Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
NETWORK-BASED VIRTUAL IDENTITY METHOD
FOR TI;I,>E;COMMNUNICA'fIONS NETWORK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present inventir~n generally relates to telecommunications services, more
particularly to a methcad and system that provides caller identification or
caller related
information to subscribers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Incoming caller line identification, also known as Caller ID, is a popular
telecommunications service. A brief overview of Caller ID service may be
helpful to
understand the various drawbacks. In general, Caller ID displays the
originating telephone
number of the calling party. As conventionally implemented, the calling number
is received
by the originating end office and transmitted to the terminating end office in
an Initial
Address Message (IAM). The terminating end office sends the calling number
over the
subscriber's line to a display device configured to receive the calling
number. The display
device can be integrated into a telephone with an appropriate liquid crystal
display, or a
dedicated display device can connect into a terminating telephone line.
An extension of this service, commonly named "Caller ID-Enhanced," which is
also
referred to as Calling Name Delivery service, has additional features
available in an
intelligent telecornrnunications network. Like the conventional Caller ID
service described
above, the calling number is received by the originating end office and
transmitted to the
terminating end office in an Initial Address Message. At that point, the
terminating end
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
,7
office recognizes that the call is for a Caller ID-Enhanced subscriber and
generally launches
a calling name query on the intelligent network. As conventionally performed,
a signaling
transfer point (STP) determines which service control point (SCP) to route the
query to, and
forwards the query to that SCP. 'The SCP typically searches a name directory
database for
the calling number's record and retrieves the associated name. Then, the SCP
returns the
caller name to the termmatrng cnd oftice in a signal message response. When
the
terminating office completes the c4r11 to the subscriber's phone, it sends the
caller name and
calling number, typically along with the current date and time, over the
subscriber's line to
the display device. Caller-ID and Caller-ID Enhanced cervices do not provide a
full scope
of services for customer den sands for privacy and information.
Telecommunication providers have an ongoing struggle with Caller ID services.
This struggle involves balancing the need for privacy concerns of the calling
pr>'rty, while
accommodating the called party's guest for determining information about the
calling party
prior to answering the telephone call. Additionally, a calling party has
privacy concerns that
include preventing disclosure of the calling party identity/information
associated with the
station's/device's nurrrber that may be used by any individual who has the
ability to use the
station/device. The conventional Caller ID service enables the called party to
screen
incoming calls before answering the telephone. While there are many uses for
the screening
information, called parties with Caller ID services generally want to know who
is calling
them or at least the phone number of the calling party.
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
Some callers or calling parties, however, do not want their phone number or
name
displayed to the called party, particularly when they may not even know to
whom the
information is being displayed or otherwise provided. Therefore, these persons
might utilize
conventional Caller ID blocking services in which the called party display
unit may be
blanked. This arrangement may afford privacy of the calling party but is
ineffective for
having the call answered. To further aggravate the situation, the called party
can subscribe
to what is commonly named an Anonymous Caller Rejection service that will not
allow the
call to be completed to the called party unless the calling party number is
provided.
In another method focusing on the calling party's need for privacy,
l0 telecommunication service providers have proposed substituting the
transmitted caller name
and telephone number to the called party display device, instead of the
originating phone
number or directory name. This arrangement can be problematic and lead to
potential
misuse. A calling party can send any telephone number and name to the called
party display
unit. Examples of Carller II-) substitution are shown in U.S. Patent No.
5,864, 612 to Strauss
1 _5 et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,209 to 'fannenbaurn et al., and U.S. Pat. No.
5,903,636 to Malik,
which are herein incorporated by reference. These systems have no
accommodation to
prevent misuse and abuse by providing a proper notification or an indication
that the display
information has been changed by the calling party. 'Therefore, there is a need
for a system
and method to balance the needs of the calling party and called party in
relation to caller
20 identification services.
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
SUMMARY OF THIr: INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a system and method that provides caller
identification information to subscribers.
In one aspect, there is provided a method for call processing control between
a
calling party and a called p<zrty using a device contigured to receive
incoming calling line
identitication, such as a telephone or dedicated display device. 'The method
features
establishing a communications connection from an originating telephone number
of the
calling party to a terminating telephone number of the called party;
retrieving subscriber
information of the terminating telephone number of the called party;
determining whether a
caller identification of the originating address has been substituted; and
transmitting a
notification to the called party of the substitution of the caller
identification during
establishment of the cornrnunication connection. In this way, there is
provided a method for
notification that the delivered Calling Party number is a replaced/altered
number and not the
true/acLual calling directory number, which provides a balance between the
calling party and
1 S called party in privacy considerations.
In another aspect, there is provided a method of selectively controlling a
calling
party identification of a calling party as carried out on a caller
identification system. The
method includes (a) receiving a telephone call from a calling party to a
called party, (b)
determining if the telephone call is eligible for selective control of calling
party
identification, and if eligible then (c) determining a delivery option for the
calling party
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
.5
number. The delivery option may include delivering a substituted calling party
number,
delivering a calling party number associated with a calling party telephone
line, or
suppressing delivery of a calling party number. The telephone call is
processed based on the
received delivery option. 'The method further includes establishing a
communications
connection between the calling party and the. called party; retrieving account
information of
the called party; and transmitting a notitication to the called party of a
substitution of the
calling party identification during establishment of the communication
connection. In this
way, the culling party has selective control of privacy features and the
called party has
control of how the caller identification is presented (i.e., whether the
identification has been
replaced/altered).
In another aspect, there is provided a method in which the notification
function
enables appropriately authorized users (e.g., law enforcement or other
authorized personnel)
to selectively suppress the notification indication for appropriate uses.. In
this manner, the
potential for misuse or fraud over a conventional Caller ID substitution
system is eliminated
I S for unauthorized users while an authorized user may suppress Caller ID
notification.
The method of notification can be realized through a variety of methods. These
methods include, but are not lirrrited to: visual codes, pre-fixed or post-
fixed information,
audible signals, or interactive voice response. protocols.
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in
conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example and not
by way of
limitation with regard to the claimed invention:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a telecommunication network environment in
which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a call processing system
shown
in FIG. I ; and
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of processing a telephone
call
within the network shown in FIG. 1 and system shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF T'HE INVENTION
The following description is divided into sub-sections to assist the reader.
The sub-
sections include: Network Environment, Service ('.ontrol Point Environment,
Notification
Approaches, and Illustrative Application Examples.
The term VIPER as used herein refers to Virtual Identity/Personality Enabled
Representation (VIPER) feature for a telecommunications network. The feature
supports
the delivery of a representation that the user/customer wishes to have
associated with them
when using a service, such as Caller-ID. The VIPER feature provides the
ability to change
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
7
the originating telephone number to a particular customer's pre-defined
telephone number as
the Calling Party Number (CPN) across telecommunication carrier networks and
have this
CPN delivered under the Caller-ID feature as the number of the person/station
originating
the call. This feature can also include delivery of the calling party name or
other text
information, but it at least includes delivering a telephone number.
In contrast to prior Caller-ID substitution systems as indicated in the
background
section, the VIPER feature of the present invention supports the ability to
provide the called
party with a method of determining that the presented telephone number is a
'representation'
rather than the true calling party number. A notification is provided to the
called party of
the change in the CPN. Thus, the VIPER feature of the present invention
provides a balance
between the privacy concerns of the calling party and the called party's quest
for
determining information about a calling party prior to answering the call. In
another aspect,
the VIPER feature enables appropriately authorized users, such as law
enforcement
personnel or other authorized persons, to suppress the notification
indication.
IS
Network Errvironment
FIG. i illustrates a schematic diagram of one exemplary telecommunications
network 2, including an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having a VIPER
feature for
providing telephone service to one or more; customers or subscribers 41, 42 .
. . 4n (where n
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
8
is an integer and the number of subscribers). The operation of the network 2
will be briefly
described followed by a description of implementing a method and system in a
Caller ID
service for notifying a called party that the calling party identification has
been substituted
for or changed from a predetermined Caller identification (i.e., the
originating number of the
calling party). The network 2 may include a plurality of Local Exchange
Carrier Networks
(LEC's) 61, 6~ . . . (n, each providing local service to ogre or more
corresponding telephony
devices, including wireless phones connected to LEC Orr. For example, LEC 61
comprises
one or more Service Switching Points (SSP) (not shown), including local
switches with
associated software to process and route a plurality of telephone calls made
by the
subscribers. Regarding LEC Eon, subscriber 4n may, for example, make and
receive calls
through an individual cell site (not shown) cor a succession of cell sites
connected to at least
one Mobile Telephone Switching Ol~tice (not shown). While FIG. 1 depicts a
separate LEC
for each subscriber, a single LE<i may serve a plurality of individual
subscribers for wire-
line or wireless services.
In the illustrated embodiment, subscribers 41, 42 . . . 4n receive long
distance
telephone service from an Inter-eXchange Carrier (IXC) network 8, such as the
network
maintained by AT&T C'.orp. The network 8 includes at least one, and typically
a plurality, of
interconnected toll switches, represented by the switches 10 and t 2 embodied
in remote
Service Switching Points (SSP) ) and 17, respectively, that are linked to at
least one LEC.
Although FIG. 1 depicts only the twa toll switches 1() and 12 within the IXC
network 8, the
network may typically include a plurality of such interconnected switches.
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
Network 8 also includes a signaling network 14 that comprises a plurality of
network
elements. The network elements include intelligent controlling computers, such
as service
control points (SCP'-.s) 16 and '18, and intelligent peripherals (IP's) 30 and
32, such as
voice/Dual Tone Multi-Fre.duency (DTMF) processing platforms and announcement
platforms.
Servico Corttrnl Point Enviro~tme~at
SCP 16 and 18 each include a plurality of service package applications for
providing
advanced telecommunications services to the subscribers via the AIN 8.
Signaling network
14 links the SSPs 9, 17 and SCPs 16, 18 to provide the advanced
telecommunications
services. The signaling network includes a plurality of signal transfer points
(not shown)
having hardware and software for transmitting call control information between
the SSPs,
SCPs, intelligent peripherals, or other specialized resources. It should be
appreciated that
the signaling network may include data lines 28, such as ATM lines for sending
control
information. The signaling network employs software such as Signal System No.
7 (SS7)
signaling protocol, which is known to those of ordinary skill in the telephony
art.
SCP 16 and 18 are functionally the same for originating and terminating call
processing control according to an embodiment of the invention. For ease of
explanation,
the operation of SCP 16 will be described for telephone calls originating from
LEC 61 or
LEC 6n. It should be appreciated that calls can also originate from LEC 62 as
well.
According to an embodiment of the invention, as seen in FIG. 2, SCP 16 may
include a
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
subscriber database 22 and service: logic application 20 for transmission of a
substituted
calling party identification information and a notification to the called
party of the
substituted information. Likewise, the service package application 20 can
selectively
suppress the notification feature. Processing service logic 20 includes
programmed
5 instructions in computer-readable/executable code to obtain the calling
party telephone
number via automatic number identification (ANI). During the telephone call-
setup period
when each SSP consults an SCP, auch as SCP ( (l, for call processing
instructions, SCP 16
executes programmed insirucaions so that the called party is advised or
notified of
substitution of the calling party identification information or the
notification is suppressed
10 depending on the service parameters.
Referring to FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the invention, one or more
intelligent peripherals (IP) 30 and 32 are coupled through signaling network
14 to the SCPs
and each is coupled to a respective <me of the SSPs 9 so as to provide a voice
or audio
announcement to a called party of the change in the calling party
identification information.
Accordingly, IP 30 may he; actuated by SC'P 16 with a play announcement
instruction via
signaling network 14 to produce or otherwise provide the desired notification.
One of
ordinary skill in the telephony art should recognize that once the IP has
received a command
to make the desired announcement, it rnay have a logical connection through
the associated
IXC switch and LEC switch such that a temporary bearer channel is established.
After the
announcement is completed, the hearer channel may be released.
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
It should be understood that the implementation of an embodiment of the
invention
may be accomplished in a number of ways depending on the service and
application
technology and architecture. In the signaling network I~. the Initial Address
Message (IAM)
may include a tield parameter which stores a substituted calling party number
to be used as
the transmitted Calling Party Number. SCP 16 includes service logic 20 that
recognizes the
presence of a substitute originating number, hereinafter referred to as a
"VIPER number",
and causes it to be inserted in the. CPN field of the Initial Address Message
(IAM) used in
establishing the call connection to a telecommunication provider's
network/switch. Further,
service logic 20 can appropriately recognize a notification control parameter
which indicates
that the called party has selected to receive notification of the substitution
of the calling
party telephone number.
It should be understood the substitution of the Caller ID display telephone
number
can be effectuated by a calling party dialing a predetermined service number,
such as a toll-
free number which may be linked to a database with the associated substitution
telephone
IS number. Likewise, the originating telephone line tn<zy he enabled with a
pre-subscription by
the subscriber for calls originating from the telephone line. In such a case,
the telephone
number passed to the terminating switch will be the VIPER number, instead of
the
originating number for generally all calls depending on the service
parameters.
Exernplctry Noti ftcation Approcaches
?0 The notification mechanism of the present invention to advise the called
party of the
substituted information can be achieved in a number of approaches. In one
approach, the
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
12
conventional Caller ID data message that passes the Calling Party Number and
Calling Party
Name information to the Caller ID display unitlelement at the called number
may be
augmented or altered to contain notifying information. For example, the
Calling Party
Name field may be populated with a text message that indicates that the
Calling Number is:
"Not Tme Number," "False Number," "Changed Number" or any other appropriate
text
message. In the AIN environment, SCP 16 may reformat the calling name data
returned
from a directory database (not shown) for the calling party name.
Alternatively, in a second
approach, the Calling Party Number may be prepended or appended with display
characters
such as '**' to indicate a 'representative' or 'not the true number'
originating telephone
number. The called party would know upon enrolling for the service what the
codes of
display characters mean. These additional digits may be added to the. calling
number data
transmitted to the display device at the called party. It should be recognized
that the calling
number data transmitted to the terminating switch (SSP) may include up to 15
digits as is
conventionally known.
In yet a third approach, after a telephone call is answered by the called
party, a post-
answer notification announcement may be provided via an announcement platform,
such as
Intelligent peripheral 30, 3?. For example, a pre-selected audio announcement
may state a
phrase like "The Calling Party Number displayed is not the actual calling
number" or some
equivalent voice announcement. This function can he useful for Caller ID
devices, which
may not support the Calling Party Name display function. It should be
recognized that the
post-answer feature could he used with devices that provide Calling Party Name
capabilities
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
13
as well. As explained above in the network environment, the SCP can send a
signaling
message to invoke the intelligent peripheral to make the announcement. It
should be
appreciated that for systems with an audio Caller-ID service, the notification
of the
announcement can follow the presentation of the calling party number or after
the
presentation of the calling party name.
In a fourth approach, pre-answer notification rnay provide the advisement that
the
displayed Calling Number is not the true number or is a false number. This pre-
answer
notification can be accomplished through a Caller-ID Substitution Alter
feature (CISA) in
the form of a distinctive ring or modified ringing tone. It should be
appreciated that the
specific type of distinctive ring can be selected as appropriate. It should be
appreciated that
SCP 16, 18 may be configured with service logic to provide conventional
distinctive alerting
parameters to the serving SSP 9, 1'7 in an AIN. As conventionally performed,
the distinctive
alerting parameters enable the SCP to control the alerting pattern. It should
be recognized
based on the disclosure that one caf ordinary skill in the telephony art may
readily program
service logic using conventional service creation environments and/or
platforms for
Advanced Intelligent Networks. One supplier of AIN software is Lucent
Technologies of
Murray Hill, NJ. Of course, other suppliers of AIN software can be used as
well.
Exernplor.y Operating Approach
FIG. 3 illustrates one exemplary approach to advising a called party of
substitution
of the calling party number and/or calling name in an advanced intelligent
network. The
illustrated approach may be implemented in a service application package
controlled by a
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
14
designated service. control point within the network. The approach can be
applied to local
calls and long distance calls as well.
With continued reference to FIG. 3, by way of example, at block 100, a
subscriber,
such as subscriber 41, places a telephone call from LEC 61 through
telecommunications
network 2 to another subscriber, such as subscriber 42, that is connected to
LEC 62. In this
situation, subscriber 41 is the calling party originating the telephone call.
During the call-
setup period to the telecommunications device of subscriber 42, the SSP 9 is
signaled by
IXC switch 10 in IXC network H upon receipt by the IXC switch of the telephone
call.
Upon receipt of a signal from tire 1X(~ switch, SSP 9 launches a request via
signaling
network 14 to S('.P 16 to determine what special predetermined handling is
associated with
the call. SCP 16 receives the query at step 100 of FIG. 3. After the
conventional signal
processing during call-setup and verification, the substituted telephone
number (i.e., the
VIPER number) is recognised by the Service Control Point 16. This recognition
may be
accomplished, for example, by the SCP 16 consulting as service database (not
shown) for the
calling party that indicates that the calling numher has VIPER substitution
functions.
Alternatively, a comparison may be made between the calling party telephone
number and
billing information, such as the billing telephone number. There may be other
ways to
indicate this substitution tc> an SC".I', such as a field in the Initial
Address Message that has a
value populated with a substituti<rn parameter.
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
At step 102, SCP 16, having the service application package of the present
invention,
consults database 22 for a customer record to determine what the called party
42 has
preselected for notification options for the substitution. The
telecommunication service
provider may set a default notification option. The notification options
correspond to the
5 previously described approaches. It is assumed that one of ordinary skill in
the art based on
the disclosure can prepare the customer record accordingly. At step 104, the
notification to
the called party is provided by the network, preferably coordinated via the
Service Control
Point 16. The notifucation of the substitution of the calling party number may
be provided
by changing the calling party name field with a notification message;
appending the calling
10 party number with a predetermined display character; providing a post-
answer notification
announcement via an Intelligent peripheral; or providing pre-answer
notification through a
Caller-ID Substitution Alter feature (CISA) in the form of a distinctive ring
or modified
ringing tone. There may be other ways to provide the notification. At step
106, the calling
party information is provided to the called party device. At step 108, the
process ends.
IS In other embodiments, video telephone systems are also contemplated, such
as
systems operating over brcradband CATV networks (not shown), including coaxial
or fiber
optics networks in which a video message may be provided to the subscriber
receiving the
call. In this embodiment, a notification in the form of the video message can
be provided by
the network to the video telephone device of the suhscriber. In a further
embodiment, a
wireless phone (,not shown) that has a display screen enahled to receive
wireless messages
from the network can have; a text message or text notification transmitted to
the phone via
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
16
the network. The wireless phone Tray also include software, such as Wireless
Application
Protocol for wireless World Wide Web access, to display a message on the
phone. Further,
in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) environment in connection with an IP-
enabled
telephone (not shown), a softswitch, a software call agent, or media gateway
controller (not
shown) can provide the call control similar to the Service Control Points.
Accordingly, the
call agent may provide the functionality for implementing a VIPER Notification
feature of
the substituted calling party identification.
In alternative embodiments, the VIPER substitution capability may be applied
to any
number of product areas and service applications. For example, both Prepaid
Calling Card
and Traditions! Calling Card products may optionally offer customers a VIPER
feature
option. With the VIPER feature, these: crrstomcrs can be easily and reliably
recognized by
the receiving person, device or system based on the number provided via the
Caller ID
delivery function. The VIPER notifrcation feature provides the called party
the ability to
determine that the call was actually being placed from a phone other than the
one presented
I S in the Calling Party Number display field.
In an alternative ernbodirnent, the VIPER notification feature may be
incorporated
into the 1+ service, such as a calling card environment. U.S. Pat. No.
5,283,824 to Shaw,
which is herein fully incorporated by reference, illustrates a calling card
application. A
notification parameter can be added in a CCS noessage where a terminating
switch can
indicate to the receiving phone of the change in the incoming calling line
identification. A
ringing feature may be performec.f at the receiving phone for notification.
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
17
It should be recognized that a user and/or administrative protocol or
interface can be
provided to enable the customer or service representative to create, delete,
or modify the
value populated in the subscriber dattabase 22 or other databases that support
the features.
Likewise, the administrative protocol can be used to support the control
(on/of~ of the
Notification function by the service administrator ibut generally not the
customer).
According to an embodiment of the invention, a user interface/protocol enables
the calling
party to determine at the time each call is made whether to deliver (i) the
substituted calling
party number; (2) the defai.rlt ANI associated with the calling station
(directory telephone
number); or (3) to suppress any delivery of a calling party value (set the
station as Privacy
Restricted). The calling party is given a selective option of how to present
the call to the
called party. Generally, a determination is made whether the calling party is
authorized or
eligible for the selective control. The user interface is accomplished by
prompting the
calling party to enter a delivery option corresponding to the above three
choices. The
service control point can hove an intelligent peripheral gather the requested
choices. Once
the delivery option is selected, call processing continues. However, the
called party would
still receive notificatir>n oC the substituted calling party number as
previously described
above. In this way, a balance of privacy and screening information is
maintained between
the parties.
An example of an alternate embodiment of the invention would be to employ a
self-
contained service platform having the VIPER feature that provides and contains
all relevant
service capabilities. The service platform can he a Private Branch Exchange-
like device
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
18
with caller identification services. In the service platform embodiment, the
calling party's
telephone call can be bridged to the service platform with a second call leg
from the
platform to the called party. Under this method, the control of the calling
party information
is realized via the platform's own originating number representation on the
second call leg
to the called party. In such a case, the service platform has the information
of the
substitution and can accordingly provide notification to the called party.
This assumes the
called party has the feature f'or notification of the substitution. In this
case, the calling party
may have a subscription for the VIPER features and may connect into the
platform under
conventional practices, such as dialing a predetermined service platform
number.
Illustrative ApJolicutiorr Examples
The following examples illustrate how the VIPER feature could be employed in
various service areas. It should be recognized that the present invention is
not limited to the
examples, but can be applied to many services areas and applications.
In a first example, a physician calls patients from his/her home but does not
want to
IS have his/her home phone nunober presented or made available to the patient
via Caller ID.
Conventionally, the physician will subscribe to what is known as Caller ID
Blocking;
however, in a situation where the patient that he/she is calling has
subscribed to the
terminating feature known as '"Caller 1D Required'', the call will not
complete. This
situation can be very problematic to the called party. The needs of both
parties are met with
the features of the present invention. C'.alling party substitution enables
the physician to call
the patient and have a CPN delivered that is not his/her home number. In fact,
it is likely
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
i9
that the physician would rather have his/her office number displayed. 'This
would allow the
patient to be able to contact the ctoct.or's office or answering service. When
the call is
delivered to the called party, the called party need's for information is
supported by the
notification feature so that they can know a change has been made in the phone
number
displayed.
A second example is a government agency that does not wish to have the
identity of
the caller using a phone at an agency or oUher governmental site compromised
as being
associated with the government agency. An agent on an under-cover assignment
might need
to place a call from the agent's office; and if the receiving number has
Caller ID, a call back
to the number displayed could expose the agent as at least having been at the
location. The
agent could have the number of his/her under-cover residence provided or any
number that
made sense for the given assignment, such as a public phone. In this example,
according to
an embodiment of the invention, a control parameter would have been set by the
administrating service provider to 'disabled' notification of the substituted
change based on
the appropriate authorization. This suppression assumes that the called party
has elected to
receive notification of the substituted calling party number.
While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred and
exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the
art that
various changes may be made and equivalents rnay be substituted for elements
thereof
without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many
modifications may be
made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the invention without
departing from
CA 02414909 2002-12-20
1~
the scope thereof. Different hardware may be used than those shown and
suggested that
may comprise hardware, firmware, or software implementations of the present
invention.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular
embodiments
disclosed, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the
scope of the
appended claims.
