Dial plan transparency for fragmented networks

• US 20060168326A1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Gillespie, Donald E., Pessot, Albert D., McGovern, Pamela G., Baldwin, Christopher D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1056 Multi-site
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks

Abstract

In one configuration, the present invention is directed to an enterprise network that includes geographically dislocated first and second network regions 202 and 206 communicating 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 trunks. A common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunks. A media server 200 is positioned in the first network region 202 that includes an inter-gateway routing agent 260. The first network region transmits, as part of the establishment of a real-time or near real-time communication between first and second subscribers respectively in the first and second network regions, the common address to the second gateway 224. After the outgoing communication is answered by the second gateway 224, the first network region transmits in band to the second gateway 224 a user identifier associated with the second subscriber and/or a phantom user. The user identifier is used to establish the communication with the second subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for effecting a communication between subscribers of an enterprise network, comprising:

(a) in an enterprise network having geographically dislocated first and second network regions, wherein the first and second network regions are in communication with one another through first and second intermediate networks and respectively comprise first and second gateways and a plurality of communication devices, and wherein, in a first operational mode, the first and second network regions are controlled by a common media server and bearer channels for at least substantially real-time communications are routed over the first intermediate network and wherein, in a second operational mode, the first and second network regions are not controlled by a common media server, the first network region receiving, from a first communication device of a first subscriber located in the first network region, a request to initiate an at least substantially real-time communication with a second communication device of a second subscriber located in the second network region, the request comprising a called electronic address identifying the second communication device;

(b) the first network region determining that the enterprise network is in the second operational mode; and

(c) routing the at least substantially real-time communication over the second intermediate network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operational mode is in existence when the media server is able to communicate with each of the first and second network regions over the first intermediate network, wherein the second operational mode is in existence when the media server is unable to communicate with each of the first and second network regions over the first intermediate network, and wherein in the first operational mode at least most of the bearer channels for the at least substantially real time communications are routed over the first intermediate network and not over the second intermediate network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the common media server is a primary media server, wherein the second network region comprises a spare media server, wherein, in the second operational mode, the second network region is under the control of the spare media server, wherein the enterprise network comprises first and second groupings of trunks connected to the first intermediate network, wherein each of the first and second groupings of trunks comprise a plurality of trunks, and wherein a common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunks and wherein step (c) comprises the substeps:

(c1) the first network region transmitting the common electronic address over the second intermediate network to the second network region in an outgoing communication; and

(c2) after the outgoing communication is answered by the second network region, transmitting to the second network region, over the second intermediate network and in band with the outgoing communication, a unique identifier, wherein the identifier is used to establish the communication with the second subscriber.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifier is a second user identifier associated with the second subscriber, wherein the common electronic and called electronic addresses are each telephone numbers, wherein the substantially real-time communication is a live voice call, wherein a first communication-related data structure is associated with incoming communication, wherein a second communication-related data structure is associated with the outgoing communication, wherein the first communication-related data structure includes the called electronic address, a first user identifier of the first subscriber, an identifier of a first outgoing trunk, and wherein the second communication-related data structure includes the called electronic address, the second user identifier, and an identifier of a second incoming trunk.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifier is a user identifier associated with at least one of the second user and a phantom user and wherein step (c) comprises the substeps:

(c3) transmitting in-band a communication-type identifier indicating whether the communication is a network fragmentation-type call or a bandwidth management-type call, wherein, when the communication-type identifier indicates a network fragmentation-type call, the user identifier is associated with the second user and, when the communication-type identifier indicates a bandwidth management-type call, the user identifier is associated with the phantom user.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first network region comprises a first plurality of subscribers and the second network region comprises a different second plurality of subscribers and further comprising:

(e) establishing a plurality of simultaneous bearer connections over the second intermediate network between members of the first and second pluralities of subscribers, wherein the plurality of bearer connections terminate to the common electronic address.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, after termination of the communication between the first and second subscribers:

caching a trunk connection between the first and second gateways, the trunk connection having been used during the communication.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the substeps:

(c3) at least one of the first and second network regions transmitting in-band feature information regarding at least one selected feature; and

(c4) in response the other of the at least one of the first and second network regions implementing the selected feature.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected feature is one or more of a calling electronic address of the first subscriber, an identifier of the first subscriber, a distinctive ringing indicator, a reason code, a call restriction, and a class of call restriction.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) the first network region playing ringback tones over the first communication device; and

(e) during step (d), at least one of the first and second network regions in-band signaling further contact-related information to the other of the first and second network regions.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

(d) determining that the second subscriber has failed to answer the second communication device in response to the incoming communication from the first subscriber;

(e) determining that a voice mail server is located in the first network region; and

(f) the second network region in-band signaling the first network region that the second subscriber has not answered the incoming communication; and

(g) the first network region directing the communication from the first subscriber to the voice mail server to leave a voice message for the second subscriber.

12. A computer readable medium for performing the steps of claim 1.

13. A logic circuit operable to perform the steps of claim 1.

14. In an enterprise network having geographically dislocated first and second network regions, wherein the first and second network regions are in communication with one another through first and second intermediate networks, wherein the first network region comprises a first gateway, a first media server, and a plurality of communication devices, wherein the second network region comprises a second gateway and a voice mail server, and wherein, in a first operational mode, the first and second network regions are controlled by the first media server and at least most of the bearer channels for live voice communications are routed over the first intermediate network and wherein, in a second operational mode, the first and second network regions are not controlled by the first media server, a method comprising:

(a) the first network region determining that call coverage requires a contact from a first communication device to be directed to the voice mail server to permit the user of the first communication device to leave a voice message for a subscriber;

(b) the first network region determining that the enterprise network is in the second operational mode; and

(c) routing the contact to the voice mail server over the second intermediate network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first operational mode is in existence when the media server is able to communicate with each of the first and second network regions over the first intermediate network, wherein the second operational mode is in existence when the media server is unable to communicate with each of the first and second network regions over the first intermediate network, and wherein in the first operational mode at least most of the bearer channels for the at least substantially real time communications are routed over the first intermediate network and not over the second intermediate network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first media server is a primary media server, wherein the second network region comprises a spare media server, wherein, in the second operational mode, the second network region is under the control of the spare media server, wherein the enterprise network comprises first and second groupings of trunks connected to the first intermediate network, wherein each of the first and second groupings of trunks comprise a plurality of trunks, and wherein a common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunks and wherein step (c) comprises the substeps:

(c1) the first network region transmitting the common electronic address over the second intermediate network to the second network region in an outgoing communication; and

(c2) after the outgoing communication is answered by the second network region, transmitting to the second network region, over the second intermediate network and in band with the outgoing communication, a unique identifier, wherein the identifier is used to establish the communication with the voice mail server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (c) comprises the substeps:

(c3) transmitting in-band a communication-type identifier indicating that the communication is a network fragmentation-type call and wherein, when the communication-type identifier indicates a network fragmentation-type call, the user identifier is associated with the voice mail server.

18. An enterprise network, comprising:

(a) geographically dislocated first and second network regions, wherein the first and second network regions are in communication with one another through first and second intermediate networks, wherein the first and second network regions respectively comprise first and second gateways and a plurality of communication devices, and wherein, in a first operational mode, the first and second network regions are controlled by a common media server and bearer channels for at least substantially real-time communications are routed over the first intermediate network and wherein, in a second operational mode, the first and second network regions are not controlled by a common media server;

(b) input means for receiving, from a first communication device of a first subscriber located in the first network region, a request to initiate an at least substantially real-time communication with a second communication device of a second subscriber located in the second network region, the request comprising a called electronic address identifying the second communication device; and

(c) routing agent means for determining that the enterprise network is in the second operational mode and routing the at least substantially real-time communication over the second intermediate network.

19. The network of claim 18, wherein the first operational mode is in existence when the media server is able to communicate with each of the first and second network regions over the first intermediate network, wherein the second operational mode is in existence when the media server is unable to communicate with each of the first and second network regions over the first intermediate network, and wherein in the first operational mode at least most of the bearer channels for the at least substantially real time communications are routed over the first intermediate network and not over the second intermediate network.

20. The network of claim 18, wherein the common media server is a primary media server, wherein the second network region comprises a spare media server, wherein, in the second operational mode, the second network region is under the control of the spare media server, wherein the enterprise network comprises first and second groupings of trunks connected to the first intermediate network, wherein each of the first and second groupings of trunks comprise a plurality of trunks, and wherein a common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunks and wherein the first gateway transmits the common electronic address over the second intermediate network to the second network region in an outgoing communication and, after the outgoing communication is answered by the second network region, the first gateway transmits to the second network region, over the second intermediate network and in band with the outgoing communication, a unique identifier, wherein the identifier is used to establish the communication with the second subscriber.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein the identifier is a second user identifier associated with the second subscriber, wherein the common electronic and called electronic addresses are each telephone numbers, wherein the substantially real-time communication is a live voice call, wherein a first communication-related data structure is associated with incoming communication, wherein a second communication-related data structure is associated with the outgoing communication, wherein the first communication-related data structure includes the called electronic address, a first user identifier of the first subscriber, an identifier of a first outgoing trunk, and wherein the second communication-related data structure includes the called electronic address, the second user identifier, and an identifier of a second incoming trunk.

22. The network of claim 20, wherein the identifier is a user identifier associated with at least one of the second user and a phantom user and wherein the first gateway transmits in-band a communication-type identifier indicating whether the communication is a network fragmentation-type call or a bandwidth management-type call, wherein, when the communication-type identifier indicates a network fragmentation-type call, the user identifier is associated with the second user and, when the communication-type identifier indicates a bandwidth management-type call, the user identifier is associated with the phantom user.

23. The network of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second gateways transmits in-band feature information regarding at least one selected feature;

and, in response the receiving network region implements the selected feature.

24. The network of claim 23, wherein the selected feature is one or more of the calling electronic address of the first subscriber, an identifier of the first subscriber, a distinctive ringing indicator, a reason code, a call restriction, and a class of call restriction.

25. The network of claim 18, wherein the first network region plays ringback tones over the first communication device;

wherein, while ringback tones are played, at least one of the first and second gateways in-band signals further contact-related information to the other of the first and second network regions.

26. The network of claim 21, wherein the second network region determines that the second subscriber has failed to answer the second communication device in response to the incoming communication from the first subscriber, wherein the second region determines that a voice mail server is located in the first network region, wherein the second network region in-band signals the first network region that the second subscriber has not answered the incoming communication, and wherein the first network region directs the communication from the first subscriber to the voice mail server to leave a voice message for the second subscriber.

27. An enterprise network, comprising:

(a) geographically dislocated first and second network regions, wherein the first and second network regions are in communication with one another through first and second intermediate networks, wherein the first and second network regions respectively comprise first and second gateways and a plurality of communication devices, and wherein, in a first operational mode, the first and second network regions are controlled by a common media server and bearer channels for at least substantially real-time communications are routed over the first intermediate network and wherein, in a second operational mode, the first and second network regions are not controlled by a common media server;

(b) an input operable to receive, from a first communication device of a first subscriber located in the first network region, a request to initiate an at least substantially real-time communication with a second communication device of a second subscriber located in the second network region, the request comprising a called electronic address identifying the second communication device; and

(c) a routing agent operable to determine that the enterprise network is in the second operational mode and rout the at least substantially real-time communication over the second intermediate network.

28. The network of claim 27, wherein the first operational mode is in existence when the media server is able to communicate with each of the first and second network regions over the first intermediate network, wherein the second operational mode is in existence when the media server is unable to communicate with each of the first and second network regions over the first intermediate network, and wherein in the first operational mode at least most of the bearer channels for the at least substantially real time communications are routed over the first intermediate network and not over the second intermediate network.

29. The network of claim 27, wherein the common media server is a primary media server, wherein the second network region comprises a spare media server, wherein, in the second operational mode, the second network region is under the control of the spare media server, wherein the enterprise network comprises first and second groupings of trunks connected to the first intermediate network, wherein each of the first and second groupings of trunks comprise a plurality of trunks, and wherein a common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunks and wherein the first gateway transmits the common electronic address over the second intermediate network to the second network region in an outgoing communication and, after the outgoing communication is answered by the second network region, the first gateway transmits to the second network region, over the second intermediate network and in band with the outgoing communication, a unique identifier, wherein the identifier is used to establish the communication with the second subscriber.

30. The network of claim 29, wherein the identifier is a second user identifier associated with the second subscriber, wherein the common electronic and called electronic addresses are each telephone numbers, wherein the substantially real-time communication is a live voice call, wherein a first communication-related data structure is associated with incoming communication, wherein a second communication-related data structure is associated with the outgoing communication, wherein the first communication-related data structure includes the called electronic address, a first user identifier of the first subscriber, an identifier of a first outgoing trunk, and wherein the second communication-related data structure includes the called electronic address, the second user identifier, and an identifier of a second incoming trunk.

31. The network of claim 29, wherein the identifier is a user identifier associated with at least one of the second user and a phantom user and wherein the first gateway transmits in-band a communication-type identifier indicating whether the communication is a network fragmentation-type call or a bandwidth management-type call, wherein, when the communication-type identifier indicates a network fragmentation-type call, the user identifier is associated with the second user and, when the communication-type identifier indicates a bandwidth management-type call, the user identifier is associated with the phantom user.

32. The network of claim 27, wherein at least one of the first and second gateways transmits in-band feature information regarding at least one selected feature;

and, in response the receiving network region implements the selected feature.

33. The network of claim 32, wherein the selected feature is one or more of the calling electronic address of the first subscriber, an identifier of the first subscriber, a distinctive ringing indicator, a reason code, a call restriction, and a class of call restriction.

34. The network of claim 27, wherein the first network region plays ringback tones over the first communication device;

wherein, while ringback tones are played, at least one of the first and second gateways in-band signals further contact-related information to the other of the first and second network regions.

35. The network of claim 30, wherein the second network region determines that the second subscriber has failed to answer the second communication device in response to the incoming communication from the first subscriber, wherein the second region determines that a voice mail server is located in the first network region, wherein the second network region in-band signals the first network region that the second subscriber has not answered the incoming communication, and wherein the first network region directs the communication from the first subscriber to the voice mail server to leave a voice message for the second subscriber.