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

• US 20060177039A1
• 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 7,899,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.130
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0081 Network operation, administration, maintenance, or provisioning

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;

dumping one or more routing tables associated with the first communications platform;

executing a conversion script such that one or more patterns associated with a dial plan corresponding to the second communications platform are provided in a dial plan format; and

loading one or more files associated with the dial plan into one or more endpoints that are designated to change to the second communications platform.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

loading one or more additional files as part of an update to the dial plan.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving the 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.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each time a change in digit analysis occurs a new parameter is created, the second communications platform being operable to interoperate with the new parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the endpoints are SIP IP telephones.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the dial plan format is XML.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

manually inputting one or more additional patterns into the dial plan, wherein an administrator is capable of changing the dial plan before one or more of the files are loaded into one or more of the endpoints.

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

9. 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, whereby one or more routing tables associated with the second communications platform are dumped, and wherein the first communications platform is further operable to execute a conversion script such that one or more patterns associated with a dial plan corresponding to the first communications platform are provided in a dial plan format.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first communications platform is operable to load one or more files associated with the dial plan into one or more endpoints that are designated to change to the second communications platform.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first communications platform is operable to load one or more additional files as part of an update to the dial plan.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first communications platform is operable to receive the 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.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each time a change in digit analysis occurs a new parameter is created, the first communications platform being operable to interoperate with the new parameter.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first communications platform is operable to load one or more files associated with the dial plan into one or more endpoints that are designated to change to the second communications platform and wherein one or more of the endpoints are SIP IP telephones.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first communications platform is operable to manually input one or more additional patterns into the dial plan, and wherein the dial plan can be changed before one or more of the files are loaded into one or more of the endpoints.

16. 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;

dump one or more routing tables associated with the first communications platform;

execute a conversion script such that one or more patterns associated with a dial plan corresponding to the second communications platform are provided in a dial plan format; and

load one or more files associated with the dial plan into one or more endpoints that are designated to change to the second communications platform.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the code is further operable to:

load one or more additional files as part of an update to the dial plan.

18. The medium of claim 16, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive the 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.

19. The medium of claim 16, wherein each time a change in digit analysis occurs a new parameter is created, the second communications platform being operable to interoperate with the new parameter.

20. The medium of claim 16, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive a manual input of one or more additional patterns for the dial plan, and wherein the dial plan may be changed before one or more of the files are loaded into one or more of the endpoints.