Distributed voice network

• US 20060146797A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Lebizay, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation

Abstract

A method and apparatus that receives an IP packet and encapsulates the packet with an IP header. Further, time-domain multiplexed voice data is received and converted into VoIP packets. Still further, Signaling System 7 (SS7) compliant signals are decoded. The decoded SS7 signals are received and encapsulated prior to transmission to a telephony device.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

encapsulation circuitry to receive an IP packet and prepend the packet with an IP header;

voice-over-IP (VOIP) circuitry to receive time-domain multiplexed voice data and convert said data into VoIP packets;

signaling circuitry to decode Signaling System 7 (SS7) compliant signals; and

control circuitry to

receive decoded SS7 signals from the signaling circuitry and pass the decoded SS7 signals to the encapsulation circuitry for transmission to a telephony device; and

receive VoIP packets from the VoIP circuitry and pass the VoIP packets to the encapsulation circuitry for transmission to the telephony device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation circuitry, VoIP circuitry, signaling circuitry, and control circuitry are embodied as a microprocessor in data communication with a memory device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the encapsulation circuitry is embodied as a first blade, the VoIP circuitry is embodied as a second blade, the signaling circuitry is embodied as a third blade, and the control circuitry is embodied as a fourth blade; and

the first, second, third, and fourth blades are in data communication with one another.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth blades communicate via an local area network.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the fourth blade is further configured to maintain a database relating telephone numbers, mobile IP (MIP) addresses, and care-of addresses of mobile telephony devices.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the first blade includes an interface to an IP network.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the second blade includes an interface to a network carrying time-domain multiplexed voice data.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the third blade includes an interface to an SS7 network.

9. A method of conducting a voice-over-IP telephony session, comprising:

receiving a request, from a first telephony device, to invite a second telephony device identified by a particular telephone number to participate in a voice-over-IP telephony session;

relating the telephone number to an IP address associated with the telephone number;

sending an invitation to the IP address;

receiving a response to the invitation; and

modifying and forwarding the response to the first telephony device, such that the modified response contains a first IP header including a first IP address of the first telephony device and a second IP header including a second IP address of the first telephony device, wherein the first IP address indicates a point of connection of the first telephony device to a network, and wherein the second IP address is generated as a result of registration of the first telephony device with a voice home agent.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein relating the telephone number to an IP address comprises accessing a database to determine an IP address of a voice home agent serving the second telephony device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the invitation is compliant with a session initiation protocol (SIP).

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an IP packet containing data representing a voice; and

forwarding the IP packet to the first device using a third IP header including a third IP address, and a fourth IP header including a fourth IP address;

wherein the third IP address indicates a point of connection of the first telephony device to a network, and wherein the fourth IP address is generated as a result of registration of the first telephony device with a voice home agent.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an IP packet containing data representing a voice; and

sending the IP packet to a voice home agent serving the second device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining that the first telephony device changed its point of connection to the network; and

redefining the first IP address to identify the changed point of connection.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first IP address identifies a radio network services node coupled to an 802.16e-compliant network that includes an access point to which the first telephony device communicates.

16. A machine-accessible medium that provides instructions, which when accessed, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request, from a first telephony device, to invite a second telephony device identified by a particular telephone number to participate in a voice-over-IP telephony session;

relating the telephone number to an IP address associated with the telephone number;

sending an invitation to the IP address;

receiving a response to the invitation; and

modifying and forwarding the response to the first telephony device, such that the modified response contains a first IP header including a first IP address of the first telephony device and a second IP header including a second IP address of the first telephony device, wherein the first IP address indicates a point of connection of the first telephony device to a network, and wherein the second IP address is generated as a result of registration of the first telephony device with a voice home agent.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein relating the telephone number to an IP address comprises accessing a database to determine an IP address of a voice home agent serving the second device.

18. The medium of claim 16, wherein the invitation is compliant with session initiation protocol (SIP).

19. The medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an IP packet containing data representing a voice; and

forwarding the IP packet to the first device using a third IP header including a third IP address, and a fourth IP header including a fourth IP address;

wherein the third IP address indicates a point of connection of the first telephony device to a network, and wherein the fourth IP address is generated as a result of registration of the first telephony device with a voice home agent.

20. The medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an IP packet containing data representing a voice; and

sending the IP packet to a voice home agent serving the second device.

21. The medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the first telephony device changed its point of connection to the network; and

redefining the first IP address to identify the changed point of connection.

22. The medium of claim 16, wherein the first IP address identifies a radio network services node coupled to an 802.16e-compliant network that includes an access point to which the first telephony device communicates.

23. A system comprising:

encapsulation circuitry to receive an IP packet and prepend the packet with an IP header;

voice-over-IP (VoIP) circuitry to receive time-domain multiplexed voice data and convert said data into VoIP packets;

billing circuitry that is configured to measure duration and type of use of said system, and to relate such measurements to a user account;

signaling circuitry to decode Signaling System 7 (SS7) compliant signals; and

control circuitry to

receive decoded SS7 signals from the signaling circuitry and pass the decoded SS7 signals to the encapsulation circuitry for transmission to a telephony device; and

receive VoIP packets from the VoIP circuitry and pass the VoIP packets to the encapsulation circuitry for transmission to the telephony device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the encapsulation circuitry, VoIP circuitry, signaling circuitry, billing circuitry, and control circuitry are embodied as a microprocessor in data communication with a memory device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the encapsulation circuitry is embodied as a first blade, the VoIP circuitry is embodied as a second blade, the signaling circuitry is embodied as a third blade, and the control circuitry and billing circuitry are embodied together as a fourth blade; and

the first, second, third, and fourth blades are in data communication with one another.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth blades communicate via an local area network.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the fourth blade is further configured to maintain a database relating telephone numbers, mobile IP (MIP) addresses, and care-of addresses of mobile telephony devices.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the first blade includes an interface to an IP network.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the second blade includes an interface to a network carrying time-domain multiplexed voice data.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the third blade includes an interface to an SS7 network.