KR20020064889A - Distributed communication network including one or more telephony communication devices having programmable functionality - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer program product with an open telephony system architecture, wherein one or more telephony applications defined on the computer program product are in the field (eg, on the customer's behalf) regardless of the vendor that restricted the development of one or more telephony applications. After the initial development of the can be modified. In addition, by adding telephony applications to computer program products, it is possible to extend computer program products with an extensible telephony system architecture in which telephony functions are defined. In addition, the computer program product can control the connection using any of a number of protocols, including SIP, H.323, MGCP, Megaco / H.248 and Skinny Station protocols during telephone calls. For multiple connections, for example for telephone calls including conference calls, the computer program product can control communication on each connection and use different control protocols for each connection. A communication network comprising one or more computer program products has one or more of the following characteristics. Its features include an open telephony system architecture, an extensible telephony system architecture, and the control of telephony calls using any number of call control protocols.

Description

DISTRIBUTED COMMUNICATION NETWORK INCLUDING ONE OR MORE TELEPHONY COMMUNICATION DEVICES HAVING PROGRAMMABLE FUNCTIONALITY}

Related applications

This application is filed on October 26, 1999 and is directed to a pending, pending US provisional patent application (Application No. 60 / 161,144) entitled "Communication Network Using Intelligent Telephone." 35 USC To claim priority under § 119 (e). Also filed on March 20, 2000 and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Organizing Configuration Information for a Communication System" (Application No. 60 / 190,613). Insist on priority. The contents of both applications are incorporated herein by reference.

In conventional telephony communication networks, including wireless and wireline networks, the end point of such a network is a telephone or a telephony-enabled computer.

The telephony communication device used herein is a device capable of performing at least the following traditional telephony tasks: that is, the telephony task initiates the set-up of the telephone call by sending a signal on the communication medium of the communication network, and the telephone call. Detect and display incoming (e.g., ringing, beeping, or flashing lights), and responding to phone calls by the user (e.g., off-hook detection, keypad input, keyboard) Determine the input or mouse click), send a signal indicating that the user responds to the communication medium, receive a dialing command from the user (e.g., rotate dial, push button, voice activation, keyboard or mouse), Sends signals indicating dial commands to communication media, and sends audio and audio signals to and from the user, respectively It receives and transmits a medium (e.g., audio data) on the communication medium of the network, and means for receiving.

As used herein, a "telephony function" is a function performed in connection with a telephone call. A "telephony application" is an application that performs one or more telephony functions. Telephony functions can be divided into two categories: core telephony functions and features telephony functions. Core telephony functions can be divided into three categories: phone set management, call control and media handling.

As used herein, “phone set management” refers to the control of low level devices on a telephony communication device, such as, for example, button presses, hookswitch operation, and lamp or light emitting diode (LED) operation.

As used herein, "media processing" refers to the transmission and reception of media between a user of a telephony communication device and a communication medium of a network in which the telephony communication device resides.

As used herein, "call control" refers to the control of set-up, maintenance and teardown of a telephone call. In traditional telephony communication devices, the control of the telephone call is usually a peer-to-peer-type protocol such as, for example, Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP) or H.323 protocol, for example. Examples include the use of a single call control protocol, including a Master / Slave-type protocol such as Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), Megaco / H.248 protocol, or the Skinny Station protocol advertised by Cisco Systems Inc.

The SIP protocol is defined in RFC 2543, SIP: Session Initiation Protocol by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as of October 26, 1999. The H.322 protocol is described by the International Telecommunications Union in the ITU-TN Recommendation: H. 323 Packet-Based Multi-Media Communications System, Geneva, Switzerland, February 1998. Megaco / H.248 protocol is defined by IETF RFC 2885 and ITU H.248. The MGCP protocol is described in RFC 2705 as of October 1999.

As used herein, a "feature telephony function" is a function performed in connection with a telephone call beyond the core telephony function provided by the phone set management, media processing and call control or by augmenting the core telephony function. For example, traditional telephony feature functions include call waiting, call transfer, voice mail function, call waiting, conference call, and the like. As shown herein, a "feature telephony application" is an application that performs one or more feature telephony functions.

Core telephony functions and features Performing telephony applications requires processing resources. For example, in traditional telephony communication networks such as Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN), Private Branch Exchanges (PBX), or Central Office Exchange Services (Centrex), telephony communication devices control and perform the bulk of the telephony functions associated with telephone calls. As a processing resource, it relies on a server, switch, or other centralized processing body. Thus, traditional telephony communication networks usually have concentrated processing resources.

Usually in traditional communication networks, to perform telephony functions, telephony communication devices receive commands from and operate on one or more network resources, such as servers or central switches. Usually, network resources maintain state information related to telephony functions and determine how to respond to events related to these functions.

Traditional communication networks include analog lines for analog data transmission, digital lines for digital data transmission, or a combination of both analog and digital lines. In addition, some of these networks may include high speed backbone segments, for example backbone segments including fiber optic cables.

In addition, the traditional communication network may include any one of a variety of telephones, including analog logic for performing telephony functions, digital logic for performing telephony functions, or a combination of analog and digital logic.

In a telephone connected to a digital line, the telephone must include logic for converting the acoustic audio signal into digital audio data. As used herein, a "digital telephony communication device" is a telephony communication that, in addition to the telephony task described above, converts an acoustic audio signal into digital audio data and transmits digital data including digital audio data onto a data line. Device.

More recently, communication networks begin with data networks for transmitting voice data (eg, voice-over-IP data) and other data between the caller and one or more recipients. Such data networks include Wide Area Networks (WANs) such as Local Area Networks (LANs), Metropolitan Area Networks, and the Internet. Usually, such data networks are designed to transmit data related to the Internet Protocol (IP).

During a telephone call over one or more data networks, digital audio data from a digital telephony communication device on the data network may be sent to another digital communication telephony device network on the data network and to a gateway between the data network and other communication networks. have.

Data networks are usually more distributed (ie less concentrated) than traditional telephony communication networks, depending on one or more servers for processing purposes as opposed to the central switch, as well as other network resources.

In a data network, one or more telephony functions and / or applications may be made available on a digital telephony communication device via hardware, sometimes in combination with software and / or firmware. Usually, after the initial deployment (ie installation) of a communication device in this field, the telephony functionality available, for example on a customer premise, is essentially fixed in nature.

Sometimes one or more telephony functions include one or more user definable parameters that allow the user to define values and thus have a limited role in programming the telephony communication device. For example, user definable parameters may include pipe or volume of the ring, user password, numbers to be automatically dialed upon single button press, and the like. However, the telephony function itself is closed (ie, inaccessible) to the user of the telephony communication device and the third party vendor such that the definition of the telephony function cannot be changed by the user or the third party vendor.

Usually, in order to modify the telephony function on an installed digital telephony communication device, the vendor controlling the development of the telephony function must provide new hardware or software, and also improve existing hardware or software. In addition, additional telephony applications may be added to the telephony communication device after the telephony communication device is installed in this field.

Telephony performance of conventional telephony communication devices is limited in several ways. Firstly, many telephony communication devices are unable to control the telephone calls with which they are involved today, and those devices that can control telephone calls (e.g. some digital phones) are a single call control protocol, e.g. You can use only SIP or H.323 to control your telephone calls.

Secondly, many telephony communication devices perform telephony operations in response to commands received from external communication network resources on which telephony applications are executed. In addition, in such a telephony communication device in which a telephony application can be defined and performed, after such a telephony communication device is initially deployed in this field, no further telephony application can be added to the telephony communication device.

In addition, in such telephony communication devices, after such telephony communication devices are initially deployed in this field, the telephony application is essentially fixed (i.e., can not be changed by the user and third party vendors), and so on. It is closed to third party vendors.

In addition, the telephony performance of most communication networks is limited in several ways, in part due to the limitations of telephony communication devices residing in this communication network.

First, the processing resources of many communication networks are highly concentrated such that relatively few network resources provide the telephony functionality of the entire communication network. Second, even in these more distributed communication networks, including telephony applications defined thereon and one or more telephony communication devices having the capability to run such telephony applications, telephony communication devices were initially deployed in this field. Later, the telephony application is not changeable by the user or a third party vendor and no additional telephony application can be added to the telephony communication device.

As a result, the telephony functionality of a traditional communications network is limited by the telephony functionality provided by the concentrated network resources or the fixed telephony functionality available on the telephony communications devices of the network. This limitation prevents extending the flexibility of the network user and also changes the telephony function of the user's telephony communication device. This limits the scalability and flexibility of the communication network.

Summary of the Invention

Thus, provided herein is one or more defined on a telephony communication device after initial deployment in this field (eg, on the assumption of a customer), regardless of the vendor controlling one or more telephony application developments. A telephony communication device having an open telephony system architecture, such that telephony applications can be modified.

Also provided herein is a telephony communication device having an extensible telephony system architecture such that the telephony functions defined above can be extended by adding telephony applications to the telephony communication device.

In addition, provided herein can control the connection during a telephone call using any of a plurality of call control protocols, including SIP, H.323, MGCP, Megaco / H.248, and Skinny Station protocols. To a telephony communication device. Furthermore, in telephone calls with multiple connections, for example conference calls, the telephony communication device can simultaneously control communication on each connection and use different call control protocols on each connection.

Also provided herein is a communication network comprising one or more telephony communication devices having one or more of the following properties: an open telephony system architecture, an extensible telephony system architecture; Ability to control telephone calls using any one of a number of call control protocols. Such communication networks have telephony capabilities that are more flexible and scalable than conventional communication networks.

In a first embodiment, provided is directed to a first telephony communication device that is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium. The first telephony communication device includes a telephony hardware component and a telephony software component. The telephony hardware component includes one or more inputs for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from a communication medium, and one or more inputs for transmitting the medium to a first user and second data to the communication medium. do. Telephony software components include telephony application portions that control the operation of hardware components and define at least telephony functions that are performed in connection with telephone calls. The telephony application may change after the first telephony communication device is developed and deployed on the modified communication network regardless of the generation of the telephony software components.

In yet another embodiment, a method is provided for defining the functionality of a telephony communication device, wherein the telephony communication device is part of a communication device that includes a communication medium. The telephony communication device includes a telephony hardware component and a telephony software component. The telephony hardware component includes one or more inputs for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from a communication medium, and one or more outputs for transmitting the medium to the first user and second data to the communication medium. do. Telephony software components include telephony application portions that control the operation of hardware components and define at least telephony functions that are performed in connection with telephone calls. After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, the telephony application is accessed on the telephony communication device and developed and changed regardless of the generation of the telephony software component.

This embodiment may be embodied as a computer program output comprising a computer readable medium and computer readable signals stored on a computer readable medium defining instructions. As a result of execution by the computer, such instructions cause the computer to perform the operations described above in this embodiment.

In yet another embodiment, provided is directed to a system that defines the functionality of a telephony communication device that is part of a communication network that includes a communication medium. The telephony communication device includes a telephony hardware component and a telephony software component. The telephony hardware component includes one or more inputs for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from a communication medium, and one or more outputs for transmitting the medium to the first user and second data to the communication medium. do. Telephony software components include telephony application portions that control the operation of hardware components and define at least telephony functions that are performed in connection with telephone calls. The system includes a means for accessing a telephony application on the telephony communication device after the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, and a means for modifying the changed telephony application regardless of the generation of the telephony software component.

In another embodiment, a communication network is provided that includes a communication medium and one or more telephony communication devices, wherein each telephony communication device includes a telephony hardware component and a telephony software component. In each telephony communication device, the telephony hardware component includes one or more inputs for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium, and for one or more outputs and communication media for transmitting the medium to the first user. The second data of. Telephony software components include telephony application portions that control the operation of hardware components and define at least telephony functions that are performed in connection with telephone calls. The telephony application can change after the telephony communication device is developed and deployed on the changed communication network regardless of the generation of the telephony software components.

In yet another embodiment, provided is directed to a first telephony communication device that is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium. Here, the first telephony communication device includes a telephony hardware component and a telephony software component. The telephony hardware component includes one or more inputs receiving audio input from a first user and first data from a communication medium, and one or more inputs and data to the communication medium transmitting a medium to the first user. Telephony software components include telephony application portions that control the operation of hardware components and define at least telephony functions that are performed in connection with telephone calls. At least an additional telephony application portion may be added to the telephony software component after the first telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network.

In yet another embodiment, the functionality of a telephony communication device that is part of a communication network that includes a communication medium is defined where the telephony communication device includes a telephony hardware component and a telephony software component. The telephony hardware component includes one or more inputs for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from a communication medium, and one or more outputs for transmitting the medium to the first user and second data to the communication medium. do. Telephony software components include telephony application portions that control the operation of hardware components and define at least telephony functions that are performed in connection with telephone calls. After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, the telephony software component is accessed on the telephony communication device, and at least additional telephony application portions can be added to the telephony software component.

This embodiment may be embodied as a computer program output comprising a computer readable medium and computer readable signals stored on a computer readable medium defining instructions. As a result of execution by the computer, such instructions cause the computer to perform the operations described above in this embodiment.

In yet another embodiment, provided is a system that defines a function of a telephony communication device that is part of a communication network including a communication medium, wherein the telephony communication device includes a telephony hardware component and a telephony software component. The telephony hardware component includes one or more inputs for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from a communication medium, and one or more outputs for transmitting the medium to the first user and second data to the communication medium. do. Telephony software components include telephony application portions that control the operation of hardware components and define at least telephony functions that are performed in connection with telephone calls. The system includes means for accessing a telephony software component and means for adding at least additional telephony application portions to the telephony software component after the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network.

In another embodiment, a communication network is provided that includes a communication medium and one or more telephony communication devices, where each telephony communication device includes a telephony hardware component and a telephony software component. In each telephony communication device, the telephony hardware component includes one or more inputs for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from a communication medium, and for one or more outputs and communication media for transmitting the medium to the first user. The second data of. Telephony software components include telephony application portions that control the operation of hardware components and define at least telephony functions that are performed in connection with telephone calls. After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, at least additional telephony application portions may be added to the telephony software component.

In yet another embodiment, provided is a first telephony communication device that is part of a communication network that includes a communication medium, wherein the telephony communication device includes a call processing module. The call processing module represents and controls the first telephone call comprising at least one connection to at least some other user. In at least a first one or more connections, the call processing module operative to control communication on the telephony device corresponding to the first connection using the first call is selectable from a plurality of call control protocols available in the first telephony communication device. Control the protocol.

In another embodiment, the first telephone call is controlled on the first telephony communication device connected to the communication network. A telephone call includes one or more connections to other users, where each user corresponds to another telephony communication device on the communication network. In at least one one or more communications, the first call control protocol is selected from a plurality of call control protocols available on the first telephony communication device, and the connection on the telephony communication device corresponding to the first connection is the first call. Controlled using a control protocol.

This embodiment may be embodied as a computer program output comprising computer readable media and computer readable signals stored on a computer readable medium defining instructions. As a result of execution by the computer, such instructions cause the computer to perform the operations described above in this embodiment.

In yet another embodiment, provided is directed to a system for first telephone call control on a first telephony communication device connected to a communication network. A telephone call includes one or more connections to other users, where each user corresponds to another telephony communication device on the communication network. In at least a first one or more connections, the system includes means for selecting a first call control protocol from a plurality of call control protocols available on the first telephony communication device and using the first call control protocol. Means for controlling a communication corresponding to the first connection on the telephony communication device.

In another embodiment, a communication network is provided that includes a communication medium and one or more telephony communication devices, where each telephony communication device includes a call processing module. In each telephony communication device, the call processing module represents and controls a first telephone call including at least one connection to at least some other user. In at least one first or more connections, the call processing module controls the communication corresponding to the first connection on the telephony communication device using a first call control protocol selectable from a plurality of call control protocols available in the first telephony communication device. To work.

In yet another embodiment, as a result of execution by a computer, a computer program output is provided that includes a computer readable medium and computer readable signals stored on the computer readable medium defining instructions, the telephony being sent to a telephony communication device. Instruct the application to run. After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, at least a telephony application portion may be added to the telephony communication device.

In yet another embodiment, as a result of execution by a computer, a computer program output is provided that includes a computer readable medium and computer readable signals stored on the computer readable medium defining instructions, the telephony being sent to a telephony communication device. Instruct the application to run. After the telephony communication device is developed and deployed on a modified communication network regardless of the generation of the telephony application, at least the telephony application portion can be modified on the telephony communication device.

Features and advantages of the present application described above and other features and advantages of the present application will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, which should be understood as the accompanying drawings.

The present application relates to a communication network having intelligent end points that identify a telephone call. In particular, the present application relates to a data network comprising one or more telephony communication devices for providing and controlling one or more telephony applications.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an open and extensible telephony system architecture of a telephony communication device.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a core telephony functional layer of the open and extensible telephony system architecture of FIG.

3 is a data flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a media processing component corresponding to the media processing module of FIG.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the call processing module of FIG. 2 and the media processing module of FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a telephony communication device;

6 is an explanatory diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a graphical display provided by a telephony communication device;

7 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a communication network including one or more telephony communication devices having changeable and extensible functionality;

8 is a flow chart describing an exemplary embodiment of a method for indicating an incoming call to a second user of a telephony communication device;

9 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method for selectively transmitting a medium during a telephone call.

10 is a flow chart describing another exemplary embodiment of a method for selectively transmitting a medium during a telephone call;

11 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of planning and performing a telephone call.

12 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of display text associated with a telephone call.

13 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of communicating information in accordance with a state of a telephony communication device.

14 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of communicating information in accordance with a state of a telephony communication device.

15 is a flowchart illustrating an example embodiment of a method of communicating a representation heard during a telephone call.

16 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method for screening a telephone call based on information associated with the call.

17 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of playing text in an e-mail message as audio on a telephony communication device.

18 is a flow chart illustrating an example embodiment of a method for a user to send a graphical message to a telephony communication device.

19 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of communicating a graphical message to a user of a telephony communication device.

20 is a flow chart illustrating an example embodiment of a method of confirming one or more pending connections during a telephone call. And

21 is a flow chart illustrating an example embodiment of a method for dynamically configuring a telephony communication device.

1. Telephony System Architecture

The telephony system architecture is a system architecture that includes one or more internally related system components that together define the telephony applications available on the Telephony Communication Device (TCD). The open telephony system architecture is in addition to the vendor that controls the development of one or more telephony applications defined by the telephony system architecture. After such telephony applications have been deployed in the field on the TCD, users and third party vendors have more than one telephony. It is accessible to change the telephony function of the application. Scalable telephony system architecture is a system architecture that allows telephony applications to be added to TCDs already deployed in this field.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an open and scalable telephony system architecture 1 of a TCD. An extensible telephony system architecture may be considered a layered architecture 1 in which adjacent abstraction layers communicate with each other such that the layers on each side of a given layer are independent of each other. In other words, a function may be defined such that a higher abstraction layer is performed on a lower non-contiguous level of abstraction without the recognition or specification of non-contiguous lower layer details.

For illustrative purposes, the TCD in which the telephony system architecture 1 resides is referred to herein as the first TCD. This first TCD may be connected to a communication network described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 7.

An open and scalable telephony system architecture (1) includes an application layer (3), an open application programming interface layer (5), a core telephony functional layer (9), an operating system layer (11), a software / hardware interface layer (13). ) And telephony hardware layer 15.

1.1 Telephony Hardware Layer

The telephony hardware layer or telephony hardware component 15 includes several hardware elements that perform telephony operations related to telephony calls. The telephony hardware component 15 includes the processing of processing instructions corresponding to telephony operations. Such a processor may be selected such that the user participating in the telephone call can handle the telephone call at real time without experiencing any delay in the telephony function associated with the telephone call, especially in the transmission of audio data. For example, the processor may be StrongArm 1110 operating at 206 MHz.

In addition, the telephony hardware component 15 may include a memory for storing information. For example, the memory may include non-volatile memory, such as flash read-only memory (Flash ROM) for permanent storage of telephony applications and data, and may also be used for temporary storage of telephony applications and data and further into telephony applications and data. It may include volatile memory, such as synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) for quick access.

The performance of volatile and nonvolatile memory can be selected and varied depending on the configuration and storage needs of the first TCD in the communication network. For example, the first TCD may be configured to download a telephony application and / or non-telephony application from one or more storage resources on the network as part of being initialized. In such a configuration, the first TCD may have a relatively larger amount of volatile memory for faster processing because a relatively smaller amount of nonvolatile memory is required for application storage.

In contrast, the first TCD can be configured to store large amounts of data, such as, for example, audio files, and also to store one or more large applications or a large number of applications. In such a configuration, the first TCD may have a relatively larger amount of nonvolatile memory to store data and applications, which results in less volatile memory. Clearly, the performance of volatile and nonvolatile memory is also affected by the physical space available within the first TCD.

In addition, the telephony hardware component 15 may include audio processing circuitry for the processing of audio information transmitted during the telephone call. The audio processing circuitry may each include a codec for performing typical audio processing functions including compression and decompression of audio data transmitted to and received from the communication network. The audio processing module may be designed to sample audio data of various sizes and to process the audio data at any one of various sample rates. For example, the audio processing module can include a UDA 1341TS stereo codec from Philips Semiconductors and can sample audio data at a 16-bit size and a sample rate of 32 KHz. For example, other sample rates such as 44.1 KHz and 48 KHZ may be used.

In addition, telephony component 15 may include video processing circuitry that includes one or more video codecs to process video using known techniques. As will be discussed in more detail below with respect to FIG. 5, the telephony hardware component 15 may also include a display screen and associated graphics logic. In an embodiment, the display screen is a 160 × 160 pixel graphic display. The display screen can display color, monochrome or grey-scale pixels. For example, in an embodiment, the display screen is designed to display pixels using 15 color gray-scale.

In addition, the telephony hardware component 15 may include a network interface for data communication between the first TCD and the communication medium of the communication network. In an embodiment, the communication network adheres to the Ethernet protocol, and the network interface is, for example, an Ethernet interface such as Cirrus Logic's CS 8900A-CQ3 10BaseT Ethernet controller.

The telephony hardware component 15 also includes a power circuit for powering the first TCD. In an embodiment, the first telephony hardware component 15 includes circuitry for receiving power supplied by Category 5 (Cat5) cable. The power supply circuit can use a powering approach compatible with Cisco Inline-Power technology for Cat5 / Ethernet LANs developed by Cisco Systems, Inc.

1.2 Software / Hardware Interface Layer

The software / hardware interface layer 13 may define a plurality of drivers for operating the hardware elements of the telephony hardware layer 15. The driver can be programmed in any one of a plurality of programming languages, for example C.

1.3 Operating System Layer

Operating system layer 11 may include any one of a plurality of operating systems. As will be discussed in more detail below in connection with FIG. 2, the core telephony functional layer is configured such that the abstraction layers 1.3 and 5 can be programmed independently of the operating system of the operating system layer 11.

The operating system of the operating system layer 11 is a real-time operating system (RTOS) or, for example, Windows that is more commonly associated with general purpose computers. NT, Mac OS, UNIX Or LINUX It can be another operating system, such as

In an embodiment of the operating system layer 11 using the RTOS, the RTOS is VxWorks of Wind River Systems, Inc. In addition, operating system layer 11 may include other components supplied by Wind River, including: Personal JWorks Personal Java, JDK 1.1.6; True FFS Flash File System Manager; Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) v1 / v2c; And Rogue Wave tools.h ++ Library.

1.4 core telephony functional layer

The core telephony function layer 9 defines the core telephony function associated with the telephone call. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a core telephony functional layer 9 comprising an OS abstraction layer 33, a core telephony functional module 25, a telephony application object module 23 and a core telephony functional API module 21. It is a block diagram explaining.

1.4.1 OS Abstraction Layer

The OS abstraction layer 33 interfaces with the original operating system of the operating system layer 11 with a layer of the remaining module and telephony system architecture comprising modules 21, 23 and 25 and layers 3 and 5. . The OS abstraction layer 33 provides an interface to the original operating system (eg, VxWorks or Windows NT), thereby avoiding relying on the original operating system by the remaining modules and layers. OS abstraction layer 33 maintains date and time information, registers events, manages message queues, manages socket-based communication, synchronizes telephony operations on TCD, It can include abstractions for managing tasks and providing timers.

1.4.2 Core Telephony Function Module

The core telephony function module 25 includes a phone set management module 27, a media processing module 29, and a call processing module 31. Phone set management module 27 includes abstractions that are defined to handle low level device operations such as button press, hook switch operation and lamp (LED) control.

1.4.2.1 Media Handling Module

The media processing module 29 provides a framework for the first TCD to perform real time audio processing for one or more telephone calls. The media processing module 29 may be configured to flow the media data with a minimum latency. Audio data can be processed in chunks, where each chunk becomes audio data from a particular temporary interval. For example, the media processing module 29 may process audio data for 10 ms chunks. For example, as will be described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 3, each processing element of the media processing component 30 may process media for 10 ms chunks.

The media processing module 29 may include one or more media processing components, each media processing component corresponding to a particular telephone call. In a hardware embodiment, the media processing module 29 may include physically separated media processing components such that the number of telephone calls that the media processing module can handle simultaneously is limited by the number of physical media processing components. Can be. In such hardware embodiments, at least part of the media processing module 29 may be implemented using a dedicated digital signal processor (DSP).

In a software embodiment in which an object oriented programming language, for example C ++ or Java, is used, one or more abstractions (eg, classes or constructs) will be described in more detail below in connection with FIG. It can be used to display the media processing module 29 and one or more media processing components.

1.4.2.1.1 Media Handling Components

3 is a data flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a media processing component 30. Traditionally, only audio has been associated with telephone calls. However, more recently, video has become part of the telephone call. As described in more detail below, the first TCD may support telephony calls including audio, video and other related data. Thus, although most of the media data and media processing elements described below are associated with audio, the media processing component 30 also processes video data that is equivalent to the audio processing component of the processing component 30. It may include a processing element.

The media processing component 30 includes one or more connected media input interfaces 41, a user media input interface 59, a local call bridge 51, one or more connected media output interfaces 87, and a user media output interface 82. It may include.

In a telephone call between one or more first users of the first TCD and one or more second users in the one or more second TCDs, each second TCD has a call processing module 31 (described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 4). Maintains the corresponding connection to the second TCD. Media processing of the telephone call is indicated by the media processing component 30. Each connection medium interface 41 and corresponding connection medium output interface 87 represent a connection between the first TCD and one of the second TCDs.

Each network connection medium input interface 41 includes an input buffer 42, a detector buffer 44, and a decoder 47.

The input buffer 42 receives the connection input medium 40 to generate the connection medium 43. The connection input medium 40 is media data received from a network communication medium through a network connection from another telephone call participant, for example, a real-time transport protocol (RTP) and a real time transmission control protocol (Real). It may be received in the form of a data packet that conforms to one or more media transport protocols, such as -Time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP). The input buffer 42 can depackage the connection input medium 40 by removing the medium transmission information from the audio data packet of the connection input medium 40 to generate the connection medium 43.

The connection input medium 40 may be chunk data from a time interval that is greater than, for example, a 10 ms time interval that the media processing component 30 is intended to process. Thus, the input buffer 42 buffers the connection input medium 40, treats the input connection medium 40 into chunks corresponding to the designated time interval, and makes the connection medium 43 into chunks corresponding to the designated time interval. Can be configured to process. Although not shown in FIG. 3, other inputs, microphone audio data 55, tone indicator 57, and stored audio data 58 are received and buffered by the input buffer to provide an echo suppressor / canceller ( The echo suppressor / canceller 61, the tone generator 69, and the first mixer 74 may be data chunks corresponding to a specified time interval.

Digit buffer 44 receives connection medium 43 and generates medium 43 with jitter removed. Digit buffer 44 employs a known technique that removes information from access medium 43 to remove jitter from the resulting medium in progress for a user of the first TCD. During transmission through the network medium of the communication network, the data packets of the connection input medium 40 may be transmitted and copied, so that the connection input medium 40 may include rearranged packets and / or a plurality of identical packets. . For example, if the arranged packets 1, 2, 3 are sent from the second TCD to the first TCD, packet 1 is copied and the packets are rearranged so that packets 1, 3, 1 and 2 reach the first TCD. do. Since the digital buffer of the TCD includes logic to recognize and remove rearranged and copied packets, the jitter-free media 45 is properly arranged and no copies of the original transmitted media packets 1, 2, 3 It includes.

The connection input medium may be encoded by the second TCD using known techniques before being transmitted to the first TCD. The decoder 47 receives the jitter depleted medium 45 and decodes the jitter depleted medium 45 using a known technique to generate a decoded access medium 49. The decoded access medium is then sent to a local call bridge 51.

The user media input interface 59 includes an echo suppressor / canceller 61, a tone generator 69, a first mixer 74, a second mixer 65 and a distributor 73.

Echo suppressor / rejector 61 receives microphone audio data 55 to produce audio data 63 from which echo is removed. Microphone audio data 55 is audio data received from a TCD user via a microphone. For example, microphone audio data 55 may be received from a microphone of a telephone handset, a microphone included in a telephone base as part of a speaker phone, or a microphone used for input to a computer.

The echo suppressor / cancellor may include echo suppression logic that controls echo suppression in the microphone audio data 55. For example, if the TCD includes a speakerphone combination comprising a bass speaker for playing audio data of a telephone call, the echo suppressor / rejector 61 is adapted when the microphone audio data 55 contains voice data. And echo suppression logic to turn off the bass speaker as a result of this sensing. Thus, the microphone that the user uses during the telephone call does not receive sound from the bass speaker that generates an echo of one or more voices of the telephone call contained in the microphone audio data 55.

The echo suppressor / rejector 61 also recognizes an audio signal having a delayed lower intensity of the echo and subtracts this signal from the microphone audio data 55 to produce an echo canceled audio data 63. It may include echo cancellation logic employing the cancellation technique.

The tone generator 69 receives the tone indicator 57 and generates the indicated tone 71. The indicated tone 71 is the tone indicated by the tone indicator 57. For example, tone indicator 57 may represent a number of telephone numbers entered by a user from a standard telephone touch tone dialing keypad, computer keyboard or mouse. In this example, the indicated tone 71 generated by the tone generator 69 may be a tone associated with a number according to the Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) standard.

In addition, the tone indicator 57 may represent other tones in connection with a telephone call. For example, in response to a user picking up the handset from the switch hook or pressing a button on the telephone base, the tone indicator 57 may represent the dial tone generated by the tone generator 69. In response to attempting a telephone call with another TCD that is busy, tone indicator 57 may indicate a busy signal, and tone generator 69 corresponds to the indicated tone 71 as the corresponding call. Can generate a heavy signal. In addition, in response to a call setup message from another TCD, tone indicator 57 may indicate an incoming telephone call indicator, for example a ring tone. Other tones associated with the telephone call can be generated by the tone generator 69.

The first mixer 74 can receive the indicated tones 71 and the stored audio data 58. The stored audio data 58 may be part of an audio file or other form of audio data stored in the audio storage medium 60. For example, the audio data 58 may be streaming audio that is part of a voice mail message or pre-recorded sound. Voice storage medium 60 may be a nonvolatile memory on the TCD or other storage resource on the communication network in which the TCD resides. The stored voice data 58 may be sent to the first mixer 74 according to the telephony application.

The first mixer 74 can be configured to have one or more of the plurality of mixing parameters 76. For example, one or more mixing parameters 76 may represent weights associated with the indicated tone 71 and the stored audio data 58. These weights weight the magnitudes of the indicated tones 71 and the stored audio data 58 to produce the mixed audio 75. Thus, the mixing parameter 76 may substantially disable mixing of the indicated tone 71 or stored audio data 58 or may have more effect on the input in producing the mixed audio 75. Or weighted to cause the indicated tones 71 in the stored audio data 58 to be uniformly mixed.

The distributor 73 receives the mixed audio 75 and sends the mixed audio 75 to the second mixer 65 and the third mixer 83.

The second mixer 65 receives the mixed audio 75 and the audio with the echo canceled out and mixes the two inputs to produce the mixed user audio 67. This mixed user audio 67 is sent to the local call bridge 51, which determines the medium to be sent to each participant of the telephone call. Thus, the second mixer 65 may be configured to have one or more of the plurality of mixing parameters 76, which are weighted to the size of the mixed audio 75 and the echo canceled audio data 63. Define the effect of each of these inputs on the mixed user audio 67 by imposing.

Local call bridge 51 receives mixed user audio 67 and one or more decoded connection media 49 corresponding to the connection, and one or more connection mixed media 53 and user-defined mixed media 81. ) The local call bridge 51 mixes any of the decoded connection medium 49 and the mixed user audio 67 to produce each of the user-defined mixed medium 81 and the one or more connection mixed medium 53. Determine. Moreover, the local call bridge 51 may receive the bridge parameters 52 that make up the local call bridge 51 for such mixing.

For example, the local call bridge 51 may be configured such that the user defined mixed media 81 does not include some or all of the mixed user audio 67. Such a configuration prevents the user of the TCD from listening to the microphone audio data 55 she speaks. This prevention is not only necessary because the user does not need to hear his own voice, but listening to his voice with some delay as part of the mixed audio output 85 may confuse the user, or at least mixed audio. This is necessary because it makes the output harder to understand.

Similarly, the local call bridge 51 is configured to prevent each connection mixed medium 53 corresponding to the first connection from including the medium of the connection input medium 43 corresponding to the first network connection. Can be configured. For example, consider a conference call comprising a participant U1 corresponding to a first TCD, a second user U2 corresponding to a second TCD, and a third user U3 corresponding to a third TCD. The local bridge 51 receives the mixed user audio 67 M1 corresponding to the first user and two decoded connection mediums 59 M2 and M3 respectively corresponding to the first user U1 and the second user U2. do. The local bridge 51 may be configured to mix the medium M1 and the medium M3 to generate the connection mixed medium 53 C1 transmitted to the second user U2. Similarly, the local call bridge 51 may be configured to mix mediums M1 and M2 to produce a connection mixed medium 53 C2 that transmits to the third user U3.

Although several mixing configurations have been described above, the local call bridge 51 may be designed to configure the call bridge 51 such that the bridge parameters 52 mix in any of a variety of ways. For example, as described below in connection with the main telephony application, the application may define a particular mix, or the user may assign a value to one or more bridge parameters 52 through the application. This bridge parameter 52 is a combination of a specific combination of mixed user audio 67 and one or more decoded network media 49, and user defined mixed media 81 and / or one or more connected mixed media ( 53 Specific blends can be defined to prevent them from being mixed in creating.

Each connection medium output interface 87 may include an encoder 89 that receives a connection mixed medium 53 and encodes such a medium using known techniques to produce an encoded medium 91. The output buffer 97 receives the encoded medium 91 and encodes the encoded medium 91 by, for example, adding connection protocol data (eg, RTP and RTCP) to generate the connection output medium 99. Configure The connection output medium 99 is transmitted to a TCD connected by a connection corresponding to the connection output medium 99.

The third mixer 83 receives user defined mixed media 81 and mixed audio 67 and mixes these inputs to produce a mixed audio output 85. The mixed audio output 85 may be sent to any of a variety of audio output devices such as, for example, a speaker of a telephone handset of the first TCD or a bass speaker on the base of the first TCD.

Recording buffer 93 receives the mixed audio output 85 and records the mixed audio output on a communication network such as, for example, a nonvolatile storage medium or other storage resource external to the first TCD. The data may be stored in an audio storage medium 62 located at. The audio storage medium 62 and the audio storage medium 60 may be the same storage medium or may be parts of the same storage medium.

The third mixer 83 weights the sizes of the user-defined mixed media 81 and the mixed audio 75 to define one or more effects of each of these inputs on the mixed audio output 85. It may be configured to use the mixing parameter 76.

Processing elements of the media processing module 29 (including 41, 42, 44, 47, 51, 59, 61, 65, 69, 73, 74, 82, 83, 89, 93, and 97) and Associated data elements (including 40, 43, 45, 49, 52, 53, 55, 57, 58, 63, 67, 71, 75, 76, 81, 85, 91, and 99) include software, firmware, hardware Or any combination thereof.

In an exemplary software embodiment, each processing element and associated data element may be represented using a general purpose object oriented programming language such as C ++ or Java, for example.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the call processing module 31 of FIG. 2 with respect to an exemplary software embodiment of the media processing module 29. As shown in FIG. In an exemplary software embodiment of such media processing module 29, media processing component 30 may be represented using an object oriented programming language such as C ++ or Java.

The media processing module 29 may include a plurality of media processing controllers 115 and a plurality of media processing components 30, where each controller 115 and component 30 correspond to a particular telephone call. .

The media processing component 30 includes a plurality of media processing abstractions 117, where each media processing abstraction 117 includes input and output data elements associated with the processing elements and processing elements of FIG. 3. Indicates. Each media processing abstraction 117 may be of a different form, taking over from the main media processing abstraction.

Each media processing abstraction 117 may include an attribute that identifies the media processing component 30 to which it belongs, and may include a plurality of methods executable on the media processing abstraction 117. have. Methods defined with respect to one or more media processing abstractions 117 may include a method of doing the following: making the media processing abstraction 117 operational or inoperable, chunks of the received media. Initializing processing by the media processing abstraction of the media, determining one or more states of the media processing abstraction 117, determining the media processing component 30 to which the media processing abstraction 117 belongs, media processing abstraction Determining information regarding the data input and output of the processor, determining the minimum and maximum number of inputs and outputs for the media processing abstraction 117, and determining the current number of inputs and outputs defined for the media processing abstraction. Determining whether something, input or output is currently connected with respect to the media processing abstraction 117.

1.4.2.1.2 Media Processing Controller

Media processing controller 115 controls the creation, operation, and destruction of media processing component 30. More specifically, media processing controller 115 generates media processing abstraction 117, defines the relationship between media processing abstraction 117, operates media processing abstraction 117, and media processing abstraction 117. Controls extinction

For example, media processing controller 115 includes a method of generating and destroying media processing abstraction 117. In addition, the media processing controller 115 may include a method of connecting two media processing abstractions to define an output of the first media processing abstraction to be an input of a second media processing abstraction. In addition, media processing controller 114 may include a method of destroying such a connection, thereby destroying the association between the two media processing abstractions. Addition and destruction of abstraction and connection can be thought of as constructing and removing the media processing component 30 as part of establishing a telephone call and releasing the telephone call, respectively.

Telephony applications and other high-level abstractions of application layer 3 use media processing controller 115 to dynamically generate media processing components 30 and connect media processing elements during telephony calls. In addition, a telephony application can be defined to configure the media processing element in a unique manner that creates a media processing abstraction for a particular feature provided by the telephony application.

The media processing controller 115 includes a method for putting the media processing component 30 in an operable state or in an inoperative state. If there is a multi-media processing component 30 representing the current multi-telephone call, when the media processing resource is conserved because the telephone call represented by the media processing component is not active (for example, in a standby state), It is necessary to make the media processing component 30 inoperable. Conversely, once the telephone call is activated, a method for bringing into operation can be used to bring the corresponding processing component 30 into an operable state.

The media processing controller 115 indicates how to indicate when the media control component 30 is ready to process the media and how to indicate that the media processing component 30 is no longer needed and can be destroyed. It may include.

The media processing controller 115 initiates the processing of the next chunk of data by the media processing component 30, locates the media processing abstraction 117, and media processing abstraction 117 of the media processing component 30. Means for determining the number of media processing components 30 and connections.

As discussed above in connection with FIG. 3, the media processing component 30 may include representing one or more connections. Thus, media processing controller 115 may include attributes corresponding to each connection represented by media processing component 30. Media processing component 30 may also include a method for retrieving a pointer to a connection.

As described above in connection with the access medium input interface 41 and the access medium output interface 87 of FIG. 3, the medium may be received or transmitted in the form of a data packet conforming to one or more medium transport protocols. Thus, the media processing module 29 may include an abstraction for representing one session of the media transport protocol, for example an RTP session, and the media processing controller 115 may have an attribute indicating such an attribute. It may include. In addition, for each media processing abstraction 117 that represents a connection of a telephone call, a media transport protocol, such as, for example, RTCP, may maintain statistical information related to the connection. Statistical information for one or more connections may be aggregated and represented by abstractions to monitor media transmissions on each connection. For example, this abstraction may be an RTCP session. The media processing controller 115 may include an attribute indicating this RTCP session and may include a method for retrieving a pointer to the RTCP session.

To establish a call between the first TCD and the other TCDs, the media processing controller 115 may include a method of determining one or more audio processing encoding algorithms supported by each TCD. As a result of this determination, media processing controller 115 may control the decoding and encoding algorithms used by decoder 47 and encoder 89 of media processing component 30, respectively.

In addition, the media processing controller 115 may include a method of generating a connection media processing abstraction 117, such as, for example, a connection medium input interface 41 and a connection medium output interface 87.

Media processing controller 115 may also include a method for controlling initiating and stopping media input to media processing component 29. For example, the media processing module 29 may include a method for performing one or more of the following operations: controlling the tone generator 69 to start or stop generation of the indicated tone 71. that; Controlling the connection input medium interface 41 in the input buffer 42 in particular to start and stop creation of the connection medium 43; Controlling the echo suppressor / canceller to start and stop reception of microphone audio data 55; Controlling the first mixer 74 to start or stop the reception of the stored audio data 58 to produce the mixed audio 75.

Media processing controller 115 may also include a method of controlling media output from media processing component 30. For example, the media processing component may include a method for performing the following operations: to start and stop sending the mixed audio output 85 to the audio output hardware, and the mixed audio output. Removing the user media output interface to start and stop storing 85 on audio storage medium 62; Controlling the connection medium output interface 87 in particular in the output buffer 97 to start and stop outputting the connection output medium 99 to the communication network.

The first TCD can now be included in multiple telephone calls, but the user of the first TCD can only actively participate in one telephone call at a time. For example, a user may put two telephone calls on hold and actively participate in a third telephone call. Since a user can participate in one telephone call at a time, at any given time, only one media processing component 30 needs to use one or more microphones and one or more speakers of the first telephone communication device. Accordingly, media processing controller 115 may include a method of assigning or deallocating microphones and speakers to media processing component 30.

All operations described with respect to media processing controller 115 and media processing component 30 may be performed in response to operations defined by higher layer abstractions, such as telephony applications in application layer 3. In particular, such a telephony application communicates with the call processing module 31 to control call processing associated with one or more telephone calls, and the call processing module 31 controls the media processing module 29 in accordance with one or more telephone calls. Process the media.

Independently showing the media processing and the call processing, for example to have the call processing module 31 and the media processing 29, provides flexibility in designing the call processing module 31. For example, the media processing module may be implemented as part of a DSP or as one or more software abstractions. As a result, the abstraction of the call processing module 31 becomes common in implementing two or more media processing modules 29, thereby adopting the call processing module 31 in a particular implementation of the media processing module 29. It can be configured to require less programming.

1.4.2.2 Call Handling Module

4 illustrates the call processing module 31 of FIG. 2 in more detail. The call processing module 31 may model a state change of one or more telephone calls. Thus, an application running on the first TCD, for example an application defined in the application layer 3, may query the abstraction of the call processing module 31 to determine the telephone call state and its connection state. In addition, the application may be registered to automatically notify whether the state of the telephone call changes or other telephone events occur, including the connection state of the telephone call.

The call processing module 31 may include the following abstractions: call manager 105, one or more calls 109, one or more call processing media interfaces 113, one or more call control network input interfaces 101, and One or more call control network output interfaces (103).

The processing performed by the call processing module 31 includes controlling one or more calls according to one or more call control protocols (e.g., signaling protocols), media processing associated with each call, and one or more connections included in the call. May include controlling.

1.4.2.2.1 Call Manager

The call manager 105 can be seen as the heart of the call processing module 31 and acts as an interface between the call processing module and the higher layer abstraction. The call manager 105 controls one or more calls 109 indicating the telephone call to which the first TCD is currently participating. Call manager 105 delivers the telephone event to the appropriate call 109. Such an event may include a call control event, eg, a call control message, and may include an application level event, eg, an event indicating creating a new call 109 or connection or terminating a connection or call. For example, during a telephone call, or while setting up or releasing a telephone call, a higher level telephony application executes the methods defined by the call manager 105, which then calls the appropriate call 109. The corresponding method can be executed.

Each call 109 may include several methods, many of which correspond to the methods of call manager 109 and are performed in accordance with the performance of the telephone call. The call 109 is valid at one moment (e.g., during a telephone call) and invalid at the next moment (e.g. after hanging up), so that higher level applications can Communicate with Thus, call manager 105 provides a useful less instantaneous (ie, more persistent) abstraction whether or not the first TCD is currently participating in any telephone call.

Since the call manager 105 and each call 109 managed by the manager includes several similar methods, for purposes of illustration, some methods are described below in connection with the call manager 105 or call 109. However, it should be understood that such methods can be applied to both types of abstraction, depending on how the abstraction is constructed.

Call manager 105 includes several operations for controlling the setup, maintenance, release, and media processing of telephone calls.

The call manager 105 may include an attribute that maintains a list of all calls 109 that the call processing module 31 currently represents, and may include a method for creating a call and dropping the call. For example, the call manager may create a call in response to a user dialing a number or entering a URL, or in response to a user answering the call by picking up the handset or pressing a button.

The call manager 105 hangs up in response to the user of the first TCD lifting the handset or in response to a signal received from another TCD indicating that the user of the device has terminated the telephone call.

The call manager 105 may include a method for determining the number of calls 109 represented by the current call processing module 31 and a method for determining the call status of each of these calls 109. Call manager 105 and call 109 define a state for modeling a telephone call, similar to how Java Telephony Application Programming Interface (JTAPI) models telephone calls. Thus, states defined for a telephone call may include: call states such as, for example, idle, activated or invalid; A terminal state indicating a state of a first TCD; An address state indicating an address (ie, a telephone number or a URL) of the first TCD; A call connection state that associates an address of a first TCD with a telephone call; And a terminal connection state associating the first TCD with the connection.

Since more than one TCD may be associated with the same address, the terminal connection may need to define the state of a particular terminal connection. For example, a home may have multiple telephones with the same telephone number.

The call manager 105 may include a variety of methods commonly associated with a telephone call as a method including adding a connection to a telephone call, ending a telephone call, and moving a telephone call to another TCD. have. Other methods may define an operation that allows connection with another TCD in response to receiving a call establishment message from another TCD. Allowing the call may include executing an operation on the media processing interface 113 that controls the telephone to ring. In addition, other methods may include, in response to receiving the call setup message, reject the connection, or invoke the method, including controlling the media processing controller 115 to generate and send a busy signal to the calling TCD. The operation of redirecting a TCD to another TCD may be defined.

In addition, the call manager 105 may, for example, respond to an input from the user of the first TCD or in response to receiving a signal indicating that the user of another TCD has hung up the method. It may also include.

The call manager 105 may also include a method of determining the address called as part of the call 109 and a method of determining the address of the TCD calling the first TCD as part of the call 109.

In addition, the call manager 105 may establish a connection between the first TCD and the second TCD, for example, by sending a response to a call control setup message or by notifying the other TCD that the TCD has received an invitation to make a call. It may also include a method of completing. Such a method may be in communication with a call control transfer controller 107, which will be described in more detail below.

1.4.2.2.2 Media Handling Interface

For each call 109, the media processing interface 113 provides an interface between the call 109 and the media processing component 30 corresponding to the media processing controller 115 and the call 190. Through the media interface 113, the call 109 can control its own media processing independently of the media processing of other calls 109.

The media processing interface 113 may include several methods corresponding to the methods of the media processing controller 115. In addition, the media processing interface 113 may include a method of controlling the media processing module 29 to process the media according to a specific telephone event. As described above with respect to FIG. 4, the media processing controller 115 may include controlling the tone generator 69 to start and stop the generation of the indicated tone 71. The media processing interface 113 may include controlling the media processing controller 115 to control generating a specific tone in response to a telephone event. For example, the media processing interface 113 may include DTMF tones, dial tones, tones that indicate that another TCD is busy (eg, busy signal), and tones that indicate that a telephone call is coming (eg, And to start playing a particular tone, such as a ring tone).

The media processing interface 113 can operate as described in the following example. Call manager 105 may receive, for example, from phone set management module 25 that the user has pressed a key on the telephone keypad. The call manager 105 determines the call 109 associated with the pressed key and executes on the call 109 a method of reproducing the DTMF tone associated with the key. As a result, the call 109 executes an appropriate method on the media processing interface 113 to initiate playback of the DTMF tones, which receive the indicated tone 71 by receiving the tone indicator 57 indicating the DTMF tones. In order to control the tone generator 69 to generate DTMF tones, a suitable method of the media processing controller 115 is executed.

In addition, the media processing interface 113 may include one or more methods of asking the media processing module 29. For example, the media processing interface 113 may include a method for determining that the media processing module is receiving the connection input medium 40 and transmitting the connection output medium 99.

In addition, the media processing interface 113 may include a method for querying the phone set management module 25 about the status of a low level device such as a hook switch. For example, the media processing interface 113 may include one or more methods for querying one or more abstractions of the phone set management module 25 to determine if the handset is off the hook.

In addition, the media processing interface 113 may determine how to determine the codec algorithms supported by the TCD, deploy the audio output device to send the mixed audio output 85, and for example the phone set management module 25. Question may include how to determine if the audio output device is currently operational.

The media processing interface 113 can be any of various forms of media processing interface 113. For example, as part of telephone system architecture 1 residing on the first TCD, the media processing interface 113 has a form specifically defined for the TCD. In another example, call processing module 31 may model call processing performed on a media gateway between two networks or on a signaling gateway between different signaling protocols. In this case, the media processing interface 113 may have a form specifically defined for the type of processing required for a particular gateway.

The media processing interface 113 mainly deals with processing media. Another form of call processing module 31 is to control telephone calls, including the use of call control (eg, signaling) protocols. This form of call processing module 31 will be described in more detail.

1.4.2.2.3 Call Control Protocol

The call 109 may be a special kind of call, for example a peer-to-peer (peer call) or a master / slave call (slave call). Peer call 109 may include one or more connections conforming to a peer-to-peer protocol, eg SIP or H.323, and a master / slave protocol such as MGCP, Megaco / H.248 or skinny station It may include one or more connections along the Skinny Station. Slave call 109 represents a call that includes one or more connections that follow the master / slave protocol. Each kind of call 109 includes an abstraction for defining data corresponding to a connection type included in the call and an abstraction for defining a method for controlling the telephone call according to the type of protocol.

Slave call 109 is a call controlled by a network resource external to the first TCD. The slave call 109 may be one of a plurality of master / slave call forms including an MGCP call, a Megaco / H.248 call, or a skinny station call. MGCP call 109, Megaco / H.248 call 109 and skinny station call 109 are calls following the MGCP, Megaco / H.248 and Skinny station protocols, respectively. Each of these types of slave calls may be defined as an abstraction taken from the abstract of the general slave call 109, and may define a function related to the type of slave call.

The call processing module 31 includes one or more call control connections 111. Each call processing connection 111 has a corresponding media control call connection as represented by the media processing abstraction 117 of the media processing module 29 (except for the ghost call connection described in detail below). . As discussed above in connection with the media processing component 30, such media processing abstraction represents the media flow of the connection. Alternatively, the call control connection 111 of the call 109 defines and controls signaling communication on the first TCD associated with the call 109 in accordance with a particular call control protocol.

The slave call 109 includes a plurality of slave call control connections 111 that control call signaling communication for the call on the first TCD according to the type of the master / slave call control protocol indicated by the slave call control connection 111. can do.

For peer call 109, each call control connection 111 may be in one of several forms, including an H.323 call control connection, a SIP call control connection, a ghost call control connection, and a slave proxy call control connection. Can be.

The H.323 call control connection and the SIP call control connection control signaling communication of the connection on the first TCD according to the H.323 protocol and the SIP protocol, respectively.

The ghost call control connection represents a connection between two different TCDs. For example, if the first TCD needs to forward a call to another TCD and for some reason need to track the progress of the forwarded connection, the ghost call control connection can be used to monitor the connection status between two different TCDs. Can be. In order to monitor the status of the forwarded connection, the ghost call control connection may receive information from one of two different TCDs. Since the connection is between two different TCDs, the ghost call control connection does not have a corresponding media processing connection.

If the peer call 109 includes a slave connection, the slave proxy call control connection 111 in place of the slave call control connection 111 can be used to represent the slave connection 111.

The telephone call represented by call 109 may include several connections, each represented by call control connection 111. As described above, each connection included in the telephone call may follow any one of a plurality of call control protocols. Thus, the call 109 can control one or more call control connections 111, where each call control connection 111 can take a different form, for example, H.323 call control connection or SIP call control connection. Can have.

Representing each connection of a telephone call having an independent call control connection 111, and independently representing the media processing and the call processing of the telephone call, the call 109 including the multiple connection 111 is connected to each connection at the same time It is possible to display and control, where each connection can follow any one of a plurality of call control protocols.

For example, during a telephone call between a first TCD, a second TCD, and a third TCD, a first connection may exist between the first and second TCDs, and a second connection may exist between the first and third TCDs. Can be. The first connection may be represented by the SIP call control connection 111 and the second connection may be represented by the H.323 call control connection 111. Moreover, the first and second connections may be represented by independent media processing abstraction 117 representing media processing of the connection.

A call 109 representing such a telephone call can control the SIP and H.323 call control connection 111 and the corresponding media processing abstraction 117. During the telephone call, for each connection 111, the call 109 can execute the method of the media processing interface 113 in accordance with the call control protocol, SIP or H.323 indicated by the connection. Here, the method of the media processing controller is executed to control the processing of the media on the appropriate connection via the corresponding media processing abstraction 117.

The call control connection 111 controls the signaling communication of the connection on the first TCD at a relatively high level. In addition, the call processing module 31 controls the transmission and the call control transmission controller which controls the signaling communication of the connection on the first TCD at a low level which ensures the reliability of the signaling message transmitted and received from the call processing module 31. 107.

In addition, the call processing module 31 transmits a call control message from the call control network input interface 101 and the call control transmission controller 107 to the communication network in order to receive a call control message corresponding to the call control protocol. A call control network output interface 107.

To send a call control message, for example a SIP message, the call control connection 111 sends a message to the call control transmission controller 107, and then the call control transmission controller sends the call control message to the call control network output interface ( 103), and then the call control network output interface sends a call control message over the communication network.

For an incoming call control message, the call control network input interface 101 receives the call control message and sends a message to the call control transmission controller 107 which forwards the incoming call control message to the call manager 105. The call manager 105 then dispatches the call control message to the appropriate call 109 including the connection 111 indicating the network connection from which the call control message is received.

The call control transmission controller 107 also informs the call manager 105 of the transmitted call control message sent over the communication network or not reaching its destination for various reasons. In addition, in response to such failure, the call control transmission controller 107 can resend the call control message over the communication network via the call control network output interface 103.

Using the various abstractions described above, the call processing module 31 may be configured to support any of a plurality of call control protocols. In addition, the call processing module 31 or the application using the call processing module 31 may be configured to select any of a plurality of call control protocols for a particular connection. This choice may depend on any of a number of factors, including the available network resources and capacity of the TCD connected to the first TCD by connection.

For outgoing calls from the first TCD, the call processing module or other telephony application may be configured to select a call control protocol to set up the call with the other TCD based on a URL entry or continuation of a number by the user. have. For example, an application could define a rule that instructs the user to control a telephone call using the H.323 protocol when the user enters an extension of three numbers. In addition, the application may define a rule that instructs the user to control a telephone call using SIP when the user enters a ten-digit PSTN telephone number.

In another example, the application controls the telephone call using the SIP protocol when the user enters a URL that includes the character string "SIP", and the user enters a URL that includes the string "H.323". If entered, you can define rules that direct the use of the H.323 protocol.

Since details relating to various call control protocols are handled by the call processing module 31, the core telephone API layer 21 and the open API layer 5, which will be described in detail below, develop a general application for all call control protocols. Can be used to allow call handling module 31 to handle call control details. Therefore, the call processing module 31 can cause the APIs of the core telephone API layer 21 and the open API layer 5 to be call-control-protocol-independent.

Although the first TCD may be configured to support any number of call control protocols and to select a particular call control protocol for connection, the call processing module 31, other modules of the core telephone function layer 9, Alternatively, one or more telephony applications of the application layer 3 may be configured such that the first TCD only supports certain call control protocols. For illustrative purposes, various techniques that may be used to configure the first TCD to support a particular call control protocol will be described with reference to the call processing module 31. However, other modules or layers may define applications that employ the same technology.

The call processing module 31 may be configured to determine a call control protocol supported by the communication network in which the first TCD resides. For example, when initially initialized at a customer's store, the call processing module 31 sends information over the customer's communication network to determine which call control protocol is supported and to implement the call control protocol. 1 The TCD decides which network resources it should communicate with, and can load any software needed to support the call control protocol. In addition, the call processing module 31 may be configured to determine which call control protocol the communication network supports for incoming and outgoing telephone calls.

The call processing module 31 may be configured to perform a discovery process in any of many ways, in the field, periodically, as a result of being initialized upon request by the user or as a result of a combination thereof. have. This discovery process may also be performed for the first TCD by other network resources, for example a TCD deployment server, which will be described in detail in connection with FIG.

In one embodiment, the call processing module 31 is programmed to know the location of one or more network resources that can be used to implement one or more call control protocols.

The communication network in which the first TCD resides may include a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). The DHCP server may be configured to store information about call control protocols supported by the communication network and may direct one or more servers that may be used to help implement one or more call control protocols. If such a DHCP server exists, the call processing module 31 can access the DHCP server to retrieve the above call control information. Using a DHCP server to discover the call control server is available on April 6, 2000 at "DHCP" located at URL: http: //www.jetf.org / internet-drafts / draft-ietf-dhcp-01.txt Options for Call Control Servers are documented in the Internet Preparation Document by the IETF.

If the communication network does not include a DHCP server, or for some reason DHCP does not return the necessary call control protocol information, the call processing module 31 may determine 1 to determine the relevant server and call control protocol supported by the communication network. It may be configured to communicate with other network resources.

For example, a gatekeeper discovery technique can be used to determine if the communication network supports the H.323 protocol and to locate the H.323 / SIP signaling gateway on the network. For example, the ITU-T Recommendation by the International Telecommunications Union: H.323 Packet-Based Multi-Media Communication Systems (Geneva, Switzerland, February 1998). The gatekeeper discovery technique described can be used.

In order to determine if the communication network supports the SIP protocol and to determine the location of the SIP server on the communication network, the call processing module 31 is attached to RFC2543, SIP: Session Initiation Protocol by IETF, October 26, 1999. It may be configured to locate one or more SIP servers using SRV DNS records as outlined in D. If this SIP discovery technique is not useful, call processing module 31 may be configured to attempt to connect a SIP proxy server to sip <local domain> on default port 5060 using UDP and / or TCP. .

To determine if the communication network supports the MGCP protocol and to determine the location of the MGCP call agent, the call processing module 31 may be configured to use SRV DNS recording (similar to the above description for SIP in RFC2543). . The MGCP call agent is solely responsible for controlling the telephony calls of the communication network using the MGCP protocol. If the attempt to locate the MGCP call agent fails, the call processing module 31 attempts to contact the MGCP call agent at mgcp <local domain> using UDP on port 2427, the default port for MGCP. Can be configured.

To determine if a communication network supports the Megato / H.248 protocol, the call processing module 31 may be configured to use a technique similar to that described above for the MGCP protocol. Megato / H.248 protocol standards are defined in IEFT RFC 2885 and ITU H.248.

The call processing module 31 may install a space-saving stub as the call control connection 111 for the specific call control protocol when the communication network does not support the specific call control protocol.

The call processing module 31 may be configured to use a specific cone control protocol, for example, a protocol such as SIP, as a call control protocol for outgoing calls. However, if the call processing module 31 determines that the communication network supports only a single call control protocol, the call processing module 31 may assign this call control protocol as the protocol used for all outgoing calls.

In addition, if the call processing module 31 decides to support multiple call control protocols for the outgoing call and to support a single call control protocol for the internal call, the call processing module 31 controls this single call control. The protocol can be assigned to the call control protocol used for all outgoing calls.

It may also be configured to use a particular call control protocol as the call control protocol for all incoming calls. However, if the call processing module 31 determines that the communication network supports only a single call control protocol, the call processing module 31 may assign this call control protocol as the protocol used for all incoming calls.

In addition, if the call processing module 31 determines that the communication network supports multiple call control protocols for incoming calls and only a single call control protocol for external calls, then the call processing module 31 determines this single call control protocol. Can be assigned as the call control protocol for all incoming calls.

By using the abstractions 101-113, the call processing module 31 can be configured to provide some features in accordance with a call control protocol, for example SIP. Such call control features may include: sending and receiving call control messages in accordance with various transport layer protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Data Protocol (UDP); Basic call setup operations, such as sending a call setup message and responding to the call setup message; Firewall support.

The call processing module 31 may support registering the first TCD, for example, in a registry or directory on the SIP server. Such a directory may reside on a first TCD or other network resource, such as a network server or a companion computer of the first TCD. As will be described in detail below with respect to FIG. 7, each entry of such a server may map a user's name or URL to the network address of the first TCD.

In addition, the call processing module 31 may support the registry entry to expire after a predetermined time according to the first TCD. In addition, the module 31 can be configured such that such entries are periodically refreshed to avoid expiration of the user's entries while the TCD is active (ie, powered on).

In addition, the call processing module 31 may be configured to initialize to put the telephone call on standby. For example, a signal can be sent from the first TCD to another TCD that instructs the first TCD to stop consuming bandwidth. Similarly, call processing module 31 may be configured to receive a message from another TCD that instructs the other TCD to stop consuming bandwidth (ie, put the telephone call on hold).

The call processing module 31 may be configured to resend the phone call in various ways. For example, if a user of the first TCD is already participating in another phone call, the call processing module 31 can be configured such that the incoming telephone call is retransmitted to another device on the communication network. For example, the other device may be a voice mail server that plays user voice mail or another TCD. Further, for example, user input via a button on the user interface may indicate that the user does not want to be disturbed whether or not the user is participating in a telephone call. Thus, incoming calls will be automatically resent. Alternatively, if an incoming call is not answered after a predetermined ring tone or after a predetermined time elapses, the incoming call may be resent. Eventually, the incoming call can be resent on demand in response to receiving user input.

The call processing module 31 may be configured to support blind transfer and consultative transfer of the telephone call. In order to perform the dead transmission, the call processing module 31 sets up a call with the third user of the TCD for the telephone call between the first user of the first TCD and the second user of the second TCD. Can be configured to instruct. After instructing the second TCD, the first TCD terminates the connection between the first TCD and the second TCD without first consulting the user of the third TCD.

For the advisory transmission, the first TCD establishes a connection with the third TCD. The first user may then consult (i.e. speak) with the user of the third TCD, after which the first TCD may instruct the second TCD to set up a call with the third TCD, Alternatively, the third TCD may be instructed to establish a connection with the second TCD.

In either dead transmission or advisory transmission, the application can monitor the progress of establishing a new connection using the call 109 including the ghost call control connection 111. Another TCD that is instructed to establish a new telephone call containing a new connection from the first TCD sends one or more call control messages to the first TCD to inform the first TCD of the status of the new connection. If for some reason it is necessary to monitor and / or record the status of a new connection, the ghost call control connection 111 may maintain this status information.

In addition, the call processing module 31 may be configured to record delivery process information regarding one or more connections associated with the telephone call. Such delivery process information may include the duration of the connection as part of the telephone call, and this delivery process information may be used for several purposes, including billing.

In addition, the call processing module 31 may be configured to access connection control protocol information, for example, an audio file, a text file, an application, a data file, and a data file or an application, according to the call control protocol of the connection. It may be configured to support adding points and the like.

For example, the call processing module 31 may be configured such that multi-part Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) can be added to the SIP message.

The call processing module 31 may be configured to inform another TCD of the capabilities and / or additional features and functions supported by the first TCD, depending on the call control protocol of the connection. For example, the call processing module 31 may be configured to inform the other TCD of the capabilities and additional features of the first TCD using the SIP message field, and allow the common capability to be used between the two TCDs.

The call processing module 31 may be configured to store the connection period between the first TCD and another TCD. In addition, the call processing module 31 may be configured to send and / or receive messages to / from another TCD at predetermined intervals to indicate that the sender of the message is still participating in the telephone call. Sending such a message at predetermined intervals prevents an error in determining the telephone call duration, in which a call control message that terminates the telephone call is never received.

The call processing module 31 may be configured to support a number of different known authentication methods, including basic and summary authentication methods. In addition, the call processing module 31 may be configured to provide different known authentication on the first TCD, including proxy authentication where authentication is performed on another network resource and symmetric authentication with another TCD.

In addition, the call processing module 31 may be configured to re-invite the call participant to the telephone call. It may be desirable for the reinvitation to change the encoding algorithm used for the connection in response to a change in the available network bandwidth or in response to a change in the number of connections included in the conference call.

The call processing module 31 may be configured to combine two telephone calls into one telephone call. For example, the call manager 105 may include a first telephone call 109 and a second SIP connection 111 including a first SIP call control connection 111 and a first H.323 call connection 111. A second telephone call 109 can be managed, wherein each call control connection 111 also has a corresponding media processing connection 117. In order to combine the two telephone calls, the call manager 105 is configured to create a third connection on the first call 109 representing the second SIP connection 111 and to create a corresponding media processing connection 117. Can be. After sending all the information about the second call 109 and the second SIP connection 111, the call manager 105 may hang up the second call 109. As a result, the first call 109 remains intact, including two SIP call control connections 111, H.323 call connections 111, and three media processing connections 117.

2, the phone set management module 27, the media processing module 29, and the call processing module 31 are relatively low-level modules that capture telephone events and abstract these events into another abstraction. Contains an abstraction to notify (abstraction). The notified abstraction may be an abstraction defined by one of the other modules 27, 29 or 31 in the core telephony function module 25 and may be an abstraction from a telephony application object (TAO) module 23. Can be.

1.4.3 Telephony Application Object Module

The TAO module 23 provides for local and telecommunications between a plurality of, for example, customer abstraction, server abstraction, message abstraction, telephony applications defined at the application layer 3 and core telephony functions defined by the core telephony function module 25. Telephony application abstractions, such as transport abstractions that enable the implementation and abstractions that correspond to telephony abstractions defined by the JTAPI.

The TAO module 23 is a core telephone function API layer that enables remote function calls on the abstraction of the logic and core telephone function layer 21 to enable synchronous and asynchronous communication for handling request-response commands and event notifications. It may include an abstraction defining an interface to 21.

Therefore, the TAO layer 23 allows the layers 15, 13, 11, 33 and 25 to remain logically and materially independent from the remaining layers 21, 5 and 3. Thus, layers 21, 5, and 3 can be fully implemented within the first TCD, fully implemented on network resources outside the first TCD, and remote function calls on the abstraction of the core telephone function layer 21. Can be developed and executed, and can be implemented partially within the TCD and partially outside the first TCD.

The TAO layer 23 can be programmed in an object-oriented programming language such as C ++ or JAVA, and can include abstractions corresponding to the abstractions defined by the JTAPI.

1.4.4 Core Phone Function API

The core telephone function API 21 provides a programming interface for the core telephone function of the first TCD. The core telephone function API 21 may include a number of abstractions corresponding to the abstractions provided by the JTAPI. For example, the core telephone function API 21 may include a number of abstractions described in C ++ that are later patterned from the JAVA abstraction of the JTAPI. The core telephony function API 21 can be implemented using the Pingtel Telephony API (PTAPI) available from Pingtel Corporation of Woburn, Massachusetts.

As mentioned above, each abstraction of the core telephone function API 21 may have a set of events that are triggered as a result of well-defined states and state transitions. Similar to the JTAPI, the core abstraction of the core telephone function API 21 may include abstractions for providers, terminal calls, connections, terminal connections, terminals, and receivers. The core telephone function API 21 may be configured such that only a privileged seller can access and operate the core telephone function of the first TCD.

The telephony system architecture layers 9-15 provide the first TCD with a programming interface that allows the core telephony functions and privileged sellers to manipulate the core telephony functions and add additional functions to them. Therefore, if the first TCD is distributed in the field with only layers 9-15, the telephone functionality of the first TCD can only be extended or modified by the seller with privileged access.

Denying general access to certain core telephony functions may be desirable for the first TCD to operate correctly. For example, it may be desirable to restrict access to abstractions defined within the core telephone layer that control configuring the call set-up message to conform to a particular call control protocol, such as SIP. Failure to restrict such access may cause a third vendor or user to cause such an abstraction error in which the first TCD cannot send a message over a communication network that conforms to the SIP protocol.

On the other hand, it may be desirable to allow a user or a third seller to develop an application that runs on or in conjunction with the first TCD. Therefore, it may be desirable to have a more open and scalable telephony system architecture.

1.5 Open API Layer

Thus, the telephony system architecture 1 may comprise layers 1-5 which enable the telephony function of the first TCD to be expanded or modified after being distributed in the field.

The open API layer 5 may comprise an abstraction which is a building block for the application developed for the application layer 3 by the API layer 5. For example, the application open API layer 5 may include a framework class described in the Telephony JAVA programming language, which is a JAVA virtual machine (JVM from Sun Microsystem, Inc.). ) May be included.

The open API layer 5 provides an open API for software developers to develop applications, including telephony applications and non-telephony applications, to the application layer 3. In order to open the open API layer 5 to software developers, the APIs of the open API layer, such as APIs 6, 7, 8 and 10, can be distributed or made publicly available on the Internet. For example, one or more APIs may be provided by the xpressa Development Kit ™ available from http://www.pingtal.com from Pingtel Corporation.

The open API layer 5 may include one or more user interface APIs 6, one or more system APIs 7, one or more telephone APIs 8, and one or more media APIs 10.

1.5.1 User Interface API

The user interface API 6 assists the developer in developing a graphical user interface (GUI) for the first TCD. The user interface API 6 may provide a plurality of controls and forms for designing a GUI. For example, the user interface API may be the JAVA abstract window tool kit (AWT) or the xpressa Window Toolkit ™ (xWT) available from http://www.pingtal.com from Pingtel Corporation as an extension of Java AWR.

1.5.2 Telephony API

The telephone API 8 provides a plurality of abstractions for adding functionality and manipulating the functionality of the first TCD. The telephony API 8 may be or an implementation of JTAPI from Sun Microsystems, Inc. The JTAPI specification can be obtained from http://java.sun.com/products/jtapi/. Accordingly, the telephony API 8 may include at least one provider providing an address of the first TCD, a telephone call to which the first TCD participates, a connection included in the telephone call, a telephone service corresponding to the first TCD, and a first TCD. It may include a plurality of abstractions corresponding to a JTAPI including a corresponding terminal or the like. Other abstractions may include observers, listeners, exceptions, events, states, methods associated with them, or another abstraction provided by the JTAPI.

Other phone APIs 8 may include a simplified version of the JTAPI that is more efficient and easier to use. For example, the telephony API 8 may include a Simple Telephony API (STAPI), available from http://www.pingtal.com from Pingtel Corporation.

In addition to the event and receiver interface abstraction, the telephony API may include hooks that allow application developers to influence certain time-critical behavior of the first TCD. A hook is a method of abstraction that occurs when a certain type of event occurs, such as the JAVA method. For example, each telephony API 8 may have a hook that allows a developer to influence the handling of caller-ID information, redirecting and filtering phone calls, and determining how the first TCD notifies the user that a call is being entered. Can be provided. For example, the first TCD can be notified visually that a call is being entered, for example by blinking a light, audibly, for example by beeping, or by a combination thereof.

The open API layer 5 is also a language that interfaces the abstraction defined by the open API layer 5 with the abstraction defined by the core telephone function layer 9, in particular the abstraction defined by the TAO module 23. It may include an interface. For example, if one or more APIs of the open API layer 5 are defined in Java and the TAO object module is defined in C ++, the language interface may be a Java Native Interface (JNI).

1.5.3 System API

System API 7 provides a system wide range of tools for telephony system architecture 1. For example, the system API may include an application manager for starting, stopping, loading, unloading, and monitoring an application running in the application layer 3. In addition, the system API may include an application relay that handles applications, prevents conflicts between applications, and resolves conflicts between applications. The system API may be provided as part of the xpressa Development Kit ™.

1.5.3.1 Application Manager

The application manager may be configured as a web server that resides on the first TCD and enables loading or unloading of applications with the first TCD. Thus, a user can access a web server using a web browser. Such a web browser may reside on the first TCD itself or on another network resource such as a computer. For example, as described below with respect to FIG. 7, if the first TCD is implemented as a telephone, a more extensive computer may be used to install web browsers and other tools on the computer to develop and upload applications to application developers or others. It would be desirable to provide access to one resource (eg, memory, video monitor, keyboard, and mouse).

To add an application to the application layer 3 via the application manager web server, the user can specify a location and file name. For example, via a web browser, a user can specify a URL where an executable file, such as a JAVA archive (.JAR) file, is located.

Depending on the configuration of the first TCD, the application manager web server stores the specified file on the first TCD itself, stores the specified file on another network resource to maintain a pointer to its location, or to a URL specified by the user. Can store a pointer to

To uninstall an application, the user only needs to enter the application name via a web browser, and the Application Manager web server will uninstall the specified application.

Application managers can be implemented using other types of applications in addition to web-based customer / server applications.

1.5.3.2 Application Repeater

The application relay can be configured to provide two general functions, safety and conflict resolution.

The application relay can provide security for the first TCD by adjusting the addition, modification and execution of the applications. For example, the application relay may request an application being installed on the first TCD or being modified and reinstalled to satisfy certain criteria. For example, an application may need to register a first TCD resource, such as a list of abstractions that the application uses when executing. The application relay may be configured to reject the application if the application does not include such a list.

If the application contains a list, after examining the list, the application relayer can reject the application, asking the application not to modify or use certain resources. In response, the application relay may accept the application and mark the application with an approval to cause the application to be installed or run on the first TCD.

The application relay may be configured to automatically accept or reject the application, or provide a user interface to allow a user, such as a system administrator, to review the list of resources for each application to manually accept or reject the application.

The application relay may also be configured to monitor the application while running. If the application uses a resource that has not been registered with the application relay, the application relay can prevent the application from running anymore.

Another common feature provided by the application relay is conflict resolution. On a typical communication network, conflicts can arise between telephony functions operating on a communication network. Historically, PBX-based telephony networks have tried to test for possible collisions and provide appropriate action in the event of a collision. However, on a communication network with one or more TCDs with modifiable and extensible functionality, each TCD may have its own set of applications defined thereon, thus causing collisions to occur less frequently. Therefore, it may be desirable to apply more innovative techniques for addressing these potential conflicts, which include techniques for preventing conflicts between applications and techniques for identifying and resolving conflicts in the event of a conflict.

Thus, the application relay can be configured to resolve conflicts between two or more applications present or running on the TCD.

As mentioned above, the application can communicate with the abstraction of the core telephony functional layer 9 that monitors telephony events. Specifically, an application can register to be notified as a result of an event occurrence. First, in order to handle conflicts between applications for events registered for notification by two or more applications, the application relay may be configured to define the order in which the applications should be notified. Secondly, the application relay may be configured to define whether the application will a) coordinate and relay telephony events or b) consume and not telephony events.

If the application coordinates the event, after the application executes the function according to the occurrence of the event, the application then notifies the registered application of the occurrence of the event. If an application is defined to consume an event, after the application executes the function according to the occurrence of the event, the application does not notify the additional registered application of the occurrence of the event.

For example, a call waiting application can be configured to monitor for current state of a current call event defined by the call handling module 31 and input from the network to determine if a new call is being entered. You can monitor call events. If the current call state has not changed (i.e., the telephone call is still in progress), then, if an input call event occurs, the call waiting application coordinates (a) the event that triggers the call waiting and also a new input call. Send information about any other application that has registered for such a notification, or (b) consume an event that triggers a call waiting, and no information about the new call is sent to that other application, even if the application is registered for automatic notification. You can either do not send it or do it either. For example, although a call forwarding application may be registered to notify when an incoming call occurs, if the call forwarding application comes after the call waiting application and the call waiting application is defined to consume the input call event, call forwarding application. The application will not be notified of the input call and will not receive any information about the input call. By preventing the call forwarding application from notifying about an incoming call, a collision between the call waiting application and the call forwarding application could be avoided.

1.5.4 Media API

Although the Telephony API 8 enables developers to develop telephony applications using well-defined relatively high-level building blocks, such as the abstraction provided by JTAPI, more dedicated use of low-level media processing building blocks. It would be desirable to develop a media processing application.

Accordingly, the media API 10 may provide a tool that enables a developer to directly access and process the media abstraction of the media processing module 29 described above in more detail with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4. The developer operates on the first TCD using a media API 10 that defines a custom media function by generating a method for the media processing controller 115 to connect, create, and destroy the media processing elements. Dedicated media processing applications can be developed.

For example, the media API 10 may allow an application to enable two or more participants in a conference call to conduct a side conference during a conference call, such that streaming audio following a particular protocol, such as MP3, is mixed into the telephone call. It may be used to create and combine a number of media processing elements of the media processing module 29 for developing an application that enables, or an application that implements an on-demand voicemail system on the first TCD.

Telephony applications and other high level abstractions of the application layer 3 may use the media processing controller 115 to dynamically generate the media processing component 30 and connect the media processing elements during the telephone call. In addition, telephony applications can be defined to construct media processing elements in a unique manner to create subscriber media processing abstractions for particular features provided by telephony applications.

2. Telephone implementation of the telephone communication device

5 shows an embodiment of a first TCD as the telephone 200. The telephone 200 may be a desk telephone that is connected to a network medium of a communication network. For example, the telephone 200 may be a desktop LAN-connected telephone such as Pingtel xpressa ™ from Pingtel Corporation of Woburn, Massachusetts, and may be used by James A. Batson, Jr., filed March 20, 2000. It may have a decorative design as shown in U. S. Patent No. 29 / 120,479 entitled " Telephone Base "

In this regard, the first TCD may be implemented in a more concise form, for example in the form of a battery powered wireless telephone such as an analog mobile telephone, a Personal Communications Service (PCS) wireless telephone or a third generation (3G) wireless telephone. have.

As shown in FIG. 5, the telephone 200 provides a user interface that includes a telephone body 202 and a handset 204. The telephone body 202 includes a display screen 206; Scroll wheel 208; Content-specific button 210; Add button 212; Dial button 214; Volume button 216; Telephone function button 218; A speaker phone button 220 corresponding to the main speaker / microphone 222; And a visual indicator 224.

Dial button 24 may be used to dial a telephone number. In this regard, the telephone body 202 may include other interface controls, such as a rotary dial, for entering the telephone number.

Each of the telephone function buttons 218 may be used to perform certain telephone functions, such as to activate or deactivate the handset, to send a call, to silence the microphone body, to make a conference call, and to place a call on hold. In addition, each button 218 may have a light associated visual indicator while the button is activated. For example, for wait button 218, an indicator associated with that button 218 may glow if the call is on hold.

The visual indicator 224 may be used to indicate one or more telephony events, such as that the user of the telephony 200 has a voice message or that a call is being input. Another visual indicator may be guided on the telephone 200.

The display screen 206 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) and may display data and other information provided by the application. In addition, the display screen 206 may be designed with contact logic in which a selection or entry may be entered on the display screen 206 by contact. User interface controls 208, 210, and 212 can be used to access displayed data and information.

The scroll wheel 208 can be integrated with a graphical user interface and used to adjust the location of information on the display screen 206 or to select an item displayed on the display screen 206. Scroll wheel 208 enables a user to interact with a page of content displayed on display screen 206. The user can change the information displayed on the display screen 206 by dragging or scrolling data using the scroll wheel and selecting a particular item.

One or more applications may configure the scroll wheel to be application-dependent. Such applications provide various options for both scrolling and selecting activities, allowing the application to be configured with the desired combination of these activities.

The direction in which the scroll wheel 208 moves may determine forward or reverse progress through the content displayed on the display screen 206. For example, clockwise may cause forward progression to content, and counterclockwise may result in reverse progression to content, which may be reversed.

Detents are devices that check movement. The scroll wheel 208 can use the detent to provide feedback to the user. Each stop motion that occurs while the scroll wheel is turning indicates that a new position has been reached. Optionally, the scroll wheel 208 is continuously turned in one direction, each detent represents a simple forward or reverse movement, and the scrolling ratio may be configured such that the scrolling rate is constant from detent to detent.

In this regard, the scroll wheel 208 may be configured such that the extent to which the scroll wheel 208 can be turned is limited to a certain number, such as three, to provide a detent position in each direction and increasing resistance as the wheel turns. . Also, as a result of the user releasing the scroll wheel 208, the user can automatically return to a detent indicating a rest position between sets of directional detents.

Scroll wheel 208 may be configured to allow a user to select a particular scroll ratio using pawls. In this regard, the scroll ratio can be fixed or a combination of fixed and variable. Table 1 below shows the various ratios for any scroll wheel position with which the scroll wheel 208 can be configured.

Scroll wheel position Fixed ratio option Fixed and variable ratio options Pause-First Detent Fixed, slow rate Fixed, slow rate 1st-2nd detent Fixed, medium ratio Fixed, medium ratio Second-third detent Fixed, fast ratio Acceleration, fast ratio

Table 1

For combined fixed and variable ratio options, the A-D converter can be used to detect scroll wheel position.

The telephony 200 may be configured in a number of GUI methods to allow selection of items from the display screen 206. For example, the add button 212 can be configured to access enhanced features such as menus, help, and other applications. For example, the add button 212 may cause the display screen 206 to list and launch an application installed on the first TCD if the button is pressed, to obtain context-specific help. It may be configured to provide a tab that lists the functions provided by the application.

As the user scrolls, for every page of content provided on the display screen 206, one item is highlighted. Such an item may be highlighted by a visual signal, such as reverse video or other visual highlight, or by an indicator next to the item, such as an arrow or icon.

Content-specific buttons 210 may also be provided. If the application is configured to use these buttons 210, depending on the application, one or more items, along with the content-specific button 210, may be present on every page of content displayed on the display screen 206 as the user scrolls. Can be listed to be sorted. Pressing the content-specific button 210 corresponding to an item enables the application to start by selecting that item. Optionally, the item corresponding to the pressed content-specific button 210 is selected for additional application processing, although another item is currently highlighted by a visual signal such as a reverse image.

Therefore, the function of each button 210 depends on the content being displayed on the display screen 206. In particular, each button 210 corresponds to an item of content being displayed at a particular location on the display screen 206.

For example, referring to FIG. 6, display screen 206 is displaying a list of applications. Buttons 210 disposed along the left and right sides of the display screen 206 correspond to specific application items, respectively. If the user presses one of these items, the application corresponding to that button will be launched, resulting in the display screen 206 currently displaying new content assigned to that application.

Content-specific buttons 210 disposed along the bottom of display screen 206 may determine the body of content to be displayed on display screen 206. For example, in FIG. 6, each button 210 corresponds to a tab at the bottom of the display screen 206, where each tab corresponds to a different body of content to be displayed.

The first application is displayed on the display screen 206 for the entire content to be displayed by the second application if the content to be displayed by the second application, for example the list, does not fit the display screen 206. The display screen 206 can be configured to indicate the location of the content.

5 and 6 show embodiments of a telephone and user interface for a TCD implementation. This embodiment is for illustrative purposes, and many other embodiments of a telephone having one of a variety of configurations, as described herein, may be used to implement the TCD.

3. Communication network

The communication network in which the first TCD is located may have one of a variety of configurations. For example, a communication network may include only one network medium and two or more TCDs. Although the communication network is mainly described herein as a wire-based network having the same wire (ie, cable) as the network communication medium, the communication network has various wireless protocols, such as protocols for PCS networks, protocols for 3G networks, or IEEE 802.11. According to one of the wireless Ethernet protocols defined by and may be one of various types of networks having one of various network communication media such as carrier waves and fiber optic cables. In addition, as will be described below with respect to FIG. 7, a communication network may include a plurality of sub-networks or segments, where each sub-network may include one of a plurality of communication media.

7 illustrates one embodiment of a communications network 300. The communication network 300 may include a network communication medium at 332 and a plurality of TCDs including 302 and 306. The communication network 300 may be configured such that no other network resources are needed to conduct a telephone call between two or more TCDs. For example, each TCD may be configured such that all telephony applications that are to be run on the TCD are fully present on that TCD. In addition, each TCD may also be configured such that all data necessary to set up a telephone call is also stored completely on the TCD, including the network address of each telephone call participant and any data needed to run any application. .

In this regard, communication network 300 may be further distributed, including one or more other network resources, to store data applications and portions of applications and to assist in performing one or more telephony applications.

Accordingly, communication network 300 may include one or more companion devices, such as companion devices 304 and 310, one or more directory databases including directory databases 308 and 320, one TCD deployment server. 314, one or more application servers 318, one or more call control servers 322, one or more network interfaces, such as IP / PSTN gateway 326, and one or more administrator databases, such as administrator database 316. have.

Communication network 300 may be divided into a plurality of sub-networks or segments. For example, network elements 302, 304, 308, and 310 may be located on network communication medium 334 isolated by one or more network interface elements 312 from network communication medium 332. One or more network interface elements 312 may be a router, a bridge, a switch, a media gateway, a microwave transmitter / receiver, a cellular PCS network element, or any combination thereof, which may be used to determine the data between the network communication media 334 and 332. Control the transmission.

For example, network elements 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, and 334 may be part of subscriber network 340, and network elements 314, 318, 322, 326, 316, 320, 323, and 332 may be service providers. It may be part of network 324.

The communication network 300 may include an IP / PSTN gateway 326 for coordinating phone calls between a TCD on the communication network 300, such as the TCD 302 and a TCD on the PSTN, such as the TCD 334. Depending on the configuration of the communication network 300, different types of gateways may be used to communicate with the TCD 334 on the PSTN.

The IP / PSTN gateway 326 converts the medium and call control messages received from the communication network 300 and in accordance with one or more IP protocols to media and call control messages that should be sent to the PSTN in accordance with the PSTN protocol. Conversely, the IP / PSTN gateway may be configured to convert the PSTN media and call control messages from the PSTN into IP media and call control messages that should be sent to the communication network 300.

As mentioned above, the TCD 302 may be any of a plurality of devices including a telephone, such as the telephone 200 of FIG. 5 or a computer. If the first TCD is a telephone, it would be desirable to provide a companion device to provide additional resources for the telephone including an environment for developing additional telephone functionality, data storage and telephony applications.

For example, in a user's home or office, a user may have a TCD implemented as a telephone for participating in a telephone call and may have a general purpose computer for various other tasks. Although a user's telephone has more desirable ergonomic features for participating in a telephone call, a general purpose computer may have a plurality of more desirable features for developing applications, storing, retrieving and manipulating data. For example, a general purpose computer may include peripherals such as video monitors, keyboards and mice that do not have a telephony implementation of a TCD. A general purpose computer may also have more expandable memory for storing data and applications and for operating applications.

To develop an application for the TCD, the companion device may include a plurality of APIs, including the APIs described above in connection with the open API layer 5 and the core telephone function API layer 21. In order to load such an application onto the TCD and to unload the application from the TCD, the companion device may include an application manager as described above with respect to the system API 7.

The companion device may also be loaded with management software for managing various aspects of the communication network 300. To store and communicate data with other network resources, especially TCDs, companion devices use the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP), Remote Method Invocation (RMI), and Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML). And File Transfer Protocol (FTP) can be configured to communicate using a number of protocols.

Directory database 308 may store various information about other users, TCDs, other network resources, or communication network 300 itself. Therefore, the user can determine how to access this information and reach other users to coordinate the telephone call. For example, the directory database 308 may be a Microsoft Outlook of Microsoft Corporation. Notes in Lotus or Lotus Development Corporation It can store data for commercial directories or phone books such as: Such commercial software products may reside on the TCD itself or on a companion device to the TCD and may be configured to access the directory database 308 for information.

As will be discussed in more detail below, other directory databases, such as directory database 320, may store data for one or more directory servers 323.

As described above with respect to FIG. 1, one or more telephony applications may be fully stored and executed on the TCD, one or more applications may be distributed such that at least some of the applications are stored in another network resource, and one or more additional applications may be Another network resource can be stored away from the TCD, where the TCD maintains a pointer to the remote application. One or more application servers 318 may serve as network resources for storing one or more applications and portions of at least one or more applications.

For example, application server 318 may include a server side of a voicemail application or subscriber / server application, where the subscriber side is on one or more other TCDs. Also, although the TCD may support conference bridging as described above with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, if the number of connections included in the conference call is too large, it may be more dedicated to additional resources or conference bridging. It would be more efficient to perform conference bridging with a conference bridging application residing on an application server 318 having more resources.

The communication network 300 may include one or more directory servers 323 for directing calls between TCDs. Each directory server 323 may include a plurality of directories or indexes that map a user identifier, such as a telephone number, region name, or extension, to a network address, such as an IP address. This network address may be the network address of the TCD assigned to the user and may also be the address of another directory server that may store the network address of the TCD assigned to the user, and may be an IP / PSTN gateway such as an IP / PSTN gateway ( 326 may be a network address. One or more such directories may be stored in directory database 320, which may be accessed by directory server 323.

For example, the first network address directory may include a plurality of entries, each entry corresponding to a telephone number, such as 123-456-7890. Each entry may store a network address corresponding to the telephone number, for example 10.20.30.40.

As a result of the first network address directory receiving the telephone number, the first network address directory finds and accesses an entry in the directory server corresponding to the telephone number, and searches for an IP address contained therein. The second and third network address directories described below, as well as the first network address directory, may be configured to use this retrieved IP address in any of a variety of ways, as described in more detail below.

Directory server 323 or directory database 320 may also include a second network address directory, where each entry in the second network address directory is a logical name of a user of communication network 300, such as Corresponds to jsmith@acme.com. Each entry can store an IP address associated with a logical name. Upon receiving the logical name, directory server 323 finds and accesses the entry corresponding to the logical name and retrieves the IP address stored therein.

Directory server 323 or directory database 320 may also include a third network address directory, where each entry corresponds to an extension, such as x1234@acme.com. Each entry may include an IP address associated with the extension. Upon receiving the extended form, directory server 323 finds and accesses the entry corresponding to the extended form and searches for an IP address stored therein.

Although the network address directories have been described above as individual entries, these network address directories can be arbitrarily combined to form one or more directories.

As noted above, TCDs may store or directly access one or more network addresses, each corresponding to one or more TCDs. If the first TCD stores or directly accesses the network address of the second TCD, the first TCD uses a peer-to-peer protocol such as SIP or H.323 to call the second TCD. Can be adjusted directly.

For example, the TCD 302 may directly contact the TCD 306 by sending a SIP coordination message to the TCD 306, which may directly make a telephone call to the TCD 302 in response to the TCD 302. You can tell them you want to participate. Finally, the TCD 302 may send a confirmation message to the TCD 306 to confirm that a response message has been received from the TCD 306. A similar scheme may be applied to conduct a telephone call between TCD 302 and TCD 334 except that IP / PSTN gateway 326 will serve as a network interface between communication network 300 and PSTN.

In this regard, the TCD 302 may not be able to store or directly access the network address of the TCD 306. However, the TCD 302 may store or directly access other user identifiers of the TCD 306, such as the telephone number, logical name or extension of the TCD 306. Thus, the TCD 302 may communicate with the directory server 323 to determine an IP address corresponding to one or such indicators as described above.

If the TCD 302 sends a user identifier to the directory server 323, the directory server 323 retrieves the network address corresponding to the TCD 306, and the configuration of the directory server 323 and the TCD 302. Accordingly, directory server 323 may take some other plurality of actions. For example, if the directory server 323 is configured similarly to a SIP proxy server, the directory server 323 will forward the call coordination message to the TCD 306, which will respond to the directory server 323 and the directory. Server 323 will forward the response message to TCD 302.

In this regard, if directory server 323 is configured similar to a SIP indirect server, directory server 323 returns a predetermined network address to TCD 306, and TCD 306 sends a call coordination message to that predetermined message. Will be sent to the network address.

However, as noted above, each entry of directory server 323 may also include other network resources, such as the IP address of another directory server. Directory server 323 may be configured to send the received identifier to another network resource to perform an additional search to determine the user's network address. If the retrieved network address is the network address of another directory server and the directory server 323 is configured similar to the SIP proxy server, the directory server 323 will forward the call coordination message to the other directory server and repeat the search process. . This communication between directory servers and the searches performed there may be repeated until the user's network address is determined.

If the network address retrieved by directory server 323 is the network address of another directory server and directory server 323 is configured similarly to a SIP indirect server, directory server 323 sends the retrieved network address to TCD 302. Will deliver. The TCD 302 can then connect to that other directory server and repeat the search process. This communication between the directory server and the TCD 302 and the corresponding search process may be repeated until the user's network address is determined.

In addition, entries in the directory server may include multiple network addresses corresponding to a single identifier. For example, for a subscriber service telephone number, the subscriber service telephone number may correspond to a plurality of network addresses. As a result, directory server 323 may include logic to determine which network address to contact and to perform either sending a call coordination message to the determined address or transmitting the determined address to TCD 302. .

As described above, for a telephone number corresponding to a TCD, such as TCD 334, present on the PSTN, directory server 323 may retrieve the IP address of an IP / PSTN gateway, such as IP / PSTN gateway 326. Can be. The network address retrieved by the directory server 323 may determine the network address of the IP / PSTN gateway that is geographically closest to the TCD 334, such as the network address of the IP / PSTN gateway 326. Depending on the configuration of the directory server 323, the directory server 323 forwards the call coordination message to another network resource that will forward the message to the appropriate IP / PSTN gateway or forwards the network address to the TCD 302 to the TCD. One may do that to allow 302 to contact its own appropriate IP / PSTN gateway 326.

If the TCD 302 is configured to coordinate a telephone call using a master / slave call control protocol, the TCD 302 will send a call coordination message to the master / slave controller 322 to coordinate the telephone call. The master / slave controller 322 then uses directory server 323 and directory database 320 using techniques similar to those described above with respect to TCD 302 configured to use a peer-to-peer protocol. Will adjust your telephone call.

Similarly, for a telephone call coming into the communication network 300 by, for example, the IP / PSTN gateway 326 or by a network switching element such as a switch, router, bridge, or hub, the directory server 323 is configured to call the call participant. Contact may be made to determine the network address. For example, if the TCD 334 attempts to coordinate a call with the TCD 302, the IP / PSTN gateway 326 sends the coordination message to a coordination message following the default call control protocol being used by the communication network 300. Will be converted to. IP / PSTN gateway 326 will then forward a call coordination message containing the user identifier to directory server 323 to determine the network address of TCD 302.

Many other techniques can be used to assign telephone calls to the appropriate user and TCD.

The TCD for which the TCD 302 attempts to coordinate a call with it may be configured to coordinate the call using a call control protocol that is different from the call control protocol of the TCD 302. For example, TCD 302 can be configured to use the SIP protocol, and TCD 306 can be configured to use the H.323 protocol. Thus, the directory server 323 may be configured to determine the call control protocol supported by the network address and send this information to the TCD 302, which may also be configured by the network returned by the directory server 323. It may be configured to determine which call control protocol the address corresponds to.

If the TCD 302 is configured to communicate using the H.323 protocol, the TCD 302 can communicate with the TCD 306 using the H.323 protocol. However, if the TCD 302 is not configured to coordinate telephone calls using H.323, then the TCD 302 will send a SIP message to the H.323 / SIP signaling gateway. The H.323 / SIP signaling gateway can convert SIP messages into H.323 messages. Thus, the H.323 / SIP signaling gateway can send the generated H.323 message to the TCD 306, which, when the TCD 306 responds with the H.323 message, will send this H.323 / SIP signaling gateway. The 323 message can be converted to a SIP message and sent to the TCD 302.

In one embodiment of the communication network 300, the network 300 may be configured to identify a call agent for each call entering the network. For inbound calls, the relevant call agent may be a call agent used by a SIP proxy server, MGCP call agent, H.323 gatekeeper or another call signaling protocol.

As the number of TCDs 302 on the communication network 300 increases, it would be desirable to delegate telephony applications provided by the TCD itself to other network resources, such as the TCD deployment server 314. TCD deployment server 314 may be comprised of a plurality of telephony applications that may be configured on one TCD. TCD deployment server 314 configures and manages TCDs, performs software upgrades on TCDs, determines which applications are installed on which TCDs, and multiple TCDs in multiple layers, such as geographic areas, metropolitan areas. , Applications can be organized into hierarchical groups that can have groups descending to commercial areas, commercial parts, buildings, floors, and users. The TCD Deployment Server may also provide a number of other services for the TCD.

TCD deployment server 314 also has personal TCD configuration information assigned to the user of communication network 300. Thus, regardless of where on the network the user uses the TCD, the user can display a unique identifier for the TCD deployment server 314, which is in accordance with the user's personal configuration information. You can configure the TCD you are using.

TCD deployment server 314 may store the applications and data described above in management database 316. The management database 316 can be any of a plurality of data types, including an object-oriented database, a relational database, or a flat file database. In addition, the TCD deployment server 314 may be configured to access the management database 316 using a plurality of techniques, including Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC) techniques or Java DataBase Connectivity (JDBC) techniques. In addition, to communicate with other network resources including one or more TCDs and companion devices, the TCD deployment server 314 may be configured to communicate using a number of protocols including SNMP, HTTP, RMI, HTML, and FTP. Can be.

Communication network 300 may be configured in any of a variety of ways, and the configuration of FIG. 7 is provided for illustrative purposes only. Many other network configurations can be used.

4. Telephony Applications

As described above, the open and extensible telephony system architecture 1 provides the ability to develop applications using the core telephony functional layer 9 and the open API layer 5 respectively. Thus, the plurality of applications described now can be implemented using the open API layer 5, the core telephone function layer 9, or any combination thereof. In addition, such applications may be operated on one or more TCDs, on one or more other network resources, or on a combination thereof.

Many of the applications described below define the transmission / reception of information, text data, instructions, or other information to / from one or more TCDs, including media, i.e., audio or video, for or during telephony calls. do. The information sent / received may depend on the state of the first TCD or another TCD.

In addition, the action taken by the TCD as a result of receiving this information may depend on the state of the received TCD.

In addition, each application defined below may be added or modified to the first TCD after the first TCD has been deployed to the communication network, such as by using one or more APIs of the open API layer 5, as described above. Can be configured.

In addition, each application defined below may be embodied as a computer signal on one of a variety of computer readable media, i.e., a variety of computer readable media, such as disk, flash memory, memory stick, PC card or tape. have. Permanent recording media known as such discs, such as floppy discs or readable CDs, or hard drives, are preferably removable.

Thus, the application described below can access one or more abstracted core telephony functionality layers 9 to determine the state of the TCD or the telephone call on the TCD. It is also possible to control one or more media processing elements of the media processing component 30 as described above for processing media in accordance with the present application.

The first telephony application may be configured to enable the caller from the TCD to control the sound played on the recipient's TCD to indicate an incoming call from the caller. The sound can be reproduced from an audio file accessible by the receiver, such as an audio file stored in the audio storage medium 60, and coded in the tone generator 69 of the receiver's TCD. Or the sound itself may be sent from the sender's TCD to the receiver's TCD. The sound can be a ring, a voice alert, or any sound that is meaningful to the person being called. The sound is intermittently played until canceled by the receiver and can be broadcast via multiple TCDs, such as multiple customer service TCDs, on a communication network. The application can also be used by the caller to "paging" another TCD, but does not initiate the actual telephone call.

The sound to be reproduced is prerecorded, for example by capturing the sound through a telephone mouthpiece of the telephone or a direct electrical audio signal capture jack on the telephone, and then storing the sound on a TCD on an accessible network resource. The TCD of both the sender and the receiver can be configured to control the way the sound is played by the sender or the receiver, for example by the programmer of the telephony application or through the user parameters provided by the telephony application.

8 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for indicating an incoming call to a second user of at least a second TCD. The method is defined by one or more telephony applications.

In step 452, a call indication corresponding to the network address of the second TCD is received. Next, in step 454, the first user is identified from the call indication, and in step 456, the sound to be played is selected based on the identification.

In a next step 458, a call initiation message is sent from the network address to the second TCD. The call initiation message includes information that causes the second TCD to produce the selected sound. The information included in the call initiation message may include an instruction for playing the selected sound or information indicating the selected sound. The information may also include a location, for example a URL, for playing the selected sound.

Another telephony application may optionally mix or mute the multiple audio inputs received during a conference call between TCDs, as described above with respect to the local call bridge 51 of FIG. Thus, the user of the first TCD attending the conference call may enable or optionally mute the audio stream of another conference call participant. In addition, the application instructs the first TCD to selectively mix audio originating from and / or received from the second TCD, while the user on the second TCD that is not controlling the conference call communicates to the first TCD. It can be configured to send. As a result, known to the selected subset of participants, questions are directed to other subsets or comments of particular individuals are temporarily viewed from the meeting.

Although optionally mixed and attenuated audio signals are mainly described for bridged conference calls, a similar technique is a fully-meshed conference call where each TCD represents all connections included in a conference call. Can be used to selectively mix audio for and mute the sound. Although the perfectly tailored conferencing configuration reduces the burden on a single TCD, this configuration creates more network connections, increasing network traffic, and also includes more current multiple TCDs to control more complex conference calls.

In addition, one or more specified versions of the TCD may be provided for selectively softening and mixing the sound during the telephone call, and each TCD may include extra signal processing power for mixing or softening the sound.

9 illustrates a method 460 for selectively transmitting media during a conference call comprising a first user input for receiving media from a first user and two or more connections each between the first TCD and the two or more second TCDs. Is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment. Each second TCD corresponds to a second user. The method may be defined by one or more telephony applications.

In step 462, a user selection is identified that identifies one or more third users for inclusion in media received from one or more fourth users. Each third user and fourth user is either a first user or one of a second user.

Next, at step 464, one or more media inputs are received from one or more fourth users during the conference call. In a next step 466, one or more third users during the conference call will receive media originating from one or more media inputs.

10 illustrates a method 470 of selectively transmitting media during a conference call comprising two or more connections each between a first user and a first TCD and two or more second TCDs for receiving media from a first user. It is a flowchart showing another embodiment. Each second TCD corresponds to a second user. The method may be defined by one or more telephony applications.

In step 472, a user selection is received that identifies one or more third users to be excluded from the medium received from the one or more fourth users. Each third and fourth user is either a first user or one of a second user.

Next, at step 474, one or more media inputs are received from one or more fourth users during the conference call. In a next step 476, one or more third users during the conference call will not receive any medium originating from the one or more media inputs.

In methods 460 and 470, the media resulting from one or more media inputs may be mixed media in one of the various methods described above. Further, for methods 460 and 470, one or more third users may be able to receive or not receive media respectively by using the local call bridge 51 of FIG. 3 as described above. In addition, for the methods 460, 470, the received user selection may be received from the first user of the first TCD or from one of the second users.

Another telephony application is a telephone call, which may define a method of communicating text information of a first user of a first TCD to a second user of a second TCD connected to the first TCD by a first connector. In particular, during a telephone call, text data defining text is received on the first connection from the second TCD. The first TCD then displays the text defined by the text data, for example on the display screen 206 of FIG. 5 described above. The text data may be one of various data, for example, a user of the second TCD or information about the second TCD.

The scheduling application may be defined for the user to schedule a telephone call such as a conference call. Using the user interface and other network resources, such as the companion device of FIG. 7, described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the user can specify the talk time and date and the telephone number of each telephone call participant. By inputting a telephone call can be scheduled. Also, if a teleconferencing bridge (ie not the local call bridge 51) is used to make a telephone call, the user can configure a scheduling application that calls the teleconferencing bridge to initiate the conference call.

The scheduling application is Microsoft Outlook (Microsoft Outlook). ) Or Lotus Notes Can be used to interface with and access data from a database, and to use network resources involved in scheduling Internet calendars and scheduling protocols (ICalenders) or conference calls for communicating between the first TCD and other TCDs. Can be.

The scheduling application is configured to contain all telephone call information including the time and date of the call and the identity of the participant, so that the application automatically notifies other participants about the scheduled call. The notification may provide other participants with a variety of information, including time and date of the call, information about the other call participant, and identity.

The scheduling application may be configured to notify other participants on the telephone call by sending an e-mail (e-mail) message, such as an e-mail message in accordance with a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP).

11 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 480 of scheduling and executing a telephone call between a first user of a first TCD and one or more second users of a second TCD. In step 482, one or more user identifiers are received where each user identifier recognizes one of the second users. The method may be defined by one or more telephony applications.

Next, in step 484, date and time information is specified that specifies a future date and time to make a call, and in step 486, a user identifier and date and time information may be stored. The identifier and date and time information may be stored locally on a remote network resource accessible by the first TCD or on the first TCD.

In the next step 488, the user identifier is accessed at the date and time specified by the date and time information. Next, at step 490, the telephone call may be initiated between the first TCD and the one or more second TCDs.

The method 480 may also include receiving a conference bridge identifier that identifies the conference bridge. Initiating the conference call includes invoking the conference bridge. In addition, the method 480 may include notifying one or more second users around the call prior to initiating a telephone call by sending a message containing information about the call from the first TCD to the one or more second TCDs. have.

The web based dialing application may provide a web based call by defining a web server implemented in the first TCD to initiate a telephone call. The web-based dialing application may be configured to allow the user to create a web page on an implemented web server that includes a link to a URL that indicates one or more participants included in the telephone call. The link may include various information about the telephone call, including an identifier such as a telephone number, for the identifier of each participant and conference bridge.

Using a web browser application on a PC or other network resource, a user can access a web page on the first TCD and click on one or more URL links to cause the TCD to dial the selected number. The web-based dialing application may be configured to allow the user to dial one or more TCDs on other types of networks including telephones on the PSTN and / or data networks. In addition, a web-based dialing application may define a call initiation HTML tag, such as "callto: <destination>", which operates similarly to the mailto: <destination> HTML tag. Thus, clicking on the call initiation tag results in the creation of a telephone call to the destination.

An example web-based dialing application may define a method of initiating a telephone call between a first user of a first TCD and one or more second users of a second TCD. Such a method may include receiving one or more URLs selected by the first user. Each URL selection corresponds to one of the second TCDs. Next, a telephone call of the first TCD and one or more second TCDs can be initiated.

The web-based dialing application may use one or more network directories to map TCD identifiers such as URLs, telephone numbers, extensions of users, and determine network addresses for initiating a telephone call, as described above with respect to FIG. 7. have. The web-based dialing application may also use other network resources, such as an IP / PSTN gateway, to send initiation messages to other networks, such as the TCD located on the PSTN, as described above with respect to FIG. 7.

Another telephony application may be defined for displaying text on the display screen of the first TCD. The content of the text corresponds to the content of the audio signal received on the first TCD. For example, the telephony application may be configured to display options on a display screen, such as display screen 206, in response to the options played back by an interactive voice response (IVR) system. For example, the telephony application may be configured to represent a second TCD (eg, a TCD that is part of an IVR system) so that the first TCD can display text. In response, the second TCD may send or control another resource for transmitting textual content corresponding to the audio content of the first TCD.

The first TCD may then display textual content, such as a selection list, on the display screen as the IVR message is played. The user may then choose to use the user interface corresponding to the user interface described above with respect to the display screen, eg, FIG. 5, without waiting for a complete IVR message to be played on the first TCD.

If the second TCD is part of an IVR system, such as a customer service network, the central server may be a network resource that acts as a substitute for the second TCD and other TCDs of the IVR system and transmits a text signal to the first TCD. .

12 is received as a part of a telephone call between a first TCD and a second TCD, wherein the first TCD comprises a display screen such as text related to a medium such as audio or video comprising a display screen 206 of FIG. 5. Is a flow chart illustrating an example method 500 for displaying. The method will be defined by one or more telephony applications.

In step 502, a media signal may be received at a first connection from a second TCD in which the media signal represents media content.

In step 504, prior to or simultaneously with receiving the media signal, the text signal is received at the first connection. The text signal indicates text content corresponding to the medium content.

Next, in step 506, the text content is displayed on the display screen. In the next step 508, after displaying the text content or at the same time, the media content can be played.

Another application may be defined for sending text data in response to a call initiation message. For example, the application may be configured to respond to the text message upon receipt of the call initiation message from the other TCD with the first TCD depending on the state of the first TCD. For example, the first TCD may be defined to have a "not in office" state. Thus, the application is configured such that when the first TCD receives a call initiation message, the first TCD sends a list of other TCDs, such as cell phone numbers, voice mail addresses, or other methods of accessing other users' phone numbers. Can be.

13 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 510 of communicating information to a second TCD in accordance with the state of the first TCD.

In step 512, a call initiation message is sent to the second TCD to initiate the telephone call. Next, in step 514, a text signal is received from the second TCD in response to the call initiation message. The text signal defines the text content corresponding to one state of the second TCD.

In the next step 516, the text content is displayed on the display screen of the first TCD.

The textual content may include one or more options corresponding to one state of the second TCD in which each option represents an action taken in response to one state of the second TCD. The one or more options may be displayed to the user of the first TCD. Thus, the method 510 may also include receiving a selection of one of the options from the first user to take an action indicated by the selection, and sending a selection signal indicative of the selection to the second TCD.

14 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 520 of communicating information to a second TCD in accordance with the state of the first TCD.

In step 522, a call initiation message for initiating a telephone call is received at the first TCD from the second TCD. Next, in step 524, the state of the first TCD is determined.

In a next step 526, the first TCD transmits a text signal indicating the determined state to the second TCD for display.

As described above, the text signal may include one or more textual representations of the user of the second TCD for display on the second TCD. Each option may indicate the action taken in response to the state of the first TCD. Thus, the method 520 may further include receiving a selection signal from the second TCD in which the selection signal indicates selection of one or more options by the user of the second TCD and taking the action indicated by the selection. .

Another application may define how to communicate an audible expression, which is a sound that is meaningful to the user, on a communication network during a telephone call. The audible expression may express or emphasize an emotional state during a telephone call. For example, the audible expression may be a bomb popping sound, a popular expression, a ringing bell or other sound that is meaningful to the user. Such sound may be encoded as part of tone generator 69 or may be stored on a storage medium accessible by first TCD such as audio, storage medium 60. The application is configured to mix the user's voice and audible representation on the first TCD so that other participants in the telephone call will hear the mixed audible signal including the voice and audible representation. Optionally, the audible expression is mixed with the user's voice so that only the audible expression can be heard.

Video or textual representation can also be used in a similar way for communicating during a telephone call.

One or more applications may be defined to play and stop the medium on the first TCD as part of the game. For example, a "whack-a-mole" type game is a medium such as a first TCD until an audio or video is selected by a user of the first TCD selecting a particular key sequence or pressing a particular button on the user interface of the first TCD. Can be defined to be played on the phase. If the correct sequence is entered by the user within a certain period of time, playback of the sound is stopped and control of the game can be sent to another TCD to continue the game.

In addition, the application may be configured to receive a quote-of-the-day or transportation on the TCD at certain intervals, such as daily, weekly or hourly, as configured by the user or network provider.

Another telephony application may be defined to play text, media or other information on the first TCD as a screensaver or on an advertisement driven on the display screen of the first TCD.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 530 of conveying an audible expression during a telephone call.

In step 532, a voice signal representing the voice of the first user of the first TCD is received. In a next step 534, a selection signal is received that means selection of the expression heard by the original user.

Next, in step 536, an audible representation signal corresponding to the selection signal is generated, and the audible representation signal means an audible representation. In step 538, the audible representation signal and the speech signal are mixed to produce a mixed signal.

In step 540, the mixed signal is sent to one or more second users in one or more second TCDs as part of a telephone call.

A call screening application may be used for incoming calls to the first TCD based on data related to the incoming call, for example, caller ID (e.g., caller ID), time of day or other relevant data. Can be defined as screening calls. Screening applications can provide parameters by defining rules or by user defining rules to determine how to respond to call set-up messages based on other standards. For example, for a very important call, a rule may be defined that the first TCD attempts to another consecutive telephone number to contact the user of the original TCD. Furthermore, screening applications can be defined such that the first TCD provides voice mail or other alternatives for less important calls. In addition, the screening application can be queried for the caller to provide additional information before the call is properly filtered.

16 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 550 of screening telephone call information based on information associated with a call.

In step 552, a first call set-up message is received at the first TCD from the second TCD. Next, in step 554, rules for answering one or more calls are accessed, and the rules for answering each call define the actions and conditions taken by the original TCD corresponding to the call set-up message if the conditions are met.

At step 556, one or more rules for answering the call are determined depending on whether the condition is met. Next, at step 558, the call set-up message is answered according to a decision for rules to answer one or more calls.

As discussed above, the first rule of the one or more rules may define the action taken on the condition of the call set-up message received for one or more time intervals. Thus, the method 550 may also determine the first time at which the call set-up message is received and determine the first time with at least one time interval to determine whether the first time is within at least one time interval. Comparing. If the first time is within one or more time intervals, responding to the call set-up message includes responding to the call set-up message in accordance with the action defined by the first rule.

Furthermore, as described above, the first rule of the one or more rules may define the action taken on the condition of the call set-up message from the special user. Thus, the receiving of the method 550 includes receiving an identification signal corresponding to a call set-up message, wherein the identification signal identifies a user of the second communication device. The determining step also includes identifying the user from the identification signal and comparing the user's credentials with the at least one special user's credentials to determine if the user is one of the special users. If the user is one of a particular user, the step of responding to the call set-up message includes corresponding to the call set-up message in accordance with the action defined by the first rule.

Furthermore, rules for answering one or more calls may define passing a call set-up message to one or more other TCDs if the first condition is met. Thus, the responding may include forwarding the call set-up message to the one or more TCDs if the first condition is met.

In addition, the screening application may be configured to define one of the rules for answering the call to play the sound if the first condition is met. Thus, the step of responding may include playing such a sound if the first condition is met.

The screening application may also define that one of the rules for answering the call prompts the user to call the TCD for more information if the first condition is met. Thus, responding includes satisfying the user for more information if the first condition is met.

Another application may be configured to integrate e-mail with a telephone call. FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 560 of playing the contents of an e-mail message such as audio on a first TCD.

In step 562, the e-mail message is controlled to be sent to a network resource that converts the text content of the e-mail message into a voice signal. Optionally, the first TCD includes a text to speech application as if the first TCD is a network resource.

In step 564, the call is set up between the network resource and the first TCD. In step 566, the voice signal is controlled to be transmitted to the first TCD as part of the telephone call. This transmission may be controlled by the first TCD.

Next, in step 568, the audio signal is played on the first TCD.

Another telephony application may be configured to record a telephone conversation and send the recorded conversation to one or more audio-play devices, for example one or more TCDs. For example, such a telephony application defines a method of communicating with at least one user of at least one TCD that is at least a first portion of a telephone call between a first user of the first TCD and at least one third user of at least one third TCD. can do. Such a method includes recording at least a first portion of a telephone call between a first user and at least one third user as an audio file and transmitting the audio file to at least one second TCD. The audio file attaches it to an e-mail message and sends the e-mail message to one or more second TCDs, or attaches the audio file to a call set-up message and sends the call set-up message to one or more second TCDs. Can be sent by.

Other telephony applications can define how to send graphics files as messages to users of the TCD. 18 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 570 of transmitting a graphical message to a first user of a second TCD.

In step 572, a call set-up message is sent from the first TCD to the second TCD. Next, at step 574, an instruction signal is received from the second TCD that the first user does not answer the call set-up message.

In a next step 576, the graphics file is sent from the first TCD to the second TCD for storage as a message for the first user. The first user may display a message on the display screen on the second TCD. Optionally, the second TCD may be configured such that only a particular user can leave a graphical message on the second TCD.

19 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method 580 of delivering a graphical message to a user of a first TCD that includes a display screen.

In step 582, a call set-up message is received from the second TCD. In a next step 584, an indication is sent that the first user does not respond to the call set-up message.

Next, in step 586, in response to sending the indication, a graphics file is received from the second TCD as a message.

Next, in step 588, the graphic file is displayed on the display screen to deliver a message to the first user.

The method 580 may also include storing the graphics file on a storage medium accessible by the first TCD, for example, a local storage medium on the first TCD or another storage medium located on another network resource. .

Another telephony application may be configured to add a connection to a media source, eg, a media source on the Internet, and supply the media from the media source to another TCD that is waiting by the first TCD.

20 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 590 in which one or more pending connections are located during a telephone call.

In step 592, a command signal is received for placing the telephone call into the air, and in step 594, a command signal of the location of the media file is received.

In step 596, a connection to the location of the media file is created, and in step 598 a media signal is received from the media file.

In step 600, the media signal is sent to one or more pending connections.

Another telephony application may define personal information about the first user, including configuration information about how to configure the TCD for the first user and information about the usage habits of the first user.

Thus, when the first user uses a plurality of TCDs on the communication network, the first user can provide the first user's credentials and the personal information of the first user that is used and accessed to construct the TCD used by the first user. have. Optionally, this personal information may be stored in a network resource accessible by any plurality of TCDs on the communication network. Further, the network resource, for example, the TCD deployment server 314 described above with respect to FIG. 7, may be configured to retrieve personal information for any plurality of TCDs on the communication network.

21 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 610 for dynamically configuring a telephone communication device for a first user.

In step 612, a user credential identifying the first user is received, and in step 614, configuration information specific to the first user is accessed.

In step 616, the TCD is configured according to the configuration information.

Furthermore, this personal information is made available to the caller each time a call is made, or accessed and stored in a personal information management application such as Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes.

In addition, the selected personal information may be generated for use in a telephone call receiving IVR prompting. Thus, a telephony application can be configured at each IVR prompt, optional personal information can be accessed, and a response to the IVR prompt sent automatically or, if security is enabled, after permission is granted.

Another telephony application may be configured to distort, scramble, or encrypt the media signal before sending the signal on the communication network.

Another telephony application may be configured to control the delivery of a telephone call through a special service provider on a communication network based on a rate, for example, on a predefined standard. For example, if a call is set up on the TCD from another network, such an application may be configured to contact an IP network-IP network service provider for one or more IP / PSTN gateways or rate information for the call.

Another telephony application may be configured to provide an answer to a handsfree call on the TCD. Such an application informs the user that when a call set-up message is received, an audible (e.g., bell) or visual signal (e.g., blinking light) indicates that the call has come, and when the call is accepted. (E.g., a call is made on a TCD), a speakerphone or other speaker operates so that the user of the TCD can immediately start a telephone conversation.

Another telephony application may be configured to apply to voice accent analysis for telephony calls. Such an application can check the emotional state of the speaker using a number of accent levels associated with the known technology. The numeric accent level may be displayed on the display screen to the user of the first TCD participating in the telephone call.

Another telephony application may provide voice based dialing on the first TCD. Such an application may include voice recognition logic for searching a database of voice patterns corresponding to the user's network address or other identifying means for searching for a match with a name spoken by the user of the first TCD. Such a database may be located locally on the first TCD or remotely on another network resource. After the pattern match is formed, the first TCD can automatically set up the call with the TCD corresponding to the match. Such an application may provide a user of the first TCD that accesses any telephone number available on the Internet, or provide another telephone directory accessible by the first TCD by simply naming the first TCD.

As mentioned above, the first TCD may store the telephone extension or telephone number locally or remotely. Thus, when a user enters a phone number to call another user, the telephony application retrieves these numbers, provides a list of numbers and extensions, or enters the user's name corresponding to the extension and telephone number. It can be provided on the display screen of the first TCD matching the number to be. The user can select a name from the display screen using the telephone number extension or the user interface, as opposed to entering the full number in the first TCD. When a new number is entered by the user, the number of matching telephone numbers can be reduced, and this process can be repeated until the user selects from a list of fully entered extensions or telephone numbers.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, another application may provide an on-demand help system on the first TCD. Such a help system can, step by step, provide the user of the first TCD with information about the use of the TCD and the use of a particular application. Such help applications can be configured to use media files to assist the user. For example, if the user dials an international telephone number, the help system will prompt the user for the name of the country to be dialed. In response to the user's input to the prompt, the help application can supply the relevant country code and phone number length of the phone number. In other embodiments, such help applications may provide continuity of audio clips that prompt the user through interactive text messages and new or deprecated tasks.

A common problem when dialing a telephone number is entering the telephone number incorrectly, hanging up, and redialing the complete number. Thus, the telephony application can be configured to store all telephone numbers entered by the user locally before sending a set-up message to initiate a telephone call. Furthermore, such an application may display a telephone number when the user dials. Such an application also allows a user who enters an incorrect phone number to clear the phone number only from the screen and re-enter the correct phone number before the telephone call begins. After the correct number has been entered, the position on the display screen for starting a telephone call can be touched or hit a button.

Other telephony applications may allow information about the user or the TCD to be sent with (eg attached) a communication message as part of a telephone call. Thus, such an application or related application may be configured to extract such information from a communication message as part of a telephone call. Such information can include local time at the caller's location or include very complex information such as a pointer to a web-based mapping application that visually shows the caller's location. Furthermore, data representing the map itself may be sent with the communication message as part of the telephone call.

Another telephony application may control the TCD to repeatedly send call set-up messages to the network address at set intervals until the telephone call is answered by a human voice. Such an application is used if the telephone call is too urgent to leave only a voice message. Furthermore, such an application may configure the first TCD to terminate the telephone call if the recipient of the network address sends the telephone call in response to the call set-up message.

A space saving application may define a method for loading only data on a first application corresponding to a certain application, part of the application, and a TCD initially deployed on the communication network. By configuring the first TCD to dynamically load only a portion of certain applications, applications and data, such space saving applications can conserve memory resources by limiting the amount of memory consumed by the application on the first TCD. This reserved memory can be used for other purposes.

Another application may be defined to provide a method for resolving conflicts between a plurality of applications on the first telephone communication device. For example, two or more applications can be defined to notify the same event. Thus, when an event occurs, a conflict arises about which application should notify the event.

Thus, such an application assigns priority to the first application and the one or more second applications to notify the first application when the first event occurs, and if the first event really occurs, the first application notifies the event and the one or more second applications. May be defined to receive the command signal to be defined not to notify the event. In other words, as described above in connection with the application moderator, the first application consumes the notification to prevent conflict with one or more second applications.

Such conflict resolution applications may include a user interface that allows a user to make selections and assign notification priorities to the application. For example, the user interface may be executed on a desktop computer or on a telephone such as the telephone described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Another application, a method of visually pointing to a first user a voice of a plurality of second users of a first telephone communication device and a plurality of second users of another telephone communication device, of at least one third user of a plurality of second users, another telephone communication A telephone call can be defined that includes a plurality of second users of the device and a first user of the first telephone communication device.

The method includes displaying a plurality of user credentials, each user credential representing one of a second user. For example, these proofs can be listed on a computer screen or a display screen of a telephone. The display screen 206 has been described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

The audio data is received from one or more second users on the connection respectively corresponding to one or more second users.

For each one or more third users, voice data may be detected in audio data received from a third user using known DSP technology. The application may configure one or more media processing elements described above in connection with a media processing module 29 for performing known DSP techniques to detect if voice is received on the connection.

Next, the voice data of the third user may be mixed, for example, to generate the mixed audio data by the local bridge of FIG. 3. In a next step, the mixed audio data can be played on a first telephone communication device, for example a handset speaker, a headset speaker or a bass speaker.

For each of the one or more third users, a visual command signal is next to the identification means for identifying the third user, to indicate to the first user that the voice of the one or more third users is generally heard by the first user. May be displayed. For example, the icon may appear on a display screen next to the name of each second user for which voice data has been detected on the connection of the second user.

The performance of the DSP, including the reception of audio data, the detection of voice data, and the mixing of audio data, can be performed on a device other than the device displaying the above-mentioned instruction command. For example, the first TCD may perform a DSP, the companion device may display a command signal, or the remote server may perform a DSP, and the first TCD may display a command signal.

Further, the first device performing the DSP may deliver voice detection, for example, to a second device displaying the command signal as part of the RTCP message. The DSP and indication may also occur in the same device, for example the first TCD.

While various illustrated embodiments have been described, it is obvious that these are merely illustrative and not limiting to those skilled in the art. Various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the invention. In particular, although the embodiments described herein involve particular steps of the method or device elements, it should be understood that such steps and elements may be combined in different ways to achieve the same purpose. The elements and features described in connection with only one embodiment are not intended to play a similar role in other embodiments.

Claims (109)

A first telephony communication device, which is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium, At least one input for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium and at least one output for transmitting a medium for first user and second data to the communication medium. Wow, Includes at least a portion of a telephony application that defines telephony functionality performed in connection with a telephone call, includes telephony software for controlling the operation of the hardware component, A first telephony communication device, characterized in that the telephony application is modifiable after the first telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network having a modification developed irrespective of the manufacture of the telephony software component . The method of claim 1, The telephony software component further comprises an open application programming interface for modifying the telephony application. The method of claim 1, The telephony software component is And at least a portion of a non-telephony application defining a telephony function performed independently of the telephone call. The method of claim 1, And after the first telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, at least a portion of additional telephony applications may be added to the telephony software component. The method of claim 4, wherein Wherein said additional telephony application was developed independent of a vendor. The method of claim 1, And the telephony application is written in a general-purpose programming language. The method of claim 1, And the general-purpose programming language is Java. The method of claim 1, The telephony software component is Operating system, An operating system interface for interfacing communication between said telephony application of said telephony software component and said operating system, said telephony application being independent of said operating system. The method of claim 1, The telephony interface component A call processing module for simultaneously representing and controlling one or more telephone calls, each telephone call including one or more connections to other users corresponding to other telephony communication devices on the communications network; And for each telephone call, said call processing module represents and controls each connection. The method of claim 9, For each connection, the call processing module is operative to control communication on the telephony device corresponding to the connection using a first call control protocol selectable from a plurality of call control protocols available at the first telephony communication device. A first telephony communication device, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The telephony software component is And an application programming interface for developing an application for the first telephony communication device, the interface belonging to a plurality of call control protocols. The method of claim 9, The telephony software component is A media processing module comprising a corresponding media processing component for indicating a media processing of the telephone call for each telephone call, wherein the media processing component establishes a corresponding media processing connection for each connection of the telephone call; Contains-more, The call processing module controls the media processing component corresponding to the telephone call to control the media processing of the telephone call for each telephone call, and for the connection of each telephone call, the medium of the connection. And controlling the corresponding media processing connection to control processing. The method of claim 9, And the call processing module is operative to communicate with one or more network resources on the communication network to control one or more telephone calls. The method of claim 13, A second telephony communication device is connected to the communication network through a Public Switched Telephone Network and an IP / PSTN gateway; And the call processing module is operative to communicate with an IP / PSTN gateway to control communication between a first user and a second user of the second telephony communication device during the telephone call. The method of claim 1, The telephony software component is A media processing module comprising a media processing element for defining a media processing function, Wherein at least a first one or more telephony applications are manipulated to dynamically configure a combination of one or more of the media processing elements during execution of the first telephony application to perform a media processing function. The method of claim 1, The telephony software component further comprising a pointer to a location on the communication network of an application remotely executable by the first telephony communication device. The method of claim 1, Wherein said telephony application defines a remote user interface for another network resource on said communications network. The method of claim 1, And the first telephony communication device is a telephone. A method of defining a function for a first telephony communication device that is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium, the method comprising: at least one input for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium; A telephony hardware component comprising one or more outputs transmitting a medium for one user and second data, and at least a portion of a telephony application defining a telephony function performed in connection with a telephone call, wherein Includes telephony software for controlling the operation, After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, accessing the telephony application on the telephony communication device; Modifying the telephony application with a modification that is independent of the production of the telephony software component. A system defining functionality for a first telephony communication device that is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium, the system comprising: at least one input for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium; A telephony hardware component comprising one or more outputs transmitting a medium for one user and second data, and at least a portion of a telephony application defining a telephony function performed in connection with a telephone call, wherein Includes telephony software for controlling the operation, Means for accessing the telephony application on the telephony communication device after the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network; Means for modifying the telephony application with modifications independent of the production of the telephony software component. Computer-readable media, A method for defining a function for a first telephony communication device stored on the computer readable medium, the result of execution by the computer being a part of a communication network comprising a communication medium-a first user and a first from the communication medium A telephony hardware component comprising at least one input for receiving audio input from data, at least one output for transmitting a medium for first user and second data to the communication medium, and telephony performed in connection with a telephone call. A computer program product comprising computer readable signals defining instructions to perform at least a portion of a telephony application defining a function and comprising telephony software to control the operation of the hardware component. A method for defining a function for the first telephony communication device is After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, accessing the telephony application on the telephony communication device; Modifying the telephony application with a modification that is independent of the production of the telephony software component. Communication media, A communication network comprising at least one telephony communication device, Each telephony communication device At least one input for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium and at least one output for transmitting a medium for first user and second data to the communication medium. Wow, Includes at least a portion of a telephony application that defines telephony functionality performed in connection with a telephone call, includes telephony software for controlling the operation of the hardware component, And wherein the telephony application is modifiable after the first telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network with modifications developed irrespective of the manufacture of the telephony software components. A first telephony communication device, which is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium, At least one input for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium and at least one output for transmitting a medium for first user and second data to the communication medium. Wow, Includes at least a portion of a telephony application that defines telephony functionality performed in connection with a telephone call, includes telephony software for controlling the operation of the hardware component, And after the first telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, at least a portion of additional telephony applications may be added to the telephony software component. The method of claim 23, wherein And wherein said additional telephony application was developed independent of the production of said software component. The telephony software component further comprising an application programming interface open to add at least a portion of the additional telephony application. The method of claim 23, wherein The telephony software component is And at least a portion of a non-telephony application defining a non-telephony function performed independently of the telephone call. The method of claim 23, wherein Wherein the telephony application is modifiable after the first telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network with modifications developed irrespective of the manufacture of the telephony software components. The method of claim 23, wherein And the telephony application is written in a general-purpose programming language. The method of claim 23, wherein And the general-purpose programming language is Java. The method of claim 23, wherein The telephony software component is Operating system, An operating system interface for interfacing communication between said telephony application of said telephony software component and said operating system, said telephony application being independent of said operating system. The method of claim 23, wherein The telephony interface component A call processing module for simultaneously representing and controlling one or more telephone calls, each telephone call including one or more connections to other users corresponding to other telephony communication devices on the communications network; And for each telephone call, said call processing module represents and controls each connection. The method of claim 31, wherein For each connection, the call processing module is operative to control communication on the telephony device corresponding to the connection using a first call control protocol selectable from a plurality of call control protocols available at the first telephony communication device. A first telephony communication device, characterized in that. 33. The method of claim 32, The telephony software component is And an application programming interface for developing an application for the first telephony communication device, the interface belonging to a plurality of call control protocols. The method of claim 31, wherein The telephony software component is A media processing module comprising a corresponding media processing component for indicating a media processing of the telephone call for each telephone call, wherein the media processing component establishes a corresponding media processing connection for each connection of the telephone call; Contains-more, The call processing module controls the media processing component corresponding to the telephone call to control the media processing of the telephone call for each telephone call, and for the connection of each telephone call, the medium of the connection. And controlling the corresponding media processing connection to control processing. The method of claim 31, wherein And the call processing module is operative to communicate with one or more network resources on the communication network to control one or more telephone calls. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein A second telephony communication device is connected to the communication network through a Public Switched Telephone Network and an IP / PSTN gateway; And the call processing module is operative to communicate with an IP / PSTN gateway to control communication between a first user and a second user of the second telephony communication device during the telephone call. The method of claim 23, wherein The telephony software component is A media processing module comprising a media processing element for defining a media processing function, Wherein the telephony application is manipulated to dynamically configure a combination of one or more of the media processing elements during execution of the telephony application to perform a media processing function. The method of claim 23, wherein The telephony software component further comprising a pointer to a location on the communication network of an application remotely executable by the first telephony communication device. The method of claim 23, wherein Wherein said telephony application defines a remote user interface for another network resource on said communications network. The method of claim 23, wherein And the first telephony communication device is a telephone. A method for defining functionality for a telephony communication device that is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium, the method comprising: at least one input for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium, and a first user with the communication medium. And at least a portion of a telephony hardware component that includes one or more outputs transmitting a medium for second data and a telephony application that defines a telephony function performed in connection with a telephone call. Including telephony software to control- After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, accessing the telephony software component on the telephony communication device; Adding at least a portion of an additional telephony application to the telephony software component. A system defining functionality for a telephony communication device that is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium, the system comprising: at least one input for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium and a first user with the communication medium And at least a portion of a telephony hardware component that includes one or more outputs transmitting a medium for second data and a telephony application that defines a telephony function performed in connection with a telephone call. Including telephony software to control- Means for accessing the telephony software component on the telephony communication device after the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network; Means for adding at least a portion of an additional telephony application to the telephony software component. Computer-readable media, A method for defining a function for a telephony communication device stored on the computer readable medium, the result of execution by the computer being a part of a communication network comprising a communication medium, from the first user and the first data; A telephony hardware component comprising at least one input for receiving an audio input of a telephony device, at least one output for transmitting a medium for a first user and second data to the communication medium, and a telephony function performed in connection with a telephone call. A computer program product comprising computer readable signals defining instructions instructing to perform at least a portion of a defining telephony application and comprising telephony software for controlling the operation of said hardware component. The method for defining a function for the telephony communication device is After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, accessing the telephony software component; Adding at least a portion of an additional telephony application to the telephony software component. Communication media, A communication network comprising at least one telephony communication device, Each telephony communication device At least one input for receiving audio input from a first user and first data from the communication medium and at least one output for transmitting a medium for first user and second data to the communication medium. Wow, Includes at least a portion of a telephony application that defines telephony functionality performed in connection with a telephone call, includes telephony software for controlling the operation of the hardware component, After the telephony communication device is deployed on the communication network, at least a portion of additional telephony applications may be added to the telephony software component. A first telephony communication device, which is part of a communication network comprising a communication medium, A call processing module for representing and controlling at least a first telephone call comprising at least one connection to another user, each user corresponding to another telephony communication device on the communication network; For at least a first one or more connections, the call processing module corresponds to a first connection on the telephony communication device using a first call control protocol selectable from a plurality of call control protocols available on the first telephony communication device. A telephony communication device, characterized in that it is manipulated to control communication. The method of claim 45, In order to simultaneously control communication corresponding to the first connection, the call processing module is operated to control communication on the telephony device corresponding to the second one or more connections using a second plurality of call control protocols. A telephony communication device characterized by the above. The method of claim 45, The call processing module represents and controls a second telephone call representing at least a second connection, To simultaneously control communication corresponding to the first connection, the call processing module is operated to control communication corresponding to a second connection on the telephony communication device using the second plurality of call control protocols. Telephony communication device. The method of claim 45, The first call control protocol is a telephony communication device, characterized in that the Session Initiation Protocol. The method of claim 45, The first call control protocol is a telephony communication device, characterized in that the first telephone call using the H.323 protocol. The method of claim 45, The first call control protocol is a telephony communication device, characterized in that the Media Gateway Control protocol. The method of claim 45, And the call processing module is manipulated to control at least one connection of the first telephone call using the Megaco / H.248 protocol. The method of claim 45, And the call processing module is manipulated to control one or more connections of the first telephone call using the Skinny Station protocol. A method of controlling one or more telephone calls on a first telephony communication device connected to a communication network, wherein the first telephone call includes one or more connections to another user, each user being connected to another telephony communication device on the communication network. Corresponding to, for at least the first one or more connections, Selecting a first call control protocol from a plurality of call control protocols available on the first telephony communication device; Controlling communication corresponding to the first connection on the telephony communication device using the first call control protocol; controlling one or more telephone calls on the first telephony communication device connected to the communication network. How to. The method of claim 53, And simultaneously controlling the communication corresponding to the first connection, controlling communication on the telephony device corresponding to the second one or more connections using a second plurality of call control protocols. A method of controlling one or more telephone calls on a first telephony communication device connected to a communication network. The method of claim 53, And simultaneously controlling the communication corresponding to the first connection, controlling the communication corresponding to the second connection on the telephony communication device using a second plurality of call control protocols. A method of controlling one or more telephone calls on a first telephony communication device connected to a communication network. A system for controlling a first telephone call on a first telephony communication device connected to a communication network, wherein the telephone call includes one or more connections to another user, each user corresponding to another telephony communication device on the communication network. -For at least the first one or more connections, Means for selecting a first call control protocol from a plurality of call control protocols available on the first telephony communication device; Means for controlling a communication corresponding to said first connection on said telephony communication device using said first call control protocol; controlling a first telephone call on a first telephony communication device connected to a communication network System. Computer-readable media, A method of controlling a first telephone call on a first telephony communication device stored on the computer readable medium and executed by a computer that results in execution by a computer, wherein the telephone call establishes one or more connections to other users. Wherein each user corresponds to another telephony communication device on the communication network, for at least the first one or more connections, Selecting a first call control protocol from a plurality of call control protocols available on the first telephony communication device; Controlling the communication corresponding to the first connection on the telephony communication device using the first call control protocol. Communication media, A communication network comprising at least one telephony communication device, Each telephony communication device A call processing module for representing and controlling at least a first telephone call comprising at least one connection to another user, each user corresponding to another telephony communication device on the communication network; For at least a first one or more connections, the call processing module corresponds to a first connection on the telephony communication device using a first call control protocol selectable from a plurality of call control protocols available on the first telephony communication device A communication network operable to control communication. Computer-readable media, Stored on the computer readable medium, causing the first telephony communication device to perform a telephony application as a result of execution by the first telephony communication device, And after the first telephony communication device is deployed on a communication network, at least a portion of the telephony application can be added to the first telephony communication device. The method of claim 59, The telephony application defines a method for instructing an incoming call to at least a first user of a second telephony communication device, The method is Receiving a dial command corresponding to the network address of the second telephony communication device, Identifying a first user from the dial command; Selecting a sound to play based on the identification; Sending a call set-up message to the second telephony communication device at the network address, wherein the call set-up message includes information for causing the second telephony communication device to generate the selected sound. A computer program product, characterized in that. The method of claim 60, Said information comprising a signal indicative of said selected sound. The method of claim 60, And the information includes instructions to play the selected sound. The method of claim 60, Wherein said information includes instructions to play said selected sound from a particular location. The method of claim 59, The telephony application is -A method for selectively transmitting a medium of a conference call comprising a first user input for receiving a medium from a first user and at least two connections between the first telephony communication device and at least two second telephony communication devices-a second telephony The communication device corresponding to the second user- The method is Receiving a user identification identifying one or more third users to exclude media receipt from one or more fourth users, wherein each third and fourth user is either the first user or one of the second users; and , During a conference call, receiving at least one media input from at least a fourth user; During a conference call, preventing one or more third users from receiving any media generated from the one or more media inputs. 65. The method of claim 64, And the first telephony communication device further comprises a remote call bridge, wherein the first application interferes with the use of the remote call bridge. 65. The method of claim 64, And the user selection is received from the first user. 65. The method of claim 64, And the user selection is received from one of the second users. The method of claim 59, The telephony application is -A method for selectively transmitting a medium during a conference call comprising a first user input for receiving a medium from a first user and at least two connections between the first telephony communication device and at least two second telephony communication devices-a second telephony The communication device corresponding to the second user- The method is Receiving a user identification identifying one or more third users to exclude media receipt from one or more fourth users, wherein each third and fourth user is either the first user or one of the second users; and , During a conference call, receiving at least one media input from at least a fourth user; During a conference call, preventing one or more third users from receiving any media generated from one or more media inputs. The method of claim 68, And the first telephony communication device further comprises a remote call bridge, wherein the first application interferes with the use of the remote call bridge. The method of claim 68, And the user selection is received from the first user. The method of claim 68, And the user selection is received from one of the second users. The method of claim 59, The telephony application transmits text information from the first user of the first telephony communication device to the second user of the second telephony communication device connected to the first telephony communication device by the first connection as part of a telephone call. Define the first telephony communication device including a display screen, The method is Receiving, during the telephone call, first text data defining text at the first connection from the second telephony communication device; Displaying the text defined by the text data on the display screen. The method of claim 59, The telephony application defines a method of making a telephone call between a first user of the first telephony communication device and one or more second users of a second telephony communication device, The method is Receiving at least one user identifier, each user identifier identifying one of the second users; and Receiving date and time information specifying an unspecified date and time for making a call; Storing the user identifier and the date and time information; Initiating a telephone call between said first telephony communication device and said at least one second telephony communication device. The method of claim 73, The receiving step comprises receiving two or more user identifiers, And the initiating comprises initiating a conference call between the first telephony communication device and the two or more second telephony communication devices. The method of claim 74, wherein Initiating the telephone call comprises calling a conference bridge, Receiving a conference bridge identifier identifying a conference bridge Computer program product, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 73, Sending a message containing information about a telephone call from a first telephony communication device to the one or more second telephony communication devices before initiating the telephone call, Informing the one or more second users about the telephone call. Computer program product, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application initiates a telephone call between a first user of a first telephony communication device and one or more second users of a second telephony communication device, The method, Receive a uniform resource locator (URL) selection made by at least one first user, wherein each URL selection corresponds to one of the second telephony communication devices, Initiating a telephone call between a first telephony communication device and the at least one second telephony communication device from a first telephony communication device; Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 78. The method of claim 77 wherein The first application includes a web page defined in the first telephony communication device, This method, Receive one or more user tag selections, wherein each tag selection represents a selected tag using a web browser from a web page, Determining at least one URL from the at least one selected tag Computer program product, characterized in that it further comprises. 78. The method of claim 77 wherein A web server in which the first telephony communication device is embedded; This method, Provide the first user with access to a web server after the first telephony communication device is deployed in a communication network, Receive a command from the first user entered through the web server, Creating a web page from the command Computer program product, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application displays text related to the received medium on a first connection between a first telephony communication device and a second telephony communication device as part of a telephone call; The first telephony communication device further includes a display screen, This method, Receiving a media signal from a second telephony communication device on a first connection, the media signal reflecting the media content; Receiving a text signal reflecting text content corresponding to the media content on a first connection prior to or simultaneously with receiving the media signal; Displaying the text content on the display screen; Before or simultaneously with displaying the text content, playing the media content. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 80, And the text signal is received in response to sending an indication to the second telephony communication device that the first telephony communication device can display text data corresponding to the telephone call. The method of claim 80, The media content includes speech produced by an interactive speech response system, Said voice refers to one or more options, And the text content reflects the one or more options as text. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application communicates information according to a state of a second telephony communication device, The first further includes a display screen, The method, Sending a call set-up message to a second telephony communication device for setting up the telephone call; Receiving a text signal from a second telephony communication device in response to a call set-up message, the text signal defining text content corresponding to a state of the second telephony communication device; Displaying the text content on a display screen of a first telephony communication device. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 84. The method of claim 83, The text content includes one or more options corresponding to a state of the second telephony communication device, each option indicating a step to be performed in response to the state of the second telephony communication device, Displaying the text content includes displaying the one or more options to a user, The method, Receiving a selection of at least one option first from a user; Sending a selection signal reflecting the selection to the second communication device and performing the step indicated by the selection; Computer program product, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application communicates information to a second telephony communication device according to a state of the first telephony communication device, The method, Receiving, at the second telephony communication device, a call set-up message from the second telephony communication device to initiate a telephone call; Determining a state of the first telephony communication device; Transmitting a text signal reflecting the determined state from the first telephony communication device to the second telephony communication device for display; Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 86. The method of claim 85, The text signal is a textual representation of at least one option for a user of a second telephony communication device to be displayed on the second telephony communication device, wherein each option represents a step to be performed in response to a state of the second communication device. Including; The method, Receiving a selection signal from a second communication device, wherein the selection signal indicates a selection of one of the options by the user to the second communication device; Performing the action indicated by the selection; Computer program product, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application communicates an audible representation during a telephone call, The method, Receiving a voice signal reflecting a voice of a first user of the first telephony communication device; Receiving a selection signal reflecting the selection of the audible expression by the first user; Generating an audible representation signal corresponding to the selection signal, the audible representation signal representing an audible representation; Mixing the audible representation signal and the speech signal to produce a mixed signal; Transmitting the mixed signal to one or more second users in one or more second telephony communication devices as part of a telephone call. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 88. The method of claim 87 wherein The first telephony communication device further comprising a display screen, This method, Displaying at least one icon on the display screen, wherein each icon reflects an audible representation; The selection signal being produced by a first user selecting an icon from the display screen Features computer program product. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application screens the telephone call based on information related to the telephone call, The method, Receiving at the first telephony communication device a first call set-up message from the second telephony communication device; Accessing one or more call answering rules, each call answering rule defining steps to be performed by the condition and the first telephony communication device in response to receiving a call set-up message if the condition is met; Determining whether the condition is met for at least one call answering rule; Responding to the call set-up message according to the determination of the one or more call answering rules. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 91. The method of claim 89 wherein Define a step to be performed under the condition that a first of said at least one rule is received a call set-up message for at least one time interval, The determining step, Determining a first time at which a first call set-up is received; Comparing the first time with the one or more time intervals to determine whether the first time is within the one or more time intervals, If the first time is within the one or more time intervals, responding to the call set-up message responds to the call set-up message according to a step defined by a first rule. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 91. The method of claim 89 wherein The first of the one or more rules defines the steps to be performed, provided that the call set-up message exists from one or more individual users, The receiving step comprises receiving an identification signal in accordance with the call set-up message, wherein the identification signal identifies a first user of a second communication device; The determining step Identifying the first user from the identification signal, Comparing the identifier of the first user with an identifier of at least one individual user to determine whether the first user is one of the individual users, If the first user is one of the individual users, the step of responding to the call set-up message is to respond to the call set-up message according to the step defined by the first rule. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 91. The method of claim 89 wherein A first rule of one or more call answering rules defines sending the call set-up message to another first telephony communication device if a first condition is met, Responding to this may include sending the call set-up message to another first telephony communication device if a first condition is met. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 91. The method of claim 89 wherein The first call response rule defines to play a sound if the first condition is met, Responding to this is to play the sound if the first condition is met. A first telephony communication device comprising a. 86. The method of claim 85, The first call answering rule defines that prompting the user of the second telephony communication device for more information if the first condition is met, Responding to this prompts the user to prompt more information if the first condition is met. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application plays the textualized content of the e-mail message as audio to the first telephony communication device, The method, Controlling the message text of the e-mail is sent to a network resource that converts the textualized content of the e-mail message into a voice signal; Establishing a telephone call between the network resource and a first telephony communication device; Controlling the transmission of the voice signal to a first telephony communication device as part of the telephone call; Playing the voice signal on a first telephony communication device; Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application communicates with a second user of at least a first portion of a telephone call between a first user of a first telephony communication device and at least one third user of at least one third first telephony communication device, The method, Recording at least a first portion of a telephone call between said first user and at least one third user as an audio file; Transmitting the audio file to an audio playback device corresponding to a second user; Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 97. The method of claim 96, The sending may include attaching an audio file to an email message and sending the email message to the audio playback device. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 97. The method of claim 96, The transmitting may include attaching the audio file to a call set-up message and transmitting the call set-up message to the at least one second telephony communication device. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application sends a graphical message to a first user of a second telephony communication device, The method, Transmitting a call set-up message from the first telephony communication device to the second telephony communication device; Receiving an indication that the first user does not respond to the call set-up message; Sending a graphics file to the second telephony communication device for storage as a message to a first user. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application communicates a graphical message to a first user of the first telephony communication device, The first telephony communication device including a display screen, The method, Receiving a call set-up message from a second telephony communication; Sending an indication that the call set-up message is not responding; In response to sending the indication, receiving a graphic file as a message from a second telephony communication device; Displaying the graphic file on a display screen to communicate a message to the first user for storage as a message to the first user. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 101. The method of claim 100, The method, And storing the graphics file in a storage medium accessible by the first telephony communication device. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application places one or more connections in hold during a telephone call. The method, Receiving an instruction to place the telephone call on hold; and Receiving an indication of the location of the media file; and Creating a link to the location of the media file, Receiving a media signal from the media file; and Transmitting the media signal to the one or more connections that are held held; Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 103. The method of claim 102, And the media file comprises audio data to be played on one or more links. 103. The method of claim 102, The media file includes text data, graphic data, or a combination thereof; The playing step may include displaying text data, graphic data, or a combination thereof under the control of the first telephony communication device on the display screen. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 59, Define how the application dynamically configures a first telephony communication device to a first user, The method, Receiving a user identifier identifying a first user; Accessing specific configuration information for the first user; and Configuring the first telephony communication device according to the configuration information; Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 59, Define how the telephony application resolves a conflict between a plurality of applications of a first telephony communication device, The method, When the first event occurs, receiving an indication defined to be known to the first application and the one or more second applications; When a first event occurs, the first application is informed of the event, and the one or more second applications are assigned a notification rank to the first application so as not to be notified of the event. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. 107. The method of claim 106, The method, Receive a command from a user, assign a notification rank to a first application, Said allocating being performed in response to receiving said command. Computer program product, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 59, For a telephone call where the telephony application includes a first user of a first telephony communication device and a plurality of second users of another telephony communication device, the voice of one or more third users of the plurality of second users is currently in the first telephony. Define how to visually indicate to the first user that the communication device is replaying, The method, Displaying a plurality of user identifiers, wherein each user identifier represents one of a second user; Receiving audio data from at least one second user; Detecting, for at least one third user, a voice signal in the audio data received from the third user; Mixing the audio data of the third user to produce mixed audio data; Playing the audio data on a first telephony communication device; For each of the one or more third users, displaying a visual indicator next to an identifier identifying the third user to indicate that the mixed audio data includes voice data from the third user. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises a. In the first telephony communication device, Computer-readable media A computer readable signal stored in the computer readable medium, the result of being executed by a first telephony communication device, the command defining a command to perform a telephony application by instructing the first telephony communication device; At least a portion of the telephony application may be modified by a change developed independently from the creation of the telephony application after the first telephony communication device has been deployed to the communication network. A first telephony communication device comprising a.