MXPA97003861A - Architecture of hybrid access for demensajeria de - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for accessing a voice messaging platform, characterized in that it comprises: sending a telephone call to the platform on a distant exchange line, where the telephone call involves a calling party who, at initiate the call to a calling party, find a busy or call-no-answer condition, so that the calling party can leave a message for the called party in the called party's mailbox and direct a telephone call to the platform on a trunk group of a local telephone switching center to the platform, when the telephone call involves a calling subscriber initiating the telephone call to the platform to access the mobile messaging platform.

Description

HYBRID ACCESS ARCHITECTURE FOR VOICE MESSAGING SYSTEMS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates in general to a system and method for directing telephone calls to a voice messaging platform. BACKGROUND It is known in the telecommunications art to provide "automatic voice messaging", wherein upon the occurrence of a busy or call-no-answer condition, the calling subscriber can connect to a Call Center.

Voice Messaging (VMP = Voice Messaging Platform) for recording a voice message for the called party ("the subscriber"). Subscriber is provided with a Message Waiting Indicator (MWI = Message Waiting) Indicator) in the form of an interrupted marked tone or a flashing lamp on the subscriber's telephone and the subscriber upon detecting the MWI, can dial the VMP to retrieve the recorded message from his mailbox. However, the subscription fees for these voice messaging services are such that it is impractical to place a single VMP in each EO termination center. Therefore, economies of scale dictate that a VMP serve a plurality of EOs. One way to extend a VMP beyond its local or urban EO, is through the use of REF lines: 24486 distant exchanges (FX). See Figure 1. In general, an FX line installed at the request of a customer ("Client A") allows the customer to have a "presence" (ie, a number) in a distant or "non-urban" EO. As such, customer A will be served by the remote EO instead of by their local EO on all calls to or from other customers. In particular, calls to client A of clients in the local call area of the remote EO are treated as local calls for quota purposes. In the context of a VMP (in effect, "Client A") serving a plurality of EOs, a group of FX lines is typically established between the VMP and each of the remote EOs. The FX lines constitute a multi-line search group (MLGH); that is, a group of lines addressed by the same telephone number. For voice messaging systems, the signaling for each FX line is provided out-of-band by simplified message desktop interface links (SMDI = Simplified Message Desk Interface). SMDI links are used to transmit information such as the calling party number, called party number. The MLHG number, the MLHG member number, the sending party number and the reason why the call is sent from the remote EO to the VMP. SMDI links are also used to transmit the Message Waiting Indicator (MWI) from the VMP to the remote EO for delivery to the subscriber.

The previous architecture is currently used for: (1) calls sent to the VMP of a subscriber line, when a calling subscriber encounters a busy or call-no-answer condition and (2) directs calls to the VMP from the subscriber line Subscriber, such as when a subscriber calls the platform to obtain messages from his mailbox, administer greetings messages or send voice messages to other subscribers. The previous architecture, however, suffers from serious deficiencies from the point of view of the VMP service provider. As illustrated in Figure 1, a group of FX lines connects each of the remote EOs to the VMP. It must be remembered that the FX lines allow the VMP to have a "presence" in each subscriber EO and that a call to the VMP appears to the subscriber as a local call. Although a call to the VMP passes through the special service circuits of the local EO to the VMP, the call does not pass through the switching network of the EOs; instead, all the switching is done by the remote EO. In this way, the total traffic to the VMP is divided by the number of remote EOs. The theory and practice of basic traffic engineering, indicate that this disintegration of traffic requires more lines than if the traffic were aggregated. Consider by analogy, counters or check boxes in a supermarket. Less ATMs will be required to handle the same number of customers in the same period of time, if instead of forming a line for each ATM (considering that it is not allowed to jump between the lines or lines), customers are added in a single line , with the first online customer that is served by the next available ATM. This increase in efficiency results in not having an ATM at rest while other ATMs have customers waiting. In our analogy, lines or customer queues and ATMs would correspond to Figure 1 to calls by remote EO subscribers and FX lines, respectively. Even more, FX lines are expensive. In addition to the usual local channel charges for the local loop between the VMP and the local EO to the VMP (although not illustrated in Figure 1, it is understood by those with ordinary skill in the specialty that traffic to the VMP passes to through special service circuits in the local EO to the VMP, although all traffic switching is performed by the remote EO), the VMP provider incurs inter-office channel charges (for the FX line between the local EO to the VMP and remote EO) and mileage charges. Both local and inter-office charges are incurred as a simple installment fee and subsequently on a recurring basis (for example, in installments). Mileage charges are incurred as a simple fee on a recurring basis only (there are no associated installation fees).

Finally, the number that a subscriber dials to access the VMP to retrieve messages or perform other functions will be based on the EO to which the subscriber is based. In other words, although all subscribers based on the same EO can access the VMP to retrieve messages by dialing the same number, the number dialed by these subscribers will differ from the number dialed by subscribers based on a different EO. Geo-based access numbers are derived from the FX lines themselves, since any associated switching is performed by the Subscriber EO. As you can imagine, geographically based access numbers create problems in terms of the ability of VMP service provider to effectively manage and advertise or advertise their voice messaging services. The previously identified problems are solved and a technical advance is achieved in the specialty, by providing a hybrid method and system for accessing a voice messaging platform. An exemplary method for accessing a voice messaging platform includes: (l) sending a telephone call to the platform on a distant PBX line when the telephone call involves a calling party, which upon call initiation to a called party , finds a busy or call-no-answer condition, such that the calling party is provided with an opportunity to leave a message for the called party in the called party's mailbox; and (2) directing a telephone call to the platform over a group of local telephone trunks to the platform when the telephone call involving a calling party initiates a telephone call directly to the platform to access the subscriber's mailbox that call. For a standard call response service (ie message storage and retrieval only), direct traffic to the VMP typically exceeds the traffic sent to the VMP. For an enhanced call response service (eg message storage and retrieval, creation, deletion and modification of personal greetings, voicemail with broadcast list capabilities, etc.), the disparity between direct traffic and traffic sent It is even greater. By employing the hybrid method and system of the present invention, where direct calls and sent calls are routed differently, the previously identified problems are solved. As discussed in more detail below, fewer total lines (FX lines + local lines) are required to handle the same amount of traffic with the VMP (several costs previously incurred by the VMP provider, this way are eliminated) and all the Subscribers, regardless of the EO to which they are in reference position, can access the VMP by dialing a single universal access number.

Other and additional aspects of the present invention will be apparent during the course of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an architecture of the prior art for accessing a voice messaging system. Figures 2a and 2b illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION DKT? T.TaApA Now with reference to the drawings in which like reference numbers refer to like parts, Figure 1 is a block diagram of a prior art architecture for accessing a voice messaging system. Figure 1 shows a voice messaging platform (VMP) 30 serving a plurality of subscribers 5 in reference position in their respective EOs 10. The VMP 30 is connected to each of the EOs 10 by a group of lines FX 15 Each FX 15 line transmits both supervisory signals and voice in band. Additional signaling required by the VMP 30 for each FX 15 line is provided out-of-band by a desktop interface link with simplified message (SMDI) 20. When a calling subscriber addresses a call to a subscriber 5 of service of voice messaging, and the calling subscriber finds a busy or call-no-answer condition, the call is sent by the subscriber EO 10, in a manner well known in the art to the VMP 30 via an FX 15 line, in such a manner that the calling subscriber can leave a message for the subscriber of the called party 5 in the subscriber's mailbox. These calls to VMP 30 below are referred to as "sent calls". The subscriber 5 can subsequently directly dial the VMP 30 via the FX 15 lines, to access his mailbox to retrieve messages, administer greetings and / or send voice messages to other subscribers. These calls are referred to below as "direct calls". Both calls sent as direct to VMP 30 are treated as local calls for quota purposes. In any call (sent or direct) call information is transmitted by the subscriber EO 10 to the VMP.30 via a SMDI link 20. The call information typically includes the calling party number, the called party number (calls sent, the VMP telephone number) the MLHG number, the MLHG member number, the sending party number (the original called party number) and the reason why the call is sent to the EO of the subscriber 10 to the VMP 30 (ie busy condition or call-without-response). The addressing reason can be employed by the VMP 30 for any number of reasons, including providing the calling subscriber with two different announcements, one for busy (for example "the party you are trying to reach is busy") and another for calling -no-reply (for example "The party you are trying to reach is not available"). Upon call-without-response, the VMP 30 may then attempt to route the call to another telephone number in which the called party is available, before notifying the calling party to leave a message. Figures 2a and 2b, taken together, illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. Although Figure 2a is identical to Figure 1, the architecture of Figure 2a, according to the present invention is used only for sent calls. In order to provide a complete aspect of voice messaging services, sent calls must pass all or most of the call information previously listed to the VMP 30. Because many local entries do not have the ability to, or simply refuse, pass this wide variety of information by inter-channel common channel signaling (SS7), FX 15 lines and SMDI 20 links are used. However, direct calls to VMP 30 only require passing the calling party number, so that the VMP 30 can access the subscriber box 5 when the subscriber 5 calls from his telephone in the reference position to retrieve a message, administer greetings and / or send voice messages to other subscribers 5. In this way, for direct calls to the VMP 30, the architecture of Figure 2b is employed. Figure 2b illustrates a voice messaging platform (VMP) 30 serving a plurality of subscribers 5 in reference position to their respective EOs 10. The VMP 30 is connected to a local exchange network (LEC = Local Exchange Carrier) 35 through a group of local trunks 40 and a local EO 25. Direct calls originating in the EOs 10, in addition to the local EO 25, are directed to the EO 25 by the LEC network 35, in a way well known to those with Ordinary skill in the specialty. The LEC network 35 is equipped with a call line identification service ("calling subscriber ID") as is well known in the art and in this way, the VMP 30 is provided with sufficient information (i.e. part number calling) to process direct calls. Accordingly, FX lines and SMDI links are not used for direct calls to VMP 30. In cases where direct traffic to VMP 30 exceeds the sent traffic, the hybrid access architecture of Figures 2a and 2b requires lower total lines (FX lines + local lines) to handle the same amount of total traffic (direct traffic + sent traffic). Even more, this is undoubtedly the most common case because direct traffic consists of at least calls to retrieve messages that were deposited as a result of the traffic sent. The total sum of the duration of all direct calls then at a minimum is equal to the total sum of the duration of all sent calls. However, there are a number of reasons why the total sum of the duration of all direct calls will far exceed the total sum of the duration of all the calls sent. For example, a subscriber 5 calling to retrieve a message may wish to listen to the message or portions thereof more than once. In addition, a direct call may not necessarily be associated exclusively with message retrieval. For example, a subscriber 5 can respond to a message using voice mail (a common VMP feature) or can simply call VMP 30 to compose a message for voice mail distribution to a list of other subscribers. Furthermore, all the administrative tasks that a subscriber performs in his mailbox, are made by direct calls to the VMP 30 and thus serve to further increase the proportion of direct calls to sent calls. These administrative tasks include creating, deleting or modifying personal greetings and disseminating lists, navigating through enums, etc. Finally, calls from the VMP to a subscriber for message delivery purposes further increase the proportion of direct calls to sent calls.

As an example of the "line savings" associated with the present invention, consider the architecture of Figure 1 and the case of 10 EOs, each of which requires 10 FX lines to handle all traffic to VMP 30, with a plurality of calls that are blocked less than one percent. We will consider, for the reasons discussed above, that 70% of all traffic to / from VMP is direct traffic and 30% is traffic sent. In the hybrid access architecture of Figures 2a and 2b, all direct calls from the subscribers 5 in reference position to the local EO 25, as well as those in reference position to remote EOs 10, are directed to the VMP 30 by the local trunk group 40. In other words, direct calls to the VMP 30 are switched on the local EO 25 to the VMP 30. As a result of this aggregation and according to a well-known formula of traffic theory - ie the Erlang's B formula, now only 5 FX lines of each termination center are required for sent calls and a group of local trunks of 43 lines for direct calls, in order to maintain the same blocking probability. In other words, it would only require a total of 93 lines in the hybrid access architecture of Figures 2a and 2b against 100 lines in the architecture of Figure 1. Accordingly, several costs previously incurred by the VMP provider 30 are eliminated. Returning to the previous example, for direct calls to the VMP 30, 7 FX lines were eliminated without having to replace them with local lines. Furthermore, the 43 local lines are less expensive than the 50 FX lines they replaced. As illustrated in Figure 2b, instead of having to run an inter-central channel (i.e., an FX line) between a subscriber EO 10 and the local EO 25 to the VMP 30 for direct calls, the LEC network existing one (which can comprise multiple inter-switches) is used to connect a subscriber EO and the local EO to the VMP 30. As such, for direct calls, the architecture of the present invention eliminates installation and recurring charges per channel inter-office and recurring mileage charges. Furthermore, the architecture of Figure 2b does not require geo-based access numbers. All 5 subscribers access VMP 30 to retrieve messages and review functions by dialing the same access number - that is, the VMP 30 phone number present on local EO 25 to VMP 30. These calls will remain as "locals" for quota purposes for those subscribers 5 in the same local call area as the VMP 30. The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the detailed specification and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all these characteristics and advantages of the invention that fall within the spirit and real scope of the present invention. In addition, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired that the present invention be limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described herein, and accordingly, all modifications and equivalents. Conventions that can be appealed, are intended to fall within the scope of the claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for accessing a voice messaging platform, characterized in that it comprises: sending a telephone call to the platform on a distant exchange line, where the telephone call involves a calling party who, at the start of the call to a calling party, finds a busy or call-no-answer condition, such that the calling party can leave a message for the called party in the called party's mailbox; and directing a telephone call to the platform on a trunk group of a local telephone switching center to the platform, when the telephone call involves a calling subscriber initiating the telephone call to the platform to access the messaging platform voice. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sending step includes the step in which the platform records a message. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the calling subscriber accesses the platform for voice messaging to retrieve a message. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the addressing step includes the stage in which the platform plays a message. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sending step includes the step of transmitting a calling party number, a called party number and a sending number to the platform via a signaling link. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the sending step further includes the step of transmitting a reason to send the call to the platform via a signaling link. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the signaling link is an SMDI link. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the addressing step further includes the step of directing the telephone call to the trunk group over a network of local exchanges capable of transmitting a calling subscriber number associated with the call of phone. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the addressing step further includes the step of transmitting the number of the calling subscriber from the trunk group to the platform, such that the platform can use the subscriber's number calling to allow the calling subscriber to access the calling subscriber's mailbox, without having to provide the mailbox ID. 10. A system for accessing a voice messaging platform, characterize < | because it comprises: a local termination exchange coupled to the platform by a group of local trunks; and a remote terminating exchange coupled to the local terminating exchange by a network of local exchanges and to the platform by lines of distant exchanges; wherein a telephone call from a party calling a call party number in reference position to the remote or remote terminating exchange, finding a busy signal or call-no-reply is sent by the remote exchange lines to the platform, in such a way that the calling party can leave a message for the called party number in a mailbox of the called party number; and wherein a telephone call from a subscriber calling the platform is routed through the network of local exchanges and the group of local trunks to the platform, so that the calling subscriber can access the platform for voice messaging . The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the platform records a message. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the telephone call of the subscriber calling the platform is initiated by the calling subscriber to access the voice messaging platform to retrieve a message. 13. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the platform reproduces a message. 14. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises a signaling link that couples the remote terminating exchange to the platform to transmit a calling party number, a called party number, and a number sent from the remote termination plant to the platform. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the signaling link transmits a reason to send the call to the platform from the remote termination exchange to the platform. 16. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the signaling link is an SMDI link. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the urban network transmits a calling subscriber number from the trunk group to the platform, in such a way that the platform can use the calling subscriber number to allow the calling subscriber accesses the calling subscriber's mailbox without having to provide a mailbox ID. 18. A system for accessing a voice messaging platform, characterized in that it comprises: a local terminating exchange coupled to the platform by a group of local trunks, wherein the local terminating exchange includes switching circuits and special service circuits; and a remote termination exchange coupled to the switching circuits by a network of local exchanges and to the special service circuits by remote exchanges; wherein a telephone call from a party calling a called party number in reference position to the remote terminating exchange, which finds a busy signal or call-no-reply, is sent by the remote exchange lines to the special services circuits for retransmission to the platform, in such a way that the calling party can leave a message for the called party number in a mailbox of the called party number; and wherein a telephone call from a subscriber calling the service platform through the network of local exchanges to the switching circuits, for transmission by the group of local trunks to the platform, in such a way that the calling subscriber can access a mailbox of the calling party. The system according to claim 18, characterized in that the telephone call from a subscriber calling the platform is initiated by the calling subscriber to access the mailbox of the calling subscriber to send a voice message to another mailbox. 20. A method performed by a provider of a voice messaging service to establish an efficient telephone messaging architecture, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: initiating an installation of at least one remote exchange line to provide a messaging platform of voice with a presence in a first telephone exchange, wherein the first telephone exchange is local to at least one subscriber of the voice messaging service, the remote exchange line to use in sending to the platform telephone calls to the subscriber where a calling party encounters a busy or call-without-response condition; and ordering a trunk group connection between a second telephone exchange and the messaging platform, the trunk group for use in transporting telephone calls by the subscriber to the platform. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and system cost-efficient and architecturally described to access a voice messaging platform. An exemplary method for accessing the platform includes (1) sending a telephone call to the platform over the distant center lines, when the telephone call involves a calling subscriber who, upon initiating a call to a called party subscriber, encounters a condition busy or call-without-answer, so that the calling party can leave a message for the called party in the mailbox of the called party; and (2) direct a telephone call to the platform over the local trunk group to the platform, when the telephone call involves a subscriber-subscriber who calls initiating a telephone call directly to the platform to access his mailbox to retrieve messages, manage greetings and / or send voice messages to other subscribers. For calls sent over distant trunk lines, the platform is provided with a wide variety of call information transmitted through an SMDI link. For direct calls, calls are routed to the trunk group through an LEC network capable of transmitting a calling party number associated with each call and in this way the platform is provided with the only call information necessary to service those calls - that is, a calling party number. As such, direct traffic is added to the platform through the local terminating exchange to the platform and economies of scale are achieved. Furthermore, all subscribers to the voice messaging service, regardless of their geographical location, can dial the same number to access the voice messaging platform.