Connection controller for setting-up a media path between a terminal and an audio source
View Patent ↗A connection controller suitable for use in a PBX. The connection controller can set up a media path to allow a user at a known terminal to receive audio information from an audio source. The connection controller has a directory of audio sources and a processing unit for searching the directory to select an audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user. When the selection is made the processing unit generates and directs control signals to one or more components operative to establish the media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal.
1. A connection controller for setting up a media path to allow a user at one terminal to receive audio information from an audio source, said connection controller comprising:
a) an input for receiving signaling information indicative of a type of audio information desired by a user residing at a known terminal wherein the known terminal resides in either one of a packet-switched network domain and a circuit-switched network domain;
b) a directory of audio sources;
c) a processing unit responsive to the signaling information to:
i) search the directory of audio sources to select an audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, said processing unit utilizing information indicative of the domain in which the known terminal resides in selecting the audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user;
ii) based on the searching generate control signals suitable for use in establishing a media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal;
d) an output to release the control signals.
2. A connection controller for setting up a media path to allow a user at one terminal to receive audio information from an audio source, said connection controller comprising:
a) an input for receiving signaling information, indicative of a type of audio information desired by a user residing at a known terminal, wherein the known terminal resides in either one of a packet-switched network domain and a circuit-switched network domain;
b) a directory of audio sources;
c) a processing unit responsive to the signaling information to:
i) search the directory of audio sources to select an audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, said processing unit utilizing information indicative of the domain in which the known terminal resides in selecting the audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, wherein when the directory of audio sources indicates two or more audio sources suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user and residing in different network domains, said processing unit is operative to select the audio source residing in the same network domain as the known terminal;
ii) based on the searching generate control signals suitable for use in establishing a media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal;
d) an output to release the control signals.
3. A connection controller as defined in claim 2 , wherein the audio information is a tone.
4. A connection controller as defined in claim 2 , wherein the audio information is a music-on-hold.
5. A connection controller as defined in claim 2 , wherein the audio information is a recorded announcement.
6. A connection controller as defined in claim 2 , wherein the audio information is a live broadcast.
7. A computer readable storage medium including a program element for execution by a computing device to implement a connection controller for setting up a media path to allow a user at one terminal to receive audio information from an audio source, said connection controller comprising:
a) an input for receiving signaling information, indicative of a type of audio information desired by a user residing at a known terminal, wherein the known terminal resides in either one of a packet-switched network domain and a circuit-switched network domain;
b) a directory of audio sources;
c) a processing unit responsive to the signaling information to:
i) search the directory of audio sources to select an audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, said processing unit utilizing information indicative of the domain in which the known terminal resides in selecting the audio source suitable to provide this audio information desired by the user;
ii) based on the searching generate control signals suitable for use in establishing, a media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal.
8. A computer readable storage medium including a program element for execution by a computing device to implement a connection controller for setting up a media path to allow a user at one terminal to receive audio information from an audio source, said connection controller comprising:
a) an input for receiving signaling information indicative of a type of audio information desired by a user residing at a known terminal, wherein the known terminal resides in either one of a packet-switched network domain and a circuit-switched network domain;
b) a directory of audio sources;
c) a processing unit responsive to the signaling information to:
i) search the directory of audio sources to select an audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, said processing unit utilizing information indicative of the domain in which the known terminal resides in selecting the audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, wherein when the directory of audio sources indicates two or more audio sources suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user and residing in different network domains, said processing unit is operative to select the audio source residing in the same network domain as the known terminal;
ii) based on the searching, generate control signals suitable for use in establishing a media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal.
9. A PBX comprising a connection controller as described in claim 2 .
10. A connection controller for setting up a media path to allow a user at one terminal to receive audio information from an audio source, said connection controller comprising:
a) input means for receiving signaling information indicative of a type of audio information desired by a user residing at a known terminal, wherein the known terminal resides in either one of a packet-switched network domain and a circuit-switched network domain;
b) directory means of audio sources means;
c) processing means responsive to the signaling information to:
i) search the directory means to select an audio source means suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, said processing means utilizing information indicative of the domain in which the known terminal resides in selecting the audio source means suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, wherein when the directory means includes two or more audio sources means suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user and residing in different network domains, said processing means is operative to select the audio source means residing in the same network domain as the known terminal;
ii) based on the searching generate control signals suitable for use in establishing a media path between the selected audio source means and the known terminal.
11. A method for facilitating the delivery of audio information from an audio source to a user residing at a known terminal, comprising:
a) receiving signaling information indicative of a type of audio information desired by a user residing at the known terminal, wherein the known terminal resides in either one of a packet-switched network domain and a circuit-switched network domain;
b) searching a directory of audio sources to selection audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, wherein said searching comprises utilizing information indicative of the domain in which the known terminal resides in selecting the audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user;
c) based on the searching generate control signals suitable for use in establishing a media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal; and
d) releasing the control signals to one or more components operative to establish the media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal.
12. A method for facilitating the delivery of audio information from an audio source to a user residing at a known terminal, comprising:
a) receiving signaling information indicative of a type of audio information desired by a user residing at the known terminal, wherein the known terminal resides in either one of a packet-switched network domain and a circuit-switched network domain;
b) searching a directory of audio sources to select an audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, wherein said searching comprises utilizing information indicative of the domain in which the known terminal resides in selecting the audio source suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user, wherein when the directory of audio sources indicates two or more audio sources suitable to provide the audio information desired by the user and residing in different network domains, selecting the audio source residing in the same network domain as the known terminal;
c) based on the searching generate control signals suitable for use in establishing a media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal; and
d) releasing the control signals to one or more components operative to establish the media path between the selected audio source and the known terminal.