Network session management

In a hybrid communication network comprising a circuit switched network and a packet switched network connectable to terminals for communication therebetween, a method of communication session management comprising the steps of:

• a) inputting from a calling one of said terminals an address of a called one of said terminals to initiate a communication session therebetween;
• b) authenticating, account validating, pricing, and authorizing a communication session between said calling and called terminals from a unitary logical object connected to the packet switched network, and signaling said authorization to a session control object connected to said circuit switched and packet switched networks;
• c) initiating said authorized communication session via said session control object;
• d) maintaining by said unitary logical object of a record of the initiation, progress, pricing and termination of said communication session on a substantially real time basis;
• and
• e) determining prior to authorizing said session that no existing session exists in said hybrid communication network which is billable to an account of said calling terminal.

In an internetwork comprising a switched network and a packet switched network connectable to a user call control object and a service user object for establishing a signaling path therebetween through said internetwork, said internetwork including multiple addressable gateways between said switched network and said packet switched network, said internetwork also including a directory object, an authorization and usage recording object, and an internetwork call control object, a method of establishing said signaling path including the steps of:

• a) invoking said directory object from said user call control object and providing thereto the address of said service user object with which it is desired to establish a signaling path and requesting the address of one of said gateways;
• b) based at least partially on the address of said service user object returning to said user call control object the address of a gateway;
• c) invoking from said user call control object said internetwork call control object and transmitting to said internetwork call control object the address of the service user object with whom it is desired to establish a signaling path and an account number and identification;
• d) invoking from said internetwork call control object said authorization and usage recording object and requesting authorization for establishment of said signaling path;
• e) transmitting an authorization from said authorization and usage recording object to said internetwork call control object;
• f) establishing from said internetwork call control object a signaling path through said switched network and signaling said service user object to establish a connection therewith;
• g) upon establishing a connection with said service user object notifying said user call control object of said establishment;
• h) responding to the packet switched network from said user call control object, and
• i) commencing signaling over said signaling path through said switched network and said packet switched network.

A method of providing telephone service across a hybrid combination of a switched telephone network and the Internet comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a terminal to Internet gateway address directory on the Internet;
• b) establishing for each Internet telephone subscriber at least one billing and authorization account maintained in at least one account database;
• c) during call set-up obtaining from a calling subscriber at a first Internet gateway to which the subscriber connects the address of a called terminal and identification and password information;
• d) obtaining from said directory the address of a second gateway from the Internet for said called terminal;
• e) connecting from said first gateway to said second gateway and obtaining from said account database authorization for said call;
• and
• f) establishing said call from said first gateway to said second gateway to said called terminal.

In a hybrid communication network comprising a switched network and a packet switched network connectable to terminals for communication therebetween, at least a plurality of said terminals having accounts debitable for use of said hybrid communication network, a method of session management comprising the steps of:

• a) inputting from a calling one of said terminals having at least one such account an address of a called one of said terminals and identification of one of said accounts to be debited to initiate a communication session;
• b) authenticating, validating the identified account, pricing, and authorizing a communication session between said calling and called terminals from an instance of a divided unitary logical object, said instance being identified by the identified account, said unified logical object being connected to the packet switched network;
• c) signaling said authorization to a session control object connected to said circuit switched and packet switched networks;
• d) initiating said authorized communication session via said session control object;
• e) maintaining by said unitary logical object of a record of the initiation, progress, pricing and termination of said communication session on a substantially real time basis;
• f) reserving a portion of the amount in the identified account prior to initiating said communication session;
• and
• g) releasing said reserved amount upon debiting the identified account of the calling terminal upon termination of the session.