KR20080042894A - Method and policy execution engine for regulating an incoming call in a communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and policy execution engine (PExE) (305) for regulating an incoming call in a communication system (405) is provided. The method comprises determining (105) a context of the incoming call. The method further comprises invoking (110) one of a personalization policy and at least one group policy of the callee of the incoming call in response to determination of the context of the incoming call. The group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call.

Description

METHOD AND POLICY EXECUTION ENGINE FOR REGULATING AN INCOMING CALL IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM}

The present invention relates generally to communication systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for coordinating an incoming call in a communication system.

In existing communication systems, incoming calls are coordinated based on either personalization policy or formal group policy. In general, a personalization policy refers to a policy that is specific to the callee and, including details, the incoming call to the callee is adjusted based on this detail. Each recipient has a personalization policy. In general, an official group policy refers to a policy shared by a plurality of users of a communication system and is known to the caller of the incoming call. Official group policies are also known as call servers in communication systems. Each user may have at least one official group policy. For example, the official group policy is specified for the email address support@example.com. The email address is known to the caller and is not anonymous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same or functionally similar elements throughout the drawings, and which are incorporated and formed as part of the specification in conjunction with the following detailed description, describe various embodiments in detail and all the various principles consistent with the invention. And to explain the advantages.

1 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting an incoming call in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting an incoming call in a communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a PExE (Policy Execution Engine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram of a communication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5 illustrates a communication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the elements of the figures are shown simply and clearly, and are not necessarily drawn to original size. For example, some dimensions of the elements of the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Prior to describing embodiments in accordance with the present invention in detail, it should be understood that this embodiment is primarily a combination of method steps and apparatus components related to coordinating an incoming call in a communication system. Accordingly, the present device components and method steps are conventional in the drawings, which only show specific details suitable for understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the details that would be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein. It is appropriately indicated by a symbol.

In this specification, related terms such as first and second, top and bottom, etc., may be used to distinguish only one entity or action from another entity or action, and may not necessarily be used in any actual manner between such entities or actions. There is no need to imply or imply a relationship or order. The term "comprising", "comprising" or any other variation of the term is intended to refer to a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements that is express to that element as well as to the process, method, article, or apparatus. It covers non-exclusive inclusion, so that it can contain lists or other elements that are not equipped. An element preceding “comprising” does not, without limitation, exclude additional identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

The elements of the present invention described herein control the one or more conventional processors and the one or more processors, together with a predetermined non-processor, for the policy execution engine described herein. It will be appreciated that it may consist of unique stored program instructions that control to execute some, most or all of the functionality of the engine. The nonprocessor circuit may include, but is not limited to, a radio receiver, a radio transmitter, a signal driver, a clock circuit, a power supply circuit, and a user input device. As such, the function may be interpreted as a step in a method of performing incoming call coordination in a communication system. Alternatively, some or all of the functions may be implemented by a state machine without stored program instructions, or in one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) in which each function or combination of functions is implemented as custom logic. have. Of course, a combination of the two methods could be used. Thus, methods and means for such functionality are described herein. In addition, those skilled in the art, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein, despite the considerable effort and many design choices that are motivated by, for example, the time available, current technology, and economic considerations, minimize experiments. Only the software instructions and programs and ICs can be created.

The present invention provides a method and system for coordinating an incoming call in a communication system. The method includes determining the context of an incoming call. The method also includes seven steps of invoking one of the recipient's personalization policy and at least one group policy in response to determining the context of the incoming call. The group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call and is anonymous. Thus, the incoming call is adjusted based on group policy that is anonymous and unknown to the caller.

1 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting an incoming call in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the incoming call may be a multimedia call. The multimedia call may be, for example, a voice call or a video call.

In step 105, the context of the incoming call is determined. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the context is determined based on a Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number or the value or combination of one or more tags in a SIP message or Internet Protocol (IP) address of the caller's electronic device. . In step 110, the recipient's personalization policy and at least one group policy are invoked in response to determining the context of the incoming call.

Personalization policy generally refers to a policy that is specific to the recipient and, including details, the incoming call to the recipient is adjusted based on this detail. Each recipient has a personalization policy. The recipient's personalization policy may be specified using a language known in the art, such as Call Processing Language (CPL) or Service Creation Markup Language (SCML).

Group policy generally refers to a policy shared by a plurality of users of a communication system. In various embodiments of the invention, the group policy is unknown to the recipient of the incoming call and is anonymous. Such group policy is hereinafter referred to as virtual group policy. Each user may have at least one virtual group policy.

In the example, users A and B are members of the AB-virtual group policy. The AB-Virtual Group Policy is anonymous and unknown to the caller of the incoming call. If the context of the incoming call is specified within the AB-virtual group policy, then the AB-virtual group policy of the recipient (user A) is invoked and the call is switched to user B if user A is busy. In addition, the virtual group policy may be specified, for example, to prevent incoming calls from telemarketers. In another example, the virtual group policy may be specified to forward the incoming call from xyz@journalist.com to johnabc@slt.motcom.com based on the context of the incoming call to the information office. .

In various embodiments of the present invention, an incoming call may be tagged with an identifier. This is further explained in conjunction with FIG.

2 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting an incoming call in a communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention. In step 205, the context of the incoming call is determined. In step 210, the incoming call is tagged with an identifier in the incoming call in response to the determination of the context. The identifier indicates the context of the incoming call. For example, a tag can be added within the SIP to indicate the context of an incoming call. In step 215, the recipient's personalization policy and at least one virtual group policy are invoked based on the identifier.

In various embodiments of the present invention, when the receiver of an incoming call is a member of a plurality of virtual group policies, the plurality of virtual group policies are invoked in a predetermined order. In an embodiment of the invention, the predetermined order is specified within the recipient's personalization policy.

For example, subscriber A is a member of the first virtual group and the second virtual group. Each virtual group is associated with a virtual group policy. The virtual group policy is invoked in a certain order, as specified in subscriber A's personalization policy. Subscriber A, Subscriber B, and Subscriber C addressing an incoming call from user X form a first virtual group. The first virtual group policy indicates forwarding an incoming call from user X to subscriber A's mobile phone. If subscriber A does not answer the incoming call, the incoming call is forwarded to subscriber B. If subscriber B does not answer the incoming call, the incoming call is forwarded to subscriber C. If subscriber C does not answer the incoming call, it forwards the incoming call back to subscriber A. In addition, Subscriber A and its family members Subscriber D and Subscriber E form a second virtual group during the vacation at a particular location. The second virtual group policy indicates that each incoming call (addressed to one of the members of the second virtual group) is forwarded to subscriber A's mobile phone. If subscriber A does not answer, the incoming call is forwarded to subscriber D's mobile phone. If subscriber D does not answer, the incoming call is forwarded to subscriber E. If subscriber E does not answer, the incoming call is forwarded to subscriber A's voice mail. The predetermined order in which the virtual group policy is invoked is evidenced by subscriber A's personalization policy. For example, the personalization policy of subscriber A may indicate to invoke the first virtual group policy if caller = user X, and to invoke the second subscriber group policy if the incoming call returns to subscriber A. have.

3 illustrates a Policy Execution Engine (PExE) 305 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. PExE 305 coordinates the incoming call in the communication system. In one embodiment of the invention, the incoming call is a multimedia call. PExE 305 includes a context determination module 310, a tagging module 315, and an invoking module 320, which operate in concert with each other to coordinate an incoming call.

The context determination module 310 determines the context of the incoming call. How to determine the context of an incoming call is apparent to those skilled in the art. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the context is determined based on the MSISDN number or the IP address of the caller's electronic device or one or more tags or combinations thereof in the SIP message.

The tagging module 315 tags the identifier in the incoming call in response to determining the context of the incoming call. The identifier indicates the context of the incoming call. For example, a tag may be added within the SIP to indicate the context of an incoming call.

Invoking module 320 invokes one of the recipient's personalization policy and at least one virtual group policy in response to determining the context of the incoming call. In an embodiment of the invention, the invoking module 320 invokes one of the personalization policy and the at least one virtual group policy based on the identifier tagged in the incoming call. In various embodiments of the present invention, when the receiver of an incoming call is a member of a plurality of virtual group policies, the invoking module 320 invokes the plurality of virtual group policies in a predetermined order.

In an embodiment of the invention, the context determination module 310 and the invoking module 320 are integrated into a single module. In another embodiment of the present invention, the context determination module 310, tagging module 315 and invoking module 320 are integrated into a single module.

4 illustrates a communication system 405, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 405 includes a personalization policy repository 410, a group policy repository 415, at least one PExE 420 and at least one call server 425.

Personalization policy repository 410 stores personalization policies for each user of communication system 405. The group policy repository 415 stores at least one virtual group policy corresponding to a plurality of users of the communication system 405. In an embodiment of the invention, group policy repository 415 assigns a unique ID to each virtual group policy.

PExE 420 handles incoming calls. PExE includes a processor 430. The processor 430 is configured to determine the context of the incoming call and to invoke one of the personalization policy and the at least one virtual group policy in response to determining the context of the incoming call. In one embodiment of the present invention, processor 430 provides a preference for a virtual group policy over a personalization policy of a user of communication system 405.

The processor 430 is further configured to, in response to determining the context of the incoming call, tag the incoming call with an identifier. The identifier indicates the context of the incoming call. In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 430 calls one of a personalization policy and at least one virtual group policy based on the identifier. In an embodiment of the invention, the identifier tagged by the first PExE is used by the second PExE to invoke at least one virtual group policy. This is further explained in conjunction with FIG. 5.

In various embodiments of the present invention, when the receiver of an incoming call is a member of a plurality of virtual group policies, the processor 430 invokes the plurality of virtual group policies in a predetermined order.

The call server 425 establishes a communication channel between the caller of the incoming call and one of the recipients of the incoming call or the user of the communication system 405. The user is a member of the recipient's virtual group policy invoked by PExE 420. In an embodiment of the invention, each call server 425 is connected to at least one PExE 420. Examples of call server 425 include a SIP proxy call server, a Call Session Control Function (CSCF) call server for 3GPP IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the user's virtual group policy is not known to the call server 425.

In an embodiment of the invention, an access control mechanism can be established for virtual group policy. In addition, the communication system 405 can provide a mechanism for subscribing to a virtual group policy. In addition, read only access of the virtual group policy may be provided to each member of the virtual group policy, and management access may be provided to selected members of the virtual group policy.

5 illustrates a communication system 500, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 500 includes a personalization policy repository 410, a group policy repository 415, a PExE engine 505, a PExE engine 510, a call server 515, and a call server 520.

 PExE engine 505 and PExE engine 510 are similar to PExE 420. PExE 505 is PExE for User A and PExE 510 is PExE for User B. Also, call server 515 and call server 520 are similar to call server 425. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the identifier tagged by PExE 505 is used by PExE 510 to invoke at least one virtual group policy. For example, an incoming call (having the context of an AB-virtual group policy) is diverted from call server 515 to call server 520 when user A is busy. In this example, when PExE 505 tags an identifier in an incoming call, PExE 510 may invoke the AB-Virtual Group Policy for UserB based on the identifier.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system that can adjust an incoming call based on the recipient's virtual group policy that is anonymous and unknown to the caller when the context of the incoming call is associated with a context specified within the virtual group policy. to provide.

In the foregoing description, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the invention described below. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and such changes are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. Solutions to the advantages, benefits, or problems, and any element that may cause the above known benefits, benefits or solutions to the problems to be more known, may be necessary, necessary, or essential aspects or elements of some or all of the claims. It should not be interpreted. The invention is defined only by the equivalents of the appended claims and published claims, including any corrections made while pending this application.

Claims (10)

A method of coordinating an incoming call in a communication system, Determining a context of the incoming call; In response to determining the context of the incoming call, invoking one of a recipient's personalization policy and at least one group policy Including, The at least one group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising tagging an incoming call with an identifier indicating a context of the incoming call. The method of claim 1, wherein when the personalization policy of the receiver is a member of a plurality of group policies, the at least one group policy is invoked in a predetermined order. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined order is specified within the personalization policy of the recipient. As a policy execution device, A context-determination module for determining the context of an incoming call; In response to determining the context of the incoming call, an invoking module that invokes one of the recipient's personalization policy and at least one group policy, and And the group policy is not known to the caller of the incoming call. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a tagging module for tagging the incoming call with an identifier representing the context of the incoming call. 6. The policy execution apparatus of claim 5 wherein the context determination module and the invoking module are integrated into a single module. 6. The policy execution apparatus of claim 5 wherein the incoming call is a multimedia call. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the invoking module invokes at least one group policy in a predetermined order when the personalization policy of the receiver is a member of a plurality of group policies. As a communication system, A group policy repository for storing at least one group policy corresponding to a plurality of users, A personalization policy repository that stores a personalization policy for each user, Includes a policy execution engine that coordinates incoming calls, The policy execution engine includes a processor, wherein the processor, Determine the context of the incoming call, In response to determining the context of the incoming call, invoke a personalization policy of the recipient of the incoming call and one of at least one group policy, wherein the at least one group policy is unknown to the caller of the incoming call.

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