System controlling use of a communication channel

Abstract

A system controlling use of a communication channel in a communication network. The system comprising a network including service nodes. The service nodes comprising one or more sets having one or more nodes adapted to provide service functions in response to messages in the network. At least one of the sets comprising a member node having an interface for communication with a remote terminal, and a user interface process coupled with the interface to include a user of the remote terminal in the network. At least one of the sets comprising a member node having an interface to the communication network, and a process coupled to the interface to control establishment of the communication channel for the user,

1 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to control of a communication session, and the computer readable program code comprising:
 a set of instructions for receiving a request from a user to communicate with at least a first person; 
 a set of instructions for composing a message to a communication server requesting a communication session; 
 a set of instructions of receiving information about the status of the communication session; and 
 a set of instructions for controlling the communication session. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for receiving a request from a user to communicate with at least a first person further comprises:
 a set of instructions for identifying a current location for the user, and the current location including a phone number for the user;   a set of instructions for identifying an account for the user; and   a set of instructions for identifying a phone number for the at least a first person.   
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for composing a message to a communication server requesting a communication session further comprises:
 a set of instructions for generating the message, and the message including a first phone number for the user, a second phone number for the at least a first person, and an account number for the user; and   a set of instructions for sending the message over a network to the communication server.   
     
     
         4 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for composing a message to a communication server requesting a communication session further comprises:
 a set of instructions for identifying a time for the communication session; and   a set of instructions for specifying the time for the communication session in the message.   
     
     
         5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for receiving information about the status of the communication session further comprises:
 a set of instructions for receiving status messages from the communication server, and the status messages indicating on hook, off hook, and ringing status of a first phone number for the user and a second phone number for the at least a first person; and   a set of instructions for updating a display to reflect the status of the first phone number and the second phone number.   
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for controlling the communication session further comprises:
 a set of instructions for sending a message to the communication server to add a person to the communication session.   
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for controlling the communication session further comprises:
 a set of instructions for sending a message to the communication server to remove a person from the communication session.   
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for controlling the communication session further comprises:
 a set of instructions for sending a message to the communication server to toggle the ability of a person to speak during the communication session.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for controlling the communication session further comprises:
 a set of instructions for sending a message to the communication server to toggle the ability of a person to listen and speak in the communication session.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions for controlling the communication session further comprises:
 a set of instructions for indicating that the communication session should end,   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set of instructions for sending messages over a data network to other users of the communication server,   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set of instructions for identifying a person; and   a set of instructions for requesting status information from the communication server about the person, and the status information indicating the present phone number of the person and whether the person is on the phone,   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set of instructions for requesting a description of communication services used from the communication server, and the description indicating the services used and the charges associated with the services.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 1  stored on a computer wherein the computer has a network interface for communicating with a remote terminal and the computer program product is transmitted over an electromagnetic wave form to the remote terminal. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 1  stored on a computer as an electromagnetic wave form. 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing anonymous communication between a first person and a second person over the public switched telephone network, the method comprising:
 providing a first phone number for the first person to a computer;   providing a second phone number for the second person to the computer;   calling the first person and the second person on a conference channel in the public switched telephone network responsive to the computer receiving the first phone number and the second phone number.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for a library of communication service functions, and the computer readable program code comprising a plurality of message definitions and a plurality of service function interfaces.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the message definitions includes an account message, and the account message includes an account number and a password corresponding to the account number, 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the message definitions includes a member message, and the member message includes a name and a phone number corresponding to the name. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the message definitions includes a member message, and the member message includes a name, a phone number corresponding to the name, and an account message. 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the message definitions includes a start call message, and the start call message includes a plurality of member messages. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the message definitions includes a start call message, and the start call message includes a plurality of member messages and a transaction identifier. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the service function interfaces defines the program calls for a service manager function. 
     
     
         24 . The program calls for a service manager function of  claim 23 , further comprising program calls for receiving requests for the use of a communication channel. 
     
     
         25 . The program calls for a service manager function of  claim 23 , further comprising program calls for requesting verification of account information. 
     
     
         26 . The program calls for a service manager function of  claim 23 , further comprising program calls for selecting a communication network. 
     
     
         27 . The program calls for a service manager function of  claim 23 , further comprising program calls for selecting a communication network from a plurality of communication networks and sending a message to start a call over the communication network. 
     
     
         28 . The computer program of  claim 17 , wherein one of the service function interfaces defines the program calls for a billing manager function. 
     
     
         29 . The program call for a billing manager function of  claim 28 , further comprising calls for receiving a request to validate an account message. 
     
     
         30 . The program call for a billing manager function of  claim 28 , further comprising calls for recording details about usage of a communication channel. 
     
     
         31 . The program call for a billing manager function of  claim 28 , further comprising calls for charging a credit card corresponding to an account. 
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the service function interfaces defines the program calls for a notifier function. 
     
     
         33 . The program call for a notifier function of  claim 32 , further comprising calls for storing a set of criteria to match an incoming message and a set of actions corresponding to the criteria. 
     
     
         34 . The program call for a notifier function of  claim 32 , further comprising calls for performing a set of actions in response to a message matching a set of criteria. 
     
     
         35 . The program call for a notifier function of  claim 32 , further comprising calls for storing a message until a specified time and forwarding the message at the specified time. 
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the service function interfaces defines the program calls for a logger function. 
     
     
         37 . The program call for a logger function of  claim 36 , further comprising calls for storing incoming messages. 
     
     
         38 . The program call for a logger function of  claim 36 , further comprising calls for allowing access to a plurality of stored messages. 
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein one of the service function interfaces defines the program calls for a switch controller function. 
     
     
         40 . The program call for a switch controller function of  claim 39 , further comprising calls for receiving call setup information, 
     
     
         41 . The program call for a switch controller function of  claim 39 , further comprising calls for requesting communication services from a telephone switch. 
     
     
         42 . The program call for a switch controller function of  claim 39 , further comprising calls for responding to responses from a telephone switch. 
     
     
         43 . A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:
 a computer program for causing a computer to control of a communication session, the computer program including
 a set of instructions for receiving a request from a user to communicate with at least a first person; 
 a set of instructions for composing a message to a communication server requesting a communication session; 
 a set of instructions for receiving information about the status of the communication session; and 
 a set of instructions for controlling the communication session.