Composite voice applications and services using single sign-on across heterogeneous voice servers

Abstract

A framework is provided to offer composite voice applications and services. A composite application and service begins from the user dialing in via phone and ends by the user hanging up the phone. The composite interactive voice services architecture includes a session initiation protocol session service unit is in the loop of session signaling all the time starting from the time the user first dials in, during the user roaming across various voice servers, and until the end of the composite service when user hangs up the phone. This unit accepts a command and login instruction of the next interactive voice service from the previous interactive voice service. The unit has knowledge of DTMF sequences required for the user to login to next interactive voice service. The session service unit automatically accomplishes a roaming process such that composite applications and services can be achieved across various voice servers.

1 . A method for providing a composite service, the method comprising: 
 establishing a first session between a telephone device and a first interactive voice service;    responsive to activation of an external link, establishing a connection between a service broker and a second interactive voice service;    automatically logging the telephone device into the second interactive voice service; and    terminating the first session and establishing a second session between the telephone device and the second interactive voice service in response to the telephone device successfully logging into the second interactive voice service.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first session and the second session are realtime transport protocol sessions.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein terminating the first session and establishing a second session includes: 
 reporting a first realtime transport protocol port from the telephone device to the service broker;    sending the first realtime transport protocol port to the second interactive voice service;    reporting a second realtime transport protocol port from the second interactive voice service to the service broker; and    sending the second realtime transport protocol port to the telephone device.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first interactive voice service and the service broker communicate using a first session initiation protocol session.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 sending login information for the telephone device and the second interactive voice service from the first interactive voice service to the service broker using the first session initiation protocol session.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the login information includes at least one of a user identification and a passcode for the second interactive voice service.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the login information includes parameters for accessing features of the second interactive voice service.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second interactive voice service and the service broker communicate using a second session initiation protocol session and wherein automatically logging the telephone device into the second interactive voice service includes sending the login information from the service broker to the second interactive voice service using the second session initiation protocol session.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first interactive voice service is a personalized voice portal.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 monitoring for activation of a default link; and    terminating the second session and establishing a third session between the telephone device and the personalized voice portal responsive to the telephone device activating the default link.    
   
   
       11 . A method, in a first interactive voice service, for providing a composite service, the method comprising: 
 establishing a first session with a telephone device responsive to the telephone device logging into the first interactive voice service;    responsive to activation of an external link, establishing a second session with a service broker; and    sending login information for the telephone device and a second interactive voice service to the service broker using the second session.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first session is a realtime transport protocol session.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second session is a session initiation protocol session.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for providing a composite service, the apparatus comprising: 
 a gateway device that converts protocols and data signals between a public switch telephone network and session initiation protocol;    a service broker, wherein the service broker establishe a first session between a telephone device and a first interactive voice service, establishes a connection between a service broker and a second interactive voice service responsive to activation of an external link, automatically logs the telephone device into the second interactive voice service, terminates the first session, and establishes a second session between the telephone device and the second interactive voice service in response to the telephone device successfully logging into the second interactive voice service.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first session and the second session are realtime transport protocol sessions.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the service broker terminates the first session and establishes a second session by reporting a first realtime transport protocol port from the telephone device to the service broker, sending the first realtime transport protocol port to the second interactive voice service, reporting a second realtime transport protocol port from the second interactive voice service to the service broker, and sending the second realtime transport protocol port to the telephone device.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first interactive voice service and the service broker communicate using a first session initiation protocol session.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the service broker receives login information for the telephone device and the second interactive voice service from the first interactive voice service using the first session initiation protocol session.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second interactive voice service and the service broker communicate using a second session initiation protocol session and wherein the service broker automatically logs the telephone device into the second interactive voice service by sending the login information from the service broker to the second interactive voice service using the second session initiation protocol session.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first interactive voice service is a personalized voice portal.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the service broker monitors for activation of a default link, terminates the second session, and establishes a third session between the telephone device and the personalized voice portal responsive to the telephone device activating the default link.