Alternate routing of media connections within a single communications system across public or private network facilities
First Claim
1. A method for effecting a communication between subscribers of an enterprise network, comprising:
- (a) providing geographically dislocated first and second network regions of an enterprise network, the first and second network regions being in communication with one another through first and second networks and respectively comprising first and second media servers, first and second gateways, and first and second groupings of links connected to the second network, wherein a common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of links;
(b) the first network region receiving, from a first subscriber, a request to initiate an at least substantially real-time communication session with a second subscriber;
(c) the first network region determining that the first network is currently incapable of supporting the bearer channel for the session;
(d) in response to the determining step (c), the first network region transmitting the common electronic address over the second network to the second network region;
(e) after the common electronic address is received by the second network region, at least one of the first and second network regions transmitting in band over the second network to the other of the at least one of the first and second network regions a unique identifier; and
(f) using the identifier to establish a bearer channel for the communication session over the second network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one configuration, an enterprise network is provided that includes geographically dislocated first and second network regions 202 and 206, the first and second network regions being in communication with one another through first and second networks 252 and 248 and respectively comprising first and second gateways 220 and 224 and first and second groupings of links connected to the second network 248. A common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of links. In response to a request from a first subscriber to initiate a communication session with a second subscriber in the other network region, a media server 200 determines that the first network 252 is currently incapable of supporting the bearer channel for the session. In response, the first gateway 220 transmits the common electronic address to the second gateway 224. After the common electronic address is received by the second gateway 224, the first gateway 220 transmits in band to the second gateway 224 an identifier that is used to establish the communication session.
73 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for effecting a communication between subscribers of an enterprise network, comprising:
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(a) providing geographically dislocated first and second network regions of an enterprise network, the first and second network regions being in communication with one another through first and second networks and respectively comprising first and second media servers, first and second gateways, and first and second groupings of links connected to the second network, wherein a common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of links;
(b) the first network region receiving, from a first subscriber, a request to initiate an at least substantially real-time communication session with a second subscriber;
(c) the first network region determining that the first network is currently incapable of supporting the bearer channel for the session;
(d) in response to the determining step (c), the first network region transmitting the common electronic address over the second network to the second network region;
(e) after the common electronic address is received by the second network region, at least one of the first and second network regions transmitting in band over the second network to the other of the at least one of the first and second network regions a unique identifier; and
(f) using the identifier to establish a bearer channel for the communication session over the second network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An enterprise network, comprising:
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geographically dislocated first and second network regions of an enterprise network, the first and second network regions being in communication with one another through first and second networks and respectively comprising first and second gateways and first and second groupings of links connected to the second network, wherein a common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of links; and
a first media server operable to receive, from a first subscriber, a request to initiate an at least substantially real-time communication session with a second subscriber and determine that the first network is currently incapable of supporting the bearer channel for the session, wherein, in response to the determination that the first network is currently incapable of supporting the bearer channel, the first gateway is operable to transmit the common electronic address over the second network to the second gateway, wherein, after the common electronic address is received by the second gateway, at least one of the first and second gateway is operable to transmit in band over the second network to the other of the at least one of the first and second gateway a unique identifier, and wherein an inter-gateway routing agent is operable to use the identifier to establish a bearer channel over the second network for the communication session. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An enterprise network, comprising:
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geographically dislocated first and second network regions of an enterprise network, the first and second network regions being in communication with one another through first and second networks and respectively comprising;
first and second gateways means for repeating electronic signals and converting protocols; and
first and second groupings of trunk means for carrying communication signals and being connected to one of the packet-switched and circuit-switched networks, wherein a common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunk means; and
first media server means for receiving, from a first subscriber, a request to initiate an at least substantially real-time communication session with a second subscriber and determining that the first network is currently incapable of supporting the bearer channel for the session, wherein, in response to the determination that the first network is currently incapable of supporting the bearer channel, the first gateway means transmits the common electronic address over the second network to the second gateway means, wherein, after the common electronic address is received by the second gateway means, at least one of the first and second gateway means transmits in band over the second network to the other of the at least one of the first and second gateway means a unique identifier, and wherein the other of the at least one of the first and second media server means comprises inter-gateway routing agent means for using the identifier to establish a bearer channel over the second network for the communication session. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification