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

US5982856A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Octel Communications Corporation · US

Inventors

• Robert S. Cohn · Laguna Beach, US
• Gregory M. Vaudreuil · Dallas, US
• Carl F. Schoeneberger · Dallas, US
• David M. Reece · Arlington, US
• Carlton C. O'Neal · Dallas, US
• Carl W. Kalbfleisch · Richardson, US
• Mark Whipple · Dallas, US
• James R. Swoopes · Plano, US
• Alan T. Huch · Dallas, US
• Michael P. Dimitroff · Sunnyvale, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 7, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 9, 1999
• Expiry date: Apr 7, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99948
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

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. A management server (64) and a event processor (70) are used by communications system (10) to manage the internal operations of each of the network hubs. The network center (37) contains a customer computer interface system (167) and an interactive voice response system (169) to allow user in…