Method for accessing service resource items that are for use in a telecommunications system
Service resource items for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastructure; this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service item is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resource item associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI which is then used to access the desired service resource item.
1. A method, comprising:
determining, by a telecommunications system control apparatus, a domain name based on a first telephone number, wherein said determining comprises parsing the first telephone number to determine the domain name;
sending a message identifying the domain name;
receiving a reply to the message, the reply identifying a second telephone number; and
using the second telephone number to initiate a call.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reply comprises a uniform resource name.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said using the second telephone number comprises using the second telephone number to initiate the call to be made at least in part over a switched telecommunication system.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said using the second telephone number comprises using the second telephone number to initiate the call to be made at least in part over a mobile network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the domain name comprises digits of the first telephone number.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said parsing comprises reversing at least a portion of the first telephone number.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said parsing comprises forming at least part of the domain name using digits of the first telephone number.
8. A method, comprising:
determining, by a telecommunications system control apparatus, a domain name based on a first telephone number, wherein said determining the domain name comprises parsing the first telephone number to determine the domain name;
sending a first message identifying the domain name;
receiving a second message in response to the first message;
using the second message to determine a second telephone number; and
using the second telephone number to initiate a call.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second message comprises a uniform resource name, and wherein said using the second message comprises using the uniform resource name to determine the second telephone number.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second message comprises a uniform resource identifier, and wherein said using the second message comprises using the uniform resource identifier to determine the second telephone number.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second message comprises at least one of the following: (1) a uniform resource name, (2) a uniform resource identifier, or (3) an Internet-resolvable indicator of a location of a phone page.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said using the second telephone number comprises using the second telephone number to initiate the call to be made at least in part over a switched telecommunication system.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said using the second telephone number comprises using the second telephone number to initiate the call to be made at least in part over a mobile network.
14. A method, comprising:
parsing, by at least one computing device, a number string into at least a portion of a domain name;
providing the domain name to a database;
receiving a record based on the domain name that was provided to the database;
using the record to determine a telephone number; and
using the telephone number to initiate a call.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the record comprises a uniform resource name, and wherein said using the record comprises using the uniform resource name to determine the telephone number.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said using the telephone number comprises using the telephone number to initiate the call to be made at least in part over a switched telecommunication system.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said using the telephone number comprises using the telephone number to initiate the call to be made at least in part over a mobile network.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the number string is also a telephone number.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the database associates a plurality of domain names with a plurality of records.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the record is a record of the database.
21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the database comprises one of the following: (1) a domain name system of a private system, or (2) the domain name system of the Internet.
22. A method, comprising:
parsing, by at least one computing device, a number string into at least a portion of a domain name;
providing the domain name to a database;
receiving a record associated with the domain name;
using the record to determine a telephone number; and
using the telephone number to contact an entity.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the record comprises a uniform resource name, and wherein said using the record comprises using the uniform resource name to determine the telephone number.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein said using the telephone number comprises sending a message, at least in part over a switched telecommunication system, to the entity being contacted.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein said using the telephone number comprises sending a message, at least in part over a mobile network, to the entity being contacted.
26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising receiving data originating from a phone, and wherein said contacting comprises sending the data, at least in part over a switched telecommunication system, to the entity being contacted.
27. The method of claim 22 , further comprising receiving data originating from a phone, and wherein said contacting comprises sending the data, at least in part over a mobile network, to the entity being contacted.
28. The method of claim 22 , further comprising receiving data from a calling entity, wherein said contacting comprises sending the data, at least in part over the Internet, to the entity being contacted.
29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the number string is also a telephone number.
30. The method of claim 22 , wherein said using the telephone number comprises initiating a voice call at least in part over a bearer channel through a switched telecommunication system.