Patent · US Expired

Network and method for providing cross-media connections

US5239577A · kind A · utility

96Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 3, 1990
Grant dateAug 24, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 3, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S379/913
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A network (10) for providing cross-context connections between subscribers comprises a plurality of directory databases for storing mappings between individual names, addresses and personal identification numbers of network subscribers in a plurality of telecommunications contexts such as business, residence, cellular, etc. The network (10) also comprises a linking database comprising one entry for each subscriber. Each entry of the linking database is accessed by the personal identification number of a subscriber and contains pointers to particular ones of the directory databases where the addresses for the subscriber in different contexts can be found. For example, to set up a cross-context connection, a first subscriber (A) who knows the address of a second subscriber (B) in one context, transmits the known address to a directory controller (70). The directory controller (70) utilizes the known address as a source address and accesses a directory database to find out the personal identification number of the second subscriber. The personal identification number is then utilized by the directory controller (70) to access the linking database to determine the directory database wh…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.