Method and system for supporting shared local trunking

• US 20060176873A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockhart, Gary Lance, Krause, Joel M., Leonard, Carl T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1225 Details of core network interconnection arrangements

Abstract

An approach is described for providing shared trunking between a telephony gateway and an end office switch. The telephony gateway processes a packetized voice call, and interfaces a shared trunk to an end office switch (e.g., Class 5 switch) configured to switch calls over a circuit-switched telephone network. The trunk utilizes out-of-band signaling (e.g., Primary Rate Interface (PRI) signaling) in support of call establishment or teardown of the packetized voice call.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

an end office switch configured to switch calls over a circuit-switched telephone network; and

a telephony gateway configured to serve a plurality of users in communicating via the end office switch and to utilize out-of-band signaling in support of call establishment or teardown of a packetized voice call.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein a trunk that supports Primary Rate Interface (PRI) signaling provides connectivity between the end office switch and the telephony gateway.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of users are within a common Rate Center (RC)/Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the packetized voice call is established according to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein a Calling Party Number associated with the packetized voice call to is transmitted to a network or a station of one of the users.

6. A method of call processing, the method comprising:

receiving a packetized voice call, at a telephony gateway, over a trunk connecting the telephony gateway with an end office switch configured to switch calls over a circuit-switched telephone network, wherein the trunk is shared by a plurality of users, the trunk utilizing out-of-band signaling in support of call establishment or teardown of the packetized voice call; and

terminating the packetized voice call at a station or a network of one of the users.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the trunk supports Primary Rate Interface (PRI) signaling.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of users are within a common Rate Center (RC)/Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the packetized voice call is established according to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein the trunk transports a Calling Party Number associated with the packetized voice call to the network or the station.

11. A communication system, comprising:

an end office switched configured to switch calls over a circuit-switched telephone network; and

a trunk connected to the end office switch for communicating with a telephony gateway configured to process a packetized voice call, wherein the trunk is shared by a plurality of users, the trunk utilizing out-of-band signaling in support of call establishment or teardown of the packetized voice call.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the trunk supports Primary Rate Interface (PRI) signaling.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of users are within a common Rate Center (RC)/Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the packetized voice call is established according to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the trunk transports a Calling Party Number associated with the packetized voice call to a network or a station of one of the users.