 104, in
`step 509, completes the call in a conventional manner.
`The foregoing merely illustrates the invention. Those
`skilled in th