System and method for downloading an ADSI feature via the internet

The present invention is an ADSI download system. The system comprises at least one ADSI device, like a screen-display terminal, and one or more remote sites, like computer network site locations, wherein at least one of the remote sites contains ADSI feature files. The ADSI device stores ADSI download feature files in a storage location, receives and stores a downloaded ADSI feature file from the remote site, and uses the ADSI feature. The telephony network connects the ADSI device to the remote site. A network application server connects the remote site comprising of at least one ADSI feature file with the ADSI device. The user of the ADSI device selects the ADSI feature file on the remote site and the ADSI feature file is then retrieved from the remote site and is downloaded into the storage location.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention generally relates to the field of Analog Display Services 
Interface (ADSI) and in particular to a system and method to download an 
ADSI feature via a telephone network to an ADSI screen-display telephone 
terminal. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
ADSI is a telecommunications protocol standard developed by Bellcore. ADSI 
enables alternate voice and data capability over the existing analog 
telephone network. This capability permits ADSI devices to communicate 
with users through a familiar voice response audio interface, where the 
user listens to voice recordings and makes menu selections using a 
telephone keypad, and with visual menus and information on a screen 
display, where service selections can be made using soft keys. Currently, 
ADSI devices are often implemented as screen-display telephone terminals, 
but there can also be television set-top boxes allowing users to make 
calls using the television, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, 
and personal computers that are ADSI capable. 
In addition to real-time interactive applications, ADSI also enables 
program transfer using a capability known as Feature Download. These 
programs, or service scripts, can be developed on a server and run on a 
local terminal. In many cases, these scripts are stored in an external 
database accessible to one telephony platform and for access by the 
telephony platform serving the user. Therefore, when new features are 
requested by the user, or are newly added by the server, the scripts are 
transferred by the telephony platform to the ADSI terminal where they are 
stored in memory and executed by the terminal until overwritten. These 
scripts define not only call flow, but also define the soft keys and 
displays presented to the user during a call. 
One example of applied ADSI technology is Northern Telecom's Advanced Call 
Management Service (ACMS). In ACMS, customer selected features are stored 
in an external database. When a customer calls in for activation of 
services, a database lookup is performed so that the appropriate 
information for that customer can be downloaded to the telephone. The 
application runs on a Network Applications Vehicle (NAV), that is 
typically a UNIX-based telephony platform, and reads an object file to get 
information concerning the call flow. The NAV presents the call flow, 
including ADSI commands, to the end user and as a result a new application 
is presented to the terminal. 
Some telephone networks operate a UNIX-based telephony platform that can 
operate ADSI technology (ADSI telephone networks). Other telephone 
networks operate on less advanced telephony platforms that cannot operate 
ADSI technology. Thereby, some users are excluded from the opportunity to 
use ADSI technology by their telephone network. 
To further confuse the matter, each ADSI telephone network can operate 
distinct ADSI technology. ADSI technology is divided into ADSI feature 
files, such as custom local area signaling services (

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 is a schematic of an ADSI download system 10. The system 10 
comprises at least one ADSI device 12, like a screen-display terminal, a 
telephone network 14, a network application server 16 and one or more 
remote sites 18, like a computer network site location. The computer 
network site location 18 contains an ADSI feature file 19. 
The device 12 can be any ADSI device such as a telephone, television or 
computer. The ADSI screen-display terminal 12, as shown in FIG. 2, 
comprises a display-screen 20, a storage location 22 (typically a memory 
device such as EPROM or EEPROM), soft keys 24 on the screen, numeric 
keyboard 26 on the terminal 12 and a receiver 28 to transmit voice and 
data to the telephone network 14. The terminal 12 stores ADSI download 
feature files in storage location 22, transmits an ADSI feature file 
request, receives and stores a downloaded ADSI feature file from the 
computer network site 18, and uses the ADSI feature file. Terminal 12 
transmits and receives data and voice to and from the network application 
server 16. Other terminals (not shown) on network 14 or other networks 
(not shown) also transmit and receive data and voice to and from terminal 
12 on network 14. 
The telephone network 14 connects the ADSI screen-display telephone 
terminal 12 to the network application server 16. The telephone network 14 
can be a private or a public telephone network system. 
The network application server 16 connects to at least one computer network 
site location 18 having ADSI feature file 19 to transmit and receive data 
between each other. The network application server 16 connects the 
computer network site 18 to the telephone network 14. The network 
application server 16 is any server, such as a UNIX-based telephone 
platform or a PC-computer. 
The computer network site 18 is preferably a publicly available network 
system, such as an Internet site or a world wide web page on the Internet. 
The Internet, or "net," fueled by the popularity of the World Wide Web 
(WWW or Web), has exhibited significant growth over the past few years. At 
present, to access the information available on the Web, users typically 
use standard computer equipment, such as a home personal computer with a 
display and modem, and an Internet connection. 
In the present invention, several types of Internet connections are 
available. For example, to use an Internet connection from Internet 
Service Providers (ISPs), the user dials from ADSI screen-display 
telephone terminal 12 into the server 16 at the ISP's facility using a 
modem and/or standard telephone line. The server 16 in turn provides the 
user with access to the Internet. Through this Internet connection, the 
telephone company selects computer network site 18 having ADSI feature 
files 19 to download to the ADSI screen-display telephone terminal 12. 
The computer network site 18 is on a document referred to as a "Web page." 
and the ADSI feature files 19 contained in the Web page is called content. 
Once the telephone company selects site 18 the user when it dials a 
preselected phone number is connected to a specific host computer on the 
Internet, called a "Web Server," and, more particularly, the location of a 
Web page located on the Web Server. A Web browser retrieves the Web page 
and displays it for the user on the screen display. Hypertext Transfer 
Protocol (HTTP) is the most widely used format to access and link users 
with various other Web pages or sites referenced by the original Web page. 
HTTP requires a program running on the host computer that understands and 
responds to this protocol. When a browser receives a specific request from 
the user, it sends the request to the Web server. The Web server receives 
the request and attempts to fulfill the request. 
The ADSI feature file 19 on the computer network site 18 is any ADSI 
Feature Download file that conforms to BellCore's specifications. The 
BellCore specifications are set forth in "Generic Requirements for an SPCS 
to Customer Premise Equipment Data Interface for Analog Display Services," 
TR-NWT-001273 Issue 1, December 1992 BellCore. That BellCore reference is 
hereby incorporated into this specification by reference. 
An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 
3 illustrates that other terminals 12a and 12b on different telephone 
networks 14a and 14b connect to the computer network site location 18 that 
contains the ADSI feature file 19. The users of terminals 12a and 12b can 
download ADSI feature file 19 in the same manner as the user of terminal 
12. Hence, the customers of telephone networks 14, 14a, and 14b can have 
the same ADSI feature files as others throughout country because the 
telephone networks connect to the same computer network site location that 
contains the updated and improved ADSI feature files. 
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to 
certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that 
variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope 
of the invention.