Patent ID: 6430275
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04W,Y10S

Abstract:
In a hybrid communication network comprising a switched telephone network and a packet switched network connectable to terminals for communication therebetween, a method of communication session management comprising the steps of:a) at a session control object connected between said switched telephone network and said packet switched network, receiving an address of a called one of said terminals from a calling one of said terminals via the packet switched network, as a request to initiate an audio communication session therebetween via the switched telephone network and the packet switched network; b) authenticating with respect to the calling terminal, account validating for the calling terminal, pricing, and authorizing a communication session between said calling and called terminals from a unitary logical object connected to the packet switched network; c) signaling said authorization to the session control object, via said packet switched network; d) initiating a link for the audio communication session from said session control object via the switched telephone network to the called terminal to enable the audio communication via the switched telephone network and the packet switched network, in response to the authorization of the communication session; and e) maintaining by said unitary logical object of a record of the initiation, progress, pricing and termination of said audio communication session on a substantially real time basis.