System and method for providing a dial plan conversion in a session initiation protocol (SIP) environment

• US 20060177036A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Linton, Daniel P., Pratt, Louis L., Hudson, William M. Jr., Luck, Carleton M. Jr., Caballero-McCann, Denise G., Pearce, Christopher E., Levy, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/220.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

A method to be executed in a session initiation protocol (SIP) environment is provided that includes initiating a conversion process that involves a change from a first communications platform to a second communications platform. One or more routing tables associated with the first communications platform are then dumped. A conversion script is executed such that one or more patterns associated with a dial plan corresponding to the second communications platform are provided in a dial plan format. One or more files associated with the dial plan are loaded into one or more endpoints that are designated to change to the second communications platform.

Claims

1. A method to be executed in a session initiation protocol (SIP) environment, comprising:

initiating a conversion process that involves a change from a first communications platform to a second communications platform;

evaluating a first digit of a pattern associated with a dial plan that is to be used in the second communications platform;

executing a designation for one significant digit of the pattern; and

accepting an election to include a suggested pattern in the dial plan associated with the second communications platform.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more other digits of the pattern are designated as wildcards, whereby the wildcards are not the significant digit of the pattern.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if an administrator elects not to accept the suggested pattern, that election is maintained in a record.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more additional patterns to be included in the dial plan associated with the second communications platform can be manually entered.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an update for the dial plan such that one or more patterns associated with the dial plan are either deleted or added to the dial plan.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting an administrator to make the election.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accepting an override decision from an administrator because of an ambiguous pattern associated with the dial plan.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an overlap problem associated with two patterns to be included in the dial plan;

communicating the problem; and

regenerating one or more additional patterns associated with the dial plan such that the problem is resolved.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications platform includes a Call Manager, and wherein the second communications platform is SIP enabled after the conversion has been completed.

10. An apparatus for communicating data in a session initiation protocol (SIP) environment, comprising:

a first communications platform, wherein a conversion process that involves a change from a second communications platform to the first communications platform may be initiated, the first communications platform being operable to evaluate a first digit of a pattern associated with a dial plan that is to be used in the second communications platform and to execute a designation for one significant digit of the pattern, the first communications platform being further operable to accept an election to include a suggested pattern in the dial plan associated with the second communications platform.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or more other digits of the pattern are designated as wildcards, whereby the wildcards are not the significant digit of the pattern.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein if an administrator elects not to accept the suggested pattern, that election is maintained in a record.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or more additional patterns to be included in the dial plan associated with the second communications platform can be manually entered.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first communications platform is operable to receive an update for the dial plan such that one or more patterns associated with the dial plan are either deleted or added to the dial plan.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first communications platform is operable to prompt an administrator to make the election.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first communications platform is operable to accept an override decision from an administrator because of an ambiguous pattern associated with the dial plan.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first communications platform is operable to:

identify an overlap problem associated with two patterns to be included in the dial plan;

communicate the problem; and

regenerate one or more additional patterns associated with the dial plan such that the problem is resolved.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first communications platform includes a Call Manager, and wherein the second communications platform is SIP enabled after the conversion has been completed.

19. Software for facilitating a data session in a session initiation protocol (SIP) environment, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

initiate a conversion process that involves a change from a first communications platform to a second communications platform;

evaluate a first digit of a pattern associated with a dial plan that is to be used in the second communications platform;

execute a designation for one significant digit of the pattern; and

accept an election to include a suggested pattern in the dial plan associated with the second communications platform.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein one or more other digits of the pattern are designated as wildcards, whereby the wildcards are not the significant digit of the pattern.

21. The medium of claim 19, wherein if an administrator elects not to accept the suggested pattern, that election is maintained in a record.

22. The medium of claim 19, wherein one or more additional patterns to be included in the dial plan associated with the second communications platform can be manually entered.

23. The medium of claim 19, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive an update for the dial plan such that one or more patterns associated with the dial plan are either deleted or added to the dial plan.

24. The medium of claim 19, wherein the code is further operable to:

prompt an administrator to make the election.

25. The medium of claim 19, wherein the code is further operable to:

accept an override decision from an administrator because of an ambiguous pattern associated with the dial plan.

26. The medium of claim 19, wherein the code is further operable to:

identify an overlap problem associated with two patterns to be included in the dial plan;

communicate the problem; and

regenerate one or more additional patterns associated with the dial plan such that the problem is resolved.