Telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet. A media order entry captures complete user profile information for a user. This profile information is utilized by the system throughout the media experience for routing, billing, monitoring, reporting and other media control functions. Users can manage more aspects of a network than previously possible, and control network activities from a central site. The hybrid network also contains logic for responding to requests for quality of service and reserving the resources to provide the requested services.

System and method for providing requested quality of service in a hybrid network

The present invention describes a system and method for communicating voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system permits packet switching of voice calls and data calls through a data network from and to any of a LEC, a customer facility or a direct IP connection on the data network. The system includes soft switch sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network event component and a network management component. The system interfaces with customer facilities (e.g., a PBX), carrier facilities (e.g., a LEC) and legacy signaling networks (e.g., SS7) to handle calls between any combination of on-network and off-network callers. The soft switch sites provide the core call processing for the voice network architecture. The soft switch sites manage the gateway sites in a preferred embodiment, using a protocol such as the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) protocol to request the set-up and tear-down of calls. The gateway sites originate and terminate calls between calling parties and called parties through the data network. The gateway sites include network access devices to provide access to network resources. The data network connects one or more of the soft switch sites to one or more of the gateway sites. The provisioning and network event component collects call events recorded at the soft switch sites. The network management component includes a network operations center (NOC) for centralized network management.

Voice over data telecommunications network architecture

Apparatus and methods are provided for effecting remote commerce, such as in telemarketing (either inbound or outbound) and in electronic commerce, which are particularly adapted for the intelligent selection and proffer of products, services or information to a user or customer. In one aspect of the invention, goods, service or information are provided to the user via electronic communication, such as through a telephone, videophone or other computer link, as determined by the steps of first, establishing communication via the electronic communications device between the user and the system to effect a primary transaction or primary interaction, second, obtaining data with respect to the primary transaction or primary interaction, including at least in part a determination of the identity of the user or prospective customer, third, obtaining at least a second data element relating to the user, fourth, utilizing the primary transaction or primary interaction data along with the at least second data element as factors in determining at least one good, service or item of information for prospective upsell to the user or prospective customer, and offering the item to the prospective customer. In the preferred embodiment, the selection of the proffer of goods, services or information comprises an upsell with respect to the primary transaction or primary interaction data. The offer of the upsell is preferably generated and offered in real time, that is, during the course of the communication initiated with the primary transaction or primary interaction.

Methods and apparatus for intelligent selection of goods and services in telephonic and electronic commerce

A communications system (10) is provided which comprises a plurality of network hubs (12, 14 and 16). Network hubs (12, 14 and 16) are interconnected through a communications network (18). The system (10) interconnects messaging systems (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 42 and 44) having disparate capabilities and using disparate communications protocols. The network hubs use numbers of connection processors (52 and 54) to interact with the messaging systems. A hub database (68) and message store (58) are used to store control information and messaging information within the network hubs. A network processor (60) is used to interact with other hubs within the communications system (10). A message router (72), connection manager (74), data replicator (76), and an administrative event manager (78) are used to control the operations of the hub in processing a message.

Network-based multimedia communications and directory system and method of operation

A procedure for selecting and storing data elements communicated from a common database to users of the database utilizing a communication link between each transmitter and a concomitant receiver accessible by the user. The transmitted information is augmented with attributes which are used at the receiver to select and then store locally only that information of interest to each receiver's user, wherein the attributes and the user selection pattern determine the criteria for storing information locally. Attributes include: utility of each data element in time; interest categories and level of interest for each of the categories determined for the collective users; repeat time to the data element; and a hyperlink to associated data elements.

Broadcast interactive multimedia system

A multimedia telecommunications network (10) provides telephone service which may involve one or more of audio, video and data communications. In one example of the invention, the multimedia telecommunications network (10) contains a virtual meeting services complex (28) which provides multimedia telecommunications service to subscribers of the network (10). Multimedia telephone calls can be completed automatically by the virtual meeting services complex (28) in a manner similar to that now used to complete conventional audio telephone calls. The multimedia telecommunications network (10) containing this virtual meeting services complex (28) is able to connect together users having diverse equipment and is able to handle integrated and nonintegrated network access mechanisms.

Multimedia Telecommunications Network and Service

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multimedia communication network for providing telephone service which may involve one or more of audio, video, and data communications. SOLUTION: The multimedia communication network contains a virtual meeting services complex which provides multimedia communication service to subscribers of the network. Multimedia telephone calls can be established automatically by the virtual meeting services complex in a manner similar to that currently used to establish ordinary audio telephone calls. The multimedia communication network containing this virtual meeting services complex can connect together users having different equipment and handle integrated and nonintegrated network access mechanisms. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Ashkok K. Kuthyar

Papers

Multimedia Telecommunications Network and Service

Multimedia communication network and service