Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
  • H04L12/1453—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
  • H04L12/1464—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
  • H04L12/1485—Tariff-related aspects
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
  • H04L12/1485—Tariff-related aspects
  • H04L12/1492—Tariff-related aspects negotiation of tariff
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/14—Session management
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
  • H04L69/24—Negotiation of communication capabilities
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/43—Billing software details
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  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/46—Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
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  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/49—Connection to several service providers
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/51—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP for resellers, retailers or service providers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/70—Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
  • H04M15/745—Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
  • H04M15/8016—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects based on quality of service [QoS]
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
  • H04M15/8044—Least cost routing
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  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
  • H04M15/8044—Least cost routing
  • H04M15/805—Bidding
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  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/38—Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections
  • H04M3/382—Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections using authorisation codes or passwords
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  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/42136—Administration or customisation of services
  • H04M3/42153—Administration or customisation of services by subscriber
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  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/4228—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers in networks
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  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
  • H04M7/12—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
  • H04M7/1205—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
  • H04M7/1225—Details of core network interconnection arrangements
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
  • H04Q3/0016—Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
  • H04Q3/0029—Provisions for intelligent networking
  • H04Q3/0045—Provisions for intelligent networking involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
  • H04Q3/0016—Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
  • H04Q3/0029—Provisions for intelligent networking
  • H04Q3/0054—Service creation techniques
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  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
  • H04Q3/64—Distributing or queueing
  • H04Q3/66—Traffic distributors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2201/00—Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
  • H04M2201/14—Delay circuits; Timers
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  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2201/00—Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
  • H04M2201/22—Synchronisation circuits
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  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
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  • H04M2201/00—Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
  • H04M2201/40—Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems using speech recognition
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  • H04M2201/00—Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
  • H04M2201/60—Medium conversion
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  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M2203/20—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to features of supplementary services
  • H04M2203/205—Broadcasting
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
  • H04M2215/0108—Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
  • H04M2215/0168—On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
  • H04M2215/0176—Billing arrangements using internet
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
  • H04M2215/018—On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/22—Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
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  • H04M2215/42—Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/46—Connection to several service providers
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/54—Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/56—On line or real-time flexible agreements between service providers and telecoms operators
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/74—Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
  • H04M2215/7414—QoS
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  • H04M2215/74—Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
  • H04M2215/745—Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
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  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/74—Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
  • H04M2215/745—Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
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  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/42221—Conversation recording systems
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  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
  • H04M3/53—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
  • H04M3/533—Voice mail systems
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  • H04M3/56—Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities
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  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q1/00—Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
  • H04Q1/18—Electrical details
  • H04Q1/30—Signalling arrangements; Manipulation of signalling currents
  • H04Q1/44—Signalling arrangements; Manipulation of signalling currents using alternate current
  • H04Q1/444—Signalling arrangements; Manipulation of signalling currents using alternate current with voice-band signalling frequencies
  • H04Q1/45—Signalling arrangements; Manipulation of signalling currents using alternate current with voice-band signalling frequencies using multi-frequency signalling
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  • H04Q2213/00—Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
  • H04Q2213/13003—Constructional details of switching devices
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  • H04Q2213/13031—Pulse code modulation, PCM
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  • H04Q2213/13093—Personal computer, PC
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  • H04Q2213/13102—Common translator
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  • H04Q2213/13106—Microprocessor, CPU
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  • H04Q2213/13405—Dual frequency signaling, DTMF

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to telecommunications, and more specifically, to a method and system of negotiating resources over telecommunication networks offering a variety of services.
• telecommunication networks were comprised of single Service Providers making a single service available to Users.
• telecommunication networks have evolved greatly over the last two decades and continue to evolve, so that there are currently multiple providers offering multiple services on multiple levels.
• data transmission methods and protocols now include Internet Protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), frame relay, and digital telephony.
• IP Internet Protocol
• ATM asynchronous transfer mode
• frame relay frame relay
• digital telephony digital telephony
• IP Internet Protocol
• ATM asynchronous transfer mode
• frame relay frame relay
• digital telephony digital telephony
• IP Internet Protocol
• ATM asynchronous transfer mode
• frame relay frame relay
• digital telephony digital telephony
• Service Providers who use various transmission means including analogue, digital and digital compression methods, over hard wire, wireless, fibre optic and satellite transmission means.
• the networks of these Service Providers are interconnected with others to form larger heterogeneous networks.
• a telecommunication network may be described as a physically distributed collection of nodes interconnected by links. Examples of end-nodes are User Interfaces such as telephones or personal computers which produce and consume data. Intermediate nodes such as switches, routers or gateways generally transfer data from an incoming link to an outgoing link, while some may process or store data to offer services such as conferencing or voicemail.
• Voice and computer data were once carried on separate networks, although both are now generally transmitted digitally Because the requirements for voice and data transmission are so different, it is difficult to optimize the provision of both on a common network Voice communication, for example, produces a steady stream of data at a fairly low rate, and rapid delivery is more important than accuracy In contrast, data applications such as Web browsing generally produce bursts of data that are to be delivered accurately, and for which a delay of a second or two may be considered acceptable
• a telecommunication Service Provider should provide a service which optimises communication for a User's particular application and simultaneously optimises the provision of that service over his own network along with services he is providing to other Users Using traditional techniques, this would require the Service Provider to offer a different Quality of Service for each new application of data communications that is developed No telecommunication system is currently available that accommodates such optimisation in view of the differing QoS requirements of various Users and applications
• Service Providers have limited knowledge of what applications their Users may be implementing, it is difficult for them to offer products which are tailored to those applications It is also clearly impossible for Service Providers to anticipate the requirements of applications that have yet to be developed Similarly, Service Providers are not generally aware of the computing power that a given User has, in terms of processing speed, memory capacity, software and operator expertise Therefore, Service Providers generally provide products that serve the most common market, and possibly one or two major niche markets Currently, Users must search for the Service Provider that offers products best suited to their needs, if one does exist Users that have multiple needs may have to enlist the services of a number of Service Providers A conventional telephony network provides a fixed quality of voice service, called toll quality, at a pre-arranged price Long-distance re-sellers may use digital voice compression to offer lower-cost long distance service at a reduced price, but again, this service offers a fixed quality at a pre-arranged price Because competitors offer different voice quality, pricing and probability of call success, End Users can choose to
• Packet switching systems such as the Internet, can assign different priorities to different packets so that high-priority packets take precedence over low-priority ones when there is a conflict
• the difficulty is to assign the priorities correctly in a large system with many competing demands
• Packet priorities are not usually implemented to give a simple precedence because high-volume traffic flows at high priorities will completely shut out even low volumes of data at lower priorities
• Fairness criteria are therefore used to define the effects of priorities, with a particular algorithm called weight fair queuing implemented in Internet routers It rotates access to network links among the priority queues with the effect that lightly-populated priority queues get preferential but not exclusive access
• this approach still does not define how to set packet priorities
• Recent extensions of the Internet protocol allow users to specify, by setting certain bits in their packet headers, that their data is to be routed to minimize cost or to minimize delay These mechanisms are rarely used, however, because no mechanism is specified to ensure that they are used sparingly Users are given no reason to demand anything but least cost and least delay in every case, so that the request becomes meaningless
• the mechanism is also very coarse, allowing Users only two levels of concern about cost, and including no mechanism by which the User can state the rate at which he expects to produce data
• the ATM standard provides more detailed mechanisms to express Quality of Service parameters It allows average and maximum delays to be specified and reported, and allows maximum and minimum data rates to be specified These mechanisms are also rarely used, because again Users are given no reason to moderate their demands ATM Quality of Service mechanisms are therefore adapted to closed telecommunications systems in which parameters that affect User traffic are set by the Service Provider
• Policy-based routing is a system that allows the network administrator to define priorities based on variables such as the source and destination, or protocol being used For example, web browser traffic using hypertext traffic protocol (http), could be assigned a higher priority than email traffic using standard mail transfer protocol (smtp)
• https hypertext traffic protocol
• smtp standard mail transfer protocol
• Another example is Internet gaming, in which a number of players exchange small packets of information to update each other on their moves Given how such games are typically implemented, this application calls for low latencies, but bandwidth requirements are light and a fairly high rate of packet loss can be tolerated, such game applications are generally designed to tolerate these packet losses
• One aspect of the invention is broadly defined as a telecommunications system comprising' a First User Interface, a Second User Interface, a telecommunications network interconnecting the First User Interface with the Second User Interface and having at least one transmission means and protocol, the First User Interface having a First User Agent, representing the interests of the First User Interface in negotiating communication between the First User Interface and the Second User Interface, the telecommunications network being administered by a Network Agent, representing the interests of the telecommunications network in negotiating communication between the First User Interface and the Second User Interface, and a Negotiation Manager being operable to identify participants in a negotiation, implement a negotiation discipline which allows each participant to consider a contract and either accept or revise the contract, and respond to the negotiation being successful by executing the contract
• a method of establishing communication between a First User and a Second User comprising the steps executed by a Negotiation Manager of identifying participants in a negotiation, implementing a negotiation discipline which allows each said participant to consider a contract and either accept or revise said contract, and responding to said negotiation being successful by executing said contract
• a method of establishing communication between a First User and a Second User said First User and said Second User being interconnected by a telecommunications network having at least one transmission means and protocol, said at least one transmission means and protocol being administered by a Network Entity, said method comprising the steps executed by said Network Entity of receiving a contract from a Negotiation Manager, inspecting said contract, responding to said contract not being acceptable by modifying said contract to an acceptable state, and returning said contract to said Manager
• a method of establishing communication between a First User and a Second User comprising the steps executed by said First User of receiving a contract from a Negotiation Manager, inspecting said contract, responding to said contract not being acceptable by modifying said contract to an acceptable state, and returning said contract to said Negotiation Manager
• Figure 1 presents a physical layout of a telecommunications system in a manner of the invention
• Figure 2 presents a schematic diagram of the software layer of a telecommunications system in a manner of the invention
• Figure 3 presents a flow chart of a method for implementing a Negotiation Manager for negotiating communication between a First User and a Second User in a manner of the invention
• Figure 4 presents a flow chart of a method for implementing a Telecommunication
• Figure 5 presents a flow chart of a method for implementing a First User's Agent for negotiating communication between a First User and a Second User in a manner of the invention
• Figure 6 presents a flow chart of a preferred method for implementing a Negotiation
• Figure 7 presents a flow chart of a preferred negotiating discipline for establishing terms of communication between a First User and a Second User in a manner of the invention
• Figure 8 presents a flow chart of a preferred method for implementing a
• Telecommunication Network's Agent for negotiating terms of communication between a First User and a Second User in a manner of the invention
• Figure 9 presents a flow chart of a preferred method for implementing a First User's
• Agent for negotiating terms of communication between a First User and a
• this telecommunication system 10 consists of a First User Interface 12 and a Second User Interface 14, interconnected by a telecommunications network 16
• the First User Interface 12 and Second User Interface 14 may be, for example, telephones, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, personal computers or servers which produce and consume data
• the telecommunications network 16 has at least one transmission means and protocol, which will be described in detail hereinafter
• the First User Interface 12 will have a First User Agent 18 which represents the interests of the First User Interface 12 in negotiating a communication between itself and the Second User Interface 14
• the telecommunications network 16 has a telecommunications network agent 20 which represents the interests of the telecommunications network 16 in negotiating the communication
• the negotiation of the terms of communication may be administered by a software agent called the Negotiation Manager 22 Physically, the Negotiation Manager 22 may reside anywhere in the system 10, though in a simple implementation, it will reside somewhere in the telecommunications network 16 provided by the First User's Service Provider
• the Negotiation Manager 22 is operable to
• this system 10 provides a flexible telecommunications system for resolving contention for network resources
• the system 10 is flexible in that new services and features developed by outside parties may be implemented in the negotiation
• all services are provided and controlled by the telecommunication system providers, which limits the services available and impedes the provision of new services
• an End User, Negotiation Manager or other Network Entity with an interest in the negotiation may obtain new negotiating disciplines or software agents developed by themselves or outside parties and implement them in the negotiation Details of such options will be described in greater detail herein after
• the system 10 of the invention may also be generalised to permit multiple parties to negotiate the terms of a given communication
• the requirement for this functionality is clear, as a communication may have to pass through two, three or more telecommunication providers in traversing a broad geographical area It is in the best interest of all the Network Entities involved in the communication to also participate in the negotiation
• This generalisation also allows communications which have multiple End Users, such as conference calls, to be negotiated with all of the End Users and their associated Service Providers participating
• the system 10 of the invention encourages Service Providers to offer a greater variety and flexibility in their services, by improving the efficiency of their networks accordingly In turn, this increased variety and flexibility allows the User to negotiate the services that he wants, rather than being forced to choose between hmited services from the Service Provider to which he subscribes, or having to seek out a new Service Provider that offers the services he requires
• This system 10 resolves of contention between Users by making a variety of data and voice telecommunication services available that are suited to varying applications, and providing incentives, such as reduced prices, to use available resources rather than insisting on the highest quality
• the invention allows these improvements by providing a system wherein each interested party has a software agent which negotiates on his behalf As a minor issue, this requires that a convention for negotiation be established that all the software agents can understand, though the nature and parameters of such a convention does not limit the invention
• FIG. 2 This Figure identifies each interested party in the negotiation as a participant 24
• the participants 24 would include the First User's Agent 18 and the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20
• This example is consistent with the traditional model of a voice telecommunication where the originating caller assumes the cost of the service
• having an Agent representing the Second User involved in the negotiation would allow the Second User to assume all or part of the cost of the telecommunication
• the Second User Interface 14 for example, may not have the modem speed of the First User Interface 12, so there may not be any benefit to negotiating a high-speed connection between the First User Interface 12 and the Telecommunication Network 16
• any network entity in the telecommunication system 10 which has an interest in the outcome of the negotiation may be a participant 24 in the negotiation
• the Participants 24 communicate with the Negotiation Manager 22 by passing a Contract 26 back and forth using standard default communications protocols
• a negotiation will consist of a single Contract 26 that each participant 24 is free to inspect and modify, while in use of some disciplines, the Contract 26 may also contain parts of the communication content
• Use of a single Contract 26 avoids problems usually experienced with multiple contracts that require additional overheads of coordination and time stamping
• the negotiation Manager 22 will employ a negotiation discipline 28 according to a set of discipline parameters 30 The invention will be described herein below with respect to a specific example of a negotiation discipline 28, but the invention is independent of the actual negotiation discipline 28 employed
• the invention is not limited by the physical location of the Negotiation Manager 22
• a participant 24 could restrain his contract 26 proposals to be revocable, allowing himself a last-look prior to commencing execution of a negotiated contract 26
• Other methods of securing for example by use of cryptographic signatures or an authentication list, are known in the art
• the location of the Negotiation Manager 22 is not restricted, it could be provided by a network Service Provider, the User himself, or a third party This flexibility is one of the benefits of the invention, in that it makes this an open system
• a third party can create a Negotiation Manager 22 or a negotiation discipline 28 and make it available to all Users and Network Entities on the telecommunication system 10
• the Negotiation Manager 22 identifies the participants 24 in the negotiation at step 32, implements the negotiation discipline 28 at step 34, and if the negotiation is successful, executes the terms of the contract 26 that have been negotiated at step 36
• the identification of the participants 24 at step 32 may be made in a number of manners In a simple implementation with two participants 24, namely the First User's Agent 18 and the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20, the participants 24 will be identified in the initial contract 26 created by the First User's Agent 18 when he initiates his request for communication with the Second User Interface 14 In such a case, the initial contract 26 will identify the First User Interface 12 as the source of the contract 26 and the calling party, the Second User Interface 14 as the called party, and the Telecommunication Network 16 as the Service Provider
• the initial contract 26 will still identify the First User Interface 12 as the source of the contract 26 and the calling party, and the Second User Interface 14 as the called party, but the identification of participants 24 at the Telecommunication Network 16 level may be left to the Negotiation Manager 22
• the negotiation discipline 28 consist of a strategy which allows a contract 26 to be negotiated that is satisfactory to each participant 24
• the negotiation discipline 28 may consist of the Negotiation Manager 22 transferring the contract 26 back and forth between the First User's Agent 18 and the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 without any interference by the Negotiation Manager 22
• the First User's Agent 18 may time out if a successful contract 26 is not negotiated within a specific time period, in order to halt the negotiation
• the Telecommunication Network Agent 20 may approve the contract 26 and return it to Negotiation Manager 22 unmodified Details on how the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 analyses the contract 26 and responds will be described with respect to Figures 4 and 8 herein below
• the negotiation Manager 22 determines whether the contract 26 has been successfully negotiated, and if so, allows the contract 26 to execute
• the successful negotiation of the contract 26 may be indicated by setting a flag or bit in the contract 26
• FIG. 4 describes the broad operation of Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 in the form of a flow chart
• the purpose of the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 is to represent the interests of the
• Telecommunication Network 16 in negotiating a communication between the First User Interface 12 and the Second User Interface 14 As the Telecommunication Network 16 has at least one telecommunication means and protocol at its disposal, it may want to negotiate to optimise efficient use of its resources Operation of the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 is straightforward
• the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 receives the contract 26 from the Negotiation Manager 22 On the first iteration of a simple implementation as described with respect to Figure 1 above, this contract 26 will contain the information supplied by the First User's Agent 18 and described above The Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 inspects the contents of this contract 26 at step 40, and determines whether it is acceptable or not
• the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 modifies the terms of the contract 26 to terms it would find acceptable, and returns the contract 26 to the Negotiation Manager 22 at step 44
• the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 may comprise a simple algorithm which generates new contract 26 terms by referring to a database of resources and standard rates
• the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 may comprise a rules-based agent that optimises use of a continuum of resources For example, if the Telecommunication Network 16 has access to ATM services, it may offer Constant Bit Rate (CBR) transmission on a complete continuum from 10 Kb/s to 10 Mb/s, with a rate corresponding linearly to the traffic level In such an arrangement, the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 would have to consider its current traffic capacity, load, expected traffic and cost, in determining a counter offer that optimizes use of its resources The implementation of such resource management methods would be within the ability of one skilled in the art
• the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 indicates its acceptance in the contract 26 at step 46 and returns it to the Negotiation Manager 22 at step 44
• the indication that the contract 26 is acceptable may be done in a number of manners, including setting a flag or bit in the contract 26
• Figure 5 describes the broad operation of First User's Agent 20 in the form of a flow chart
• This flow chart describes a software agent with the functionality to receive only, but it would be expected that implementations would exist which require either originating communications only, or both receiving and originating
• the First User's Agent 18 operates in a very similar manner to that of the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20
• the purpose of the First User's Agent 18 is to represent the interests of the First User Interface 12 in negotiating a communication between the First User Interface 12 and the Second User Interface 14
• these resources and constraints may include processing speed, memory capacity and modem speed Operation of First User's Agent 18 commences at step 48 when the First User's Agent 18 receives the contract 26 from the Negotiation Manager 22
• the First User's Agent 18 may not have the functionality to initiate a communication negotiation However, such functionality will be described with respect to the preferred embodiment of the invention with respect to Figure 9
• the initial contract 26 may be generated by another party attempting to contact the First User
• the First User's Agent 18 inspects the contents of this contract 26 at step 50, and determines whether it is acceptable or not If the terms of the contract 26 are not acceptable, the First User's Agent 18 modifies the terms of the contract 26 to terms it would find acceptable at step 52, and returns the contract 26 to the Negotiation Manager 22 at step 54.
• the First User's Agent 18 may have a predefined set of limits that the First User Interface 12 does not wish to exceed. For example, this may include: not accepting charges for any incoming calls, not exceeding the transmission rate of First User Interface's 12 modem, or not accepting voice communication with less than toll quality.
• the First User's Agent 18 may comprise a simple algorithm which refers to a database of resources and preferences.
• the First User's Agent 18 may comprise a rules-based software agent that optimises use of a continuum of resources, in the same manner as the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 described above.
• the First User's Agent 18 may, for example, negotiate the communication with consideration for the particular application, and the computation and communication parameters of the First User Interface 12. These preferences may correspond to end-to-end telecommunication parameters such as peak cell rate (PCR), tolerable cell delay variation (CVDT), cell transfer delay (CTD), cell loss ratio (CLR) and peak-to-peak delay variation (CDV).
• PCR peak cell rate
• CVDT tolerable cell delay variation
• CTD cell transfer delay
• CLR cell loss ratio
• CDV peak-to-peak delay variation
• Such parameters are generally used in ATM to specify the quality of service (QoS) that a telecommunication service provides.
• the invention may be applied with various ones of these parameters, or different parameters known in the art, such as mean opinion score (MOS).
• MOS mean opinion score
• Other subject measures are also possible with mappings.
• the First User's Agent 18 may indicates its acceptance in the contract 26 at step 56 and return it to the Negotiation Manager 22 at step 54.
• the indication that the contract 26 is acceptable may be done in a number of manners, including setting a flag or bit in the contract 26.
• Figure 6 outlines the preferred operation of the Negotiation Manager 22 in response to a communication request from a User.
• the negotiation Manager 22 is initialized. It is known in the art of computer software programming to initialize variables, arrays and functions at the beginning of a program.
• the participants 24 in the negotiation are identified. If the negotiation has been initiated by a First User, then the initial contract 26 that the Negotiation Manager 22 receives will have both the First User Interface 12 and Second User Interface 14 identified, and the Negotiation Manager 22 will have to identify the entities of the Telecommunication Network 16 that it wishes to add as participants 24 in the negotiation in order to complete the communication.
• the negotiation Manager 22 then authenticates the participants 24 at step 62.
• the Negotiation Manager 22 is a software agent that may exist anywhere in the network. Therefore, it will not necessarily have secure relationships with all of the participants 24 in a negotiation. In the preferred embodiment the participants 24 will be authenticated by some means such as the use of cryptographic signatures as known in the art.
• the negotiation Manager 22 may set up the environment for the discipline 28 at step 64.
• step 66 The participants 24 are then informed that the negotiation is about to start at step 66.
• This step provides participants 24 with feedback as to the state of the negotiation, but also may be used to caution participants 24 that subsequent proposals may be non-revocable. That is, once a user has made an offer, he is not able to withdraw his offer. Preferably, the non-revocability will time out after a short period of time, such as a minute.
• the negotiation discipline 28 is then implemented at step 68. Greater details as to the operation of the negotiation discipline 28 are provided hereinafter with respect to Figure 7.
• the participants 24 are then advised whether the negotiation was successful or failed, at step 70. If the negotiation is identified as being successful at step 72, then the contract 26 is executed at step 74. If not, the contract 26 is abandoned at step 76.
• FIG. 7 An example of a negotiation discipline 28 per step 68 of Figure 6 is presented in Figure 7.
• This negotiation discipline 28 is described as a "round robin" discipline, in that each participant 24 successively, has the opportunity to review a contract 26 and either accept to revise it. This process is repeated for a finite number of rounds. Once all participants 24 have accepted the contract 26, it is executed. The contract 26 will pass through the hands of each participant 24 once per round, with the number of rounds predetermined. If a mutually acceptable contract 26 is not negotiated within the predetermined number of rounds, the negotiation fails.
• the round robin negotiation begins at step 78 where the Negotiation Manager 22 receives the participant 24 list and number of rounds generated internally, and the initial contract 26 created by the First User's Agent 18. In the open concept of the invention, it is not necessary for the negotiation discipline 28 routine to reside in the Negotiation Manager 22 itself. This would allow any entity of the negotiation to provide a negotiating discipline 28, or even to request a negotiating discipline 28 provided by a third party.
• the next participant 24 in the negotiation is identified at step 80, and the contract 26 is transmitted to the next participant 24 at step 82.
• This participant 24 will process the contract 26 in a manner that will be described with respect to Figures 6 through 9, and return the contract 26 to the Negotiation Manager 22 at step 84.
• If the negotiation is not successful it is determined whether all participants 24 have been queried in the given round at step 86. If not, then control returns to step 80 so that the next participant 24 in the round may be identified and queried.
• the contract 26 identifies each participant 24 in the negotiation, it is straightforward to tag or identify whether a participant 24 has reviewed the current contract 26, and whether a participant 24 has accepted a given contract 26. Such methods of identification would be known to one skilled in the art.
• the indication of acceptance would generally be made by each participant setting a bit or flag in the contract 26, or by adding a cryptographic signature before returning the contract 26 to the Negotiation Manager 22. This would require each of the participants 24 to have reviewed and approved of the current contract 26.
• a contract 26 could be accepted that a participant 24 has not yet reviewed, provided that it is more favourable to that participant 24 than one which it has already irrevocably approved.
• the First User's Agent 18 has approved a contract 26 for 5 minutes at a constant bit rate of 10Kb/s for a cost of 5 cents per minute, which is to be irrevocable for a one minute period, and a contract 26 is subsequently negotiated for 5 minutes at a constant bit rate of 10 kb/s at a cost of 4 cents per minute, then the participant 24 would be considered to have already approved the more favourable contract 26, provided it is negotiated within the one minute irrevocable period
• the completed contract 26 is returned to the Negotiation Manager 22 at step 90 for execution If the contract 26 has not been successfully negotiated, then it is determined whether further rounds should be executed in attempting to negotiate a contract 26, at step 92 If further rounds are necessary, control returns to step 80 If all of the predetermined rounds have been executed and a successful contract 26 had not been identified at step 88 then the negotiation is considered to have failed, and the incomplete contract 26 is returned to the Negotiation Manager 22 at step 94, along with a failure indication
• Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 and First User's Agent 18 be implemented using software "agents" customized to their respective users, rather than generic software algorithms
• agents software "agents”
• the broad invention may be practised with generic software rather than agents, though with corresponding tradeoffs in functionality and flexibility
• Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 and First User's Agent 18 be implemented using Java or C++ based programming languages
• Java or C++ based programming languages The advantages of using Java would be clear to one skilled in the art, such as the current widespread use, particularly with respect to web browsers and other Internet based applications, generally universal standards, and facility for "sandbox" security
• the invention is not limited by the use of such programming languages
• the "sandbox" approach to security is one in which an applet is only allowed to operate within certain bounds (the sandbox)
• This constrained runtime environment prevents applets from accessing and altering unauthorized areas, or performing otherwise harmful operations.
• a special class called the Applet Security Manager performs this enforcement.
• the Security Manager may prevent applets from reading or writing files to the Client's hard disk or establishing network connections except to the server that the applet came from.
• Figure 8 describes the operation of a Telecommunication
• Steps 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 would be implemented functionally in the same manner as those described with respect to the broad embodiment of Figure 4 above.
• the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 monitors the state of the network resources available and predicts expected usage, so that it may make appropriate decisions required the acceptability of incoming contracts 26, and the generation of outgoing contracts 26.
• the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 determines at step 96 whether data on the state of the network is recent enough to allow correct decisions to be made, or whether the data should be updated. If the determination has been made that new data are required, the new data are obtained at step 89.
• the network data will comprise at least two types: internal and external.
• Internal data will consist generally of the current loading of closely held resources, such as central processor units (CPUs) and memory, and the known obligations to provide telecommunication services. These data are very easy to monitor as all access and management is under the control of the Service Provider. Generally, these data may be updated on a continuous or real time basis.
• External data is more difficult to obtain and to predict, as it considers resources that are under the control of other Service Providers. Because administration of these services are beyond the reach of the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20, it is necessary to query the availability and quality on a regular basis, such as on a periodic basis determined by time or traffic. For example, it could be required that the network data be updated every minute or more frequently, or with every tenth call.
• the internal data may be monitored on a continuous basis by recording the current loading and future obligations.
• the external data is to be updated when a new call is received and a predetermined time period has expired. Updating of the external data may be performed in a number of manners. For example, sample packets could be directed to pass through targeted telecommunication networks or entities, and the performance measured.
• requests will be transmitted to Service Providers requesting operational data to be returned. The onus will be on the Service Providers to forward data promptly, in order to remain as acceptable providers to the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20.
• Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 and First User's Agent 18 may be operable to monitor the performance during a communication, Service Providers will be forced to be honest with their offers, or clients and other Service Providers will refuse to use their services.
• the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 will provide standard asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) services that have been chosen to describe the requirements of known applications: 1.
• Constant Bit Rate (CBR) is intended to model standard voice telephony but is wasteful of bandwidth.
• CBR is straightforward in definition, setting bandwidth with a given peak cell rate (PCR).
• CVDT tolerable cell delay variation
• CCD Cell transfer delay
• CLR cell loss ratio
• CDV peak-to-peak delay variation
• rt-VBR Real-time Variable Bit Rate
• MCS peak cell rate and maximum burst size
• CCD cell transfer delay
• CDVT tolerable variation
• SCR sustainable cell rate
• Non-real-time Variable Bit Rate (nrt-VBR) does not guarantee CTD, and is more appropriate for a web browser application. Users would likely expect to pay by the minute, but would probably want a discount for slow packets.
• Unspecified Bit Rate (UBR) is basically best-effort and models the current
• UBR actually does specify peak cell rate, but not a sustainable cell rate. Users might expect to pay by the megabyte. 5.
• Available Bit Rate (ABR) specifies a minimum cell rate (MCR) as well as the peak, and the network uses back-pressure to control the flow.
• MCR minimum cell rate
• the network sends "resource management" cells to the source to allow it to adapt to the capacity available Users might expect to pay by the minute for the minimum cell-rate and to pay a slight premium when rates are high, or to pay for premium service but get a discount when forced back down to the minimum rate This mechanism should be able to get the best utilization out of the network when users have sophisticated rate-adaptive coders, and may be optimal for video telephone
• Figure 9 describes the operation of a First User's Agent 18 in a preferred embodiment of the invention Steps 48, 50, 52, 54 and 56 would be implemented functionally in the same manner as those described with respect to the broad embodiment of Figure 5 above
• the Focus of the Telecommunication Network's Agent 20 is on the state and predictability of the Telecommunication Network's 16 resources, while the focus of the First User's Agent 18 is on the requirements of the First User Interface 12
• the First User's Agent 18 may identify the resources that the First User Interface 12 has available, and determine the requirements of the User in a real time environment, before it can negotiate effectively on behalf of the First User Interface 12
• GUI graphic user interface
• the First User's Agent 18 obtains information on the hardware resources and preferences of the First User Interface 12 Information regarding the hardware resources may be collected manually, whereby the User inputs the relevant data in response to prompts from the First User's Agent 18, but preferably is collected by the First User's Agent 18 from the operating system when the First User Interface 12 is powered up This information would include data such as the speed of the microprocessor, memory capacity and access time, operating system environment, modem software and hardware. Methods of performing such tasks are well known in the art.
• User preferences are generally input manually, preferably through a graphical user interface and stored on the local computer.
• the User Agent software may be provided with default values for parameters such as latency and speed. Details on such preferences are given herein below.
• the First User's Agent 18 then resides in an idle mode at step 102, awaiting either a request to accept an incoming call, or a request from the local user to generate an outgoing request. If a request arrives to accept an incoming call, then control passes to step 50, which executes as described above with respect to Figure 5.
• this initial contract 26 would be created by the First User's Agent 18 querying the User for the following information:
• An application such as video conferencing, voice communication, web browsing or email.
• the First User's Agent 18 would have default parameters associated with most of these applications, as described briefly with respect to the ATM modes above, including minimum acceptable costs, latencies and speed. These defaults could be modified by the User, or new modes created. If a particular application is unknown to the First User Agent, then the User could be queried for default parameters with the First User Agent storing these parameters for future reference. For example, a User may wish to have more than one default mode for voice communication: toll quality for business use and low quality voice for personal or peak period use. A skilled technician would be capable of implementing software to perform such functions.
• costs may be assessed to the calling party, called party (reversing the charges, or toll free 1-800 telephony services), shared billing, or pay per use (such as 1-976 telephony services).
• the First User's Agent 18 creates an initial contract 26 at step 104, which it transmits to the preferred Service Provider at step 106
• the First User's Agent 18 then awaits a contract 26 to be returned from the Negotiation Manager 20 at step 48
• the balance of the routine executes in the same manner as that described with respect to Figure 5 above until step 108 is reached At step 108, the user may exit the routine or return to step 102 to continue monitoring for either a request for a new communication to be initiated, or a new contract to be received
• the invention may be applied with a broad range of optional functionality, which would be clear to one skilled in the art from the teachings herein
• One such option would be the flexibility to halt and re-negotiate terms during a communication This would allow, for example, a Service Provider to make his fastest communication lines available for a reduced price on the condition that the lines can be revoked if a higher paying customer wishes to obtain the line Agreeability to such interruptions would have to be approved of during the initial negotiation, but this would allow all participants an extra degree of flexibility that is not offered by existing systems
• a First User's Agent 18 may wish to identify Local Network sub- Entities, such as other Service Providers, that it wishes to participate in the negotiation This would allow the First User's Agent 18 to screen groups of participants from one another Similarly, the Network Agent may have Network sub- Entities that it wishes to have participate in the negotiation but which it wishes to screen from other parties in the negotiation In both cases, the participant can receive the contract 26, send it to the sub-participant and receive the sub-participants response The participant may wish to modify the contract 26 by adding or removing information before sending it to the sub-participant, and modifying the sub- participant's response before sending it to the Negotiation Managers 20. In addition to the "round robin" negotiating discipline 28 described herein above, it is expected that a variety of other negotiating disciplines 28 would be made available by the Negotiation Managers 20.
• a Service Provider may allow a number of Users to bid on services simultaneously and provide services to those Users who reach a certain level in the negotiation
• a Service Provider may have 10 identical communication units available and start negotiation with 20 Users bidding on various numbers of units
• the Service Provider will settle once he has Users bidding on the 10 units or less
• This negotiating discipline more would be useful in the sale of commodity services, such as the availability of a communication line for a predetermined time period, rather than on a per call basis
• a Service Provider may start a negotiation with multiple Users, at a high price and lower that price until a User accepts This discipline would also be useful in the sale of commodity services
• the method steps may be executed by a computer processor or similar device suitably programmed, or may be executed by an electronic system which is provided with means for executing these steps Similarly, an electronic memory means such as a computer diskette, CD-Rom Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM) may be programmed with coding to execute such method steps As well, electronic signals representing these method steps may also be transmitted via a communication network
• the sets of executable machine code representative of the method steps of the invention may be stored in a variety of formats such as object code or source code Such code is described genencally herein as programming code, or a computer program for simplification This executable code may also be transmitted as an electronic signal over communication links As well, the executable machine code may be integrated with the code of other programs, implemented as subroutines, by external program calls or by other techniques as known in the art It is understood that as communication networks become more flexible and powerful, the tradition definitions of servers, routers, computers, telephones and other hardware components are becoming less and less clear These terms have been used herein to simplify the discussion and do not strictly limit the invention to the former definitions of such hardware For example, a cellular telephone with Internet access may implement the invention by being supplied with a software agent in read only memory Such a telephone would clearly not have the traditional limitations associated with the term "telephone"

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Quality & Reliability (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Communication Control (AREA)
• Exchange Systems With Centralized Control (AREA)

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• 1999
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