Patent US5995487A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5995487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing subscribers with unguaranteed bandwidth connections wherein subscribers are alerted by encoded messages or a warning tone
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
•
Filing: 1997-08-06
•
Granted: 1999-11-30
•
Expires: 2017-08-06
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for enhancing the ability of a subscriber to connect to a carrier network by enabling the service provider to indicate to the subscriber when a requested connection to the carrier network would utilize unguaranteed bandwidth and, absent objection by the subscriber, to complete the requested connection utilizing the unguaranteed bandwidth. Upon receipt of a request for set-up of a call of an indicated bandwidth, the service provider will acknowledge the call set-up request. The service provider will then issue a call proceeding message to indicate that the requested connection is being arranged. The call proceeding message will contain an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator if the carrier network cannot guarantee the requested bandwidth. If a cancellation of the call request is not received in response to the unguaranteed bandwidth indicator, the call will be completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip A. Weaver
- 👤 Christopher Lorenzo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L12/5602; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/5631; H04L2012/5632; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5651
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; and indicating, to said subscriber, that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed by encoding an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator into a message transmitted to said subscriber upon acceptance of said requested connection by said carrier network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; and indicating, to said subscriber, that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed by encoding an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator into a message transmitted to said subscriber upon acceptance of said requested connection by said carrier network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of: receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection; upon receipt of said acceptance, said requested connection being provided to said subscriber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; and indicating, to said subscriber, that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed; and receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection; upon receipt of said acceptance, said requested connection being provided to said subscriber; wherein the step of indicating that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed further comprises the step of generating a warning tone audible to said subscriber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
159 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; and indicating, to said subscriber, that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed; and receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection; upon receipt of said acceptance, said requested connection being provided to said subscriber; wherein the step of indicating that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed further comprises the step of generating a warning tone audible to said subscriber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; indicating, to said subscriber, that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed; and receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection; upon receipt of said acceptance, said requested connection being provided to said subscriber; wherein the step of indicating that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed further comprises the step of generating a recorded announcement audible to said subscriber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; indicating, to said subscriber, that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed; and receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection; upon receipt of said acceptance, said requested connection being provided to said subscriber; wherein the step of indicating that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed further comprises the step of generating a recorded announcement audible to said subscriber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection further comprises the step of determining that a failure of said subscriber to disconnect after receiving said indication that said bandwidth is unguaranteed and before said requested connection is completed is said acceptance of said requested connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; indicating, to said subscriber, that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed; and receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection; wherein, upon receipt of said acceptance, said requested connection being provided to said subscriber; and wherein the step of indicating that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed further comprises the step of encoding an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator into a message transmitted to said subscriber upon acceptance of said requested connection by said carrier network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; indicating, to said subscriber, that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed; and receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection; wherein, upon receipt of said acceptance, said requested connection being provided to said subscriber; and wherein the step of indicating that said bandwidth of said requested connection is unguaranteed further comprises the step of encoding an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator into a message transmitted to said subscriber upon acceptance of said requested connection by said carrier network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said unguaranteed bandwidth indicator is encoded into a call proceeding message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said unguaranteed bandwidth indicator is encoded into a message type information element of a call proceeding message.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for handling a call request issued by a subscriber to a service provider for connection to a carrier network, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for set-up of a call having a bandwidth; acknowledging said request for call set-up; determining if said carrier network can guarantee said bandwidth of said call; issuing a call proceeding message, said call proceeding message containing an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator ("UBI") if said carrier network cannot guarantee said bandwidth of said call; and if a cancellation of said call request is not received in response to issuance of said UBI, completing said call.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for handling a call request issued by a subscriber to a service provider for connection to a carrier network, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for set-up of a call having a bandwidth; acknowledging said request for call set-up; determining if said carrier network can guarantee said bandwidth of said call; issuing a call proceeding message, said call proceeding message containing an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator ("UBI") if said carrier network cannot guarantee said bandwidth of said call; and if a cancellation of said call request is not received in response to issuance of said UBI, completing said call.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said subscriber originates said request for call set-up.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said request for call set-up indicates whether said bandwidth exceeds a bandwidth level previously guaranteed to said subscriber.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for handling a call request issued by a subscriber to a service provider for connection to a carrier network, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for set-up of a call having a bandwidth: acknowledging said request for call set-up; issuing a call proceeding message, said call proceeding message containing a warning tone audible to said subscriber if said carrier network cannot guarantee said bandwidth of said call; and if a cancellation of said call request is not received in response to issuance of said UBI, completing said call.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for handling a call request issued by a subscriber to a service provider for connection to a carrier network, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for set-up of a call having a bandwidth: acknowledging said request for call set-up; issuing a call proceeding message, said call proceeding message containing a warning tone audible to said subscriber if said carrier network cannot guarantee said bandwidth of said call; and if a cancellation of said call request is not received in response to issuance of said UBI, completing said call.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for handling a call request issued by a subscriber to a service provider for connection to a carrier network, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for set-up of a call having a bandwidth; acknowledging said request for call set-up; issuing a call proceeding message, said call proceeding message containing a recorded announcement audible to said subscriber if said carrier network cannot guarantee said bandwidth of said call; and if a cancellation of said call request is not received in response to issuance of said UBI, completing said call.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for handling a call request issued by a subscriber to a service provider for connection to a carrier network, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for set-up of a call having a bandwidth; acknowledging said request for call set-up; issuing a call proceeding message, said call proceeding message containing a recorded announcement audible to said subscriber if said carrier network cannot guarantee said bandwidth of said call; and if a cancellation of said call request is not received in response to issuance of said UBI, completing said call.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said UBI is encoded in a message transmitted to said subscriber upon acceptance of said request for call set-up.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for providing access to a carrier network comprising: a processing unit which supports an operating system, said processing unit coupled to a carrier network and to a terminal operated by a subscriber; and call handling software residing in said processing unit and executable by said operating system, said call handling software transmitting, in response to a call set-up request issued by said terminal and upon acceptance of said call set-up request by said carrier network, a message having an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator encoded therein which indicates unguaranteed bandwidth if said call set-up request contains a request, by said subscriber operating said terminal, for excess bandwidth and said carrier network has sufficient capacity to temporarily provide said excess bandwidth.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for providing access to a carrier network comprising: a processing unit which supports an operating system, said processing unit coupled to a carrier network and to a terminal operated by a subscriber; and call handling software residing in said processing unit and executable by said operating system, said call handling software transmitting, in response to a call set-up request issued by said terminal and upon acceptance of said call set-up request by said carrier network, a message having an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator encoded therein which indicates unguaranteed bandwidth if said call set-up request contains a request, by said subscriber operating said terminal, for excess bandwidth and said carrier network has sufficient capacity to temporarily provide said excess bandwidth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said processor unit is part of a file server.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said processor unit is part of a switch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said unguaranteed bandwidth indicator is encoded into a call proceeding message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said unguaranteed bandwidth indicator is encoded into a message type information element of a call proceeding message.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
124 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; and issuing a call proceeding message to said subscriber, said call proceeding message containing an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator ("UBI") if said carrier network cannot guarantee said bandwidth of said call.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
124 words
For a subscriber who contracts with a service provider which provides a guaranteed amount of bandwidth when interconnecting said subscriber with a carrier network, a method of providing enhanced interconnection capacity to said subscriber, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said subscriber, a request for connection with said carrier network at a bandwidth in excess of said guaranteed amount of bandwidth; determining if said bandwidth requested by said subscriber is available; providing, to said subscriber, said requested connection with said carrier network, said bandwidth of said requested connection provided to said subscriber being unguaranteed; and issuing a call proceeding message to said subscriber, said call proceeding message containing an unguaranteed bandwidth indicator ("UBI") if said carrier network cannot guarantee said bandwidth of said call.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said request for connection indicates whether said requested bandwidth exceeds said guaranteed amount of bandwidth.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 20 and further comprising the step of: receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection; upon receipt of said acceptance, said requested connection being provided to said subscriber.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of receiving, from said subscriber, an acceptance of said requested connection further comprises the step of determining that a failure of said subscriber to disconnect after receiving said call proceeding message containing said UBI and before said requested connection is completed is said acceptance of said requested connection.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said message is a call proceeding message.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5267232A
Cited
US5594717A
Cited
US5696764A
Cited
US5504744A
Cited
US5784358A
Cited
US5392280A
Cited
US5592476A
Cited
US5633861A
Cited
US5889779A
Cited
US5844906A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-29 | 2003-05-31 | 2003-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-29 | 2007-05-31 | 2007-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-29 | 2011-05-31 | 2011-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |