METHOD OF ORIGINATING A CALL IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to communication systems and, more particularly, to a method of originating a call in a communication system.
Background of the Invention
Presently wireline communication systems have the capability to deliver electronic mail (email) to users based upon the users electronic address. When a user receives an email, they are able to respond to the email by means of a reply function. The reply function will locate the original senders electronic address and formulate a reply message directed to that email reply address.
There are also methods of converting data messages to voice messages to be delivered over a voice communication system (such as a wireless communication system or a land-line system) . Users obtaining email messages in this fashion still have a need for responding to the message by way of making a call to the sender of the message. Presently, in order to make such a reply, the user must terminate, or interrupt, the present call and place a new call. This new call may be to a number that is unknown to the user, making it more inconvenient to reply to the message. Therefore, there is a need for a system which enables the user to easily and quickly respond to an email message accessed over a voice communication system. Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a network architectural diagram of a network capable of utilizing the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication system capable of operating according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the service node proxy of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a second flow chart detailing the process illustrated in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 6 is a third flow chart also detailing the process illustrated in FIG. 2.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a network, generally designated 100, is illustrated. Network 100 consists, generally, of a communication system 10 (such as a cellular communication system, a land mobile communication or a satellite communication system) , a data system 15, and a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 14. Within communication system 10 is a service node 11, which is described in detail, below, with regard to FIG. 2. Data system 15 is a network, such as the internet network, that will provide access to various other networks. Some of the other networks provided include a corporate intranetwork 101 and internet service provider networks 102-105. In operation, service node 11 causes a service node proxy 110 to be implemented in one of the nodes 101-105. Service node proxy 110 is described in more detail in the description of FIG. 3, below. Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a communication system, generally designated 10, capable of operating according to the present invention is illustrated. System 10 consists of a service node 11 which is coupled, in this example, to wireless communication system 12 which is coupled to PSTN 14. It should be noted here that the present invention will also function without wireless communication system 12 by way of direct connection to PSTN 14. System 10 also includes a connection to a data system 15, such as an Internet connection.
Within wireless communication system 12 is a mobile switch center (MSC) 16 coupled to PSTN 14 and a base site 17. System 12 will have one or more registers associated therewith, such as a home location register (HLR) 18. Wireless communication is conducted over a radio frequency (RF) channel 18 with a mobile subscriber (MS) communication unit 19.
Service node 11 provides the elements to conduct the processing involving the present invention described below. Service node 11 consists of a controller 20 having a service logic program 21 associated therewith. Controller 20 is coupled to a cellular protocol interface unit 22, a voice processing unit 23, a switch 24, and a wireless internet gateway (WIG) 25. Cellular protocol interface unit 22 is coupled to HLR 18 and functions to provide an interface between HLR 18 and controller 20. Cellular protocol interface unit 22 acts as a protocol converter to convert the protocol used by HLR 18 into those used by controller 20. Voice processing unit 23 operates in conjunction with the email retrieval service to present menus to the user; provide voice activation of user commands; and conduct text-to-audio rendering of email messages. Switch 24 is used to inject data network information into a voice path. One example of injecting data network information is where switch 24 injects the output from VPU 23 into the voice system.
WIG 25 provides a process that delivers data network related service requests to hosts residing on the data network. In most cases, WIG 25 executes small fragments of service logic that are used to retrieve email from data system 15.
For an email retrieval service, the master service logic program being executed by the control computer requests that WIG 25 execute service logic that requests email from a service node proxy running elsewhere on the data network host. The invoked logic waits for a response from the remote proxy and returns the desired data to the master service logic program when the response arrives.
Controller 20 operates by invoking the appropriate service logic program when an incoming call arrives at switch 24. This service logic program is a master program that, in one particular case, implements the retrieval of an email data message via WIG 25. Controller 20 also directs the conversion of the email data message to an audio message using voice processing unit 23. When a selection is made by a subscriber from a list of menu items, controller 20 also directs the various components within the proper functions to complete the requested activity.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of service node proxy architecture 110 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. This proxy consists of the proxy 111 itself and an associated data network's email data 112.
The operation of the above described network is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. Beginning with FIG. 4, a process, generally designated 200, of originating a call in a communication system is illustrated. Process 200 starts at step 201 and moves to step 202 where an email data message is retrieved with a communication unit (such as communication unit 19) . Once the user is finished with the email data message, if they desire to reply to the email, an audio reply is directed at step 203. Once the audio reply is directed, the communication system will originate an audio connection to the email sending party, step 204. Process 200 then ends, step 205. In FIG. 5, a flow chart 215 is shown which details step 202 of FIG. 4. In retrieving an email data message, the user will first access the communication system using a communication unit (mobile subscriber) , step 210. The user will then be offered a first menu of options from which to select, step 211. In this case, the option of requesting email is selected, step 212. This process may then be continued in FIG. 6 with the step of converting the email data message to audio, step 213. An example of this type of conversion can be found in United States Patent 5,418,835 granted on May 23,
1995 to Frohman et al. and assigned to Motorola Inc. At this point, an associated audio reply address is determined and may be attached to the converted email data message, step 217. One manner of determining the associated audio reply address is through use of a network element directory 175. Network element directory 175 provides a cross-reference between an email reply address and the associated audio reply address. The network element directory may be resident in service node 11 (FIG. 2) , or may be coupled within data system 15 (FIG. 1) .
The audio email data message is then transmitted to the communication unit, step 214. Following the playing of the audio email data message, the user is offered a second menu of options, step 215, including an option to originate an audio reply. If the audio reply option is desired, then step 216 is executed by the user.
An additional embodiment of the above method will also permit a response to be sent when a video communication is received. In operation, the user is sent a video mail message rather than the above described email data message. The video message is stored in the same manner as the email data message. When the user accesses their mail via an audio telephone connection, an audio representation of the video message will be forwarded. This audio representation can consist of an audio portion of the video message; a separate audio message forwarded with the video message by the sender; an audio analysis of the video message performed by the system; or any other suitable analysis that would result in an audio message being delivered to the user. The remainder of the operation would function similar to the above description in that the user has the capability to automatically return a telephone call to the sender of the video message.
Referring back to FIG. 1, another example of the present invention can be demonstrated using service providers 104 and 105 with PSTN 14. In this example, an email message is sent from service provider 104 to a user of service provider 105. The user of service provider 105 retrieves the email message (step 200) using, for example, a computer terminal 150 having a voice modem 151. The receiver then directs the network to reply to the email using an audio reply (step 203) . The system will determine the associated audio reply address (217) and use the voice modem to originate an audio communication (step 204) over PSTN 14.
Therefore, a method of operation has been provided which permits a user receiving an email data message a method of replying via a telephone call to the original sender of the email data message.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims.